“That’s just how this woman is,” Wang Tongye said with a laugh, waving his hand dismissively. “Go ahead, just do whatever she tells you to do.”

Cui Zhi responded and went down.

The grandfather and grandson continued fishing, neither saying a word.

“Don’t you think this woman is quite bold to seek a divorce?” Wang Tongye couldn’t help but break the silence first, turning to ask.

“Isn’t her courage already evident?” the eldest Wang son replied, and as he spoke, he raised his hand again, another fish leaping out of the water.

Wang Tongye turned away with some indignation, no longer looking at him.

The grandfather and grandson fell into silence again.

“Yixiu,” Wang Tongye suddenly turned back around and said, “what do you think of this Lady Qi?”

This time, the eldest Wang son’s fishing rod trembled, and he didn’t catch another fish. Instead, he looked at his grandfather with some astonishment.

“Grandfather, that’s quite a slap in the face,” he said with a bitter smile.

Both being intelligent men, they understood each other’s meaning with just one sentence. Wang Tongye had no intention of hiding it either.

The Marquis Dingxi’s household had just divorced Lady Qi, and now they were stepping forward to propose marriage – what would that make the Marquis Dingxi’s household look like…

This would be a resounding slap in the face.

“People slap their own faces – who else can do it for them? Just wait and see, the Marquis Dingxi’s household will have plenty of face-slapping moments ahead,” Wang Tongye said with a scornful laugh.

The eldest Wang son said nothing, continuing to gaze at the water’s surface.

“I can see you have quite a bit of courage yourself, able to withstand being startled,” Wang Tongye glanced at him and said with a stroking-beard smile. “Besides, Ai Ying has been gone for so many years now. You should take another wife. Qiao’er is getting older too, and without any feminine grace, she needs a proper mistress to guide her upbringing.”

The eldest Wang son couldn’t help but laugh.

“You want Lady Qi to teach Qiao’er feminine grace?” he laughed.

Wang Tongye coughed, and before his eyes seemed to appear the scene of one big and one small figure wielding clubs as they headed out to fight…

“I’m just saying. Whether you agree or not is still your own decision. I’m not like that brainless Marquis Dingxi,” he said. As he spoke, he felt a tug on his line and immediately lifted his hand with great joy, a palm-sized fish swaying as it was pulled up.

Wang Tongye let out several undisguised laughs.

The eldest Wang son smiled and imperceptibly shook the fishing rod in his hand. Ripples spread across the water surface, and a fish that was about to bite the hook swam away.

When Qi Yue stepped out of Qianjin Hall, the sky was already growing dusky. Cui Zhi was waiting outside the door, and seeing her emerge, quickly brought over a cloak.

“Lady Qi, it’s cool in the evening,” she said with an attentive smile.

Qi Yue smiled and thanked her without saying anything else.

“…I went back to see the old madam today, had dinner at home, and the old madam and the great madam had me bring some sweet soup they made for Lady Qi…” Cui Zhi chatted as they walked.

Qi Yue responded amicably. She felt this girl had become somewhat more enthusiastic – could it be that Wang Tongye intended to give this girl to her? So the girl was preparing to build a good relationship with her future mistress?

She smiled to herself at the thought.

Just as they reached the gate, someone suddenly rushed out from the side, startling Cui Zhi into crying out.

At that sound, the door opened and Yuan Bao charged out clutching a broom.

“Young Master Huang?” Qi Yue recognized the person standing before her and quickly stopped the panicked girl and Yuan Bao.

In the night, the young man stood there stiffly.

Qi Yue was about to ask why he had come when she understood – the divorce papers required the prefect’s seal. So Huang Ziqiao must have learned about it.

“It’s alright, I’m fine. I really was the one who proposed it,” she said with a smile.

“I’ll help you beat him up!” Huang Ziqiao said after holding back for a long time.

“Thank you, but it’s not necessary,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

Huang Ziqiao fell silent but didn’t leave either, lowering his head to look at his feet.

Cui Zhi sized up this young man, wondering to herself whose child this was. By age, he looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, but fifteen or sixteen couldn’t be considered young anymore. He was already at the age for marriage talks, and coming here so late at night – what was he doing…

“Little Qiao, you’re the first person to come see me,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

Huang Ziqiao looked up.

“Who would want to be the first to come for something like this!” he said indignantly.

Qi Yue laughed.

“Thank you. I know you care about me, but it’s getting late and I can’t invite you in to sit. You should hurry home so your family doesn’t worry,” she said.

Huang Ziqiao said nothing, turned around and left, disappearing into the night like a gust of wind.

“There really are more good people in this world,” Qi Yue said with a smile, watching Huang Ziqiao’s retreating figure. “It was worth it!”

Cui Zhi couldn’t understand what she meant, and of course wouldn’t be foolish enough to ask who that young man was.

The household servants and the gatekeeper also came out with lanterns, lighting up the alley as they welcomed Qi Yue through the gate.

In the deep night, when the lights in Qi Yue’s room were extinguished, most of the rooms in the Marquis Dingxi’s household still had their lights burning.

Several maids carrying lanterns stopped in front of Chang Yunqi’s courtyard gate.

“Second Miss, Third Miss,” the maid opened the door, saw who was standing outside, and quickly bowed.

The Second Miss, wrapped in a large cloak, was about to step through the door.

“Second Miss, Third Young Master is studying and said not to be disturbed,” the maid blocked her way, saying with some unease.

Chang Shulan froze.

“Oh my, at a time like this, still not allowing disturbance! With such a big incident happening at home, what’s wrong with Third Brother?” Third Miss Chang Huilan said urgently.

The maid smiled awkwardly but didn’t move her body an inch.

“Third Young Master said the examination period is approaching, so…” she insisted.

“Hey, this is about sister-in-law!” Chang Huilan said urgently. “How can he still concentrate on studying? He hasn’t even come out these past few days, not even showing his face at father and mother’s place! What does he mean by this!”

As she spoke, she tried to push inside, but Chang Shulan reached out to pull her back.

“Third Sister, forget it,” she said, glancing at the courtyard interior. “At a time like this, avoiding things is understandable.”

Chang Huilan trembled with anger.

“If others avoid it, that’s one thing, but he’s eaten so much food personally cooked by sister-in-law for so long! Really… it would be better to feed dogs!” she said loudly, deliberately wanting the people inside to hear.

Chang Shulan pulled her back with a sigh.

“Let’s go,” she said, not looking back at that direction even once.

“Sister-in-law’s departure has become a foregone conclusion. When people leave, the tea grows cold – who would still care about her?” Chang Shulan murmured, unable to help wiping away tears.

How had things suddenly become like this?

Just a few days ago they were still laughing and chatting happily. The household had never had so much laughter and joy before. It was like a dream, and now it seemed it truly was a dream – now the dream had ended.

Chang Huilan stumbled and nearly twisted her ankle.

“Why are all the lights out? Where is everyone? Are they just ignoring everything?” Second Miss looked at the darkened roadside lamps and the obviously uncleaned path beneath her feet, her brows furrowed as she scolded.

From somewhere, a servant woman came running out in panic to light the lamps, kneeling and kowtowing.

“Forget it, everyone’s hearts are troubled right now…” Chang Shulan pulled Chang Huilan along and said with a sigh.

Neither sister spoke again as they walked away side by side slowly.

In Chang Yunqi’s courtyard, the maid pushed open the study door. The room was bright with candlelight, and Chang Yunqi was bent over his desk, studying intently.

The maid gently placed a bowl of soup on the table.

“Young Master, have some late-night snack. You’ll be up all night, and your body won’t be able to handle it otherwise,” she said softly.

Chang Yunqi made a sound of acknowledgment, set down his book, and began eating in large mouthfuls.

After several days of not seeing him, his eyes had dark circles and he’d lost weight, but his eyes were increasingly alert.

He finished in just a few bites, set down the bowl, and picked up his book again.

“Young Master, don’t wear yourself out,” the maid couldn’t help but say with a choked voice.

Chang Yunqi looked up from his book with a smile.

“I won’t wear myself out,” he said. “Don’t worry. I’m fine, I will definitely be well. I still have many things to do.”

The maid nodded, brightened the lamp, and withdrew.

After one night, the news of the Marquis Dingxi’s household’s young madam seeking divorce had spread among all the respectable families in Yongqing Prefecture. Though they didn’t go out themselves, they couldn’t stop people from coming to inquire. The glorious matter he had once anticipated – having personally sought the Emperor’s handwritten approval – had finally become known to everyone as he wished, but the result was completely different from what he had imagined.

There was no envy, no congratulations. Much less the stream of marriage proposals breaking down his door – only confusion, bewilderment, and strangely scheming speculation.

The Marquis Dingxi closed his doors to visitors, but closing the doors couldn’t close off the rage in his heart.

All of this was because of that woman!

Qianjin Hall always opened early, especially recently with craftsmen working on both sides – the basic framework of the courtyard buildings on both sides had already taken shape, and now the carpenters were all busy, working overtime. So the doors opened even earlier.

When the sun rose, the carpenters in the courtyard were already bustling about. Just then, a chaotic sound of footsteps rang out at the gate.

“Must be the wood delivery,” the foreman said, heading toward the sound. Just as he reached the gate, he saw seventeen or eighteen people surge in, carrying clubs and sticks, all dressed as guards. Leading them was a man in his forties, wearing a fur hat and padded jacket, with an arrogant expression.

“You…?” the foreman froze, opening his mouth to ask.

Before he could finish speaking, the leader raised his hand.

“Smash it all!” he shouted.

“What are you doing? Who are you people?” the foreman’s alarmed cry rang out.

A cacophony of striking sounds erupted, and chaos immediately broke out.

“Master, Master…” Hu San came tumbling and crawling in just as Qi Yue had finished breakfast and was preparing to go out.

Seeing Hu San stumble in with torn clothes, and when he raised his head, marks left by clubs on his face, Qi Yue was startled.

“What happened?” she asked urgently.

Hu San opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

“Master says Qianjin Hall is closed today, you don’t need to go,” he said.

Qi Yue looked at him, her expression gradually growing serious.

“Damn it,” she uttered two words, lifted her foot to head outside, then stopped at the door, grabbed the door bar from behind the door, and strode out.

Everyone in the courtyard was stunned. Yuan Bao was the first to react, grabbing the broom from the corner and following her out.

“Master, Master, don’t go!” Hu San called out as he rushed after them.

“What… what’s happening?” Cui Zhi asked the servant woman and gatekeeper beside her.

“What else could it be! It’s not like they haven’t done this before! Fighting!” the man was the first to understand, stamping his foot.

Fighting? Cui Zhi and the servant woman looked worried.

“I… I’ll go tell the old master,” Cui Zhi said, running off.

The man and servant woman looked at each other.

“You watch the house,” the man said, looking around for something useful to grab. Finding nothing suitable, he simply hoisted a bench from the house and charged out.