Chang Yuncheng acted swiftly, or rather, he had prepared long ago. Before Qi Yue could even call for help, several stern-faced old women were already waiting in the courtyard, and a sedan chair had been carried in through the gate.

“Chang Yuncheng, you dare! I’ll go tell Father!” Qi Yue was nearly mad with rage. She had exhausted her mind and energy precisely to stay in the Marquis Dingxi’s manor. Now she was being sent away—this was cutting off her path home, this was taking her life!

She turned to rush outside while calling for her maids.

The old women blocked her path, and except for A’Ru, all of Qi Yue’s other maids had been sent away and weren’t present.

A’Ru cried while continuously kowtowing to Chang Yuncheng in supplication.

Chang Yuncheng didn’t even glance at her. Instead, he waved his hand, and two old women came forward to gag A’Ru.

“I’ll tell Father myself,” Chang Yuncheng smiled coldly. “You don’t need to worry about that. What you should worry about now is whether you want to be tied up and taken away, or walk on your own?”

By the time Concubine Zhou and others heard the news, the carriage had already left the Marquis Dingxi’s manor.

Concubine Zhou rushed angrily to the Marquis, where both Madam Xie and Chang Yuncheng were present.

“She’s been too tired lately, and her old ailments haven’t healed, so I’m having her go to Biyun Manor to rest for a while. No matter how I talked to her, she refused to come speak with Father and Mother, saying it would be unfilial. We even quarreled over this just now. I was so angry that I took it upon myself to send her there,” Chang Yuncheng explained to the Marquis. “I came to tell Father and Mother. In a few days, I’ll also go there to keep Yueniang company.”

The Marquis had been somewhat suspicious, but hearing that he would also go to keep Yueniang company, he smiled.

“Good. You husband and wife have been separated for three years without seeing each other. You should indeed have some private time together,” he laughed. “I hope to hold my grandson soon.”

“Cheng’er is too considerate of his wife,” Madam Xie said indifferently from the side. “There’s so much to handle at home, and now that she’s gone, you don’t even have anyone in your room.”

“Isn’t Mother still here? I’ll trouble Mother to work harder,” Chang Yuncheng smiled. “Also, I should tell Father that Yueniang picked two maids for me and held the face-opening ceremony.”

Hearing this, the Marquis laughed even more heartily, satisfied with both his son and daughter-in-law.

“Cherishing beauty and tenderness—this is inherited through bloodline,” he patted his son’s shoulder and said to Madam Xie, “I also cherish you, Madam. In a few days, I’ll take you to the manor to enjoy the mountains and waters.”

Madam Xie spat.

“Speaking such nonsense in front of the child,” she seemed somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, getting up and walking away.

The Marquis laughed heartily.

Standing at the doorway, Madam Xie slowly withdrew her hand that had been holding the curtain, her expression growing dim as she retreated.

“Mistress,” A’Jin whispered urgently, “Should we tell the Marquis the truth—that it was Madam who added people to the Prince’s room, and Young Madam got angry, which caused the quarrel…”

“Quarreling with the Prince over room attendants?” Concubine Zhou looked at her. “Do you think the Marquis would side with his daughter-in-law after hearing that?”

To a man like the Marquis who possessed countless beauties, this would be jealous wife behavior—unforgivable jealous wife conduct…

A’Jin awkwardly lowered her head.

“The truth,” Concubine Zhou continued, shaking her head with a bitter smile. “The truth is that no matter how much a woman argues, how good or clever she is, it’s all useless. After all the quarreling, whether you live or die depends only on whether the man has feelings. With feelings, you have everything; without feelings, you have nothing.”

“Then Young Madam will…” A’Jin bit her lower lip, her face full of worry.

“This waste! It’s just two room attendants—worthless! Was it worth making such a fuss!” Concubine Zhou gritted her teeth and whispered, her hands clenching tightly as she squeezed the word “waste” through her teeth four or five times.

A’Jin sighed.

“I feel that Young Madam isn’t that kind of person. Perhaps there’s something else behind this. Madam has made no moves for so long, which shows she must have arranged something in secret and was just waiting for today’s opportunity,” she whispered.

Concubine Zhou said nothing. The master and servant walked slowly in silence. After a long while, she finally exhaled.

“Let’s first think about how to clean up the aftermath. Everyone must look out for themselves,” Concubine Zhou said indifferently. “But if they have intentions…” A’Jin made a throat-slitting gesture and whispered.

Concubine Zhou laughed.

“I’d rather they dare to do such a thing. In their hearts, they wish day and night that person would die cleanly, yet they’ve dragged it out for three years without ever acting…” she murmured softly behind her handkerchief, but a gleam flashed in her eyes.

This girl was married by imperial decree requested by Old Madam from the Emperor. If she were killed by this mother and son, and if it were reported, this mother and son wouldn’t escape unscathed even if they didn’t die.

Previously, while in the manor, there was no justification. But this time with the husband and wife quarreling, and the Prince personally sending her away with the whole manor knowing—if that woman really died at this time, it would be… too perfect.

“Have someone keep an eye on that side. That wicked woman might do something to harm Yueniang,” Concubine Zhou put away her smile and looked at A’Jin with a serious expression, whispering her instructions.

“Yes, Mistress, rest assured. This servant understands,” A’Jin nodded.

Qi Yue was helped down from the carriage—not because she was tied up, but because she had been motion sick from the bumpy ride and had vomited until she was dizzy and disoriented.

When the carriage stopped, it was already midnight. The autumn night was quite cold, and Qi Yue couldn’t help but hug her arms and hunch her shoulders. Everything around was pitch black. The commotion of their carriage wheels and horse hooves had startled dogs barking in the area, and scattered lights began to appear.

Qi Yue looked at the household before her. Two large red lanterns hung at the gate, casting dim yellow shadows on the ground in the night wind.

Four or five servants, obviously suddenly awakened, stood at the entrance holding lanterns that illuminated their surprised faces.

“The main room is ready. Young Madam will be staying,” the old woman who had brought her said tersely.

“Everything is cleaned daily, and the bedding is all clean too,” an older woman among the servants quickly replied.

Before Qi Yue could take a proper look at the entrance, she was half-pushed, half-escorted inside.

The courtyard was also cold and quiet. As they entered, the dog barking became even more fierce.

The old women were obviously somewhat afraid.

“Why are these things still being kept?” they asked with displeasure.

“In reply to the ladies, the fruit in the back yard has ripened, and the country children are mischievous, so we keep a few dogs to scare them,” a man bowed and answered with an apologetic smile.

The old women asked no more questions. Seeing this man approach, they covered their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs in disgust.

Some servants had already run ahead to the main room and lit the lamps, which stood out prominently in this pitch-black courtyard.

Stepping inside, a musty coldness of long-uninhabited rooms hit her face, making Qi Yue shiver involuntarily.

Four lamps were lit in the room. This place wasn’t much different from Qiu Tong’s courtyard—three large rooms with moon-shaped doorways and hanging bead curtains as partitions—except it seemed more spacious, and the furniture had the weight of years.

The servants lit the lamps and, at the old women’s signal, all hurried out.

“Young Madam, we’re returning now. You’d better behave yourself and don’t think of doing anything foolish like running back halfway. You know the Prince’s temper. This already preserves your dignity—don’t force the Prince to tear off all pretense,” the old woman said in a condescending, arrogant tone.

Qi Yue was examining the interior. Perhaps because she had no strength left from motion sickness and vomiting along the way, or perhaps because she knew nothing could be changed, she was no longer as agitated as when she first left.

Qi Yue paid them no attention.

The old women didn’t care whether she acknowledged them. They turned and left, slamming the door heavily behind them.

“Young Madam…” A’Ru cried, kneeling on the ground.

“Get up quickly, the floor is cold,” Qi Yue glanced at her and said.

“Young Madam, what shall we do?” A’Ru cried without getting up.

“Cold mixed salad,” Qi Yue muttered, reaching out to run her finger along the main table. Fortunately, it was indeed regularly cleaned and had no dust.

She strode toward the bedroom area, which was furnished with trunks and cabinets, clean and simple, with complete bedding.

A’Ru didn’t know what she was planning and followed her.

“Are you hungry?” Qi Yue turned to ask her.

A’Ru, whose eyes were swollen from crying, was startled by the question.

“Never mind, skipping one meal can count as dieting,” Qi Yue waved her hand and sat on the bed, testing the bedding. “A bit damp, but it’s fine.”

She exhaled and got up again, striding outside. She pulled open the door with a swoosh. Unlike the stuffy air of the deep courtyards in the Marquis’s manor, the night wind that hit her face was cool and fresh, carrying the earthy scent of the countryside.

“Is anyone there?” she called loudly.

Someone immediately came running from the gate with a lantern.

“Young Madam, what are your orders?” This was a short, fat woman whose voice trembled with nervousness.

“I’ve been traveling all day. Is there hot water for washing?” Qi Yue asked kindly.

“Yes, yes, there’s water ready on the stove. Young Madam, please wait a moment. I’ll go call someone,” the woman said hurriedly.

Qi Yue nodded.

“Thank you for the trouble, especially at this late hour,” she smiled.

The woman was somewhat dazed by this thanks, forgetting even to say a polite response, and hurried away trembling.

“Young Madam,” A’Ru was also confused, forgetting to cry as she looked at her questioningly.

“Whatever you want to say, we’ll talk tomorrow. Now—bath, sleep,” Qi Yue raised her hand to stop her.

Hot water was quickly prepared. Two old women carried in a bathtub, and another brought a food box.

“Not knowing if Young Madam had eaten, we prepared some late-night snacks,” she said tremblingly.

Once inside the room, under the lamplight, Qi Yue could clearly see these women’s appearances. They were all around forty-five or forty-six, with weathered, wrinkled faces, dressed simply, nowhere near as well-groomed as the people in the Marquis’s manor.

Seeing Qi Yue looking them over, they all felt somewhat uncomfortable and lowered their heads, completely lacking the imposing manner of the old women in the Marquis’s manor.

“Thank you for being so thoughtful,” Qi Yue smiled, personally opening the food box. Seeing two bowls of porridge and two small plates of side dishes, she praised them again, “This is exactly what I wanted—light and simple.”

The women were made helpless by her words, wanting to smile but not daring to.

“As long as Young Madam doesn’t mind,” one of them said awkwardly, then tugged at another. “Young Madam, please enjoy. We’ll wait outside. If you need anything, just call us.”

Qi Yue smiled and nodded, watching them withdraw and close the door.

“Eat something first, or you’ll get dizzy washing,” she gestured to A’Ru, picking up a bowl herself and starting to drink.

“I can’t eat anything,” A’Ru bit her lower lip.

“Even if you can’t eat, you must eat. Eating comes first. As long as you can eat, there’s no problem that can’t be solved,” Qi Yue said, picking up some side dishes with her chopsticks and putting them in her mouth. Her eyes brightened as she nodded, “Mm, this is delicious. Try some.”