Pink… As soon as Chang Yunchun left, Qi Yue sat down again, turning to find the Second Madam scrutinizing her.

“Aunt, what is it you wish to ask me?” she asked with a light smile.

The Second Madam withdrew her gaze, her expression softening.

Qi Yue had already spoken up herself.

“It must be anemia, but the cause still requires further examination…” she mused, glancing at the Second Madam’s swollen legs. If only she could run a urinalysis…

“I know, it’s nothing serious. I’m taking my medicine, and the doctor checks on me every month,” the Second Madam replied with a smile.

Qi Yue breathed a sigh of relief. If that was the case, then the traditional Chinese doctors were even more skilled.

“Then Aunt must take good care of herself. This cannot be taken lightly,” Qi Yue advised.

The Second Madam nodded.

“Why did you come to see me today? Is there something you need me to do?” she inquired.

Qi Yue shook her head and smiled.

“No, I just came out for a stroll. I thought Aunt might be concerned about me, so I came by for you to see me and be reassured,” she explained.

The Second Madam looked at her, her expression touched with emotion, a faint shimmer of tears welling in her eyes.

“Good, I am reassured,” she managed.

No more was said on that topic. She then asked where Qi Yue had learned her medical skills. Qi Yue once again offered the vague explanation about encountering various extraordinary people during her days of begging, which the Second Madam seemed unconcerned with, not pressing the matter or showing any suspicion.

Indeed, the Second Madam’s health was alarmingly poor. Although she appeared spirited, that energy was merely a facade held up by emotional excitement. If sustained, it could easily lead to collapse.

Qi Yue soon rose to take her leave, allowing the Second Madam to rest properly.

The Second Madam looked reluctant to see her go.

“Come visit me when you have time,” she said.

“I will. Once I tell Mother I’m stepping away from household matters, I can come spend the entire day chatting with Aunt,” Qi Yue replied with a laugh.

This was the first time anyone had heard her say she would relinquish management of the household. A’ru, standing nearby, showed a look of surprise.

The Second Madam, however, remained composed, as if she had already known this. Only the smile in her eyes deepened slightly.

“Good,” she agreed.

Leaving the Western Residence, Qi Yue declined the offer of a carriage from the serving women and strolled slowly down the narrow path with A’ru.

“Young Mistress, you’re not managing the household anymore?” A’ru asked.

“I’m not. It wasn't my responsibility to begin with, and I can’t just stir up trouble for no reason,” Qi Yue said airily, swinging her hands in her sleeves.

She wasn't Qi Yueri originally…

A’ru didn't know what to say for a moment.

“The Heir Apparent…” she recalled something and changed the subject, “Did he come specifically to find you, Young Mistress?”

Qi Yue smiled.

“You certainly have an imagination,” she said, turning to look at A’ru with a smile.

“Well, that’s what I think! Otherwise, why would he be here right after we arrived? He doesn't like visiting people…” A’ru insisted quickly.

“Enough, A’ru. People only fool themselves when they fear something,” Qi Yue remarked with a chuckle.

A’ru bit her lower lip.

“Actually…” she hurried a few steps to catch up with Qi Yue and whispered, “The Heir Apparent… isn't so bad… You… you are the Young Mistress after all, and this life…”

Qi Yue merely smiled at her, a smile that made A’ru blush until she couldn't finish her sentence.

“A lifetime can feel long or it can feel short; one must truly consider how to live it,” Qi Yue said only after A’ru fell silent.

It was probably not easy for her to accept immediately, as the Heir Apparent was a strange man to her. Take it slow, she supposed. A’ru nodded, her smile returning.

When the servants by the Second Gate saw the Young Mistress approaching on foot, they rushed forward to meet her from afar.

“Young Mistress, why are you walking…”

“…You should have called for a carriage…”

Qi Yue answered each of them with a smile as she stepped into the courtyard.

Watching the woman walk slowly away, the servants by the gate finally lowered their gazes.

“The Young Mistress is truly smart and capable…”

“And kind, always polite to us…”

“…Isn't she? She can even heal people…”

“So many doctors couldn't help, but the Young Mistress fixed it right away…”

It seemed everyone had forgotten what the Young Mistress they spoke of had been like just a few months prior.

“Young Mistress, the household matters are actually settled now, and those people certainly won't intentionally cause trouble again,” A’ru whispered. Why give up the responsibilities?

“Some things are worth managing, and some things are better left alone,” Qi Yue stated. “I repeat: our goal is to eat well, drink well, and sleep well. Since we can have such a life without doing anything, why bother taxing ourselves?”

With that, she flashed A’ru a grin, showing her teeth.

“Truthfully, I am quite lazy,” she confessed.

A’ru burst out laughing at her words.

She was about to say something when she caught sight of someone ahead and froze.

“Oh, isn't that the Heir Apparent?” she pointed out.

Qi Yue followed her gaze and indeed saw a figure standing ahead.

Chang Yunchun, cloaked in his outer robe, turned his head to look at the two approaching figures.

“Were you waiting for me, Heir Apparent?” Qi Yue asked, slightly surprised. “Is something the matter?”

“Are you very idle? Out visiting people first thing in the morning,” Chang Yunchun said with a frown, not immediately refuting Qi Yue’s slightly wounding assumption, but answering with a different turn of phrase.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

“Not bad,” she replied cheerfully, bypassing his question and taking the lead. “I suppose you aren't busy either, Heir Apparent? I actually wanted to talk to you about a few things.”

Chang Yunchun’s expression softened slightly.

“I’m not as idle as you are,” he countered, turning and walking forward.

Qi Yue followed him with a smile, while A’ru hesitated and lagged a few steps behind.

“Let’s not talk about past matters,” Qi Yue said as she caught up to him. “Although this recent trouble was caused by you…”

Chang Yunchun stopped and looked at her with a frown.

“Who caused trouble? Can your woman’s brain be any clearer?” he retorted.

Qi Yue frowned back at him.

A tense silence fell between them.

“Forget it. It’s not a bad thing for me anyway; breaking down leads to rebuilding,” Qi Yue took a deep breath, stepped back, and continued, “Otherwise, I might have drifted along in a daze indefinitely.”

Chang Yunchun didn't quite grasp what she was murmuring, but he was slightly surprised. Why hadn't this woman flared up like a hedgehog at the slightest touch, as she had before?

“You keep your word. You were instrumental in saving that person this time; if you hadn't stood firmly by my side, that person likely wouldn't have survived,” Qi Yue added with a smile. She performed a slight bow toward him. “Thank you, sir.”

Chang Yunchun’s expression stiffened; he seemed very unaccustomed to her demeanor and simply turned away to continue walking.

Qi Yue followed his pace.

“Since you kept your promise, I will keep mine,” she said. “I’ve thought it over. You see, I had intended to move to the Autumn Willow Courtyard, but unfortunately, that’s no longer available…”

Hearing this, the corner of Chang Yunchun’s mouth, who had been walking ahead with long strides, curved into a faint, almost-smile.

Going around in circles, didn't she just want me to invite her...

“… I won’t choose any other place to live. Staying in the compound where the treatment took place will be fine,” Qi Yue concluded. “It’s similar to the Autumn Willow Courtyard, and it’s quite remote, a distance from where you live, so I won’t be constantly visible to you…”

At this point, Chang Yunchun stopped abruptly.

Qi Yue hadn’t noticed, walking two steps further before realizing, and quickly stopped, turning back to look at him with a questioning expression.

Chang Yunchun looked at her, feeling a surge of suffocating heat rising from his feet straight to his head.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Yue asked, confused. Why had his face become so unpleasant? Although, his face wasn't often pleasant to look at anyway…

Chang Yunchun looked at her, then finally sneered.

“Don't worry, I won't be so disgusted that I have to see you,” he said, and then strode away.

Qi Yue was baffled.

“Hey, what is wrong with you now?” she called out. She hurried a few steps to catch up to Chang Yunchun.

Chang Yunchun moved with brisk energy and paid her no mind, quickly leaving her far behind.

Qi Yue gave up the chase, standing still and exhaling.

“This man… he truly is…” she shook her head, then looked at A’ru, who had followed her.

A’ru looked deeply concerned.

“Don’t look at me like that. My attitude was perfectly fine; I wasn't intentionally provoking or angering him,” Qi Yue insisted, frowning. “I think he’s the one who needs to find a doctor to check if there’s something wrong, perhaps with his thyroid or something.”

A’ru looked at her.

“Young Mistress, and you say you didn't provoke the Heir Apparent…” she said, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry.

Qi Yue burst into laughter.

“I didn’t say that in front of him,” she said, holding a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, while glancing toward where Chang Yunchun had disappeared. She shrugged. “I don’t understand him. Never mind. As long as I fulfill his wish to stay far away from him and not bother or provoke him, that should be enough.”

A’ru followed her silently, suddenly recalling what Quezhi had said when they first left.

“Young Mistress, did the Heir Apparent want you to move over there?” she quickly caught up and asked.

Qi Yue turned to look at her.

“Very good, A’ru, your thoughts are becoming quite bold,” she teased.

A’ru stamped her foot at the teasing.

“Young Mistress, I’m serious! Quezhi said it looked like the Heir Apparent had the rooms prepared that day,” she insisted.

Qi Yue continued to smile.

“Even if he did,” she replied. “He offered us a shred of courtesy; we shouldn’t just shamelessly rush over.”

“But,” A’ru followed closely, “since the Heir Apparent has intentions, why must you…”

Qi Yue shook her head and smiled, slightly tilting her head back to look at the distant sky.

This pure blue, pollution-free sky—she could enjoy it for a lifetime.

“He has intentions today, but what if he has none tomorrow?” Qi Yue asked A’ru with a smile. “I prefer to be in control of myself, rather than being summoned and dismissed at someone else’s whim.”

Chang Yunchun kicked open a door. The maids gossiping in the courtyard jumped in fright.

“Heir Apparent…” Qiuxiang and the others quickly bowed and came forward to attend to him.

Chang Yunchun waved his hand impatiently, ignoring them completely as he walked straight into the inner room.

Qiuxiang and the others exchanged uncertain glances; none dared to follow him inside.

“Sister Qiuxiang, what’s been wrong with the Heir Apparent these past few days? Who in the household dares to anger him? Why is he always so…” one maid whispered.

It wasn't that no one dared to anger the Heir Apparent, but whoever did would receive an equal or greater measure of his anger in return. Over time, no one dared to provoke him; even the Marquis often had to suppress his frustration in the Heir Apparent’s presence, which was partly why the Marquis didn't favor him much.

Qiuxiang signaled for the others to be quiet and waved them away to disperse quietly.

Chang Yunchun stood before the desk, heavily setting down a teacup. Only after swallowing a mouthful of cold tea did the oppressive heat in his chest subside slightly.

That insolent woman…

His gaze drifted toward the window, landing directly on that specific compound.

“Qiuxiang,” he suddenly called out loudly. “That compound is now yours to use.”

Qiuxiang, who had been retreating with the other maids in the courtyard, turned back upon hearing him. She saw the window open and Chang Yunchun standing at the sill, nodding his chin toward a certain direction.

Which one? Qiuxiang involuntarily followed Chang Yunchun's gaze.

The one where the Young Mistress had lived…