"Oh, right." Qi Yue remembered too. "What did you call me back then? Yueliang? Or Yueniang?"

A'Ru stood nearby, fidgeting nervously.

"Yueliang," Chang Yunqi replied after a brief silence.

Qi Yue's eyes lit up, and she stood up.

"Me?" she pointed a finger at herself.

"It seems you've truly forgotten. I just called you that when we were fooling around as kids," Chang Yunqi offered a slight smile.

Qi Yue looked utterly astonished.

"You mean... I really had a nickname like Yueliang?" she asked.

"It wasn't really a name, just something I called out randomly. Please don't hold it against me, Eldest Sister-in-law; I won't call you that again," Chang Yunqi said, looking down.

Qi Yue ignored his words, merely feeling an overwhelming sense of surprise at the confirmation.

"What a coincidence, having the same nickname," she sat down, placing a hand on her chest, her face full of disbelief. "No wonder I felt like I..."

"Young Madam, the ginger soup is getting cold. Drink it quickly," A'Ru interjected, cutting off Qi Yue's thought.

Qi Yue realized she had almost spoken too much and quickly took the soup to drink.

Chang Yunqi finally rose to take his leave.

A'Ru let out a sigh of relief.

"It's a shame I didn't get to make Beggar's Chicken for you to taste," Qi Yue said with a smile, making no move to keep him, but personally escorted him out.

"Next time," Chang Yunqi replied cheerfully.

Next time...

A'Ru lowered her head, her expression fretful.

"I will escort Third Young Master out," she said.

Qi Yue paused her steps. Chang Yunqi bowed to her in a cupped-hand salute and strode out.

"I wonder if what this child says back home will have any effect," Qi Yue sighed, standing under the eaves.

Still, she was quite pleased; he was the first person to visit her.

"It seems Qi Yueniang and your Third Young Master had quite a good relationship," Qi Yue remarked.

A'Ru trimmed the lamp wick and brought the lamp over to the table in the sleeping chamber.

"Third Young Master has always had a good temperament and is kind to people," she replied.

This meant he wasn't particularly fond of Qi Yueniang, Qi Yue understood perfectly the girl's tension, smiling faintly.

"Honestly, why did your Old Madam insist on matching her with the Heir Apparent? You call that a marriage alliance? It's more like an enmity. If they had married Qi Yueniang to Third Young Master, it wouldn't have delayed the Heir Apparent finding a socially equal match, and Yueniang could have enjoyed a life of comfort and ease..." she mused.

A'Ru immediately dropped to her knees.

"Young Madam, you must never say such a thing, or it will lead to certain death," she said, terrified.

Qi Yue laughed and reached out to pull her up.

"Where would I say it? I'm just talking to you," she chuckled.

"Young Madam, regardless of the past, you are the Young Madam now, and the future Marchioness..." A'Ru stood up, speaking with a touch of worry.

Qi Yue let out a soft sound, falling back onto the couch.

"I'm going to die," she cried out.

A'Ru's face went white with fright, and she rushed over.

Qi Yue burst into laughter.

"Young Madam, you nearly scared this servant to death," A'Ru said, agitated and slightly angry.

"You nearly scared me to death," Qi Yue laughed, rolling onto her side on the couch, looking at A'Ru, then letting out a breath. "If I have to stay here for a lifetime, I might as well be dead."

A'Ru fell silent and sighed.

"Your life used to be quite good, didn't it?" she asked hesitantly in a low voice after a moment.

"Thinking back, there were plenty of complaints about things not being ideal, but looking back now, it was pretty good," Qi Yue said with a hint of reminiscence. "Before I came here, I was also in a place like this countryside setting."

"Also in the countryside?" A'Ru asked curiously.

Qi Yue reached out and pulled her to sit down.

"To outsiders, it looks like I was pushed out and marginalized, much like the current situation," she explained.

A'Ru stood up again in surprise.

"You—you were also sent away by your husband's family?" she stammered.

"What husband's family? I wasn't married yet. It was my work unit—no, not exactly a work unit," Qi Yue laughed. "I went down willingly."

A'Ru relaxed and sat on the footstool.

"Work unit? What is a work unit?" she asked.

"A work unit, well, a work unit is..." Qi Yue was about to explain when they heard movement outside. The mistress and maid quickly composed themselves.

"Young Madam, someone from the manor has arrived," a servant's voice sounded outside the door.

Someone else? Qi Yue and A'Ru exchanged a look.

The person who entered lifted their large hat and shed a heavy cloak, revealing a young face.

"Sister Caiqing, why have you come so late?" A'Ru was surprised and immediately moved to pour hot tea for her.

Caiqing couldn't even take the tea; she went straight to kneel and kowtow to Qi Yue, who had just walked out of the sleeping chamber.

"This servant has disturbed the Young Madam; please forgive me," she said, bowing low.

Caiqing was the senior maid to the Second Mistress of the West Residence, holding a status even more esteemed than the concubines in the household. Qi Yue quickly asked her to rise.

"The Mistress only just heard that the Young Madam had arrived here. Considering the weather is growing colder, and this place hasn't been inhabited long, it's quite damp, so she urged me to bring over a mattress," Caiqing rose and brought over the large bundle resting on the floor.

A'Ru quickly took it and opened it, revealing a splendid, multicolored fur coat. "This is tiger skin," Caiqing smiled.

Qi Yue was utterly delighted and eagerly gestured for it to be taken out so she could examine it from all angles.

Wow, this is the real deal.

"Thank my aunt for her thoughtfulness," Qi Yue said with a smile, then urged A'Ru to quickly fetch extra bedding.

"The other rooms are even worse. This place is large; let Sister Caiqing and I squeeze together," A'Ru suggested.

"No need to trouble yourselves. I only have a word to say and must hurry back," Caiqing insisted.

Qi Yue and A'Ru froze.

"How can you travel late at night?" A'Ru shook her head.

Since she said she had to rush back, it was likely not mere politeness. Qi Yue hesitated slightly, looking at Caiqing.

"I will go boil Sister Caiqing a bowl of ginger soup," A'Ru said, having caught on.

Caiqing offered a word of thanks without refusal and watched A'Ru leave.

Qi Yue couldn't gauge Caiqing's intentions. Based on A'Ru's introduction, the Second Mistress of the West Residence didn't seem to have much contact with Qi Yueniang...

However, recalling the expression the Second Mistress showed during their first meeting, and looking at this midnight visit, there must be some connection between the two.

"Young Madam," Caiqing finally spoke, "The Mistress sent me to ask if you know of the care she took that day?"

That one sentence left Qi Yue completely bewildered. See? There was a connection, and something about "that day"! But how could she possibly know what happened that day?

"I..." Qi Yue opened her mouth and offered a wry smile.

Caiqing observed her bitter smile and took over the conversation.

"The Heir Apparent is not a suitable match for you. The Old Madam was entirely focused on your well-being, wanting to give you the best, to give you a stable life. It's just that this particular step was indeed a misstep," she said, taking a step forward. "Now you see clearly: the Heir Apparent cannot tolerate you, the First Mistress cannot tolerate you, and this household cannot tolerate you. Young Madam, you are not yet twenty; must you waste the rest of your life in this remote village?"

"Then... what does Auntie mean?" Qi Yue asked blankly, following her lead.

"Request a separation willingly," Caiqing stated.

Qi Yue murmured, "Oh."

"Divorce is out of the question, so the Young Madam need not worry. The Mistress will certainly protect you and find you a more suitable family. Even if a suitable family cannot be found, the Mistress will guarantee your food and clothing for the rest of your life," Caiqing assured her.

"If I request separation willingly, can it be done? Didn't you say this was an imperial marriage decree?" Qi Yue asked doubtfully.

"As long as the Young Madam has the intention, the Mistress will find a way to settle everything properly," Caiqing said with a faint smile.

This must be the wish of those mother and son from the Dingxi Marquis Estate, too. One plays the good cop, the other the bad cop, using both soft and hard tactics.

Qi Yue paced slowly a few steps inside the room.

"Thank you, Auntie. Yueniang will certainly give it serious thought," she replied with a smile.

Caiqing looked at her expression and sighed.

"Young Madam, although the Second Mistress and the First Mistress share the same goal, the Second Mistress truly cares for your welfare, unlike the First Mistress, who only cares for herself and the Heir Apparent. I know you must think this way," she explained.

Qi Yue rolled her eyes but turned back with a sincere smile.

"How could I? I know," she said.

Caiqing looked at her.

"The Mistress and the Old Madam both hold the same regard for you, the young lady," she said solemnly.

Qi Yue looked at her, suddenly feeling that this sentence held layers of meaning.

"This servant cannot stay out too long; I must take my leave now," Caiqing stopped speaking, turned to pick up her heavy cloak, bowed, and withdrew.

A'Ru personally escorted her out. When she returned, she found Qi Yue sitting by the lamp, lost in thought.

"Young Madam, what did the Second Mistress mean?" she couldn't help asking, a hint of hope in her voice. "Was she going to speak up for you?"

Speak up? For divorce? Qi Yue shook her head.

"What exactly is the relationship between your Second Mistress and Qi Yueniang?" she asked curiously, sitting up straight.

"No relationship at all," A'Ru replied, completely bewildered.

"Then what is her relationship with your Old Madam? Are they related by blood?" Qi Yue asked again.

A'Ru shook her head.

"Our Old Madam is from Fujian, and the Second Mistress is from the capital—one from the south and one from the north. If not for this marriage connection, they likely wouldn't know each other in this lifetime," she answered.

That was strange. Qi Yue leaned back on the couch again.

"However, the ancestors of both families were founding meritorious officials. They helped the High Ancestor Emperor conquer the land together back then," A'Ru added, remembering something. "Our family was enfeoffed as a Marquis, and their family was granted the title of Duke. Also, the Second Mistress's family..."

A'Ru paused here, hesitating slightly.

"What else?" Qi Yue prompted.

"The Second Mistress's family is more noble than ours. Their families have been distinguished nobility for generations," A'Ru explained.

Generations of nobility? Qi Yue became interested.

By rights, nobility from a previous dynasty shouldn't so easily retain their status in a new dynasty upon its founding—as the saying goes, a new emperor brings new officials.

"Then the Second Mistress's family couldn't possibly be former rebels who aided the new dynasty in its founding?" she guessed.

"This servant wouldn't know that," A'Ru smiled sheepishly. "I only occasionally overhear these kinds of things."

Qi Yue murmured, "Oh," and lay back down again. Whatever their background is, whether they mean well or are just showing false kindness, I don't care to deal with it, she thought, turning over to sleep.

A'Ru lowered the bed curtain, blew out the lamp, and left, closing the door.

The next morning, as Qi Yue was brushing her teeth inside, she heard crying from outside.

"Is there a funeral in the village?" Qi Yue mumbled.

"I don't know; I'll go ask," A'Ru said, walking out. A moment later, she returned with a strange expression.

"What is it?" Qi Yue asked casually while braiding her hair in front of the bronze mirror.

"Outside..." A'Ru began, seemingly unsure how to phrase it. "There's a villager crying outside the gate."

"Crying about what? Did someone bully them?" Qi Yue turned to look.