A bonus chapter for the pink month... The Duke of Chen's household had three daughters. The third was the youngest, with two older sisters. The eldest married into the prominent Xu family of Jiangnan, and the second married into the noble Rao family of Shandong. The current Grand Scholar of the Xian Zheng Hall was the husband of this second daughter.

Could this be the legitimate daughter of the Chen family sister's husband? How could a legitimate daughter easily venture out? Visiting her maternal grandparents' home was plausible, but traveling this far to her aunt's house seemed unlikely.

Madam Xie understood Chen-shi's meaning in an instant.

She wanted her to look over this potential match...

By rights, the Marquis of Dingxi marrying a daughter of the Rao family was an equal match, but that was only true for a legitimate daughter. A daughter born of a concubine...

However, for any daughter of a noble or official family, the legitimate daughters always sought out legitimate sons as husbands; even serving as a second wife was rare, let alone marrying into a lower status.

"This is the daughter of my sister's husband's younger brother. Her parents passed away early, and she has been raised here with them," Chen-shi said with a smile.

A legitimate daughter of the Rao family!

Madam Xie felt a moment of pleasant surprise, yet the child whose parents had died young...

But she was a child of the Rao family, raised by the Duke of Chen's daughter; her upbringing could not be lacking.

"No wonder she has that bearing, as if she were carved from the same mold as you," Madam Xie chuckled, extending her hand. "Come, let me see."

Yu Fang approached with her head lowered, placing her hand in Madam Xie's.

Her palm was smooth, unpainted, and neatly trimmed, possessing both bone structure and flesh—precisely the type Madam Xie favored.

Madam Xie then looked at her face, growing more satisfied the longer she gazed.

Mother Su had already gone to prepare a meeting gift the moment Madam Xie extended her hand, and now she rushed forward to present it.

"Take this to play with. I didn't know you were coming, so please don't think it too little," Madam Xie said, handing her a set of three intertwined silver bracelets.

Yu Fang accepted them gracefully, thanked her, and stepped back.

"Yinglan, take Yu Fang to play with your elder sister-in-law," Chen-shi instructed.

Madam Xie remained silent.

"Oh," Chang Yinglan replied slowly, curtsying to Madam Xie before excusing herself.

"Go ahead," Madam Xie said with a gentle smile.

Chang Yinglan stepped out, pausing just outside the covered walkway without taking another step. Yu Fang waited quietly behind her, neither rushing nor pressing.

"Elder sister-in-law is quite reserved and doesn't like to talk much; she's rather dull," Chang Yinglan whispered to her, turning around. "Let's go visit Shulan instead."

A hint of a smile played in Yu Fang's eyes.

"Little Sister, I heard Mother Wang mention that Second Sister seems to be indisposed?" she asked softly.

Yinglan froze, then remembered that Concubine Zhou had suddenly been sent to the family temple. Although the official explanation was to pray for the Old Marquis Mother, such words fooled no one in a great household, not even a three-year-old. Second Miss's mother was Concubine Zhou, and although it had little direct bearing, Yinglan had still chosen to close her doors to visitors.

This woman knew everything! And she had only arrived a few days ago!

"It's nothing, it will be fine once I go over," Yinglan replied.

Yu Fang smiled knowingly, lowered her head, and said no more.

The two started walking outside again. Just as they were about to step out, they heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.

"...He is unwell, but shouldn't your own heart feel worse... What is the need for you two, mother and son!" Chen-shi's voice carried across.

Yinglan turned back, concerned for her mother, and Yu Fang followed her gaze. They saw Chen-shi exiting the room, moving quickly without waiting for assistance, with Madam Xie and maids trailing anxiously behind her.

"Mother," Yinglan immediately turned back and ran toward them.

Yu Fang naturally followed.

By the time they arrived, Chen-shi had already entered a side room.

"Get up quickly, Auntie said you must rise," her voice came from inside.

Madam Xie lifted the curtain and entered as well. The servants halted just outside the doorway.

"What is this..." Yinglan asked, puzzled.

"This is the room where the former Marquis Mother's memorial tablet is kept," a matron whispered to her.

Yinglan realized with a start. The former Marquis Mother was the current Marquis Mother's own elder sister. In other households, a new wife would avoid keeping the former wife's tablet in her own courtyard out of superstition, but the younger Madam Xie did not object. She had brought her sister's tablet in the very day she married, and it remained there to this day.

"Who is inside?" she couldn't help but ask.

Before the question was fully out, a voice from within responded.

"I am fine, Mother."

The Heir Apparent...

Chang Yinglan was even more astonished and turned to look at Yu Fang beside her.

Yu Fang looked over with a measure of curiosity.

Chang Yinglan gritted her teeth, turned, and walked away.

"It's fine, let's go," she said, taking Yu Fang's arm.

Yu Fang gave an "Oh," nodded obediently, and turned with her.

They had only taken a few steps when they heard the rustle of the curtain behind them and the hushed movements of the maids. Chang Yinglan couldn't help but stop and look back, and Yu Fang naturally followed her gaze.

Standing amidst a group of women was a tall, young man. He kept his head lowered, seemingly inspecting his legs and feet. Even from a distance, Rao Yu Fang recognized his features clearly. She froze for a moment, then her face flushed slightly as she lowered her gaze.

That must be him...

"What's wrong with Cousin Heir? His legs seem stiff..." Chang Yinglan finally couldn't hold back, glancing at Yu Fang. "Wait for me outside."

Rao Yu Fang let out a slight, amused smile and glanced back at Chang Yinglan.

Chang Yinglan instantly felt she had spoken out of turn.

"Wait here for me, I'll see what's wrong," she said sheepishly. Without waiting for Yu Fang's reply, she hurried over.

After Chang Yuncheng entered the room, a flurry of activity erupted.

"Use the medicated wine to rub it..."

"Perhaps a poultice would be better..."

Seeing the bruises on his knees as he rolled up his trouser legs, Madam Xie couldn't help but start to cry.

"I'm fine, Mother, this isn't even considered a skin wound," Chang Yuncheng said, managing a smile.

"Go ask Eldest Sister-in-law to come look," Chang Yinglan called out.

The room fell silent at those words.

The atmosphere felt strained...

Chang Yinglan was completely bewildered; she hadn't said anything wrong. Eldest Sister-in-law was a divine doctor; wasn't she the most suitable person to examine him?

Hesitation flickered across Madam Xie's face.

"No need," Chang Yuncheng smiled and said. He slapped his knees a few times, applied the medicated wine, lowered his trouser legs, and stood up, taking a few steps.

"See? I'm fine," he stated.

Madam Xie looked at her son, her tears flowing harder, mixing relief, joy, and sorrow. She nodded, using her handkerchief to cover her mouth.

But the sound of sobbing came from outside.

It was a woman's low, suppressed choking sound.

Everyone inside the room froze and looked toward the door. They couldn't see anyone through the thick curtain.

"Miss Rao, what is wrong?" a careful, nervous maid asked.

"Nothing, nothing, I apologize for my impropriety," a soft, low female voice carried in. "I was just—just moved by my own fate... I was thinking about how my parents died early... I don't even know what it's like to be punished by one's parents kneeling..."

Chang Yinglan nearly exploded with anger upon hearing this—so, her family treated her too well, that she now envied being scolded or beaten?

But Madam Xie and Chang Yuncheng felt a different resonance.

Chang Yuncheng's gaze shifted toward the door once more.

This look registered in the eyes of both Chen-shi and Madam Xie.

"Yinglan, how do you treat your guest?" Chen-shi scolded in a low voice. "How can you treat a guest like that?"

Who wanted to treat this kind of guest? Chang Yinglan could barely conceal her fury, yet she dared not anger her mother. She executed a deep bow and stomped out.

"Let's hurry,"

The sound of light footsteps retreated quickly.

"She is the daughter of your aunt's sister," Madam Xie mentioned casually to Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng gave a noncommittal "Oh," and Madam Xie stopped mentioning it, pulling him down to sit and continuing to inquire about his injury.

Meanwhile, tension hung thick in the back courtyard of the Qian Jin Hall. A crowd had gathered in a circle.

Everyone watched Hu San with tense expressions, holding their breath as he slowly pushed a thin tube into a bucket of water.

When he shifted the angle slightly, several gurgles of bubbles rose up.

"Still no good..." everyone sighed in unison.

Qi Yue stood up and looked at the few discarded tubes nearby.

"The seal isn't tight enough," she murmured. "It will cause infusion contamination... I was being fanciful. This hasn't been solved even after decades, and I thought I could manage it now..."

Everyone looked at her with dejection.

"Master..." Hu San was even more ashamed, as if failing to make the tube correctly was entirely his fault. "The leatherworker said if it doesn't work out, he will return the money..."

Qi Yue glared at him.

"Do you think his skill is worthless?" she countered. "How can you say that? Don't even think about asking for the money back; I would be too mortified."

Hu San rubbed his head and smiled sheepishly.

"It's fine, it's normal for this one not to work; a success would be an anomaly," Qi Yue said, smiling at their discouraged faces. She waved her hand. "Come, let's try this siphon again."

Someone immediately brought over another basin of water.

Qi Yue quickly demonstrated the siphon action. A wave of cheer went through the crowd.

Qi Yue also let out a breath of relief, rubbing her aching hands. Although it wasn't perfectly effective, it was usable, which counted as an achievement.

"This is for gloves," Qi Yue said, showing the diagram she had just drawn to Hu San.

"Gloves?" Hu San looked at the drawing, puzzled. "Are they like the ones Master often wears? Those leatherworkers can't manage those..."

Qi Yue smiled and explained what they were for and what effect they were intended to have. As for the rest, she left it to the leatherworkers to figure out; professional matters were best left to professionals.

Liu Pucheng hadn't returned yet. Qi Yue asked Zhang Tong about the difficult concepts she'd encountered the previous night before heading back. Her most pressing task now was to memorize these principles thoroughly before observing and learning in practice.

Chang Yuncheng didn't return until very late. Qi Yue, hearing him come in, happily went to greet him.

"Ah, I succeeded with a siphon today, although it's not very efficient..." she said, eager to share her joy.

Chang Yuncheng neither looked at her nor acknowledged her as Qiu Xiang began removing his outer robes.

"What's wrong with your leg?" Qi Yue stopped mid-sentence, seeing him walk inward with a stiff, limping gait, and asked immediately.

Chang Yuncheng still didn't reply. As he stepped over the threshold into the sleeping chamber, he stumbled slightly.

Qi Yue quickly reached out to steady him.

"Are you hurt? Let me see..." she said.

"Go away," Chang Yuncheng snapped, violently shaking off his arm as she touched him, as if shocked by electricity.

Qi Yue, caught off guard and bent over to examine his leg, was struck by the force of his recoil. She fell heavily backward.

The sound of shattering porcelain mixed with the crash of a wooden stand, scattering the decorative Meiren vase into pieces.

Qi Yue staggered a few steps, steadying herself by gripping the frame of the folding screen.

Chang Yuncheng forcibly retracted his advancing foot and outstretched hand. Seeing the look of astonishment on the woman's face, the fingers of his clenched fist dug into his own palm, drawing blood.

What a familiar scene... How long had it been? She had already forgotten.

Qi Yue suppressed her shock and smiled.

She clapped her hands, glanced at Chang Yuncheng, then raised her hand toward him in two pushing gestures, said nothing, folded her hands, and turned away.