Qiu Xiang smiled and lifted the curtain.

Qi Yue saw none of this, nor did she offer her usual gentle smile to the maids. She swept into the room, gathering her skirt. Chang Yun Cheng lowered the book he was reading and stood up.

“You’re back. If you leave now, you can still catch the vegetarian meal at the Great Buddha Temple…” he said with a smile, extending a hand.

Qi Yue looked at him, not taking the hand, but turning aside to sit down.

“What’s wrong?” Chang Yun Cheng asked, noting her strained expression.

Here we go again, this same tiresome affair… Qi Yue looked at him, forced a smile, and shook her head—a sigh of utter resignation.

“Yue Niang?” Chang Yun Cheng approached, reaching out to embrace her.

Qi Yue raised a hand to block him.

“I hear you’re about to celebrate?” she asked.

Chang Yun Cheng’s hand froze mid-air.

“I…” he managed to utter a single word.

Qi Yue watched him.

“You knew all along?” she inquired.

“Yes,” Chang Yun Cheng admitted. “I… I was going to tell you…”

Qi Yue smiled, nodding once, and let her hand drop.

“Fine. Thank you. I know now,” she said, rising to her feet.

Chang Yun Cheng watched her, his heart hammering like a drum.

“Yue Niang, look, I won’t dismiss you. You will still be the young madam. I will treat you well…” he stammered out.

“Enough, enough, you don’t need to say any more.” Qi Yue waved him off, interrupting him. Her brow furrowed slightly with impatience as she called out loudly for A’Ru.

A’Ru stumbled in, her face pale, tears welling in her eyes, yet she dared not let them fall.

“Young Madam…” she whispered hoarsely.

“Go and gather my things,” Qi Yue instructed, pacing a few steps back and forth.

A’Ru immediately collapsed to her knees with a soft thud.

Chang Yun Cheng’s face drained of color.

“Yue Niang, listen to me, it’s not what you think…” He quickly reached out to grab Qi Yue, shouting at A’Ru to leave.

Qi Yue remained silent until he had finished his outburst.

A’Ru remained kneeling, unmoving.

“A’Ru, you know my nature,” Qi Yue finally said, looking down at the maid. “I have many things to accomplish, and some of those things can only be done by you. As for what needs doing, and how it should be done, I imagine you know better than I do.”

A’Ru trembled uncontrollably.

“Yue Niang, please just hear me out,” Chang Yun Cheng pleaded, shaking her arm.

Qi Yue smiled at him.

That smile—Chang Yun Cheng felt a sense of disorientation. He felt he had seen it long ago, back when he first met this woman. After several clashes, she had worn that exact smile: polite, distant, the smile one reserves for a complete stranger…

“My Lord, please wait just a moment; I will hear what you have to say shortly,” she said sweetly, turning her gaze back to A’Ru.

A’Ru took several deep breaths, lifted her head, stood up, answered with a firm “Yes,” and turned to leave.

“You—what are you doing?” Chang Yun Cheng shouted. “You are forbidden to do anything!”

A’Ru was already gone; the beaded curtain dropped, sealing the inside from the outside.

Chang Yun Cheng reached out and grabbed Qi Yue’s arm.

“Yue Niang, you must listen to me,” he urged hastily.

Qi Yue flinched but could not shake off his grip.

“Mm, alright, I will listen. First, please let go of my hand,” she said calmly. “Apologies, I have a slight germaphobia; it’s a professional hazard, I suppose.”

Germaphobia? What did that mean…

Chang Yun Cheng looked at Qi Yue. She wasn’t being playful as usual, nor was she glaring or flying into a rage. But this unnerving calm—this lack of haste, anger, or joy—was far more terrifying.

Slowly, he released his grip.

“Speak,” Qi Yue instructed, already moving toward the inner room to begin tidying her writing desk.

“Yue Niang, it’s like this: Father submitted a memorial requesting permission to take a secondary wife for me, and the Emperor approved. It means taking another wife, not dismissing you. You remain you…” Chang Yun Cheng took a deep breath, trying to articulate clearly. He watched the woman efficiently arranging the scattered papers, inkwells, and brushes on the desk, feeling a profound unease settle in his own heart.

Qi Yue hummed in acknowledgment.

“Are you finished?” she asked.

“Yue Niang, don’t be like this. Tell me what you feel,” Chang Yun Cheng couldn't restrain himself any longer; he reached out and grasped her again.

Qi Yue looked up and offered a smile.

“I don’t know if you can understand what I’m about to say,” she remarked.

“I can understand, tell me, tell me,” Chang Yun Cheng said quickly, desperate for her to speak; her silence was what truly frightened him.

Qi Yue nodded.

“That…” She gestured toward the hand of Chang Yun Cheng gripping her arm.

Chang Yun Cheng stubbornly refused to let go. Did she mean she didn't want him to touch her?

“What is your opinion on this matter?” Seeing he wouldn’t release her, Qi Yue didn’t press the point of contact but asked the question directly.

His opinion?

What opinion could he possibly have?

“It’s not dismissing you; you still remain…” Chang Yun Cheng began quickly.

Qi Yue laughed softly, coughed, and composed her features.

“So, you think this arrangement is a good thing?” she inquired.

Chang Yun Cheng stared at her. Even a fool would know that when someone asked a question framed like that, the true meaning was that the matter was wrong… and he certainly wasn't a fool.

“Yue Niang, you… you are unwilling?” he asked.

“Oh, heavens above.” Qi Yue rolled her eyes, tapping her forehead with her free hand. Then she looked back at Chang Yun Cheng. “There’s something I forgot to tell you.”

“Tell me,” Chang Yun Cheng urged, wishing she would talk more, terrified only when she stopped.

“A few days ago, I met a man. I think he is wonderful, and I like him very much. Would you be willing for me to have another person I like to care for…” Qi Yue said with a light laugh.

Before she could finish, Chang Yun Cheng erupted in shock and anger.

“Qi Yue Niang!” He violently pulled her close. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

What nonsense was she spouting?!

“Chang Yun Cheng!” Qi Yue suddenly raised her voice, pressing close to him, looking directly into his eyes, speaking slowly, word by painful word. “If you are unwilling, why should I be willing?”

Chang Yun Cheng looked at her, breathing heavily a few times before regaining some composure.

“Yue Niang, I don’t like anyone else; I only like you,” he said, reaching out with his other arm to embrace her tightly.

Qi Yue smiled, then sighed.

“Then if you don’t like her, why are you marrying her?” she asked.

Chang Yun Cheng faltered.

“Mother will be happy. That way, she won’t make things difficult for you,” he replied hastily.

Qi Yue stared at him, utterly astonished.

“Chang Yun Cheng, is there something wrong with your brain?” she asked, frowning, scrutinizing him up and down. “Are you alright? Are you marrying a wife? Not your mother marrying a wife? Your mother likes her, so will your mother sleep with her? Will she bear your children?”

Chang Yun Cheng’s face darkened to the color of soot. What kind of words were those!

“You’re insane!” Qi Yue suddenly wrenched free of his grasp, spun around to the desk, stacked the papers neatly, and then turned toward the wardrobe.

Chang Yun Cheng stood frozen, watching the woman pull open the wardrobe and begin taking out clothes. He snapped back to reality with a jolt.

“Yue Niang, you are unwilling,” he finally stated with certainty.

Qi Yue glanced back at him.

“If you were willing to share me with another man…” she began.

Her words were cut short by Chang Yun Cheng’s roar.

“Shut up!” he choked out, trembling from head to toe.

Sharing her with another man! Sharing! Did this confounded woman realize what she was saying?

Another man…

“Who is that man?” He lunged forward abruptly, grabbing Qi Yue and demanding, his mind flashing through the faces of men Qi Yue knew.

That Hu San? The coffin-maker? That Senior Disciple? Who else—those few shifty-eyed apprentices? Or that little brat Huang Ziqiao?

His teeth ground audibly.

Seeing his reaction, Qi Yue suddenly smiled again, reaching out to smooth his cheek.

“Chang Yun Cheng, look at how pained, how angry, how heartbroken you are to hear I might have another man. That is precisely how pained, angry, and heartbroken I felt when I heard you were taking a new wife,” she said earnestly.

Chang Yun Cheng looked at her, and Qi Yue looked back at him.

“Chang Yun Cheng, never mind a secondary wife. If you intend to stay with me, then, besides me, you cannot have any other woman,” she stated, smiling faintly. “Remember this: love is exclusive. If you cannot manage that, then it is not love. If you do not love me, I will not block your path; we shall each go our separate ways.”

Chang Yun Cheng looked at her, then pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Alright,” he murmured. “It’s just this small matter. I will go and tell Father and Mother.”

Qi Yue braced her hands against him, creating a small space between them.

“What if your mother refuses?” she asked.

Chang Yun Cheng’s body stiffened; he remained silent for a moment.

“I will try my best to reason with Mother…” he said slowly.

Not long after Chang Yun Cheng left, A’Ru rushed in. Seeing Qi Yue still organizing the wardrobe, her tears immediately began to flow.

“Why are you crying?” Qi Yue turned and asked with a smile. “Did you manage everything?”

A’Ru wiped her tears.

“It was so rushed; finding a good residence was difficult. There is a dwelling near my family’s place; it’s a fine house, but it’s been empty too long, so it looks a bit old…” she murmured, crying as she spoke.

“It’s fine. We’ll live there for now, and discuss other matters later,” Qi Yue replied, carefully folding the clothes one by one.

“I didn’t make a fuss; I sent Yuan Bao to handle it and prepare the place,” A’Ru sniffled. “It will be ready to move into anytime.”

Qi Yue nodded, said “Good,” and fell silent.

“Young Madam, is this what you meant by something you could not tolerate…” A’Ru stepped forward slightly and asked.

Qi Yue remained silent.

“Young Madam, perhaps the Heir can persuade the Old Mistress…” A’Ru stepped closer still.

Qi Yue smiled, turning to look at her.

“Really?” she asked lightly.

A’Ru covered her face and wept.

Lies! Lies! No one could persuade the Old Mistress! The Old Mistress had been waiting for this day for ages! Finally, it had arrived! And they even managed to secure an Imperial Edict! An Imperial Edict! Quietly, they had arranged everything…

“Young Madam, don’t be sad; the Heir will stand by you,” she cried.

Qi Yue stopped folding the clothes.

“A’Ru, what if I told you I wasn’t sad? Would you believe me?” she asked.

How could that be! How could a woman like that not be sad about such a thing!

A’Ru looked at her.

“Actually, I thought I would be very upset. Initially, I was quite… anxious. But after truly hearing him out, I found myself…” Qi Yue took a deep breath, a hint of disbelief on her face. “Feeling absolutely no sadness. It’s as if… as if this is what was meant to be true…”

A’Ru looked at her, slightly bewildered.

Qi Yue seemed to be confusing herself, so she simply laughed and rubbed her head.

“Ah, I can’t explain it well. It’s like a veil was over the world before me, and I just ripped it off. Never mind. The point is,” she smiled, “I am genuinely not sad. Just understand that, so stop crying.”

A’Ru looked at her, raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and walked over, reaching out to take the clothes Qi Yue had set aside and began folding them.

Meanwhile, in Rong’an Courtyard, the atmosphere had become strained following Chang Yun Cheng’s words.