Chang Yuncheng left, and Qi Yue sat down again. Turning her head, she saw the Second Madam examining her.

“Aunt, what do you want to ask me?” She smiled and said.

The Second Madam withdrew her gaze, her expression becoming gentle.

Here, Qi Yue had already begun speaking herself.

“It’s definitely anemia, but what’s causing the anemia still needs to be examined…” She spoke with some contemplation. The Second Madam’s leg swelling—if only she could do a urine test, that would be good…

“I know, it’s nothing. I’m taking medicine, and a physician comes to examine me every month,” the Second Madam said with a smile.

Qi Yue breathed a sigh of relief. If that was the case, then those traditional Chinese doctors were even more capable.

“Then Aunt must take good care of herself. This cannot be taken lightly,” she said.

The Second Madam nodded.

“You came to find me today—is there something you need me to do?” she asked.

Qi Yue shook her head with a smile.

“No, I just came out for a walk. Thinking that you were concerned about me, I came over to let you see me, so you could feel at ease,” she said.

The Second Madam looked at her, her expression somewhat excited, and there was even a faint glimmer of tears in her eyes.

“Good, I feel at ease now,” she said.

The conversation didn’t continue further. She asked Qi Yue where she had learned her medical skills, and Qi Yue again used the story of encountering various extraordinary people while begging on the road to deflect the question. The Second Madam didn’t mind this and didn’t pursue it further, nor did she show any suspicion.

The Second Madam’s health was indeed exceptionally poor. Although she seemed to be in good spirits, this vitality was actually a false state propped up by emotional excitement. If it continued, it could easily lead to collapse.

Qi Yue soon rose to take her leave, so the Second Madam could rest well.

The Second Madam showed some reluctance to part.

“Come see me when you have time,” she said.

“Good. When I go tell Mother that I won’t manage household affairs anymore, I’ll come every day to chat with Aunt,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

This was the first time she had mentioned not managing household affairs. A’Ru showed a surprised expression at the side.

The Second Madam’s expression remained calm, as if she had already known, but the smile in her eyes deepened.

“Good,” she said.

Walking out of the Western Residence gate, declining the servants’ offer to send a carriage, Qi Yue and A’Ru walked slowly along the corridor.

“Young Madam, you’re not managing the household anymore?” A’Ru asked.

“Not anymore. It wasn’t something I should have been managing in the first place. I can’t just mess around,” Qi Yue said casually, walking with her hands tucked in her sleeves.

She wasn’t originally Qi Yueniang after all…

A’Ru didn’t know what to say for a moment.

“The Prince…” She thought of something and changed the topic, “Did he come specifically to find you, Young Madam?”

Qi Yue laughed.

“You really dare to think such things,” she said, turning to look at A’Ru with a smile.

“Well, it’s true. Otherwise, why would the Prince come just as we arrived? He doesn’t usually like to visit…” A’Ru said hurriedly.

“Enough, A’Ru. People are most afraid of deceiving themselves,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

A’Ru bit her lower lip.

“Actually…” She quickened her pace to catch up with Qi Yue and said quietly, “The Prince… isn’t bad… You… you are the Young Madam after all, for the rest of your life…”

Qi Yue looked at her with a smile that made A’Ru blush and unable to continue.

“A lifetime can be long or short. One should think carefully about how to live it,” Qi Yue said with a smile after A’Ru stopped talking.

It would probably be difficult for her to accept immediately. After all, the Prince was a stranger to her. They could take it slowly. A’Ru nodded and smiled again.

Seeing Qi Yue approaching, the servants at the second gate hurried over from afar.

“Young Madam, why are you walking…”

“…should have called for a carriage…”

Qi Yue smiled and responded to each of them, then stepped into the courtyard.

Watching the woman walk away slowly, the servants at the gate finally withdrew their gazes.

“The Young Madam is truly intelligent and capable…”

“And such a good person. She’s kind and gentle to all of us…”

“That’s right. She can even treat illnesses and save lives…”

“So many physicians couldn’t save the patient, but the Young Madam succeeded with one try…”

Everyone seemed to have forgotten what kind of person the Young Madam in their eyes and words had been just a few months ago.

“Young Madam, actually the household is all sorted out now, and those people definitely won’t deliberately cause trouble anymore,” A’Ru said quietly. Why give up the responsibility…

“Some things can be managed, but some things are better left alone,” Qi Yue said. “I still say the same thing—our goal is to eat well, drink well, and sleep well. Since we can live such a life without doing anything, why bother with extra worries?”

She looked at A’Ru with a toothy smile.

“Actually, I’m very lazy,” she said.

A’Ru couldn’t help but giggle at her words.

She was about to say something when she saw something ahead and froze.

“Oh, isn’t that the Prince?” she said.

Qi Yue looked in the direction of her gaze and indeed saw a person standing ahead.

Chang Yuncheng had a cloak draped over him and turned to look at the two approaching women.

“Is the Prince waiting for me?” Qi Yue asked with some surprise. “Is there something wrong?”

“You’re quite idle? Going visiting so early in the morning,” Chang Yuncheng said with a frown, not directly refuting Qi Yue’s somewhat ego-bruising guess but deflecting with other words.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

“Not bad,” she said with a smile, not answering his question but picking up the thread, “The Prince isn’t busy, is he? I was just thinking of finding you to talk about something.”

Chang Yuncheng’s expression softened slightly.

“I’m not as idle as you,” he said, turning to walk forward.

Qi Yue smiled and followed. A’Ru hesitated for a moment and fell back a few steps.

“Let’s not talk about past matters,” Qi Yue said, catching up with him. “Although this trouble was caused by you…”

Chang Yuncheng stopped and frowned at her.

“Who caused trouble? Can’t you woman’s brain be a bit clearer?” he said.

Qi Yue frowned at him.

The atmosphere became tense for a moment.

“Never mind. For me, it’s not really a bad thing anyway—breaking before rebuilding,” Qi Yue took a deep breath and stepped back. “Otherwise, I don’t know how long I would have continued in that muddled state.”

Chang Yuncheng didn’t quite understand what she was muttering about, but he was slightly surprised. How come this woman didn’t explode like a hedgehog at the slightest touch as she used to?

“You kept your word. You also contributed greatly to saving lives this time. Without you firmly standing on my side, that person probably couldn’t have been saved,” Qi Yue said with another smile, cupping her hands to him. “Thank you, gentleman.”

Chang Yuncheng’s expression became somewhat stiff, as if he was very unaccustomed to her attitude. He simply turned his head and continued walking.

Qi Yue lifted her feet to follow.

“Since you kept your promise, I’ll keep mine too,” she said. “I’ve thought it over. You see, I originally said I would go live in Qiu Tong’s courtyard. But unfortunately, it’s gone…”

Hearing her say this, Chang Yuncheng, who had been walking with his head up and taking big strides, pressed his lips together, showing a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Going in circles. Don’t you just want me to invite you…

“…I won’t choose another place to live either. I’ll just live in that courtyard where I treated the patient,” Qi Yue said. “That place is similar to Qiu Tong’s courtyard, quite secluded, and some distance from where you live. This way, you won’t have to see me all the time…”

As she spoke, Chang Yuncheng stopped walking.

Qi Yue didn’t notice and walked two more steps before realizing. She quickly stopped and turned back to look at him questioningly.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her, feeling a surge of stifled anger rise from his feet straight to the top of his head.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Yue looked at him with confusion. Why did this person’s face become so unpleasant? Of course, his face wasn’t pleasant most of the time…

Chang Yuncheng looked at her and finally gave a cold laugh.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you disgust me,” he said. After saying this, he strode away.

Qi Yue was baffled.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you now?” she called out, taking a few quick steps to catch up with Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng walked briskly like the wind, with no intention of acknowledging her anymore. He quickly left her behind and walked away.

Qi Yue didn’t chase after him, standing in place and sighing.

“This person… really…” she said, shaking her head while looking at A’Ru approaching.

A’Ru looked worried.

“Don’t look at me like that. My attitude was very good—I didn’t deliberately provoke or anger him at all,” Qi Yue said, frowning. “I think he should find a physician to check if there’s something wrong with him, like his thyroid or something.”

A’Ru looked at her.

“Young Madam, you still say you didn’t anger the Prince…” she said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

“I didn’t say this to his face,” she said, putting her finger to her lips to shush, while glancing in the direction Chang Yuncheng had gone and shrugging. “I really don’t understand him. Whatever. I’ll just do as he wishes—stay far away from him and not bother or provoke him.”

A’Ru silently followed her, suddenly remembering what Que Zhi had said when they left.

“Young Madam, does the Prince want you to come live there?” she hurried to catch up and said.

Qi Yue turned to look at her.

“Well, A’Ru, your thoughts are becoming more and more bold,” she said with a smile.

A’Ru stamped her foot at her teasing.

“Young Madam, I’m being serious. Que Zhi said that the Prince seemed to have tidied up the room that day,” she said.

Qi Yue continued to smile.

“Even if that were true,” she said, “when people show a bit of courtesy, we can’t just shamelessly go over.”

“But,” A’Ru said, keeping up with her, “since the Prince has the intention, why do you have to…”

Qi Yue shook her head with a smile and looked up at the distant sky.

This azure, unpolluted sky—she could enjoy it for a lifetime.

“If he has the intention today, what if he has no intention tomorrow?” Qi Yue said to A’Ru with a smile. “I still prefer to make my own decisions rather than being at someone’s beck and call.”

Chang Yuncheng kicked open the door with one foot. The maids who had been chatting and laughing in the courtyard were startled.

“Prince…” Qiu Xiang and the others quickly bowed, while coming forward to attend to him.

Chang Yuncheng waved his hand with some impatience, ignoring them and going straight into the room.

Qiu Xiang and the others looked at each other, none daring to follow him in.

“Sister Qiu Xiang, what’s wrong with the Prince these days? Who in the household dares to make him angry? Why is he always…” a maid said quietly.

It wasn’t that there was no one in the household who dared to make the Prince angry, but whoever made the Prince angry would receive the same or even more anger in return. Over time, no one dared to provoke him. Even the Marquis often suffered setbacks in front of the Prince, which was why the Marquis didn’t favor the Prince very much.

Qiu Xiang signaled her to be quiet, waved her hand, and everyone tiptoed away.

Chang Yuncheng stood in front of the desk, heavily setting down his teacup. After drinking a cup of cold tea, he felt the stifled anger in his chest ease slightly.

That damn woman…

His gaze turned toward the window, where he could see that room.

“Qiu Xiang,” he suddenly called out loudly, “that room is yours to use now.”

Qiu Xiang, who had been about to leave with the other maids in the courtyard, turned back upon hearing this. She saw the window open with Chang Yuncheng standing by it, nodding toward a direction.

Which room? Qiu Xiang couldn’t help but look in the direction of Chang Yuncheng’s gaze.

The room where the Young Madam had lived…