It was said that many people at the Dingxi Marquisate Manor dropped things that day, but Qi Yue paid them no mind. She was watching A'ru make the bed. Ah Hao could walk now, but Qi Yue still wouldn't let her do any chores, only supervising from the side.

"Don't be too meticulous; we won't be staying long," Qi Yue remarked with a smile.

Ah Hao turned to her, astonishment etched across her face.

"Mistress, will... will the Heir Apparent kick us out?" she stammered out.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

"Don't worry, he won't during this immediate period," she chuckled, though she couldn't vouch for later. "For now, we weather this storm, establish our credibility, and then we'll move back."

"Ah, so we will still be chased out by the Heir Apparent," Ah Hao sighed, frowning.

"Chased out of what?" Qi Yue disliked hearing that. She stood up, pointing her fan around the room. "This is my house. I live where I please, I leave when I want, and I return when I choose. Who would dare chase me? On what grounds?"

"Then let's just stay here with the Heir Apparent," Ah Hao pouted. "Otherwise, those old maids will start gossiping that you're going to be divorced, acting insufferably arrogant..."

She still felt a lingering fear from the servants who had been making noise in the courtyard earlier, but seeing the looks on those maids' faces when A'ru announced the Mistress was moving into the Heir Apparent’s quarters gave her a satisfying sense of victory.

"We'll see how I feel at the time," Qi Yue didn't want to delve deeper into the topic, nor did she care to explain the principle of 'advance when the enemy retreats, retreat when the enemy advances' to this young girl. She dismissed it with a vague answer.

"Mistress, which of these maids should stay with you up close? The maid quarters in the Heir Apparent's courtyard can't hold all of us," A'ru inquired.

"You," Qi Yue said. A'ru understood her meaning, raising her face to meet Qi Yue's gaze with determination, forcing Qi Yue to swallow the words she had been about to say. "You and Jiu Zhi will stay. Ah Hao, you return to Qiutong Courtyard. The rest of the maids go back to their own servants' rooms."

A'ru nodded in satisfaction.

"Mistress, am I useless?" Ah Hao chimed in from the side, tinged with self-reproach.

"No," Qi Yue smiled. "Everyone in this world is useful; it's just a matter of where they are utilized. Besides, just because you aren't staying here doesn't mean you plan to slack off and refuse my orders, does it?"

Ah Hao’s face brightened into a smile then.

"But, perhaps Jiu Zhi shouldn't stay here," she lowered her voice, glancing towards the outside. "Look, she's been uneasy since she came in, not even offering to help, just standing by the door and constantly peeking toward the Heir Apparent's room."

"Oh, you silly girl," Qi Yue laughed, reaching over to playfully pinch Ah Hao’s nose. "In this world, there are only willing participants; there's never a one-sided effort that succeeds. Some things can be stopped, others cannot. Don't worry yourself over this."

After all the fuss, night fell, and it was time for dinner.

Qi Yue naturally no longer needed her small kitchen; her meals were served at the same time as the Marquis and Madam's across the manor.

"The Heir Apparent has left a meal at the Marquis and Madam's place," the maid serving the food said to Qi Yue with a hint of fawning deference.

Just as the maids from Qiutong Courtyard were beginning to move the bedding and toiletries over, Chang Yuncheng was summoned by Madam Xie. He would certainly need to be questioned about the situation, but Qi Yue didn't concern herself with these matters; she trusted Chang Yuncheng would offer Madam Xie a satisfactory explanation.

After eating, Qi Yue returned to her own room, too lazy to deal with Qiu Xiang, the maid who stood guard by the Heir Apparent’s door, looking both menacingly alert and deeply aggrieved.

Qi Yue had no idea when Chang Yuncheng returned. After reading for a while, she was lulled to sleep by the tedious nature of the classical characters. In a haze, she was woken by the squabbling of the maids in the courtyard.

"...Sixth, who told you to put things here..."

"I put it here, so what about it..."

It was the voices of Qiu Xiang and Jiu Zhi. Qi Yue frowned. Before A'ru, who was stirring just outside, could even open the door, they heard a loud crash as something shattered in the courtyard.

"All of you, get out!" Chang Yuncheng's voice immediately thundered outside.

A sudden, profound silence fell over everything.

Qi Yue turned over contentedly, clutching her pillow, and drifted back to sleep.

The next morning at breakfast, Qi Yue still had not seen Chang Yuncheng.

"The Heir Apparent left early this morning," Jiu Zhi reported quickly, unable to conceal a trace of disappointment.

This was best; it saved them from the mutual annoyance of constant observation. Qi Yue nodded, glancing at Jiu Zhi, who was dressed in new clothes.

Jiu Zhi was too preoccupied to properly attend to her breakfast, frequently touching her hair or peering out the door.

"Jiu Zhi," Qi Yue felt it necessary to offer the girl a few warnings. Although her original intention was for A'ru and Ah Hao to live out their remaining years peacefully after she left, since she had dragged this girl into the situation, she couldn't just watch her stumble into trouble without intervention. She set down her chopsticks and called out.

Jiu Zhi finally turned her attention over, diligently taking a tea cup from A'ru and bringing it over.

"Has the Mistress finished eating?" she asked with a smile.

Qi Yue nodded, accepting the tea.

"We are staying here, but you are still to conduct yourselves as if you are in our own courtyard. Do not try to get close to the Heir Apparent unnecessarily." She sipped the tea.

Jiu Zhi's face became slightly awkward.

"Servant, servant merely wishes to do more for the Mistress," she forced a smile.

Ah Hao, busy tidying the dishes, snorted and shot Jiu Zhi a sidelong glance. Did she really think everyone was a fool? Her intentions were practically shouted aloud.

Qi Yue wasn't displeased; instead, she nodded.

"I know, I understand," she smiled, rising to sit in a nearby chair. "But there are a few things I need to explain to you all. Ah Hao, go call Lan'er and Liu'er in as well; they all need to listen."

Ah Hao paused in surprise, then quickly nodded, went to fetch the other two second-rank maids, hurried the younger girls out, closed the door, and stood by attentively.

The head maids who served the Eldest Mistress were all present. Wondering what instruction the Mistress was about to give, their expressions were somewhat apprehensive.

"First, I want to ask: why are you following me?" Qi Yue set down her teacup and smiled at her small contingent of servants.

This question stunned everyone.

"Naturally, to diligently serve the Mistress," Jiu Zhi was the first to answer, realizing her momentary slip and trying hard to recover.

"Yes, that is your duty to your mistress, but there is something else: serving me well is also for your own benefit," Qi Yue continued. "When the master thrives, the subordinates naturally rise with her. You eat well, dress well, and become the envy of all. That is why when word spread that I needed people here, no one was willing to come, and only you few, who were bullied, were sent over. Because everyone understands: following a mistress like me leads nowhere." The word 'following' sounded strange, but the concept of 'prospects' was clear to them. Given the Mistress's humble origins, crude language was not entirely unexpected...

"The Mistress is jesting. If there are no prospects with you, where else could there be any?" Jiu Zhi tried to placate her with a smile.

"Exactly. Since everyone is following me, you must have meat to eat and good days to live," Qi Yue smiled. "However, this is merely a goal. Whether it can be achieved depends not only on me."

The people in the room were stunned. This was the first time they had heard such words spoken to them. Even Lan'er and Liu'er, usually subdued, looked at Qi Yue with surprise.

"Mistress, we will certainly carry out our duties with all our heart," Ah Hao, as the confidante, led the pledge of loyalty.

The others also reacted, voicing their agreement, no matter how quietly. Beating servants was a common occurrence in the Dingxi Marquisate Manor, practiced by every master, but the Eldest Mistress’s method of admonishment was rather unique.

"You must certainly be diligent, not just for me, but for yourselves," Qi Yue nodded. "Right now, it seems we won a victory, swiftly and decisively dealing with those disobedient old maids. This doesn't mean we are suddenly powerful or that our position in the manor is secure. In fact, it was precisely because our position was low and we were looked down upon that we were given this opportunity. Now, the situation has become much trickier. After this incident, no one will underestimate us again. Our predicament is harder than before, which is why I made arrangements to move into the Heir Apparent’s quarters." Hearing her say this, even A'ru and the other maids stared at her in astonishment.

The Mistress was discussing the reality of their situation with her servants. "That's right, I'm telling you exactly what state we're in. Only by knowing this clearly in our hearts can we work together," Qi Yue continued. "Jiu Zhi, what I need to tell you is that the Heir Apparent is very unwilling to have me here. But because he owes me a favor, he has no choice but to agree. He doesn't particularly like me for this reason; he dislikes me as his superior, which naturally means he won't like my subordinates either. Therefore, you must all be extremely cautious."

Jiu Zhi’s face instantly flushed crimson.

"Don't overthink things. If the Heir Apparent doesn't like me, it doesn't necessarily mean he won't like you," Qi Yue said after a moment's thought.

Jiu Zhi immediately dropped to her knees.

"Servant dares not, servant dares not harbor such thoughts..." she kowtowed, her voice trembling.

Qi Yue smiled, but she didn't tell her to rise, letting her kowtow three times before stopping her.

"I'm not saying you have those thoughts; I'm just offering a reminder," she went on. "You must understand that since you entered my courtyard, in the eyes of others, you are my people. We are grass on the same blade—if they cannot directly target me, then you will be the first ones they strike."

She looked toward Ah Hao.

"Ah Hao is an example." Ah Hao's eyes reddened.

"It was this servant's stupidity; I brought trouble upon myself and caused trouble for the Mistress," she also knelt and spoke.

Qi Yue didn't ask her to rise either, nodding instead.

"At that time, I repeatedly warned you to be careful, yet you were easily coaxed away by a few words. You thought your actions were for my own good, helping me, but in reality, you almost cost yourself your life and implicated me. So, when you act, don't think you can act recklessly just because you believe it's for my benefit." She continued speaking.

Ah Hao knelt on the ground, sobbing as she kowtowed.

"This servant has taken note," she said, tears in her eyes.

"I say this not to scold, but to tell you not to become complacent. The current situation is extremely perilous; everyone must be cautious, more cautious than ever. Since fate has brought us together, we must truly pull together as one rope. Troubles in this world cannot be avoided; only by facing them head-on can we overcome difficulties. Once we stand firm together, the good life you desire will come. Whatever I instruct you to do, just do it without worry. If anything goes wrong, I will bear the responsibility. I have no other vices, except that I am fiercely protective of my own. My people, no matter how flawed, I can scold and strike—but no one else can touch them, not even slightly!" Qi Yue smiled, standing up to offer a final summary. "So, now everyone must remember, our goal is..."

The maids looked up at her solemnly. Seeing the Mistress grin, revealing teeth as white and fine as ivory.

"No cavities," Qi Yue announced.

The maids were perplexed. What... what was this...?

"Just a little joke," Qi Yue laughed heartily, shaking her small fan.

The slightly heavy atmosphere instantly relaxed.

Jiu Zhi was the first to follow suit, laughing with a touch of helplessness.

"Mistress, you truly are..." She struggled to find the right words, looking at the Mistress before her with genuine focus for the first time—this mistress she had intended to use as a stepping stone— "truly unique."

"Our goal is no cavities," Qi Yue pursed her lips into a smile. "Only then can we eat well, drink well, and sleep well."