Chang Yancheng returned Qi Yue just past noon. “There is plenty of time; you attend to your own affairs first,” he said, adding quickly, “I will certainly arrange for tomorrow’s vegetarian meal.” “Plenty of time,” Qi Yue smiled back, waving a hand at him. Only after watching her enter the gate did Chang Yancheng turn his horse and depart.

After a simple washing and changing into her everyday clothes, Qi Yue went to find Madam Chen. Unlike before, she could not walk straight into the room; instead, she was stopped by a maidservant. “My lady, please wait a moment, I will see if the mistress is asleep?” the maidservant said with a slightly unnatural smile. Qi Yue looked up at the sky. Asleep this early? Was it a midday nap or early slumber?

Cai Qing hurried out from within. “She did not sleep during the noon hours; she just said she was tired and wanted a little rest,” she said with a gentle smile. Qi Yue made an “Oh,” deciding that was reasonable enough. “Then I will come back once she wakes up,” Qi Yue said, already turning to leave. Cai Qing quickly stopped her. “My lady, could I trouble you to ask Master Zhou to come over again?” she said with a smile. “It is truly strange; I didn’t think anything was amiss, but after hearing what you said, Madam truly feels uncomfortable now—I don’t know if it’s a sickness of the heart.”

Qi Yue was overjoyed; she hadn't expected Madam Chen to figure it out herself. It seemed she wasn't refusing treatment because she knew the illness. “Good, good, I will send someone right away to tell him to come. It’s best he sees her; if it’s serious, she can take medicine sooner, and if not, then it’s clearly a malady of the mind,” she said happily. “There’s no need to rush, my lady,” Cai Qing said with a smile. Qi Yue was already walking away briskly.

Watching her disappear beyond the courtyard gate, the smile vanished from Cai Qing’s face. She turned and walked back into the room, looking at Madam Chen lying on the couch in the inner chamber. “Is she reassured?” Madam Chen’s voice drifted out. Cai Qing went over and affirmed, “Yes.” Seeing Madam Chen’s pale, bloodless face, she couldn't help but tear up. “She grew suspicious, and my continued avoidance only made her more anxious,” Madam Chen said with a faint smile, trying to sit up but finding it too strenuous. Cai Qing hurried to support her. “But, if Master Zhou examines her, it won't be possible to conceal it,” Cai Qing choked out. “I never intended to conceal anything from Master Zhou,” Madam Chen chuckled, patting Cai Qing’s hand. Cai Qing was somewhat bewildered.

Originally, Qi Yue intended to wait until tomorrow to invite Zhou Maochun, given the late hour, but unexpectedly, right around dinnertime, Zhou Maochun was brought over by Qi Yue. Qi Yue followed him in and immediately grew worried upon seeing Madam Chen’s complexion. “It’s all because you scared me,” Madam Chen chided gently. “You keep going on about me being sick, sick, sick; now I feel like every part of me is ailing.” Qi Yue was amused again. Zhou Maochun said nothing; he sat down and took out the pulse pillow. “Don't stand here watching,” Madam Chen said with a smile. “Your adopted father has rarely visited; go cook your signature dish for him to show your filial piety.” “Is that so? This girl has a signature dish?” Zhou Maochun asked, looking at Qi Yue with skepticism. Qi Yue nodded quickly. “Of course I do! Adopted Father, I am not just a miracle doctor; I have another hidden identity—a Divine Chef,” she declared with utmost seriousness. Madam Chen and Zhou Maochun both burst into laughter. “Hurry along now, let me see the hidden skills of this Divine Chef of yours,” Zhou Maochun urged. Qi Yue smiled, tossing back a remark, “Just you wait and see,” before heading out. Cai Qing waved her hand, and the maidservants also withdrew. Only Madam Chen and Zhou Maochun remained in the room.

Madam Chen did not extend her hand, and Zhou Maochun made no move to take her pulse. After a moment of silence, “Where did you obtain this poison?” Zhou Maochun finally spoke, his brow tightly furrowed as he scrutinized Madam Chen. Madam Chen merely smiled. “Master Zhou is indeed a divine physician,” she chuckled. “Anyone who isn't blind, or not a physician, could see it,” Zhou Maochun snorted. “Why are you hiding this from Yueniang?” “I didn’t want her to be sad,” Madam Chen replied with a slight smile, sighing. “This child has no parents, no relatives left in this world; she is utterly alone.” Zhou Maochun scoffed and shook his head. “That’s only regarding blood relations. Who says that having no blood kin means one is utterly alone?” he countered. “Is she considered alone now?” Madam Chen’s gaze hardened with stubbornness. “It’s still not blood kin. No matter how good they are, they aren't blood kin, and nothing is better than blood kin!” she stated flatly.

The heart of a woman is truly inscrutable, Zhou Maochun thought, too tired to argue further. “So, what do you intend to do?” he asked directly. “I can help you keep it secret, but does keeping it secret from her stop you from dying?” Madam Chen lowered her head and gave him a slight bow. “Just let me get past this period,” she said. “She is busy right now, and she just suffered such a shock. She has finally started to recover. Rather than letting her worry day after day, it’s better to save the sorrow for that one day.” In Zhou Maochun’s eyes, matters of life and death like this were trivial; if one was meant to die, they died—it was unavoidable. Since it was unavoidable, what was there to be sad about? He pursed his lips and paid her no more attention.

When Qi Yue called everyone for dinner, Zhou Maochun had already finished writing the prescription. “Once every three days,” he instructed. Qi Yue glanced at it while quietly asking what the ailment was. “Congenitally weak, troubled by many thoughts, and an old affliction. In short, she is ill,” Zhou Maochun explained. Madam Chen’s father had died while she was pregnant; her mother must have been deeply grieved, making it common for such children to be born with inherent deficiencies. Qi Yue nodded. “This medicine is only taken once every three days?” she asked quietly. “Will that be enough?” Zhou Maochun glared and snatched the prescription back. “If you don’t like it, don’t take it,” he snapped. Qi Yue quickly smiled and snatched it back again. “Take it, take it,” she laughed, immediately ushering Zhou Maochun toward the table. “Adopted Father, you’ve worked hard, please sit and try the old duck soup I specially made for you.” Just as they were speaking, a servant announced that Marquis Dingxi had arrived. Zhou Maochun’s face immediately fell.

“Just in time for dinner, how coincidental,” Marquis Dingxi entered, chuckling heartily. “Coincidental my foot! Who told you to eat here? Is it appropriate for an elder uncle to dine here? Don't you have your own cook?” Zhou Maochun glared at him. Marquis Dingxi looked slightly abashed. “No, no, I didn't specifically come for a meal. I heard my sister-in-law was ill, so I came to check on her,” he quickly explained, pointing to the servants moving things in the courtyard. “I brought quite a few local specialties from Yongqing Mansion. I trust Sister-in-law will recover faster eating things she is accustomed to.” “More of those taro roots?” Zhou Maochun glared outward. “How much did you bring?” Marquis Dingxi chuckled sheepishly. “Well, well, you all enjoy your meal, I’ll be going then,” he said, though his feet were reluctant to move.

Since it was Madam Chen’s home, Qi Yue felt it improper to press him to stay. A maidservant hurried out from the back. “Madam requests that Your Lordship stay for the meal before departing,” she said after bowing. No sooner had she spoken than Marquis Dingxi sat down at the dining table. “Don’t be polite, don’t be polite,” he laughed loudly, picking up his bowl and chopsticks. Looking at the spread of dishes, “Excellent, excellent, very good, very good.” “Please try this, this is the soup I made,” Qi Yue said with a smile. Zhou Maochun started, quickly grabbing his own utensils, but he was a step too slow. Marquis Dingxi had already scooped a large bowl and was drinking it down. “Good, good.” He praised it, not minding the heat, and quickly finished it, reaching out for another ladle. Zhou Maochun tapped his chopsticks with his own. “Marquis Dingxi, can you show some restraint!” he shouted. The surrounding maids couldn’t help but lower their heads to laugh. Qi Yue let the commotion continue, while she went with the maid to the inner courtyard to serve Madam Chen her meal.

Madam Chen only took a small sip of the soup. “Don’t worry, I’m taking the medicine and recovering slowly. You know my health has always been fragile,” she comforted with a gentle smile. Qi Yue nodded, not pressing her to eat more, and sat beside her, keeping her company. The night deepened outside the window, and the night passed without incident.

The next day, Chang Yancheng did not get the vegetarian meal he anticipated; the Ministry of War urgently summoned him away. Qi Yue, too, remained busy preparing military supplies and medicine. Although Hu San was fully responsible, she couldn't simply be a hands-off manager. She still needed to lecture the disciples from Zhang Tong’s group and organize various teaching materials for Zhang Tong and the others to use when they reached the border, oversee Madam Chen’s medication, arrange regular follow-up visits for Zhou Maochun, and so on.

Eight days passed in a blink. Zhang Tong and the others departed, accompanied by Chang Yancheng. Even though he had been demoted, he still had to report for duty. “I still couldn't spend time with you…” Chang Yancheng said with a look of apology. “There is plenty of time,” Qi Yue laughed, patting his arm. “Once the first batch of supplies is ready, I will personally deliver it. The first stop will be wherever you are, okay?” Chang Yancheng smiled, gently stroking the hair at Qi Yue’s temples. Zhou Maochun coughed loudly from the side. “Coughing for what! Why didn't you just settle things sooner? Everything was fine, and now you must part again. When will you see each other next?” Marquis Dingxi immediately interjected. He had been nagging about this for two days. “What’s the rush? Nothing comes that easily!” Zhou Maochun retorted, glaring. “How can I not be anxious? Look, now that we have the Emperor’s decree, we can have the wedding today. Since they are all acquaintances, there’s no need for excessive formality. By the time Yuncheng returns, they could already be holding a child…” Marquis Dingxi pulled him aside to say. Zhou Maochun spat dismissively. Qi Yue and Chang Yancheng exchanged a smile. “Take care,” he said. Qi Yue nodded. “You take care too. I’ll come see you soon,” she smiled. Chang Yancheng nodded back.

The weather seemed to warm suddenly. At the Duke Deqing’s residence, the Old Madam Deqing was surrounded by her daughters-in-law and senior maids. “What’s all this new clothing? I’m this old; people don’t see me anyway. One set of clothes will do from winter till summer,” the Old Madam stated. Everyone in the room laughed. “The Old Madam is saving for her children and grandchildren,” a senior maid chimed in playfully. “Oh, right, Xue Niang’s clothes cannot be forgotten either,” Old Madam Deqing suddenly remembered, saying. A daughter-in-law quickly affirmed. “I’ve already sent someone,” she replied. “I heard something about Xue Niang? Is she ill?” the Old Madam asked, settling down. “Yes. When I visited a few days ago, she looked quite unwell and said she was taking medicine,” the daughter-in-law answered. The Old Madam sighed, then stood up again. “I will go see her. She refuses to come see us, so I will go to her,” she declared. Her attendants rushed to dissuade her, mentioning the heat, the need to prepare the carriage, and the general commotion, when a maidservant ran in from outside. “The Eldest Miss has returned!” they exclaimed. This announcement caused everyone to freeze. “Which Eldest Miss?” a daughter-in-law quickly inquired. Before the question was answered, a middle-aged woman strode in—it was the young lady who had married into the Rao family of Shandong. “Why are you back at this hour?” the daughter-in-law rushed to ask. The woman paid no attention, didn't wait for an introduction, and sat down on a nearby chair. “Mother, Xue Niang is trying to destroy our family,” she stated immediately, wiping tears with a handkerchief.

(In closing, if there are any oversights, please remind me; I tend to rush towards the end. Also, this is the last month. Regardless of whether you enjoy the current plot, please vote for me out of consideration for the time you have enjoyed it previously. Thank you.)