"Not at all," he quickly declared aloud, afraid the man would change his mind, laughing heartily, "So that's how it is! No problem, I always said that Madam Qi is a divine physician!"

"Also," Li Tong's father continued, "My father mentioned that since Young Master Fan works in the Ministry of Personnel, you must work diligently. You can't just skip out every day. A young man needs to be steady to advance."

Third Master Fan shuddered.

When these great figures spoke, one only needed to heed the important points. This statement essentially boiled down to one meaning: advance.

Advance!

His good-for-nothing younger brother would actually hear this word one day?

He couldn't help but look over. Fan Yilin was still busy examining the gifts. If it weren't for maintaining the composure expected of a young master, he would have torn open the boxes on the spot.

This good-for-nothing? Advance?

Why?

Why?!

The news spread, and everyone else was shouting, but one person remained perfectly clear-headed.

"Why?" Fan Yilin slung an arm over Li Tong's shoulder, his face flushed crimson from drinking like a boiled shrimp, his tongue thick, he slurred, "Because of Madam Qi!"

He patted Li Tong on the back.

The very next day, Fan Yilin and Li Tong, once down-and-outs but now favored men, privately booked a restaurant and drank together for an entire day.

Was booking an entire restaurant too extravagant for them? What was extravagance now? They were no longer the sort to count their pocket money on their fingers. Whatever they wanted, they got. They didn't even know who paid the bill; there were simply too many people vying to flatter them.

Happiness had arrived too swiftly, too fiercely; they couldn't quite handle it.

Why? Others might not know the reason, but Fan Yilin knew.

"Didn't I tell you? Trust Madam Qi, and you'll have safety, promotion, and wealth!" Fan Yilin boomed.

Li Tong, equally red-faced from the drink, nodded heavily.

"Right, right," he exclaimed excitedly, thinking of his experiences over the past two days. It felt so unbelievably dreamlike that even now, waking up suddenly in the night, he still thought he was dreaming.

"So, we must thank her, thank her profoundly!" Fan Yilin declared loudly.

Li Tong nodded again.

"Yes, yes, we absolutely must thank her. The family has already offered thanks; this time, we thank her ourselves," he said.

But when they prepared generous gifts and arrived, they found the person they needed to thank was gone.

"She left?" Fan Yilin was shocked. "When did she leave? Where did she go?"

Chen Shi’s gatekeeper had no inclination to deal with them.

"I don't know!" he snapped, abruptly closing the door.

"What kind of attitude is that?" Fan Yilin was furious. "Hey! Was Madam Qi simply angered away by you people?"

Ignoring the noise outside, the gatekeeper looked toward the main room with deep worry.

Chen Shi held the letter in her hand, her face pale.

"Madam, Madam," Cai Qing cried, "Please, don't upset yourself. I will go after her right now—"

But her words were too late. Chen Shi suddenly leaned forward, reaching to clutch her chest, and then she retched, spitting out a mouthful of something.

Cai Qing screamed.

The paper in Chen Shi’s hand drifted down silently to the floor, smeared with a patch of blood, clearly showing one line of script:

Auntie, I had to leave suddenly. Don't worry. I will visit again soon...

Qi Yue had departed too abruptly. It happened when Chen Shi returned to the Duke of Deqing’s residence to seek out her brother again. Because Qi Yue often went out carrying boxes and bundles, the servants paid no mind. They only became frantic when Chen Shi returned and Qi Yue still hadn't come back by nightfall. They searched and discovered the letter left in the room.

Chen Shi slowly regained her senses and supported herself as she sat up.

"Go, go chase her!" she commanded.

Cai Qing quickly agreed and urged the servants to go.

"Bring her back, even if you have to tie her up!" Chen Shi cried out, gripping the quilt tightly. Her once delicate, jade-white hands now showed faint, grayish-black spots, particularly noticeable where the veins bulged beneath her skin.

Cai Qing covered her mouth, unable to look at the spots, tears streaming down her face.

The servants had already rushed out upon receiving the order.

Cai Qing sank to her knees.

"Madam, please don't fret or get angry. Madam Qi, she doesn't know..." she wept, "If she knew, she wouldn't have done this."

Chen Shi gasped, feeling dizzy and faint. She leaned back against the pillows for a long time without speaking, only letting tears trace paths down her cheeks.

"I didn't want to tell her, fearing she would be frightened, horrified, and saddened, losing her natural composure. Then things would only backfire. But I didn't expect that not telling her would cause her to disregard this place and act as she pleased..." she murmured, "I was willing to watch her take her time, to see her relaxed and carefree, but I don't have time anymore. I cannot wait..."

Cai Qing held her hand, sobbing.

"Yes, yes, Madam. We must bring Madam Qi back, and then we'll tell her. We'll tell her. She is strong-willed and intelligent; she can certainly bear it. Madam, if you instruct her well, she surely won't let your painstaking efforts go to waste," she cried.

Chen Shi closed her eyes, weeping.

"Just bring her back first," she whispered, utterly drained of strength.

But surprisingly, the servants searched for an entire day and night without finding Qi Yue.

"How fast could she have traveled in one day?" Cai Qing was frantic. "Go again, chase further! Split up along different routes! Perhaps she just went out sightseeing."

The servants immediately set off again.

They divided into several routes and scoured all the surrounding famous sights. Theoretically, unless Qi Yue was riding a divine steed, they should have found her. But in reality, they could not.

This was not due to the servants' incompetence; it was because they were searching in the wrong direction. Chen Shi was utterly convinced Qi Yue had returned home. Where was home? Naturally, it was Yongqing Prefecture. Thus, the faster and farther the servants chased, the further they moved from Qi Yue’s actual trail, as Qi Yue had, quite the opposite, headed north.

Chen Shi was no longer angry; she was now frightened. They couldn't find her. Could something have happened to her?

Where could a delicate woman like her, with only four or five people in tow, possibly go?

Chang Yuncheng held out his hands as a junior soldier helped him don his armor and gear.

"My Lord, the armor has arrived. Do you wish to meet the men from the Ministry of War?" someone said, entering from outside the door.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

"This is just the handover of equipment from Zhangjiakou; we don't need to go," he replied.

The man withdrew, returning moments later holding a letter.

"My Lord, a letter for you," he said, presenting it with both hands.

My letter?

Chang Yuncheng frowned slightly.

"The gentlemen from the Ministry of War sent it along. It was meant for you in Mobei, but since you are here, it saves them a trip," the guard explained.

The Ministry of War?

Chang Yuncheng frowned, already guessing the general content, and reached out to take it.

Only his name was written on the envelope; there was no signature.

But he couldn't be fooled by this trick.

"Only this dreadful, scrawled handwriting is unforgettable," Chang Yuncheng chuckled, turning the letter over in his hand. "Hmm, looks like they were in high spirits this time. Much thicker than the last few. I imagine they had a very satisfying rant?"

The guard beside him leaned closer to look.

"Is it Young Master Fan again?" he asked.

Chang Yuncheng hummed in acknowledgment, continuing to turn the letter in his hand while the guard helped secure his breastplate.

"This man truly is..." The guard couldn't help but shake his head too.

"Only amusing, but not repulsive," Chang Yuncheng remarked.

The guard looked surprised.

Not repulsive, even after this? Young Master Fan had sent two letters repeatedly sending vulgar curses to the Young Lord, and once even stuffed a dried toad leg into one of the letters—it was utterly disgusting.

Chang Yuncheng smiled faintly.

"He does it for her," he said, and as he spoke the last word, a faint smile touched the corner of his mouth.

If the entire world respected, loved, and protected her, then what did it matter if he bore the infamy?

As long as she was well, that was all that mattered.

The guard finished adjusting the last piece of protective gear and stepped back.

"Young Lord, you are ready," he prompted.

Chang Yuncheng pulled himself from his reverie. Looking at the letter, although he knew Fan Yilin was venting on his behalf, he didn't need to be subjected to such vulgarity by this young man. He flicked his finger.

The junior soldier caught the letter precisely.

Chang Yuncheng stepped forward.

His temporary supervisory duty was complete; he was due to depart for Mobei today.

Several men in military official robes strode in from outside the door. Seeing him from a distance, they began to laugh heartily.

Chang Yuncheng also laughed expansively and walked toward them with open arms.

The men approached, slapping each other’s shoulders.

"Young Lord, you're leaving already?" the burly, bearded man called out loudly.

Looking at this man, whom he had always categorized as a mere pretty boy, Chang Yuncheng felt a strange pang of reluctance to part.

"What?" Chang Yuncheng’s expression darkened slightly. "Are you still unconvinced, Elder Brother?"

The bearded man paused, then burst into booming laughter, his palm, large as a cattail fan, heavily patting Chang Yuncheng’s shoulder again.

The few civilian officials from the Ministry of War standing nearby looked on with a degree of discomfort.

If they had received such a slap, wouldn't they have been knocked to their knees?

That barbarian from Zhangjiakou!

Chang Yuncheng remained utterly still, not even a flicker crossing his brow.

"Convinced, convinced," the bearded man shouted loudly. "Brother here is convinced! From now on, whatever the Young Lord says, goes. If I contradict you even once, my surname isn't Hu!"

Chang Yuncheng smiled and casually draped an arm over the man's shoulder.

"Then I won't be polite. First, secretly load me a cart full of your fine wine here to send to Mobei. Our rascals there have been drooling over it," he murmured quietly.

The bearded man erupted in loud laughter once more.

Those watching nearby couldn't help but rub their ears, looking astonished yet again.

When had this Hu barbarian ever laughed so much? It was hard to believe this was the same man who boldly beat the supervising eunuch Wu half to death and threw him out of the city—such an unreasonable figure, yet so decorated with military merit, was the most difficult sort to handle.

Yet, in front of the Young Lord, he was as cheerful as a little pony...

The image that flashed through their minds made several of them feel slightly sick, and they quickly shook off the thought.

After finally sending the bearded Hu away, the Ministry of War officials finally found an opportunity to approach.

"Young Lord, are you heading to Mobei?" one asked.

Chang Yuncheng nodded.

"Why not travel back to the capital with us?" they suggested.

Chang Yuncheng paused.

"The supervisory mission is complete; everyone is returning to the capital. The court's intention is for the Young Lord to go as well," they explained.

"Well, I was only filling in temporarily. I've already drafted all the documentation. It would be best for the esteemed sirs to present it to His Majesty," Chang Yuncheng demurred.

"No, no, Young Lord, it is more appropriate for you to report in person. Elder Kong specifically instructed us on this matter," one hurried to say.

The capital. Chang Yuncheng looked south.

It was a little closer to her there. Perhaps he might see her? But how long had it been? If he saw her again, would she still be herself, or would she already be someone's wife...

Chang Yuncheng unconsciously clenched his fist, the sharp edges of his nails digging into his palm.

"Very well," he turned back to the men, smiling and nodding. "Then I shall humbly follow your kind wishes."

This dreadful sightseeing trip, brothers and sisters—be cautious when visiting popular spots on the weekend!!!! I queued for a full four hours and even witnessed two fights break out because of the queuing!

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