Chang Yuncheng’s movements were swift, or perhaps he had been prepared for this all along. Before Qi Yue could call for reinforcements, several grim-faced older maids were already waiting in the courtyard, and a sedan chair had been carried in outside the gate.

“Chang Yuncheng, how dare you! I’ll tell Father!” Qi Yue was nearly driven mad with fury. Hadn't she exhausted every effort just to remain in this Dingxi Marquis’s residence? Now, to be sent away—this was utterly cutting off her path home, it was as good as taking her life!

She spun around, intending to rush out while shouting for her maids.

The older maids blocked her path, and it turned out that all of Qi Yue’s maids, save for A'ru, had been sent away and were nowhere in sight.

A'ru knelt, crying incessantly, kowtowing and begging Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng didn't spare her a glance. Instead, he waved his hand, and two older maids stepped forward to gag A'ru.

“I will certainly tell Father,” Chang Yuncheng sneered coldly. “You needn't trouble yourself with that. What you need to worry about now is whether you want to be carried out or if you intend to walk.”

By the time Concubine Zhou and the others heard the news, the carriage had already departed from the Dingxi Marquis’s residence.

Concubine Zhou rushed furiously to the Marquis of Dingxi, where both Lady Xie and Chang Yuncheng were present.

“She has been overworked lately, and her old ailment hasn't fully healed, so I suggested she go to Biyun Villa to rest for a while. No matter how much I reasoned, she refused to speak to Father and Mother, insisting it would be unfilial. Just now, we argued over this very matter, and I was truly vexed, so I took the liberty of sending her off,” Chang Yuncheng explained to the Marquis. “I came to inform Father and Mother; I will go to the villa in a few days to keep Yue Niang company.”

The Marquis of Dingxi, who had harbored some doubts, smiled upon hearing that his son would also accompany Yue Niang.

“That is good. The two of you have been separated for three years; it’s high time for a private reunion,” he chuckled. “And I can hold my grandson sooner.”

“Cheng’er is overly doting on his wife,” Lady Xie commented faintly from the side. “There are plenty of matters in the household, and now she leaves. You won't even have a soul in your chambers.”

“Isn’t Mother still here? I must burden Mother a little more,” Chang Yuncheng replied with a smile. “Also, please inform Father that Yue Niang has selected two maids for me and had them properly groomed.”

Hearing this, the Marquis laughed even harder, satisfied with his son and his daughter-in-law alike.

“Cherishing beauty—that is inherited through blood,” he said, patting his son’s shoulder. He then turned to Lady Xie, “I cherish you too, my dear. In a few days, I shall take you out to the estates for some mountain and river excursions.”

Lady Xie scoffed.

“What nonsense are you speaking in front of the children?” She appeared somewhat annoyed and walked away.

The Marquis burst into hearty laughter.

Lady Xie, standing at the doorway, slowly withdrew the hand that had been steadying the curtain, her expression darkening as she retreated.

“A'jin, hurry and tell the Marquis the truth! It was the mistress who added people to the Heir’s chambers, causing the young mistress to become so angry that the two of them quarreled…” A'jin whispered urgently.

“Quarreling with the Heir over concubines?” Concubine Zhou looked at her. “Do you think the Marquis will side with his daughter-in-law if he hears that?”

To a Marquis who held countless beauties, this would be seen as the actions of a jealous woman—an unforgivable act of jealousy…

A'jin lowered her head awkwardly.

“The truth,” Concubine Zhou continued, shaking her head with a desolate smile, “the truth is that no matter how much a woman strives, or how clever or good she is, it is useless. Who lives and who dies is determined solely by a man’s favor. With affection, she has everything; without it, she has nothing.”

“Then the young mistress is…” A'jin bit her lower lip, her face etched with worry.

“That useless thing! Just two concubines, not worth such a fuss!” Concubine Zhou muttered through clenched teeth, her fists tightening, squeezing out four or five iterations of the word ‘useless’ through her teeth.

A'jin sighed.

“I don’t think the young mistress is that kind of person, Madam. Perhaps there are other underlying reasons. The fact that you haven't made a move for so long suggests she must have been arranging something in secret, simply waiting for this very opportunity,” she murmured.

Concubine Zhou remained silent. The mistress and servant walked slowly together. After a long while, she finally let out a breath.

“Let’s first consider how to manage the aftermath. Everyone must look out for themselves,” Concubine Zhou said faintly.

“But, what if they intend to…” A'jin made a throat-slitting gesture with her hand and whispered.

Concubine Zhou let out a short laugh.

“I almost wish they dared to do so. They’ve hated her enough to wish her dead day and night for three years, yet they’ve hesitated to act…” She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and muttered softly, but a sharp gleam flashed in her eyes.

This girl was granted the marriage by the Empress’s imperial decree, arranged by the Old Madam. If this mother and son were to cause her death... if the matter were reported, these two would be fortunate not to be executed, let alone escape unharmed.

Previously, within the residence, there was no leverage. But now, the couple has quarreled, and the Heir personally escorted her out—the entire household knows this. If that woman were to truly die at this moment, it would be… absolutely wonderful.

“Have someone keep a close watch over that side. That vile woman might just do something to harm Yue Niang,” Concubine Zhou put away her smile, her expression becoming solemn as she instructed A'jin in a low voice.

“Yes, Madam, rest assured. Your servant understands.” A'jin nodded.

Qi Yue was helped out of the carriage, not because she was tied up, but because she had been violently airsick the entire journey, feeling dizzy and nauseous.

The carriage stopped late at night. The late autumn air was bitterly cold, and Qi Yue hugged her arms, hunching her shoulders. All around was pitch black. The noisy clatter of their carriage wheels startled the surrounding dogs, and dots of lamplight flickered on.

Qi Yue looked at the residence before her. Two large red lanterns hung at the entrance, casting dim, yellow pools of light onto the ground in the night wind.

Four or five servants, clearly woken abruptly, stood at the door, holding lamps that illuminated their surprised faces.

“The main quarters are prepared; the Young Mistress is to reside here,” the older maid escorting them stated concisely.

“Everything has been cleaned daily, and the bedding is all fresh,” one of the elder women among the local servants replied quickly.

Before Qi Yue could even take in the appearance of the main gate, she was half-pushed, half-coaxed inside.

The courtyard was also deserted and silent. As they entered, the dog barking grew fiercer. The older maids clearly seemed a bit frightened.

“Why are there dogs here?” they asked dissatisfiedly.

“Replying to the Madams, the fruit in the back garden is ripe. The village children are mischievous, so we keep a few dogs to scare them off,” a man replied with a subservient, smiling bow.

The older maids asked no more questions. Seeing the man approach, they even wrinkled their noses in distaste, covering their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs.

Some servants rushed ahead to the main house to light the lamps, which shone brightly in the dark courtyard.

Stepping inside, a chill of long disuse washed over her. Qi Yue couldn't help but shiver.

Four lamps were lit inside. This place was not unlike Qiutong Courtyard—three large rooms separated by moon gates and beaded curtains—but it appeared more spacious, and the furniture possessed the weighty solemnity of age.

Once the lamps were lit under the maids’ direction, the local servants hastily retreated.

“Young Mistress, we are leaving now. You had best behave yourself and do not attempt any foolish notions of running back halfway. You know the Heir’s temper well. This is already showing you mercy; do not force the Heir to completely abandon face,” the older maid said indifferently, her tone haughty.

Qi Yue was examining the interior. Perhaps because the journey had left her too weak from nausea, or perhaps because she knew nothing could be changed, she was no longer as volatile as she had been when they first set out.

Qi Yue paid them no mind.

The older maids did not care if she paid attention to them; they turned and left, closing the door heavily behind them.

“Young Mistress…” A'ru knelt on the floor, weeping.

“Get up quickly, the ground is cold,” Qi Yue said after glancing at her.

“Young Mistress, what shall we do?” A'ru cried, not rising.

“Do with it what we must,” Qi Yue muttered, reaching out to run a finger over the main table. Thankfully, it was indeed swept clean; there was no dust.

She strode toward the sleeping quarters, where chests and cabinets were arranged—clean, elegant, and fully furnished with bedding.

A'ru, not knowing what she intended to do, followed her.

“Are you hungry?” Qi Yue turned and asked her.

A'ru, whose eyes were swollen from crying, froze at the question.

“Never mind. Going a meal without food is just like dieting,” Qi Yue waved her hand, sat down on the bed, and tested the bedding. “A bit damp, but manageable.”

She let out a breath, then rose and walked briskly toward the outside, pulling open the door with a swish. Unlike the stuffy air of the deep chambers in the Marquis’s residence, the cool night wind rushed in, carrying the earthy scent of the countryside.

“Is anyone there?” she called out loudly.

Someone immediately ran over from the doorway carrying a lamp.

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

“After sitting in a carriage all day, is there hot water available for washing up?” Qi Yue asked kindly.

“Yes, yes, we have water ready on the stove we can heat up. Young Mistress, please wait a moment, I’ll go and call someone,” the woman said hurriedly.

Qi Yue nodded.

“Then I trouble you all, so late at night,” she smiled.

The woman was momentarily stunned by the thank you, forgetting even basic pleasantries, and scurried away, trembling.

“Young Mistress.” A'ru was also bewildered, forgetting her tears as she looked at Qi Yue with inquiry.

“We will discuss anything tomorrow. For now, bathe and sleep,” Qi Yue held up a hand to stop her.

The hot water was prepared quickly. Two older maids carried in a wash tub, and another carried a food container.

“We weren’t sure if the Young Mistress had eaten, so we prepared a little supper,” she said shakily.

Once inside the room, under the lamplight, Qi Yue could clearly see the features of these maids: all looked to be around forty-five or forty-six, with wrinkled faces and simple clothing, lacking the polish of the older maids in the Dingxi Marquis’s residence.

When they saw Qi Yue observing them, they all awkwardly lowered their heads, showing none of the imposing air of the Marquis’s household staff.

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness,” Qi Yue smiled, opening the food container herself. Seeing two bowls of porridge and two small dishes of side vegetables, she exclaimed happily again, “This is exactly what I was hoping for, light and mild.”

The maids were flustered by her words, wanting to smile but not daring to.

“We are relieved the Young Mistress does not despise it,” one said constrainedly, then tugged at another. “Young Mistress, please enjoy. We will wait just outside. If you need anything, just call for us.”

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

“Eat a little first, so you don't get dizzy after bathing,” she urged A'ru, picking up a bowl herself and taking a sip.

“I can’t eat a bite,” A'ru said, biting her lip.

“Whether you can eat or not, you must. Food is the greatest matter. As long as one can eat, there is nothing that cannot be resolved,” Qi Yue said. She picked up a side dish with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and her eyes brightened as she nodded. “Mmm, this is delicious. You try some.”

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