The Second and Third Young Ladies deliberately looked away from the little girl, pointedly ignoring her presence.

"…It wouldn't be improper for you to visit, but how Mother will react is another matter," the Second Young Lady remarked. "Mother dislikes her so much; your deliberately seeking her company is just adding to her vexation, isn't it?"

Chang Chunlan sighed and sat down. The little girl behind her stood closely, head bowed, silent as a shadow.

"If the in-laws are displeased, even someone like me struggles to get by. Imagine her situation, having no family backing her up at all… I never used to think much of it, but now I truly find her quite pitiful, Second and Third Sister," she sighed. "We are all women; perhaps we should offer her a little more understanding."

The Third Young Lady nodded in tentative agreement.

The Second Young Lady shook her head.

"Why didn't Eldest Brother-in-law come?" she asked, changing the subject.

The question caused a flicker of distress across Chang Chunlan's face.

"He… he had something to attend to and couldn't make it," she murmured, looking down.

The Second Young Lady instantly regretted asking. Eldest Brother-in-law Liu Chengyang was a man of dull temperament, utterly failing to impress the Marquis of Dingxi, who favored refinement and elegance. Coupled with the fact that the once-prominent Liu family had fallen on hard times—the Old Master having offended the Emperor and lost his post, thereby dampening the career prospects of his descendants—Liu Chengyang remained merely a Tongsheng, having never even passed the Xiucai exam, and was thus loath to visit his in-laws.

"Perhaps we should go see Second Brother then," the Second Young Lady quickly suggested.

"He has the County Examination soon. Second Brother is very learned; he is sure to pass this time," Chang Chunlan replied with a faint smile.

"Yes, he was always good with books, and now, with that Yiniang involved, he's truly putting his heart into it this time," the Third Young Lady commented, letting out a soft sigh. "He’s worked himself sick."

The mention of Yiniang caused a momentary silence between the Eldest and Second Young Ladies; the atmosphere grew slightly awkward.

The Third Young Lady realized her topic choice was poor and managed an embarrassed smile.

"It’s all my fault. It’s the New Year, and instead of bringing joy upon seeing you, I’ve made everyone sigh," the Eldest Young Lady lamented, letting out another sigh herself. "No wonder Father dislikes me; I am truly a bringer of bad luck."

The air in the room grew heavier. A muffled cough was heard from within, presumably from Concubine Huang. Chang Chunlan immediately rose and went inside, the little girl following her closely.

The Second and Third Young Ladies exchanged a look, offering wry smiles.

"How could Eldest Sister bring… her too?" the Second Young Lady whispered, gesturing toward the inner room.

The Third Young Lady knew exactly whom she referred to. She glanced quickly toward the inner chamber, then snatched her gaze back, as if she had witnessed something inauspicious, shaking her head at the Second Young Lady.

In stark contrast to the gloom in this section, the Hall of a Thousand Treasures (Qianjintang) buzzed with festivity.

"Thank you, Master!" A disciple accepted a red packet from Qi Yue, bowing deeply and speaking loudly.

"Happy New Year," Qi Yue laughed, picking up another packet to hand to the next person. "Great luck and prosperity."

"Thank you, Master." The disciple bowed happily, yet somewhat shyly.

Liu Pucheng watched from the side with a gentle smile until Qi Yue approached him merrily.

"What? Do I get one too?" he joked.

Qi Yue extended her hand toward him.

"Teacher, you are my elder! Where is my packet?" she teased.

Liu Pucheng burst into laughter, genuinely reaching into his sleeve and placing a packet into Qi Yue's hand.

"Happy New Year, great luck and prosperity," he echoed Qi Yue’s earlier words.

Qi Yue bowed respectfully in thanks.

"Alright, alright, the packets are distributed. Now, let's check the homework," Qi Yue announced, clapping her hands to quiet the chattering disciples.

The disciples immediately produced the pieces of leather they had been practicing suturing on.

"Oh dear, I forgot mine," Quezhi said.

"You stay close to me; I can look anytime," Qi Yue laughed, accepting the leather handed to her by Hu San, who had pushed through the crowd to be the first in line.

"Then I shall stitch it right here. When I return, the Young Mistress will be busy, so there’s no need to trouble you further," Quezhi said with a bright smile.

Qi Yue was surprised by Quezhi’s eagerness to learn. She hadn't seen her practice much, yet she dared to demonstrate sewing on the spot. With a hint of curiosity, Qi Yue nodded her approval.

Quezhi then turned to the other disciples.

"Brothers, who can lend me a piece of leather, a needle, and thread?" she requested.

The very sound of her calling them 'Brothers' made half the disciples’ bodies go weak; they scrambled in a flurry to fetch her supplies.

Ah Hao pursed her lips from nearby.

"She’s doing it on purpose," she murmured to A Ru.

A Ru understood immediately and smiled faintly.

"She just loves to be the center of attention; nothing more," she whispered back.

As expected, Quezhi’s live demonstration earned gasps of admiration from the other disciples, and even Qi Yue praised her performance with visible satisfaction. Quezhi beamed with smug delight.

"A Ru Jie, your suturing skills are even better, right?" Hu San pouted slightly, then quickly forced a smile toward A Ru.

A Ru shot him a sharp look.

"No," she replied curtly.

Hu San offered a weak smile.

"Then A Ru is the best at everything else, anyway…" he trailed off.

Ah Hao, watching nearby, looked at him with shining eyes.

"Anyway, A Ru Jie is the best," she finished his sentence.

"Exactly, exactly." Hu San, finding a kindred spirit, nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken.

Ah Hao covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, which made A Ru’s cheeks flush slightly.

"Go further away," she warned in a low voice, glaring at him.

Hu San laughingly agreed repeatedly and then hurried off.

"A Ru Jie, he listens to you so well," Ah Hao laughed even harder, clinging to A Ru’s arm as she whispered.

A Ru’s face grew redder, and she glared at Ah Hao.

Qi Yue finished inspecting the disciples’ practice, showering them with lavish praise, which elevated the celebratory mood in the Hall of a Thousand Treasures.

"There’s one more piece of good news," after the excitement subsided, Liu Pucheng invited Qi Yue to rest and have tea, announcing this.

Qi Yue’s eyes lit up. She didn’t speak, just gestured outward with her fingers.

Liu Pucheng smiled and nodded.

Qi Yue let out an "Oh!" and jumped up with a cheer.

"How much is it?" she immediately asked.

"Negotiations are underway; it might be slightly higher than the usual price…" Liu Pucheng explained.

"No problem, no problem!" Qi Yue laughed. "Tell me when you've settled the price."

Liu Pucheng nodded.

This news made Qi Yue unable to sit still.

"I need to head back then," she announced, hurrying toward the door. "I have to sketch out a layout plan, and those tools, beds, and everything must be fabricated quickly. It’s best if we can open right after the first lunar month… and there’s training—emergency and triage nurses. Oh, so much to do! I’m leaving now…"

Liu Pucheng watched the girl rush off in her frantic state, smiling.

What should he do now?

Liu Pucheng paused, then retrieved a piece of leather with a needle and thread from beneath his desk, squinting slightly with drowsy eyes as he began to stitch slowly.

Just as Qi Yue entered the door, Chang Yuncheng was storming out with a sour expression.

"Where are you running off to in the middle of New Year's Day?" he asked gruffly, flicking his horsewhip back and forth.

Qi Yue ignored him.

"I'm leaving now," Chang Yuncheng had to announce himself.

"Safe travels, Shizi Ye," Qi Yue said with a smile.

The smile seemed genuine enough, and Chang Yuncheng grunted in response.

"I’ll be back before dinner," he added.

Qi Yue, who was mentally drafting plans for decorations and sketches, merely grunted in return.

"Why aren't you leaving yet? Can you still make it for lunch? That would be so impolite," she looked up at the sky and asked.

Chang Yuncheng’s face darkened. He shot the woman an annoyed glance, cracked his whip, and his horse bolted forward, his pages and attendants rushing to follow in a noisy flurry.

"Young Mistress, the Shizi Ye was intentionally waiting for you," Quezhi whispered with a chuckle.

"Was he waiting for me for something?" Qi Yue looked puzzled, then turned to look at Chang Yuncheng and his entourage who were already distant, wondering if he had said something she missed.

Quezhi burst out laughing.

At the sound of her laughter, Qi Yue suddenly understood, and a blush crept up her face.

That’s impossible! This man is so unpredictable, always changing moods.

"Hurry, hurry, don't miss the family banquet! We have relatives visiting today," Qi Yue urged, quickly walking ahead.

Noticing her slight discomfort, Quezhi and A Ru exchanged a look.

"Shizi Ye and the Young Mistress are getting along better and better," Quezhi remarked happily.

Although A Ru secretly agreed, knowing the Young Mistress’s secret meant she preferred not to discuss the Young Mistress’s affairs, especially such intimate matters, with others.

"Alright, let's go. We still have a lot to do," she said, diverting the topic.

Quezhi silently pouted, nodded with a smile, and quickly followed along.

The luncheon was set in the Ju Chun Pavilion. When Qi Yue arrived, several people were already seated, including two unfamiliar faces—one young, one older. These must be Concubine Huang, who seldom left her room due to chronic illness, and her daughter, Chang Chunlan. Qi Yue walked over with a smile and called out, "Mother."

Madam Xie was too bothered to acknowledge her, pretending not to see her, and continued speaking with the heavily bundled-up Concubine Huang.

Ignoring the gazes around her, Qi Yue gracefully took a seat to the side, her attention drawn to the Eldest Young Lady seated opposite her.

A quick glance startled her: wasn't this Eldest Young Lady only twenty-four or twenty-five? Why did she look closer to thirty? In terms of looks, she wasn't particularly beautiful, especially amidst the array of beauties in the Marquis of Dingxi’s residence, but she wasn't ugly either—just ordinary.

"Young Mistress." She stood up, head bowed, appearing uneasy under Qi Yue’s scrutiny.

"Please sit, Eldest Sister. You must be tired from your journey, and the weather is cold. Please sit," Qi Yue said kindly.

Chang Chunlan hesitated. The Second Young Lady beside her tugged at her sleeve. Chang Chunlan, who was about to speak, sat down instead.

"Eld—" Qi Yue began trying to strike up casual conversation, but Madam Xie interrupted from above.

"Yesterday's food was too rich; I have no appetite, so I won't join you for the meal. I’ve also hired an opera troupe; you sisters can enjoy yourselves," she announced, rising to her feet. "The Marquis won't be joining either, so you can be truly at ease." She then addressed Concubine Huang: "The dishes here are prepared for the younger ones. Don't eat indiscriminately; you are used to medicinal soups."

Concubine Huang smiled and nodded weakly, stating, "I should also return now. I haven't been out for this long before; my body won't withstand it."

Immediately, everyone rose to escort Madam Xie and Concubine Huang out.

"An opera troupe was invited?" Qi Yue asked with a smile. Before her words faded, she watched the three young ladies, who had just sat down moments before, also stand up.

"Young Mistress, we ate late this morning, so we aren't hungry now. We wish to go check on Third Young Master and take our leave," the Second Young Lady announced.

Qi Yue paused, then smiled brightly.

"Go ahead," she replied readily.

Seeing her smile, the Eldest and Third Young Ladies hesitated for a moment, but the Second Young Lady nudged them, and they both bowed again before withdrawing.

The room, moments ago lively, instantly fell quiet. Only Qi Yue remained seated alone in the large chamber, facing the spread banquet.

This is… quite humiliating...

The maidservants and attendants standing by lowered their heads.

"That’s too much," Ah Hao muttered quietly. These young ladies had clearly done this deliberately.

"What a waste," Qi Yue clicked her tongue at the magnificent display of food. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat, gesturing for someone to pour wine. "Not bad, not bad. Mother really does favor her daughters; these dishes are all top quality." She then asked, "What about the opera troupe? I heard there was one. They didn't leave too, did they?"

The servants flushed with embarrassment but quickly confirmed the troupe was still there.

"Then summon them. Let the performance begin," Qi Yue declared with a smile, then motioned to the servants and maids. "Don't just stand there. Let A Ru serve me alone. The rest of you, grab small stools and sit down. Ah Hao, divide these dishes among everyone. Let’s eat and watch the show together. It’s the New Year; let’s have some real fun."

As she finished speaking, she gave a sly wink.

"The estate funds are paying, so don't let anything go to waste!"

The servants had a vague understanding of the Young Mistress's temperament and knew to follow her commands. They all offered thanks and proceeded as instructed. The little maids who heard the news also dared to approach, standing or squatting. Those lucky enough grabbed a plate of food; those less fortunate managed to snatch a handful of fruit.

The stage erupted with the clang of gongs and drums as the opera began, instantly filling the Ju Chun Pavilion with vibrant noise.