The clear voice of the woman continued in the great hall.

Cai Zhong slowly walked over.

“Your Majesty, tea,” he said with a bow, carrying a tray with two cups of tea.

The Emperor glanced at it, took one cup, and drank slowly without speaking.

Cai Zhong felt this was his most anxious choice ever. He pushed the tray in his hands toward Qi Yue.

Qi Yue’s mouth was somewhat dry from talking, so she casually took it.

“Thank you,” she said out of habit, while setting down a needle with one hand. “Suturing is like this—it relies on the coordination of scissors and forceps. It’s different from making clothes.”

The Emperor gripped his teacup and made an “oh” sound.

“How fascinating. How did you think of all these things?” he said with a smile.

Cai Zhong, who was still bowing, slowly straightened up and stepped back, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

Qi Yue finished the last sip.

“Accumulated experience from generation to generation,” she said, pointing to her head and squinting with a smile. “Human potential is limitless.”

The Emperor looked at her and smiled slightly as well.

Qi Yue began packing the items in front of her into the box.

A young eunuch entered from outside, whispered a few words to Cai Zhong, who nodded and walked toward His Majesty.

The young eunuch couldn’t help but stare wide-eyed, looking somewhat shocked, as if he hadn’t expected Cai Zhong to do this.

“Your Majesty, the imperial kitchen asks whether to serve the meal,” Cai Zhong said with a smile, walking closer.

Was it already noon?

Qi Yue quickly looked at the sky outside. The Emperor also seemed somewhat surprised and glanced at the hourglass nearby.

“This subject…” The host was about to eat, so Qi Yue quickly bowed to take her leave.

The Emperor had already spoken first.

“Miss Qi has tasted my tea—why not taste the imperial cuisine as well?” he said with a smile.

The young eunuch beside them finally showed understanding, looking at Cai Zhong with immense admiration.

No wonder he could be the chief steward…

“Your Majesty, this subject should return home,” Qi Yue said after a moment’s hesitation.

As soon as these words were spoken, even the air in the room seemed to freeze.

The young eunuchs needn’t be mentioned—even Cai Zhong’s expression became distorted.

Someone had actually… rejected the Emperor’s banquet invitation…

Imperial cuisine…

The number of court officials who had eaten it could be counted on one’s fingers.

No, the key point was—she had rejected the Emperor!

Cai Zhong would bet this woman had no idea what she was saying.

The Emperor also seemed somewhat surprised, though his expression remained unchanged, still looking at her with a smile.

“Madam Chen is ill, and my adopted father prescribed some medicinal food for her to eat for three days. She doesn’t take care of herself—if I don’t watch her, she won’t eat,” Qi Yue said seriously, apparently feeling nothing unusual.

“I want to die…”

This phrase echoed in the Emperor’s ears, his expression becoming slightly grave.

He made an “mm” sound.

“It’s not that Miss Qi finds eating with me uncomfortable, is it?” he suddenly said.

Qi Yue quickly waved her hands.

“No, no. Your Majesty is such a good person. This subject was uncomfortable at first, but now I don’t feel that way at all,” she said.

The Emperor smiled.

“I’m such a good person?” he said. “That’s because you haven’t seen my bad side yet.”

“That’s because I haven’t seen Your Majesty’s good side yet,” Qi Yue said again.

This was somewhat convoluted. Cai Zhong was stunned and worked it out in his mind, while the Emperor was already laughing heartily.

“Your Majesty,” Qi Yue was about to kowtow and take her leave, but almost forgot to request something important, so she quickly spoke again.

The Emperor looked at her.

“What? Having second thoughts?” he asked with a smile.

This Emperor really spoke casually.

“Your Majesty, you’ve seen all the samples just now. When the first batch of supplies is ready, this subject will personally deliver them to the frontier,” Qi Yue said.

The Emperor made an “mm” sound.

Qi Yue was relieved, kowtowed again, then rose and backed toward the exit.

“Wait. What did you say?” the Emperor suddenly asked.

Hadn’t he heard just now? Was he distracted?

Qi Yue quickly repeated what she had just said.

“You want to go?” the Emperor asked, tilting his head slightly to look at her.

“Yes, since this subject designed them, it’s better to go personally to ensure they know how to use them,” Qi Yue said.

The Emperor smiled faintly.

“If I can use them, surely they can too?” he said.

Eh?

Qi Yue was stunned again.

What did he mean?

The Emperor looked at her and stood up.

“You’re not allowed to go,” he said. After dropping this statement, he turned and walked outside.

Not allowed to go?

Qi Yue snapped back to reality.

“Your Majesty…” she called out quickly.

The Emperor didn’t acknowledge her and had already walked leisurely to the door.

Qi Yue wanted to chase after him, but Cai Zhong quickly blocked her.

“Oh my, Miss Qi, you mustn’t,” he said with some admonishment.

“But…” Qi Yue was about to say something when Cai Zhong didn’t give her the chance, glaring at a young eunuch.

“Why aren’t you quickly carrying Miss Qi’s things?” he scolded.

Immediately, several young eunuchs rushed forward, and finally one lucky one managed to snatch the box from Qi Yue’s hands.

Qi Yue had no choice but to leave.

Walking out of the palace gates and seeing the delighted A’Ru and A’Hao who came to meet her, Qi Yue finally exhaled.

“Could it be that these don’t work?” A’Ru asked somewhat anxiously, seeing her expression.

“No, His Majesty was very pleased,” Qi Yue said, pouting slightly.

“Then…” A’Hao asked in confusion.

“His Majesty won’t let me go,” Qi Yue said only after getting into the carriage.

A’Ru and A’Hao exchanged glances.

“Why?” they asked in unison.

“I don’t know,” Qi Yue said with a snort. Thinking about not being able to see Chang Yuncheng, she felt her face couldn’t brighten no matter how hard she tried—it just kept drooping.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. This time was too rushed anyway, and we just returned from there. It’s good to rest. We can go in the second half of the year. Those medical supplies won’t be delivered just once,” A’Ru comforted her.

That was the only way to think about it. Besides, the pharmaceutical business was just beginning and really needed people. Hu San and Liu Pucheng alone might not be able to handle everything.

“For the second batch, I must go, even if the Jade Emperor himself tries to stop me,” Qi Yue said, finally perking up.

Returning home to eat with Chen Shi, Chen Shi carefully asked what she had said when meeting the Emperor. Qi Yue selectively told her, and Chen Shi listened happily, her whole spirit seeming to improve.

“His Majesty even offered me imperial cuisine,” Qi Yue said with a smile. “But I didn’t dare eat it.”

Cai Qing beside them also showed surprise, but Chen Shi appeared calm, as if this was something she had long expected.

“It’s good you didn’t eat this time,” she said with a smile.

That kind of person the Emperor is…

This way is actually better.

Qi Yue nodded.

Though the two meant different things.

Watching Qi Yue leave, Chen Shi leaned wearily against her pillow, too tired even to open her eyes.

“Madam,” Cai Qing couldn’t help but choke up.

“Why are you crying?” Chen Shi said softly with closed eyes, a slight smile appearing on her lips. “Now… how wonderful.”

Cai Qing nodded and responded with a choked voice.

The room fell into complete silence.

When Qi Yue left the palace gates, the old lady of Duke Deqing had also finished speaking.

Master Chen sat in somber silence for a moment.

“I’ll go see Xueniang,” he said.

The old lady of Duke Deqing sighed.

“If she doesn’t want to talk, she won’t,” she said.

“If she truly wants our Chen family to die out and be completely ruined,” Master Chen said indifferently.

“Speak nicely to her—her health isn’t good,” the old lady of Duke Deqing instructed again.

Master Chen smiled bitterly and bowed to the old lady of Duke Deqing.

“What are you doing this for?” the old lady shook her head.

“Aunt, we’ve caused you trouble,” Master Chen said, straightening up. He smiled bitterly again. “The founding Emperor was right—Xueniang is indeed an ungrateful wolf.”

The old lady of Duke Deqing interrupted him with a sharp sound.

“Don’t say that about her. She was still young then,” she said. “She was led astray and did some foolish things.”

Master Chen shook his head.

“You can tell what someone will be like at seventy by observing them at three,” he said, bowing to the old lady again. “Aunt, go rest quickly. Don’t worry about this. I’ll go ask her what’s really going on.”

“Now I don’t want you to go ask,” the old lady of Duke Deqing said hesitantly. “I should go instead. She didn’t grow up with you all, so she might be closer to me.”

“For her, closeness is useless,” Master Chen said, supporting the old lady and personally escorting her out. “Aunt, don’t worry about it. I’ll go see her in a few days.”

The old lady could only sigh and say no more, letting the servant women support her back to her room.

After all, she was getting on in years. After running around for half the day and talking so much, her energy was spent. She dozed off as soon as she lay down, and even those serving her medicine couldn’t wake her.

Rao Chen Shi hadn’t left yet. After packing her things and seeing the old lady in this state, she wasn’t asked to stay, so she could only go bid farewell to Duke Deqing’s wife.

“Since you’ve returned, stay home for a few more days,” Duke Deqing’s wife said.

“Stay for what? Mother doesn’t like me anyway,” Rao Chen Shi said.

Duke Deqing’s wife quickly patted her hand with a smile.

“Sister, don’t say that. Mother mentions you every day, saying you married far away and she raised you for nothing,” she said with a smile.

“She should be mentioning Xueniang instead,” Rao Chen Shi said sourly.

Though Duke Deqing’s wife didn’t know what had happened, she knew it was related to Xueniang.

“Sister, the closer you are, the more casual you can be,” she said. “Don’t you know that yourself?”

Her own family also had an orphaned niece from her brother-in-law’s family staying with them. Compared to her own children, she couldn’t beat or scold her, treating her well but always lacking that bone-deep intimacy—it was more like mutual respect.

Rao Chen Shi immediately understood and showed a smile.

“I came in such a hurry, and there’s a pile of things to sort out at home. I’ll come again in a few days,” she said with a smile.

The two women chatted and laughed as they walked to the main hall, when two servant women hurried in.

“Madam, the wife of Marquis Dingxi has come,” they said, holding a calling card.

The wife of Marquis Dingxi?

Duke Deqing’s wife and Rao Chen Shi exchanged surprised glances.

“Perfect timing!” Rao Chen Shi said with raised eyebrows, her smile completely gone.

Before her words finished, Madam Xie was seen striding in, surrounded by several servant women.

She saw the two women in the main hall and was slightly startled. Having been distant for years with no contact, she had only met them once at Chen Shi’s wedding and couldn’t immediately recognize who was who.

“How dare you come here?” Rao Chen Shi walked over angrily.

“Second sister, let’s speak nicely,” Duke Deqing’s wife quickly mediated while slightly bowing. “Madam Xie.”

With this address, Madam Xie could distinguish who was who.

She looked Rao Chen Shi up and down.

“Well, well, sisters are indeed close—gathering together like this,” Madam Xie said with a cold smile, stepping over the threshold and looking at Rao Chen Shi. “Have you sisters figured out any new ways to torment me?”