"Yue Niang." Seeing Qi Yue standing at the doorway, Madame Chen immediately burst into tears. "You scared your aunt to death..."

It was indeed Madame Chen. Qi Yue ran over in a few steps and grasped her hand.

"Auntie, how—how are you?" Startled, she forgot to comfort the weeping Madame Chen, looking around with wide, searching eyes.

Madame Chen smiled at the scrutiny.

"What about me? I’ve gotten old again, haven't I?" She reached up to touch her face. "For people our age, we age visibly every few days; we become less and less presentable by the day..."

"No." Qi Yue quickly interrupted, reaching out to take Madame Chen’s pulse. She had learned a little about pulse diagnosis by now.

Madame Chen allowed her to take her pulse with a gentle smile.

"Well? How is your old aunt’s health?" she asked, smiling.

Qi Yue seemed incredulous and switched hands.

"Oh my, Auntie, have you been taking the Elixir of Immortality?" she exclaimed in surprise.

At these words, Cai Qing, the maid beside Madame Chen, felt her legs weaken and nearly stumbled to the ground.

Madame Chen’s expression remained unchanged.

"Didn’t your aunt promise you she would take good care of herself?" she said with a slight smile, leading Qi Yue inside by the hand.

"It's truly as good as it can get; I can't even tell you were once ill," Qi Yue followed, speaking with amazement. "Which great physician did you see?"

It must be a divine doctor; she absolutely had to make their acquaintance.

Madame Chen smiled enigmatically.

"A troubled heart requires a heart cure. I used to have no hope, simply waiting for death, but things are different now," she said, pulling Qi Yue’s hand to sit down.

That was true enough, Qi Yue nodded, sitting close beside her.

The two exchanged news of their time apart, Qi Yue recounting amusing anecdotes from her work managing the epidemic prevention efforts outside the capital.

In truth, there were no humorous anecdotes in managing the plague; Madame Chen listened intently with tears welling in her eyes, yet maintaining a smile.

"It’s over now, and everything is done. You can rest," she said.

Qi Yue nodded.

"Yes. I have brought these disciples out with me so that if anything else happens, they can handle things independently," she stated. "So, I was just about to tell you, Auntie, I plan to..."

"Yes, then you can accompany me to the Imperial City," Madame Chen finished her sentence.

The Imperial City. Qi Yue paused, mentally calculating the journey. If they started from the capital, she could still reach Mobei, though it would cause a delay.

She looked at Madame Chen’s radiant, rejuvenated face. Perhaps it truly was the effect of her state of mind. Since she so eagerly anticipated Qi Yue accompanying her to the capital, the people there must be those closest to her heart.

"Alright, I will go to the Imperial City with you, Auntie, to see the sights," she said, nodding with a smile.

To avoid a city-wide farewell, Qi Yue left quietly. Madame Chen was already prepared, having informed Marquis Dingxi to look after the children at home, and set off without taking anyone else.

Qi Yue brought few people: only A’ru, A’hao, and Hu San, along with the four guards Chang Yuncheng had left behind. Since she was supporting these four, they wouldn't be idle.

Only the disciples of the Qianjin Hall knew of their departure, but to prevent the news from leaking, only Liu Pucheng and Zhang Tong came to see them off.

"The eleventh month is my Master’s death anniversary. I haven’t paid respects in so many years. I will go this year, and I’ll meet you in the Imperial City then, Madam," Liu Pucheng said.

Qi Yue didn't know if she would still be in the capital then, as she planned to keep her trip to Mobei a secret. She smiled and nodded.

Four carriages and over twenty guards, flying the banner of the Marquis of Dingxi’s residence, formed a magnificent convoy that traveled far into the distance.

Simultaneously, Zhou Maochun strode out of the capital gates, high-spirited.

Although he could have received the Emperor's verbal decree through official channels, Zhou Maochun felt that was not sincere enough. Thus, he decided to bring the imperial decree himself to extend the invitation. Such a grand surprise would surely coax the home-loving young lady to the capital, and then he could hear all about those unprecedented and unheard-of medical skills to his heart's content...

It wasn't until twenty days later, when Zhou Maochun stood in the Qianjin Hall and heard Liu Pucheng mention that Madam Qi had already entered the capital, that he realized how foolish he had been rushing out of the city gates in high spirits. At that very moment, Qi Yue was passing through the city gates into the capital.

Qi Yue looked up at the gate.

"Wow, what a tall gate," she tilted her head back to look.

A’ru and A’hao squeezed in beside her, gazing at the gate, which was far larger than the one in Yongqing Prefecture, and then at the lively crowds flanking the carriages.

Hu San rode up from behind on horseback, holding aloft a tray of assorted snacks.

"Try this, try this!" he shouted loudly, handing them over.

A’hao happily reached out to take one.

"Thank you, Brother-in-law," she called out.

A’ru slapped her on the head.

Hu San, blushing, chuckled and eagerly rode away.

"Don’t waste money indiscriminately," A’ru called out in admonishment from behind.

"Do we care about a few coins? Money is meant to be spent. Look how stingy you are," Qi Yue laughed, leaning against the carriage window.

A’hao, having eaten her skewer, moved closer.

"Yes, yes, Brother-in-law is very rich now..." she laughed.

A’ru became annoyed and reached out to hit her.

Although they hadn't been formally engaged, A’ru and Hu San's relationship was settled, and Qi Yue had promised to arrange their marriage. However, A’ru still insisted that she would not settle down until Madam Qi was married.

Qi Yue watched the two maids bickering with amusement.

Two female servants emerged from the carriage ahead.

"Madam, the mistress asks if you would like to tour the streets first or return home?" they said cheerfully.

"Home first, of course," Qi Yue replied quickly.

Madame Chen looked very healthy, but the long journey would still be tiring.

The servants replied affirmatively and soon returned.

"The mistress requests you sit with her."

Qi Yue responded in kind. The carriage pulled to the side, and she stepped down with the help of a servant woman.

Madame Chen lifted the curtain and helped her down personally.

"We will pass by the Imperial City Main Street," Madame Chen said with a smile.

Qi Yue guessed that Imperial City Main Street must be the road running right alongside the Forbidden City walls.

Indeed, along the way, Madame Chen kept the window curtain lifted, pointing things out to her one by one.

"...This is the Yamen of the Five Ministries... and over there is the Joint Command of the Five Armies Headquarters...."

Hu San and the others in the carriages behind naturally followed along, but they noticed that as they proceeded, the crowds thinned, and the atmosphere grew increasingly solemn. They grew cautious, watching the grand gates guarded by imposing stone lions and sentinels standing rigidly; even the horses pulling the carriages held their breath.

"Does the mistress live nearby?" Hu San couldn't help but whisper to the guard beside him.

"No, it seems to be toward Mao'er Hutong," the guard whispered back.

As they spoke, a procession of officials emerged from one of the yamens, each entering a sedan chair. Their carriages and horses had to halt to let them pass, causing another significant delay.

"Is it closer to pass through here?" Hu San lowered his voice further.

The guard scratched his head.

"No, it makes the route longer," he also whispered.

Hu San was dumbfounded.

Then why were they taking this route?

"Perhaps the mistress wants Madam to see the excitement of the Imperial City?" the guard speculated.

Hu San looked at the street; there wasn't a single shop, let alone street vendors shouting their wares. Excitement...

"...Look," Madame Chen pointed toward a tall building growing nearer.

Qi Yue followed her gaze.

Yellow bricks and green tiles shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.

"That is the Chengtian Gate inside the Imperial City," Madame Chen explained. "Once past Chengtian Gate, you enter the Palace City... then you reach the Donghua Gate. If the princes and princesses go out, they use that gate. On days of worship or banquets, everyone enters the palace from there, walk straight along that road, and turn left to reach the Empress’s Kunning Palace..."

Qi Yue felt like a visitor at the Forbidden City listening to an electronic tour guide, regretting only that she couldn't walk the path herself.

It wasn't like one could just buy a ticket and enter these days.

"Now that we are in the capital, you will naturally have opportunities to go inside and see," Madame Chen said with a smile when she heard Qi Yue's murmur.

Qi Yue froze momentarily.

"Really?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. Was the Imperial Palace that easy to enter?

"Really." Madame Chen nodded, her expression firm.

Coming from a prominent family, Madame Chen would surely have connections to enter the palace.

"Wonderful," Qi Yue laughed. "I will rely on Auntie to broaden my horizons."

Madame Chen smiled, squeezing her hand, and looked back at the receding Imperial City walls.

The carriage left that street and finally returned to the bustling areas, met by the vibrancy of the market. Hu San and the others finally breathed a collective sigh of relief and returned to normal.

Madame Chen lowered the curtain and offered no explanation for the lively streets.

Qi Yue naturally did not ask.

They listened to the clamor outside, and after traveling a short distance further, the carriage stopped.

"Madam, we have arrived," a servant woman called from outside.

"Come, see my home," Madame Chen said with a smile.

Qi Yue lifted the curtain first and saw a vast courtyard before her. The surrounding walls were imposing, but the place seemed somewhat neglected, as if no one had lived there for a long time.

Qi Yue paused, wondering if Madame Chen had no one else? Hadn't she mentioned a large family?

Madame Chen was already out of the carriage, coming to assist her. Qi Yue quickly stepped down.

Seven or eight servants stood at the entrance, all elderly, their expressions filled with emotion.

"The Young Mistress has returned," they called out in unison, bowing.

Madame Chen looked over them with a gentle smile.

"You are all well, and you have guarded the home for me. Thank you all," she said.

The servants couldn't help but raise their hands to wipe away tears.

"Mistress, you flatter this old servant too much," they murmured.

Qi Yue watched with a constant smile. A’ru, A’hao, and Hu San approached, and Madame Chen, holding Qi Yue's hand, prepared to step through the gate.

From outside the alley, the sound of bustling men and horses approached—a procession of over a dozen family retainers escorting two carriages.

"Xue Niang," a man the same age as Madame Chen was the first to emerge from a carriage, shouting her name before even stepping down.

Madame Chen’s face brightened upon seeing him.

"Third Brother," she called out in greeting, making a slight bow.

The man strode forward; the carriages behind him finally stopped, and two slightly older women descended, their attire of fine silks and jade hairpins dazzling.

"You wretched child, why didn't you come home?" They seized Madame Chen's hands, speaking with a mix of joy and reproach, then scrutinized her. "Why have you grown so thin?"

In truth, she had been even thinner before this, Qi Yue thought to herself. If these people had seen Madame Chen a few months ago, they would likely have been preparing funeral rites.

While they exchanged familiar greetings, Qi Yue quietly stepped aside. After only a few exchanges, Madame Chen turned to look for her.

"This is Yue Niang," she said, gesturing towards her.

The three turned to look. Qi Yue quickly executed a graceful, smiling bow.

"Let's go inside to talk," Madame Chen said abruptly, not offering further explanation.

The three looked somewhat surprised, glancing at Qi Yue again, but asked nothing further.

"Xue Niang, this place is hardly suitable for living; you should return home," one of the women insisted, holding Madame Chen's hand.

Madame Chen smiled faintly.

"Sister-in-law, this is my home," she replied.

The woman shot a look of resignation toward the man beside her.

The man looked at Madame Chen, finally sighing without a word, and stepped inside first.

His silence was tacit approval. The two women had no choice but to stop arguing, and the entire party entered the gate.

Madame Chen did not forget to turn back and take Qi Yue’s hand.

Seeing this gesture, the two women exchanged surprised glances.

They had initially assumed Qi Yue was an unrelated, unimportant person, but for Madame Chen to treat her this way... yet why no detailed introduction?

They formally turned their attention to Qi Yue. They observed that the young woman was dressed simply but possessed striking features and an elegant demeanor. Standing there, coupled with her youthful energy, she shone like a precious gem, impossible to ignore.

Such a person was clearly not a mere attendant or a married servant. Who could she be? Perhaps the daughter of a noble family Madame Chen befriended?

I apologize for the delay in revising and uploading, as the power went out this morning during my editing session. I am only now free to sit down and correct this. RS

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