"This is too humiliating for the Young Mistress..." she murmured quietly.

"We aren't the ones causing this humiliation," the Second Miss turned back to say. "Mother is. If we don't leave now, we'll humiliate Mother. Eldest Sister, are you willing to offend Mother for the sake of this inconsequential person?"

The Eldest Miss dared not, dropping her head and muttering assent twice.

Seeing her demeanor, the Second Miss grew impatient.

"Eldest Sister, your temperament is too soft. You need to be firmer sometimes," she instructed.

The Eldest Miss managed a wry smile.

"What right do I have to be firm?" she mumbled. "A concubine's daughter, disliked by Father, and having birthed such a..."

She stopped abruptly at this point, finally sighing and bowing her head.

The Second Miss and Third Miss exchanged a look.

"Eldest Sister, really, why must you insist on bringing Yan'er..." the Second Miss hesitated before speaking.

The Eldest Miss paused mid-stride.

"Because I bore her," she stated. Though her head was still lowered, a spark of stubbornness had entered her tone.

The Second Miss was about to say more, but the Third Miss reached out and tugged her sleeve, shaking her head as a signal. The Second Miss then sighed and fell silent.

Seeing young maids running about on the path, the Second Miss couldn't help but shout a reprimand.

"What are you doing? Have you forgotten all manners during the New Year?" she demanded.

"The Young Mistress is offering fruits and having the servants watch an opera at Ju Chun Pavilion!" the maids quickly explained.

The three young ladies were momentarily stunned, turning their heads just as the sounds of gongs, drums, silk, and bamboo drifted over from Ju Chun Pavilion.

She’s actually doing that?

The three exchanged glances, unsure how to react.

"Her skin is certainly thick..." the Second Miss finally remarked. "It’s no wonder she managed to secure a meal ticket..."

The three arrived at the Third Young Master, Chang Yunqi’s, quarters with complicated expressions.

Chang Yunqi had broken his fever and was not in grave danger, though he was still somewhat weak.

Having all grown up near the Old Mistress, he was delighted to see Chang Chunlan as well.

"How did you wear yourself out like this?" Chang Chunlan said with genuine concern. "Third Brother, your scholarship is excellent; the County Examination will present no issue. You don't need to push yourself so hard."

Chang Yunqi smiled faintly and assured her he was fine.

The Second Miss let out a cold sneer from the side.

"It wouldn't be shameful to exert oneself for the County Examination," she said mildly. "I fear you are burning yourself out for notions that shouldn't even exist."

"Whatever the reason, it is my own choice," Chang Yunqi replied coolly.

Though they shared the same mother and father, the relationship between these two siblings had always been strangely strained.

"I simply don't understand. For that woman, what exactly are you aiming for? To top the list in the imperial examination? To win her an official title?" the Second Miss scoffed. "Stop being foolish! What has muddled your mind? You think of that woman every single moment!"

Chang Yunqi raised his head and glanced at her.

"Because I am her son," he stated calmly, without haste.

The moment these words were spoken, the room fell silent.

The Eldest Miss felt tears involuntarily stream down her face.

"Young Master, the kitchen has sent the food," a maid called from outside the door, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the room.

Two servant women, each carrying a food box, presented their respects to the young ladies with smiling faces as they set out the dishes.

"Why is it specially prepared? I'm already recovered; I should just eat my regular portion," Chang Yunqi said, looking at the spread before him.

"Young Master, the Young Mistress specifically ordered this, and she personally drafted the menu, saying this is—this is..." one servant woman replied with a forced smile, unable to recall the precise term the Young Mistress had used, and looked towards the other maid.

"It's the Scholar's Meal," the other maid chuckled.

Chang Yunqi couldn't help but laugh. What an array of strange, novel ideas...

Looking at the four dishes and one soup on the table, all chosen by her own hands...

"Who was it?" the Second Miss asked, having not heard clearly.

"The Young Mistress," the maid quickly replied, setting a box aside. "The Young Mistress said since the Third Young Master has an examination, this is a major family event. Everything he eats, drinks, and uses must be prepared separately. This is called—called—"

"It's called 'One Person Prepares for the Exam, the Whole Family Mobilizes'," the other servant finished, smiling.

What? What nonsense was this?

The Second Miss was astonished into speechlessness.

"I knew it. A few days ago, when I went to the flower garden, I saw a maid from your quarters picking flowers. Even the Flower Garden Mistress, who usually acts as if her eyes are stuck on her forehead when seeing the Young Mistress's people, personally accompanied her. When I asked, they were talking about exam preparation, about keeping one's spirits high by looking at the flowers and plants—such nonsense. I thought she had turned over a new leaf..." the Third Miss recalled and chuckled.

Chang Yunqi smiled but said nothing.

So this, too, had been arranged by her...

The Second Miss kept her face tight and remained silent.

"Young Master, you must eat well; you need your strength to return. Otherwise, we won't be able to explain it to the Young Mistress," the servant woman said with a smile before bowing and withdrawing.

Chang Yunqi smiled and picked up his chopsticks.

"Was this truly arranged by the Young Mistress?" the Eldest Miss couldn't hide her astonishment. "Didn't she—didn't she..."

Hadn't she nearly been killed by Concubine Zhou?

How could this be...

"That person, she is just like that," Chang Yunqi said after pausing his chopsticks, speaking flatly. "Pardon me, I shall eat first."

He then lowered his head and began eating.

The three young ladies inside sat frozen in silence.

That person... what is she like?

Qi Yue enjoyed this meal immensely, and the maids around her were also having a wonderful time. Someone suggested "Passing the Flower to the Beat of the Drum," and Qi Yue became interested in joining. As a result, she was deliberately kept holding the flower several times by some bold maids, drank a few extra cups of wine, and told a few jokes. However, jokes that should have been foolproof failed to elicit a single laugh.

"Hey, a piece of candy was walking in the snow, felt very cold, so it turned into rock candy—isn't that funny?" Qi Yue said, looking at the maids whose faces remained stiff, feeling indignant.

The maids then managed a few dry chuckles.

Qi Yue snorted, stood up, and tossed the flower in her hand to the next person.

"You all keep playing. I'm going to the latrine," she announced.

A'ru and A'hao immediately moved to follow.

"Don't follow me. We're right here at home; I'm not a three-year-old child who needs guarding everywhere she goes," Qi Yue stopped them, waving her hand. "Keep playing, and tell them a few more jokes to win back my face for me."

A'ru and A'hao both smiled, sat down as instructed, and continued the game.

Qi Yue left the crowd. Instead of going to the toilet, she slowly wandered around the small courtyard. Snow still lay on the trees, but the red plums were blooming brilliantly. From here, she could hear the opera singing on the stage—a perfect combination of admiring flowers and listening to music. She paused, about to look closer, when she heard a cry from behind a rock formation, followed by the sound of a stone hitting the ground, and then several sharp yelps. A small figure tumbled down right in front of her.

It was a small child, perhaps four or five years old, who had fallen from the rock pile.

"Oh dear, child, why did you climb so high? And there's snow too," Qi Yue hurried over to help, chiding gently.

The child, however, was trembling violently with fright and struggled to get up and run. As soon as she managed to rise, she fell again.

Qi Yue reached out to steady her.

It was a little girl.

"Why are you running? Let me see if you're hurt from the fall?" she smiled, trying to turn the child over.

The girl was shaking like a sieve.

"Mama, Mama... I want Mama..." she finally couldn't contain her fear and burst into tears, her voice muffled, unsure if it was from crying or hitting her mouth.

"Who is your mother?" Qi Yue quickly asked, noticing the child's rather shabby clothing, guessing she was the child of a household servant. "I'll go call her for you."

Saying this, she helped the child sit up properly and caught sight of the child's face, causing her to freeze.

Was this the mask used by people here?

The child's cap had fallen off, revealing a cloth tied across her face, which had also loosened now.

The child tried to wrench free and flee, but Qi Yue held her arm. The girl's large eyes were filled with terror; she suddenly reached up and yanked the cloth away.

Qi Yue's eyes widened, and she raised a hand to cover her mouth.

Scream! Scream! She must be terrified!

The child expected the woman before her to shriek, faint like everyone else who had seen her, and then she could run away.

But to her surprise, the woman only stared with wide eyes.

"Heavens, a cleft lip and palate!" Qi Yue exclaimed in surprise, reaching out to press gently on the child's small shoulders. "How old are you? Let me see."

Because of the two incidents at Ju Chun Pavilion and Third Young Master's quarters, the three young ladies lost interest in talking and soon dispersed.

Chang Chunlan walked back to Concubine Huang's courtyard in a state of agitation.

"Miss, have you decided how to explain this to the Madam? Since we are staying here, we need a proper excuse," the accompanying woman whispered anxiously.

"I... I..." Chang Chunlan stammered, unable to form words.

The woman sighed and was about to say something when a young maid from Concubine Huang's courtyard ran towards them.

"Eldest Miss, has the Young Miss gone looking for you?" the maid called out.

Chang Chunlan was startled.

"No, wasn't she staying here?" she quickly inquired.

"Just now, just now, the Young Miss ran out by herself..." the maid said timidly.

They searched everywhere near Concubine Huang's residence but couldn't find her.

"Where could she have gone..." Chang Chunlan cried into her hands inside the room.

Concubine Huang sat nearby, her complexion growing frailer from anxiety.

"I just hope she hasn't frightened anyone," she murmured, especially the Marquis. If the Marquis happened to see her...

Concubine Huang shivered.

"Why did you bring her here!" she shouted, slamming the table. "Why did you insist on keeping her!"

Chang Chunlan immediately knelt before Concubine Huang.

"Mother, I know you mean well for me, but Yan'er is my daughter! You worry about everything, how could I bear to cruelly abandon her?" She cried, clutching Concubine Huang's leg.

Concubine Huang also burst into tears, embracing her daughter's shoulders.

"My poor child, what sin have we committed?" she wept.

As they held each other weeping, the door knocker rattled outside.

"The Young Miss is back."

This announcement startled the mother and daughter, who quickly rose.

A pretty, delicate maid led the little girl in.

"Where did you go? Why did you run off like that!" Chang Chunlan grabbed the little girl and raised her hand, sharply slapping her on the back several times, crying through her sobs.

The little girl didn't cry even after being struck.

"I wanted to find Mama," she said, hugging Chang Chunlan's leg.

Chang Chunlan’s raised hand could not come down again.

"These are the fruits the Young Miss likes; the Young Mistress had a box packed for her, so I left it here," the neglected delicate maid said now, placing a box in her hands on the table.

Only then did Chang Chunlan remember to look at her. The girl had been married off for a long time, and she hardly recognized the maids in the household anymore. Looking at the girl, she didn't know how to address her.

"Which courtyard are you from, Sister? Thank you so much," she said, feeling grateful, yet cautiously glancing at her daughter, relieved to see her face covering was properly tied.

"You are A'hao from the Young Mistress's side?" Concubine Huang suddenly asked, rising from the kang.

A'hao smiled at them.

"Yes, your servant takes her leave," she replied, bowing again before withdrawing.

In the room, Concubine Huang and Chang Chunlan were still absorbing the surprise.

"Could she have run off to the Young Mistress's place?" Concubine Huang murmured.

"I went to find Mama, and then there was a clown flipping somersaults on the opera stage... so I hid in the hills to watch... and then I met a very beautiful Madam..." Yan'er described in broken fragments.

Concubine Huang and Chang Chunlan exchanged a look, confirming she had encountered Qi Yueniang.

"As long as she didn't frighten her," Chang Chunlan said.

Over here, Yan'er climbed onto the kang, rummaged for fruit from the food box, pulled down her face covering, and began to eat.

Concubine Huang watched the child eating. Even with the covering tied on, she couldn't entirely hide the terrifying appearance of her mouth and nose when it occasionally showed. She couldn't help but look away, then suddenly snapped her head back.

"Yan'er!" she called out. "Did you eat at the Young Mistress's place?"