Five days later, the patients in both wards were recovering smoothly. Qi Yue had Hu San fashion walking sticks and a wheelchair. The wet nurse could already take a few steps with the aid of the sticks, and the Magistrate's son was also moving around after passing gas. Qi Yue announced they could be discharged and return home.

"This tube," the Magistrate and his wife asked fearfully, pointing to the drainage tube in their son’s abdomen.

"Once his bowel movements are normal, after another three or four days, I will come to your residence to remove it," Qi Yue said with a smile.

But the Magistrate and his wife absolutely refused to leave.

"It’s only three or four days, we’ll stay here; we feel much safer here," they insisted.

"I was worried you wouldn't be accustomed to it here; it certainly doesn't compare to your own home…" Qi Yue laughed.

"We are used to it, it’s very nice here," the couple replied in unison, firmly. Their disciples, called nurses, came regularly to check on them, administer medicine, and the two doctors personally visited three times a day—morning, noon, and night. Every detail of their care, from how to turn over, how to sit up, how to cough, and how to breathe, was meticulously written down and explained, dazzling them with the sheer volume of instructions.

Going home? Home would be comfortable, certainly, but relying on those maids and governesses, how could it bring the same peace of mind as being here?

Qi Yue's original intention was to accommodate the ancient custom of not staying in hospitals, but since they preferred it, she naturally had no objection.

When they arrived here, the wet nurse’s family also refused to leave the hospital.

"My mother isn't well yet, just a few more days, a few more days," the wet nurse's son hastily said, even paying ten days of hospital fees upfront, seemingly afraid they would be turned out.

Qi Yue could only smile wryly and let them stay another three or four days before they reluctantly checked out and departed.

But the ward rooms did not become empty.

"Sir, you don't need to be hospitalized for this; you can just change the dressing yourself at home," Zhang Tong and A Ru were persuading a middle-aged man.

The man was dressed in silk cloth, his trouser cuffs rolled up, revealing a large wound on his leg.

"How can that be? My injury is this severe!" the man shouted, pushing Zhang Tong aside and walking toward the back courtyard. "What if I die or have to have my leg amputated? I’ll stay in the hospital. I’ll feel much more at ease knowing you are here watching over me…"

He was walking faster than they were, looking as if he were already on the verge of death.

Zhang Tong and A Ru were speechless with exasperation.

"Are you worried I can’t pay?" the man grumbled, waving his hand dismissively.

The young attendant following behind immediately grabbed a disciple, waving two bags of money and loudly insisting on paying to secure his hospitalization.

"It’s really unnecessary to spend the hospitalization fee," Qi Yue also tried to persuade him. "If you are afraid to change the dressing yourself, we can arrange for home visits for dressing changes…"

"I want to be hospitalized," the man insisted adamantly. "Is it because officials stay here that we are forbidden?"

Qi Yue was helpless.

"Fine then, fine then," she said, spreading her hands. "Since you are willing to pay money for peace of mind, then buy it."

Only then was the man happily admitted for inpatient care.

"Mistress, the Magistrate’s advertisement really was effective…" Hu San couldn't help but grin widely.

Qi Yue gave a slight frown but reluctantly had to admit the fact.

"It would be even better if the Magistrate sent over a plaque with drums and gongs," Hu San said with a touch of longing.

This remark caused everyone to laugh.

"You really dare to think big," they chuckled.

"Why shouldn't I dare to think? In other circumstances, it wouldn’t be unheard of, it’s just that…" Hu San said, with a hint of resentment, glancing at Qi Yue.

It was just that Qi Yue’s relationship with the Dingxi Marquis’s residence…

In Yongqing Prefecture, the Dingxi Marquis’s residence was ultimately the greater power. Showing respect to Madam Qi meant disrespecting the Dingxi Marquis’s residence.

The common folk might ignore the Marquis’s face, but these noble families were interconnected in fate…

Everyone understood this point.

"This is already quite good; look, the wards are occupied now, no longer empty like before," Liu Pucheng walked over, smiling, then looked at Hu San. "Hu San, you don't have to worry that the daily sterilization fees are going to waste."

Everyone burst into laughter again. The atmosphere instantly recovered its warmth.

Yes, things would certainly get better and better.

Qi Yue watched her eager and spirited disciples with a smile.

Qi Yue, who was on night duty, was woken early by the sound of firecrackers.

"What is it? Whose wedding is this so early?" she asked as she stepped out of her room.

The disciples who had also been woken in the courtyard came out as well.

The sound of firecrackers grew closer.

"Huh?" someone tilted their head to listen, looking surprised. "Mistress, it sounds like it’s coming this way."

With the clamor of gongs, drums, and firecrackers, this was the second time since the celebration of Chang Yuncheng’s imperial award that Yongqing Prefecture had become so lively—this time, it was right in front of the Qianjintang.

How interesting. If the last time was brought about by the Dingxi Marquis's heir, now, not long after, the heir's young wife was stirring up excitement. Were these two spouses competing to see who was more impressive?

If so, it might be celebrated as a tale of a devoted couple, but unfortunately, the word 'spouse' was preceded by the word 'former,' making the situation rather peculiar. This was no longer a devoted couple supporting each other, but rather a confrontation in an arena.

However, it was exciting for the audience. Since the arrival of the Dingxi Marquis’s residence, the lives of the people in Yongqing Prefecture had become quite flavorful.

The area in front of Qianjintang erupted like boiling water.

Qi Yue and her disciples emerged to see two runners carrying a large horizontal plaque, flanked by a loudly playing music troupe, with children weaving playfully through the crowd. The Magistrate and his wife stepped forward, smiling, to offer their respects.

Qi Yue was momentarily stunned.

Miraculous Revival.

She looked at the plaque, at the cheering surroundings. Everything seemed to slow down, as if she were watching a silent black-and-white film. She saw everything around her, the expressions and movements of everyone, but she couldn't hear what they were saying.

Hu San was shouting, his mouth forming the words: There really is a plaque, Mistress, a plaque…

A Ru clutched her arm, struggling to maintain her composure to avoid a scene.

Liu Pucheng had already stepped forward to return the greeting.

Qi Yue looked up at the sky—it was a brilliant blue.

I said it, I can do it. No matter where I am, I can live well, and stand tall.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, returned the bow to the Magistrate and his wife, and joined the joyful crowd.

The grand spectacle from the Magistrate’s residence quickly spread throughout Yongqing Prefecture, and naturally, the Dingxi Marquis’s residence did not miss the news.

"Sister, have you heard?" Chang Huilan burst into Chang Shulan’s room, speaking excitedly.

Chang Shulan quickly waved her hand, and her personal maid carefully went out to guard the door.

"I heard, I heard. Listen how loud those firecrackers are; we can hear them even here," she said with a smile.

The two sisters held hands and listened closely, as if they could truly hear the noisy sounds.

"Eldest Sister-in-law is truly formidable," Chang Huilan sighed.

"Yes, she once said that she can live the kind of life she desires," Chang Shulan replied, looking out the window at the verdant green. "As long as she wants it."

"I really wish I could go out and see," Chang Huilan said, gazing longingly out the window.

In Chang Yuncheng’s room, a maid rushed over when she saw the window open.

"Why did you open the window? Didn’t the Young Master forbid opening the windows?" she scolded the attending young maids in a low voice.

Before the maids could answer, Chang Yuncheng’s voice came from inside the room.

"Leave it open, it cheers me up to hear it," he said.

The maids exchanged confused glances.

Hear what?

In Madam Xie’s room, a series of porcelain objects shattered, and it was a while before silence returned.

"Good, good! They want to give face to that lowly maid, they want to slap the face of my Dingxi Marquis’s residence!" Madam Xie’s face was ashen, her hands trembling. The maids below remained silent, busily sweeping up the shards from the floor.

"Let them not regret this!" Madam Xie shouted again.

The Magistrate and his wife heard the same words from the Prefect just before they left their residence.

"He Zhi, you must not act rashly," the Prefect held the Magistrate’s hand.

As his superior, he felt it necessary to caution his rash and impulsive subordinate.

"You should have just given Madam Qi more money. Why go through the trouble of making this plaque! And sending it over so ostentatiously," he said.

"Money?" The Magistrate smiled slightly. "Madam Qi is not short of money, is she? Does Your Excellency not yet know?"

It was the Prefect himself who went to demand the dowry initially, and later he accompanied Madam Qi to her home to inspect things in the name of due diligence. He must remember that nearly half of the Dingxi Marquis’s residence’s dowry was carried away.

The Prefect nodded, then shook his head quickly.

"The dowry is one thing, but the divorce was sanctioned by an Imperial Edict. After the divorce, there is no Edict. She is just a woman. How can she compare to the Dingxi Marquis’s residence? You must understand one thing, don’t do anything foolish," he said earnestly.

The Magistrate nodded and smiled.

"Exactly. I must give Madam Qi what she desires but lacks," he said solemnly. "What is repaying kindness? Offering praise when things are already good is not repaying kindness; offering aid in dire need is true repayment."

The Prefect watched the Magistrate step out, followed by Madam Magistrate, who had already changed into formal attire.

"He Zhi, don't regret it later. That is the Dingxi Marquis’s residence; even a starved camel is bigger than a horse! You must weigh the pros and cons!" the Prefect stamped his foot.

"Regret?" Madam Magistrate offered a slight bow to the Prefect. "When Your Excellency’s noble young master was saved by Madam Qi, did Your Excellency feel any regret?"

The Prefect was struck dumb, regret? Why would he regret it? Did he mean that if his son had died, he wouldn't regret it? That was his son! His own flesh and blood!

The Magistrate and his wife paid no further attention to the Prefect and turned to leave.

Regret?

How could they regret it?

The news of Madam Qi treating the Magistrate’s son spread quickly among the great families. Everyone finally began to take this divorced young madam seriously.

Indeed—if she were just an ordinary divorced woman, it would be easy to ignore. But this Madam Qi could cure illnesses that other doctors had declared terminal. Once might be luck, a second time coincidence, but a third time could only be skill.

Resurrection! Who could guarantee they wouldn't face a life-threatening illness someday? The idea of having a life-saving talent at hand was too tempting for any sensible person to ignore, though the wise would always prepare for the worst.

And this Madam Qi was the person they needed for their worst-case scenario.

Did you see? When the Magistrate’s family invited her, she refused to come to their door. It took the Magistrate and his wife personally begging before her, saying countless good things, just to secure treatment for their young son. They had lost face, endured fright, and owed a massive debt of gratitude. If they had treated her kindly from the start, if they hadn't listened to the Dingxi Marquis’s wife then, and if they hadn't driven away the Dingxi Marquis’s wife, would they be in this mess now?!

The Dingxi Marquis’s residence or Madam Qi—which would you choose?

I choose my life!

Although the great families of Yongqing Prefecture could not claim equality with the Dingxi Marquis’s residence, they were at least peers. At most, the Marquis’s residence could place some obstacles in their careers, but all these families had deep roots and had weathered countless storms over generations; these obstacles wouldn't be fatal. However, when a life was on the line, the Dingxi Marquis’s residence couldn't help.

Weighing the benefits and risks, which was more important?

The influential families of Yongqing Prefecture made their decision almost instantly.

The glory the Dingxi Marquis’s residence gained from Chang Yuncheng’s military merits was instantly forgotten. Military achievements belonged to him; they had nothing to do with these other families!

The sound of firecrackers had not yet faded, and the plaque was being hung inside the Qianjintang. People kept arriving upon hearing the news to witness the event, and even those who were supposed to be working were peeking through the window lattices to look outside.

There was no one in the tea houses either; everyone had rushed out to watch the excitement.

The Marquis of Dingxi pressed against the window lattice and saw Wang Tongye standing in front of the Qianjintang.

Wang Tongye was smiling radiantly, chatting and pointing things out to the onlookers.

That old wretch!

What was he doing standing there? What business did he have there! It should have been him standing there! It should have been him, the Marquis of Dingxi! Him!

The Marquis of Dingxi gripped the window lattice, his teeth grinding audibly.

It should have been his—to enjoy all this gratitude, to bask in everyone's envy…

Instead of hiding miserably in the back, even watching the spectacle felt like sneaking around. If it hadn't been for that incident, all of this should have been his.

He had a son receiving honors for military achievements, and a daughter-in-law gaining merit; how gloriously successful the Marquis of Dingxi should have been!

But now, there was nothing.

Everything began with that incident.

Marrying two Madams, Left and Right! Marrying two Madams!

That incident… had ruined everything! Ruined all the beautiful life he was supposed to have!

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