"That's just the way she is," Wang Tongye chuckled, waving a hand. "Go on then, do as she instructs you." Cuizhi acknowledged the order and departed.

The grandfather and grandson resumed their fishing in silence. "Don't you think it takes a great deal of nerve for that woman to demand a separation?" Wang Tongye broke the silence first, turning to ask.

"Does she not possess great nerve?" Young Master Wang replied, lifting his rod again. Another fish leaped from the water's surface.

Wang Tongye turned away, a hint of indignation clouding his expression. Silence settled over them once more.

"Yixiu," Wang Tongye suddenly turned back, saying, "what are your thoughts on this Madam Qi?" This time, Young Master Wang gave his fishing rod a sharp twitch. He didn't catch a fish, but instead looked at his grandfather with a measure of astonishment.

"Grandfather, you shouldn't be so quick to contradict yourself," he said with a wry smile. They were both clever men; a single sentence revealed the other's intentions.

Wang Tongye had no intention of concealing his meaning. The Dingxi Marquisate had only just finalized the separation with Madam Qi, and their family was already preparing to propose marriage.

What would that make the Dingxi Marquisate... It was a blatant, resounding slap in the face.

"A slap in the face is often self-inflicted. Besides, the Dingxi Marquisate will have plenty of opportunities to slap their own faces yet," Wang Tongye scoffed with a light laugh.

Young Master Wang said nothing, his gaze fixed on the water. "I see you aren't lacking in courage either; you can handle a scare," Wang Tongye observed him, stroking his beard with a smile.

"Besides, Ai Ying passed away so many years ago; it's time for you to find another wife. Qiao'er is growing up and lacks any feminine grace; she needs a mistress to guide her." Young Master Wang couldn't help but smile.

"You want Madam Qi to teach Qiao'er how to be a proper young lady?" he quipped. Wang Tongye coughed, momentarily picturing a scene of a large and a small figure setting out with cudgels to fight...

"I was merely suggesting. It's still up to you to agree or not.

I am not as witless as that Marquis of Dingxi," he stated. As he spoke, he felt a tug on his line, and a wave of delight swept over him as he hauled in a fish, barely the size of his palm, dangling in the air.

Wang Tongye let out a few unrestrained chuckles. Young Master Wang smiled and subtly shook his fishing rod.

The ripples on the water dispersed the fish that had been about to bite. When Qi Yue stepped out of Qianjin Hall, dusk had begun to settle.

Cuizhi was waiting outside the door and quickly fetched a cloak when she saw her emerge. "Madam Qi, it is getting cool this evening," she said with an ingratiating smile.

Qi Yue smiled her thanks but offered no further comment. "...I visited the Old Madam today and had a meal at home.

The Old Madam and the First Madam asked me to bring you this sweet soup we made at home..." Cuizhi spoke as they walked. Qi Yue responded amiably, finding the maidservant overly enthusiastic.

Could it be that Wang Tongye intended to gift this girl to her? Was Cuizhi preparing to curry favor with her future superior?

She smiled at the thought. Just as they reached the entrance, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side, startling Cuizhi into a cry.

The sound prompted the door on the other side to fly open, and Yuanbao charged out clutching a broom. "Young Master Huang?" Qi Yue recognized the person standing before her and quickly restrained the flustered maid and Yuanbao.

The youth stood rigidly in the deepening twilight. Qi Yue was about to ask why he was there when she realized: the separation agreement required the Prefect's official seal, so Huang Ziqiao must have found out.

"It's nothing, I'm fine. I truly initiated it," she said with a smile.

"I'll beat him for you!" Huang Ziqiao managed to sputter out after a long silence. "Thank you, but no need," Qi Yue replied kindly.

Huang Ziqiao fell silent but did not leave, staring down at his own feet. Cuizhi scrutinized the youth, wondering which family he belonged to.

He looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, though that was hardly a child—old enough to be considered for marriage. Why was he here so late?

"Xiao Qiao, you are the first one to come see me," Qi Yue said gently. Huang Ziqiao finally looked up.

"Who wants to be the first to visit for something like this!" he muttered. Qi Yue smiled.

"Thank you. I know you care about me.

It’s late now; I can't invite you in for a proper visit," she said. "Hurry home, lest your family worry." Huang Ziqiao said nothing more, turned, and vanished into the night like a gust of wind.

"There are still many good people in the world," Qi Yue remarked with a smile, watching his retreating figure. "It was worth it!" Cuizhi didn't understand what she meant, and she certainly wasn't foolish enough to pry about the identity of the youth.

The older female servants and the gatekeepers emerged from the house, holding lanterns, illuminating the alleyway as they escorted Qi Yue inside. The night deepened.

The lights in Qi Yue’s room were extinguished, while in most of the houses within the Dingxi Marquisate, the lamps still burned brightly. Several maids carrying lanterns stopped before Chang Yunqi's courtyard gate.

"Second Miss, Third Miss," the maid opened the door and immediately bowed upon seeing the figures outside. The Second Miss, wrapped tightly in a large cloak, moved to step inside.

"Second Miss, the Third Young Master is studying; he requested not to be disturbed," the maid blocked the way, speaking with evident unease. Chang Shulan froze.

"Heavens, what time is it, and he still can't be disturbed? There's been such a major event in the household—what's wrong with Third Brother?" the Third Miss, Chang Huilan, agitatedly exclaimed.

The maid offered an awkward smile, but her body did not budge an inch. "The Third Young Master said his examination date is approaching, so..." she insisted.

"Hey! This concerns the Eldest Sister-in-Law!" Chang Huilan snapped.

"How can he still be studying? I haven't seen him come out at all these past few days, not even to show his face to Father or Mother!

What does he think he's doing!" She started to push past, but Chang Shulan caught her arm. "Third Sister, never mind," she said, glancing into the courtyard.

"It's understandable to keep a low profile at a time like this." Chang Huilan shivered with anger. "If anyone else avoided it, I could understand, but he actually ate the meals Eldest Sister-in-Law cooked with her own hands for so long!

Truly... he might as well have fed it to the dogs!" she said loudly, ensuring the occupant inside could hear.

Chang Shulan pulled her, sighing. "Let's go," she said, not sparing the courtyard another glance.

"It is settled that Eldest Sister-in-Law is leaving. Once the person is gone, the warmth fades.

Who cares about her now?" Chang Shulan murmured, raising a hand almost unconsciously to wipe away a tear. How had things changed so suddenly?

Just a few days ago, they were laughing joyfully; the house had never held so much merriment. It felt like a dream—and now, the dream was clearly over.

Chang Huilan stumbled, nearly twisting her ankle. "Why are the lights out?

Where is everyone? Are they ignoring everything?" the Second Miss demanded, noticing the darkened lamps along the road and the path beneath her feet, which clearly hadn't been swept.

A frantic old servant appeared from somewhere, quickly lighting a lamp and then kneeling to kowtow. "It’s alright, everyone is on edge right now..." Chang Shulan sighed, pulling Chang Huilan along.

The two sisters walked away side by side without another word. Meanwhile, inside Chang Yunqi's courtyard, the maid pushed open the door to the study.

The room was bright with candlelight; Chang Yunqi sat bent over his desk, absorbed in his reading. The maid gently placed a bowl of soup on the table.

"Young Master, please have some supper. You intend to work through the night; otherwise, your body won't hold up," she said softly.

Chang Yunqi grunted, put down his book, and began to eat in large gulps. In the few days since, dark circles had formed under his eyes, and he had lost weight, but his gaze was sharper than ever.

He finished the bowl in just a few mouthfuls and immediately picked up his book again. "Young Master, please don't exhaust yourself," the maid finally choked out, unable to hold back her tears.

Chang Yunqi looked at the book in his hand and smiled faintly. "I won't exhaust myself," he assured her.

"Don't worry, I am fine. I still have much to accomplish." The maid nodded, brightened the lamp, and backed out.

By the next day, news of the Dingxi Marquis's young mistress's separation had spread among the prominent families of Yongqing Prefecture. Even though she stayed indoors, she couldn't stop people from coming to inquire.

The glorious achievement of securing the Emperor's personal written approval, something he had so desperately sought, was now common knowledge, but the outcome was nothing like he had imagined. There was no envy, no congratulations, let alone a flood of marriage proposals; only confusion, bewilderment, and sinister, speculative mutterings.

The Marquis of Dingxi closed his gates to visitors, but locking the door did nothing to quell the rage burning in his heart. All of this—it was all because of that woman!

Qianjin Hall always opened early, especially now that craftsmen were working on both sides, the basic structures of the adjacent courtyards and rooms were taking shape, and the carpenters were working overtime, opening the gates even earlier. As the sun rose, the carpenters in the yard were already busy.

Just then, a flurry of footsteps sounded noisily before the entrance. "It must be the delivery of lumber," the foreman of the workers remarked, emerging as he heard the sound.

As he reached the gate, he saw seventeen or eighteen men surging in. They were all dressed as guards, wielding clubs, led by a man in his forties wearing a fur-trimmed hat and an overcoat, his face radiating arrogance.

"Who are you?" the foreman stammered, opening his mouth to ask. Before he could finish his question, the leader raised his hand.

"Smash it for me!" he roared. "What are you doing?

Who are you people?" the foreman shrieked. The sound of splintering wood erupted, and chaos immediately broke out.

"Master, Master..." Hu San came tumbling and scrambling in just as Qi Yue finished breakfast and was preparing to leave. Seeing Hu San fall through the doorway, his clothes torn and marks from blows visible on his face, Qi Yue jumped in alarm.

"What happened here?" she asked urgently. Hu San opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

"Master says Qianjin Hall is closed today; you don't need to go." Qi Yue looked at him, her expression slowly growing grave. "Damn it," she spat out two words, then strode toward the door.

Pausing at the threshold, she casually picked up the heavy wooden bolt from behind the door and marched out. Everyone in the courtyard was stunned.

Yuanbao was the first to react; he snatched up the broom leaning against the wall and followed her out. "Master, Master, don't go!" Hu San cried out as he chased after them.

"What is this all about?" Cuizhi asked, looking at the servant women and the gatekeeper beside her. "What else could it be!

We've dealt with this before! A fight!" The man was the first to understand, stomping his foot.

A fight? Cuizhi and the servant women looked uneasy.

"I... I'll go tell the Old Master," Cuizhi said, turning to flee.

The man and the woman exchanged glances. "You guard the house," the man instructed.

Finding nothing suitable to wield nearby, he simply hoisted a long bench from the room and rushed out.