"For no reason at all, she never contacts home throughout the year, how could she have gotten into trouble with you now?" the old Madam asked, puzzled.
Madam Chen dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief, her face wan and clearly distressed by genuine worry.
"That's a question you should ask her; what exactly does she intend to do?" she choked out.
The maidservants from the Rao family who followed in were led away, leaving only a few of the Chen family's daughters-in-law, some bringing hot tea, others hot water and towels. No one rushed to question her; they attended to her meticulously.
"The Second Son-in-law is here too?" the old Madam asked those outside.
Before the daughters-in-law could reply, Madam Rao Chen, who was finishing wiping her face, put down the towel.
"He still dares to go out? He's lost all face," she declared, tears that had just stopped threatening to fall again.
The old Madam quickly waved a hand.
"Oh, that's enough, just say whatever you need to say quickly! What happened? When did you arrive in the capital?" she inquired.
"Just arrived," Madam Rao Chen said, picking up her teacup and drinking deeply, obviously parched.
The old Madam immediately called for food to be prepared.
"Mother, how can I possibly eat right now," Madam Rao Chen put down her teacup and said, "Where is Xue Niang? Have her come see me."
The old Madam shot her a withering look.
"Tell me what's wrong first," she commanded.
"Mother, it's all because you spoiled her like this," Madam Rao Chen said, slapping her handkerchief onto the table.
A maidservant bowed her head and entered from outside the door.
"Old Madam, the Eldest Master is asking if the Second Madam's return means there is some urgent matter?" she murmured.
The Eldest Master was Chen Xue's full brother. Both he and his wife were in poor health, quietly recuperating and practicing Daoism in the adjacent courtyard, rarely venturing out or engaging with others. It seemed the Second Madam's arrival had caused quite a stir.
"My eldest brother? Yes, there is a matter. I will go see my sister-in-law later," Madam Rao Chen replied.
The old Madam glared at her daughter.
"You're already forty or fifty, about to be a grandmother, and still so thoughtless," she scolded softly, then turned to the maidservant, "Tell the Eldest Master it's nothing important, and have him copy out the Taishang Ganying Pian for me when he has leisure."
The maidservant acknowledged with a 'yes' and withdrew.
"We can't control her, let her own elder brother and sister-in-law manage her," Madam Rao Chen continued.
"Stop talking nonsense and tell me what the actual issue is!" the old Madam shouted, slamming the table.
The old Madam was growing older, with more moments of confusion, but when her temper flared, she remained just as formidable.
Madam Rao Chen dared not throw a tantrum again.
"It’s all about my husband's younger brother's child, Yu Fang," she stated.
"Oh, that girl who can't be hit or scolded, who runs to cry outside your younger uncle's old residence at the drop of a hat?" the old Madam recalled.
"Yes, I almost wish I could treat her like an ancestor, why did I ever take on this hot potato!" Madam Rao Chen exhaled, pouting, "She's just like Xue Niang."
The old Madam slapped the table again with a sharp crack.
"What is she? What is her father? How dare you compare her to Xue Niang!" she roared angrily, "Do you have a serious matter or not? If not, get out of here quickly."
She was truly angered now. The maids and daughters-in-law in the room rushed to mediate and signaled Madam Rao Chen urgently.
Madam Rao Chen reluctantly offered an apology.
"It's like this: Xue Niang said she wanted to arrange a marriage match for Yu Fang, and I believed her," she said, not daring to speak carelessly again, cutting to the chase.
The old Madam snorted.
"You believed she could marry that child far away, didn't you?" she queried.
A mother knows her daughter best; Madam Rao Chen gave a sheepish smile.
"Mother, I swear to Heaven, I truly, wholeheartedly want what is best for Yu Fang," she said, her expression smoothing out, "This isn't just about my reputation, it's about the Rao family's honor too. I have put my utmost effort into caring for her."
This point was undeniable, and the old Madam’s expression softened.
"And then what happened? Did the matchmaking turn into a feud?" she asked.
Madam Rao Chen glanced at the people in the room and picked up her tea.
Those in the room understood immediately.
"I'll go check on the kitchen and tell them to add more dishes."
"Since Second Miss has returned, she will stay here for the day. I'll go see about tidying up their rooms."
The daughters-in-law spoke one after another, smiling as they led their own people out. The door to the outer room and the conversation within were closed off.
As night descended, Qi Yue watched Madam Chen drink her medicine.
"You don't have to watch me like this all the time; I'm not a child," Madam Chen said with a laugh.
Qi Yue smiled and handed her some preserved fruit.
Madam Chen didn't take it.
"I take more medicine than I eat food; I hardly need this," she chuckled, looking at Qi Yue, "Has His Majesty sent for you these past few days?"
Qi Yue turned to put the plate away.
"Why would the Emperor look for me?" she laughed.
Madam Chen raised a hand to wipe her mouth.
"Those matters with the pharmaceutical factories you arranged—are they proceeding well? Is His Majesty still satisfied?" she inquired.
Qi Yue hummed in acknowledgment.
"Everything is fine. You can trust me with my work," she smiled.
"I've never truly trusted your work," Madam Chen shook her head, looking at Qi Yue, "Go rest now. You're overexerting yourself. If you stay up late again, your complexion and spirit won't look good."
Qi Yue casually touched her face and cheerfully agreed.
As soon as she entered her own room, Ah Hao jumped over, waving a letter.
"A letter from the Crown Prince!" she shouted.
Qi Yue quickly reached out to take it, tearing open the envelope while skillfully kicking off her shoes, then flopping down onto the kang bed in one fluid motion.
A Ru sighed resignedly as she followed behind to tidy up.
"Tea or goat's milk?" Ah Hao asked, habitually picking up two cups.
Qi Yue opened the letter; a squashed piece of dried grass fell out—a small, woven rabbit.
"Tea!" she called out with a smile.
This was clearly the start of a sleepless night. A Ru hurriedly snatched the tea from Ah Hao.
"Why are you encouraging her foolishness," she said, placing a cup of goat's milk in front of Qi Yue. "Sleep early. You can see the Crown Prince in your dreams, be as sweet as you want, which is certainly better than sitting up half the night staring at a letter and grinning foolishly."
Qi Yue laughed loudly, tilting her head back and drinking the goat's milk as if it were fine wine, earning another complaint from A Ru.
"He left so quickly; he's already halfway there by now," Qi Yue lay on the bed, turning over onto her stomach, looking at the letter. "His handwriting is truly beautiful."
"Yes, the Marquis hired the best tutor to teach him. The Crown Prince was beaten quite a few times as a child just for practicing his calligraphy," Ah Hao said, sitting on a small stool by the bed and sewing a shoe.
Qi Yue turned over again, lying flat on her back.
"...And the writing is so formal, 'A day apart feels like three years,' and she even added the particle 'xi'..." she chuckled.
A Ru entered carrying two garments.
"Listen, you’ve been reading it all evening. We all know how much the Crown Prince misses Madam Qi. Please stop reciting it now," she said with mock pleading.
Qi Yue laughed.
"I will read it, I know you are all envious of me," she replied.
"Sister A Ru wouldn't envy you; she gets to see her husband every day. You should envy Sister A Ru instead," Ah Hao said, her big eyes wide.
Qi Yue let out a sound of amusement, then nodded and smiled.
"You little imp!" A Ru, surprised the conversation had turned to her, was both shy and amused, reaching out to pinch Ah Hao's ear.
Ah Hao ran toward Qi Yue to hide.
Laughter and noise filled the room.
After the mirth died down, A Ru folded the clothes she was holding to one side.
"What are these clothes for?" Qi Yue asked.
"They are for the Prince Consort," Ah Hao said.
A Ru reached out and gently held Ah Hao's head down, causing Ah Hao to quickly say she wouldn't dare again.
"They are for the Crown Prince's summer wear," A Ru explained, looking at Ah Hao, "What about the shoes you made? Are they finished? You only know how to play all day."
"They are done, they are done! This is the second pair," Ah Hao quickly assured her.
Qi Yue then understood what the two maids were sewing every night.
"You still have to make clothes for him?" she teased.
"We used to make three seasons' worth of clothing for the Crown Prince. Every time we sent them, it was a huge bag," Ah Hao gestured to illustrate.
It was just a pity that the Crown Prince never accepted them back then; the finished clothes piled up in the room every season.
Perhaps thinking of the past, Ah Hao's expression grew a little wistful.
That feeling was something Qi Yue had never experienced.
"Oh, this one is really nice. Too bad I can't do needlework, or I'd make one too," she said cheerfully.
"Eh?" Ah Hao looked up at her, clearly surprised. "Mistress, your needlework is quite good too."
A Ru cleared her throat.
"It's getting late. Go to sleep. You have much to do tomorrow," she said, picking up the clothes and shoes. "How much is left? I can help you finish it tonight."
Ah Hao's attention was diverted.
"No, no need. I’ll finish it shortly," she said.
The two maids extinguished the lights in the room one by one, leaving only one lamp lit, and drew the curtain separating the sleeping area.
"No more smiling foolishly at letters and staying up late," A Ru warned before leaving.
Qi Yue tucked the letter under her pillow and closed her eyes, resting her head on the pillow.
A Ru let out a small burst of laughter and closed the door as she left.
The light in the outer room was extinguished. The dim moonlight filtered in. After hearing the footsteps fade away, Qi Yue opened her eyes and fished the letter out from under the pillow. The room was too dark to see clearly, but it didn't matter; she had already memorized it. She pressed the paper against her heart, murmuring every word to herself.
The clothes and the letter were soon packed and sent off, and Qi Yue began waiting for the next correspondence.
"The shop has been found, Master. I've consulted with several diviners on auspicious dates. Which one do you think is suitable?" Hu San handed Qi Yue a document.
"I don't understand this stuff. Master Liu, you just choose whatever looks good," Qi Yue said, looking toward Liu Pu Cheng.
Liu Pu Cheng didn't decline and nodded in agreement.
"The first batch of finished samples for the medicinal supplies is ready, Master, come take a look," Hu San quickly brought up the next item.
Qi Yue nodded happily.
"Let's go right now," she said, immediately getting up without another word.
She was stopped just before leaving the door.
"His Majesty requires me?" Qi Yue asked the approaching eunuch with some surprise.
"Yes, Madam Qi, please hurry," the eunuch said with a smile.
The Boss is the greatest, Qi Yue nodded.
"Go and bring me some samples," she instructed Hu San.
As one carriage left the alley, another entered. Upon seeing the imperial attendant, they quickly stopped to let the royal vehicle pass.
"What? Has Xue Niang entered the palace?" the old Madam of Duke Deqing asked as the curtain was lifted.
"It doesn't seem so. It's that Madam Qi, isn't it?" the servant outside the carriage replied.
As the carriage drew closer, the old Madam of Duke Deqing did not lower her curtain.
That Madam Qi. She mused inwardly, then saw the carriage suddenly lift its curtain, and a woman peered out.
"Oh, right, Hu San, bring some of the syringes and such too," she instructed.
Hu San acknowledged with a 'yes.'
Qi Yue let the curtain fall.
The carriage proceeded at a measured pace.
The coachman on this side prepared to lead the horses.
"Old Madam, hold steady..." a wet nurse beside her said, then turned around and gasped in shock, "Old Madam, what is wrong with you?"
That cry immediately drew all the accompanying servants rushing over. They saw the old Madam of Duke Deqing clutching her chest, panting heavily—or rather, barely exhaling, her face already turning blue.
One wet nurse quickly fetched a porcelain bottle, opened it, and held it under the Old Madam's nose. Another heavily patted the Old Madam’s back. With two gasping sounds, the Old Madam finally caught her breath.
"I, I, I..." she gasped, her voice trembling, her gaze fixed fiercely in one direction, unable to articulate anything for a long moment.
It seemed, it seemed!