As dawn broke, the great gates of the Chen household, which had only just been closed late last night, were knocked upon once more.

Qi Yue, who hadn't slept a wink, was roused by A'Ru and emerged after only a brief wash and grooming.

Zhou Maochun paced back and forth in the room, his face tight with indignation.

"Yue Niang, only yesterday did I learn why you sought a divorce."

He spoke in a rush of anger.

A'Ru and A'Hao both looked on, curious and bewildered.

Qi Yue offered a slight smile.

"Did Godfather meet with Madam Xie?" she inquired, personally pouring tea as she spoke.

She didn't need to ask what had transpired yesterday; she knew. Given Xie Shi's temperament, perhaps only Old Madam Xie understood her better.

"She is an absolute lunatic," Zhou Maochun cursed. "Yue Niang, why would we involve ourselves with such a family?"

"Indeed, it is quite vexing," Qi Yue sighed as well.

Seeing her understanding, Zhou Maochun let go of his cautious, veiled manner of speaking and plainly recounted the events of the previous day.

"This is clearly aimed straight at you," he stated angrily. "Though I haven't married and have no parents to guide me through such messy affairs, even I can see that with a mother-in-law like that, no matter how much that Chang Yuncheng cares for you, life there would be unlivable."

Qi Yue let out another breath. So that was it. She had presumed Madam Xie would strongly oppose the match, but she never imagined Xie Shi had already secured a potential replacement bride.

Watching Qi Yue remain silent, Zhou Maochun felt a surge of sympathy.

"However, Yue Niang, do not worry. We do not fear her. With Godfather here, I stand behind you. What do you wish to do?" he declared loudly.

"Godfather, truthfully, I truly have no idea what to do," Qi Yue said, smiling at him.

"Yue Niang, what is the matter with that Madam Xie? Why is she so... so... working against you? You saved her life, after all," Zhou Maochun said, then waved his hand dismissively. "But saving a life isn't everything, I suppose. There are plenty of ungrateful people in the world."

"Actually, I don't believe Madam Xie is targeting me personally anymore," Qi Yue confessed. "To be precise, she is targeting this matter—the matter that opposed her wishes from the very beginning." At this, she recounted the origins of the betrothal to Zhou Maochun, adding details about Chang Yuncheng and Madam Xie's relationship.

Zhou Maochun let out an 'oh' sound, understanding dawning on him.

"Yue Niang, then this matter is truly without a solution," he stated gravely.

Qi Yue spread her hands in a gesture toward him.

"Yes, everyone inwardly understands this," she replied.

As they spoke, a commotion arose from outside the gate.

Zhou Maochun frowned.

"Some people never understand," he grumbled.

Before his words fully left his mouth, the Marquis of Dingxi burst in.

"Oh, Yue Niang, don't listen to your godfather's nonsense! This match is absolutely fine. No issues whatsoever!" he shouted urgently, waving his hands. "We'll arrange this marriage immediately!"

"And what about your lunatic wife?" Zhou Maochun snapped irritably.

"Tell her to scram! I've already written the divorce papers; I'll send her packing right now," the Marquis replied readily.

Zhou Maochun slammed his hand on the table.

"Then what's the point of getting married!" he roared.

Why wouldn't it be fine to get married? The Marquis of Dingxi looked perplexed.

"Oh. Right. Simply divorcing her isn't enough. We must also trouble the in-laws to request an Imperial Edict so that Yue Niang can enter the family with full honors!" He clapped his hands, grabbing Zhou Maochun's arm.

Zhou Maochun angrily shook him off.

"What about your son? You send away his mother! And you expect his new bride to marry happily? Do you think your son is a common sparrow? Are you trying to forge an alliance or create an enemy? You're deliberately trying to ruin my daughter, aren't you?" he shouted.

In his agitation, Zhou Maochun’s local dialect spilled out, confusing both the Marquis of Dingxi and Qi Yue.

"What is a 'Ma Ye Que'?" the Marquis asked out of academic curiosity.

Zhou Maochun, furious, kicked him aside.

While the commotion was at its peak, more people rushed in from outside.

"Madam Qi, Madam Qi, quickly! His Majesty requests your presence."

What now? Qi Yue felt a familiar wave of exasperation. The Marquis of Dingxi, however, was overjoyed.

"Yue Niang, when you go to the palace, remember to tell the Emperor about this! This is perfect timing," he urged.

"Is my daughter unable to marry that she must throw herself out there to be humiliated like this?" Zhou Maochun bellowed in rage.

Amidst the chaos, Qi Yue hastily reapplied her makeup and prepared to leave.

"Yue Niang, remember!" the Marquis called after her, making the eunuch accompanying Qi Yue look on with confusion.

Zhou Maochun quickly pulled the Marquis back.

Only after Qi Yue's carriage had pulled away did Zhou Maochun shake off the Marquis of Dingxi, walking away without saying another word to him.

"In-law, in-law! We truly cannot delay any longer. Let's settle the marriage, and then we can discuss any problems," the Marquis chased after him, stopping reluctantly when he saw Zhou Maochun’s carriage disappear. Looking at Madam Qi Yue being summoned personally by the Emperor! What prestige that would bring to his family! The Marquis couldn't help but feel smug, but then his anger flared anew. It was all that shrew Xie Shi's fault! He absolutely had to get rid of her today! The Marquis immediately urged his driver to hurry home. Just as they reached the gate, they saw a carriage stop, and a middle-aged woman was stepping down.

"We are from Scholar Rao's residence," the servant woman stated to the gatekeeper while presenting a calling card.

The Rao family! The Marquis of Dingxi's temper instantly ignited. He jumped down from the carriage.

"Do not enter!" he bellowed.

The servant woman and Madam Rao Chen were startled, thinking they had encountered a villain as this richly dressed, imposing man rushed toward them with a fierce expression. Only when they heard the gatekeepers bowing and shouting 'Marquis' did they realize this was the Marquis of Dingxi.

"Your Lordship, perhaps we should sit down to discuss this matter," Madam Rao Chen suggested calmly.

"Discuss what? We have nothing to discuss with your family," the Marquis stated flatly.

Madam Rao Chen, shocked to be rejected so rudely at the main gate, flushed crimson with anger.

"What do you mean, nothing to discuss? The things your family has done—do you intend to deny responsibility now?" she retorted hotly.

"What have we done? What have we done?" the Marquis glared. "I know nothing about it! Matters of marriage are determined by parental arrangement; if I, as the father, know nothing, then what is it? Go away, go away! This matter ends here. Stop making trouble. My family is holding a wedding in two days." With that, he turned and walked inside.

Watching the gate slam shut before her, Madam Rao Chen felt her vision dim. Trembling, she pointed a finger at the door but couldn't utter a word, finally turning back to her carriage.

The carriage sped down the street.

Chang Yunqi lowered the window on the second floor and withdrew his gaze.

"It seems my father has already torn faces with your family," he commented.

Opposite him sat a woman shrouded in a cloak that hid her face. Hearing his words, she looked up.

"My family's face is not so easily torn," Rao Yufang stated with a slight sound.

Chang Yunqi smiled, sat down at the table, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"However, my elder sister-in-law's standing truly is formidable now," he said slowly. "Not only does she have the support of the Imperial Medical Academy, which deals with powerful officials and nobles within the palace walls, but also the backing of the Duke of Deqing, Chen family—the Emperor's closest confidant. And she herself has recently gained considerable favor. The Emperor has entrusted the Qianjin Hall, which handles military and political affairs he usually forbids others to touch, to her management. Although it seems insignificant—military medicine—this is unprecedented."

Rao Yufang bit her lower lip.

"My father values his reputation above all else," Chang Yunqi remarked, shaking his head. "Anything touching upon 'face' is something he absolutely cares about, whether it's a good reputation, or..." Here, he looked up at Rao Yufang with a slight smile, "...a bad reputation..." Rao Yufang looked at him, then gracefully stood up.

"Thank you for your counsel, Third Young Master," she said with a faint smile. "I will certainly let my father witness the true meaning of 'face.'" With that, she pulled her hood over her head and turned to leave. A maid hurried to follow her. Before leaving the room, the maid glanced at Chang Yunqi. Chang Yunqi gave her a gentle smile and placed one finger to his lips in a shushing gesture. The maid replied with a slightly bashful smile, nodding subtly.

Chang Yunqi was left alone in the room. He slowly finished the last sip of his tea.

"Next, it's up to the Rao family," he murmured with a slight laugh. "Big Brother, this is all I can do for you. Good luck." With that, he placed a silver ingot on the table and walked away with grace.

This time, upon entering the palace, Qi Yue did not meet the Emperor in the grand hall where court affairs were handled. Instead, she was led to the rear palace, and she was not alone with the Emperor.

"So this is the divine physician, Madam Qi," a beauty in a reclining chair rose gracefully, looking at Qi Yue with surprise. It wasn't just because she was a physician, but because of her youth paired with such beauty.

"Consort Liu feels unwell. The usual female physicians have examined her multiple times without improvement. Go and take a look," the Emperor said, his gaze lingering on Qi Yue as he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Treating an illness. Qi Yue sighed inwardly, but she couldn't refuse. She recalled that the Emperor had bestowed upon her the title of a female physician. In the past few days, she had grown much more adept at Wang Wen Wen Qie (pulse-taking, observation, questioning, palpation), having studied alongside Old Master Liu Pu Cheng and Zhou Maochun—it was like reciting the Three Hundred Tang Poems; even if you couldn't compose one, you could certainly recite it.

After completing the familiar diagnostic procedures, Qi Yue used her modern methods for examination, but found nothing amiss. Of course, she wouldn't be foolish enough to state that directly.

"There is no major ailment. Continue with her usual tonics and conditioning," she advised.

Consort Liu was delighted upon hearing this, pulling on the Emperor's sleeve with a hint of coyness.

"Your Majesty, I told you there was nothing serious, yet you still worried," she said happily.

The Emperor nodded.

"I am assured now," he stated, drawing back his hand. "Take good care of yourself." With that, he started to walk out.

The eunuchs understood his meaning immediately and loudly announced the retinue's departure.

Consort Liu was greatly alarmed.

"Your Majesty!" she called out urgently. "Your Majesty, I prepared your favorite hometown dishes here!"

The Emperor did not stop or turn back, merely waving his hand.

"I've lost my appetite recently. You eat them yourself," he said, already stepping out of the room. Consort Liu chased a few steps, realizing the situation was irreversible, and stomped her foot in frustration.

Qi Yue remained standing where she was, momentarily unable to keep up with the pace.

"Oh, Madam Qi, please hurry! There are several other consorts the Emperor wishes you to examine," the departing eunuch doubled back to call out. Qi Yue quickly bowed to the consort and hurried out.

The Emperor stood outside the hall entrance, gazing at a vibrant flower bed in the palace courtyard. Qi Yue approached and curtsied before he continued walking.

"Your Majesty, this commoner is not skilled in the ailments of the palace consorts," Qi Yue could not help but say.

"Is it that you are unwilling, or that you are incapable?" the Emperor countered.

"It is that I am incapable," Qi Yue firmly replied.

The Emperor turned to glance at her.

"Madam Qi, your spirits are not very high," he suddenly remarked.

Qi Yue couldn't help but touch her face. Though she wore makeup, it likely hadn't hidden everything.

"I haven't slept well," she said with a faint smile, bowing again. "I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty."

"What matter troubles the divine physician so much that she is so preoccupied?" the Emperor continued to ask, without turning back.

This, of course, Qi Yue could only dismiss as nothing important.

"Is it nothing, or do you simply not wish to tell Us?" The Emperor continued to walk slowly, speaking casually. This man was truly... Qi Yue felt a spike of frustration in her heart.

Observing them walking and talking, a lagging eunuch couldn't help but nudge the one next to him.

"Hey, where is His Majesty taking us to see which consort?" he whispered. "Why are we walking in circles around the Wende Palace?" The eunuch beside him shot him a glare.

"A few extra steps won't kill you!" he hissed back. The first eunuch stuck out his tongue and fell silent.

"Acclimatization issues?" The Emperor chuckled, turning to look at the woman with her head bowed. "As expected of a physician." Qi Yue pretended not to hear the veiled sarcasm and offered a few polite smiles. Only then did she realize how long they had been walking; the Imperial Palace was vast, and the consorts' residences were so far apart...

"Your Majesty, which consort are we visiting next..." she began to ask.

Before she could finish, the Emperor cut her off.

"No need to see anyone else. You may go down now." He commanded.

Qi Yue breathed a sigh of relief, not even asking for details, and quickly asked leave to depart. Watching the Emperor stand still for a moment before turning and walking away, Cai Zhong beckoned a junior eunuch over.

"Investigate," he said quietly. "Everything concerning Madam Qi recently." The junior eunuch acknowledged the order with a 'yes' and turned to leave.

Unaware that she was now under the scrutiny of the palace guards, Qi Yue took her carriage home. Before she could even catch her breath upon arrival, A'Ru rushed in.

"This is terrible!" she cried out, her face completely pale.

Qi Yue and A'Hao both jumped in surprise.

"Sister, weren't you supposed to be at the pharmacy with Brother-in-law? Did something happen at the factory?" A'Hao asked anxiously.

"No, no," A'Ru shook her head, looking at Qi Yue. "Rao Yufang... she's dead."

What? Qi Yue and A'Hao stared at her, not grasping the meaning immediately.

"The young lady of the Rao family, Rao Yufang, is dead," A'Ru repeated, grabbing Qi Yue's arm. "The Rao family has surrounded the Marquis of Dingxi's residence!"

How could this be? Qi Yue couldn't believe it. But one thing was certain: this had truly become a deadlock!

As soon as the weather cooled, the entire family caught a cold, and with the children starting school, there was so much chaos. However, I still need to write two chapters to bring this month's double updates to a perfect close. Thank you all for your companionship along the way. Next month, I will have to say goodbye to you temporarily, which truly makes me reluctant. Ah, I'm speaking too soon; I'll talk more about it next month! Thank you all for helping me reach the second position this month; this is the pinnacle of my writing career, an unforgettable moment in my life! Thank you for your immense affection; I can only repay it by doing my utmost to tell this story well. If I have disappointed you, I apologize; please believe that my apology is sincere. I deeply care about the readers' opinions, so I fear disappointing you the most. Finally, I must ask for votes at this last moment. Thank you.

RT