However, Qi Yue quickly realized what was happening. She was in no mood nor did she have any reason to be the target of these men.

"Excuse me, I'm quite busy," she called out, raising her voice, ignoring whatever they were saying, and pushed past them straight toward the door. Everyone froze, their demeanor shifting to one of greater deference.

See, why does a person have such confidence? Because they have backing.

Chang Yuncheng watched this woman suddenly emerge from the crowd and approach him. As she drew nearer, he felt his body stiffen, watching her without blinking.

She was coming over! She was coming over!

She... walked past...

Walked past! Chang Yuncheng's breath hitched for a moment.

She, walked, right, past! He spun around sharply.

"My Lord, Young Lord," the others snapped back to attention and surged toward him. One of the officers remembered to shout, "My Lord, you have worked so hard..." "Shut up!" Chang Yuncheng spun around again and roared.

The crowd that had rushed up to him immediately fell silent. The Garrison Commander felt rather awkward.

"What hard work have I done? I've been outside the whole time; the one who has worked hard is the Commander!" Chang Yuncheng bowed to the Garrison Commander, his expression somber and very serious.

"With the bandit remnants retreating and so much to manage, it has been troublesome for you to come in person to inspect and arrange things. Regarding the wounded soldiers, Commander, you need not trouble yourself.

I request you proceed to the official hall to comfort the generals and discuss the rewards and reporting." The Garrison Commander instantly straightened his posture, feeling a warmth spread through him despite the dead of winter. Good, it seems those earlier words had their effect.

What does a man truly value? Isn't it face?

You give me face, and I will naturally give you face in return. This misunderstanding can now be put aside.

"It is all my duty; there is no need to speak of hardship," the Commander replied, his face composed. "I implore you to oversee the central affairs," Chang Yuncheng said again, extending a hand in invitation.

The officers of Pengshan Fort, who had been utterly confused about what was transpiring, finally saw clearly and bustled forward to take over. With both his face and substance affirmed, the Garrison Commander happily departed.

Chang Yuncheng breathed a slight sigh of relief and looked again in the direction Qi Yue had gone. Seeing the woman walking away quickly, he made to follow, but the Garrison Commander, having taken a few steps, reached out and held him back.

"My Lord, let's go together," he said with a smile. "You go ahead, Commander.

If there is anything that needs doing, just command me," Chang Yuncheng replied. The Garrison Commander shook his head.

"Such an important matter absolutely cannot proceed without your judgment, Young Lord," he insisted, taking Chang Yuncheng's hand and moving forward. You respect me, I respect you; giving face to each other naturally leads to goodwill for all.

The others naturally followed suit, and Chang Yuncheng was helplessly swept along by the throng. Meanwhile, A'ru kept looking back as they walked.

"Mistress, the Young Lord is here!" she repeated excitedly. Qi Yue snorted.

"Not the least bit surprising," she muttered. "What a waste." A'ru playfully nudged her.

"Mistress, isn't this surprising enough? It was a scare!" she countered.

"Didn't you see the Young Lord's eyes looked completely scattered from shock!" Did they? Qi Yue tilted her head slightly, recalling.

Aside from that stunned look, he was no different than before. She couldn't help but purse her lips into a smile.

"It's just that the Young Lord is terribly busy..." A'ru looked back again, speaking with a hint of regret. Qi Yue also turned to look.

Chang Yuncheng had already left with the group. "With something this big happening, he naturally has to be busy," Qi Yue stated.

"But knowing Mistress is safe and sound, the Young Lord must be relieved," A'ru sighed in relief. Qi Yue said nothing, looking once more toward where Chang Yuncheng had departed, the corner of her mouth curving upward slightly.

Yes, everyone safe—that is the simplest, and the happiest outcome. Night fell, and the fatigue of the day's bustle temporarily subsided.

Qi Yue had not asked to help in the makeshift infirmary. Firstly, she was out of medicine, and secondly, Qiao Minghua, with over twenty years of experience dealing with such injuries, was far more adept than she.

"What we must do now is prepare equipment and medicinal ingredients," Qi Yue announced, looking at Hu San and the others. "For battlefield first aid, only three things are crucial: stemming the bleeding, anesthesia, and fighting infection.

Therefore, we need to procure these three types of medicine." "Don't we already have medicine for stopping the bleeding?" Hu San asked. "That won't suffice; we need something far more effective," Qi Yue clarified.

"Master, you know of such a medicine?" Hu San exclaimed with delight. Qi Yue managed a wry smile.

"I know the medicine, yes, but I don't possess it," she admitted. "Knowing is enough, knowing is enough!

Haven't we already managed to produce penicillin?" Hu San said happily. Qi Yue nodded with a smile.

"Yes, exactly," she confirmed. "Since Yongqing Prefecture is too far, you need to establish a penicillin extraction base for me right here." Hu San snapped his fingers.

"No problem, Master, just watch me!" he declared loudly. A'ru shot him a sharp glance.

"Alright, it's getting late. None of us have had a proper night's sleep in days.

Everyone disperse now," she instructed. Hu San and the others acknowledged her and turned to leave.

Xiao Qu suddenly stopped him, giving his nearby companion a meaningful look. "Master, there's one more thing I wanted to ask..." he began.

Everyone looked at him. Hu San frowned.

What business could you, a mere laborer, possibly have that you need to ask? Just ask me!

Before he could speak, Xiao Qu and another guard lunged suddenly toward the door. "Who goes there!

How dare you!" they shouted in unison. Everyone jumped, and Chang Yuncheng, who was just outside the door, startled.

He instinctively stepped back, evading the simultaneous grab from Xiao Qu and the other guard. "It's me," he said softly.

Xiao Qu, who had been moving forward, froze. "Young Lord?" he called out in surprise.

There were no lamps outside, but the light spilling from the open doorway illuminated the man, and it was indeed Chang Yuncheng. Qi Yue was already standing at the threshold, while Hu San, Ah Hao, and A'ru crowded up behind her, all eyes fixed on Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng felt intensely awkward. Was he eavesdropping?

"My Lord, you've arrived! Quick, come in and sit!" Hu San greeted him enthusiastically, moving to personally usher him inside.

A'ru fiercely pinched him from behind. Hu San winced with a yelp.

"That's enough. It's late; everyone, please leave," A'ru glared at him, then addressed the others, pulling the still-grinning Ah Hao along as she walked away.

Hu San recovered and followed, grinning as well, then came Xiao Qu and the other four, who bowed to him as they passed. In the blink of an eye, only two people remained: one standing in the doorway, the other in the courtyard, facing each other in silence.

Qi Yue had imagined countless scenarios for this meeting, but now that it was here, it felt like nothing, as if they had never parted and had been meeting all along. Her heart was strangely tranquil.

"Finished your business?" she asked. "Finished," Chang Yuncheng replied quickly.

Another silence stretched between them. "Then you should rest early," Qi Yue said.

Chang Yuncheng started, alarmed. He hadn't come here to say goodnight!

"I, I..." he stammered. "I'm not tired." Qi Yue rolled her eyes.

Chang Yuncheng raised a hand, wishing he could slap himself. What nonsense did I just say!

"Well, I am tired," Qi Yue stated, her face set. Chang Yuncheng instantly slumped, looking down at his own feet.

Yes, how tired she must be... traveling so far, and having gone through battle...

"Then... then you should rest early," he murmured, not lifting his gaze from his toes, ready to turn away.

Qi Yue felt a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Chang Yuncheng, is there truly nothing you wish to say to me?" she inquired.

Chang Yuncheng snapped his head up. Yes, of course, there was!

I miss you, I worry about you, I can't bear to be apart from you... "The carriages are prepared.

You can leave tomorrow," he managed to say. Qi Yue's eyes widened.

"Chang Yuncheng, I rejected the Second Spring, traveled thousands of miles east and west to find you, and all you have to tell me is this?" she cried out. The Second Spring?

The thought flashed dimly through Chang Yuncheng's wooden mind. "Get lost!

I need to sleep!" Qi Yue yelled, slamming the door shut with a loud bang. The sharp sound of the door slamming made Chang Yuncheng's heart skip three beats, and he stared helplessly at the closed door.

What was wrong? A bead of sweat formed on Chang Yuncheng's brow.

What should he do? What now?

"No, I want to," At that moment, Fan Yilin's voice echoed suddenly in his ears, and Chang Yuncheng flinched. He looked toward the closed door.

The dim lamplight cast a small, slender shadow on the window lattice. She had traveled thousands of miles to arrive here...

She accepted the challenge gladly just to stay here... For what reason?

For what reason! There was only one reason!

With another sudden bang, this time Qi Yue was startled. As she turned her head, she was fiercely pulled into an embrace by the charging Chang Yuncheng.

"What are you doing?" Qi Yue cried out involuntarily, her nose and face hitting his chest from the force of his hug. Then, she grunted again and raised her hands to beat him.

Chang Yuncheng allowed her to strike him, simply holding her tight and refusing to let go. "Yue Niang, I missed you," he declared loudly.

He repeated it over and over, his voice dropping from a shout to a soft murmur. "I don't want you to leave, I don't want to be separated from you, I don't want you to marry another—that is what I want to tell you." "Who are you to me, that you get to decide what I want!" Qi Yue hissed, digging her nails into his back and waist.

Chang Yuncheng pulled her back, looking into her face. "You are my woman," he stated.

Qi Yue stared at him, stunned, then pouted and snorted dismissively. "You are my woman!

Not anyone else's!" Chang Yuncheng repeated fiercely. He thought of Jiang Hai’s constant words, of watching Qi Yue smile at Wang Qian from behind a large tree in Yongqing Prefecture, of Zhou Maochun repeatedly arranging matches for her back in the capital.

"You are my woman, and no one will ever take you away!" he shouted fiercely. "No one!" Qi Yue kicked him once, struggled free with all her might, and stumbled a few steps back.

"Who do you think you are? Dreaming!

You have no right to control me! I'm leaving now!

You can stay with whoever you like!" she retorted, glaring. Chang Yuncheng looked at her, then suddenly said nothing, reaching out to lift her bodily.

Qi Yue was taken by surprise and shrieked, momentarily weightless with her head and feet dangling. "Qi Yue Niang, have you forgotten again!" Chang Yuncheng said in a deep voice.

"I told you, whether you leave or stay, do you truly think you have the final say!" With that, he hoisted her onto his shoulder and strode toward the earth-bed in the inner room, casually blowing out the sputtering oil lamp on the table. The room was instantly swallowed by the night.

This time, everything was settled, not a single fraction left outstanding!!