"Auntie, your anemia is quite severe," Qi Yue said directly, sitting down and watching the Second Madam, who was being carefully helped into a resting position by a maid, covered with thick blankets, and given a hand warmer and foot stove. She frowned, recalling the icy coldness of the hand she had held earlier, and now observed the unnaturally pale complexion up close.

The Second Madam, after this arrangement, managed to catch her breath and offered Qi Yue a slight smile. "Yue-niang is truly a miracle doctor," she said with a gentle smile.

Qi Yue stood up decisively and walked to her side, taking her hand to examine the nail beds closely, then scrutinizing her complexion, before slightly lifting her eyelid with her own hand. It seemed even more serious than she had initially thought; Qi Yue’s heart sank slightly, but she showed no expression.

"Auntie, let me see your legs," she said. While she performed these actions, the Second Madam remained smiling and silent, allowing her to proceed.

Hearing her request, the maid Cai Qing nearby grew worried. "Young Madam, my mistress dislikes the cold; to uncover the blankets and clothes..." she couldn't help but interject.

"It's fine," the Second Madam told her with a smile, glancing at Qi Yue, her eyes tender. "This is Yue-niang's kindness." Qi Yue nodded and smiled at her, saying nothing, as she watched Cai Qing uncover the blankets and skirts, revealing a pair of fair legs.

Seeing Qi Yue frown slightly, the Second Madam offered a small smile. "I am old; have I frightened Yue-niang?" she remarked.

Qi Yue chuckled, looking at the legs before her. Though swollen and dry-skinned, bearing the marks of age, the beauty of her youth was still discernible.

"Not at all, Auntie's legs are truly beautiful," she said, reaching out to gently massage the Second Madam’s legs. The Second Madam’s expression faltered slightly.

She looked at Qi Yue with a somewhat dazed look, as if seeing another person through her. "You...

say that too?" she murmured. Qi Yue hadn't heard clearly and looked up at her.

"What did you say, Auntie?" she asked. The Second Madam snapped back to attention, pursing her lips into a slight smile.

"I said I am old. What is there to call beautiful or ugly," she replied.

"Everyone grows old. Everyone has a youth; we cannot erase the fact of past beauty just because one is old," Qi Yue smiled, signaling Cai Qing to cover the Second Madam again.

"Besides, Auntie is still young." The Second Madam wasn't yet forty, a prime age even in modern times. She sat back down, pausing in thought.

"Auntie..." "Yue-niang..." Both spoke at the same time, then looked at each other and smiled. "You speak first," the Second Madam laughed.

"Auntie hasn't been eating well, has she?" Qi Yue asked. The Second Madam hadn't expected this question and laughed.

"Yes, I eat very little," she answered obediently. "Lately, she barely eats anything," Cai Qing couldn't help but chime in, looking at Qi Yue with a touch of hope.

She understood now. The Young Madam was truly tending to the Second Madam's health.

Cai Qing had heard about the Young Madam's own situation; though it seemed outlandish, the facts spoke for themselves, leaving no room for disbelief. Qi Yue hummed an acknowledgement and nodded.

"How has your sleep been?" she then inquired. "Alright," the Second Madam replied.

"What do you mean, alright? She hasn't slept properly at all!" Cai Qing hastily corrected.

The Second Madam glanced at Cai Qing, her smile fading. "Go fetch the 'Dian Xin' that Sheng-ge'er brought back yesterday," she instructed.

Cai Qing knew she was being dismissed. With a hint of grievance, she lowered her head and replied, "Yes." "Auntie, please don't trouble yourself.

I am not hungry; I just came out after eating to aid digestion," Qi Yue quickly said. Cai Qing still left.

"Auntie, you often feel dizzy, don't you?" Qi Yue continued asking. The Second Madam smiled at her and patted her hand.

"Thank you for your concern," she said. "I know my own body; no need to trouble yourself." Qi Yue disliked hearing that.

"How can I not trouble myself..." she began to argue. The Second Madam cut her off.

"Let's not discuss that. I was actually planning to see you even if you hadn't come.

I heard you were attacked at that estate?" she asked, concern lacing her tone. "Tell me quickly.

What happened?" This news had reached this far? Logically, Chang Yuncheng should have kept such family disgrace quiet, but as the Second Madam was family, telling her wasn't inappropriate.

Qi Yue proceeded to explain. The Second Madam fell into a thoughtful silence.

"I am investigating too; I will find the villain responsible," she said slowly. Her voice was soft, but the words carried a distinct weight when spoken now.

"No need, Auntie, don't worry. Chang Yuncheng...

the Heir is investigating," Qi Yue quickly said. "I know he's investigating," the Second Madam replied, taking a slight breath.

"I just fear he won't find anything..." "How could that be..." Qi Yue smiled and shook her head. The boy was wayward and hardly a good man, but villains were usually dealt with by other villains; he ought to find something out, otherwise, he'd be too useless, especially after putting on such an arrogant air that everything in the world was under his control...

Qi Yue couldn't help but purse her lips in a smile. Seeing Qi Yue smile, the Second Madam’s expression darkened slightly.

"He can find out? If he could, he wouldn't have rushed to set a fire and burn those maids and matrons guarding the perimeter as soon as he had a clue," she said slowly.

Qi Yue was surprised, though not by the result the Second Madam had hoped for. "A fire?

The fire at Qiutong Courtyard?" she asked. That fire had extinguished her hopes that day.

Afterwards, lacking the energy or inclination, she hadn't bothered investigating the cause, only knowing that the area near the Marquisate's Qiutong Courtyard needed rebuilding. "They were keeping people in Qiutong Courtyard, and a fire broke out halfway through the night; the maids and matrons inside were all burned to death," the Second Madam recounted, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"How could it be such a coincidence? Just as they were about to ask questions, the people died." "People died?" Qi Yue's focus once again diverged from the Second Madam's concern.

She let out a breath. "Human lives are really worthless here..." It was terrifying; death arrived so easily.

The Second Madam looked at her, dropping the topic. "Yue-niang, why did you come today?" she asked.

"No reason. Just came to let Auntie see that I am quite well, so you don't worry," Qi Yue said with a smile.

A relieved yet somewhat thrilled smile appeared on the Second Madam's face. "Good, good," she said, grasping Qi Yue's hand.

"I have seen. I am relieved." Cai Qing's voice sounded from outside.

"Mistress, the Eldest Young Master and the Heir are here," she announced. Both the Second Madam and Qi Yue were somewhat surprised.

The Eldest Young Master visiting his own mother wasn't unexpected, but Chang Yuncheng was here too? Before Cai Qing finished speaking, Chang Yuncheng and Chang Yunsheng lifted the curtain and entered.

"Mother, I heard Eldest Sister-in-law is here?" Chang Yunsheng asked with delighted surprise, stepping forward. He caught sight of Qi Yue standing and quickly approached to pay respects, calling out 'Eldest Sister-in-law.' Qi Yue regarded the young man; she had met him a couple of times during the Mid-Autumn Festival and retained a vague impression.

Then her gaze settled on Chang Yuncheng, who was following Chang Yunsheng slowly behind. He was wearing a casual, pale cyan collar robe, cinched with a black-gold belt, and an indigo cloak was draped over his arm.

He did not look at Qi Yue, acting as if she were not present in the room. He tossed the cloak to a maid who stepped forward to receive it, then immediately bowed to the Second Madam to offer his greetings.

Qi Yue secretly pursed her lips and stopped looking at him. Meanwhile, Chang Yunsheng looked at Qi Yue with great excitement.

"Sister-in-law, you really performed a laparotomy to save Young Master Huang?" he asked. Qi Yue smiled lightly.

"Actually, it was Doctor Liu's credit; otherwise, he wouldn't have been saved," she replied. "Sister-in-law, you really cut open Young Master Huang's abdomen?" Chang Yunsheng wasn't concerned with that detail.

He pressed on. Qi Yue nodded.

"Yes, but it wasn't large—not what you might imagine—just a small incision," she gestured roughly with her hand. This was enough to make Chang Yunsheng gasp in amazement, and even the Second Madam looked slightly stunned.

"He survived after his stomach was cut open?" He paced excitedly. "Survived after the stomach was opened.

I often see people who lose limbs and still suffer terribly..." Qi Yue laughed heartily. "That's different," she chuckled, unsure how to explain it to him.

Fortunately, Chang Yunsheng didn't require an explanation; confirming the fact was sufficient for him. "Heavens, Sister-in-law is truly a miracle doctor," he laughed excitedly, rubbing his hands, seemingly not knowing what else to say.

"Fluent in poetry, witty in conversation..." He repeated these phrases, making both Qi Yue and the Second Madam laugh. "Heir, you are truly blessed to have married Sister-in-law!" Chang Yunsheng exclaimed loudly, clapping Chang Yuncheng firmly on the shoulder.

Chang Yuncheng hadn't expected this sudden remark, causing him to freeze momentarily. His normally impassive expression filled with layers: surprise, awkwardness, annoyance, and even a fleeting trace of shyness.

Given his usual disposition, a sarcastic remark would have been the immediate outflow, but he opened his mouth and then... "Your strength has certainly grown over the years," he managed to say, rubbing his shoulder as he looked at Chang Yunsheng.

Qi Yue couldn't help herself and burst out laughing. Chang Yuncheng finally turned his gaze onto her, carrying a hint of warning.

Qi Yue grinned at him, then covered her mouth with her hand. Observing their expressions, the smile on the Second Madam's face slowly faded.

Having confirmed the details of the abdominal surgery, Chang Yunsheng was soon called away. With their father gone, he was responsible for the estate's affairs and correspondence, making him very busy.

"Heir, would you care to join me for tea in the study?" he invited Chang Yuncheng as he left, concerned the Heir might be uncomfortable lingering in the women's quarters. Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

"I won't be long; I must leave soon. You attend to your business.

We’ll have tea another day," he said. Chang Yunsheng said no more, offered a few apologies, and departed.

The Second Madam lowered her head to sip her tea in silence, and Qi Yue found nothing to say either. Naturally, Chang Yuncheng would not initiate conversation.

A strange silence filled the room. Amidst this quiet, Chang Yuncheng rose to his feet.

"Is the Heir leaving?" the Second Madam asked gently, setting down her cup. Without waiting for a reply, she called to the maids and servants, "See the Heir out properly, and please send the packet of blood bird's nest we received the day before yesterday to the Madam." Chang Yuncheng stood his ground, compelled to bow in farewell.

Qi Yue stood up but did not move toward the exit. Chang Yuncheng looked at her, his hands hanging by his sides clenching involuntarily.

Finally, he spoke to her in a low voice, tinged with displeasure. "Aren't you going back?" he grumbled, "Auntie is unwell; don't keep her here too long." Qi Yue hummed an affirmative; indeed, the Second Madam clearly looked drained.

She was about to excuse herself when the Second Madam spoke first. "Yue-niang, stay and talk with me a little longer.

I have some discomforts I wish to consult her about," she said with a smile, looking at Chang Yuncheng. "You may leave first, and give my regards to your mother." Chang Yuncheng relaxed his grip, cupped his hands toward the Second Madam, turned, and walked away without sparing Qi Yue another glance.