When night fell deep, the Marquis Dingxi’s residence settled into quiet.

Nanny Su had dried Madam Xie’s hair.

“Is she asleep?” Madam Xie asked.

Nanny Su nodded.

“Exhausted. She ate two full bowls during dinner just now,” she said quietly.

Madam Xie exhaled through her nose.

“If she had birth parents alive, how could they let her suffer like this?” she said lightly.

“That’s why they say children without mothers are like grass – so pitiful,” Nanny Su naturally knew what Madam Xie was thinking and sighed along.

They had completely forgotten there was someone else who was also a child without father or mother – that person in their eyes was not pitiful at all, only detestable.

The room fell silent for a moment.

“Did you find out what happened?” Madam Xie asked.

Nanny Su shook her head.

“Miss Rao is a proper young lady after all – she won’t say. Those maidservants and matrons also keep their mouths shut tight, insisting she just missed her grandmother and wanted to visit,” she said.

Madam Xie shook her head.

“She’s still young after all. No matter how much she missed her grandmother, the Rao family wouldn’t let her travel alone with just seven or eight guards and matrons, especially to Quanzhou – by boat and carriage,” she said, fingering her prayer beads thoughtfully. “Don’t rush. A proper young lady like her cares about face. Wait a bit and quietly inquire.”

Nanny Su paused, arranging the pillow.

“Does Madam intend to let Miss Rao stay?” she asked.

“Looking at her condition, can she leave?” Madam Xie shook her head. “Lost and dispirited, even lost her travel pass. Since we know each other, though her family isn’t decent, for the sake of the few pairs of shoes she made me, I can’t just watch her go like this.”

Nanny Su smiled as she helped Madam Xie lie down.

“Madam is just kind-hearted – harsh words but a soft heart,” she laughed.

But early the next morning, Rao Yufang wanted to take her leave.

Nanny Su tried earnestly to persuade her to stay but couldn’t.

“What? My face can’t keep you here?” Madam Xie asked, standing under the eaves.

Rao Yufang looked at her with tears in her eyes and bowed.

“It’s precisely because of Madam’s face that Yufang cannot stay,” she said in a trembling voice.

Madam Xie looked at her without speaking.

Rao Yufang ultimately said nothing more, only bowed again.

“Yufang has imposed upon you. Madam’s kindness, Yufang will remember forever,” she said and turned to leave.

Nanny Su was somewhat at a loss and looked back at Madam Xie.

Madam Xie stepped forward.

“Why can’t you stay? Speaking of it, others might not be able to stay, but can’t you stay here?” she said. “Who dares argue? If your Rao family wants to argue, they should first settle the matter of that broken engagement!”

Rao Yufang’s back trembled.

“Madam, please say no more. Yufang doesn’t deserve…” she finally broke down crying, covering her face.

“I say you deserve it, so you deserve it,” Madam Xie stepped down and grasped her hand. “Come back inside for breakfast.”

Outside the courtyard wall, Chang Yunqi turned away, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

At this moment in the capital, Qi Yue was also sitting down for breakfast.

“We’ll go out shortly, first to find the Prince, then…” she was saying to A’Ru and A’Hao.

Before she finished speaking, footsteps approached from outside, accompanied by servants’ greetings.

“Madam has arrived.”

The door curtain lifted and Chen Shi entered.

Qi Yue hurried to stand up, seeing Chen Shi’s expression as cold as yesterday.

Yesterday, after Chen Shi had pulled her into the carriage and all the way home, except for that slap, Chen Shi hadn’t said a word to her, no matter how Qi Yue tried to approach her.

“Aunt,” Qi Yue said, looking at her.

“How am I your aunt?” Chen Shi looked at her coldly.

As long as she was willing to speak, that was good. Qi Yue forced a smile.

“Aunt-in-law,” she smiled. “I left rather hastily and didn’t speak to you in person…”

“Why didn’t you speak to me in person?” Chen Shi looked at her and asked.

Need you ask? Because if I had, you absolutely wouldn’t have agreed to let me go…

Qi Yue approached and tugged at her arm.

“You knew what I would do, so why did you still act this way?” Chen Shi shook off her hand and demanded.

“Because I love him, so I had to go find him,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

Chen Shi was stunned.

She hadn’t expected anyone to speak such words so directly.

For a moment she didn’t know what to say, various emotions churning in her heart.

Love him?

Love him!

After doing so much to finally escape, she actually said she loved him!

Chen Shi raised her hand.

A sharp slap rang out.

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

Qi Yue had never expected this. Still wearing a smile, she only felt half her face burning with pain, her ears ringing.

A’Ru and A’Hao stepped forward immediately, shielding Qi Yue behind them.

Having followed Qi Yue for so long, they had long regarded Qi Yue as their mistress. Now, never mind Chen Shi – even if Marquis Dingxi himself stood before them with ill intent toward Qi Yue, they would rush forward.

“Madam Chen, let’s talk reasonably,” A’Ru said, her gaze already wary as she looked at Chen Shi.

Qi Yue came to her senses, her mind clearing, and patted A’Ru and A’Hao, signaling them to relax.

“Yes, Aunt-in-law. A child traveling a thousand li worries the mother. My actions made you worry – that’s my fault. I frightened you,” she said, grasping Chen Shi’s hand again.

Chen Shi looked at her.

“So you do know I’m doing this for your own good?” she said in a trembling voice.

“I know you’re worried about me,” Qi Yue replied.

In her agitation, Chen Shi didn’t notice her words.

A’Ru glanced at Qi Yue.

She didn’t say she knew you were doing it for my good.

“Then will you listen to me?” Chen Shi asked again.

Qi Yue smiled and reached out to grasp Chen Shi’s arm.

“Aunt-in-law, please sit down for breakfast first. After we eat, you can scold me then,” she smiled.

Chen Shi looked at her and shook her head.

“I don’t have time to scold you,” she said, reaching out to smooth Qi Yue’s hair at her temples.

Qi Yue paused. Why did these words sound so…

“Listen to me – stay home quietly. I’ll find a way to resolve this trouble for you,” Chen Shi said.

This was precisely what worried Qi Yue most now. Though Zhou Maochun had been cheerful throughout the journey, the truth was this matter was probably very serious.

Obviously they had been set up by villains. If someone dared involve Zhou Maochun, such a close court attendant, it meant their opponents were also powerful, and there were certainly many adding fuel to the fire.

No matter how capable Zhou Maochun was, he was just a court physician – no father, no mother, not even a disciple. Simply put, he was alone with no family or friends to help. His only support was the Emperor. If he lost imperial favor, killing him would be utterly simple.

Chen Shi’s family was a Duke’s residence. If she was willing to intervene, things would be much better.

Chang Yuncheng wouldn’t have to fight alone either.

“Aunt-in-law,” Qi Yue couldn’t help but exclaim with joy, then worried, “But won’t this bring trouble to your family?”

Chen Shi glanced at her.

“If you promise to listen to me, there won’t be trouble,” she said.

This was a double meaning.

If she had listened to her, she wouldn’t have gone to the northern desert, and naturally there wouldn’t be this trouble…

Qi Yue shook her arm and called out “Aunt-in-law.”

Chen Shi took a deep breath and turned to leave.

“Aunt-in-law?” Qi Yue called out in confusion.

“I’m going to the palace now,” she said.

Qi Yue was stunned with surprise again.

“Now?” she asked.

Chen Shi spoke as if the imperial palace were her own home, coming and going freely…

This, this was too…

But it seemed it really was.

“Aunt-in-law, have you eaten?” she couldn’t help asking.

“Eating or not eating doesn’t matter much anymore,” Chen Shi glanced at the dining table and said lightly, then gave Qi Yue another warning look. “If you don’t listen to me this time and run around again, even the immortals can’t save you.”

With that, she lifted her foot and left.

In Qi Yue’s view, only the door curtain remained swaying.

“Miss, then we…” A’Ru asked quietly.

Qi Yue pondered for a moment.

“Like this – have Hu San go find the Prince and tell him Madam will find a way, so he shouldn’t worry either,” she said.

A’Ru nodded.

“Also inquire about how the old master is doing,” Qi Yue instructed.

A’Ru agreed and hurried out.

The room returned to quiet. Qi Yue sat down and looked at the table full of food.

“Eat. Only with a full stomach will we have strength,” she said, tapping her chopsticks and reaching out to pick up food.