The maids in the courtyard all bowed and greeted her, calling out that the young mistress had returned.
Qiu Xiang lifted the curtain with a smile.
Qi Yue saw none of this, nor did she smile amiably at the maids as she usually did. She lifted her skirt and entered the room, where Chang Yuncheng set down the book in his hands and stood up.
“You’re back. If we go out now, we can still make it to the vegetarian meal at the Great Buddha Temple…” he said with a smile, extending his hand.
Qi Yue looked at him without extending her hand, instead turning to the side and sitting down.
“What’s wrong?” Chang Yuncheng asked, seeing her expression was off.
Round and round, it’s this kind of thing again… Qi Yue looked at him, laughed, shook her head. What bad luck, there’s no helping it.
“Yueniang?” Chang Yuncheng approached, reaching out to embrace her.
Qi Yue raised her hand to block him.
“I heard you’re having a great celebration?” she asked.
Chang Yuncheng’s hand froze.
“I…” He opened his mouth and uttered one word.
Qi Yue looked at him.
“You knew about this already?” she asked.
“Yes,” Chang Yuncheng said, “I, I was going to tell you…”
Qi Yue laughed, nodded, and let go of her hand.
“Good, thank you. Now I know,” she said, standing up.
Chang Yuncheng looked at her, his heart pounding like a drum.
“Yueniang, that… I won’t divorce you. You’re still the young mistress. I’ll be good to you…” he stammered.
“Alright, alright, no need to say more.” Qi Yue waved her hand to interrupt him, frowning slightly with some impatience, and called loudly for A’Ru.
A’Ru entered shakily, her face pale as death, tears swirling in her eyes though she dared not cry.
“Young mistress…” she said hoarsely.
“Go get people to pack up my things,” Qi Yue said, pacing back and forth a few steps.
A’Ru fell to her knees with a thud.
Chang Yuncheng’s face went white.
“Yueniang, listen to me, it’s not what you think…” he hurriedly reached out to grab Qi Yue’s arm, while shouting at A’Ru to get out.
Qi Yue didn’t say anything, waiting for him to finish shouting.
A’Ru knelt without moving.
“A’Ru, you know what kind of person I am,” Qi Yue finally said, looking at A’Ru on the floor. “I have many things to do, and some things can only be done by you. What to do and how to do it – I think you know more than I do.”
A’Ru trembled all over.
“Yueniang, listen to me first,” Chang Yuncheng said, shaking her arm.
Qi Yue looked at him and smiled.
This kind of smile made Chang Yuncheng feel somewhat dazed. He seemed to have seen it long ago, when he first met this woman and they had several conflicts. That woman had smiled just like this – politely, distantly, the smile one gives to strangers…
“Lord, please wait a moment. I’ll be able to listen to you right away,” she said with a smile, looking at A’Ru again.
A’Ru took several deep breaths, raised her head, stood up, responded with a “yes,” and turned to leave.
“What are you doing?” Chang Yuncheng shouted. “You’re not allowed to do anything!”
A’Ru had already gone out, the door curtain dropping to separate inside from outside.
Chang Yuncheng reached out to grab Qi Yue.
“Yueniang, listen to me,” he said hurriedly.
Qi Yue struggled but couldn’t shake off his hand.
“Mm, alright, I’ll listen to you. Let go of my hand first,” she said. “Sorry, I have a bit of a cleanliness obsession. Can’t help it – occupational hazard.”
What did cleanliness obsession mean…
Chang Yuncheng looked at Qi Yue. She wasn’t giggling like usual, nor was she glaring angrily like usual, but this unhurried, untroubled, unangry, unjoyful, calm expression was even more frightening.
He slowly let go of her hand.
“Speak,” Qi Yue said, walking toward the inner room and beginning to organize the desk.
“Yueniang, it’s like this. Father submitted a petition asking to marry me a co-wife. The Emperor approved it. It’s marrying another one, not divorcing you. You’re still you…” Chang Yuncheng took a deep breath to speak more clearly. He watched the woman efficiently organize the originally chaotic books, papers, notebooks, and ink on the desk, feeling extremely panicked.
Qi Yue made a sound of acknowledgment.
“Finished speaking?” she asked.
“Yueniang, don’t be like this. Tell me whatever’s on your mind,” Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but reach out to grab her again.
Qi Yue raised her head and smiled.