Thank you, thank you. Adding an extra update—it’s not as if there’s been no development; it’s about how the relationship between the two changes step by step...

"What nonsense are you talking about..." Chang Yunchéng snapped back to reality quickly, stating in a deep voice, yet he didn't push the man out again, retrieving the book on the table, though his gaze didn't rest upon it.

Fan Yìlín moved from his chair to one closer to the desk.

"Lord Shìzǐ, to have a husband such as you, the Young Madam is truly blessed." he sighed.

Right? Right! This wretched woman truly doesn't know how fortunate she is!

Chang Yunchéng held the book motionless.

"To be frank with Lord Shìzǐ, I am not from this place. I only learned of the Young Madam's background last night..."

"...With the Young Madam's standing, for Lord Shìzǐ to treat her with such regard, it is truly admirable and moving..."

Fan Yìlín grew more impassioned as he spoke, even rising to lean against the desk.

Chang Yunchéng listened to him speak, managing, somehow, to overlook the man’s casual posture.

"...Although I have only met her twice briefly, I can tell that the Young Madam doesn't have the best temperament," Fan Yìlín finally got to the main point, looking cautiously at Chang Yunchéng, his gaze falling upon the wound on his forehead. "Is this... the Young Madam did this?"

This time, Chang Yunchéng neither sneered nor glared angrily.

"An accident. She didn't mean to," he slowly placed the book down and said in a muffled tone.

"Intentionally or not, injuring Lord Shìzǐ is simply too much." Fan Yìlín declared indignantly.

Chang Yunchéng glanced at him, a warning in his eyes.

Fan Yìlín hastily made a shushing gesture.

"Um, Lord Shìzǐ..." He paused, then lowered his voice, "Your relationship with the Young Madam... isn't going too well, is it?"

Chang Yunchéng ignored him, flipping through the book on the table.

"I speak frankly. If what I say is incorrect, Lord Shìzǐ, please bear with me." Fan Yìlín continued. Seeing Chang Yunchéng offer no reaction, he relaxed slightly. "That is, Lord Shìzǐ, I think the reason the Young Madam is so volatile has something to do with you not returning for so many years, doesn't it?"

Chang Yunchéng snorted internally. What, was his three-year absence and the alleged mistreatment of her common knowledge?

Three years away—did he want that?

Of course, one could argue it was deliberate, to some extent, but it wasn't specifically aimed at her; it was simply that he didn't want to come back, didn't want to step into this household...

"I was following the Emperor's command; could I decide for myself?" He sharply closed the book in his hand and spoke in a deep voice.

"Exactly!" Fan Yìlín immediately agreed loudly. "This is not something Lord Shìzǐ could decide. If one could return, who wouldn't want to go home instead of suffering misery in a bitter, cold place a thousand li away?"

Chang Yunchéng's expression softened slightly. It seemed everyone else understood reason; only that woman insisted on making trouble!

"How can one call it suffering? It is the duty of a soldier to be loyal to the sovereign," he stated coolly, correcting the rich young master, who likely never knew what true hardship meant.

Fan Yìlín chuckled and nodded in agreement.

"However," his tone shifted after his laugh, "Lord Shìzǐ, this woman is different from ordinary people."

Different how? Chang Yunchéng couldn't help but look up at him.

"This woman’s mind..." Fan Yìlín pointed to his own head, lowering his voice, "is completely different from us men."

Indeed, that woman's mind was quite peculiar...

Could it be...

Are all women in the world like this?

A flicker of curiosity crossed Chang Yunchéng’s features.

Fan Yìlín leaned in, settling onto the chair.

"Look here. Take this matter of your three years away. You, I, even the common folk—we all see it as a matter of duty, something a true gentleman would do." He spoke earnestly, idly turning a writing brush from the desk in his hand. "But the Young Madam certainly won't think that way. She will definitely believe you did it on purpose, that you don't care about her, that you don't want to see her, that you deliberately neglected her..."

Exactly! This wretched woman was still stuck on those three years!

"Utter nonsense!" Chang Yunchéng said with a dark expression.

Fan Yìlín nodded. My beauty, for the sake of your future marital harmony and happiness, I have put in effort. I hope the beauty appreciates my hard work later, but even if she doesn't, it matters little; Fan Yìlín is simply this devoted to cherishing delicate things, brushing his sleeve, content to hide his merit and renown.

"But, the word 'woman' is synonymous with the word 'nonsense,'" he said with a smile, then coughed lightly, as if his throat were dry.

Chang Yunchéng glanced at him.

"Someone, pour tea!" he called out toward the outside.

The young servant standing guard outside was astonished. He hadn't expected the son-in-law of the Prince's manor not only to avoid being driven out after a few words but to be offered tea instead. What was wrong with the Lord Shìzǐ today? Wasn't he in a terrible mood?

The servant dared not delay and immediately entered to pour tea for them both.

Fan Yìlín exchanged a few polite words and drained his cup in one gulp.

"Mmm, mmm, excellent tea," he exclaimed with admiration.

Enough nonsense, Chang Yunchéng gave him a look.

Observing the mood, Fan Yìlín hurriedly set down his teacup.

"Where was I just now?" he said, slapping his forehead. "Nonsense. With women, you cannot reason with them. Their reason is whatever they say it is. So, trying to reason with them is absolutely futile."

Right, that wretched woman never had any logic to begin with.

Chang Yunchéng nodded.

"But on the flip side, it's actually normal for the Young Madam to think that way," Fan Yìlín added with a smile.

Chang Yunchéng frowned.

"As the saying goes, concern clouds judgment; deep love brings stern reproach." Fan Yìlín said with a pleasant smile. "The Young Madam cares about you too much, which is why she clings to this. If it were anyone else in the household—any of them—you’d see her behave so unreasonably?"

Toward his family, Chang Yunchéng felt a sudden enlightenment.

Isn't that right? Look at how reasonable she is with family members, whether it's Chang Yúnqǐ or Chang Chūnlán, even toward his maternal grandmother's family. Only toward him does she behave so ridiculously and without reason.

Because... she cares about him?

Chang Yunchéng's heart instantly warmed.

Seeing the man before him suddenly break into a strange, foolish smile, Fan Yìlín was actually startled.

No way, getting this happy over one sentence? This blockhead is too... naive.

Chang Yunchéng regained his composure and looked at Fan Yìlín.

"Alright, you can leave now. See the guest out," he said, rising to his feet.

This is crossing the bridge and tearing it down, Fan Yìlín thought, glaring.

"Lord Shìzǐ, even if you now understand the Young Madam's feelings, what do you plan to do?" he asked.

What business is it of yours? Chang Yunchéng's expression conveyed this.

Of course, it is my business! Such a beauty, if not carefully held and cherished in the palm of one's hand, would be a tragedy of the human world. How could Fan Yìlín bear to see such a lovely life wasted?

"You aren't thinking of having a proper talk with the Young Madam, are you? Or explaining things?" he asked.

What else should he do?

"If there's something to say, just say it," Chang Yunchéng stated.

Fan Yìlín shook his head and sighed.

"Lord Shìzǐ, have you forgotten what I said? You cannot lecture women," he reminded him. "The Young Madam must have caused trouble before, right?"

Chang Yunchéng froze momentarily. He truly did not wish to discuss such private marital matters with an outsider, especially not this smooth-faced young man...

"The Young Madam caused trouble before. Then, given Lord Shìzǐ's character, naturally, you tried to move her heart with emotion and persuade her with reason, yes?" Fan Yìlín asked slyly.

Of course. I am naturally a reasonable person, Chang Yunchéng nodded slightly.

Fan Yìlín chuckled knowingly.

"And the result was that things were fine at the time, but she caused trouble again later, right?" he asked with a smile.

Chang Yunchéng’s face darkened.

"When it flared up again, she was still fixated on the past events, wasn't she?" Fan Yìlín continued to press.

Chang Yunchéng’s expression subtly wavered.

"And after the argument subsided, she still told you that you were the unreasonable one, correct?" Fan Yìlín inquired further.

Chang Yunchéng looked at Fan Yìlín, his surprise now unmistakable.

Qiūxiāng hurried in, lifting the curtain. Ārú looked over anxiously.

"Young Madam." She bowed with a hint of delight.

Qí Yuè hummed without looking up.

"The Lord Shìzǐ said he is going out to dine with Young Master Fan, so he won't be joining you for lunch," Qiūxiāng cheerfully reported.

Qí Yuè hummed, then abruptly looked up.

"What?" she asked, looking at Qiūxiāng with a knowing smile. "Hey, have you been adding fuel to the fire again?"

Qiūxiāng hurriedly shook her head.

"No, no, Young Madam, the Lord Shìzǐ truly said that." She insisted urgently.

"Really?" Qí Yuè didn't believe it.

"Really! Why would I lie to you, Young Madam? If you don't believe me, ask the servants outside the outer study; everyone heard it," Qiūxiāng pressed.

Only then did Qí Yuè believe her.

"He won't join me for lunch?" She repeated, looking up at Ārú. "He actually said something like that? Has his head been injured?"

Ārú quickly shushed her.

Qí Yuè smiled and said nothing more.

"Since that is the case, Qiūxiāng, go tell the Lord Shìzǐ that I need to practice surgery on Yàn'er, so I won't be back for dinner tonight, and I might be late returning." She paused. "Which means I won't be able to eat dinner with him either."

Qiūxiāng happily agreed and left.

Meanwhile, in the finest private room of Yongqìng Residence's best restaurant, Fan Yìlín was already slightly drunk. He squinted, feeling for the wine jug, and upon hearing the servant’s report, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Chang Yunchéng maintained his usual expression, nodding stiffly and saying he understood.

"How about it, Lord Shìzǐ? Women, you see, must be placated; you don't need to reason with them. To them, sweet talk is reason." Fan Yìlín said, slumping back onto a brocade cushion. "See? It’s no great matter. Just say a few nice words, and watch how quickly they become agreeable to you. You surely never used kind words with the Young Madam before. You must have kept a stern face... Yes, yes, just like now... Even when you cared, you put on an air of indifference..."

What Fan Yìlín said made Chang Yunchéng’s expression even gloomier.

"Sweet talk and slippery words—what good is that? These women are truly tedious," he stated in a low voice, feeling both pleased and dissatisfied by Qí Yuè's reaction, unsure of his own feelings.

"Good? It’s neither good nor bad. Women are like flowers, they need to be nurtured, to be pampered, kept happy every day, as if bathed in honey water, only then will they bloom brilliantly and last long," Fan Yìlín laughed, growing increasingly uneasy while touching the wine jug. He winked at Chang Yunchéng. "Lord Shìzǐ, cough, what’s the point of just the two of us men drinking wine? Why don't we call for some singing girls?"