Regarding the purchase of the shops on both sides, Liu Pucheng had been quite reserved in his speech, but in reality, the movement was swift. Just past the tenth day of the first lunar month, Hu San arrived at noon to report that the deal was settled.

Standing in the parlor of the young mistress of the Dingxi Marquis’s residence, Hu San couldn't help but look around while speaking. "It’s so warm in here..." "And the fragrance is lovely, not sharp like the incense they burn in the big city households..." "So many beautiful maids..." "Of course, Sister A'ru is the prettiest, though..." "This man is handsome too... A man!..." Hu San snapped out of his wandering thoughts and stood up straight.

Chang Yuncheng held his teacup, his face cold as he watched the shifty-eyed man. "...Tell me... tell me when... when we can clear things out... because there's so much stuff?" Hu San stammered more and more, breaking into a cold sweat under Chang Yuncheng's gaze. He constantly felt as if the man sitting opposite wasn't holding a teacup but a knife, ready to strike him at any moment.

Qi Yue noticed Hu San’s tension and glanced at Chang Yuncheng. Why was he sitting here while she was meeting a guest? "Weren't you going to see Mother?" she asked. "It’s still too early; Mother is reciting scriptures," Chang Yuncheng replied coolly. Qi Yue made an 'oh' sound. "Then go inside and read for a while," she suggested. This hateful woman! Chang Yuncheng’s face darkened considerably. "Pour the tea." He placed his teacup heavily on the table and stated. This sudden sharp sound startled everyone in the room; Hu San nearly dropped to his knees. Oh, this wretched man!

Qi Yue glared at him. "Pour tea for the Heir," she said, rising. "Come and talk with me over here." Hu San hesitated for a moment. In this world, Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teacher take precedence, and the Teacher is paramount. Shaking off the icy stares from behind him, he followed Qi Yue into the adjoining room.

After Chang Yuncheng had finished three pots of tea, he finally heard the man utter his farewell. "Master, I’ll take the blueprints to show you, but I suppose there's no need to look; whatever you say is what we’ll do." Never forgetting to flatter, Chang Yuncheng let out a cold snort from his nose, his gaze falling on a string of gourds displayed on the table. Small gourds carved with images of celestial maidens, flora, and fauna, lacquered and strung together with red cord, looked exquisite. To think this trinket, sold for three copper coins a string on the street, was presented as a gift! How dare that wretched woman treasure it as if it were precious! She clearly has no sense of true luxury; if she saw the gourds from the Prince of Qinghe’s estate, she’d be terrified.

"A’ru, you go with him," Qi Yue said. "I still need to rush these few blueprints." A’ru responded with an affirmative. "Master, don't work too hard; take your time setting things up..." Hu San hastily said. A’ru shot him a glare. "Let's go, why are you talking so much?" she murmured, reaching out to nudge Hu San. "Yes—yes, I don't speak well. Sister A’ru, please teach me more..." Hu San immediately replied. This shameless flatterer who latches onto any opportunity!

Chang Yuncheng’s stare made Hu San forget to even make a proper bow; he slipped out, hugging the wall. Chang Yuncheng finally felt the room clear. He let out a breath and started toward the washing room, but halfway there, he turned back, snatched up the string of gourds, and then strode inside.

The discussion on the other side concluded quickly; the money was paid in full that very day, and the deeds to the property were settled in one go. Since digging or moving earth was inauspicious during the first month, the excited Qi Yue could only focus on commissioning various tools. "What is this thing?" Chang Yuncheng asked, looking at the drawing in his hand. Across the kang table, Qi Yue was still scribbling and drawing. "Which one?" Hearing him, she leaned over to look. "Oh, those are the saws, chisels, and files for orthopedic surgery." "What kind of surgery?" Chang Yuncheng asked, not understanding. "Orthopedics—that is, bone-setting, a specialty for treating bone injuries... yes... a specialty." Qi Yue explained. "Like the injuries when a leg is severed or bones are smashed during battle?" Chang Yuncheng inquired.

Qi Yue nodded. "You can cure them?" Chang Yuncheng couldn't help but sit up straight and ask. "Not necessarily. I am not an immortal who can cure everything. Those that can be healed will be; those that cannot—we cannot force it," Qi Yue replied, biting her pen as she thought. "However, battlefield orthopedics are secondary; the crucial things are stopping the bleeding and preventing infection—it’s battlefield first aid... oh dear..." She waved her hand as she spoke of this. "Don't keep talking to me; I need to finish drawing these quickly," she said, lowering her head to continue writing and drawing. "Those specialties and first aid can wait. A clever housewife can't cook without rice; the most urgent things right now are first, getting the equipment ready, and second, training skills. Without equipment or people, even if I talked until my tongue bled, it would just be noise."

Chang Yuncheng frowned but swallowed the words he was about to say, then bent his head to look through the drawings Qi Yue had finished. Two lamps illuminated the pair; the room was very quiet, filled only with the rustling sound of writing, drawing, and turning paper.

"My Lord, Young Mistress, late-night snack," A’ru entered, holding up two bowls of sweet soup. "Thank you," Qi Yue said with a smile, reaching out to take one. This 'thank you' made A’ru subtly glance at Chang Yuncheng. She was already used to the Young Mistress speaking this way; surely the Heir wouldn't find it... "Hmph, it's good that you know," Chang Yuncheng interjected, taking his bowl of soup. "Who is thanking you? Don't be so presumptuous," Qi Yue retorted with a grin, glaring at him. "I ordered it to be cooked," Chang Yuncheng shot back, glaring equally.

A’ru smiled to herself as she observed their exchange, picking up the tray to withdraw. "Oh, right," Qi Yue called to her. "The kitchen hasn't stopped preparing snacks for the Third Young Master, have they?" Chang Yuncheng pulled a long face and slurped his soup. "No, they are following the few items you listed for flower arrangement, Young Mistress," A’ru replied with a laugh. Only then did Qi Yue nod, reassured.

After finishing the late-night snack, Chang Yuncheng glanced at the water clock and reached out to cover the papers on the table with his hand. Qi Yue, who was just picking up her brush to write, jumped in surprise. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Time for sleep," Chang Yuncheng stated. "You go sleep. You've been lurking here all night; you should have gone to bed long ago," Qi Yue said, trying to push his hand away. When his hand touched hers, Chang Yuncheng couldn't resist reaching out and grasping it. Qi Yue's face instantly flushed crimson, and she hastily withdrew her hand. "You have nothing pressing during the day, so don't busy yourself needlessly at night," Chang Yuncheng restrained the urge to reach out again, raising a hand to rub the tip of his nose. This man actually speaking words of care—it was incredibly unsettling... Qi Yue mumbled an 'oh' sound, feeling uncomfortable. "You’re the one who's busy for no reason," she retorted, glaring at him once she recovered. Chang Yuncheng simply raised his hand and extinguished the lamp. "You..." Qi Yue sighed in exasperation. Chang Yuncheng stood up and walked toward the door. Never mind, I'll indulge your good intentions. Qi Yue smiled faintly in the darkness and set down her pen.

Seeing that the woman had obediently stopped arguing, Chang Yuncheng paused in his steps. "Do you... want to now?" he suddenly asked. Qi Yue, who was just trying to light a night lamp, froze upon hearing this. "Want what?" she asked, confused. This woman is truly vulgar, needing to voice such matters explicitly! "Go to bed!" Chang Yuncheng muttered gruffly. This wretched man! "Scram, scram, scram," Qi Yue said, tossing her shoe at him. Chang Yuncheng snorted, swept his sleeve, and strode out.

In the middle of the night, the Marquis of Dingxi and Lady Xie were also preparing to retire. "I have something to tell you," Lady Xie said while watching a young maid help the Marquis change out of his outer garments. The Marquis, having drunk wine outside, was somewhat tipsy, murmuring noncommittally with half-closed eyes. "What if we married the daughter of the Rao family into our household?" Lady Xie suggested. The Marquis hummed in response, then his eyes snapped open wide. "Who? The Rao family from Shandong?" he demanded. Lady Xie, knowing this would be his reaction, nodded with a slight smile. "Go, go." The Marquis waved the maid away. After sitting on the bed listening to Lady Xie's explanation, the Marquis still seemed somewhat disbelieving. "She actually fancies our Cheng'er," he remarked, with a hint of regret. "I thought it was a match being arranged for Qi'er." What did he mean, 'actually'? Lady Xie’s face fell. That illegitimate son, Chang Yunqi—how could they possibly favor him? Especially with the mother he had! Realizing the Marquis had to be the one to broach this, Lady Xie forced down her temper. "If Cheng'er can form an alliance with the Rao family, Qi'er's future marriage prospects will naturally not suffer. That’s much better than marrying someone who will have a beggar for a sister-in-law when news gets out," she said. The Marquis didn't care for that comment either. "It's a divine doctor for a sister-in-law," he corrected. "No matter how divine, it doesn't change her low birth," Lady Xie stated indifferently. The Marquis didn't want to continue that line of conversation. "Then the Rao family would allow their daughter to be a concubine?" he asked. "Is that madness?" "Of course not," Lady Xie replied. "Don't even think about divorcing the current wife," the Marquis flatly refused. Never mind how much prestige his daughter-in-law brought him; he wasn't foolish enough to petition the Emperor to allow such a thing. Lady Xie quickly reached out and grasped his sleeve. "It's not about divorce, how could we divorce her—that would be directly contradicting the Emperor's golden decree," she laughed, explaining the plan she had devised. The Marquis listened for a long time without speaking. "Then we wait until the Second Madam receives news from the palace before deciding," he finally said after a pause. Lady Xie let out a breath of relief; this meant he agreed. "Find a suitable time to mention it to Cheng'er and the others," she urged. "I won't concern myself with the affairs of women and children; you handle it as you see fit," the Marquis said with some impatience, turning over to sleep facing inward. When he wants to be involved, he controls everything; when he doesn't, it becomes the business of women and children. What a heartless, selfish man! Lady Xie sneered inwardly, but she answered softly, "Yes," and let out a breath before drawing the curtain.

The next day, Lady Xie couldn't wait to summon Chang Yuncheng to share the happy news, but the maid reported that the Heir had already left the residence—having departed early, he hadn't disturbed his mother. "It’s almost the fifteenth, and he’s still going out," Lady Xie was slightly displeased. Lately, she felt her son visited her less and less, but it was normal for Chang Yuncheng to attend banquets and social calls in the first lunar month. "What about the Young Mistress?" Lady Xie then asked, deciding it might be fine to tell this woman first, anticipating what expression the woman might display with eager curiosity. "The Young Mistress has also gone out," the maid replied. "Did she go out with the Heir?" Lady Xie was startled. "No," the maid quickly answered. "Sister Qiuxiang said she went to the Qianjin Hall." Lady Xie breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately grimaced with disgust: that vulgar, unchaste servant girl! Since she loved going to that low-class apothecary so much, once the Rao girl enters the family, I'll let her go stay there to her heart's content! Lady Xie leaned back against her bolster pillow and smiled coldly. That day would not be long in coming!