Tips and extra chapters for generous tips—the weather is so hot, I’m feeling too lazy to move. Perhaps taking yesterday off to recharge helped; I managed to write one chapter. Counting this one, I can write another tonight, making it two updates!

Watching the woman being berated and shoved by the bailiffs, Madam Xie couldn't help but let out a triumphant laugh.

Regretting it now, aren't you? Regretting it so much your guts have turned green?

Madam Xie spotted Qi Yue, and soon the young masters and mistresses saw her too. Then the maids and serving women all noticed.

All eyes turned sharply toward her; the surrounding gongs and drums seemed to quiet down slightly. Amidst their joy, the expressions on these people looked surprisingly sorrowful.

Qi Yue had originally intended to call out, to wave down a familiar official or someone similar to inquire, but at that moment, looking at their gazes, she suddenly calmed down.

How did I just rush out here like this?

It’s truly ridiculous...

Chang Huilan shifted slightly, seeming to try and stand up, but Chang Shulan, beside her, gripped her hand and pressed down firmly.

Chang Huilan stilled, watching Qi Yue, biting her lower lip.

Slowly, everyone looked away, returning to watch the lively opera stage. No one paid further attention to the common folk trapped outside the viewing area.

Madam Xie satisfiedly retracted her gaze.

Affection? Underneath glory and wealth, what affection do I have with you, an abandoned woman!

"Madam, please select the next piece," a woman said with a smile, handing over the program sheet.

"Oh dear, just pick whatever you all enjoy watching," Madam Xie said with a faint air of arrogance in her smile.

"How can that be?" Several madams leaned in, smiling. "You choose, you choose."

Watching their deferential smiles, Madam Xie slowly reached out and took the program sheet, casually marking down one selection.

"Oh, Madam knows opera so well! This is the piece they perform best."

"Indeed, this is my favorite too... I was just about to ask someone to sing it."

The madams laughed in agreement.

Madam Xie laughed heartily, feeling all past worries and sorrows vanish like smoke.

Chang Yunqi’s gaze drifted outward. He saw the woman turn and leave, quickly melting into the surging crowd until she was gone.

Don’t rush. Just wait...

"Third Brother, what are you looking at?" Chang Huilan remarked flatly.

Chang Yunqi withdrew his gaze.

"Nothing," he said, looking back toward the stage with a smile. "Quickly, watch. The main show is about to end."

The clamor was gradually left behind, as the surrounding streets seemed unusually quiet due to the commotion over there.

Qi Yue walked slowly down the street.

Everyone in the Marquis’s residence, from top to bottom, was so joyful—that meant no one was injured.

Honestly, it was just a dream; how could I have panicked like that...

She shook her head, feeling a little embarrassed by her own behavior.

In the Qianjin Hall, A’ru was beside herself with worry. She finally relaxed when she saw Qi Yue enter.

"How long should the tourniquet be loosened after stopping the bleeding?" A’ru asked.

Qi Yue nodded.

"Fifteen minutes," she replied.

Everyone had automatically adapted to Qi Yue’s terse manner of speaking.

A’ru acknowledged this.

Qi Yue stopped again.

"Why aren't you asking where I went?" she asked, slightly puzzled.

A’ru paused.

"Right! Where did you go? Things are so busy here, and you still run off randomly?" A’ru said.

Qi Yue chuckled.

"Now that’s normal," she laughed, not answering, and ambled into her office.

A’ru breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the two guards who had just stepped through the door.

Not asking because I trust her.

"We questioned the guards from the Marquis’s residence; they said they captured the third son of Prince Zhanmu of the Dongnu," the guard reported in a low voice.

A’ru immediately rushed off happily to tell Qi Yue.

"You mean they caught a big shot?" Qi Yue remarked, her brow furrowing even deeper. Big shots weren't caught so easily...

This young man was particularly fierce with himself; he looked like the type who fought without caring about his life...

She recalled the scars on his body.

"I'll go ask Xiao Qiao," she couldn't stay still any longer, standing up to say.

Before A’ru could say anything, Qi Yue was already out the door like a flash of lightning.

She had assumed everyone from the Prefect’s estate had gone to join in the excitement at the Dingxi Marquis’s residence, but unexpectedly, Huang Ziqiao was home.

Hearing Qi Yue was looking for him, he rushed out in a panic.

"Who bullied you?" he demanded, glaring, still clutching a riding crop in his hand, while his page trailed behind him anxiously carrying a stick.

Seeing the young man's tense state, Qi Yue couldn't help but laugh.

"Am I that easy to bully?" she asked, smiling. "It’s not certain who is bullying whom."

Huang Ziqiao was flustered by her smile, stammering and unable to finish his words.

"Then... why are you looking for me?" he asked, looking profoundly uncomfortable. "I, I'm a grown man; I don't have time to bother with you women..."

Qi Yue burst into loud laughter and tapped Huang Ziqiao lightly on the shoulder.

The youth hadn't quite finished his growth spurt; he was nearly the same height as Qi Yueniang, so they stood about the same height side-by-side.

Huang Ziqiao's face flushed deep red, and not knowing what to say, he just stared at Qi Yue.

"Alright, I need you to help me inquire about something," Qi Yue stopped teasing him, saying with a smile.

"Speak," Huang Ziqiao grunted, staring up at the sky.

"Well, Chang Yuncheng—didn't he receive an imperial award? I wanted to..." Qi Yue chose her words carefully.

Before she finished speaking, Huang Ziqiao glared.

"What about the award? Why are you... envious! That kind of award, I can get that in the future too..." he said, sticking his neck out.

Huh?

Qi Yue glared back.

The two stared at each other, eyes wide, for a full moment.

Huang Ziqiao felt his ears burning; besides staring, he couldn't move or say anything else.

"Oh, yes, you’re stronger now that you've grown up," Qi Yue said with a laugh, quickly placating the rebellious youth whose self-esteem was highly sensitive. She continued, "Can you help me find out if he was injured... if he is safe..."

Huang Ziqiao slumped, deflated.

"Oh," he mumbled.

The day’s excitement continued into the Dingxi Marquis’s residence. As the night deepened, the residence remained brightly lit, and the singing and dancing were in full swing.

In the center of the courtyard, the performance of the Hu Ji swirling dance was dazzling.

"That, too, was a grace bestowed by the Emperor upon Yuncheng," the Marquis of Dingxi said, pointing to the alluring Hu Ji with a smile.

Countless cups of wine were offered.

"That speaks to the Marquis’s success in raising his son."

Everyone cheered.

The Marquis of Dingxi laughed heartily, accepting every toast and drinking freely.

Meanwhile, Madam Xie was surrounded by the other madams.

"Does the Madam have any plans for the Heir Apparent's marriage?" someone asked with a low chuckle.

Madam Xie’s face held a slight arrogance.

"No rush," she said, swirling the wine cup.

"Yes, yes, take your time picking; you can’t be hasty," the madams chimed in with smiles.

Madam Xie pursed her lips into a smile, gazing at the crystal-clear wine in her cup.

Of course, her son deserved the very best, the absolute best! Beggars and lowborn wretches—they had no vision! The Rao family of Shandong—they also had no vision!

Let those blind people regret it all!

Meanwhile, the northern desert was noticeably warmer than in the preceding days. The thick curtains in the rooms had been exchanged for lighter ones.

Chang Yuncheng lifted the curtain and stepped out.

The guards in the courtyard saw him and hurried over.

"Shizi Ye, your wound hasn't healed. The doctor said you shouldn't move around too much," they said.

Chang Yuncheng smiled.

"It's nothing, just a scrape on the skin; it’s not that serious," he said, taking a step, his leg feeling slightly strained.

The guards remained worried.

"I'll just sit in the courtyard for a bit," Chang Yuncheng stated.

Only then did everyone back away.

Stone tables and benches were set up in the courtyard, and Chang Yuncheng sat down.

"Shizi Ye, the items to be sent home are all ready. How is your injury..." a guard approached and said softly.

"Don't mention it," Chang Yuncheng said without turning back.

The guard acknowledged with a sound of assent and silently retreated.

Chang Yuncheng looked down at the small, carved gourd in his hand, which emitted a soft glow. From being constantly handled, the gourd had become increasingly lustrous and smooth.

He looked up at the sky, dotted with twinkling stars, and slowly turned the gourd in his palm, rubbing its surface.

What is she doing? I wonder if her mood has improved these last few days? Calculating it, I still have to wait another half a month for the carrier pigeon’s message. What a long wait, but once I receive it, the days ahead will be even longer.

Watching her laugh with others, cry with others—days like that will only increase from now on, until she becomes someone else's wife...

"Chang Yuncheng, however much pain, anger, and sadness you felt hearing I was with another man, that is how much pain, anger, and sadness I felt hearing the news that you were marrying."

The woman's words echoed in his ears.

He knew now, just how much pain, anger, and sadness that feeling carried.

Chang Yuncheng lowered his head and squeezed the gourd in his hand. A crisp cracking sound echoed in the courtyard, drawing the attention of the nearby guards.

So, this is the feeling of loss.

He raised his head again, the gourd shattered into pieces in his hand, and the starry sky seemed brilliant in his eyes.

The stars here are truly beautiful, Qi Yue murmured to herself, looking up and lifting the flask of ginseng soup she held, taking a sip.

This time, it wasn't wine. A’ru had found out about her drinking with Wang Qian and had severely lectured Qi Yue.

"How could you drink like that in front of a man!" A’ru said with deep distress. "What will others think?"

"What others think has nothing to do with me," Qi Yue laughed. "Let them think whatever they want; I'm not living for them."

A’ru hesitated.

"Are you drinking because you're upset about Shizi Ye...?" she asked softly.

Qi Yue sighed.

"A’ru, my thermometer and my time together with you have lasted far longer than your Shizi Ye’s time with me, and it has helped me far more than your Shizi Ye ever did," she said, sounding somewhat heartbroken. "Even though it isn't human, could you show it some respect? Your Shizi Ye is still alive, but this is already dead. Can you show it some sympathy?"

A’ru froze for a moment, then burst into laughter, slapping Qi Yue’s arm as she laughed.

"You really are..." She tried to find a word to describe her but couldn't. Finally, she composed herself. "You’re wrong."

Qi Yue raised an eyebrow.

"He’s not my Shizi Ye," A’ru said solemnly.

Qi Yue laughed loudly and patted her arm.

Thinking of this, Qi Yue smiled again and took another sip from the ginseng soup in her flask.

Disciples sat in the courtyard chatting and laughing. Although not many people were staying here for treatment, the wages they earned here were greater than those offered by any other clinic or pharmacy. More importantly, they were learning knowledge previously unavailable to them, and they were learning it quickly. She was sure that with effort, she would be able to graduate as a doctor much sooner than initially anticipated. Just as the oath she took upon entering stipulated, she had more opportunities to become a Great Healer, a Great Healer who saves all living beings—it was incredibly exciting and inspiring.

Living in the moment, this is quite good, Qi Yue thought, withdrawing her gaze and looking back up at the starry sky.

"Don't push yourself too hard; just live well," she murmured, raising the flask again toward the night sky.