The sturdy maidservant behind Madam Bai stepped forward and forcefully pushed Jiang Mingyu away.
Jiang Mingyu's frail frame couldn't withstand the shove from two people—staggering back several steps with unsteady footing.
Two maidservants pulled Bai Xiuxiu while another lifted Jiang Fangrui, moving toward the exit.
"No, I won't leave. Mother, if you force me again, I'll kill myself!" Bai Xiuxiu violently shook off the maidservant's grip and lunged toward the nearby gate.
"No!" Jiang Mingyu shouted, rushing forward in an attempt to stop her.
But he was a fraction too late—Bai Xiuxiu collided with the gate.
"Ah! Mother—!" Jiang Fangrui screamed, biting down hard on the maidservant's hand.
The maidservant yelped in pain and withdrew. Jiang Fangrui scrambled to Bai Xiuxiu's side, dropping to her knees and wailing, "Mother… don’t leave me behind, Mother…!"
"Fetch a physician, quickly!" Madam Bai panicked, never expecting her daughter to be so reckless with her life.
In the pavilion, Ye Yunniang turned her head away from the scene before facing forward again.
"Was this part of last night’s rehearsal too?"
"No. Last night’s plan only went as far as signing the divorce papers. Madam Bai must have genuinely wanted Bai Xiuxiu to leave the Jiang Family." Recalling the Bai family’s circumstances, she added, "The wife of Bai Xiuxiu’s elder brother’s superior died last month during a difficult childbirth."
Ye Yunniang understood—Madam Bai was selling her daughter for her son’s career advancement.
"Shouldn’t you go check on them?" A life was at stake.
"Bai Xiuxiu truly hit her head, but there’s an element of performance too. She’ll be fine." Jiang Mingzhe knew the tactics of every member of the Jiang Family.
Though Bai Xiuxiu suffered minor injuries from the collision, she would ultimately benefit from the ordeal.
Old Master Jiang, convinced that Bai Xiuxiu sincerely wished to stay and build a life with Jiang Mingyu, privately revealed the location of his second treasure vault to Concubine Xue.
Through the Bai family’s maneuvering, the golden statues of Buddha and the Arhats helped them ascend further—earning a transfer to the capital for an official post.
Claiming she couldn’t bear to separate mother and daughter or see her child suffer, Madam Bai took Bai Xiuxiu and her family of three to the capital.
Concubine Xue remained behind, scheming to acquire Old Master Jiang’s third treasure.
Ye Yunniang straightened and looked at Jiang Mingzhe. "What are you thinking?" He had kept her here, watching the Jiang Family’s dramatic displays of life and death.
"I’m thinking… I want you." Jiang Mingzhe made no attempt to conceal his desire.
"Be serious." How could he think of such things at a time like this?
"No. I need to go back. My mother is waiting for me. I promised to return for dinner. I—" Ye Yunniang refused. She couldn’t stay in the pavilion any longer.
Jiang Mingzhe held her tightly, letting her feel the heat of his body.
"Tomorrow, I leave. This might be the last time we ever see each other."
Jiang Mingzhe knew how to exploit his advantages—he was well aware of Ye Yunniang’s soft heart.
As expected, her resolve wavered at his words. She reached up, gently touching his face.
"Before dark, I must return. Not in the pavilion."
Jiang Mingzhe’s scorching kiss pressed against her lips.
"Mmm…"
Ye Yunniang’s head was held firmly in place, subjected to his domineering kiss—leaving no room for refusal.
"Not… the pavilion…"
"Fine. Not the pavilion." Jiang Mingzhe pressed a hidden mechanism.
The round table in the pavilion slid aside silently, revealing a descending passage.
"Where does this lead?" A flicker of fear crossed Ye Yunniang’s mind as she recalled Jiang Mingzhe’s earlier words about skinning people alive.
"To the secret chamber beneath the courtyard’s artificial mountain." Gripping her wrist, he led her into the passage.
Torches along the walls illuminated the path brightly.
Ye Yunniang followed curiously until they reached the bottom—a spacious area with three stone doors.
Each door was carved with a different mythical creature: a Pixiu, a three-legged toad, and a Qilin.
"The Pixiu door leads to the old man’s treasure vault. It can’t be opened from his side.
The three-legged toad door holds part of the wealth I’ve accumulated over the years. As for the Qilin door—"
Ye Yunniang cut him off. "You don’t need to tell me this. I don’t want your treasures." She suspected another test and turned to leave.
But the passage had vanished—only a solid wall remained.
She pushed against it fruitlessly, her face paling.
Was Jiang Mingzhe silencing her?
Cursing her own soft heart for landing her in this mess, she watched as he approached.
"Don’t kill me! I won’t tell anyone!" she blurted.
"How could I ever let you die? I adore you far too much." He scooped her up and pushed open the Qilin door—revealing a furnished bedroom.
Sunlight streamed through the window, confirming they had resurfaced outside.
Behind them stood a bookshelf laden with volumes.
Ye Yunniang was tossed onto the bed, its soft bedding sparing her any pain.
She tried to rise, but Jiang Mingzhe pinned her down.
Piece by piece, her garments were discarded onto the floor.
……
Ye Yunniang awoke to sunlight on her face and raised a hand to shield her eyes.
"You’re awake. Here, drink some water."
Her throat ached as she reached for the cup—then froze at the sight of the person holding it.
"Mother." Her voice trembled, unsure what to say.
Cai Damei set the cup down, helped Ye Yunniang sit up, and brought it to her lips.
"Drink first. Soothe your throat."
Ye Yunniang took the cup with shaking hands and sipped.
Cai Damei retrieved a box from the table. "He left this for you."
Placing it in Ye Yunniang’s hands, she exited, closing the door behind her.
Ye Yunniang retrieved a hidden jade thumb ring and fitted it into the box’s central indentation.
A click sounded as it unlocked.
Sliding the compartments open revealed the deed and title to the courtyard.
Memories flooded back—how he had taken her again and again until exhaustion claimed her.
Even then, Jiang Mingzhe refused to let her rest, insisting on carrying her back to the vault.
"No… don’t… spare me…" she had pleaded.
"See? Fine, I’ll show you." Deliberately misinterpreting, he lifted her from the bed.
"No, I don’t want to see!" She clung to him, rolling atop him instead.
The more secrets she knew, the deeper the trouble.
"Fine, no treasure. Just look at me—only me." His hand cradled her head, pulling her down.
Ye Yunniang had thought she escaped, yet here was the courtyard—gifted to her.
What was Jiang Mingzhe planning? She couldn’t fathom it, nor did she try.
Replacing the documents and locking the box, she tucked both away beneath the wardrobe.
Stepping into the courtyard, she found Cai Damei busy in the kitchen.
A bowl of noodles—her favorite, salted vegetable with shredded pork—was set on the table.
"Eat," Cai Damei said, passing her chopsticks.
Ye Yunniang accepted them.
"Mother… aren’t you going to ask me?"
"About what happened two days ago?"
"Two days?"
Cai Damei nodded. "You were gone for two days."
The memories of the courtyard painted Ye Yunniang’s cheeks crimson.
"You’ve developed feelings for him?"
