The previous rendering, which many considered filler content, was scheduled for a late-night release so those uninterested wouldn't feel obliged to read it. However, alas, some filler is unavoidable for the overall flow of the narrative.

Seeing respect and awe in others is not what brings true satisfaction. The greatest delight comes from the shocked, caught-off-guard reaction of those who were fully expecting your judgment to be fatal, only to have you suddenly grant them clemency.

The steward, precisely as he desired, now witnessed this very expression on the faces of the Liu family, filling him with a pleasurable, almost itching sensation.

That power to dictate people's joy and sorrow was simply intoxicating.

Liu Changqing's entire family was utterly stunned.

They could no longer register what the steward was saying.

They remained frozen, wooden figures, even after the man took his leave, only turning back to stare at the two gift boxes sitting in the living room.

Liu Changqing couldn't maintain composure and pinched his own arm hard.

It hurt...

"Lord Wang wishes to offer a calming gift to the young master..." he mumbled, repeating the phrase he'd heard from the steward, still struggling to grasp its meaning.

Hadn't his own son offended the Wang family? Why would the Wangs be sending a calming gift to his son instead?

What was the reason for this?

And it didn't end there. The next day, a friendly official from the county yamen rushed over to deliver excellent news.

"Old brother, the replacement for the Dongyang County post has been decided! Old brother! It's yours!" the official exclaimed, shaking Liu Changqing's hand excitedly.

Liu Changqing's still-recovering mind swam into deeper confusion.

This... this...

He hadn't been without hope for that replacement post, but he'd been told the competition was too fierce; it simply wouldn't fall to him...

This... why?

"What why? Let me tell you," the official whispered conspiratorially, "Lord Wang put in a good word for you..."

Madness...

Liu Changqing could no longer process anything.

What in the world was happening?

"Son, I haven't misremembered, have I?" he asked his youngest son, pulling him close. "It was you who besieged the Wang residence, not the other way around, right?"

Liu Changqing wasn't the only one voicing such bewildered questions. Three other families, who had also refrained from visiting the Wangs, had simultaneously received gifts from the Wang family, purportedly to calm their children. Meanwhile, the other households who had participated in the original affair were going insane.

How was it that their families, having gone to offer apologies, were turned away, while these stubborn few who didn't bother to apologize were being personally visited by the Wangs?

A calming gift?

Who needed calming—who was comforting whom?

What was going on? Had Old Master Wang truly lost his mind over this incident?

At the very same moment, the Marquis of Dingxi's manor also sent out calming gifts, but theirs were more thorough than the Wangs'; they sent them to every household involved that evening.

Thanking them for their loyal assistance.

Loyal assistance...

Was that the reason?

When these families later learned that the Wangs and the Marquis of Dingxi had reconciled instantly, they finally understood.

Who could have known things would turn out like this!

In the inner quarters, the Prefect and his wife sat silently, spirits utterly deflated.

How could this happen? What game were those two families playing?!

"So that is what Teacher meant," the Prefect murmured to himself.

"What did Old Lord Wang mean? Was it intentional? Was he deliberately embarrassing the Marquis of Dingxi's household? My lord, perhaps you should go see Lord Wang again..." the Prefect's wife fretted incessantly beside him.

"Enough! You ignorant woman!" the Prefect roared suddenly.

This was the first time he had ever spoken to his wife in such a tone. The Prefect's wife startled, staring at her husband, afraid to speak.

"It's all your fault, you ignorant woman!" The Prefect, thinking of the whole debacle, was consumed by anger and shame. "What face do I have to face Teacher again! Why—why don't you try to learn from the Young Madam of the Marquis of Dingxi's household! Look at her! And then look at you!"

What he meant was: look at her courage, spirit, and luck! The Prefect's wife blinked, and the enchanting image of that woman flashed before her eyes.

Her son misled, and her husband completely befuddled...

"You heartless brute! I'll fight you to the death!" she shrieked, jumping up and reaching toward the dignified face of the Prefect.

But the instigator of the chaos in the Prefect's household and the source of distress for so many families—Qi Yue—knew nothing of all this.

Despite the Marquis of Dingxi's protection, Madam Xie still punished her daughter-in-law, confining her to the manor, forbidding her to leave, and requiring her to kneel before the Buddha daily.

Qi Yue was perfectly happy to comply with the restriction on leaving; it gave her face time to heal. As for the kneeling, no one in her own courtyard would dare dictate whether she knelt or not.

"I still think it looks a bit swollen," Quezhi observed while examining Qi Yue.

Qi Yue studied herself in the mirror, looking from side to side.

"No, it's fine now," she declared.

Ah Hao meticulously applied makeup, while Quezhi stood nearby, offering instructions on where to dab a bit more powder or brush on some rouge. Qi Yue laughed, letting them fuss over her.

Chang Yuncheng entered.

A Ru quickly waved her hand, and Ah Hao immediately bowed and retreated. Quezhi looked reluctant, casting several glances at Chang Yuncheng, but when she saw the Heir apparent didn't even look her way, she reluctantly departed.

"Where have you been?" Qi Yue turned and asked.

Chang Yuncheng ignored her.

"What do you want to eat? I'm free and can cook something delicious for you?" Qi Yue said with a smile.

Chang Yuncheng looked up at her.

"You're free only to cook for me as a pastime, is that it?" he asked.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

"Alright, alright, are you still angry?" she chuckled, taking a few steps closer. "Fine, I admit what I said last time was perhaps a bit much."

"A bit much?" Chang Yuncheng questioned, watching her.

Qi Yue pursed her lips into a smile.

"I'll be careful next time," she replied instead of answering directly.

Her smile, coupled with the slightly coaxing tone of her voice, made Chang Yuncheng's heart skip a beat.

He couldn't resist reaching out and pulling the woman toward him.

Qi Yue, caught completely off guard, tumbled into his lap, her face instantly flushing crimson.

"What are you doing!" she cried out in a panic, trying to get up.

But her strength against Chang Yuncheng was like a tickle.

"Didn't you say you wanted to... with me..." Chang Yuncheng murmured, his voice low as he looked at the close proximity of Qi Yue.

"I didn't want anything!" Qi Yue denied sharply, bracing her hands against his chest to rise.

Though her words remained forceful, the blushing expression on her face was infinitely more alluring than her usual sharp and combative demeanor.

Chang Yuncheng certainly had no intention of letting go.

A low cough sounded from outside the door.

Chang Yuncheng paused, a look of displeasure crossing his features.

Qi Yue took the opportunity to break free, hurriedly smoothing her clothes with a red face.

"Your Highness, Young Madam, the Marquis requests your presence," A Ru's voice sounded from outside.

"What is it?" Qi Yue asked as she walked toward the door.

"Old Lord Wang has arrived," A Ru replied.

Qi Yue hummed an acknowledgment.

"Hurry up, what's there to talk about," Chang Yuncheng said, slowing his pace ahead of her.

Qi Yue pouted at A Ru and quickened her steps to follow.

The steward, accompanied by two or three men, was examining the flower beds and talking when he saw them approach and rushed over to greet them enthusiastically.

"Young Madam, I have disciplined those guards thoroughly..." he said, his expression becoming solemn as he thought of something.

"Disciplined them for what?" Qi Yue asked, confused.

"They were useless, allowing Young Madam to suffer such humiliation..." the steward exclaimed, clearly agitated.

Qi Yue chuckled softly. "It's alright, it's alright, it was all too sudden."

"No, no, this was their dereliction of duty. But Young Madam, rest assured, such a thing will never happen again," the steward stated loudly.

Chang Yuncheng turned back and glanced at him.

"You expect a next time?" he demanded.

The steward immediately slapped his own mouth.

"Look at my mouth," he spat several times.

Qi Yue smiled and waved her hand dismissively.

"Oh, and another thing," the steward continued, a smile returning, "it’s strange—there are suddenly quite a few people loitering near our front gate..." He looked at her expectantly. "Young Madam, guess what they are doing?"

How would I know? Qi Yue smiled lazily at the steward.

"What are they doing?" she inquired.

The steward became even more animated.

"They are all servants from the major households in the city." He lowered his voice. "The gatekeepers grabbed a few and asked them. Guess what they said?"

Qi Yue was an excellent listener.

"What did they say?" she asked, smiling broadly.

"They said they were waiting to see when Young Madam would go out to fight next..." The steward burst into hearty laughter.

Qi Yue joined him in laughter.

"Why would they watch me fight?" she laughed and asked.

"To be Young Madam's backup," the steward replied proudly.

Qi Yue laughed even harder.

"Young Madam, you don't know? I heard those men say that the last fight you were in actually resulted in a County Magistrate appointment," the steward said quickly, seeing her look of disbelief.

He recounted the rumor circulating outside about the County Assistant Magistrate of Yongqing County's son earning his father a provisional appointment as the Magistrate of Dongyang County simply by accompanying the Young Madam of the Marquis of Dingxi in a brawl.

"Heavens above, there are benefits to fighting?" Qi Yue roared with laughter. "That’s incredible, the city will be in chaos!"

"Ah, well, that depends on who you choose to fight alongside," the steward remarked with a hint of pride.

Qi Yue shook her head, smiling.

Up ahead, Chang Yuncheng could no longer contain his impatience.

Laugh, laugh, talk, talk—what was so amusing or worth discussing!

"Steward," he called back coldly. "Did you fix the surface of the training ground that I asked you to repair?"

The steward, who had been happily laughing with the Young Madam, froze.

"Your Highness, when did you mention repairing the ground?" he asked.

"Can't I say it now?" Chang Yuncheng stated, his face darkening.

The steward twitched the corner of his mouth. Yes, of course, he could.

"Yes, I will go immediately," he said respectfully.

"Oversee it personally; don't let those men ruin it," Chang Yuncheng instructed sternly.

The steward responded with another assent and hurried off.

Only then did Chang Yuncheng turn back with satisfaction and continue walking.

Qi Yue walked beside him, merely pursing her lips and smiling, lost in thought.

Say something! Weren't you just having a lively conversation!

Chang Yuncheng glanced at her.

"What were you talking about just now?" he asked.

"Nothing," Qi Yue smiled, looking toward the Marquis of Dingxi's reception hall not far ahead. "Let's hurry, we mustn't keep Father and our guests waiting too long."

With that, she quickened her pace.

Why wasn't she worried about making Father and the guests wait earlier?

This hateful woman was deliberately trying to avoid talking to him, wasn't she?

Chang Yuncheng ground his teeth and followed her pace.

"...What did you say? Was it about fighting?"

"...Don't go out fighting! Do you even act like a woman anymore?"

"...Why did you seek out Huang Ziqiao that day? Why involve that child? Wasn't I here?"

"...If you had come directly back to me, would this whole thing have happened?"

"...What use is that child, Huang Ziqiao, other than causing trouble..."

"...I'm asking you a question, you..."

Chang Yuncheng stopped abruptly, realizing Qi Yue had taken hold of his hand.

Qi Yue pursed her lips, turned her head slightly to glance at him, and said nothing more, simply gripping his hand and walking forward lightly.

This damned woman... in broad daylight... and here in the courtyard... what was she up to now...

Chang Yuncheng’s face flushed. He couldn't help glancing around. Fortunately, there weren't many servants passing by, and the maids following them were clever enough to keep their eyes down and didn't notice.

Just... just to give you face...

He hesitated for a moment before withdrawing his hand. He allowed Qi Yue to lead him forward stiffly.