“Who is defiling whom?” Madame Rao Chen, utterly blindsided by the counter-attack, snapped, her anger making her dizzy. “That Xie woman…” Her words cut short as a person emerged from behind Madam Xie and immediately knelt before Madame Rao Chen, weeping silently while covering their mouth.

Madame Rao Chen couldn't finish her sentence before feeling faint with fury once more.

“You shameless creature…” she managed, pointing a trembling finger at Rao Yufang.

“Who is shameless?”

Madam Xie interrupted her, her voice chillingly low. “Only those whose sisters acted shamelessly first would dare accuse others of being shameless.”

Madame Rao Chen’s hand shifted from Rao Yufang to Madam Xie, her face turning ashen, her lips quivering.

“I—” She opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a word, involuntarily raising her hand to strike.

The Duchess of Deqing quickly reached out to restrain her, and the serving women rushed forward.

“Go on, strike me! You people of the high and mighty Deqing Dukedom, strike me a few times and be done with it, I’ll accept it,” Madam Xie sneered.

“It’s all my fault, Auntie, please strike me,” Rao Yufang cried, crawling on her knees toward Madame Rao Chen.

The room instantly dissolved into chaos.

“Let’s all speak calmly. What is this display? We are relatives,” the Duchess of Deqing insisted, having one servant help Madame Rao Chen to a seat, then inviting Madam Xie to sit, and asking Rao Yufang to rise.

Everyone sat down except for Rao Yufang, who refused to move, while both Madame Rao Chen and Madam Xie were seated.

The serving women in the room ushered Madam Xie’s attendants to go rest.

Madam Xie’s attendant hesitated, unwilling to leave.

“Go on. It’s fine. We are already in their home; if anything truly untoward happened, guarding me would be useless,” Madam Xie said with a pointed, veiled tone.

The Duchess of Deqing’s expression grew slightly awkward.

The serving women retreated, and the Duchess finally addressed the matter. “Madam Xie, what exactly is—”

Before she could finish, Madame Rao Chen, having regained some composure, cut in first.

“Your Marquisate of Dingxi lured my daughter away, and you still have the nerve to show up at our door?” she fumed.

Madam Xie let out a scornful laugh.

“Whether I’m sitting at home or whether we are in Shandong or the capital,” she stated, “separated by a hundred thousand li. I must be quite remarkable to have successfully lured away your daughter. I’d rather ask what is happening in your Rao family that has driven a young lady to flee thousands of li alone to seek refuge with relatives.” She shook her head, making a few sharp tutting sounds.

Madame Rao Chen again felt her vision darken with rage. She looked at Rao Yufang, still kneeling and weeping at her feet.

“You—you want to go to your maternal grandparents’ house? Fine, very well! Servants!” she called out.

“Servants! Prepare the carriage! Send the young lady off properly, and tell the Duan family that I, as her aunt, am utterly incompetent…” Hearing this, Rao Yufang’s cries intensified.

The Duchess of Deqing closed her eyes briefly.

“Everyone, speak civilly!” she suddenly commanded sharply.

Silence reigned for a brief moment.

“As expected of the Duchess of Deqing. Truly imposing authority,” Madam Xie remarked coolly.

“Madam Xie,” the Duchess of Deqing looked at her, her demeanor serious. “We are relatives. Let’s set aside other matters. If my household has given offense, tell me, and I will certainly provide satisfaction.” She then looked toward Madame Rao Chen. “Sister, give me, your elder sister-in-law, some face. Yufang’s situation is already this way. The most important thing is to discuss how to salvage this; dwelling on past grievances is pointless.”

Since she had spoken, and given her status, both Madam Xie and Madame Rao Chen managed to suppress their tempers slightly and sat properly.

“Offense? I wouldn’t dare claim such a thing,” Madam Xie said coldly. “I merely wish to ask this Lady Rao: since you promised a marriage alliance, and we even complied with your demands, why did you suddenly renege on the engagement?” The Duchess of Deqing knew nothing of the original arrangement; she had only heard a vague summary whispered by a junior relative’s wife—it seemed Chen Xue had acted as the matchmaker, but somehow the marriage failed and turned into enmity instead. The Duchess instinctively looked at Madame Rao Chen.

Madame Rao Chen’s face was unsightly.

“We reneged? After you performed such a public humiliation, who would dare still discuss marriage with you! If you didn’t want the marriage, fine! Don’t bully people like this!” she retorted, equally coldly.

“What did we do?” Madam Xie demanded. “Clearly, you were the ones who broke your word—”

“You actually summoned an Imperial Edict! Who would dare seek a match with you after that! Did your Marquisate of Dingxi take us for fools?” Madame Rao Chen stood up, enraged.

Madam Xie paused in surprise. “Our Imperial Edict was not to grant your daughter the superior position of the main wife?” she asked, frowning.

Madame Rao Chen spat disdainfully. “Your Lady divorcing based on the Edict—was that meant to honor us? That was clearly meant to slap our face!” she shouted, pointing at her own face. “Anyone who sought marriage with you would effectively be holding their face out to be slapped by the Emperor!”

It was because of this, Madam Xie suddenly realized—no wonder every potential matchmaker backed away later! This realization added fuel to her existing anger.

“Good! As expected, you sisters harbor ill intentions! To deliberately humiliate my house like this!” Madam Xie leaped up abruptly, her eyebrows arched in fury.

Madame Rao Chen became even more enraged. “I humiliate your house? You are the ones who humiliated mine! What were your intentions, bringing forth such an Edict! Thank goodness it wasn't revealed sooner, or our entire Rao family would have been the joke of the capital!” She also stood up, glaring at Madam Xie.

The Duchess of Deqing now understood the crux of the matter.

“Who exactly summoned that Edict of separation?” she asked, looking between the two women.

“Her!” Madam Xie and Madame Rao Chen simultaneously pointed at the other. Then both froze.

The Duchess of Deqing looked at them both.

“Are we ill? Summoning two Imperial Edicts?” Madam Xie scoffed. “Our family doesn't have that kind of audacity.”

“I know you don’t have that audacity,” Madame Rao Chen spat back. “Didn’t you ask Sister Xue to petition for it? She holds considerable influence in the palace.”

“What we? Clearly, you didn’t want the marriage and played us! You sisters schemed to get this Edict for us!” Madam Xie shot back immediately.

Having said this, neither spoke further, staring at the other. The Duchess of Deqing slowly stood up, having mostly figured things out.

“Chen Xueliang!” Madam Xie and Madame Rao Chen spoke in unison once more.

After that moment of silence, one woman turned to rush out, while the other watched the Duchess.

“Call Chen Xue out! I must have an qīngchu from her!” Madam Xie trembled all over with anger, striking her chest. “I treated her with all my heart and soul; why would she treat me this way!”

“I will find her and demand an qīngchu! I knew it was her doing! That black-hearted wretch, has she no regard for blood ties!” Madame Rao Chen also shouted, shaking with fury.

Before the last word left her mouth and as she reached the doorway, someone arrived from outside.

“Who is it you are looking for an qīngchu from?” The Old Madam of Deqing stood at the threshold, her aged figure trembling slightly, sweeping the room with a grave expression. “First, give me an qīngchu before you speak to anyone else.”

While the domestic turmoil raged, Qi Yue remained unaware on the second floor.

She slept peacefully until morning, though today she awoke feeling listless.

“I told you, next time we definitely can go. Before the New Year, for sure,” A'ru said, torn between exasperation and amusement.

Qi Yue simply hummed.

“I know, but surely my spirits need time to recover, right?” she murmured languidly.

A'hao fetched cosmetics and lightly dusted her face. “Then use powder to supplement. See? You look much more spirited now,” she observed critically in the mirror.

Qi Yue grinned at her reflection. “Fine. Let’s get to work.” She clenched a fist.

Today was the official opening day for the Thousand Gold Hall, but since it was merely a formality, the event was simple. Everyone was preoccupied with the pharmaceutical factory, leaving no staff available for consultations here.

After the firecrackers had popped and sputtered their final bursts, Liu Pucheng and the others entered the room. All necessary furnishings were in place, but the physicians and assistants were missing.

“If you are looking to hire staff, I wager the entire street is already lined up,” Old Master An chuckled, looking at Hu San. “Chief Steward Hu, you haven’t dared return home these past few days, have you? People waiting to use connections have likely clogged your doorway.” This comment made everyone laugh. It wasn’t just those seeking jobs as assistants; the pharmaceutical factory involved every aspect, and originally everyone relied on connections through the Ministry of War. Unexpectedly, the Ministry of War remained stubbornly silent. Upon inquiry, they discovered that all authority now rested in the hands of the Thousand Gold Hall. So, a throng of people swarmed to the Hall, only to find it wasn't even open. Consequently, they all ended up hounding Hu San, treating him to feasts, wine, and gifts—nothing was too much—until Hu San was thoroughly vexed and hiding everywhere. Even Hu San, who usually enjoyed such adoration, couldn't bear it anymore.

“Senior Brother, stop teasing me. I’m truly about to lose my mind from the trouble,” he chuckled sheepishly.

A'ru shot him a look.

“Esteemed Elder An, Esteemed Elder An,” Hu San quickly corrected himself. “Without those troublesome crowds around, I don’t need to rely on Elder An’s reputation to maintain a front.” Old Master An laughed heartily. “It is my honor,” he replied with a smile.

“Since we are opening, we must celebrate properly at noon. I’ve booked the vegetarian meal at Dajue Temple; it is quiet there, and we can also pray for good fortune,” Hu San proposed.

Qi Yue’s eyes brightened, but she immediately thought of something. “You all go ahead, I think I won’t attend.”

Hu San became anxious. “Master, everyone else can skip, but you cannot,” he insisted.

Old Master An also advised with a gentle smile. “You can skip other times, but today you must be present.”

Everyone urged her, so Qi Yue finally agreed. The group boarded carriages and headed toward Dajue Temple.

“What kind of clinic is this? Why close right after opening?” People on the street gathered around, pointing curiously. Two or three well-dressed individuals looked over, catching sight of Old Master An boarding a carriage. Their brows furrowed, and they glanced at the newly hung sign reading 'Thousand Gold Hall.'

“Hey, isn’t that the old white-haired man?” “It’s him! He actually dares to open a clinic!” “He’s tired of living! Let’s go tell the Young Prince!” A few people pushed through the crowd and ran off.

Led by a few young monks, Qi Yue entered the vegetarian dining hall. As expected, it was entirely empty; only A'hao followed behind her. On the way over, Hu San had been urgently called back to the factory, then Old Master An had an old acquaintance seeking urgent consultation, and finally, even Liu Pucheng and A'ru were summoned away by Hu San. Qi Yue had to arrive alone first.

“They are all so busy, yet they insist on having a meal,” she remarked, sitting down.

“They’ll be done soon. We absolutely have to eat,” A'hao chirped cheerfully, then turned to the young monk. “What vegetarian dishes do you have? Where is the kitchen? Let me take a look.”

“Oh, stop making trouble and just sit down and wait,” Qi Yue called out.

A'hao paid her no mind. “Let me just check! In case there’s something Madam doesn’t like, we can ask them to change it.” Smiling, she followed the young monk out before Qi Yue could speak again.

Qi Yue shook her head. Alone in the large pavilion, she leaned by the window, gazing at the magnolia tree outside. The tree was bare of blossoms now. As she watched, a solitary figure strolled slowly beneath the tree.

Qi Yue’s dull gaze swept over the figure, then snapped to attention. She sprang up, looking again, but the person had already passed by, walking straight ahead with an air of leisurely contentment.

“Hey!” she couldn’t help but shout. Was she seeing things? Or someone familiar? Had she just seen Chang Yuncheng? As her cry broke the silence, the man a few paces away stopped and turned back, offering her a smile.

Qi Yue slapped the table, ready to leap out the window. What ‘similar’? What ‘seeing things’? It was him! Oh my heavens! Just as she stood up, a burst of messy laughter erupted from outside the door.

“Surprise!” A'hao jumped in, shouting, followed by A'ru and Hu San; even Liu Pucheng was smiling.

Tears welled up in Qi Yue’s eyes as she rushed three steps toward the door. “You rascals! That was my idea! My idea! And you sold it to him!” she yelled.

A'hao and the others dispersed, laughing, as Chang Yuncheng reached the doorway. Qi Yue rushed forward a few steps, and Chang Yuncheng quickly opened his arms, catching her securely.

It really was him! *****(Will paste raw text first, revise typos upon returning from dinner… To be continued…)RT