Volume 1, Chapter 16: Xie Yihe Learns of Her Stance

Xie Yihe fell into silence for a moment.

The rosewood bookshelf behind him cast a large shadow that draped over his exquisitely delicate face. He sat quietly, his expression dark and inscrutable, his mood difficult to fathom.

“Young Master, what about the tea...” Chu Ge asked hesitantly.

Xie Yihe couldn’t help but recall that it had been several days since Jiang Yutang and he had slept apart. She hadn’t made any moves to reconcile, and her demeanor was no longer as warm as before...

A faint understanding stirred in his heart, his emotions subtly shifting. Glancing again at the tea on the table, he found it tasteless and unappealing.

In a low voice, Xie Yihe said, “Take it away.”

“Yes.” Chu Ge responded promptly.

The study was left with only Xie Yihe once more.

His thin lips pressed into a straight line. After a moment of silence, he began to resume his official duties—matters concerning the coastal pirates who had been troubling the local people for some time and needed urgent eradication.

A plan had already formed in Xie Yihe’s mind, and he set about arranging it.

By the time he finished his work, the sky had turned the color of sunset, and the weary birds were returning to their nests. Xie Yihe rose and left the study, heading toward the Dream Garden.

Before he arrived, a commotion could be heard from inside.

It was Madam Xie reprimanding the servants.

Stepping into the Dream Garden, Xie Yihe glanced toward the side room, which was cloaked in darkness.

Madam Xie stood under the main house’s porch, her expression stern.

In the center of the courtyard, two rows of servants stood in line. Liu Mama walked before them, echoing Madam Xie’s scolding. “Each of you has been slacking off more and more in your duties. Now you even dare to neglect the Young Master? Playing lazy games right here in the Dream Garden?”

Madam Xie had recently resumed managing the household, busier than ever, and was taken aback by the numerous trivial matters in the Duke’s Mansion. She had just finished balancing the accounts when she learned of the mishaps in the Dream Garden, which gave her a severe headache.

She hurried over with Liu Mama to deal with it.

“Yihe, are you done with your work?” Madam Xie’s eyes brightened upon seeing her son, concern evident in her voice.

Xie Yihe responded with a light hum.

He ascended the steps and cast a cold glance over the servants.

“If they made mistakes, let Ah Tang handle it. Why did it have to trouble you?”

At the mention of Jiang Yutang, Madam Xie’s face darkened, and she snorted coldly.

“How could I command her?”

Xie Yihe asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

Madam Xie complained, “The good wife you married is getting more and more difficult. If things don’t go her way, she shows me a cold face. She hasn’t even paid her daily respects lately. Such a large household, yet she abandons it as she pleases, leaving it all for me to manage personally.”

Xie Yihe caught the key point, his narrow eyes shifting slightly.

“Isn’t Ah Tang managing the household now?”

This time, Madam Xie was the one surprised. “You didn’t know?”

Xie Yihe said nothing.

Indeed, he was unaware...

“When did this happen?”

“Just a few days ago.”

Madam Xie knew her son was indifferent to Jiang Yutang, but she hadn’t expected him to be so oblivious.

Xie Yihe paused, then said, “Then I’ll trouble Mother to take care of it from now on.”

Jiang Yutang’s management was indeed comfortable, never causing him any trouble.

But...

What she did could just as well be done by the servants, except Jiang Yutang was more meticulous and attentive.

It wasn’t something crucial.

After speaking, Xie Yihe turned and entered the main house.

Madam Xie, long accustomed to her son’s coldness, was indifferent to it and continued to instruct Liu Mama to admonish the servants, warning them to properly maintain the Dream Garden and that any further mistakes would not be forgiven.

Shortly after Madam Xie and Liu Mama left, Jiang Yutang and Chun Tao returned to the Duke’s Mansion and found the Dream Garden entirely renewed—neat, orderly, with the main house’s windows replaced, and the servants no longer dared to shirk their duties...

It seemed Madam Xie had stepped in.

Madam Xie was born into a noble family and had experience managing households; it was only a matter of time before she took over.

Jiang Yutang thought that Xie Yihe must have known that Madam Xie was now managing the household and would no longer bother her, which was good.

Chun Tao, however, was not happy at all. She felt a sense of helplessness and frustration, realizing for the first time that Jiang Yutang was truly dispensable in this household.

Her efforts went unnoticed.

Even if she gave up, it wouldn’t cause the slightest ripple.

But what could be done?

No one in this world is indispensable; that is the nature of things—and of people.

Night slipped away quietly like flowing water.

The next day was the day the Imperial Medical Academy announced its results.

Jiang Yutang rose with anticipation and left with Chun Tao. Though confident of passing, and satisfied with her performance, she still didn’t know what rank she would achieve...

“Madam, don’t be nervous. You gave it your all in this exam. The top spot will surely be yours,” Chun Tao comforted her along the way.

Though she hadn’t entered the exam hall, she had heard of Jiang Yutang’s composure and skill in emergency acupuncture.

As for the written test, with her lady’s abilities, she was sure to succeed.

“Hopefully,” Jiang Yutang replied cautiously.

She vaguely remembered that last time, the top scorer was Yun Qianqian, but had no idea how things would turn out this time.

At the gate of the Imperial Medical Academy, a red list was posted.

From afar, a crowd gathered, bustling with excitement.

Jiang Yutang’s heart leapt to her throat as she and Chun Tao squeezed through and scanned the list.

Twenty candidates had passed the Imperial Medical Academy’s examination.

Leading the ranks, the top scorer was—

Yun Qianqian!

Jiang Yutang was right behind, ranking second.

She froze amid the crowd.

Chun Tao stared wide-eyed in disbelief, murmuring, “How could this be...”

Her lady had performed so excellently. How could she be second?

Curious onlookers asked, “Who is this Yun Qianqian? She’s amazing.”

“She is the one protected by Commander Xie,” someone answered.

Another joined in, “You don’t know? I heard that during her practical diagnosis, after feeling the patient’s pulse, she immediately wrote a prescription to cure a chronic cough, astounding all the imperial physicians.”

“We all write treatment methods, but she wrote a cure outright. No wonder she took first place—truly deserved...”

“The key is she’s also beautiful, combining both talent and looks. No wonder she won Commander Xie’s favor.”

“...”

Jiang Yutang hadn’t registered for the Imperial Medical Academy exam in her previous life; she only knew Yun Qianqian had taken first place, unaware that she had also written a cure.

Chronic cough is a torturous ailment, and Yun Qianqian’s ability to resolve it on the spot showed remarkable medical skill, even excellence.

Jiang Yutang understood this and, with Chun Tao, stepped away from the noisy crowd and headed into the academy to register.

Under the clear blue sky and along the splendid, bustling street, Chun Tao stood beside Jiang Yutang, her expression shifting constantly. “I hope the patients you encounter don’t have heart disease...”

Jiang Yutang’s patient suffered from congenital heart disease, a condition even the legendary Hua Tuo couldn’t cure. She had also encountered unexpected complications, making her treatment logically flawed.

Yun Qianqian had cured a cough and performed well in the written test. Comparing the two, Jiang Yutang naturally fell slightly short.

But luck is also part of strength.

And Yun Qianqian’s luck had always been very good.