Chang Yuncheng felt he had never been so humiliated in his entire life!

He decided to lift his foot and leave immediately!

“Sit down,” Wang Qian said with a smile, pointing to the chair beside him.

Chang Yuncheng glanced at him and settled down after lifting his robes.

Since the person had sat down, she couldn’t very well drive him out, so Qi Yue called for A’Ru.

A’Ru came out from the inner room and, seeing an additional man in the room who was also an acquaintance, couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.

“Go to the dining hall and get another portion of food. The Prince hasn’t eaten yet,” Qi Yue said.

A’Ru responded affirmatively.

Qi Yue called after her again.

“Put it on the Prince’s account,” she said with a smile, while grinning at Chang Yuncheng. “How about the Prince treats us?”

Chang Yuncheng hummed in response without saying anything.

A’Ru went out.

“Then I should have asked for an extra portion to take back earlier,” Wang Qian said with a smile.

Chang Yuncheng truly didn’t want to make small talk, but he also felt that this would make it difficult for Qi Yue, who was trying hard to lighten the atmosphere, so he forced out a smile. But then he thought about how he had forced his way in, which was already making things difficult for her. What kind of heroic behavior was this shameless persistence? His smile stiffened again, and he still wanted to lift his foot and leave. If he truly wanted what was best for her, he should stay far away from her, so as not to constantly remind her of the past—those past events that held not a trace of joy.

“Prince?”

Wang Qian’s voice rang in his ears.

Chang Yuncheng came back to his senses and looked at him.

Wang Qian gestured with his head toward Qi Yue’s direction.

Only then did Chang Yuncheng notice that Qi Yue was looking at him.

“How is it? Your mother hasn’t had any more phlegm blockages, has she?” Qi Yue asked.

“Oh, no, that, the phlegm suction, it works quite well,” Chang Yuncheng replied.

“That’s good, though it’s quite an ordeal,” Qi Yue nodded.

“What new curiosity is this?” Wang Qian asked from the side.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

“This, well, it’s not convenient to discuss now,” she laughed, pointing to the food in front of him and making a disgusted expression. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to eat if I tell you.”

Wang Qian laughed and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Chang Yuncheng’s gaze was fixed on the wall. Qi Yue didn’t like calligraphy and paintings, so there was almost nothing hanging on the walls.

A’Ru brought in the food, and Chang Yuncheng ate with his head down.

Since he wasn’t speaking, Qi Yue couldn’t very well talk either, and naturally Wang Qian didn’t speak either.

This was probably the first meal Qi Yue had eaten in silence since arriving in ancient times, truly practicing the principle of “no talking while eating.” Eating this way was indeed faster.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave,” Wang Qian said with a smile, rising after A’Ru had cleared the bowls and chopsticks.

Qi Yue performed a respectful bow to him.

“Thank you,” she said.

“I should be the one thanking Miss Qi for the meal,” Wang Qian laughed.

Qi Yue looked at him and shook her head with a smile, wearing an expression that said “I’m not a fool.”

What about other doctors not daring to treat the patient, running so far specifically to ask her to examine someone—wasn’t it all just to give face?

Not bad. There were feuds that arose from quarrels, and there was also camaraderie that came from fighting. Life was really quite good.

Wang Qian simply smiled and said nothing more, raising his hand in salute.

“Prince, farewell,” he said to Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng raised his hand in return but said nothing.

After seeing Wang Qian off, Qi Yue turned back, preparing to check on the newly admitted injured patient. Chang Yuncheng stood in the main hall.

“After I finish the surgery, I won’t be of much help. With Imperial Physician Zhou and Old Physician An here, you can rest assured,” she walked over and said to Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng hummed in response.

A moment of silence passed between them.

“Well then, I’ll get back to work,” Qi Yue said, walking past him.

Chang Yuncheng watched her walk by and couldn’t help but speak up.

“He… he’s not bad,” he said stammering.

After saying it, he wanted to slap himself.

What on earth was he saying!

Qi Yue stopped and turned around.

“No, he’s not as good as you,” she said.

Chang Yuncheng’s breathing stopped for an instant.

What… what had he just heard!!

“You actually wanted to hear me say this, didn’t you?” Qi Yue said again, looking at him and laughing heartily.

Chang Yuncheng’s mind immediately went blank with a thunderous crash, his breathing stopping once again. He felt his ears burning hot, wishing he could disappear from this place immediately.

In front of this woman, all he did was embarrass himself!

“You,” Qi Yue smiled with pursed lips, shook her head, said nothing more, and turned to walk away.

I’m just a joke!

Chang Yuncheng raised his hand and pounded hard on his chest.

After this incident, Chang Yuncheng basically stopped appearing around Qi Yue, no matter what Great Madam Xie said.

“Grandmother, can people behave like this?” Chang Yuncheng looked at Great Madam Xie and asked. “She’s a person, not an object—you can’t just want her when you want her, throw her away when you want to throw her away, and then pick her up again when you regret it. Grandmother, we can’t bully people like this.”

Great Madam Xie sighed and sat down.

How could she not know this…

The atmosphere in the room became heavy.

“Let her live her life well and forget those troublesome things from the past. That would be the best repayment for her,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Great Madam Xie looked up at him and smiled.

“You… can you bear to?” she asked.

“What does it matter if I can’t bear to,” Chang Yuncheng said.

Great Madam Xie glanced at Madam Xie, who was sleeping nearby.

“Yuncheng, don’t blame your mother,” she said quietly.

Chang Yuncheng smiled.

“Grandmother, how could I?” he said.

Great Madam Xie reached out and stroked his head.

“Before we knew it, you’ve grown so big,” she laughed, gesturing with her hand. “Back then you were just this small. When I reached out to touch your head, you still looked unhappy about it.”

Chang Yuncheng smiled.

“When your mother can be discharged, I’ll take her back with me,” Great Madam Xie said.

Chang Yuncheng was stunned.

“Grandmother…” he began to speak.

Great Madam Xie raised her hand to stop him.

“You’re not at home either, and with her temperament, having caused such a scene with this illness, I really can’t feel at ease leaving her at your house,” she said. “While I can still live for a few more years, let her keep me company for a few years.”

“Grandmother, how can I let you take care of Mother?” Chang Yuncheng stood up and said. “I’ve already submitted a memorial to the Emperor requesting to resign from office. Once Mother is completely better, then…”

“Are you foolish?” Great Madam Xie glared at him. “After all these years, don’t you know your mother’s temperament? This isn’t taking care of her or being good to her—this is wanting her to die faster.”

Chang Yuncheng’s expression became awkward.

“What does she want? She just wants to save face,” Great Madam Xie said with a sigh. “You go ahead and achieve great things and build your career. That’s better than any medicine.”

Chang Yuncheng responded affirmatively.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Grandmother,” he said.

“What trouble? Didn’t Yueniang say that all relatives are debt collectors? I must have owed your mother a lot of money in my previous life,” Great Madam Xie laughed.

Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but smile too.

“I must have owed Mother a lot of money too,” he laughed.

Saying this, that woman’s smiling face appeared before his eyes again, and his smile couldn’t help but turn bitter.

In his previous life, he must have owed her a great, great deal of money…

Two days later, Great Madam Xie came to say they were being discharged.

“Stay a few more days. This… the time is too short,” Qi Yue said with some surprise.

“It’s inconvenient. Besides, didn’t you say you couldn’t help much anyway? Having Imperial Physician Zhou and Old Physician An is enough,” Great Madam Xie said with a bland expression.

That was true. Qi Yue nodded while spinning her feather pen.

Imperial Physician Zhou had been invited by Chang Yuncheng, so of course he could stay at their home.

“Yes, going back is also good. If anything comes up, you can come ask me anytime,” she said with a smile, while calling to the disciples outside. “Have them handle the discharge procedures.”

She didn’t even try to make them stay. The woman didn’t seem to be without feelings for Yuncheng, so why…

Great Madam Xie hummed somewhat gloomily.

“Is there anything else?” Qi Yue asked, seeing her still seated.

“Yueniang, what we owe you this time…” Great Madam Xie hesitated before speaking.

“Favors and debts don’t matter much, but remember not to owe money,” Qi Yue picked up her words with a laugh.

Great Madam Xie looked at her with a somewhat helpless smile.

“Besides, I was truly so happy to be able to treat you this time,” Qi Yue said, spinning her pen and leaning back in her chair, smiling at Great Madam Xie.

“Happy? You nearly got into big trouble, and you’re still happy?” Great Madam Xie asked in confusion, looking at Qi Yue, then seemed to have a realization.

Actually, this time was also an opportunity. When Madam Xie wakes up and finds out, then…

She couldn’t help but sit up straight.

“Yueniang, you and…” she began to speak.

Qi Yue interrupted her.

“Of course I’m happy,” she laughed, raising her eyebrows at Great Madam Xie. “Don’t you know your daughter’s temperament? She’s a person with backbone, clear about gratitude and grudges…”

Gratitude was gratitude, but it would never affect revenge…

Great Madam Xie fell silent.

That’s right. If they were to talk about gratitude and expect Madam Xie to relent and welcome this woman back, Madam Xie would definitely return this woman’s life-saving favor to her without hesitation.

Even if she died, she would never…

“Hey, you must tell her exactly how I saved her, how I was almost accused of being a quack doctor because of her, and that human life—I gave up another person’s life for her sake…” Qi Yue leaned forward again, her hand on the table.

Great Madam Xie was stunned.

“That person wasn’t… wasn’t supposed to die anyway…” she stammered.

Qi Yue straightened her eyebrows and composed her expression.

“Perhaps I could have tried to save him if I had concentrated fully,” she said seriously.

Great Madam Xie looked at her, not knowing what to say.

Qi Yue laughed heartily, then sighed and looked at Great Madam Xie with bright eyes.

“Just thinking about your daughter waking up and learning all this, tsk tsk tsk tsk, my heart feels absolutely wonderful!” she said, slapping the table with laughter, leaning forward a bit. “Great Madam Xie, is there anything more painful in this world than receiving a life-saving favor from someone you despise and hate?”

To hate her unto death, yet receive the grace of rebirth from her; to wish her dead, yet depend on her for life; the hatred cannot be eliminated, the favor cannot be forgotten—when these two extreme emotions are focused entirely on one person, then that person…

Great Madam Xie exhaled.

How truly miserable…

“Your fate is really quite good,” she finally said, looking at Qi Yue.

“Heaven has been kind to me,” Qi Yue smiled slightly, accepting this compliment without the slightest modesty, lightly tossing the feather pen in her hand. “Besides, everyone lives their own life. Some people get better and better, like me, and some people just…”

Get worse and worse, like Madam Xie.

“This is a matter of character—can’t be helped,” Qi Yue laughed heartily, then seemed to forcibly restrain herself. “Sorry, a doctor’s heart is like a parent’s heart. She’s so miserable and nearly died—I shouldn’t be laughing hahahahaha…”

It had to be said, sometimes this woman’s mouth was truly vicious!

No wonder Madam Xie was always half-dead with anger whenever she dealt with her.

Great Madam Xie stood up with a darkened face and walked away.