Hearing Li Tong’s father say this, Fan Yilin was startled.

“I don’t disdain it,” he quickly said loudly, afraid they might change their minds, while laughing heartily. “So that’s how it is—no problem! I said long ago that Lady Qi is a divine physician!”

“Also, my father says that since Young Master Fan works in the Ministry of Personnel, he should work diligently. Coming and going as you please won’t do. Young people need to be steadfast to seek advancement,” Li Tong’s father added.

Fan Third Master shuddered.

When these big shots spoke, you just had to pick out the important parts. For instance, this sentence really meant just one thing: advancement.

Advancement!

His good-for-nothing brother could actually hear this word spoken to him?

He couldn’t help but look over. Fan Yilin was still busy examining the gifts, and if not for maintaining some dignity as a young master, he would have torn open the boxes on the spot.

This good-for-nothing? Advancement?

Why?

Why?!

As news spread, everyone was frantically asking why, but one person was completely clear-headed.

“Why?” Fan Yilin said, draping his arm around Li Tong’s shoulder, his face red as a cooked shrimp from drinking, speaking with a thick tongue. “Because of Lady Qi!”

He patted Li Tong’s back.

A day later, Fan Yilin and Li Tong—this pair of former failures now turned successful—privately rented an entire restaurant and drank well for a whole day.

Was renting an entire restaurant too extravagant for two people? What did extravagant mean? Now they no longer counted their pocket money on their fingers like before—they took whatever they wanted, and didn’t even know who paid the bills. There were plenty of people competing to flatter them.

Happiness came too fast and fierce—they couldn’t handle it.

Why? Others didn’t know why, but Fan Yilin knew.

“Didn’t I tell you—trust Lady Qi, ensure peace and prosperity, promotions and wealth!” Fan Yilin said loudly.

Li Tong, also red-faced from drinking, nodded vigorously.

“Exactly, exactly,” he said excitedly. Thinking of his experiences these past few days, they were so unimaginable that even now he would wake up startled at night, thinking he was dreaming.

“So we must thank her, thank her properly!” Fan Yilin said loudly.

Li Tong nodded again.

“Go, we must go thank her. The family has already thanked her—this time we’ll thank her ourselves,” he said.

But when they prepared generous gifts and came over, they found the person they wanted to thank was gone.

“Gone?” Fan Yilin was shocked. “When did she leave? Where did she go?”

The gatekeeper at Chen Shi’s residence had no mood to deal with them.

“Don’t know!” He slammed the door shut.

“What kind of attitude is that?” Fan Yilin was very angry. “Hey, did you people drive Lady Qi away like this?”

Ignoring the commotion outside, the gatekeeper looked worriedly toward the main hall.

Chen Shi held the letter in her hand, her face pale.

“Madam, Madam,” Cai Qing cried. “Please don’t get angry—I’ll go chase after her right away…”

But these words were still too late. Chen Shi suddenly leaned forward, clutching her chest, and coughed up blood.

Cai Qing screamed.

The paper in Chen Shi’s hand floated down to the ground, blood spattering across it, revealing a line of text:

“Aunt, I have business to attend to and must leave first. Don’t worry—I’ll come see you again soon…”

Qi Yue’s departure was too sudden. It happened when Chen Shi went to Duke Deqing’s mansion to find her brother again. Because she often went out and carried boxes and bundles, the servants didn’t pay attention. They didn’t expect that when Chen Shi returned and waited until dark without seeing her come back, they panicked and searched, then found the letter she’d left in her room.

Chen Shi slowly regained consciousness and struggled to sit up.

“Go chase her, go chase her!” she shouted.

Cai Qing quickly responded and rushed the servants to go.

“Tie her up and bring her back if you have to!” Chen Shi shouted, her hands gripping the bedding tightly. Her once jade-white hands now somehow showed faint gray-black spots that became particularly obvious as her veins bulged.

Cai Qing looked at these spots and couldn’t help covering her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

The servants had already responded and gone out.

Cai Qing fell to her knees.

“Madam, don’t be anxious or angry. Lady Qi doesn’t know…” she cried. “If she knew, she wouldn’t do this.”

Chen Shi was breathless and dizzy, leaning against the pillow without speaking for a long time, only tears flowing down her cheeks.

“I didn’t want to tell her because I was afraid she’d be frightened, panicked, and heartbroken, losing her naturalness. That would only backfire. I just didn’t expect that by not telling her, she wouldn’t take this to heart and would act as she pleased…” she murmured. “I was willing to watch her take her time, to see her relaxed and comfortable, but I have no time left—I can’t wait…”

Cai Qing held her hand and cried.

“Yes, yes, Madam. When we bring Lady Qi back, we’ll tell her, tell her everything. She’s strong-willed and intelligent—she can certainly handle it. You can teach her well, Madam, and she’ll surely not disappoint your efforts,” she cried.

Chen Shi closed her eyes and wept.

“Let’s bring her back first,” she said weakly.

But unexpectedly, the servants chased for a full day and night without finding Qi Yue.

“How far could she go in one day?” Cai Qing was frantic. “Go chase again! Split up into several routes! Maybe she went somewhere to sightsee.”

The servants hurried off again.

They did split into several routes and searched all the famous scenic spots in the area. Theoretically, as long as Qi Yue wasn’t riding a thousand-li steed, they should definitely find her. But in reality, they just couldn’t.

This wasn’t because the servants were incompetent, but because they were searching in the wrong direction. Chen Shi was convinced that Qi Yue had gone home, and where was home? Naturally Yongqing Prefecture. So no matter how urgently the servants chased or how far they searched, they only headed toward Yongqing Prefecture. In reality, Qi Yue had gone in exactly the opposite direction—north. The more urgently they searched and the farther they chased, the greater the distance from her actual trail.

Chen Shi was no longer angry but afraid—they couldn’t find her! Had something happened?

Where could a weak woman with four or five people go?

Chang Yuncheng spread his arms as soldiers helped him put on his armor.

“Sir, the armor has all been delivered. Do you want to meet with the people from the Ministry of War?” someone entered and said.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

“This is the armor and weapons handover at Zhangjiakou—we won’t go,” he said.

The person responded and left, then returned shortly with a letter in hand.

“Sir, your letter,” he said, presenting it with both hands.

My letter?

Chang Yuncheng frowned slightly.

“The officials from the Ministry of War brought it over. It was meant to be delivered to you in the northern desert, but since you’re here, it saved them the trip,” the guard said.

Ministry of War?

Chang Yuncheng frowned, already guessing roughly what it was, and reached out to take it.

Only his name was written on the envelope, with no sender’s name.

But this trick couldn’t fool him.

“Even this dog-like handwriting is unforgettable,” Chang Yuncheng said with a laugh, turning the letter in his hand. “Hmm, seems to be in good spirits this time—much thicker than the previous letters. Must have enjoyed cursing quite thoroughly.”

The guard beside him leaned over to look.

“Another one from Young Master Fan?” he asked.

Chang Yuncheng made a sound of acknowledgment, turning the letter in his hand as the guard fastened his armor.

“This person really is…” the guard couldn’t help shaking his head.

“Just ridiculous, but not disgusting,” Chang Yuncheng said.

The guard was surprised.

This wasn’t disgusting? This Young Master Fan had already written twice with foul language cursing the Prince, and once even stuffed a dried toad leg in the letter—absolutely revolting.

Chang Yuncheng smiled.

“He’s doing it for her,” he said. When mentioning “her,” a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

As long as everyone in the world respected, loved, and protected her, what did it matter if he bore the burden of being cursed?

As long as she was well, all was well.

The guard finished adjusting the last piece of armor and stepped back.

“Your Highness, finished,” he reminded.

Chang Yuncheng withdrew from his reverie and looked at the letter in his hand. Though he knew Fan Yilin was venting for her sake, there was no need to be disgusted by this kid. He flicked it with his hand.

The soldier caught it accurately.

Chang Yuncheng stepped out.

The temporary supervisory mission was complete—today he should set off to return to the northern desert.

Several men in military official robes strode over from outside, laughing loudly when they saw him from afar.

Chang Yuncheng also laughed heartily and opened his arms to greet them.

Both sides approached and patted each other’s shoulders.

“Your Highness, leaving so soon?” the bearded man said loudly.

Looking at this man he’d always categorized as just a pretty boy, he felt somewhat reluctant to part.

“What?” Chang Yuncheng’s face darkened slightly. “Are you still unconvinced?”

The bearded man was startled, then burst into hearty laughter, his fan-like hand heavily patting Chang Yuncheng’s shoulder again.

Several officials clearly from the Ministry of War couldn’t bear to watch.

One slap like that would knock them to their knees, wouldn’t it?

This barbarous brute from Zhangjiakou!

Chang Yuncheng didn’t move a muscle, not even an eyebrow.

“Convinced, convinced!” the bearded man shouted loudly. “Brother is convinced by you! From now on, whatever Your Highness says goes—if brother has half a word of refusal, I won’t be surnamed Hu!”

Chang Yuncheng smiled and put his arm around the man’s shoulder.

“Then I won’t be polite. First, secretly load a cart of your good wine here and send it to the northern desert—those bastards of ours are green with envy,” he said quietly.

The bearded man burst into laughter again.

The people here couldn’t help rubbing their ears, their faces full of amazement.

When had this brute ever laughed so much? Hard to believe this was the same guy who had the audacity to beat the supervising eunuch Wu half to death and throw him out of the city. Such an unreasonable person with outstanding military achievements was the most difficult to deal with.

Yet in front of His Highness, he was as cheerful as a little pony…

This comparison made several people feel nauseated and quickly dismissed the thought.

After finally sending off the bearded man, the Ministry of War officials got their chance to step forward.

“Your Highness, are you heading to the northern desert?” one of them asked.

Chang Yuncheng nodded.

“How about this—Your Highness, come back to the capital with us,” they said.

Chang Yuncheng was startled.

“The supervisory duties are complete, and everyone from each region is returning to the capital. The court’s intention is for Your Highness to go as well,” they said.

“Well, I’m only acting temporarily. I’ve written all the documents—the officials can take them to report to His Majesty,” Chang Yuncheng demurred.

“No, no, Your Highness, it’s more appropriate for you to report personally. Minister Kong specifically instructed us about this repeatedly,” one said quickly.

The capital… Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but look south.

That was closer to her, wasn’t it? Maybe he could even see her. Only, he wondered if after all this time, when they met again, would she still be herself, or would she already be another’s wife…

Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help clenching his fists, his hard nails digging into his palms.

“Alright,” he turned to the several men with a smile and nodded. “Then I respectfully accept your kind invitation.”

Author’s Note: This damned tourism, brothers and sisters, be cautious about visiting popular attractions on weekends! We stood in line for four whole hours and witnessed two fights that broke out because of the queuing!