The maids shrieked in a flurry of panic, startling Madam Xie and the others ahead of them. It took a good deal of commotion before things settled down.

“How are you feeling?” Madam Xie asked softly, sitting by the bedside. “Don’t rush to get up. You’ve been lying down so long; take it slow.”

Xie Shi nodded.

“I worried Mother,” she said.

Madam Xie patted her hand and stood up.

“Mother,” Xie Shi called out.

Madam Xie paused and looked at her.

“Has Yuncheng returned?” Xie Shi asked.

Madam Xie’s expression remained unchanged.

“No, he left long ago. He won’t be back until after the New Year,” she said with a faint smile.

Xie Shi looked at her, her expression equally steady.

“I must have dreamt it; I dreamt he had come back,” she said, smiling slightly.

“A mother worries when her son travels a thousand li,” Madam Xie chuckled, patting Xie Shi’s hand. “So, you must get well quickly, so Yuncheng can rest assured while he is away.”

Xie Shi nodded.

“Mother, I want to go home,” she said.

Madam Xie paused, surprised.

“Home? What for?” she frowned.

“I’m much better now, and I still wish to return home to look after things for Yuncheng,” Xie Shi said with a smile. “I hope Mother will grant my request.”

Madam Xie scrutinized her but could discern nothing.

“Is that so? I’ll ask Elder Physician An what he thinks,” she said. “If you can travel, I’ll send you back. Though, frankly, that messy house—perhaps it’s better left alone.”

Xie Shi smiled, using her hands to push herself up slowly from the bed, the maids rushing to assist her.

“Mother, no matter how messy, it is still home,” she smiled.

Madam Xie watched her, finally nodding.

Stepping out of the room, Madam Xie stopped and looked at the maids standing guard.

“Did you say anything to your mistress?” she asked in a low voice.

The maids immediately knelt, shaking their heads.

“We said nothing at all,” they replied in confusion.

Madam Xie’s face was filled with suspicion.

“You didn’t mention Yuncheng returning?” she demanded.

The maids exchanged glances and shook their heads.

“Not in front of the mistress,” they murmured.

“Then you spoke of it behind her back?” Madam Xie struck her cane sharply on the ground, demanding.

“No! We only mentioned it once when the mistress was asleep; she didn’t hear us. Besides, if she had heard, how could she not have questioned or caused a fuss?” the maids hurried to explain.

Considering Xie Shi’s temperament, indeed...

If she had known about it, she would certainly have made a great scene.

Madam Xie nodded.

It seemed she simply missed home; after all, she had lived there for decades.

“From now on, do not utter another word about it,” she glared at the maids before walking away.

Inside the room, Xie Shi slowly took her medicine, swallowing it down in large gulps without even needing a piece of preserved fruit.

I will go home. I must get well. I must guard the home. No matter what monsters or fiends appear, they shall not step foot inside!

By the lower reaches of the ninth month, the weather in the capital had turned cool, yet everyone busy at the Imperial Medical Academy was sweating profusely.

Following the initial report of the epidemic from Yongqing Prefecture, more and more areas soon reported outbreaks. Essentially, the entire Jiangnan region had become an epidemic zone. Fortunately, thanks to the prevention and control experience gained in Yongqing Prefecture, coupled with timely aid, the outbreaks in other areas were kept under control.

“This is all thanks to the Qianjintang,” one Imperial Physician sighed.

A man seated nearby, flipping through memorials, frowned slightly. He put down the document in his hand.

“This is due to the proper handling by the local government,” he stated. “How can a mere small medical hall deserve such praise?”

The physician who spoke chuckled.

“Director Dong, this is not my assertion; the local governments themselves said it.”

Dong Lin had certainly seen the reports.

“I wonder who opened this Qianjintang to possess such considerable influence,” another Imperial Physician laughed.

Liu Pucheng…

Dong Lin murmured silently, though he did not speak the name aloud.

“Is this Madam Qi truly that capable?” someone else asked from across the room.

Dong Lin rested a hand on the desk. Madam Qi? A mere woman, what could she possibly be capable of… she must be relying on Liu Pucheng behind the scenes.

The secret technique for laparotomy, the response to the epidemic…

Master must have given those closely guarded secrets to him! That entire chest of books! It must be in Liu Pucheng’s possession!

No wonder he was so eager to leave the capital and flee to such a remote place! He must be hiding there to study those secret arts!

Dong Lin’s hand involuntarily slammed heavily onto the table.

That partial old fool!

“Is this Madam Qi really that formidable?”

At this very moment, someone else posed the same question.

The Emperor sat on the white jade kang, one leg propped up, regarding the memorial in his hand in a posture so casual it would compel the Cabinet Ministers to prostrate themselves to death were they to witness it.

Before him, Zhou Maochun, granted the privilege of sitting on a cushion, also looked somewhat undignified.

“Yes, yes, she is incredibly capable, Your Majesty. If you summon her to the capital, you will see for yourself,” he said eagerly.

The Emperor looked at the memorial, swayed his leg, then looked at Zhou Maochun and smiled.

“Fine. I approve,” he said, tossing the memorial over.

Zhou Maochun lunged forward with agile movement to catch it.

“I thank Your Majesty for your imperial grace,” he exclaimed happily.

“I’ll help you lure the person over. Once you benefit, don’t forget to show me something rare,” the Emperor instructed.

Zhou Maochun chuckled guiltily.

“Certainly not, certainly not. Madam Qi has managed the epidemic so well; inviting her to describe the details so they can be compiled and distributed would be a great benefit to the populace,” he said, straightening his tone.

The Emperor burst into loud laughter, pulled his leg back, and sat up straight.

“You old rogue, your words always make me laugh,” he chided with amusement.

“Your Majesty, your old servant only speaks with utmost sincerity…” Zhou Maochun declared with mock indignation.

The Emperor laughed even harder.

“Enough with the sincerity. I never see your sincerity at any other time; you’re always cooped up in the Library Pavilion,” he waved his hand and stood up.

This was the Emperor signaling for the guest to depart. Zhou Maochun quickly bowed and took his leave.

Watching Zhou Maochun depart in high spirits, the Emperor smiled, and the nearby eunuch hastened forward to attend him.

“Madam Qi…” he repeated the name.

“Hearing the Physician Zhou speak of such excitement, perhaps Your Majesty would like to meet her when the time comes?” the eunuch offered tactfully.

The Emperor shook his head.

“I hardly have the leisure for such matters,” he replied.

“A woman practicing medicine, I wonder what she looks like?” the eunuch inquired curiously.

He was, of course, not curious for himself, but on behalf of the Emperor. The Emperor only distinguished women as beautiful or not beautiful; to divine the imperial will and express it with such undetectable subtlety was not something anyone could manage—which was why he remained the Emperor’s foremost inner court eunuch.

“If she is seventy or eighty, she must be quite ugly,” the Emperor stated.

As he stepped out of the hall, the cool autumn breeze swept in, carrying the laughter of the women from the rear palace, instantly refreshing his spirits.

“Let’s go; we’re going to admire some beauties,” the Emperor commanded.

Indeed, anyone capable of impressing the old fox Zhou Maochun, who considered himself the best under heaven, could only be older than he was… The eunuch nodded, dropping the topic, and happily led the way.

“She’s back! She’s back!”

Yuanbao shouted loudly. The courtyard gate had long been opened, and Ah Hao was the first to rush out, only to see Qi Yue already stepping into the lane.

“Ha!” Qi Yue spread her arms and flashed a brilliant smile at the running Ah Hao and the others. “Did you miss me?”

She wore a simple cloth blouse, looking noticeably thinner, bearing the dust of travel.

Ah Hao rushed forward, weeping loudly.

Qi Yue laughed heartily, patting her to offer comfort.

Behind her, Ah Ru and the two disciples carrying luggage could not help but laugh, their eyes growing moist.

After a hot bath and changing into familiar clothes, Ah Hao dried her hair and pinned it up in an elegant bun. The person reflected in the mirror once again possessed delicate, rosy skin. She smiled at her reflection, and her face shone brilliantly.

A lavish spread of food and a pot of wine were laid out on the table.

“A golden nest or a silver nest—neither compares to one’s own dog kennel,” Qi Yue sighed contentedly.

“No matter the kennel, next time I’m going with you, Mistress,” Ah Hao pouted.

“Alright,” Qi Yue smiled.

As they spoke, a commotion arose from outside.

“Auntie!”

“Auntie!”

The same address, called out in two different voices.

Two children squeezed through the door at the same time.

Qi Yue smiled, pulling one with each hand, and asked who they had come with.

Wang Qiao’er and Yan’er competed to answer, fearful of lagging behind the other.

With the addition of the two children, the room immediately filled with lively noise.

Listening to the children’s chatter, Qi Yue smiled distantly, her thoughts wandering.

Auntie…

That person called ‘Uncle’… how was he doing now?

In the end, she hadn’t managed to catch up with Chang Yuncheng. Xiao Qu suggested she could send a letter via the official post relay. She wrote a short note, but sent it off with no further news; perhaps it was lost en route. Still, she didn't write again.

Because she decided to go herself.

She had been so pleasantly surprised to see him suddenly appear; he would surely be even more surprised to see her.

Thinking of that foolish man who hadn't even dared to say goodbye before leaving silently, she couldn't help but sigh.

“Are you really going?”

Deep into the night, the courtyard, bustling all day, settled back into quiet. Ah Ru finished laying out the bedding and was very surprised to hear Qi Yue’s decision.

She had thought Qi Yue had put the matter aside.

“Of course, I’m going,” Qi Yue replied, flopping onto the bed, hands tucked behind her head, gazing at the canopy. “The epidemic is finally settled; I’m tired. It’s a good time to get out and stretch my legs.”

If she’s tired, shouldn’t she be resting well at home? Ah Ru looked at her.

“Getting out more, seeing the vast, beautiful country, is very interesting,” Qi Yue sat up and said, her eyes bright with spirit.

“Alright, whatever you say,” Ah Ru laughed. “Wherever you go, I go.”

Qi Yue nodded.

“Plans often fail to keep up with changes, so we’ve decided to prepare tomorrow and leave the day after, lest something else delays us,” she said, clenching her fist.

However, plans truly did not keep up with changes. The next day, the Second Madam, Chen Shi, came to visit.

“Aunt, I was just coming to see you…” Qi Yue called out loudly as she went to meet her, but she paused when she saw Chen Shi entering.

The woman entering wore a rose-red and saffron-yellow crossover robe, adorned with a phoenix hairpin. Her features were exquisite, her complexion like the deep hues of autumn. She walked in gracefully, without the support of a maid.

Who is this?

Qi Yue dared not speak for a moment.