Snow began falling again at midnight. When Qi Yue opened her eyes early in the morning, she thought she had slept until broad daylight.
“It’s still early,” A’Ru said, adding charcoal to the brazier.
Qi Yue got up and moved her hands and feet around the room, looking outside through the paper-covered window.
“Seems I don’t have the fate to sleep in,” she laughed, draping on a large cloak. “I’m going to use the latrine…”
A’Ru saw her walking out and quickly called after her.
“The Prince has already gone out,” she said, with some cautious probing in her voice, pointing in that direction.
Qi Yue made an acknowledging sound.
“I’ll just use yours then, it’s more convenient,” she smiled, waving her hand as she walked out.
A’Ru stood behind her with a worried expression.
After that moment last night, there had been no bickering, no quarreling, no deliberate confrontation. They had always hoped these two could get along peacefully, but now that they truly were peaceful, it felt even more alarming.
What exactly was wrong? Hadn’t things been getting better? How did it suddenly become like this…
“Qiu Xiang, what happened to the Prince yesterday?” she asked Qiu Xiang in a low voice as she entered the room.
Qiu Xiang waved her hand and looked around, then walked over in small steps.
“Yesterday, the Prince knelt at Madam’s place for half a day…” she said in a low voice.
A’Ru froze.
It was… Madam…
She sighed and didn’t ask any more questions.
After washing up and eating breakfast by herself, Qi Yue sat quietly in the room reading.
“The Prince is reading in the study,” A’Ru said, seemingly in casual conversation while pouring tea.
Qi Yue made an acknowledging sound.
“It really is inconvenient, taking up someone else’s room. I need to find a chance to move out,” she smiled.
A’Ru hesitated, looking at Qi Yue who lowered her head to read again.
“Young Madam, about Madam’s side… do you think… perhaps you should…” she finally gathered courage to speak.
“What about her again? Is she coming to trouble us again?” Qi Yue looked up at her in confusion.
A’Ru looked at her with some urgency and worry.
“Young Madam, if you think this way, your relationship with Madam will only get worse and worse,” she said. “She is, after all, your mother-in-law. You should…”
“Try to please her?” Qi Yue finished the sentence with a smile.
How clever, A’Ru nodded quickly.
Qi Yue smiled and turned the goose feather pen in her hand.
“A’Ru, this marriage arrangement – the Marchioness agreed to it from the beginning, right?” she asked.
A’Ru nodded.
“But this marriage still happened,” Qi Yue said, looking at A’Ru. “This is no longer about whether she likes or dislikes me as a person, but about this matter – this thing that went against her will – it has become her obsession. As long as I exist for one day, I remind her of her humiliation.”
A’Ru looked at her, understanding what she meant. Her face turned pale.
“Then… then is there no solution?” she asked in a trembling voice.
If a mother-in-law doesn’t like her daughter-in-law, how can life be lived well? If it were some other family with an uninvolved mother-in-law, that would be one thing, but in their household, the Marchioness was the first lady of the house. What’s more, the Prince was completely obedient to his mother…
“There is,” Qi Yue put down her pen with some solemnity.
A’Ru immediately brightened up. She knew the Young Madam was clever and capable.
“Divorce, letting her regain face and get her wish,” Qi Yue smiled slightly.
A’Ru was instantly doused with cold water.
“Di… divorce?” she stammered. Having been with Qi Yue for so long, she could guess the general meaning of words she’d never heard before. “You mean separation?”
“I won’t do being divorced,” Qi Yue said, then picked up her pen again. “It’s not like Qi Yueniang begged to come to their family. Since they invited me in, naturally they should invite me out properly. Being divorced? On what grounds!”
“I’m not talking about that,” A’Ru stamped her foot. This Young Madam’s thinking was really…
“I know what you want to say,” Qi Yue said. “Alright, A’Ru, I know everything. I have my own plans. Go busy yourself quickly. I need to use this time to read. I’ll need to rely on this to make a living in the future…”
Saying this, she stood up and pushed her toward the door.
“What… what do you mean rely on this to make a living?” A’Ru was even more confused.
“If I really become a divine physician and bring honor to the Marquis’s household, the Marquis will protect me. Otherwise, how could I still be jumping around so happily at home? So I mean making a living through medical skills…” Qi Yue smiled, pushing A’Ru out the door. “Go play for a while.”
Is that so? A’Ru wanted to ask more, but the door was closed by Qi Yue.
At this time, many merchants in the prefectural city were just opening their doors. The Rejuvenation Hall in the city center was no exception.
The young shop assistant was hunching his shoulders, having just removed one door panel, when he heard a commotion followed by people crashing into him.
“Doctor, doctor…” they shouted loudly, with crying mixed in, forcibly trying to squeeze inside.