The lamp in the room was lit, and A'ru bustled back and forth, constantly bringing bowls of soup and liquids. Qi Yue lay on the kang, covered by the quilt, her hair loose, a warm towel still pressed to her forehead.

"I can't take it anymore. This dizziness is severe; it must be lingering from that blow..." she mumbled, gasping for breath as if she might pass away at any moment.

"What should we do? I'll go fetch the physician," A'ru said, flustered and somewhat helpless, while gently urging her to take the freshly brewed medicine.

"I can't take it. I can't even sit up. If I eat it, I just want to throw up," Qi Yue whined, clutching the quilt and remaining still.

"My Lord," A'ru looked anxiously toward Chang Yuncheng.

Ever since Qi Yue was helped into the inner room, he had remained over there, sitting at the low table, slowly pouring and drinking his wine, seemingly oblivious to the commotion on this side.

Perhaps having heard enough of the drama, he finally set down his cup and strode over, stopping at the bedside to look down at Qi Yue.

"My Lord, I will go ask for the physician; please wait a moment, my Lord," A'ru said cautiously, laced with a touch of pleading. "The Young Mistress's illness truly hasn't passed..."

Please, don't just turn and leave.

"Young Mistress, is there any way you can just hold on, just long enough to make it home?" she whispered, taking the chance while helping Qi Yue change the towel. We finally got the Lord to stay; we mustn't lose this chance.

"This ailment requires rest; I must lie still," Qi Yue murmured weakly. "Don't worry. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest. No need for any medicine..."

A'ru was half-convinced, half-skeptical.

"I was wrong." Chang Yuncheng finally spoke.

The words were abrupt, lacking context, and A'ru stared at him, unable to comprehend.

"Tell me then, what do you want me to do?" Chang Yuncheng continued.

A'ru blinked, glancing at Qi Yue. Qi Yue had her eyes closed, and though she was still mumbling faintly, an undeniable smile played on her lips. A'ru suddenly understood.

"Young Mistress..." she couldn't help but exclaim. This was too... too...

"Oh, My Lord, you speak so politely. How could you possibly be wrong?" Qi Yue stretched out an arm to rest behind her head, speaking slowly.

All traces of illness had vanished.

Chang Yuncheng watched her, a slight upward curve forming at the corner of his mouth.

"I was wrong for being short-sighted and saying things so absolutely," Chang Yuncheng replied.

Somehow, as soon as he uttered those words, the pent-up heaviness in his chest dissipated like smoke, replaced by a sudden urge to laugh.

Qi Yue glared at him.

"Mind your own business; you don't need to use me as a reminder," she retorted.

A'ru looked between the two, then slowly backed away a step.

Chang Yuncheng's smile finally broke through, turning into uncontrollable, hearty laughter.

Qi Yue remained unhurried and unperturbed, lying comfortably on the kang, waiting for his laughter to subside.

"Had enough laughing?" she asked. "You can go back now."

Chang Yuncheng's laughter surged anew. He lifted the edge of his robe and sat down by the bed.

Seeing this, A'ru quickly lowered her head and retreated outside.

"I apologize," Chang Yuncheng said, controlling his laughter and adopting a serious expression.

Qi Yue nodded.

"Mmm, not bad. These three words—'I apologize'—are quite easy to say..." she said, her expression equally serious, only to be cut off by Chang Yuncheng.

"For me, they are not easy," he stated.

That line really invites a beating.

"Do you even know what you did wrong?" Qi Yue sat up, frowning as she spoke.

"I already told you: I shouldn't have been short-sighted and said things absolutely," Chang Yuncheng answered, frowning in return.

Qi Yue shook her head as she looked at him.

"Let me help you tally up your mistakes," she said, holding out a hand. "First, you injured the innocent Yuanbao to save your own men."

Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

"Injuring him didn't mean he would die. But if I hadn't injured him, my subordinate would have died. Tell me, was it worth it? Besides, the life of my subordinate is worth a hundred times that boy's," he said, lifting his chin slightly with an air of arrogance.

Qi Yue watched him, a small, amused smile touching her lips.

"They are both lives; how can there be a difference in value?" she countered.

"Since they are lives, there is naturally a difference in value," Chang Yuncheng responded.

The two locked eyes.

"Are kings and marquises born into their station?" Qi Yue exclaimed, raising her hand high.

Chang Yuncheng scoffed lightly.

"If there is no 'station,' why strive to become a king or a marquis?" he said calmly.

Qi Yue frowned at him.

"It's pointless talking to you; there's a generational gap. Fine, let's drop this one," she said, waving her hand dismissively and shifting to sit more upright. "What about you, regarding me?"

Chang Yuncheng fell silent.

"First, leaving for three years without a word—is that how a husband behaves?" Qi Yue asked.

She refused to believe any nonsense about being busy with military affairs and having no capacity for private affections; it was clearly intentional. "Did you ever consider how humiliating that made my life?" Qi Yue looked at him. "Why did I have to shamelessly move into your courtyard? Chang Yuncheng, you aren't the only one who cares about face. Things that force a person to discard their dignity aren't just about hurting your pride."

Silence settled in the room after her words.

A'ru, standing just outside the door, instinctively covered her mouth, tears sliding down her cheeks. This kind of sorrow, spoken so calmly, was far more heartbreaking than any tearful outburst.

"And later, you beat me, scolded me, and shamed me. Chang Yuncheng, is this what marriage is? Even a feud over a murdered father wouldn't be this unforgivable," Qi Yue continued, gazing at him.

Chang Yuncheng merely smiled, but what he intended to say ultimately remained unvoiced.

"I was wrong," he looked at Qi Yue and said simply.

Qi Yue looked back at him and smiled.

"Then, how do you plan to treat me from now on?" she asked with a smile. "I will treat you well," Chang Yuncheng replied, looking at her.

"How will you treat me well?" Qi Yue rested her chin on her hand, watching him with genuine interest.

Chang Yuncheng's expression grew increasingly strained.

"You say it," he exhaled the two words.

"From this moment on, you are only allowed to be good to me. You must dote on me, never lie to me, fulfill every promise you make to me, speak only truth when addressing me, no scolding, you must care for me. When others bully me, you must be the first to defend me. When I am happy, you must share my joy; when I am unhappy, you must coax me into happiness. You must always believe I am the most beautiful. You must see me even in your dreams. In your heart, there is only me," Qi Yue said slowly, propping her head with her hand and watching him smile.

She had planned an absurd parody of The Lion Roars in the East for this year's Department of Thoracic Surgery year-end cultural performance, but that plan was scrapped when the original male lead turned out to be her ex-boyfriend. Unexpectedly, she actually had a use for this material now. Somehow, as she finished speaking through her smile, tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably.

Truly... how utterly shameless... For a woman to say such things...

Chang Yuncheng's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Noticing suddenly that the woman who had been smiling smugly and arrogantly was now weeping, his expression stiffened.

"Fine, I have noted it," he replied after a moment of silence.

"That's enough for today. I'm tired; we'll discuss the rest another time. I want to sleep now," Qi Yue said, waving her hand, all interest gone.

Chang Yuncheng abruptly stood up.

"That's enough of that," he said, his voice taut with restrained anger.

Qi Yue merely glanced at him without acknowledging him, pulled the quilt up, and lay down.

"My Lord, now is not the time to throw me out," she said languidly. "Besides, I'm not a child. Those flowery words are just for show; you don't actually take them to heart, do you?"

Chang Yuncheng clenched his fists, staring at the woman lying down, only revealing a cascade of black hair.

"Don't think I can't manage without you," he ground out between his teeth, then turned and walked out forcefully.

A'ru in the outer room panicked, steeling herself to throw her body across the Lord's legs if he emerged, vowing not to let him leave for anything.

The heavy footsteps stopped right at the door—A'ru's heart almost stopped too. Just as she felt she would suffocate holding her breath, the footsteps moved again—but backward...

A'ru let out a long breath, leaning against the sliding partition door.

Chang Yuncheng had returned to the bedside, looking down at the woman on the kang. Throughout the whole time, she hadn't moved an inch, as if she had fallen into a deep, dead sleep.

Chang Yuncheng clenched and then released his fists. Finally, gritting his teeth, he reached out and ripped open his outer robe with a tearing sound.

Qi Yue lay clutching the quilt, lost in the emotional pain of the past. From the moment she learned of the betrayal, anger consumed all her feelings. As time passed, the sadness that washed over her when recalling it became overwhelming. That man, once so brilliant, who had rallied them in the laboratory, vowing to reach the pinnacle of medical skill, had one day resorted to unscrupulous means in pursuit of fame and fortune—or perhaps, ultimately, he just hadn't loved her enough...

Qi Yue sighed, intending to shift her position, but as she turned over, she froze in shock.

"You—what are you doing?" she shrieked, throwing the quilt off and sitting bolt upright.

Chang Yuncheng was already down to just his trousers, his hands working on his belt. Hearing her voice, he looked up at her.

Seeing his gaze, Qi Yue quickly wrapped herself tightly in the quilt again.

"Hey, let me tell you, I have principles! A scholar can be killed, but not humiliated! Threatening me like this won't work!" she yelled.

Chang Yuncheng, whose face had been dark, curved his lips into a slightly mocking smile upon hearing her words and seeing her posture.

"What am I doing? Didn't you say it was wrong for me to ignore you for three years? We are husband and wife, so naturally, we should do what husband and wife do," he said, pulling off his sash.

Qi Yue let out two sharp cries and completely covered her head with the quilt.

"...If we are done, we can talk later," Chang Yuncheng's voice penetrated the fabric. "...This way, you will be at ease..."

Then, a hand began to tug at the edge of her quilt, which Qi Yue held onto tightly.

"You're sick! Who has the mood for this with you right now?" she cried. "Hurry up and put your clothes back on, and we'll continue talking, properly."

***

"We can talk after it's done," Chang Yuncheng's voice came from outside, followed immediately by a surge of strength as the quilt was yanked away.

"A'ru, save me!" Qi Yue screamed, scrambling to roll off the bed.

A'ru, having heard Chang Yuncheng's first sentence, had flushed crimson with embarrassment, yet was also surprised and delighted. She scurried away, blushing, naturally remembering to thoughtfully secure both the inner and outer doors.

"Enough with the coy resistance. I know what you women are thinking..."

Accompanying these words, a hand pinned Qi Yue's shoulder, and then a man as heavy as a mountain lunged forward, knocking her down onto the kang.