Cai Zhong slowly approached.

"Your Majesty, tea."

He bowed as he spoke, holding out two cups.

The Emperor glanced over, took one, and sipped it slowly, saying nothing.

Cai Zhong felt this was the most unsettling choice he had ever made; he edged the tray he was holding closer to Qi Yue.

Qi Yue, already feeling a little dry-mouthed from talking, casually took a cup.

"Thank you," she murmured out of habit, setting down a needle with one hand. "Sewing is like this—it relies on the coordination of the scissors and tweezers; it's different from making clothes."

The Emperor clutched his teacup and let out a soft sound.

"Truly marvelous. How did people even conceive of these things?"

He said with a faint smile.

Cai Zhong, who had been bowing, slowly straightened up and retreated, letting out a quiet breath.

Qi Yue finished the last sip.

"It's the accumulation of experience across generations," she replied, tapping her temple and smiling with narrowed eyes. "Human potential is limitless."

The Emperor watched her and offered a slight smile in return.

Qi Yue began putting the items from before back into the box.

A young eunuch entered from outside, whispered a few words next to Cai Zhong, who nodded and then moved toward the Emperor.

The young eunuch couldn't help but widen his eyes in astonishment, clearly taken aback by what Cai Zhong was about to do.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Kitchen asks if you would like to order a meal."

Cai Zhong approached a few steps and inquired with a smile.

Was it already noon? Qi Yue quickly looked at the sky outside; the Emperor also seemed surprised, glancing at the hourglass beside him.

Since the hostess—this "humble citizen"—needed to eat, Qi Yue quickly bowed to take her leave.

The Emperor had already spoken first.

"Lady Qi has tasted My tea; why not sample the Imperial cuisine as well?"

He said with a gentle smile.

The young eunuch standing nearby finally seemed to understand, and the look he gave Cai Zhong was filled with immense admiration. No wonder he's the Grand Steward...

"Your Majesty, this humble woman should return now," Qi Yue hesitated before saying.

The moment those words left her mouth, it seemed the very air in the room stilled.

The young eunuchs were speechless, and Cai Zhong’s expression twisted in disbelief.

Someone had actually... refused the Emperor's invitation to dine... Imperial cuisine... The high-ranking civil and military officials present could count on one hand how many times they had been so honored. No, the crucial point was, she refused the Emperor! Cai Zhong would have bet money this woman had no idea what she was saying.

The Emperor, too, seemed slightly taken aback, but his expression remained unchanged, still smiling as he looked at her.

"Madam Chen is ill, and her foster father prescribed this medicinal diet for her to eat for three days. She doesn't take good care of herself; if I don't watch her, she won't eat it," Qi Yue said earnestly, completely unfazed.

I will die, echoed in the Emperor's mind, his expression momentarily hardening.

He gave an affirming sound.

"It’s not that you feel uncomfortable dining with Me, Lady Qi, is it?" he suddenly added.

Qi Yue quickly waved her hands.

"No, no, Your Majesty is such a kind person. I was uncomfortable at first, but that feeling is entirely gone now," she assured him.

The Emperor laughed.

"I am such a kind person?" he echoed.

"That’s because you haven't seen the side of Me that isn't kind."

"Then I still haven't seen the good side of Your Majesty," Qi Yue replied again.

Her phrasing was a bit convoluted, causing Cai Zhong to pause and try to decipher it internally, while the Emperor burst into laughter.

"Your Majesty."

Qi Yue was about to kowtow and take her leave when she nearly forgot to ask about an important matter and quickly spoke up again.

The Emperor watched her.

"What is it? Have you changed your mind again?" he asked with a smile.

This Emperor spoke with such casual ease.

"Your Majesty. You have seen all the samples just now. Once the first batch of supplies is ready, this humble woman will personally deliver them to the border." Qi Yue stated.

The Emperor hummed in acknowledgement.

Qi Yue let out a sigh of relief, bowed deeply once more, and started to retreat toward the exit.

"Wait. What did you say?" the Emperor asked suddenly.

Did he not hear just now? Was he distracted? Qi Yue quickly repeated what she had just said.

"You... are going?" The Emperor tilted his head slightly to look at her.

"Yes, since this humble woman designed it, it’s best if I deliver it personally, to prevent them from not knowing how to use it," Qi Yue explained.

The Emperor gave a faint smile.

"If I can use it, why wouldn't they be able to?" he countered.

Huh? Qi Yue was stunned again. What did he mean?

The Emperor watched her stand still.

"You are not permitted to go," he commanded.

With that final word, he turned and walked toward the exit.

Not permitted to go? Qi Yue snapped back to attention.

"Your Majesty!" she called out quickly.

The Emperor paid her no mind, already reaching the doorway with unhurried grace. Qi Yue tried to follow, but Cai Zhong quickly blocked her path.

"Oh, Lady Qi, you mustn't do that," he cautioned, his tone slightly admonishing.

"But—" Qi Yue was about to protest further when Cai Zhong cut her off, giving a sharp glance to a young eunuch.

"Why are you still standing there? Quickly, help the Lady carry her things!" he snapped.

Instantly, several young eunuchs rushed forward, and one managed, through sheer luck, to snatch the box from Qi Yue’s hands. Qi Yue had no choice but to leave.

As she walked out of the palace gates, seeing A'ru and A'hao waiting happily with the baggage, Qi Yue finally let out a breath.

"Could it be... these things aren't good enough?" A'ru asked, noticing her slightly anxious expression.

"No, the Emperor was very pleased," Qi Yue replied, pouting slightly.

"Then—" A'hao asked, puzzled.

"The Emperor won't let me go," Qi Yue revealed once she was in the carriage.

A'ru and A'hao exchanged a look.

"Why?" they asked in unison.

"I don't know," Qi Yue huffed, thinking about not being able to see Chang Yuncheng, feeling that no matter how hard she tried, her face refused to relax, seemingly only capable of sinking lower.

"It’s alright, it’s alright. This trip was too rushed, and we just got back from that area. It’s good to rest a bit. We can go again in the second half of the year; those medicines and supplies aren't only being delivered once," A'ru consoled her.

That was the only way to think about it. Indeed, the matter of the pharmaceutical factory was just beginning, and it truly required manpower; relying only on Hu San and Liu Pucheng would likely be too much for them.

"Then I absolutely must go for the second batch. Even if the Emperor of Heaven himself stands in the way, it won't stop me," Qi Yue declared, finally managing to rally her spirits.

Returning home, she ate with Madam Chen. Madam Chen carefully asked what she had discussed with the Emperor, and Qi Yue recounted the events, which delighted Madam Chen, instantly improving her spirits.

"The Emperor even offered me Imperial cuisine," Qi Yue laughed. "Though I didn't dare eat it."

Cai Qing, standing nearby, looked surprised, but Madam Chen appeared quite placid, as if this outcome had long been anticipated.

"It was better not to eat it this time," she said with a gentle smile. "Someone like the Emperor... this is actually better."

Qi Yue nodded, although their reasons for agreement were different.

After watching Qi Yue depart, Madam Chen wearily leaned back against the bolster, lacking the strength to even open her eyes.

"Madam," Cai Qing couldn't help but choke back a sob.

"What are you crying for?" Madam Chen said softly with her eyes closed, a slight smile touching her lips. "Now... this is good."

Cai Qing nodded, sobbing in agreement.

A profound stillness settled in the room.

When Qi Yue left the palace gates, the Old Madam of Duke Deqing's household had also finished her conversation.

Master Chen, with a heavy expression, remained silent for a moment.

"I'm going to see Xue Niang," he finally said.

The Old Madam of Duke Deqing sighed.

"If she doesn't want to say, she won't," she remarked.

"If she truly wishes for our Chen family to become childless and utterly ruined," Master Chen stated flatly.

"You talk to her gently; her health isn't good," the Old Madam advised him again.

Master Chen offered a wry smile and bowed to the Old Madam.

"What are you doing like that? Everything is fine." The Old Madam shook her head.

"Aunt, we have caused you trouble," Master Chen said, straightening up. He managed another wry smile. "The words of the Founding Emperor long ago were correct: Xue Niang is truly an ungrateful viper who cannot be tamed."

The Old Madam of Duke Deqing interrupted him with a drawn-out sound.

"Don't speak of her like that; she was very young then," she said. "She was easily misled by a few words and did some absurd things."

Master Chen shook his head.

"What one is like at three, one is like at old age," he countered, bowing to the Old Madam once more. "Aunt, please go and rest; don't worry about this. I will go ask her what exactly happened."

"Now I don't actually want you to go and ask," the Old Madam of Duke Deqing said, hesitating. "Perhaps I should go. She didn't grow up with you all; she was actually closer to me."

"For her sake, closeness is useless," Master Chen replied, helping steady the Old Madam. "Go rest, Aunt. I will visit her in a few days."

The Old Madam could only sigh and say no more, being supported by her maids back to her own quarters. After all, she was elderly; having been running around half the day and speaking so much, her spirit flagged, and she fell asleep as soon as she lay down; even those waiting to administer her medicine couldn't wake her.

Even though Madam Chen hadn't left yet, after tidying her things, she came to check on the Old Madam. The Old Madam didn't suggest she stay, so she went to bid farewell to Madam Duke Deqing.

"Since you’ve returned, stay for a few more days at home," Madam Duke Deqing suggested.

"Stay for what? Anyway, Mother doesn't welcome me," Madam Rao Chen stated.

Madam Duke Deqing quickly patted her hand with a smile.

"Sister, please don't say that. Mother mentions you all the time, saying that since you married so far away, she practically raised you for nothing," she said with a laugh.

"She should be mentioning Xue Niang, shouldn't she?" Madam Rao Chen said sourly.

Although Madam Duke Deqing didn't know exactly what had happened, she understood it was related to Xue Niang.

"Sister, the closer you are, the more casual things become," she reasoned. "Don't you know this yourself?" Her own household was fostering the orphaned daughter of her husband's younger brother; compared to her own children, she couldn't scold or lecture her, and treating her too well only resulted in lacking that innate closeness, feeling more like mutual respect between colleagues.

Madam Rao Chen immediately understood and put on a smile.

"I came in a rush; there are a pile of things needing sorting out at my own home. I will come back in a few days," she said with a smile.

The two were chatting and laughing when they reached the main hall and saw two maids hurrying in.

"Madam, the wife of Marquis Dingxi has arrived," they announced, holding a calling card.

Marquis Dingxi's wife? Madam Duke Deqing and Madam Rao Chen exchanged surprised glances.

"Good timing!" Madam Rao Chen said, her eyebrows raised, her smile vanishing completely.

Before her words had even fully landed, Madam Xie entered, preceded by several maids. She paused momentarily upon seeing the two women in the hall. They were distant acquaintances; she had only met them once when Madam Chen married. She didn't immediately recognize who was who.

"You still dare to show your face?" Madam Rao Chen strode forward a few paces, her voice filled with indignation.

"Second Sister, let's speak kindly," Madam Duke Deqing quickly intervened, offering a slight bow. "Madam Xie."

Hearing her speak, Madam Xie could distinguish between the two. She scrutinized Madam Rao Chen up and down.

"Well, sisters are indeed close; gathering here so quickly." Madam Xie let out a cold laugh, then stepped over the threshold and looked at Madam Rao Chen. "Have you two sisters conspired on how to ruin me again?" (You must have been very surprised by the third watch post at eleven last night; I was very surprised too!~~~~>)