Cai Qing walked in from outside, and A Ru hurried to meet her. "The Madam sends her thanks to Elder Lord Zhou," she said with a smile.

Zhou Maochun, who was sitting and sipping tea, set down his cup. "You're welcome, you're welcome.

I watched her grow up," he said, rising to his feet. "Then I shall take my leave now." Was he about to depart? A Ru quickly held back Cai Qing. "Perhaps the Elder Lord should take a look first," she suggested.

Cai Qing merely smiled and shook her head.

By this time, Zhou Maochun had already walked out.

A Ru looked around frantically and had no choice but to escort him first.

Outside the gate, people were excitedly alighting from a carriage, with a flurry of servants unloading goods.

The gatekeepers of the Chen residence were standing there, at a loss as to how to stop them. "Our Madam is not receiving visitors," they stated. "I am no visitor; I am the Marquis of Dingxi.

We are family," the Marquis of Dingxi declared, wiping sweat from his brow with a kerchief.

It was not yet hot, yet he was already perspiring—perhaps it was the excitement of seeing his son and daughter-in-law.

Before the gatekeepers could reply, "Whether she sees me or not is irrelevant.

Is Yue Niang here? I only need to see Yue Niang.

I am her father-in-law; you should know that, right?" he continued, unable to suppress a hint of boastfulness.

The words had barely left his mouth when a sharp pfui sound was heard. "The shameless nerve of him, speaking without fear of biting his tongue off!" Zhou Maochun glared and cursed.

The Marquis of Dingxi finally noticed the old man emerging, and the face seemed somewhat familiar... "Imperial Physician Zhou," he hastily said with a smile, only to realize his mistake the moment the smile faded, and his face immediately fell. "How dare you speak like that?" Others might be deferential to an Imperial Physician, but he had no such qualms.

What was so great about an Imperial Physician? His family had a divine doctor.

Zhou Maochun snorted. "My daughter has no father-in-law, only a former one.

If you dare utter such nonsense again and ruin my daughter's reputation and future marriage, I will not forgive you," he said, shooting the Marquis a fierce glare before climbing into his carriage and leaving.

A Ru called out a few times from behind, but could not stop him.

The Marquis of Dingxi also spat. "What business is it of mine whether your daughter has a father-in-law or not? With someone like you, it's a wonder your daughter ever managed to marry out at all," he also huffed, noticing A Ru's strange smile and feeling a sense of foreboding. "Whose daughter is he talking about?" "My mistress.

She has recognized Elder Lord Zhou as her adoptive father," A Ru said awkwardly.

Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng were intercepted by A Ru halfway back to their residence. "By the way, Li Tong mentioned they invited you to dinner?" she asked Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head decisively. "No," he said. "Why not go? They meant well," Qi Yue laughed.

Chang Yuncheng snorted.

Meant well? The drunkard's intention is not the wine.

They claimed to invite him, but they actually wanted to invite Madam Qi Yue.

Qi Yue laughed heartily. "Then I won't go.

It works out perfectly if you go alone; you get a meal and annoy them simultaneously," she teased.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head. "I don't have time to quarrel with them," he said, turning to look at her. "I'll be leaving in a few days." Qi Yue smiled at him.

A Ru approached with a few servants.

Qi Yue had assumed something was wrong with Madam Chen and was surprised to learn that the Marquis of Dingxi had arrived. "Father is here?" Chang Yuncheng was equally taken aback. "Yes, Your Lordship heard that Madam Qi...

and, and the Heir Apparent met with trouble, so he rushed over," the servant quickly reported.

His father had come for him—although a good portion was for Madam Qi.

Regardless of the reason, the first thought that crossed his mind upon hearing of the disaster was to rush over, not to avoid it.

And he didn't just think it; he acted on it.

Chang Yuncheng felt a strange sensation. "Truly, fatherly love is like a mountain," Qi Yue murmured with a smile, leaning slightly closer to Chang Yuncheng and lowering her voice. "Are you moved? Shall I lend you my shoulder to cry on for a moment?" Chang Yuncheng couldn't help but laugh and lightly bumped her arm. "How is Madam Chen?" Qi Yue asked A Ru in a low voice. "Did you look at her?" "No.

The Madam said she is fine and did not allow the Old Master to examine her," A Ru whispered.

Qi Yue frowned. "Never mind, we will discuss it after seeing our adoptive father," she said.

The Marquis of Dingxi had booked an entire floor of the best restaurant in the capital.

Upon entering, Qi Yue couldn't help but shake her head. "This is far too extravagant," she remarked.

As they approached the room door, they heard the Marquis of Dingxi's loud voice booming from inside. "...It's not extravagant at all.

Hosting Elder Lord Zhou requires no expense...

Elder Lord Zhou spared no effort to treat my wife back then.

This kindness is something this Marquis cannot forget for even a moment..." "But it seems the Marquis forgot when he saw me just now..." "Impossible! Never!" "Hmph, well, there's no need to remember; your wife wasn't cured by me." "Yes, yes, it was Yue Niang who cured her.

And now Yue Niang is your adopted daughter, so we are family; what's hers is yours.

Come, come, Elder Lord, try this wine.

It's a fine vintage unique to our Yongqing Prefecture..." "The wine is indeed good." "If the Elder Lord likes it, have all of it sent to the Elder Lord's home immediately." Hearing this, Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng dared not listen further and quickly pushed the door open, entering.

The Marquis of Dingxi was urging his servants to haul away gifts. "It's not just wine; I brought a whole cartload of various rare treasures.

Send them all to the Elder Lord's house," he declared loudly. "Isn't that inappropriate? You should keep them for other gifts," Zhou Maochun frowned. "They are specifically for the Elder Lord!" the Marquis of Dingxi stated shamelessly.

No one, not even a ghost, would believe that! The Marquis of Dingxi certainly came to the capital to build connections, but since the matter had resolved itself, he certainly wouldn't be sending gifts to others.

On the contrary, he expected others to send gifts to him.

After all, his family's daughter-in-law was involved! Of course, before waiting for others to send gifts, he had one matter to settle first. "Father." "Your Lordship." The Marquis of Dingxi was overjoyed to see Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue enter.

Zhou Maochun, however, merely snorted. "Yue Niang, come here," he called out with a stern face.

Qi Yue walked over obediently, a smile playing on her lips. "How many times have I told you to be mindful? This is the capital.

You are a woman; do not casually get too close to men," Zhou Maochun glared and scolded.

Qi Yue only smiled faintly. "Not casually, not casually.

How could you say it was casual?" the Marquis of Dingxi hastily interjected, personally pouring a cup of wine for Zhou Maochun and presenting it with a smile that sent shivers down the spine. "What are you trying to do?" Zhou Maochun demanded, glaring. "Elder Lord, I have been worrying incessantly.

I never expected such a divine figure as you would be bestowed upon us!" the Marquis of Dingxi chuckled. "If you would intervene, the matter between these two children would be much simpler." Zhou Maochun immediately understood his intent and spat. "What matter? Don't mix things up! My Yue Niang has no connection to your child anymore, and there is nothing to discuss," he huffed.

The Marquis of Dingxi paid no mind to his expression and sat down right beside him. "Elder Lord, we cannot delay any longer.

Look, now that everyone is gathered, let's settle it quickly.

The two children are clearly fond of each other..." he wheezed with a chuckle.

Zhou Maochun leaned away. "Fond of each other? Are you joking? Then why did they become former spouses?" he scoffed. "It is all my fault!" the Marquis of Dingxi admitted cleanly, draining the wine in his hand. "I accept the punishment.

As long as the Elder Lord is willing to plead for imperial favor, I will not hesitate to go to the palace hall and beg for forgiveness on my knees." Zhou Maochun had never encountered someone so unreliable.

He was already considered a difficult man, but compared to the Marquis of Dingxi, he fell far short.

This man would say anything! Zhou Maochun finally admitted defeat and beat a hasty retreat, with the Marquis of Dingxi pressing his advantage and following him with a cartload of gifts.

Qi Yue didn't even get a chance to ask about Madam Chen's condition.

As they walked out the door, they encountered another familiar face. "Heir Apparent, the official document from the Ministry of War has arrived.

You have been demoted two ranks and fined a year's salary," Jiang Hai said, his face deeply furrowed.

Chang Yuncheng was unconcerned.

But this time, even with the penalty, it was unlikely anyone would dare to step on him again.

The Emperor's temper was like that; mistakes certainly incurred punishment, regardless of the reason, but this didn't mean he disliked the person or was targeting him specifically. "Hey, Jiang Hai," Qi Yue greeted him with a smile. "You're back too?" Jiang Hai shielded his face with his hand. "Madam, I didn't know it was you..." he said awkwardly. "It was my fault for not telling you," Qi Yue laughed. "It's not your fault, not your fault at all," Jiang Hai quickly waved his hands. "It's all the Heir Apparent's fault..." Chang Yuncheng gave a heavy cough.