As Chang Yunsheng approached with the speed of a running stream, he saw from afar that his courtyard was already swarming with people, with maids and gossiping servants constantly rushing over from all directions, their faces alight with excitement.

Chang Yunsheng’s face turned ashen.

“Move it, all of you! I’d like to see just what this little slut can do to me!” Jiu Zhi took the lead, clutching a large bundle, and stepped up onto the landing, shouting at Qiu Xiang and the others blocking the door.

Behind her were the older women carrying tables and the maids carrying chests, each with a telling expression on their faces.

“You try it. If you can take one step into my courtyard, I—I…” This was the first time Qiu Xiang had caused such a public ruckus, and she was a mix of shame, anger, and urgency. Compared to Jiu Zhi, who had seemingly never been acknowledged in her life, Qiu Xiang was miles behind in both the sharpness of her tongue and the audacity of her actions.

“Oh, you wretched thing, this is your courtyard? Who do you think you are!” Jiu Zhi shrieked. “Shameless!”

Qiu Xiang, flustered, spoke without thinking and flushed crimson. Seeing Jiu Zhi about to push through with those older women, she impulsively reached out and shoved her back.

“It’s not yours, so all of you clear out!” she yelled.

“Hurry up, everyone! The Young Mistress needs the rooms sorted out. The Young Mistress and the Heir are exhausted from their trip. Since the Young Mistress has seen fit to favor us, we servants can’t just eat and do nothing,” Jiu Zhi called out, raising her hand while bracing her shoulder against Qiu Xiang.

Someone among the older women following behind shouted encouragement, and those carrying the tables began to shove their way forward with loud calls.

Qiu Xiang’s side naturally resisted; five or six maids formed a solid line, leading to a tug-of-war at the doorway—pushing, shoving, pulling, and retreating.

The onlookers—maids and servants alike—grew excited, and the younger ones began stomping their feet and clapping their hands.

“Who do you think will win?” they chattered excitedly.

“What do you all think?”

A man’s voice sounded from behind them.

“I bet on Sister Qiu Xiang,” a little maid replied reflexively. She turned around, instantly went cold all over, started shivering uncontrollably, and collapsed to the ground. “The Heir…”

The single cry of “The Heir” instantly stunned everyone around them into silence, followed by a wave of kneeling.

At this moment, Qiu Xiang and Jiu Zhi were locked in a fierce brawl, fully engrossed in their struggle. No one noticed that the crowd of onlookers had already dropped to their knees, leaving only one tall, dark-faced man standing abruptly alone.

Jiu Zhi had a handful of Qiu Xiang’s hair, and Qiu Xiang had gripped Jiu Zhi’s collar. As they were tearing at each other, they heard a man’s furious roar. Before they could react and look, they felt themselves lifted off the ground, spinning dizzily, followed by intense pain before blacking out. When they regained consciousness, they had both been tossed to opposite sides of the steps.

Jiu Zhi was pinning Qiu Xiang’s leg, and Qiu Xiang was pinning Jiu Zhi’s arm.

“The Heir!” Qiu Xiang was the first to clearly see the newcomer, and she immediately burst into loud sobs.

The Heir? Still dizzy, and with a body that felt shattered from the fall, Jiu Zhi instantly sobered up. She hurriedly smoothed her hair and stood up. Indeed, following the Young Mistress meant benefits; in her sixteen years in this household, this was the first time she had ever seen the Heir’s face…

Unfortunately for her, by the time she looked over, the Heir hadn't left even a shadow for her to gaze upon.

Chang Yunsheng tossed them aside, kicked away the remaining maids and servants with a few forceful steps, and strode through the main gate amidst a chorus of yelps.

The woman he sought was not in the courtyard. Chang Yunsheng strode past the rockeries and shadows, following the bluestone path directly into the house.

The sharp thud of the room door closing startled the person reading a book on the Luohan couch.

“You’re back,” Qi Yue lowered her book and looked up, smiling as she greeted the man standing in the room, looking around.

Before her words had fully landed, Chang Yunsheng, having precisely located her, lunged forward like an arrow. In the next second, his hand seized the lapel of Qi Yue’s robe, lifting the seated woman into the air with one hand.

“Now, immediately, get out,” he said, enunciating every syllable.

This infuriating man certainly had a temper! When the large hand suddenly grabbed her collar, the tightly fastened collar of her ancient attire momentarily choked Qi Yue.

“Chang Yunsheng,” she reached out, grasping his hand, and looked at her husband standing so close with her large apricot eyes. “Are you certain you want to treat me like this?”

She wasn't crying, wasn't shouting, and her expression hadn't shifted in the slightest, let alone showing any fear or dread. It was as if she were still sitting calmly while he spoke to her with a beaming smile.

This woman…

“I am certain,” Chang Yunsheng replied with a cold, gritted-teeth sneer.

“Very well,” Qi Yue patted his hand. “Let go, and I’ll leave right now. I won’t appear again to sully the Heir’s sight.”

Saying this, she loudly called for A'ru.

“Stop tidying up; we are leaving now. I suddenly feel unwell; perhaps my old ailment is acting up again. I should go back and rest… I won't be able to leave the house for ten days or half a month,” she said, using her hands to forcefully pry open Chang Yunsheng’s grip.

Chang Yunsheng paused, then immediately understood her meaning.

That injured person hadn't fully recovered and still needed this woman’s care. The old doctor had even wept that day; perhaps out of shame for not being able to cure the patient… “You,” he said through gritted teeth, looking at her, a hint of a frustrated smile appearing, “are you threatening me?”

Someone dared to threaten him? And it was a woman?

In that moment of stunned silence, the pressure on his hand lessened. Qi Yue wrenched herself free, casually smoothed down her clothes twice, and when she heard his question, she looked up at him, pursed her lips into a slight smile, and offered no reply, slowly picking up the small fan beside her and languidly fanning herself as she headed toward the exit.

That upward glance and slight smile were captivatingly charming, but in Chang Yunsheng’s current view, they held no pleasure, only utter provocation.

He reached out, his long arm seizing Qi Yue’s arm, and dragged her back before she had taken more than a few steps.

“If you have need of someone, you should have a better attitude,” Qi Yue frowned and stated.

This young man was a martial artist; his strength was immense. Qi Yue felt as though her arm had been clamped in iron pincers, the pain radiating through her entire body.

“You know you need to ask for things; you should have a better attitude, too,” Chang Yunsheng looked at her, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

“Is that so? Do I have a bad attitude? I didn’t go around innocently injuring someone’s arm,” Qi Yue looked up at him and said plainly.

They stared at each other, neither willing to look away first.

This man was too tall…

Qi Yue shook her neck slightly and was the first to yield.

Chang Yunsheng felt a moment of satisfaction, but this satisfaction was immediately followed by a surge of shame and anger.

When had he, Chang Yunsheng, ever felt pleased just because a woman yielded first? Chang Yunsheng, his face dark with fury, roughly flung Qi Yue’s arm away.

“A lapdog relying on influence. If you’re so capable, then get out of here,” he said with a cold sneer.

Qi Yue turned back to look at him, seeing the genuine mockery and derision on his face.

This Qi Yue Niang first relied on the Old Madam’s influence to stay in the Dingxi Marquis’s residence, and now she was relying on his influence to secure her position—it was truly contemptible.

Qi Yue smiled.

Not relying on influence when it’s available would make her a fool.

Besides—even a dog has the right not to be summoned or dismissed at will. Even if she were to leave, it would be because she chose to leave, not because they wanted her gone.

What a joke. Whether Qi Yue Niang wanted to leave was irrelevant to her; Qi Yue absolutely would not leave. She would stay put and guard that roof beam, waiting for the return transport to arrive.

Scoffs and mockery—what did a little loss of face matter? Moreover, it was not yet certain who was disgusting whom, or who was humiliating whom.

Qi Yue’s expression made Chang Yunsheng’s face even gloomier. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared intensely at her.

“I hear… you died once?” he suddenly asked.

Qi Yue glanced sideways at him.

“Yes, the Heir even knows I died once?” she replied coolly.

Chang Yunsheng snorted a sound through his nose and slowly circled her, scrutinizing her like a hunting hound sizing up its prey.

“Making such a big scene, you just wanted people to know, didn’t you?” he replied in a similarly indifferent tone.

“Yes, and I’m very pleased that so many people know,” Qi Yue said with a trace of impatience. “Alright, Heir. If there’s nothing else, go comfort your maids. As for me, I need to hurry and tidy up my rooms. Look at this mess; it’s simply indecent.”

Chang Yunsheng was so angry he nearly laughed.

“You know it’s indecent?” he retorted.

Qi Yue ignored him, waved her fan at him, and walked out.

“A’ru, Jiu Zhi, where are you? Is the stuff packed?” As she lifted the curtain and stepped out, standing under the eaves, she called out, raising her eyebrows.

Qiu Xiang and the other maids had already entered the courtyard and were still blocking the door. Meanwhile, Jiu Zhi and her group dared not cause any more trouble after seeing the Heir arrive. Both sides were quiet, communicating only through looks, though the hierarchy of power was clearly established.

Qiu Xiang’s group looked at Jiu Zhi’s side with faces full of hatred and the disdain of those who had regained their superior position. Jiu Zhi’s group, however, kept their heads down, appearing uneasy, with several older women stealthily retreating toward the center of the crowd.

There were no cries or curses; apart from the initial loud bang when the door was kicked open, the development of the situation was somewhat contrary to expectations…

Everyone cautiously peered inside, straining their ears to listen.

Qi Yue’s shout came just then, freezing everyone in place, unable to react.

What did she mean by that?

Seeing that no one moved, Qi Yue covered her mouth with her fan and coughed heavily.

In the room, Chang Yunsheng’s brow was tightly furrowed. His gaze drifted toward the doorway, looking through the soft silk curtain at the slender, delicate silhouette of the woman. Was this the beggar girl who was never mentioned by anyone in the household?

His memory held only a vague figure standing behind the Old Madam, head bowed and shoulders hunched, looking as if a second glance might scare her away…

Looking at the woman now, there was not a trace of timidity or terror. Every gesture, every word, and every smile marked her as a complete scoundrel!

As he frowned, Qi Yue’s cough sounded again from outside, this time more pronounced.

A cold smile touched Chang Yunsheng’s lips.

When Qi Yue coughed for the third time, the curtain rustled, and Chang Yunsheng walked out.

Qiu Xiang watched the Heir emerge, and tears instantly streamed down her face again.

“You all,” Chang Yunsheng began, his voice sounding somewhat rough, his gaze sweeping over the maids at the door, “help… the Young Mistress… tidy up.”

Clang! The tables and stools carried by the older women outside fell to the ground.

“The Heir!” Qiu Xiang cried out in disbelief.

Under the eaves, the man stood tall and straight, the woman slender and graceful—under the afternoon sun, they made a dazzling pair, too brilliant to look at directly.