In the early days of August, the clamor of firecrackers made the already bustling street even more animated. The crowds surged toward the noise, jamming the thoroughfare until movement was impossible.

The carriage belonging to the Marquis of Dingxi was forced to a halt. “Your Lordship, we can’t get through this way,” a young servant hurried back to report.

“Why can’t we pass? This capital is vast; surely the road isn’t forbidden to the Marquis of Dingxi’s carriage?” the Marquis snapped, pulling back the curtain with a furious expression.

“Then we can only wait, sir. There are far too many people.” The servant gestured helplessly.

The Marquis looked where he pointed and indeed saw a teeming, raucous sea of people, punctuated by the incessant popping of firecrackers—it was overwhelmingly festive. “What in the blazes is going on?” he muttered irritably.

Currently, the Marquis of Dingxi could not bear scenes of any public festivity. A breathless servant sprinted back.

“Your Lordship, Your Lordship, the King of Julu is here to present the plaque to the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces!” he announced, clearly delighted. “And there are mountains and mountains of money too!” The Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces… The Marquis of Dingxi froze for a beat.

“Your Royal Highness is too kind,” Qi Yue said with a graceful bow. The steward from the King of Julu’s residence returned the greeting with a smile as two servants carried in the large plaque.

Old Doctor An, standing beside Qi Yue, also wore an expression of clear joy. “Doctor An,” the steward paused just inside the doorway, looking directly at the older physician.

Qi Yue turned, offering Old Doctor An a gentle smile, and stepped aside. The steward said nothing more, but inclined his head slightly toward Old Doctor An—a subtle gesture—before proceeding inside.

This seemingly casual yet deliberate action drew immediate whispers from the gathered onlookers. “Wait, isn’t that Doctor An, the one whose leg the King of Julu broke and banished from the capital?” “Did that really happen?” “Yes, yes!

He was the one who treated the King of Julu’s legitimate son... and the child died.” “Ah, so he was a quack!

No wonder he was thrown out…” “But now, that steward just bowed to him…” “…I heard that this time, Old Doctor An successfully treated the Young Prince.” “Then he’s not a quack. Doctors, after all, can’t cure everything; some ailments they can fix, and some they cannot…” “...Right, right…” Another burst of celebratory noise interrupted the murmuring crowd as loads of gift boxes were carried toward the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces.

“Look at all that money…” “I thought this place never opened for business. Turns out they’re this impressive?” “Of course.

They’re divine healers; ordinary folk rarely get their attention…” “We should certainly be more mindful of them from now on…” More people pressed forward, eager for a clear look at the divine physicians inside the Hall. The Marquis of Dingxi was jostled out of the thicket of people.

He watched the woman step inside, then glanced up one last time at the plaque above the entrance before turning away in dejected silence. By the roadside, the curtain of the Xie family’s carriage was slightly parted.

Old Madam Xie was looking out. When the Marquis of Dingxi spotted Madam Xie seated within, a knot of frustration tightened in his throat.

“If it weren’t for you…” he began, but the words trailed off, replaced by a defeated sigh. “If it weren’t for me… back then… sigh…” He finally let out a breath and stopped speaking, stooping to enter his own carriage.

“Let’s take a detour,” came the muffled order from inside. The servants and coachmen acknowledged the instruction and urged their horses forward.

Old Madam Xie lowered the curtain, obscuring Madam Xie’s view. “Do you regret it?” Old Madam Xie asked, glancing at Madam Xie.

Madam Xie’s face was impassive. “I regret it,” she replied, turning her gaze toward the window drape.

With the carriage’s movement, she could glimpse the vibrant scene on the street through the curtain’s slit. To see that woman enjoying such splendor now, contrasted with her own harsh, cold life in the northern territories—she truly regretted not ensuring that woman had vanished during those three difficult years.

Otherwise, how could this day have come to pass? As the Marquis of Dingxi’s carriage disappeared from the capital, the celebratory fervor in front of the Hall of a Thousand Gold Pieces had not yet subsided.

In the back alley, three carriages stood ready, and people were moving large bundles and parcels in and out, while over a dozen guards organized the horses. “Mistress Qi,” they greeted the woman emerging from the doorway with respectful smiles.

“I’ve caused you all extra trouble again,” Qi Yue replied with a cheerful bow. “Mistress Qi is generous; we’d be happy to take on the trouble several more times,” the captain of the guards chuckled.

Having dealt with her once, they were familiar with her straightforward nature, and their interactions grew less constrained. Qi Yue laughed genuinely.

“Am I becoming a field mouse? Always moving house,” she joked.

Everyone laughed, assuring her that such a notion was unthinkable. A Ru carefully placed Qi Yue’s medical chest onto a carriage.

“You’re really going?” Qi Yue asked, a touch of helplessness in her voice, glancing at Hu San, who was checking the loading arrangements. “Teacher has returned to Yongqing Prefecture.

With only Hu San here in the capital, you should stay and assist him… and perhaps even marry. You’re not getting any younger.” A Ru checked the carriage fittings, then turned to look at Qi Yue.

“I said I would marry after you are wed,” she stated firmly. Qi Yue shrugged, accepting the situation.

Meanwhile, Ah Hao hurried over, an impatient expression on her face, clearly annoyed by the two young maids trailing behind her. “Miss Ah Hao, please, please!” they repeated incessantly.

“Oh, stop it!” Ah Hao stamped her foot and stopped, turning on them. “I’m not a nurse, and I’m certainly not a maid from the King of Julu’s residence!

Why should I attend to your Young Prince! Go away, go away!” The two maids remained unchanged in their demeanor, neither rushed nor irritated, apparently accustomed to this resistance.

When Ah Hao turned to leave again, they immediately resumed their pleading. Qi Yue watched, unable to suppress a smile, and reached out to hold back the fleeing Ah Hao.

“You really don’t want to stay here?” Qi Yue asked her. “Following me won’t be easy living; why not work as a temporary home nurse at the Prince’s residence?

Then, you can join Hu San and come find me later.” “I won’t go. I must stay with my Mistress,” Ah Hao insisted, gripping Qi Yue’s arm tightly.

“Mistress, are you tired of me because I’m clumsy and can’t help you much? Don’t you want me anymore?” A Ru shot her a stern look.

“If she didn’t want you, would she have waited until now?” A Ru said, shoving a rolled-up quilt toward her. “Go repack this properly.” Ah Hao beamed with delight and happily climbed into the carriage.

“You two should go back. If she truly doesn’t wish to leave, I can’t force her,” Qi Yue told the two maids.

The maids bowed in assent and turned away. Qi Yue glanced around one last time, then clapped her hands.

“Alright, alright, let’s get going, time to board,” she announced. Hu San immediately urged his four disciples into their carriage.

“Be sharp and follow your master’s lead. Don’t just think about eating and sleeping.

So many disciples envy you for being able to stay close to your master. Make me proud,” he instructed, hands clasped behind his back.

The four disciples responded with respectful obedience, climbing aboard filled with excitement. Hu San then quickly approached Qi Yue’s carriage.

“Master, I will come visit when the New Year arrives,” he said. Qi Yue nodded, smiling.

“Good. You can come to the wedding then,” she teased.

Hu San chuckled, and A Ru, showing a touch of shy pleasure, smiled subtly before settling into the carriage. Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor, who had been reviewing memorials without pause day after day, finally paused his hand.

“Are they gone?” he inquired. Cai Zhong quickly affirmed.

The Emperor did not speak, lowering his gaze back to the memorial, but the hand holding the brush remained still. “This old servant shall go…” Cai Zhong began to rise.

He was interrupted by the Emperor. “What are you going to do?” the Emperor asked, frowning.

“This is excellent. I was not mistaken about her.” Cai Zhong smiled and affirmed.

“Mistress Qi is a woman of deep feeling and loyalty, Your Majesty judged correctly,” he said smoothly. “This old servant simply intended to see her off.

Though I haven’t known her long, I find I am rather reluctant to see her depart…” The Emperor smiled faintly. “Stop thinking about the time you were so rattled by that surgery you couldn’t sleep for days.

Think nothing of it, move on,” he said, waving his hand. Cai Zhong chuckled sheepishly, bowed, and withdrew.

Silence returned to the great hall. The Emperor lifted his brush, then paused again.

It really was a little… The weather in late August already carried a biting chill in Liaodong. Jiang Hai came running up.

“Sir, sir! The furniture is all finished.

Shall we inspect it?” he called out. In a clean, neat small courtyard, Chang Yuncheng was watching artisans paint the walls.

He turned when he heard the shout. “Nonsense,” he replied, moving forward.

Jiang Hai grinned. “Rest assured, Sir, everything is made of the finest materials and in the latest styles,” he promised, following Chang Yuncheng toward the back courtyard.

The back courtyard was also sizable, featuring fruit trees, flower beds, and carefully placed rockeries. On one side stood a row of single-story buildings where artisans were actively working on final touches.

“Sir, sir, look! I had them make this sign for the place,” Jiang Hai retrieved a small wooden plaque from a nearby workbench and presented it to Chang Yuncheng as if it were a treasure.

The sign read: Laboratory. Chang Yuncheng burst into laughter.

“I noticed Mistress’s quarters also have a room marked like this,” Jiang Hai commented slyly. Chang Yuncheng merely smiled and ignored him, walking directly over to the busy carpenters to examine the furniture they were sanding.

“It’s messy here, Sir, be careful,” the foreman said with an apologetic smile. Why did this official inspect so frequently?

He complained they were too slow, but if the official only checked every ten days or two weeks, there would be visible progress. “Too slow,” Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

The foreman secretly pouted; there he goes again. “You lot need to speed up!

Our Madam is due to arrive by the end of the month at the latest,” Jiang Hai declared, hands on his hips. The foreman agreed with a smile and led Chang Yuncheng to look at the assembled beds.

“The newest design from the Jiangnan region…” he introduced with evident pride. While he was engrossed in the inspection, someone burst in, clearly panicked.

“Sir, an urgent dispatch!” a guard announced, his face pale. Chang Yuncheng turned to face him.

“What is it?” Jiang Hai demanded. The guard lowered his head and held up the sealed bamboo message tube in his hand.

In the Imperial Palace, Cai Zhong was watching the young eunuchs arrange pots of flowers—red, white, and yellow blooms, vibrant in the sunlight. “This one, this one, and this one…” he pointed with his finger.

“Send them to His Majesty’s sleeping quarters…” “Grandfather, Grandfather…” someone rushed in shouting wildly. He stumbled halfway, causing the surrounding junior eunuchs to look down and snicker.

Cai Zhong flicked his sleeve in annoyance and watched the eunuch scramble, tumble, and finally reach him. “I say, are you deliberately trying to disgrace me?

Don’t ever tell anyone you’re my adopted grandson,” he scolded, raising an eyebrow. The eunuch didn't bother with the proper bow of apology but urgently interrupted him.

“Grandfather, don’t lecture me first! Something terrible has happened!” he gasped, thrusting a piece of paper into Cai Zhong’s hand.

Cai Zhong snorted. “Such clumsiness.

What great catastrophe warrants such a panic?” he scoffed, taking the paper and shaking it out. As he squinted to read, his expression transformed instantly.

“My heavens…” he cried out, losing his breath and stumbling backward. The people around him, terrified, rushed to support him, pinching and slapping until, with great effort, he revived.

Cai Zhong paid no heed to catching his breath; he shoved away the surrounding eunuchs and ran, stumbling clumsily. “He told me not to say I’m his grandson, but now both of us are running around like fools...

maybe I’m better off,” the eunuch Cai Zhong had called his grandson muttered under his breath. Cai Zhong staggered into the palace hall, where the Emperor was speaking with Li Tong.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty,” Cai Zhong cried out, entering the room without permission or regard for the Emperor’s mood—a first. The Emperor frowned and turned to look at him.

Cai Zhong immediately dropped to his knees, pressing his entire body to the floor, trembling visibly. “Your Majesty,” his voice shook uncontrollably as he held up the dispatch.

“Something has happened!” My thanks to book friends 130808104159929, Yi Jin Jiong Yi, Huihui—Jie Jie, Qiao Zhe Shui Shui Er, Da Zhu Xiao Zhu, Kuai Le Zi Yan, Lan Yang Yang Hao, Xia Xi, Ning Ning 71, Kuang Ben De Yang Cong, ￠Fang Fei Meng Xiang￠, Kai En Ka Te, Jin Qin for the Safe Talisman rewards, and to Yuan Mu for the Sachet reward. RS