Nanny Su looked at Qi Yue.

“Thank you for the reminder, Nanny,” Qi Yue smiled at her. “Otherwise I would have forgotten—I have quite a few of my own things to take with me.”

She emphasized the words “reminder” and “my own things.”

As if she had wanted to remind her!

Nanny Su looked at her, her expression slightly dazed.

Dowry?

She really dared to say it!

When Madam Xie heard Nanny Su’s words, she laughed in extreme anger.

“She wants to get something for nothing!” she laughed. “Has she forgotten how she came in here? What does she have in this house! She came in with nothing, and I’m being generous by not making her leave with nothing. And she talks about dowry! Bah! Shameless!”

Of course, Qi Yue wasn’t really going to demand her dowry at this very moment. After intimidating Nanny Su, she held her belongings and stepped out the door.

A’Ru and A’Hao, dissuaded by her, didn’t dare follow out, but stood leaning against the door, crying.

The steward personally saw her out.

“Young Madam,” he called.

By now it was evening, with the setting sun casting everything in red. Qi Yue was squinting at the sunset when she heard him and looked at him with a smile.

“Steward, until we meet again,” she smiled.

Looking at this woman’s radiant face in the sunset, the steward felt his eyes grow moist again.

“Young Madam, let this old servant see you off,” he said, bowing respectfully.

“Thank you,” Qi Yue looked at the old man and smiled as she returned the courtesy. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

He had specially changed into new clothes—this was the highest courtesy and sincerity for seeing off a guest.

“Being able to know you people, I haven’t come to this house in vain,” Qi Yue smiled, looking back to see the two maids crying against the door, then at the servants standing in neat rows watching her. She raised her hand and cupped her fists. “Until we meet again.”

Having said this, she lifted her foot to step forward. Yuan Bao, who had been crouching in a corner by the wall, came running over somewhat shyly and clumsily.

“You want to help me carry my luggage?” Qi Yue asked with a smile.

Yuan Bao blushed and extended his hands.

Qi Yue said nothing more and handed him the luggage.

Who is this child? The steward couldn’t help but pause in confusion.

“Yuan Bao, take good care of the Young Madam,” A’Ru chased out and called.

Yuan Bao turned back and responded with a “mm.”

A’Ru’s brother—the steward remembered, nodded, and sighed.

Qi Yue had only taken two steps when four or five maids and matrons came from one side with a carriage.

“Young Madam, a place has been prepared. The Second Madam sent us to take you there,” the leading matron said with a bow.

Second Madam? Both Qi Yue and the steward were stunned.

“No need, I’ve found a place to stay,” Qi Yue said. “Please thank the Second Madam for me.”

Just as she finished speaking, another carriage came from the other direction, also followed by three or four servant women.

They must be passing by…

The steward thought, then watched the carriage stop, and saw that it bore a large character “Wang” as its marking.

Wang!

The steward narrowed his eyes. The Wang family!

“Miss Qi,” a proper-looking, kindly woman got down from the carriage and hurried over, bowing to Qi Yue with a smile. “I am from Master Wang’s household, surname Zhou. Here is the calling card.”

The steward’s eyes narrowed again. Miss Qi… the form of address had already changed…

Suddenly he felt a wave of sadness in his heart.

Almost everyone from top to bottom, inside and out, knew that once the Young Madam walked out this time, she would never come back. What was pitiful was that the two masters of the house still thought the Young Madam was making threats and throwing tantrums!

This Young Madam was such a proud person—couldn’t they see that?

Such a proud person, once she spoke and made a decision, would never look back.

Qi Yue was also stunned. This was… someone coming to seek medical treatment?

“Does Master Wang have some need?” she asked while taking the card to look at it. Indeed, it was Wang Tongye’s calling card, proving the person was genuine.

“No, Master Wang heard that Miss Qi was going out and worried that Miss Qi might not be fully prepared. A woman traveling alone would find food, clothing, and lodging inconvenient. Therefore, he specially arranged a residence and requests that Miss Qi first settle there, then make arrangements slowly,” Matron Zhou said with a smile.

Wang Tongye had also heard? So quickly?

Qi Yue was somewhat surprised, but thinking about it, these court officials had keen ears and sharp eyes—such matters shouldn’t escape their notice.

“I’ve already found a place…” Qi Yue smiled.

“Master said to please not refuse, Miss Qi. This is a friendship forged through conflict. Miss Qi is magnanimous, clear about gratitude and grievances, open and honest, and acts when action is needed…” Matron Zhou said with a smile.

These words sounded jumbled, but Qi Yue understood—Wang Tongye wanted to give her face. She laughed heartily.

Indeed, how could she leave in dejection? How could she be someone who would take abuse without fighting back?

“Good! ‘Laughing proudly, I go out the door—how can we be mere weeds among men!'” Qi Yue laughed, gesturing to Yuan Bao. “Yuan Bao, put the things in the carriage.”

Yuan Bao showed no hesitation and immediately complied.

Matron Zhou smiled and stepped aside to invite her in.

Watching the carriage travel down the street, the steward and the Second Madam’s maids and matrons all stood stunned in place.

Gone…

The Young Madam was gone…

“What? People from the Wang family came to take her away?”

When the news reached inside, both Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie were stunned.

“Someone from the Wang family must be ill,” Madam Xie immediately said, looking at Marquis Dingxi. “They’re asking her to treat illness, and it’s only out of respect for our family. My lord, go tell the Wang family people not to pay attention to that woman anymore…”

Marquis Dingxi nodded.

The steward on the side really couldn’t bear to listen anymore.

“Madam,” he spoke up. “Master Wang’s people personally said they knew the Young Madam was going out today, so they came specially to receive her.”

He emphasized the words “going out” and looked at Madam Xie with some sadness.

Madam Xie was stunned.

What did that mean?

“You’re saying the Wang family people know…” Marquis Dingxi suddenly stood up, feeling his head ring with a thunderous sound.

Of course they knew—this was an imperial edict the Emperor had approved. Which of these court officials wasn’t shrewd as a ghost? Nothing could escape their notice, especially since this matter was clearly the Emperor’s way of making him lose face…

“Let them know! What do I fear! Such behavior from a woman—no household would tolerate it!” he shouted angrily. What had that woman said?

Something about “Laughing proudly, I go out the door—how can we be mere weeds among men!”

What did that mean?

“Is she saying I’m like the foolish wife of Kuaiji who looked down on Zhu Maichen?” Marquis Dingxi slammed the table and shouted. “Does she think she’s entering Qin? She’s been divorced! Cast out! She’s an abandoned woman of Marquis Dingxi’s mansion! Shameless creature!”

“Making it known to everyone—I want to see how she’ll end this!” Madam Xie snorted coldly.

The steward looked at these two people, sighed again, and lowered his head, saying nothing more.

“But why is the Second Madam also getting involved?” Madam Xie thought of this problem and frowned. “Didn’t we say to ignore her, let her make trouble, leave her hanging until she knows better?”

“Madam, I just heard that the Second Madam gave the Young Madam four maids and two matrons, and they went after the Young Madam with large and small bundles,” Nanny Su came in from outside and said urgently.

Both Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie were stunned.

“What does she mean?” Marquis Dingxi asked.

“There must be someone to play the bad guy and someone to play the good guy,” Madam Xie speculated.

Her sister-in-law had always been soft-hearted—it was normal for her to do such things.

Marquis Dingxi snorted.

“Never mind her. If she dares to do such things, she must bear the consequences herself. Go tell the Second Madam not to pay attention to that woman. She climbed onto the stage herself—let her figure out how to get down!” he said.

Nanny Su responded, glanced at Madam Xie, who waved her hand, and only then did Nanny Su leave.

The Second Madam had also heard that Qi Yue was taken away by the Wang family people and was quietly contemplating.

“Madam, should we perhaps let the Young Madam…” Cai Qing said softly beside her.

The Second Madam smiled.

“Still calling her Young Madam?” she said.

Cai Qing slapped her own face.

“Look at me, I deserve to be hit,” she smiled. “Should we let Miss Qi go to our residence?”

“It’s fine. Since Master Wang has the intention, let’s accept his kindness. Besides, it’s better that he knows. In the future…” The Second Madam stirred her medicine bowl and stopped mid-sentence. “…he might be able to speak up for her.”

As they were talking, Nanny Su came over and politely conveyed the intentions of Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie.

The Second Madam drank the medicine in one gulp without even eating the candied fruit, took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and looked up at Nanny Su.

“Is that any of your business?” she said.

Nanny Su was stunned. What?

“The Marquis and Madam are doing such heartless and ungrateful things. You’re defying the Old Madam’s dying wishes, not treating the Old Madam as a mother. I still must treat the Old Madam as a mother, and I must naturally treat Yueniang well,” the Second Madam said coldly.

Nanny Su was completely dumbfounded. Was she dreaming?

How could she be hearing such absurd words?

The reason Madam could do what she did today—wasn’t it your idea? Even this imperial edict was obtained thanks to your efforts!

How, how did it become the Marquis and Madam being heartless and ungrateful?

Looking at the still-sickly Second Madam before her, Nanny Su suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

This matter seemed different from what they had imagined…

For Qi Yue, the affairs of Marquis Dingxi’s mansion were now irrelevant.

The residence Wang Tongye had arranged was on the most prosperous East Street, with Qianjin Hall to the left and the prefectural yamen to the right—bustling yet quiet, and extremely safe and convenient.

The small courtyard had three main rooms and two side rooms. The furniture inside couldn’t be called new, but everything was clean and showed signs of habitation.

Qi Yue, who had never been particular about accommodations, liked it immediately.

“Please thank Master Wang for me,” she said happily.

Yuan Bao didn’t let the Wang family’s maids and matrons touch Qi Yue’s bundles, carrying and shouldering them all inside by himself.

“Everyone go do what you’re supposed to do,” Nanny Zhou smiled.

The three matrons, two maids, and two manservants who had followed in all responded and naturally went about their business—some to the kitchen, some to the gatehouse, as naturally as if they were at home.

Qi Yue watched in amazement.

“This really isn’t necessary,” she smiled.

“Miss Qi needs someone to serve her,” Nanny Zhou insisted, pointing to the two maids and introducing them—this one was called Cui Zhi, and this one was called Ning Bi.

“I appreciate your kindness,” Qi Yue smiled. “But right now I want to be alone and quiet. With too many people in the house, I’d have to socialize and talk, which wouldn’t be comfortable.”

Only then did Nanny Zhou stop talking and fell silent.

Of course—how could she have only now thought of what this Miss Qi had just experienced!

Divorce! Any other woman would either be devastated or acting like a madwoman at this moment. Only this Miss Qi appeared too normal—so normal that people around her forgot what was happening at this moment.

“Yes,” Nanny Zhou quickly bowed. “Then let Cui Zhi stay, and keep one matron and one man to guard the gate.”

Having said this, she left with the others without allowing Qi Yue to refuse further. Qi Yue said nothing more, nodded, and thanked them.

“Don’t go near Miss Qi unless necessary—let her be comfortable alone…” Nanny Zhou pulled Cui Zhi aside outside the door and whispered, “…but you must also be alert and watch Miss Qi carefully…”

These seemingly contradictory words were very clear to a maid who had worked in great households.

Cui Zhi nodded.

“Don’t worry, Nanny. I heard that Miss Qi had previously…” she made a gesture at her neck and lowered her voice. “I won’t be as stupid as the maids in Marquis Dingxi’s household…”

Nanny Zhou nodded with satisfaction and left with her people in the carriage.

Cui Zhi went inside and saw Qi Yue standing under the eaves, observing the courtyard with a leisurely demeanor. She quickly lowered her head and approached.

“This servant will help you organize your luggage,” she requested.

Qi Yue nodded.

“Thank you,” she said, not refusing.

Cui Zhi said “I wouldn’t dare” and went inside.

In the courtyard, Yuan Bao was holding a broom and sweeping the already clean ground.

This child refused to leave no matter what—well, let him stay. A’Ru would feel at ease too.

“Yuan Bao,” Qi Yue said. “Bar the door.”

Yuan Bao responded with a “yes,” happily threw down the broom, and closed the door.

Night gradually fell, enveloping heaven and earth.