The Prefect was asking the same question of his wife at that very moment.

"Are those pastries I casually brought back last night really that good?" he chuckled. "That they have you scrambling this early to buy the cook who made them? Don't let people laugh at you for being greedy and losing your composure as a lady of rank."

The Prefect's wife shot him a look.

"I'm doing this for you," she retorted. "The maids and servants are all settled, but we still lack a proper cook. You have no idea how particular these noble folk from Jiangnan are; they love those delicate, exquisite little dishes. I tasted what you brought back last night—the flavor and presentation were superb. It's perfect to have her on hand."

The Prefect nodded, thanking his wife.

"My lady always thinks things through so thoroughly. You've worked hard these past days, Madam," he said with a smile, offering a low bow.

The Prefect's wife smiled demurely, accepting his gesture. All this effort was ultimately for the honor of her husband and the prestige of her own position, earned through his respect.

As the couple spoke, a servant woman rushed in from outside.

"My Lord, Madam," she said, bowing quickly upon seeing the Prefect present.

The Prefect grunted an acknowledgement and sat aside.

"Bring the person in and instruct her properly first," the Prefect's wife instructed the servant woman. "Even though she's just a cook and we haven't met her face-to-face, we can't be sloppy."

The servant woman quickly shook her head, a flicker of annoyance coloring her face.

"Madam, that cook refuses to sell," she said.

The Prefect looked over, frowning slightly upon hearing this.

"I told you not to worry about money; just pay whatever she asks," the Prefect's wife said calmly, unhurried. She was intimately familiar with this game of feigned reluctance.

"She said no amount of money would do," the servant woman complained, her indignation barely concealed.

Only then did the Prefect's wife frown.

"Then you didn't tell her it was us asking?" she inquired.

"I presented the written request first thing," the servant woman replied, even more resentfully. Such insolent people! Don't they know whose territory they are on right now?

The Prefect's wife turned to look at the Prefect.

"It seems this doctor has both money and considerable courage," she observed with a wry smile.

The Prefect snorted.

"Is it that so-called Divine Physician Madam?" he asked.

The servant woman nodded vigorously.

"It is her," she confirmed.

The Prefect's face darkened, his fingers tapping against the table.

"I've heard from my subordinates that this sudden appearance of a so-called Divine Physician has been causing unrest in the barracks lately," he said slowly. "If our military doctors weren't providing them with decoctions, would they wait for this Divine Physician to treat them? It's laughable! We receive no credit for feeding and caring for these wounded soldiers well, yet we are branded as sinners who abandon them to their fate!"

By the final sentence, the Prefect’s fingers had clenched into a fist, which he slammed heavily onto the table.

The servant woman jumped, startled, but the Prefect's wife remained unfazed, her expression relaxed. She waved a hand at the servant woman, knowing she wouldn't need to worry about this matter anymore; she just had to wait for the cook to obediently arrive at her doorstep.

When Jiang Hai arrived the next time, he immediately sensed a difference. There were no pastries waiting, not even tea.

A'Hao, with a sour look, slapped a bowl of plain water in front of Jiang Hai and walked away without even glancing at him.

See? That's the difference. Jiang Hai’s gaze returned to Qi Yue, who offered him a slight smile.

A woman like this is the cutest, the absolute cutest.

Jiang Hai couldn't help but grin widely.

"Mistress Qi, Mistress Qi, there's nothing worth seeing in the dilapidated city. A heavy snow fell yesterday, and there's a plum garden five li outside the city that has bloomed. Let me take you to see it," he urged hastily.

"The plum blossoms are out now? Is it winter plum?" Qi Yue asked casually.

Jiang Hai felt awkward. Although he had taken many women plum-blossom viewing, they were all crude people, and the intention was never about the blossoms. Who cared what kind of plum it was? Knowing it was a plum and not some other flower was achievement enough. Fearing he might say something wrong and look foolish, he only managed a few humming sounds, giving no real answer.

Fortunately, Qi Yue did not press further.

"So, according to you, the Heir Apparent doesn't often stay here?" Qi Yue inquired.

Jiang Hai sighed in relief, very pleased that Qi Yue had changed the subject.

"Yes," he nodded. "Take this year, for instance; he's been away for more than half the time. I've followed him to quite a few places. If it weren't for attending a close brother's birthday celebration, I wouldn't have made it back in time, and then I wouldn't have met you, Madam." He made sure to add the latter point.

Qi Yue nodded, resting her chin on her hand and gazing out the door. It was snowing again, blanketing the ground in a layer of white gauze.

"So, he will return here this time?" Qi Yue asked.

"He should," Jiang Hai looked at Qi Yue and finally asked, rather slowly, "Madam, are you looking for the Heir Apparent?"

Qi Yue quickly retracted her gaze.

"No, I just happened to be here. If I meet him, I'll see him; after all, we are acquaintances. If I don't, then so be it," she said with a gentle smile.

Jiang Hai acknowledged this with an "Oh."

"When the Heir Apparent returns, I will take you to see him, Madam," he promised.

Qi Yue smiled and thanked him.

A'Hao came bustling in again.

"Official Jiang, what would you like for lunch? It's getting late; I should tell the kitchen to prepare it early," she said in her rough voice.

Has half the day passed already? Jiang Hai looked surprised.

"It's snowing today; how about we have hot pot?" Qi Yue suggested. "Jiang Hai, the wild pheasant meat you brought is perfect for shabu-shabu."

Never mind hot pot, he would happily eat slop. Jiang Hai nodded repeatedly, agreeing profusely. To show he wasn't just freeloading, Jiang Hai offered to help. Qi Yue leaned her head on her hand again, watching the lively courtyard.

Is it snowing in the capital?

Has that brat set off yet?

It was almost mealtime there; what was he eating?

"Mealtime! Mealtime! Mealtime!"

Zhou Maochun hammered on the door until it sounded like an explosion. The people nearby couldn't help but shake their heads and cover their ears to block the noise.

There was no reaction from the tightly shut room.

Zhou Maochun spun around in frustration, commanding the eunuchs trailing behind him.

"Ram the door! Ram the door!" he shouted.

The eunuchs looked at each other uncertainly, making no move.

"Oh, come on! Remember when you kids ruined the door to the Imperial Library, and you came running to me?" Zhou Maochun stamped his foot and yelled.

"But we had the Emperor's direct verbal permission," one eunuch simpered with a smile.

"I have that too! The Emperor's direct imperial decree orders me to invite Mistress Qi to the capital!" Zhou Maochun glared. "I am currently searching for Mistress Qi's whereabouts under imperial order! Are you planning to defy an edict?"

Oh dear, what kind of imperial order is this... The eunuchs offered wry, helpless smiles.

"Alright, alright. Didn't His Majesty say that as long as we don't bother him, we can bother anyone else? Let him make a fuss," one eunuch muttered under his breath, waving a hand.

The others responded by somewhat haphazardly fetching a heavy door bar.

Zhou Maochun shouted instructions from the side: "One, two, three!"

The eunuchs hoisted the bar and slammed it against the door.

Just then, the door swung open.

Chang Yunchun stepped aside, watching the eunuchs, still clutching the bar, tumble in like a string of grasshoppers, landing in a heap on the ground, groaning.

With a beard scruffy and eyes red from staying up all night, Chang Yunchun, who was clutching over a dozen scrolls, frowned.

"The blueprints are done. Please send them to His Majesty via the Duty Officer for review so I can make revisions," he said, ignoring the fallen men and addressing the waiting bureaucratic official outside.

The official responded with an affirmative, taking the scrolls. He couldn't carry them all alone, so someone nearby quickly rushed over to help him. Together, they departed.

At this point, Zhou Maochun jumped furiously in front of Chang Yunchun.

"Well, you, Little Changzi! You actually refused to see me! You dared to give me the cold shoulder! Do you know? The only person in this world who ever gave me the cold shoulder was my Master!" he grumbled, shaking his beard.

Chang Yunchun bowed low to him.

"Please forgive me, Sir. I was rushing the blueprints His Majesty required," he said in a husky voice.

His manner was sincere, but sincerity rarely worked on Zhou Maochun.

He spat.

"Rushing my foot!" he retorted. "I already asked His Majesty, and I asked Duty Officer Little Li—they both said there was no rush! You're deliberately targeting me!"

Chang Yunchun bowed again.

"Yes, it was my haste," he conceded. "I wanted to finish them quickly, to ease His Majesty's burdens."

"Sweet talk doesn't work on me," Zhou Maochun huffed, reaching out to grab him and drag him inside. "Quickly, tell me the important matter."

For the past few days, Zhou Maochun had nearly torn the house apart. Fortunately, the palace buildings were sturdy.

"Lord Zhou, what is so urgent that requires this haste?" Chang Yunchun asked.

Before Zhou Maochun could speak, Chang Yunchun's personal guard squeezed in from the doorway, holding a food container.

"Heir Apparent, please eat something. This has been reheated twice already; it can't be kept waiting," the guard urged anxiously.

"What's the rush? No one dies from hunger," Zhou Maochun snapped.

The guard became agitated.

"My Heir Apparent hasn't eaten in two days!" he cried out.

Any normal person hearing this would be moved, but unfortunately, Zhou Maochun was not normal. Having witnessed life and death countless times, he felt absolutely nothing.

"He won't die from not eating for two days either!" he shouted, pulling Chang Yunchun aside. "Tell me quickly, do you know where Mistress Qi is?"

Chang Yunchun froze for a moment.

"You're looking for her?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm nearly driven mad looking for her!" Zhou Maochun stamped his foot.

"What do you want her for?" Chang Yunchun inquired.

"I want her for the Imperial Medical Academy. Such a divine physician being wasted in that backwater place like Yongqing Prefecture is a tragedy," Zhou Maochun declared.

The Imperial Medical Academy? Chang Yunchun felt a surge of pleasant surprise. Such recognition would surely be a great honor for her; she would be thrilled.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Maochun looked at him, and remembering his frustration from the past few days, he snorted again.

"And while I'm at it, I'll find a good husband for Mistress Qi," he added.

Chang Yunchun froze, staring at Zhou Maochun as he sealed his lips.

"Such a fine woman, and you're still not satisfied, pulling this stunt with the Left and Right Madams? That's bullying! What caliber is our Mistress Qi? Why should she agree to be a secondary wife to anyone?" Zhou Maochun continued, unaware of the effect of his words, growing angrier the more he spoke. If it weren't for this situation, why would a woman like her have to leave Yongqing Prefecture and wander about? She couldn't stay in that painful place! It was all that wretched boy's fault!

"Who—who told you this?" Chang Yunchun asked.

These matters were written in memorials presented privately to the Emperor; they shouldn't be common knowledge...

"Duty Officer Little Li," Zhou Maochun replied, shaking his head, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "Ah, speaking of Little Li, he's actually quite suitable. Though I look down on his grandfather, the man himself is decent enough—a winter melon growing on furnace slag, if you know what I mean. He's not married, looks presentable, and most importantly, he's a man of the capital, so Mistress Qi could settle down here!"

The more he thought about it, the happier he became; he couldn't help but clap, eager to rush off and urge the Li family to marry Mistress Qi without delay. What? A matchmaker? The Li family's opinion? It wasn't their place to offer opinions; this was already an honor for them!

Chang Yunchun's body stiffened, and his expression turned ashen.

Who is this Little Li? Where did he come from? Judging by his words, he seemed... acquainted with Qi Yueniang. Didn't she only stay in the capital for a few days? How... how does she know so many complicated people?

Chang Yunchun felt a thousand needles scratching at his heart, desperate to fly back instantly.

"Hey," Zhou Maochun said, grabbing him again and shaking him. "That's not urgent right now. Do you actually know where Mistress Qi went? You were married once, after all, and she left from your aunt's house."

Chang Yunchun looked at Zhou Maochun and slowly nodded.

The long-sought information was finally within reach, and Zhou Maochun was so overjoyed he nearly choked.

"Where did she go?" he asked, his voice trembling.

Chang Yunchun looked at him, slowly raising a finger to point south.

"She..." he began softly, "went to Fujian..."