Chang Yuncheng first bowed respectfully before reaching out to take one, opening it. Qi Yue hesitated for a moment, then took a step back, avoiding it.

Chang Yuncheng looked at the two boxes on either side, his hesitation deepening slightly, and he turned to look at Qi Yue. Qi Yue smiled at him.

Chang Yuncheng returned her smile, but his expression grew even more uncertain. The eunuchs watched him with placid smiles, offering no verbal prompt.

Chang Yuncheng finally turned back, returning one box to the eunuch, and bowed deeply. "Thank Your Majesty," he said.

The eunuchs smiled and nodded before turning to leave. Qi Yue immediately jumped to Chang Yuncheng’s side.

"Let me see," she said. "What good thing is it?" Chang Yuncheng then opened the box.

"It's nothing much, just a map," he said. "A map?" Qi Yue reached out to take it, then thought of something, putting her hand down and smiling at Chang Yuncheng, "We'll look at it when we get back." Chang Yuncheng smiled back at her, though it seemed a bit strained.

As the two of them got into the carriage to leave, Prince Sima Xiaowangye was lying in the Empress Dowager's palace, being tended to by two palace maids applying medicine to his injuries. The Empress Dowager beside him looked quite displeased.

"How did you scratch your face? If your mother sees this when you return, she’ll surely blame me for not watching you properly," she said.

The Little Prince didn't feel much pain anymore; his attention was fixed on other matters. "Your Highness the Empress Dowager, is His Majesty short of money?" he asked.

"Why the sudden idea of opening a pharmacy? If you need money, just say the word.

My father said that even if he can't help His Majesty in other ways, he has no issue providing money or grain." The Empress Dowager was amused by him, but her smile quickly faded into a stern look. "No matter how short of money we are, it hasn't come to begging for it in such a manner—what kind of decorum is that!" she murmured softly.

The Little Prince’s ears perked up, and his eyes darted around. "Oh, right, when did that old fellow Zhou Maochun have a daughter?" he said, remembering something, his face etched with confusion.

"And she's quite pretty, not at all like him." The Empress Dowager snorted. "It would be strange if she looked like him," she said.

"She's an adopted daughter." The Little Prince said "oh," then chuckled, saying it was no wonder then. "But Your Highness, I didn't realize His Majesty invited that person with the surname An again.

I offended them; surely His Majesty isn't angry?" he said, feigning fear. "Your Highness, you must remember to speak well of me to His Majesty.

I simply can't help myself when I see that person surnamed An. How about this, I'll leave the capital right now, go tell my father, and we'll visit the capital less often from now on..." The Empress Dowager's expression grew even uglier.

"It wasn't His Majesty you offended," the Empress, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "You offended Lady Qi.

This is her way of standing up for that person surnamed An." The Little Prince looked utterly surprised and incredulous. "Your Highness the Empress, don't tease me," he laughed, rising to his feet and touching his face.

"Alright, alright, this injury is nothing serious. I won't trouble Your Highnesses any longer; I'll be going back now." The Empress Dowager didn't press him to stay, ordering attendants to see him out properly.

As soon as the Little Prince exited the palace gates, he urged everyone to hurry, chuckling twice with a mix of triumph and disdain. "Relying on a woman for backing—who can't do that?" he scoffed, spitting heavily.

"You surnamed An, just wait and see." He took two quick strides, then suddenly stopped, pressing a hand to his abdomen and letting out a hiss. "Your Highness, what's wrong?" the young eunuchs quickly asked.

The Little Prince let out a breath. "Nothing, nothing, just a cramp in my stomach," he said.

"Must have pulled a muscle." The pain vanished immediately, and he hurried off without a second thought. Meanwhile, Qi Yue had already sent someone back to inform the Chen family that she was safe, and she took Chang Yuncheng to see the newly purchased residence.

It was a small courtyard house, not large by the standards of the capital, but it was exquisite and excellently located. "Not bad.

This place must have been hard to find? Who was so devoted to Lady Qi?" Chang Yuncheng teased with a laugh.

"How would I know? I have so many people wanting to show devotion to me that I don't have the time to remember them all," Qi Yue scoffed with a laugh, pacing with her hands clasped behind her back.

Chang Yuncheng playfully poked her head, laughing heartily. Qi Yue pulled down his scholar's hat, and the two walked hand-in-hand, inspecting the house room by room while making small talk.

"Has Old Madam Xie left yet?" she asked. Chang Yuncheng shook his head, then nodded.

"In the next few days. Both my maternal grandmother and mother aren't feeling well," he said.

After such a large disturbance, and with Old Madam Xie being elderly, coupled with Madam Xie having undergone throat surgery, both women were confined to bed. "Did you call for the imperial physicians?" Qi Yue asked.

Chang Yuncheng paused in silence for a moment. "Old Doctor An is looking after them and prescribed some medicine for a few days," he said with a smile.

Marquis Dingxi probably felt too awkward to approach Zhou Maochun; Qi Yue nodded in understanding. "Don't worry," she said, gripping his hand tightly.

Chang Yuncheng smiled back at her, returning the grip and nodding. "You should go back early.

There's no one at home, and you must be concerned," Qi Yue said, pinching his cheek playfully. Chang Yuncheng smiled and took her hand down.

"Alright." He no longer stood on ceremony and nodded. Once the horse carriage left the alley, Chang Yuncheng let out a quiet breath.

Thankfully, she hadn't asked about the map again. She must have assumed it was military business, so she didn't press the issue.

He reined in the horse and looked back at the alley, his brow furrowed. But sooner or later, he would have to tell her...

"If he wanted to say, he would have said it," Qi Yue stated, watching Ah Ru lock the door. "Since he doesn't want to say it now, I won't ask." Ah Ru nodded.

"Were you frightened?" Qi Yue asked. Ah Ru snorted.

"I'm used to it; I'm not afraid," she replied. Qi Yue laughed brightly, looping her arm through Ah Ru's, and they walked towards the carriage.

The Emperor didn't see the brocade box Chang Yuncheng had returned until the next day. "Oh, I forgot about that in my busy schedule.

Which one did he choose?" he asked casually while wiping his hands. Cai Zhong quickly opened the box brought by a young eunuch.

"Your Majesty, this contains the defense map of the capital," he reported. "So dull.

I knew he'd pick that one," the Emperor said, waving his hand dismissively. "That talk about heroes being undone by beauties is all nonsense.

It's not that the beauty is hard to overcome; it's that the hero himself couldn't pass that trial, so he projects it onto the beauty. If you swapped her for an ugly woman, he still wouldn't pass." Cai Zhong laughed in agreement.

"We servants watch too many plays; we start believing everything written there," he chuckled, then took a silver ingot from his sachet, placing it with a hint of pain into the small porcelain jar on the desk, producing a dull thud. "This month, this servant has lost quite a bit." "Stop your whining!" the Emperor laughed, tossing the towel aside.

"With just a few words from you, someone outside is willing to pay a thousand taels of silver for it." Cai Zhong bowed with a smile, saying he dared not, as that wasn't buying the servant, but buying His Majesty's golden decree. The Emperor laughed heartily, unconcerned.

"Court is so dull; it gives me a headache," he said, sitting down, finding a comfortable position to lean back, and raising his chin towards Cai Zhong. "You said yesterday, did Lady Qi really call Little Prince Sima a 'Giant Deer Ass' to his face?" Cai Zhong happily affirmed, standing up and imitating the scene.

"Which province are you from?" he mimicked Qi Yue's voice, saying. "We are from Julu (Giant Deer)," he then turned and adopted the servant's voice.

Then, switching back, he tilted his chin slightly, mimicking a woman's delicate charm. "Giant Deer Ass," Cai Zhong drew out the tone.

"This is a pharmacy, not a place to treat livestock. Did you take a wrong turn?" The Emperor burst out laughing, unsure if it was the line or Cai Zhong's performance that amused him more.

"This daughter is truly wicked!" he shook his head, laughing. "Oh, Your Majesty, that's unfair," Cai Zhong said, bringing over tea.

The Emperor looked at him. "Lady Qi often says that Your Majesty is a good person," Cai Zhong replied, then strained his eyes wide, assuming a delicate female posture as he offered the tea.

The Emperor laughed again, kicking him lightly. "Hideous," he chuckled.

"This servant is certainly not as ugly as Lady Qi..." Cai Zhong said, though he stumbled slightly, he kept the tea steady on the desk. The Emperor reached out to take the teacup, sipping slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he mused.

A young eunuch hurried in at that moment. Cai Zhong frowned upon seeing him.

The young eunuch quickly softened his steps. Only then did Cai Zhong permit him to approach.

The young eunuch whispered a few words, and Cai Zhong's expression shifted subtly. He turned and hurried over.

"Your Majesty," he began to speak. The Emperor ignored him, finishing his tea.

"The Empress Dowager might be feeling unwell," Cai Zhong continued, hesitating briefly. "Someone has just been sent to invite Lady Qi over." The Emperor gave a soft 'oh,' spinning the teacup in his hand.

"Yesterday, Little Prince Sima left from the Empress Dowager's residence, correct?" he asked. Cai Zhong promptly affirmed.

The Emperor set the teacup down on the seat, stood up, and walked out. Cai Zhong asked no questions, gathering the young eunuchs to follow.

"Your Highness the Empress Dowager," Qi Yue bowed again, "This humble subject fears dereliction of duty." "How could you be derelict?" the Empress Dowager said slowly. "Aren't you a female physician?

Since I asked you to stay here, do you think this old woman isn't worth serving?" "This humble subject would not dare," Qi Yue quickly bowed again. "My medical skills are shallow; I fear I cannot bear Your Highness's trust." The Empress Dowager smiled.

"How can your medical skills be shallow? Aren't you a miracle doctor?

If you say that, is it because you are being modest? Or is His Majesty shallow?" she asked with a smile.

Oh, good heavens! Qi Yue could only bow again, saying she dared not.

"Your Highness, I have achieved some success in medicine, but specialization is key. My medical skills are not entirely suited for treating noble persons within the palace," she explained.

"I truly do not understand what you mean by that," the Empress Dowager said, her expression turning quite severe as she looked at the kneeling woman. "Are you saying you are not suitable for attending to the concubines, but only suitable for attending to the Emperor?" Oh, my God, this old hag is really spinning things!

"Your Highness, I did not mean that. What I meant was—" Qi Yue began to say.

Before she could finish, a eunuch rushed in from outside. "Your Highness..." he said, bowing.

Before he could speak, the Empress Dowager raised her hand to interrupt him. "See?

The reinforcements arrived so quickly. As if I were so terrifying that one cannot even speak privately with a female physician," she remarked dryly to the waiting palace attendants.

The bowing eunuch looked extremely awkward. "Your Highness, it is Physician Zhou from the Imperial Hospital..." he said, forcing himself onward.

The Empress Dowager hummed faintly. "Go tell him that I don't eat people," she stated plainly.

The eunuch remained kneeling, unmoving. "Your Highness, Physician Zhou said, said..." he stammered.

"What? Does only Physician Zhou get to speak?

Can I not speak anymore?" the Empress Dowager sharply demanded. The eunuch flinched in terror.

"Your Highness, Physician Zhou said that Prince Sima Xiaowangye is ill, the condition is severe, and the Imperial Hospital is at a loss. They request Lady Qi attend the consultation!" he declared loudly through gritted teeth.

Sima? The Empress Dowager was stunned.

"What happened to him? He was fine yesterday?" she urgently inquired.

"Yes, the Little Prince fell ill last night and has been suffering all night," the eunuch quickly replied. "What illness is it that even the Imperial Physicians can't handle?" the Empress Dowager asked, glancing at Qi Yue.

"Lady Qi is truly too modest... See?

Without you, the Imperial Hospital can't function properly..." Qi Yue awkwardly kept saying she dared not. The young eunuch hesitated for a moment.

"The Little Prince has a, a stomachache," he said, bowing. The moment the words left his mouth, the Empress was the first to let out a stifled laugh.

The Empress Dowager looked utterly bewildered. "A stomachache?" she asked, slamming her teacup heavily onto the table, her face darkening.

"How ridiculous!" First draft complete; will correct typos at work RS