March 18th was the day Qi Yue moved to her new home. Early in the morning, people who came to help had already filled the courtyard. Actually, everything had already been moved; today was just a ritual of making offerings to the household gods.
Handing the keys to Cui Zhi, Qi Yue took one last look at the Wang family’s residence and nodded farewell.
“Lady Qi, why must you buy another house? You could have bought this one too,” Cui Zhi said with some reluctance.
Qi Yue smiled.
“That one is closer to Qianjin Hall, so it’s more convenient when I work night shifts,” she said.
Of course, this wasn’t the real reason. Cui Zhi knew this, but since Qi Yue didn’t elaborate, she didn’t press further.
“Come visit me when you’re free,” Qi Yue laughed, patting her hand, then turned and got into the carriage.
The disciples on the street had already left in high spirits. A’Ru climbed in after her, waving to Cui Zhi as the carriage slowly pulled away.
Cui Zhi walked them to the end of the alley and stood there, still reluctant to look away.
“Miss, let’s go back,” a servant woman from the Wang family said with a smile. “She wasn’t here very long, yet you’re already so reluctant to part with Lady Qi?”
Cui Zhi also got into a carriage, sighing.
“I really am reluctant,” she said.
The driver led the horse forward while the servant woman sat beside her, smiling.
“Is Lady Qi really that wonderful, able to make Cui Zhi, whom the old madam is reluctant to part with, feel the same way about her?” she teased.
This conversation was later spread around the household when they returned home, causing even Old Madam Wang to come tease her.
“They say daughters’ hearts turn outward. I’ve raised Cui Zhi all these years, and she’s been won over by someone else in just a few days,” the old madam laughed.
The daughters-in-law, grandsons, and grandsons’ wives sitting with her in the room all laughed along.
“If Lady Qi were a man, I’d really ask the old madam to give me to her,” Cui Zhi said without any embarrassment, massaging the old madam’s shoulders.
This comment made the room burst into laughter again.
“You shameless girl,” the old madam said, though without the slightest hint of reproach.
“Is Lady Qi really that wonderful?” asked one of the grandsons’ wives curiously. The last time Qi Yue came to fight, these female family members hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. They had only heard about it later from their men and children, plus the rumors from outside, making it impossible to imagine what kind of woman she was.
Young Master Wang was also nearby, slowly drinking tea and listening to their conversation.
“Yes,” Cui Zhi said. “I can’t say exactly what’s so good about her, but being with her feels… very… very comfortable.”
She searched for the right words, tilting her head thoughtfully.
“Comfortable?”
What kind of evaluation was that? Everyone laughed and asked each other.
“Big brother, what do you say?” someone asked Young Master Wang.
Young Master Wang was momentarily stunned by the question and put down his teacup.
“Perhaps it’s because her mind is peaceful,” he said.
Cui Zhi nodded.
“Right, right, that’s it. Being with Lady Qi feels especially natural and at ease. You don’t have to think about anything. You can say whatever you want,” she smiled.
The old madam reached out and poked her head.
“You might as well just say Lady Qi spoils you,” she laughed.
Laughter filled the room again, and Young Master Wang put down his teacup and walked out.
The old madam watched his retreating figure.
“I wonder if there’ll be a chance for me to taste what it feels like to be with Lady Qi,” she said with a half-smile.
Qi Yue’s new residence was also quite lively. After seeing off the Qianjin Hall disciples, unexpected visitors arrived at the door.
“Aunt…” As soon as Yan’er saw Qi Yue, she forgot all about the forms of address her mother had repeatedly emphasized before coming, and cried out directly, running over with open arms.
Qi Yue smiled and opened her arms to catch her.
“Good! Our Yan’er has gained weight again!” she laughed, lifting Yan’er up and setting her down.
Chang Chunlan stepped inside, looked at Qi Yue, and began to cry again.
“Why are you crying, big sister?” Qi Yue smiled, taking her hand and inviting her to sit inside while pulling Yan’er over to examine her.
“Not bad, the wound is healing well,” she said with satisfaction. “In a little while, I’ll do some reconstructive work for you.”
Yan’er nodded.
Chang Chunlan pressed a bundle into her hands, not sitting down in the room.
“This is something second sister and third sister asked me to bring—consider it a housewarming gift. I don’t dare stay long and must leave now. Knowing you’re doing well puts our minds at ease,” she said.
Qi Yue accepted it with thanks, knowing that they weren’t free at home and had to depend on Madam Xie. Now that her relationship with the Marquis Dingxi’s mansion was extremely hostile, Chang Chunlan’s visit was truly risky, so she didn’t try to detain her.
Yan’er was reluctantly pulled away by Chang Chunlan, crying as she left.
Chang Chunlan quietly entered the mansion with her child, but before reaching her own courtyard, she was stopped by two maids.
“First Miss, Madam requests your presence,” they said with ambiguous smiles.