Marquis Dingxi grew increasingly irritated.

“You, take this thing to that woman! Tell her we are not toying with her! She had better look out for herself!” he commanded, tossing the letter of divorce at Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng stared at the document before him, picked it up, and read it over and over, as if trying to sear every character into his memory.

“Done already, so fast,” he murmured, then stood up, letting out a long breath. He raised his head to look around the empty room. “Good, very good.”

He repeated the word ‘good’ loudly, then strode toward the door.

“…Just tell her, if she doesn’t…” Marquis Dingxi continued from behind, but saw the divorce letter dropped on the floor. He quickly bent down to retrieve it. “Take this, or that woman won’t take it seriously…”

Chang Yuncheng paused.

“Father, do you still think this isn't real?” he asked, turning back.

Marquis Dingxi was stunned. What?

Of course, it wasn't real! How could it be real! A divorce! What woman would dare take that seriously!

By the time he looked up, Chang Yuncheng was already gone.

This impudent brat was completely unreliable!

Marquis Dingxi stomped off in anger. He would have to handle this himself!

After several detours, he finally found Qi Yue’s residence, only to discover she wasn't home. Yuanbao, the gatekeeper, upon hearing it was someone from the Marquis Dingxi manor, promptly shut the gate, ignoring whatever the Marquis shouted outside.

“The young mistress should be at the Hall of a Thousand Treasures right now,” the steward whispered discreetly from the side.

The Hall of a Thousand Treasures?

Shouldn’t that woman be hiding at home, refusing to see anyone? Why would she go to the Hall of a Thousand Treasures?

They stood outside the gate as many neighbors peered out. Marquis Dingxi had no face to wait there for the woman, so he had to get into his carriage and head to the Hall of a Thousand Treasures.

He first stopped at a tavern, sending the steward to summon the woman. The steward returned, having predictably hit a stone wall.

Marquis Dingxi trembled with rage. Gritting his teeth, he went in himself.

This was Marquis Dingxi’s first time at the Hall of a Thousand Treasures. He stood inside with a rigid expression, finding his nostrils immediately assaulted by unbearable, strange odors! And the people—every one of them looked sickly, like consumptives. Marquis Dingxi felt utterly disgusted!

So this was what it was like to be a physician? Shouldn't it be like cultivating immortality, like celestial beings?

Marquis Dingxi stood at the entrance, utterly disdainful. A laborer stepped forward to inquire, but before he could speak, Marquis Dingxi waved him away.

When Qi Yue heard that the Marquis had come in person, she was in the middle of setting a bone for an injured patient. She paid no mind immediately, finishing the procedure carefully. After rechecking the patient’s condition, she slowly made her way over. She wore an outer smock, and because she had been kneeling on the floor, with blood splatters on her clothes, she looked quite dishevelled.

“Is the Marquis unwell?” she asked immediately.

Marquis Dingxi was irritable at the question. He glanced at the woman; she possessed none of the polish she had at home.

Look at her now. She’s only been out for one day, did she think life outside was easy?

“Look at what you’ve become!” he snorted, putting on airs. “The letter of divorce…”

“I received it,” Qi Yue nodded, smiling faintly.

“It’s not too late for you to admit your mistake now,” Marquis Dingxi said sternly.

Qi Yue smiled.

“Is the Marquis joking?” she laughed. “What mistake have I made?”

Marquis Dingxi grew anxious and stood up.

“Qi Yueliang, stop pushing your luck. Don’t get greedy, or this letter of divorce will become absolute,” he warned in a low voice.

Qi Yue had already turned away but now spun back around.

“Marquis, you don’t mean this won’t be real in the future, do you?” she asked, a hint of disbelief in her tone.

What…

Why was she saying the same thing?

Marquis Dingxi faltered.

Qi Yue looked at him, her expression openly scornful.

“Marquis, you don’t actually think this letter of divorce is a joke, do you?” she asked, the laughter completely gone from her voice. “Marquis, when has my Qi Yueliang ever joked? When have I ever broken my word? When have I ever bowed my head to apologize to others? Especially when I am in the right!”

Marquis Dingxi’s face turned pale at this barrage of questions.

“Marquis,” Qi Yue looked at him once more. “Stop deceiving yourself here. Look at the situation—who has the time to play games with you? Are you truly that foolish!”

With that, she turned and walked away briskly.

Foolish or what…

Marquis Dingxi plopped down onto a chair with a thud.

As the night deepened, the Marquis Dingxi manor still held its sparse points of lamplight, just as usual. But a discerning eye might notice that every few minutes, one or two lights would go out, though nobody paid it any mind now.

Marquis Dingxi had been staring at the divorce letter for half the day when Madam Xie came over to inquire.

“How did it get done so quickly?” she too was stunned.

Her question only caused Marquis Dingxi to erupt violently.

“You ask me? I should be asking you! This is all your doing!” he roared angrily.

Madam Xie had never been afraid of Marquis Dingxi’s temper.

“What good thing did I do? What did I do? Did I propose the divorce? Did I write the letter? Did I deliver it? Did I personally affix the seal?” she retorted, raising her eyebrows.

Marquis Dingxi glared at her furiously.

“So what if it’s a divorce? A divorce is a divorce! Who’s afraid? Let’s see whose life falls apart first!” Madam Xie snorted coldly. “We didn’t force her. She did this of her own free will, and the Emperor approved it. Who can blame us?”

Marquis Dingxi sank onto his seat, defeated.

Divorced… It was truly over…

How could it have come to this?

“It’s for the best that we’re divorced. You can formally marry the new bride,” Madam Xie declared. “I was actually worried about slighting the Rao family’s daughter. A fine young lady coming in only to be considered inferior to that woman—this is perfect. That woman got what she wanted, and everyone is happy. Marquis, the matchmaker Madam Yang sent should be back tomorrow…”

Marquis Dingxi sat there dazedly, unsure if he had heard her. A junior servant returned from outside to report that Chang Yuncheng had arrived.

Upon hearing he was there, Madam Xie composed herself and sat properly.

Chang Yuncheng stepped in. He had shaved, bathed, and put on clean clothes. The smell of wine that Marquis Dingxi had noted earlier was gone. He looked much like his usual self, except perhaps he seemed a bit thinner.

“You’re willing to come out now?” Madam Xie said coldly.

Chang Yuncheng did not speak, merely bowing to both of them.

Seeing him, Marquis Dingxi’s anger flared anew.

“I told you to go to your wife, why didn’t you listen!” he slammed the table and shouted. It was all because Chang Yuncheng refused to go that he had suffered such humiliation! He had taken the blows meant for his son!

“Father, I have no wife,” Chang Yuncheng stated calmly. “Where was I supposed to go?”

“You!” Marquis Dingxi slammed the table and stood up.

Madam Xie quickly pulled him back down.

“No, Yuncheng is right. He has no wife,” she interjected, looking at Chang Yuncheng. “We will marry you a new wife immediately.”

Chang Yuncheng’s expression remained blank.

“I came today to tell Mother and Father that I plan to depart on my official assignment tomorrow,” he announced.

What?

Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie were both stunned.

“I have already delayed the military summons documents several times. I can’t push it back any further,” Chang Yuncheng explained, smiling faintly. “I have no more excuses. I must leave.”

Marquis Dingxi and Madam Xie finally grasped what he meant and became frantic.

“What nonsense are you talking of! Leave now? How can you leave now? You need to marry the new bride…” Madam Xie hurried to say.

“I said, I do not have a wife—not now, and not ever in the future,” Chang Yuncheng looked at Madam Xie. “Mother, please stop bringing this up.”

Madam Xie shook with fury.

“Chang Yuncheng! Are you still doing this for that lowly maid?” she hissed.

“Mother,” Chang Yuncheng looked at her and knelt down. “I have already done as you wished; I have nothing more to do with that woman. Now, please grant your son this one request.”

“What do you want?” Madam Xie pointed at him and shouted. “Are you planning to run away again! Do you still care about this household! Do you still see me as your mother! Chang Yuncheng! Are you trying to anger me to death!”

The room descended into chaos.

The maids cried out, Madam Xie cursed, and Chang Yuncheng knelt silently.

Marquis Dingxi slowly sat back down in his chair, his expression vacant.

How could this happen?

He distinctly remembered achieving a great milestone that should bring glory to the ancestors—how had the family suddenly dissolved into this mess?

He looked down at the letter of divorce resting on the table…

The clamor of curses and sobs echoed in his ears.

Divorced? The daughter-in-law was gone? How could she be gone? This wasn’t right!

What in the blazes was going on here!

Qi Yue slept soundly until morning. There was no longer that maid coming to check on her every little while throughout the night.

“Yuanbao, are you still at the blacksmith’s shop?” After breakfast, Qi Yue asked Yuanbao, who was sweeping the courtyard again.

Yuanbao dared not speak, merely nodding with his head bowed low.

“There are people at home too. You should go back. Don’t let your craft grow rusty; a skilled trade fades if you don’t practice for three days,” Qi Yue advised.

Yuanbao looked hesitant.

“Didn’t your sister tell you to listen to me?” Qi Yue asked.

Yuanbao nodded.

“Then go quickly. Everyone has to go to work, learn a trade, earn money—that’s what makes life meaningful,” Qi Yue said cheerfully.

Yuanbao dropped the broom, bowed, and truly left.

What kind of servant is that… Cui Zhi watched nearby, glaring.

“Are you still coming with me?” Qi Yue turned to Cui Zhi.

Cui Zhi of course nodded; she remembered the task she had been assigned.

“Then how about this: you’re squeamish about blood. The Hall of a Thousand Treasures specializes in sprains, injuries, and external wounds, so it can be a bit gruesome. You can escort me to the Hall, and then you can go off and amuse yourself. When I’m done with work, you can come fetch me. This way, you won't cause me trouble, nor will you violate your duties. It’s a win-win, alright?” Qi Yue asked.

Huh? Cui Zhi stared at her blankly.

In the Wang family mansion, Wang Tongye had moved back in and still favored fishing. Early in the morning, he sat by the pond in the garden, but this time he had company. Both figures were wrapped in large black cloaks; one was old and wrinkled, the other young and vigorous, yet both possessed their own distinct appeal.

Young Master Wang raised his hand, and a fish leaped out of the water with a splash.

“Grandfather, there is something I never understood,” he said, removing the fish and tossing it back into the water.

“What is it?” Wang Tongye stared intently at the water.

“Your fishing skills are quite poor, yet you remain so devoted to it?” Young Master Wang asked.

Wang Tongye spat dismissively.

“A true gentleman fishes in silence. Go on, go! Don’t disturb my refined pleasure here,” he said impatiently.

Young Master Wang smiled but did not move; he cast his line again.

The steward led Cui Zhi over.

“Master, Cui Zhi has returned,” he announced.

“Why are you back? Madam Qi is not one to be melodramatic,” Wang Tongye frowned, asking.

Cui Zhi stepped forward and relayed Qi Yue’s message.

Young Master Wang, who had been listening nearby, turned his head to glance at Cui Zhi.