Madam Xie looked at Qi Yue, laughing smugly in her heart.

Driving this woman out of the mansion was nothing—that would be too easy for her!

Why fear not taking a wife? This woman cared so much about Chang Yuncheng having other women. With such a long lifetime ahead, she would have plenty of opportunities. She wanted to watch with her own eyes how this woman would step by step fall from favor to disgrace, from a pearl to a fish eye.

“Mother, please speak,” Chang Yuncheng hurriedly called out, afraid that if he spoke too slowly, Madam Xie would regret it. “Yueniang can do anything.”

Qi Yue glanced at Chang Yuncheng.

“Qi Yueniang, didn’t you say you have nothing to do with the Old Madam? Then now go before the Old Madam’s memorial tablet and say you have nothing to do with her. Curse her as an old thief woman, and let Yuncheng’s mother see that you truly have nothing to do with the Old Madam,” Madam Xie said with a smile.

It was just such a simple sentence! Chang Yuncheng looked at Qi Yue with joy.

“Yueniang, I’ll accompany you…” he said hurriedly.

Qi Yue lowered her head, sighed, and straightened her body.

Chang Yuncheng also stood up joyfully, and Madam Xie looked at her with a triumphant smile.

What in this world could be more satisfying than watching enemies destroy each other and despise one another?

What could be more humiliating than having a chess piece you had carefully arranged turn around and curse you?

Old thief woman, enjoy this moment! What a pity you died too early and can’t see this with your own eyes!

“Then, farewell,” Qi Yue said.

Chang Yuncheng and Madam Xie were both stunned.

What?

“Yueniang, what are you doing?” Chang Yuncheng reached out to grab her and shouted.

Qi Yue looked at him.

“Your mother is right. I cannot say I have nothing to do with the Old Madam. Although I don’t know whether she actually did those things you mentioned, and even if we assume she did, she may be an enemy to you all, utterly unforgivable, but to me she was a benefactor. She was genuinely good to me. How could I, for the sake of so-called love, so-called happiness, curse her and commit such an ungrateful act?” she said, smiling slightly. “In this lifetime, there are some things and some possessions one can give up, but some things are absolutely non-negotiable. Such as righteousness, such as dignity.”

She raised her hand and gently patted Chang Yuncheng’s shoulder.

“I don’t blame you anymore, Chang Yuncheng. I think if it were you, you wouldn’t do such a thing either, would you?” she said, looking at him deeply and smiling faintly. “Since that’s the case, I can only say we have no destiny together. Goodbye. Take care.”

Chang Yuncheng looked at her and reached out to grasp her hand.

“Qi Yueniang, have you thought this through?” Madam Xie snorted. “Do you know what you’re doing? After leaving here, what kind of life will you live!”

Qi Yue smiled at her.

“No matter where I am, I can live whatever life I want to live,” she said.

Having said this, she withdrew her hand from Chang Yuncheng’s grasp, glanced at him, turned around, and walked away.

“Good, I’ll wait and see what kind of life you can live!” Madam Xie sneered coldly.

Qi Yue walked out without stopping.

Chang Yuncheng lifted his foot to follow.

“Yuncheng, you stop right there! Don’t be fooled by that woman!” Madam Xie shouted.

Chang Yuncheng stopped.

“Mother, I’ll go see her off,” he said in a hoarse voice. “She’s not deceiving me.”

Having said this, he went out.

Madam Xie looked at the curtain and let out a heavy breath.

Who was she trying to scare? Divorce? As if anyone would believe that!

Giving up the status of the Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi’s mansion to become an abandoned woman!

How could such a woman exist in this world?

“Pour tea!” Madam Xie shouted, leaning back against the chair and exhaling.

The feeling of having everything under her control was wonderful!

Chang Yuncheng chased after her, but Qi Yue had already reached the gate.

“Yueniang,” Chang Yuncheng called from behind, his voice low and trembling.

Qi Yue turned around.

“Yueniang, we haven’t gone shopping yet…” Chang Yuncheng looked at her and said.

Qi Yue looked at him and smiled.

“…We agreed to go to the Great Buddha Temple for vegetarian food… and also to go mountain climbing and on outings…” Chang Yuncheng said slowly, looking at her with deep, profound eyes.

Those words spoken that day—Qi Yue looked at him and sighed softly.

“It doesn’t matter, I can go with anyone,” she said, turning around and taking a step forward.

“Qi Yueniang,” Chang Yuncheng stepped forward several paces and called out again.

Qi Yue didn’t turn back.

“Qi Yueniang, from now on, I will only be good to you alone, cherish you, not lie to you…” Chang Yuncheng began to speak.

Qi Yue’s body trembled, and she stopped.

“…Every single thing I promise you, I will do. Every word I speak to you will be sincere. I won’t scold you, I’ll care for you. When others bully you, I’ll be the first to come out and help you…”

“…When you’re happy, I’ll be happy with you. When you’re unhappy, I’ll coax you to be happy. You are the most beautiful in my heart, and even in my dreams, I dream of you. In my heart, there is only you…”

Qi Yue lowered her head and smiled.

“Just words said in jest—how thoughtful of you to remember, but don’t take them seriously,” she laughed, yet didn’t turn back. “Well then, goodbye.”

Having finished speaking, she strode away with large steps, never pausing again, never looking back, and quickly disappeared at the courtyard gate.

Chang Yuncheng watched the woman’s retreating figure and slowly closed his eyes.

He would never shed tears, shed tears for a woman!

Such a heartless woman—why should he be sentimental!

Women—when the old doesn’t go, the new won’t come, isn’t that right?

There were as many women as he wanted—what did she amount to!

He slowly turned around.

In the early spring season, under the warm sunlight, the man’s tall figure appeared so desolate, yet stubbornly straight.

The atmosphere in the mansion made many servants feel uneasy.

In the gatehouse, the door was tightly shut. Someone outside was knocking, but no one answered. The person began kicking the door.

“It’s one of our own! Quick, open the door and let me in. Don’t let the Young Madam see, or I’ll have to open the door myself!” the person said urgently.

Only then did the door creak open.

In the small room, seven or eight people were squeezed together.

“Cooking dumplings? Why are you all crammed in here?” the newcomer cursed, squeezed in, and shut the door.

“How did it go?” the people in the room asked eagerly.

The newcomer adjusted his hat and sighed.

“The Young Master went to petition the Marquis again, but was called away by Madam. The Young Madam went too—don’t know how the discussion went,” he relayed the latest news.

Everyone in the room sighed along.

“The Young Madam is so capable, she’ll surely be able to convince Madam,” someone said hopefully. “If she doesn’t want to leave, no one can make her go.”

Everyone nodded. They firmly believed this.

“But what if the Young Madam wants to leave?” someone suddenly asked.

Then surely no one could stop her!

The room fell silent.

“What nonsense are you talking!”

“Stop your nonsense!”

“…How could the Young Madam want to leave!”

“…Do you think this is just anywhere? This is Marquis Dingxi’s mansion!”

Immediately the room became lively, with seven or eight hands reaching toward the person who had spoken, beating him angrily.

Yes, how could the Young Madam really want to leave? Impossible!

Impossible!

The unconscious Marquis Dingxi couldn’t remain unconscious any longer, and with a crash, he swept the medicine bowls off the table.

“Let her go, let her walk out! Don’t let her come back! I want to see how long she can keep this up!” he shouted.

The steward stood to the side with a sorrowful expression.

“Why are you pulling that face? I’m not dead yet!” Marquis Dingxi saw him and scolded.

The steward sighed.

“My lord, are you really letting the Young Madam go?” he asked.

“Really! Isn’t she going to play for real? What, she dares but I don’t?” Marquis Dingxi glared and roared, his chest heaving violently with anger.

Threaten me? What do I, Marquis Dingxi, fear?

“I want to see what she can do out there! With her troublemaking nature, without Marquis Dingxi’s mansion, she’ll be beaten to death sooner or later! If not for us, how many people would give her face!” He paced back and forth, shouting angrily. “She really thinks she’s some divine physician? Arrogant beyond measure! Without my family, what is she? Let her go! Let her go out and try! She’s been spoiled rotten and doesn’t know her place!”

The steward looked at him with a compassionate expression.

“My lord, are you really opening the door to let the Young Madam leave?” he asked again.

Marquis Dingxi became even more furious at his tone and funeral-like demeanor.

“Are you deaf? Open the door! I want to see if she dares to leave!” he shouted.

The steward sighed.

“My lord, if we open the door, she’ll really leave…” he said, his voice actually somewhat choked up.

This wasn’t just a funeral—he was mourning!

“Leave! If she doesn’t leave, I’ll kick her out!” Marquis Dingxi cursed and lifted his foot to kick the steward.

The steward took a kick and seemed to be kicked to tears. The old man raised his hand to wipe his eyes and responded with a “yes,” then turned and left.

Marquis Dingxi watched the steward’s retreating figure, his anger still unabated.

“Tell her that once she walks out, it won’t be so easy to come back!” he shouted angrily, flinging his sleeve. “Who is she trying to scare? This lord was raised on intimidation! Playing this game with me! Bah!”

When Qi Yue walked to the door, behind her followed a large group of maids and matrons, all looking sorrowful. A’Ru and A’Hao were crying so hard they could barely stand.

At the door, a group of servants and old retainers also stood, with the steward looking solemn, clearly having changed into fresh clothes.

The door wasn’t tightly closed as when Qi Yue first came, but was wide open.

Qi Yue took a deep breath.

“Come, give me the bundle,” she said, turning back.

A’Ru and A’Hao, who were holding the bundle, immediately clutched it tighter and cried even harder.

“Let this slave see the Young Madam off…” A’Hao cried.

“Wait.” Seven or eight women servants walked over quickly. The leader was Nanny Su, her face showing some smugness and disdain. Seeing them approach, all the maids and matrons present lowered their heads.

“What’s this? Don’t you have duties? What are you all doing here? Don’t want to work anymore?” one of the women scolded coldly, pointing at these people. “Everyone take a good look and remember who was here—we’ll settle accounts later.”

The maids and matrons all couldn’t help but shrink back.

“All of you go back,” Qi Yue said. “Thank you for seeing me off.”

Only then did the maids and matrons slowly leave with lowered heads.

A’Ru and A’Hao didn’t move.

“What are you two doing? Didn’t you hear what I said?” the woman shouted.

“Never mind, this shows their loyalty and sense of duty,” Nanny Su said with a smile, looking at Qi Yue. “Young Madam, forgive us, but they are people of the Marquis’s mansion after all, and cannot leave the mansion casually.”

A’Ru and A’Hao were about to kneel.

“Enough. You know I don’t like watching this, so don’t make me leave with an uneasy heart,” Qi Yue said.

A’Ru immediately straightened up and pulled A’Hao up.

Qi Yue extended her hand.

“Wait,” Nanny Su said again.

“What else?” Qi Yue asked.

“Forgive us, Young Madam, but everything in the mansion is catalogued, so we need to check,” Nanny Su said with a smile.

Qi Yue withdrew her hand and looked at her with a smile.

“You mean anything that’s not mine, I’m not allowed to take?” she asked.

Nanny Su couldn’t hide her disdainful smile.

“Naturally. The Young Madam has managed the household before—surely you don’t need this old servant to teach you?” she laughed.

Very well. Qi Yue nodded.

“In that case, anything that is mine, I can take with me,” she said.

Nanny Su was stunned, immediately sensing trouble.

“I remember I have a dowry, don’t I?” Qi Yue looked at her and said lightly.

Dowry…

What… dowry…