This night was destined to keep several people awake.
To the west of the Marquis Dingxi’s manor, separated by a road, stood the residence of the Marquis’s blood brother. The buildings and courtyards were similar to the Marquis’s manor, only slightly smaller.
When Cai Qing entered, two maids were sitting on the ground dozing by the door of Madam Chen Shi’s bedroom. Cai Qing woke them.
“Sister, we won’t dare again,” the two maids quickly kowtowed uneasily.
“Go sleep outside,” Cai Qing waved at them and whispered, showing no blame.
The two maids hurried to thank her and withdrew.
Cai Qing pushed open the bedroom door and saw a lamp burning inside, illuminating Chen Shi who was reclining on the kang in her undergarments, her gaze fixed on a rich floral carpet on the floor.
“Madam, the black chicken soup is ready,” Cai Qing walked over and said, placing the soup bowl on the table beside the bed and taking a cloak to drape over Chen Shi. “It’s gotten cold at night. Shall we light the charcoal brazier?”
Chen Shi sat up properly. Cai Qing brought over the soup bowl and knelt before the bed to feed her spoonful by spoonful. After just a few sips, Chen Shi shook her head and refused to eat more.
“Madam, this won’t do,” Cai Qing said urgently, pleading with Chen Shi to eat more.
“How can I eat anything?” Chen Shi sighed and shook her head.
“Madam, don’t worry. I’ve already sent someone to follow. Young Madam will surely be fine,” Cai Qing had no choice but to stand up and put down the soup bowl.
Chen Shi stared blankly for a moment.
“It seems there’s no other way. Dragging this out will only make Yueniang suffer more, and I’m afraid she won’t endure it and will do something foolish. How could I face him underground…” she suddenly said, stopping mid-sentence and swallowing the name that was about to slip out but couldn’t be spoken.
“What can we do? If Great Madam could divorce her, she would have done so long ago,” Cai Qing also sighed.
“We can only persuade Yueniang to bring it up herself,” Chen Shi said.
“How could Young Madam agree? Young Madam is actually deeply devoted to the Prince. Back then, didn’t you tell her not to accept this marriage? What did she do? She turned around and cried to Old Madam, causing you to be unable to even enter the East Manor’s gate,” Cai Qing sighed and shook her head.
“Which young woman doesn’t harbor romantic feelings, especially for someone of the Prince’s status,” Chen Shi said. “Old Madam doted on her so and painted such a wonderful life for her. How could a child understand the fickleness of worldly affairs? Now, she must understand.”
Cai Qing nodded.
“But if Young Madam brings it up, will the East Manor agree? Naturally, they wish they could divorce her immediately, but after all, this is a marriage decreed by the Emperor. To divorce, they’d have to report it and get approval. The Marquis has always avoided worldly affairs and sought leisure—how would he do something that would displease the Emperor?” she continued.
Chen Shi reached up to massage her forehead, clearly recognizing this as the greatest reality.
A sudden rage rose in her heart. She reached out and grabbed the soup bowl beside her, smashing it hard on the ground. “That damned old hag!” she squeezed these words through her teeth.
The floor was covered with thick carpet, so the soup bowl didn’t shatter, making a muffled sound as it rolled under the table.
“Madam,” Cai Qing quickly knelt down and tugged at her sleeve. “Don’t be angry. You must take care of your health.”
“My health, my health should have gone with my husband long ago,” Chen Shi’s body trembled as she spoke in a quavering voice.
“Madam, please don’t say such things,” Cai Qing lowered her head and shed tears.
Chen Shi took several deep breaths and gradually calmed her emotions.
“I know, I must live well. Now there’s only me left, I cannot die,” she murmured, reaching out to help Cai Qing up. “Go, bring me another bowl of black chicken soup.”
Cai Qing wiped her tears and nodded happily.
The night gradually faded, and the east grew bright.
Morning light streamed into the room. The buildings here were spacious, and the interior immediately brightened.
Qi Yue stretched lazily in bed and threw off the covers, pulling open the bed curtains.
A’Ru, who hadn’t slept a wink all night in the outer room, immediately came in upon hearing movement.
“Young Madam…” she bit her lower lip, which was already bleeding from being bitten, and spoke with a haggard expression.
“Good heavens, look at yourself—as if we can’t survive,” Qi Yue laughed, standing up and walking over to pat her face. “It’s nothing serious. We just lost ground unexpectedly. Victory and defeat are common in warfare.”
“Young Madam, at a time like this, please stop saying such things,” A’Ru was nearly crying with anxiety.
Qi Yue sighed and turned to look at A’Ru.
“A’Ru, you must know that I’m more anxious than anyone,” she said.
A’Ru’s tears immediately fell.
“Young Madam, don’t be anxious…” she said.
Qi Yue couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Seeing her laugh, A’Ru cried even harder.
“Alright, alright, let’s talk business,” Qi Yue said, while turning to face the bronze mirror on the table to arrange her hair. “The current situation is that we’ve been kicked out by that damned bastard prince of yours, and what we need to do is find a way to get back.”
“Young Madam, what other options are there?” A’Ru asked with hopeful expectation.
Qi Yue simply arranged her hair while gritting her teeth at the bronze mirror.
That bastard! That shameless bastard!
“Tell the Marquis?” A’Ru suggested.
Qi Yue shook her head.
“What use would that be? That’s his son. No one is closer than a son. A daughter-in-law going to her in-laws to complain about her husband gains nothing good,” she said.
Leaning on the table and looking at the bronze mirror, she saw the beautiful woman’s face in the reflection also full of worry. Qi Yue sighed heavily.