Watching the woman being scolded and pushed around by the runners, Madam Xie could barely contain her triumphant laughter.

Regretting it now, aren’t you? Your guts must be turning green with regret!

Madam Xie saw Qi Yue, and soon the young masters and misses also saw her, followed by the maids and servants.

All eyes turned toward her in unison. The surrounding gongs and drums seemed to quiet down a bit, and amid the joy, these people’s expressions actually looked somewhat sad.

Qi Yue had originally intended to call out and wave to some familiar official or such person to come over and ask about the situation, but at this moment, seeing these people’s gazes, she suddenly calmed down.

How had she just run here like this?

It was truly ridiculous…

Chang Huilan’s body moved slightly, as if she wanted to stand up, but Chang Shulan beside her grabbed her hand and pressed it down forcefully.

Chang Huilan stopped moving and looked at Qi Yue, biting her lower lip.

Slowly, everyone turned their gazes away and continued watching the lively opera stage. No one paid attention to the common people blocked below the platform.

Madam Xie withdrew her gaze with satisfaction.

Sentiment? Under wealth and honor, who would have sentiment with you, a cast-off woman!

“Madam, please select the next play,” a woman said with a beaming smile, handing over the program.

“Oh my, you all choose what you like,” Madam Xie said with a smile, carrying a hint of arrogance.

“That won’t do,” several ladies leaned forward laughing. “You choose, you choose.”

Seeing everyone’s flattering smiles, Madam Xie slowly reached out to take the program and casually selected a play.

“Oh my, Madam really knows opera! They sing this one the best.”

“Yes, I love this one the most… I was just saying I wanted to invite someone to perform it.”

The women all laughed and chattered.

Madam Xie laughed heartily, all her past troubles and worries completely dissipated.

Chang Yunqi’s gaze turned outside, seeing that woman turn and leave. She quickly squeezed into the surging crowd and disappeared.

Don’t rush, just wait…

“Third brother, what are you looking at?” Chang Huilan said coolly.

Chang Yunqi withdrew his gaze.

“Nothing,” he looked toward the opera stage with a smile on his face. “Watch quickly – the good show is about to end.”

The noise gradually fell behind her. Because of the commotion over there, other streets seemed very quiet.

Qi Yue walked slowly down the street.

Everyone in the Marquis mansion, from top to bottom, was so happy. That meant he wasn’t injured.

Really, it was just a dream, yet she had panicked like that…

She shook her head, somewhat embarrassed by her own behavior.

At Qianjin Hall, A’Ru was extremely anxious. Seeing her enter, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“When applying a tourniquet to stop bleeding, how often should it be loosened?” A’Ru asked.

Qi Yue nodded.

“Every fifteen minutes,” she said.

Everyone had automatically adapted to Qi Yue’s terminology.

A’Ru acknowledged.

Qi Yue stopped again.

“Why didn’t you ask me where I went?” she asked somewhat puzzled.

A’Ru was stunned.

“Oh right, where did you go? It’s so busy here, and you’re running around?” A’Ru said.

Qi Yue chuckled.

“Now that’s normal,” she laughed, not answering as she swayed into her office.

A’Ru exhaled and looked at the two guards who had just entered.

Not asking was because she felt at ease.

“Asked the guards at the Marquis mansion. They said they captured the third son of Eastern barbarian Prince Zhanmu,” the guard said quietly.

A’Ru immediately ran joyfully to tell Qi Yue.

“So he captured an important person?” Qi Yue said, her brow furrowing even more. Important people weren’t so easy to capture…

This kid was particularly ruthless with himself – clearly the type who would fight without regard for his life…

She thought of the scars on his body.

“I’ll go find Xiao Qiao and ask,” she finally couldn’t sit still and stood up.

Before A’Ru could say anything, Qi Yue had already flown out again.

She had thought that everyone from the prefect’s mansion had gone to join the excitement at the Marquis Dingxi mansion, but unexpectedly Huang Ziqiao was at home.

Hearing that Qi Yue was looking for him, he rushed out frantically.

“Who’s bullying you?” he asked with wide eyes, still holding a horse whip in his hand, with a servant behind him carrying a stick and following anxiously.

Seeing the young man’s nervous expression, Qi Yue couldn’t help but laugh.

“Am I that easy to bully?” she asked with a smile. “Who’s bullying whom is still uncertain.”

Huang Ziqiao, made to laugh by her, began stammering and couldn’t speak properly.

“Then, what do you want with me?” he said, looking very uncomfortable. “I, I’m a grown man with no time for you women…”

Qi Yue laughed heartily and reached out to pat Huang Ziqiao’s shoulder.

The young man hadn’t had his growth spurt yet, and with Qi Yueniang being tall, the two standing together were about the same height.

Huang Ziqiao’s face turned bright red. Not knowing what to say, he stared at Qi Yue.

“Alright, I’m asking you to help me find out about something,” Qi Yue stopped teasing him and smiled.

“Speak,” Huang Ziqiao snorted and said while looking at the sky.

“Well, Chang Yuncheng received an imperial commendation, right? I want to…” Qi Yue said carefully.

Before she finished speaking, Huang Ziqiao stared at her.

“What about the commendation? What are you jealous of! That kind of commendation, I’ll be able to get one in the future too…” he said, stretching his neck stubbornly.

Huh?

Qi Yue also stared.

The two stared at each other for a moment.

Huang Ziqiao felt his ears were about to burn off. Besides staring, he couldn’t do any other action.

“Oh, yes, you’ll be even more amazing when you grow up,” Qi Yue smiled, quickly soothing the rebellious teenager with strong self-esteem, then continued, “Could you help me find out if he’s injured… if he’s safe…”

Huang Ziqiao deflated dejectedly.

“Oh,” he said sullenly.

The daytime excitement continued to the Marquis Dingxi mansion. Deep into the night, the mansion was still brightly lit with singing and dancing at its peak.

In the center of the courtyard, barbarian dancing girls spun in dizzying circles.

“Those were also imperial gifts that Yuncheng received,” Marquis Dingxi said, pointing at the alluring barbarian girls with a laugh.

Countless wine cups were passed around.

“The Marquis truly knows how to educate his son.”

Everyone shouted.

Marquis Dingxi laughed heartily, accepting all offerings and drinking freely.

Madam Xie was also surrounded by women.

“The Prince’s marriage – does Madam have any plans?” someone asked quietly with a smile.

Madam Xie’s face carried a hint of arrogance.

“No rush,” she said, turning her wine cup.

“Yes, yes, take your time choosing. Can’t be casual about it,” the women all laughed.

Madam Xie smiled with pursed lips, looking at the crystal-clear wine in her cup.

Of course, her son naturally deserved the best and was worth the best! Beggar servants, blind fools! The Rao family from Shandong, blind fools!

Let all these blind people regret it!

At this time in the northern desert, compared to recent days, it was much warmer. The thick curtains in the room had been taken down.

Chang Yuncheng lifted the curtain and walked out.

The soldiers in the courtyard saw him and hurried over.

“Prince, your wound hasn’t healed yet. The doctor said not to move around too much,” they said.

Chang Yuncheng smiled.

“It’s fine, just a scrape. Not that serious,” he said, lifting his foot to step forward, his leg slightly struggling.

The soldiers were worried.

“I’ll just sit in the courtyard,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Only then did everyone step back.

Stone tables and stools were placed in the courtyard. Chang Yuncheng sat down.

“Prince, the things to send home are all prepared. About your injury…” a guard approached and said quietly.

“Don’t mention it,” Chang Yuncheng said without turning his head.

The guard acknowledged and retreated silently.

Chang Yuncheng looked down at what was in his hands. The small carved gourd gave off a soft light, becoming more lustrous from frequent handling.

Looking up, he saw the starlight twinkling brightly in the sky. He gazed at the vast starry sky, slowly turning and rubbing the gourd in his hands.

What was she doing now? Did she feel any better these past few days? Calculating that he’d have to wait another half month to receive news from the carrier pigeons – such long days. But after receiving it, the days would be even longer.

Watching her smile with others, cry with others. Such days would only increase in the future, until she became someone else’s wife…

“Chang Yuncheng, hearing that I have another man, however much pain, anger, and sorrow you feel – that’s exactly how much pain, anger, and sorrow I felt hearing the news of your marriage…”

That woman’s words echoed in his ears.

Now he knew how much pain and sorrow that was…

Chang Yuncheng lowered his head and gripped the gourd tightly. A crisp sound rang out in the courtyard, drawing the attention of the surrounding soldiers.

So this was what losing felt like.

He raised his head again, fragments of the gourd in his hand, his eyes filled with the brilliant starlight.

The starlight here is really beautiful, Qi Yue looked up and sighed, raising the wine pot in her hand and taking a sip.

But this time it wasn’t wine. A’Ru had found out about her drinking with Wang Qian and had given Qi Yue a good scolding.

“How could you drink like that in front of a man!” A’Ru said with heartache. “What will people think?”

“What others think has nothing to do with me,” Qi Yue laughed. “Let them think whatever they want. I’m not living for them.”

A’Ru hesitated.

“Are you drinking because you’re heartbroken thinking about the Prince…” she asked quietly.

Qi Yue sighed.

“A’Ru, my thermometer and I spent much more time together than your Prince and I did, and it helped me far more than your Prince ever did,” she said with some heartache. “Although it wasn’t human, couldn’t you at least give it some respect? Your Prince is still alive, but it’s already dead. Couldn’t you show it some compassion…”

A’Ru was stunned, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard she reached out to pat Qi Yue.

“You’re really…” she laughed, trying to find a word to describe it but couldn’t, finally straightening her expression. “You’re wrong.”

Qi Yue raised an eyebrow.

“He’s not my Prince,” A’Ru said seriously.

Qi Yue laughed heartily and patted her.

Thinking of this, Qi Yue laughed again and took a sip of the ginseng soup in the wine pot.

Disciples sat in the courtyard talking and laughing. Although there weren’t many inpatients, they could earn more wages here than at any other medical hall or pharmacy. Most importantly, they could learn knowledge they’d never learned before, and learn it quickly. Presumably, if they worked hard, they could become doctors much earlier than originally expected, just as they had sworn when first entering – they would have more opportunities to become great physicians, great physicians who would benefit all people. It was truly exciting and inspiring.

Living in the present moment was quite good. Qi Yue withdrew her gaze and looked at the starry sky again.

“Don’t push yourself too hard. Live well,” she murmured, raising the wine pot to the starry sky once more.