Fan Yilin personally carried the letter to his Third Brother. He hadn't expected to run into his father there.

He almost retreated immediately, but the servant had already announced him, leaving him no choice but to steel himself and enter. "What's the use of you spending all day with fighting cocks and walking dogs?" Father Fan looked at his son with a stern expression, as all fathers do, and facing this disappointing son, he was even harsher, like an enemy.

"No use, no use," Fan Yilin mumbled obediently. "What are you up to now?

I hear you almost choked to death eating an egg. What else can you even do?" Father Fan glared and scolded.

He had absolutely no privacy in this house. Barely a moment passed, and the whole family knew.

Fan Yilin grumbled internally. "Little brother is already achieving the status of Grand Secretary Li before even entering the Ministry of Personnel," Third Master Fan chuckled.

Li Huaiqing, who managed the Ministry of Personnel, was a venerable member of the Grand Secretariat, a figure whose slightest move could shake the inner court. But this was not meant as praise; Third Master Fan wasn't complimenting his brother for having the status of a Grand Secretary.

Rather, that very Grand Secretary Li had choked on an egg a few days ago and now lay unconscious, his prognosis grim. Fan Yilin shot his elder brother a resentful glare but dared not say anything, as he needed a favor.

Father Fan grunted, expressing his displeasure at his son's jest. Even though they were family behind closed doors, making light of such a highly positioned figure was improper.

"Didn't you send for Imperial Physician Zhou? How is it?" he asked in a deep voice.

Third Master Fan smiled. "Of all people to ask, why ask Imperial Physician Zhou?

What good words could come out of Imperial Physician Zhou's mouth?" he said with a wry smile. "Besides, Imperial Physician Zhou left over twenty days ago, and nobody knows where he went.

When appeal was made to His Majesty, the Emperor said there was nothing to be done. Even if the sky fell here, Imperial Physician Zhou wouldn't return.

Don't count on him; find another route." That truly meant there was no other way. "Imperial Physician Zhou's words may be unpleasant, but they are grounded in reality.

If he says he can save someone, then even Yama King himself couldn't take them away," Father Fan stated. This was precisely why Zhou Maochun, despite being difficult to invite and possessing a terrible demeanor, remained so highly sought after.

Because the man had the skill. You had no choice but to accept it.

"It seems this time there is no saving him; the Li family is already preparing for the funeral," Third Master Fan remarked. Fan Yilin, bored listening to talk of Grand Secretaries who had nothing to do with him, wanted to leave but dared not.

Suddenly, a flicker of inspiration struck him. "He can be saved!" he suddenly shouted, jumping up.

The father and son, who had been treating him as transparent, were startled by his shout. "Get out," Father Fan frowned.

This was exactly what Fan Yilin wished for, but this time he didn't obey with joy. Instead, he stepped forward.

"Grand Secretary Li can be saved! I know who can save him!" he exclaimed with a broad grin.

"Who?" Father Fan asked, frowning. "Lady Qi!" Fan Yilin declared, knowing his father wouldn't know who Lady Qi was.

He kindly explained, "The one who treated me today when I choked on an egg..." Before he could finish, Father Fan angrily chased him out. "Is there anything in your eyes besides women?

Shouting about nonsense all the time." Father Fan puffed his beard in anger. "He meant well," Third Master Fan quickly defended his younger brother.

"Lady Qi! Lady Qi of Yongqing Prefecture!

Haven't you heard? She made great contributions to preventing the epidemic this time, personally commended by the court...

I wasn't talking nonsense..." Fan Yilin's indignant voice drifted in from outside. "This brat..." Father Fan started to go out in anger but was stopped by Third Master Fan.

"Father, Lady Qi, who treated the epidemic in Yongqing Prefecture..." he reminded him. Father Fan paused, his brow furrowing slightly.

The territory was vast, and the myriad affairs from different regions flooding the court daily were countless. Even as an official, he couldn't know everything.

The matter of the epidemic was overseen by the Ministry of Personnel and the Imperial Academy, so outsiders knew few specifics. He had only listened briefly when rewards and punishments were discussed in court.

Because it involved rewarding a woman—a rare occurrence—he had an impression and recalled it now. Father Fan pondered for a moment, then called the still-outside Fan Yilin back in to inquire about Lady Qi.

What did Fan Yilin know? Other than knowing she was a beauty and had a skirmish with his father-in-law's family—two facts he dared not disclose—the rest was only fragmented hearsay from the Wang family, most of which he hadn't paid much attention to.

"Anyway, she's a divine physician; everyone in Yongqing Prefecture knows it," he said. Seeing he couldn't extract any concrete information, Father Fan lost interest.

"If everyone in Yongqing Prefecture knows, why doesn't the Imperial Academy know! Divine physician, divine physician.

How big is Yongqing Prefecture that anyone can claim to be a divine physician there? Once they reach the capital, they are still just a divine physician?

It's like the imperial examinations; when the top scholars from every prefecture gather in the capital, who dares loudly proclaim they are the top scholar anymore?" he said irritably. "Go on, go on.

If you have nothing important, don't shout around. Those who know will think you have good intentions, but those who don't will think you're causing trouble." "If Lady Qi is truly that capable, the Imperial Academy will naturally invite her to treat Grand Secretary Li.

We outsiders shouldn't worry ourselves," Third Master Fan advised. "Perhaps the Imperial Academy doesn't know Lady Qi is in the capital yet.

We should still notify them so they can invite her early to avoid delays," Fan Yilin suggested after thinking for a moment. "Alright, I know.

Who was the letter you wanted me to deliver?" Third Master Fan changed the subject. Fan Yilin quickly handed over the letter.

"Chang Yuncheng, the Heir of Marquis Dingxi," he said, then beamed with excitement again. "Lady Qi is his ex-wife, you know." What?

Both Father Fan and Third Master Fan were stunned. The court commendation never mentioned that Lady Qi was the Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi's residence; it only said Lady Qi of the Qiantiang Hall.

Was there a connection between the two? "Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi?" Father Fan asked.

"Ex," Fan Yilin added. If Father Fan had initially believed the "divine physician" claim with only half conviction due to her epidemic prevention merits, hearing this statement instantly dispelled that belief entirely.

The Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi's residence is a divine physician? What a joke!

"Get out, get out," Father Fan said, waving her away without another word. Fan Yilin felt deeply insulted after being chased out twice.

"Judging people by their status! Ignorant!

Unable to recognize true gold inlaid with jade!" He grew agitated, furiously flicking his sleeves, feeling that any further argument would be an insult to the beautiful divine physician. Meanwhile, Qi Yue was unaware of the dispute brewing between the Fan father and son.

Having found another, presumably reliable, channel to send a letter to Chang Yuncheng, Qi Yue was in high spirits. She took A'ru and the others for a good tour of the capital, picking up some gifts to bring back for Chang Yuncheng.

It wasn't until nightfall that they returned to Madam Chen's residence. Madam Chen was already home and was growing anxious, about to send people out to look for them.

Seeing Qi Yue return laden with purchases, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Have you eaten?" she asked, stepping forward to take Qi Yue's hand.

Qi Yue nodded. A'hao couldn't help but excitedly count on her fingers, telling the Second Madam everything they had eaten.

"It's as if you've never left the house," A'ru couldn't help but tug A'hao's sleeve and whisper. "But we haven't!

The capital is so prosperous; I've only heard of it before. This is the first time I've seen it," A'hao pouted.

Qi Yue simply smiled, letting them talk freely. The Second Madam listened to A'hao's words and seemed momentarily dazed.

She turned to see Qi Yue's faint smile, and the familiar aura caused her to freeze again. "I don't know what the outside world is like..." The youth stood on a rock, looking up at the high wall.

He was still wearing a faint smile when he said this. "...Have you ever been to the markets in the capital?

What is that bustling scene like?" He turned his head, his clear eyes revealing unconcealed curiosity. "...I can't go out.

I'm worse off than the birds. A bird might fly out of here and be shot the next moment, but at least it could see the outside world once.

I can't even climb over the wall..." The Second Madam raised a hand to cover her face. So, in the end, she never saw it, even until death...

Only then did Qi Yue notice her strange behavior and was startled. "Auntie, what's wrong?" she quickly moved to support the Second Madam.

A'hao and A'ru dared not speak. "I'm fine," the Second Madam said with a faint smile, not lowering her hand.

"I just had a couple of extra drinks at home and feel a little dizzy." Without waiting for Qi Yue to speak, she patted her arm. "I'm going to bed now.

You should rest early too; you must be tired from playing all day," she said, leaning on the hand of the nearby maid. Qi Yue saw the slight redness around her eyes—it wasn't the effect of wine; she was about to cry.

Perhaps seeing family members emotionally affected... "Okay, you go rest," she said, silently signaling Caiqing with her lips.

Call me if anything happens. Caiqing understood and nodded, helping the Second Madam away.

A'hao stood there, stiff with fright. Qi Yue turned back and stuck out her tongue in a smile at her.

A'hao couldn't help but laugh again, the tense atmosphere instantly dissipating. "Let's go, let's go.

Back to dividing things up. Don't mix up what everyone picked, especially mine; don't you dare be greedy," Qi Yue declared, turning to lead the way.

A'hao chirped in assent and happily followed, carrying things. A'ru, trailing behind, let out a breath and looked at Hu San beside her.

"It's a blessing earned through past lives to follow the Young Madam," she said. "Indeed," Hu San said, his expression unusually deep for a moment, sighing.

"Thinking back to the day I visited your home to treat Yuanbao, my wicked father and grandfather must have pushed me desperately to go..." A'ru couldn't help but laugh, giving him a glare. Hu San chuckled, his profound expression vanishing instantly.

"Alright, go wash up and rest early," A'ru said. "We still need to look for a security escort tomorrow." "Security escort?" Hu San said.

"Are we really going?" A'ru nodded. "Whatever she says, she will definitely do it," she said, looking at the woman walking ahead, chatting and laughing with A'hao.

"But it's so far..." Hu San frowned, looking worried, then glanced at Xiao Qu beside him. "Can't we still contact the Young Master?

It would be best to have him return to see the Mistress." Xiao Qu sighed. "The Young Master feared the Mistress would be uncomfortable, so he completely cut off contact with us.

Letters were sent through the usual channels, but for some reason, we haven't received any reply," he explained. "It's fine, don't worry about it.

Let's go, just as the Mistress said, let's see this world of splendor, see the magnificent rivers and mountains," A'hao said. "Maybe halfway there, the Young Master will come to meet us." This was very likely; Hu San and Xiao Qu both nodded.

"You rest early too," Hu San cautioned again. A'ru nodded, and Hu San finally left with Xiao Qu.

Night enveloped the residence. This was the second night since arriving in the capital, and Qi Yue slept more soundly.

But the Second Madam in the adjacent room could not sleep. She sat on the bed, using a small floor lamp, staring at a jade pendant in her hand, tears streaming down her face.

"Why do you want my things? All my things are unlucky..." The youth's slightly reproachful words echoed in her ears as she clutched the jade pendant tightly.

Your things, everything in this world is your thing. You can't see them, can't have them—how can you be content?

How can you be content...