The Emperor’s hand, which was about to make annotations on the memorial, stopped.

“Is it because she went out early this morning?” he asked.

A eunuch hurriedly replied that it was so.

“So the people from Prince Sima’s household quarreled with Lord Zhou, saying that Miss Qi was too irresponsible. How could she go out at a time like this, and she actually left all the medical treatment to Old Physician An,” the eunuch said.

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment and said no more. He raised his hand and swept it across the memorial with a flourish, then tossed it aside and picked up another one.

The eunuch hesitated for a moment with his head lowered, then retreated. Cai Zhong thought it over again and again but ultimately said nothing. At this point, Li Tong came in with several more memorials, and the room fell into quiet.

Chang Yuncheng pushed over the tea soup that the waiter had just brought up.

“Would you like to try this?” he asked.

Qi Yue, sitting across from him, looked at him and nodded.

“Sure, I’ve already eaten, but if you’re willing, I don’t mind eating it again,” she said, indeed picking up the spoon to eat.

“It’s hot,” Chang Yuncheng said hurriedly.

But it was already too late. Qi Yue opened her mouth and fanned it with her hand.

“Tea, tea, something cold,” Chang Yuncheng hurriedly passed it over.

Qi Yue waved her hand.

“Thank you for your concern, but I love eating hot food,” she said, picking up the spoon again.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and pressed down on her hand.

“I told you that you have a bad temper, but you don’t believe it,” he said. “Speak properly.”

“Are you planning to speak properly now?” Qi Yue looked at him and asked.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and nodded.

“Good. I’ve said before that I’m very easy-going. If you speak properly, I’ll speak properly. But if you’re going to chatter about whether things are cold or hot, whether you’ve eaten or drunk, how nice the weather is today, and other such rambling, I’ll naturally accompany you in kind,” Qi Yue said, putting down the spoon and leaning back in her chair, looking at Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng kept looking at her.

“You woman, you’ve always been like this. Chattering non-stop, and especially reasonable,” he smiled. “Always making people want to give you a beating.”

“It’s not like you haven’t beaten me before,” Qi Yue said with a snort.

“Where did I beat you? You were just too weak. I only pushed you lightly,” Chang Yuncheng said, raising his chin.

“Oh my, now you’re denying it again?” Qi Yue said, also raising her chin in imitation of him. “That arrogant way you acted then – I remember it crystal clear. That really made people want to give you a beating.”

Speaking of the past, both couldn’t help but think of former times.

“It’s really strange. I always feel like I first met you at Qianjin Hall, not at Marquis Dingxi’s mansion,” Chang Yuncheng smiled.

Qi Yue couldn’t help but whistle.

You’re right…

Their first meeting was indeed at that time.

How miraculous. Back then, she never thought she would have today with such a detestable, arrogant bully of a man.

The corners of Qi Yue’s mouth curved upward.

Seeing her smile, Chang Yuncheng also smiled.

“You were ugly, dull, and stupid back then,” he laughed.

“I was not,” Qi Yue raised her hand to toss her hair. Unfortunately, ancient hairstyles didn’t have the kind of curls that she could toss like in modern times. “I’ve always been beautiful as a flower. You just had poor eyesight and couldn’t see my beauty.”

As she spoke, she even emphasized by patting herself.

“Beautiful inside and out,” she added.

Chang Yuncheng laughed heartily.

“Yes,” he laughed. “And you’re getting more and more beautiful.”

Qi Yue raised her eyebrows, making an expression that said ‘you have good taste.’

“Beautiful, and you can also save people,” Chang Yuncheng said, extending his palm. “Count how many people have received your kindness and help by now. How many people gather around you, thanking you, admiring you, wanting to follow you, like the winter sun.”

Qi Yue looked at him, her eyes widening, and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Keep talking, keep talking,” she laughed and nodded. “Did you think up these words yourself, or did Fan Yilin write them down for you to memorize?”

Chang Yuncheng smiled and shook his head.

“In any case, you’re becoming more and more radiant. Divine Physician Miss Qi, you’ll be even better in the future,” he said. “So…”

Qi Yue stopped laughing and looked at Chang Yuncheng, interrupting him.

“So you shouldn’t marry me, right?” she said.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her, about to say something, but was interrupted by Qi Yue again.

“Look at me,” Qi Yue pointed to herself. “I’m not that parentless little beggar from your Marquis Dingxi’s mansion anymore. I have money when I want money, fame when I want fame, people when I want people. Even if I beat up a prince, no one dares to do anything to me. This kind of thing that even you young masters from marquis and earl mansions wouldn’t dare to imagine, I, a small woman, have accomplished. Look, see what kind of person I am now, what status I have.”

Having said this, she pointed at Chang Yuncheng.

“Now look at you,” Qi Yue said. “The former tall, handsome, and wealthy heir – the Prince of Marquis Dingxi’s mansion, the future Marquis Dingxi, a promising young reserve cadre in the Emperor’s eyes, with family background, status, and unlimited prospects. But when did it start? One demotion after another, one punishment after another, until now you don’t even have the Prince position anymore. The eldest son of Marquis Dingxi’s mansion, that general position is also gone. How should I address your current position?”

“Manager Chang,” Chang Yuncheng said.

“Oh right, Manager Chang,” Qi Yue continued. “So now I’m as dazzling as the sun and stars, while you’re yesterday’s yellow flowers in the setting sun. You feel you’re not worthy of me? Then with a righteous, pitiful, aggrieved, and self-sacrificing pride, you tell me that for my better happiness, you and I should part ways here, each taking our own path?”

Chang Yuncheng smiled, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, looking at her.

“You want me to kneel down crying and begging you, telling you how much I can’t live without you, right? Then you righteously and reluctantly turn away with your desolate figure, how tragic and moving that would be,” Qi Yue said, standing up. “Chang Yuncheng, stop dreaming. This sister has no time to play such childish games with you! If we’re not getting married, then forget it.”

She walked away after speaking.

As she passed by him, Chang Yuncheng reached out and grabbed her.

“You woman, your brain really has problems,” he said, wanting to laugh but holding it back, looking at Qi Yue. “What kind of nonsense were you just babbling about?”

What nonsense? Novel melodrama is very orthodox…

“You woman, being so strange and peculiar,” Chang Yuncheng sighed and shook his head. “Apart from me, probably no one else would want you.”

Qi Yue looked at him.

What does that mean?

“I mean, you’re very dazzling now, very showy, and very valuable. Many people are watching you, wanting to take advantage of you,” Chang Yuncheng said, shaking Qi Yue’s wrist. “But you must remember, you’re my woman. I’m about to leave for several years. You stay home and behave yourself, maintain your wifely duties, and don’t commit adultery on me. Otherwise, you’re dead.”

Qi Yue looked at him. Her tightly pressed lips slowly curved, then broke into a smile. After laughing, she quickly composed herself.

“Speaking so harshly – whether a woman maintains her wifely duties has nothing to do with the woman, but everything to do with the man. It depends on whether the man is worth having the woman maintain them for,” she said with a snort.

“I told you to maintain them, so you just listen obediently,” Chang Yuncheng tugged her. “You’re getting more and more talkative.”

Qi Yue giggled and snuggled against his arm.

“Then why did you say we wouldn’t get married? I came here eagerly to see my sweetheart, only to suddenly hear those words. I was really about to die of anger,” she said.

“There’s no time now. I have to leave tomorrow. I don’t want you to get married like this,” Chang Yuncheng said. “You’re at least a famous divine physician now. How can you get married so hastily?”

“So you want to wait until after you’ve established your career and achieved success before coming back to marry me?” Qi Yue asked with a frown. “How long would that take?”

“What? Can’t you wait?” Chang Yuncheng frowned and asked, pulling her to sit in his lap. “Or do you look down on me so much? Do you think I’ll make you wait a lifetime? In Liaodong, there’s nothing else but merit everywhere, just pick it up casually.”

Qi Yue laughed heartily and reached out to pinch his face.

“Look at you being so smug,” she laughed loudly.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her and chuckled a few times.

“However,” he looked at Qi Yue and asked, “what did you mean by those words just now?”

Qi Yue rolled her eyes and made an “ah” sound.

“What did you mean by calling me yesterday’s yellow flowers in the setting sun?” Chang Yuncheng turned Qi Yue’s face toward him and looked at her. “You actually see me this way in your heart?”

Qi Yue grinned at him.

“Not at all, no no,” she pouted. “Kiss kiss.”

Chang Yuncheng held her face firmly, not letting her come closer.

“Don’t change the subject. Explain this to me clearly,” he said with a snort. “You wicked woman, do you look down on me in your heart?”

Qi Yue looked at him seriously.

“People must first humiliate themselves before others humiliate them,” she said, patting Chang Yuncheng’s solid chest. “Young man, only you can look down on yourself. Others absolutely cannot look down on you.”

Chang Yuncheng was stunned, then burst out laughing.

“Stop talking nonsense!” he laughed, shaking Qi Yue’s head. “Speak human language to me!”

Qi Yue cried out as he shook her.

“I’ve been doing surgery all day and was on duty all night. My head is killing me, and you’re still shaking me!” she shouted.

Chang Yuncheng quickly let go, nervously supporting her face.

“You were on duty all night? Then why did you come out? Go sleep right away,” he said.

Qi Yue giggled and snuggled against his chest.

“I was thinking of you so much I couldn’t sleep,” she said.

She felt the vibration from the man’s chest as he laughed heartily.

Chang Yuncheng said nothing more and hugged her tightly.

“So you were hesitating before because of this,” Qi Yue asked.

Chang Yuncheng made a sound of acknowledgment and nuzzled her hair.

“His Majesty gave me two choices,” he said. “One is the capital defense, the other is the Liaodong camp fortress defense. The capital is stable, but…”

“But you’d achieve nothing,” Qi Yue picked up his words. Not only would he achieve nothing, someone like Chang Yuncheng who had his Prince position stripped away would face so much mockery, cold stares, and ridicule. Any man wouldn’t want to or wouldn’t live like that for a lifetime. “But Liaodong is different.”

Chang Yuncheng lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

“Right. Although it seems desolate and dangerous there, it’s always been a place of exile,” he said. “But for me in my current situation, it’s the best opportunity.”

Qi Yue nodded.

“It seems His Majesty is truly your dear Majesty,” she laughed.

Chang Yuncheng also smiled.

“His Majesty has always been good to me,” he said. “This is an opportunity he specifically gave me. It’s just that my status is no longer what it was before. I have to start everything over from the beginning, so I might not return for a very long time, unable to see you, unable to accompany you, and there might not even be letters. I don’t know how to tell you…”

Qi Yue laughed.

“Dummy,” she said. “This is nothing serious. I told you you’re too stupid to speak like us smart people. I’ll just go with you.”

“No way,” Chang Yuncheng refused flatly. “It’s very dangerous there. Besides, I’m not the same as before. I can’t mobilize many people to protect you…”

“Oh my, you’re talking as if I can’t live without you,” Qi Yue said with a snort, reaching out to pinch his face. “Who am I? The sun, a divine physician. How many people worship me, respect me, want to repay me? With one gesture, believers everywhere…”

Chang Yuncheng laughed heartily.

“Do I need your protection? If I want to find protection, it’s just a matter of one sentence,” Qi Yue continued. “Alright, such a small matter isn’t even worth mentioning. Stop talking about it – it’s embarrassing.”

“But you’re currently at the height of your fame in the capital…” Chang Yuncheng gently stroked her hair with a slight smile. “His Majesty’s Imperial Medical Academy also relies heavily on you. If you abandon all this to go with me…”

Qi Yue straightened up and looked at him.

“Actually, I’m not that important,” she said. “Whether it’s these seemingly impressive techniques of mine or the pharmaceutical work, they don’t exist dependent on me. Without me, they would appear eventually – it’s just a matter of sooner or later. The pharmaceutical techniques and equipment – I’ve explained them once, and everyone understands them well. I’ve hardly been to the pharmaceutical factory, yet it runs very well. Take Little Prince Sima’s illness, for example – after I performed the surgery, the rest doesn’t need me at all… Or rather, if I wanted to, whether in the capital or elsewhere, I could establish the same thing.”

Having said this, she looked at Chang Yuncheng with a smile.

“But Chang Yuncheng, you are unique, one of a kind, irreplaceable. If I didn’t have you, I’d never have you again,” she said.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her, and Qi Yue also looked at him, smiling slightly.

“That’s right, I am irreplaceable. So you’d better follow me for the rest of your life – whether it’s wealth and luxury, treacherous mountains and seas of fire, fine food and drink, or coarse grain and thin gruel, you must follow me,” Chang Yuncheng said, then frowned. “Also, in the future, you can only say such sweet words to me. Don’t smile at other men casually or say pleasing things to them. It’s very annoying…”

Qi Yue laughed loudly. Chang Yuncheng held her head firmly and kissed her deeply.