The clamor of the Dingxi Marquis's banquet was entirely lost on Qi Yue; she had no heart for it. Once again, she slept until she awoke naturally. Upon waking, her clothes were laid out and food was served before she could lift a finger. Ah Hao had learned quickly; even deep-fried dough sticks made an official appearance on the breakfast table that morning.

"No, no, this is truly excellent," Qi Yue praised.

Ah Hao’s eyes vanished into crescents of joy, her small pride impossible to hide.

"I tasted it too. It's even better than what they sell on the street," she remarked.

"Exactly, Ah Hao could open her own little snack stall now," Qi Yue said with a laugh.

"Not at all, it's all the Young Master's handiwork," Ah Hao beamed, grinning wide.

After breakfast, Qi Yue stretched languidly, surprised that she heard no accompanying cough this time.

"Where is Ah Ru?" she inquired.

Ah Hao was watering the flowers in the room.

"She went out. Left early this morning, carrying a large bundle. Going to the laundry, I suppose?" she guessed.

Qi Yue simply murmured, "Oh," and didn't press further. She wandered around the room, finding no interest in the books on the shelf; they were all classical texts in traditional script, which she couldn't penetrate, nor did she have the inclination. She couldn't help but recall that at this exact time in her modern life, it would be the busiest period for ward rounds....

"...This... what is this?"

Ah Hao’s curious query broke through Qi Yue’s reverie.

The urgent discussions of colleagues concerning patients vanished instantly from Qi Yue’s sight and hearing. She looked down at the medical kit she was stroking—the kit that had traveled with her from the modern world. The box was nestled under the quilt beside her pillow; every night, she would open it to examine the instruments and supplies within.

"This? It must have been left to me by my grandmother years ago. I have no other memories, but seeing this feels incredibly familiar. I must have taken it out right before I tried to hang myself that day, and perhaps its protection on the road to the underworld is why I saw 'him' again..." Qi Yue answered smoothly, nodding as she spoke, "Perhaps the 'him' I saw then was my grandmother after all...."

No wonder she hadn't seen it for so many years; it was so precious, and the Young Master had kept it hidden. Ah Hao immediately nodded in agreement, though she privately leaned toward the 'him' being the Old Marquis.

Qi Yue looked at the medical kit once more, placed it back into the bed, and covered it well with the embroidered quilt.

Chang Yunqi hadn't wanted to come out, but his father had been drunk the night before, so there was no good reason to skip the morning greeting. As expected, he was immediately the focus of several stares.

"Third Brother, what happened to your mouth?" several people asked, staring at him.

Chang Yunqi's lips were swollen and red, and his voice was hoarse.

"A bit too much wine," he said with a wry smile.

"Truly useless. Just from a little wine, and you end up like this." The Dingxi Marquis was displeased, feeling his son lacked proper masculine demeanor, to be reduced to this state over a few drinks.

"Fetch a doctor to look at him." Madam Xie silenced the chuckling younger brothers, instructing a nearby servant woman, "Young Master Qi has been frail since childhood. You attendants must be extra careful with him."

The Dingxi Marquis frowned at this comment and glanced at Chang Yunqi.

"It's a matter of upbringing. Out in the sun and wind, they toughen up. Look at your elder brother..." he stated.

The young masters all stood up, heads bowed, listening.

Madam Xie coughed lightly.

"Why discuss this so early in the morning? Besides, everyone’s constitution is different. Don't wear the children out," she said with displeasure.

"Like a sickly seedling, doesn't resemble anyone," the Dingxi Marquis muttered under his breath.

Chang Yunqi kept his head down, his expression unreadable.

"You all hurry off to your duties. Your father is preparing to go out, and I must attend my prayers," Madam Xie said with a gentle smile, providing an exit for her sons.

The young masters bowed, responded in assent, and filed out.

"Third Brother, is this because you ate... all of that?" Chang Yunhong pulled Chang Yunqi back, speaking in a low voice a few steps behind the others.

Chang Yunqi made no verbal reply, just cleared his throat to ease his throat.

"You actually ate it?" Chang Yunhong exclaimed in surprise.

Chang Yunqi shot him a warning glance. The sharp sound caused the young men in front to turn back and inquire. Chang Yunhong waved them off.

"It was hot, yes. The flavor was good, but excessively numbing. I don't know why one would prepare it this way, but it is strange—the spicier it was, the more I craved it..." Chang Yunqi murmured.

"It really was delicious?" Chang Yunhong lowered his gaze and smiled, winking at Chang Yunqi. "Wasn't it because she was too lovely to behold?"

Chang Yunqi snorted dismissively.

"Even the finest dish in another's bowl is just scraps you can swallow?" he retorted, a faint cold smile touching his lips.

"But you haven't eaten it yet," Chang Yunhong whispered with a laugh.

Though their words seemed to be about food, if anyone in the household had overheard, they would have understood the true, frightening subject matter. Yet the two brothers spoke with easy casualness, showing no reserve.

They walked slowly, chatting, gradually separating from their sisters ahead. Far down the path, they saw a maid standing by the roadside, clutching a bundle and looking around expectantly. The two brothers paid her no mind, continuing their conversation as they walked. Suddenly, Chang Yunqi stopped.

"You... Ah Ru?" he asked, turning his head.

Ah Ru looked up at him, bowed again, and affirmed, "Yes."

"You..." Chang Yunqi paused for a moment before turning back, assessing her from head to toe. Ah Ru subtly lowered her gaze. "What are you doing here, Ah Ru?"

Ah Ru had once been the head maid to the Old Marquis, deserving of a respectful address from the younger masters of the house. However, it had been a long time since she had heard such a form of address from any of the young masters.

"Third Young Master, I... I am waiting for someone here," she said quietly.

"Waiting for someone?" Chang Yunhong also paused, frowning. "Waiting? What is that you're holding?" He looked pointedly at the bundle Ah Ru held tightly to her chest.

Before Ah Ru could reply, five men emerged from a side alley, each with a bundle on their back, appearing ready to depart. Ah Ru spotted them at once, abandoning any thought of replying to the two young masters, and hurried toward them.

"Eldest Sir, Eldest Sir!" she called out.

The five men stopped, regarding the suddenly appearing woman with confused expressions.

"Eldest Sir, are you returning to the Heir Apparent's residence?" Ah Ru asked them, her face flushed with excitement.

The five men sized her up. They were servants who traveled with the Heir Apparent outside the estate; they didn't recognize many faces from home.

"I am Ah Ru, from the Young Mistress's side," Ah Ru quickly introduced herself.

Upon hearing this, the five men registered a look of realization.

"Miss Ah Ru, we are in a hurry to travel," one of the stout men spoke, his tone politely signaling a dismissal.

"Eldest Sir, did the Heir Apparent leave any message for the Young Mistress?" Ah Ru asked, sounding anxious.

The five men smiled, shook their heads, offered a brief salute, and started walking again without another word.

Ah Ru spun around and quickly followed them.

"Eldest Sirs, these are the seasonal clothes and shoes the Young Mistress made for the Heir Apparent. Please, would you be kind enough to carry them along..." Ah Ru held up the bundle and followed them, her voice trembling.

The men did not slow their pace.

"The Heir Apparent does not wear these; he has plenty of clothes," one of them said with a touch of impatience.

"I beg you, sirs, think of the Young Mistress's feelings..." Ah Ru ran a little to get ahead of them, holding the bundle out in supplication.

"We are in a rush! If we are delayed, we might violate a military order. Do you want us to face the military cane?" Finally, the man grew agitated. He glared and shouted, then shoved Ah Ru aside with his arm. "To tell you the truth, the Heir Apparent specifically commanded that we carry nothing else besides what the Eldest Madam explicitly sent. Girl, aren't you being a nuisance?"

Ah Ru, unable to withstand the shove from the rough man, was swept to the ground. The bundle flew out of her hands, and the clothing and shoes scattered.

Sitting on the ground, Ah Ru’s tears finally began to fall in earnest.

"Hey, sirs, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? They are just a few pieces of clothing, and besides, the Eldest Sister-in-law isn't an outsider. Why be so severe..." Chang Yunqi spoke up.

The five men stopped and turned to look at the two young masters, bowing respectfully.

"Replying to the Young Master, we truly dare not," one answered honestly.

"Enough, Third Brother, you know Eldest Brother's temper," Chang Yunhong interjected quickly, waving his hand with a smile toward the men. "Hurry along, lest you are late. Even if you were coming for Father's birthday celebration, Eldest Brother wouldn't hesitate to mete out punishment."

The five men bowed their thanks and strode away quickly.

Ah Ru bent her head, gathering the scattered bundle in distress, offered them a hasty bow, and hurried off.

Watching the maid walk away while raising her hand to her face—surely wiping tears—Chang Yunhong shook his head and sighed.

"Pitiable, truly pitiable," he murmured. Then, after saying 'pitiable,' he chuckled and shook his head, tutting. "A waste, a genuine waste."

"A waste?" Chang Yunqi smiled as the two resumed walking forward.

"A waste that this flower was withered before it even had a chance to bloom," Chang Yunhong said with a chuckle.

"You just talk nonsense," Chang Yunqi laughed.

"Speaking of which, I recall when that beggar girl was first brought here, she was quite presentable if dressed up a bit. But after being locked away these past few years, worn down and unrecognizable... If she were given to someone as a mere concubine, that person would likely cherish her. Instead, she’s destined to be Eldest Brother's primary wife..." Chang Yunhong mused, stroking his chin in mock contemplation.

Chang Yunqi laughed and playfully punched his brother’s arm.

Three years. A flower forgotten in a corner, left to wither on its own—it probably wouldn't even last long enough to bloom before dying.

Chang Yunqi glanced in the direction Ah Ru had fled, crying, then withdrew his gaze.

"Let's go quickly," he said, smiling.