The little girl was startled, nodded while holding the fruit in her hand.
That meant the Young Madam had seen her appearance?
Concubine Huang and Chang Chunlan’s faces filled with alarm.
“This is terrible. You should leave quickly,” Concubine Huang said. “The marquis listens to the Young Madam most of all. If he finds out she was frightened, or if she says something, you’ll never be allowed through the gates of Marquis Dingxi’s manor again in your lifetime…”
Chang Chunlan’s face filled with fear. The little girl suddenly reached out and tugged at her sleeve.
“Mama, that lady wasn’t afraid of me…” she said. “She even looked at my face…”
Because of her mouth and nose condition, her speech was breathy and unclear, but Concubine Huang and Chang Chunlan heard this sentence clearly, their expressions becoming even more troubled.
“Also, she personally fed me this…” Yan’er held up the fruit to show Chang Chunlan. “I said it was delicious, so she gave me so many…”
This they had witnessed themselves. Yan’er was timid and would never dare ask people for things, so someone must have offered voluntarily.
Could this Young Madam be…
“Oh right, this Young Madam is a divine physician,” Concubine Huang suddenly realized. “She dares to cut open people’s bellies—naturally she wouldn’t be afraid of Yan’er’s condition.”
So that was it. Chang Chunlan sighed with relief, looking down at her happily eating daughter, her feelings complex.
“Yan’er, how did the Young Madam… treat you?” she couldn’t help asking.
“The lady held me on her lap… asked how old I was and what my name was… what I liked… and fed me fruit…” the little girl immediately said happily, her eyes bright. Clearly this had been a pleasant experience for her. She spoke quickly, becoming even more unclear.
In all her years, apart from herself, no one had been willing to actively hold the child. Even her husband, who could tolerate their daughter, wouldn’t do so. No one dared look at Yan’er’s face and still speak so calmly, or rather, no one was willing to look at Yan’er’s face—even she herself didn’t dare look…
Chang Chunlan looked at her daughter’s unprecedented happy expression and sighed with a heavy heart.
“Mother, what kind of person do you think this Young Madam is?” she asked in a low voice.
Concubine Huang sighed.
“I can’t see through her,” she murmured. “I’ve never met someone like this…”
When Chang Yuncheng returned, it wasn’t too late. Upon entering, he first looked toward Qi Yue’s side and saw the woman sitting at her desk. His heart unconsciously relaxed—good, she hadn’t run off again.
“You’re back?” Qi Yue naturally heard the maids’ reports and leaned out sideways to greet him with a tilted head.
Seeing this woman’s smiling face as she leaned slightly out from the inner room, Chang Yuncheng felt very comfortable.
“How improper,” he said with a stern face, taking off his cloak. “I’ve returned and you’re still sitting there.”
Qi Yue made an “oh” sound, biting her brush.
“Oh, so if I’m not sitting, should I be lying down?” she said casually.
Chang Yuncheng tossed his cloak to a maid and stepped forward. Hearing her words, he froze momentarily.
Lying down…
He couldn’t help but shiver slightly, seeing before his eyes the image of this woman lying on the bed, smiling slightly at him…
The alcohol that hadn’t yet dissipated instantly sparked a flame in his eyes.
Bright lamplight, warm brazier fire, thick drawn curtains and bed hangings, plus the woman sitting quietly over there—truly a peaceful and warm evening.
Qi Yue didn’t like being served, so there were originally no maids in the room. Chang Yuncheng waved his hand, and the two maids attending him quickly withdrew.
Qi Yue had spoken casually and forgotten about it, seriously sketching various floor plans, when suddenly she felt heat behind her—someone had sat down behind her.
Qi Yue jumped in fright.
“What are you doing?” She immediately stood to avoid him, simultaneously smelling the faint alcohol on Chang Yuncheng. “You’ve been drinking?”
“Obviously,” Chang Yuncheng said curtly, reaching out to press down on Qi Yue’s shoulders.
The woman who had stood up immediately sat back down.
“Chang Yuncheng, three strikes and you’re out—weigh this carefully in your mind,” Qi Yue simply stopped trying to hide, sitting up straight and speaking sternly.
The scent emanating from the man was all too clear…
“Weigh what? Can weighing make babies!” Chang Yuncheng growled in a low voice, unceremoniously reaching out to pull this woman into his embrace.
What was this bastard thinking! Sperm had gone to his brain! Looking so proper with his stern face all day, what was really in his head!
“You shameless man, what babies!” Qi Yue shouted angrily, raising her hand to struggle. She still held her brush, which jabbed into Chang Yuncheng’s face with this movement.
She was still using a brush made from trimmed goose feathers, which immediately left a mark on Chang Yuncheng’s face. Though it didn’t draw blood, it left a white mark.
“You wicked woman!” Chang Yuncheng leaned back and shouted.
Qi Yue was also startled and quickly reached out to turn his face and examine it.
“I didn’t poke your eye—what are you shouting about!” She sighed with relief.
Seeing that she had immediately reached out to check on him, Chang Yuncheng’s sullen mood disappeared and his heart itched as he again reached out to hold her.
“Chang Yuncheng, I’m telling you, if you treat me like this again, I’ll move out right now,” Qi Yue said sternly, letting him hold her without struggling or moving.
This wicked woman always dared to say and do anything. If she moved out in the middle of the night, the whole manor would know by dawn!
“If you can take one step out of this room, I’ll take your surname,” Chang Yuncheng said angrily, his arms tightly binding her to him.
“Chang Yuncheng, you’re doing this again!” Qi Yue trembled with anger, raising her hand to grab his ear. “Are you even a man! What do you take me for? A plaything to vent on?”