Qi Yue had no idea how lively the Marquis of Dingxi’s evening banquet was, nor did she care to know. Once again she slept until she naturally woke up, and after waking had clothes handed to her and food brought to her mouth. She no longer needed to prepare breakfast herself – A’Hao learned quickly, and even fried dough sticks could officially be served at the table this morning.
“Very good, very good, beautifully made,” Qi Yue praised.
A’Hao smiled until her eyes disappeared, unable to hide her small pride.
“I tasted it myself too – it’s even better than what they sell on the street,” she said.
“That’s right, A’Hao could open her own snack shop now,” Qi Yue said with a laugh.
“How could I? It’s all Young Madam’s skills,” A’Hao grinned widely.
After eating, Qi Yue stretched lazily. This time she didn’t hear any coughing sounds, which was somewhat unexpected.
“Where’s A’Ru?” she asked.
A’Hao was watering the flowers in the room.
“Elder Sister went out early this morning with a big bundle. She’s probably at the washing house?” she guessed.
Qi Yue made a sound of acknowledgment and didn’t ask further. She wandered around the room. The books on the shelf held no interest for her anymore – they were all in traditional characters and classical Chinese that she couldn’t get into. Not knowing what to do, she couldn’t help thinking of this time in the modern era, when rounds would be at their busiest…
“Young Madam, what is this?”
A’Hao’s curious inquiry interrupted Qi Yue’s wandering thoughts.
The urgent discussions about patients between colleagues before Qi Yue’s eyes and ears instantly dispersed. She looked down at the medical kit in her hands that had followed her from the modern world. The medical kit was placed on her bed beside her pillow under the covers. Every night, she would open it and touch the instruments and supplies inside.
“This? It should be something my grandmother left me. I’ve lost other memories, but seeing this feels very familiar, very familiar. That day before I hanged myself, I probably took it out, and then very likely after hanging myself, it protected me so I could meet the Old Marchioness on the road to the underworld…” Qi Yue answered smoothly without hesitation, while nodding, “Maybe the Old Marchioness I saw then was actually my grandmother…”
No wonder she’d never seen it all these years – it was so precious that Young Madam had been hiding it. A’Hao immediately composed herself and nodded, though she was more inclined to believe that Old Marchioness was the Old Marchioness of the manor.
Qi Yue looked at the medical kit again, put it back in the bed, and pressed it down securely with the brocade quilt.
Chang Yunqi originally didn’t want to come out, but since his father had gotten drunk last night, as a son he couldn’t reasonably not come pay his respects in the morning. Indeed, when he arrived, he was surrounded by several people.
“Third Brother, what happened to your mouth?” several sisters stared at him and asked.
Chang Yunqi’s mouth was red and swollen, and his voice was hoarse when he spoke.
“Drank too much,” he said with a bitter smile.
“Really useless. Just drinking a bit more and you’re in this state,” the Marquis of Dingxi was very displeased, feeling his son lacked his father’s character – getting into such a state just from drinking.
“Call a physician to take a look,” Madam Xie stopped the younger brothers and sisters who were giggling and laughing, instructing a nearby woman, “Qi-ge’er has been weak since childhood. All of you attending him should be more careful.”
Hearing these words, the Marquis became somewhat displeased and glanced at Chang Yunqi.
“It’s still a matter of upbringing. Going out to face wind, sun, and rain would toughen him up. Look at your older brother…” he said.
The young masters and misses all stood up with lowered heads, listening.
Madam Xie coughed.
“Why talk about this first thing in the morning? Besides, everyone’s constitution is different. Don’t wear the child out,” she said with displeasure.
“Like a sickly weakling – don’t know who he takes after,” the Marquis couldn’t help muttering after hearing this.
Chang Yunqi just kept his head lowered, his expression invisible.
“You all go about your business. Your father needs to go out, and I need to recite Buddha’s name,” Madam Xie said with a smile, helping the children out of the awkward situation.
The young masters and misses acknowledged, paid their respects, and filed out.
“Third Brother, could this be because you ate all of that?” Chang Yunhong pulled Chang Yunqi aside, and the two fell back a few steps, speaking in low voices.
Chang Yunqi said nothing, just coughed to make his throat more comfortable.
“You really ate it?” Chang Yunhong asked in surprise.
Chang Yunqi glared at him. This exclamation made the sisters ahead turn back to ask what he had eaten. Chang Yunhong waved his hand dismissively.
“I went back and heated it up. The taste wasn’t bad, just too spicy. Don’t know how it was made, but it’s really strange – the spicier it is, the more you want to eat…” Chang Yunqi said in a low voice.
“Really that good?” Chang Yunhong smiled with lowered brows, winking at Chang Yunqi, “It’s not because beauty makes food taste better, is it?”
Chang Yunqi snorted.
“Food from someone else’s bowl – no matter how good, it’s still leftovers. How could one swallow it?” he said with a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.
“But she hasn’t eaten it yet,” Chang Yunhong laughed quietly.
Though the brothers seemed to be talking about food, if any family member heard them, they would understand what they were really discussing and would certainly be frightened pale. However, the two brothers appeared casual, showing no restraint whatsoever.
They talked as they walked slowly, gradually separating from their siblings ahead. In the distance, they saw a maid standing by the roadside, holding a bundle and looking around anxiously. The two brothers paid no attention and continued talking as they walked.
The maid saw them approaching and quickly lowered her head, stepping aside.
“Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master,” she bowed respectfully.
The two brothers paid no attention and walked past while talking. Suddenly Chang Yunqi stopped.
“You… A’Ru?” he turned around and asked.
A’Ru looked up at him and bowed again, acknowledging.
“You…” Chang Yunqi paused briefly, turned around and came back, looking her up and down, making A’Ru lower her eyes slightly, “What is Sister A’Ru doing here?”
A’Ru had once been a senior maid before the Old Marchioness and was qualified to be called “sister” by the younger masters and misses of the household. But it had been a long time since she’d heard this address from any of the household’s young masters and misses.