Kong Ru was stunned by Jun'er's words.
Steward Chen, hearing a scream, rushed into the Glazed Courtyard.
He saw Kong Ru kneeling on one knee, her eyes vacant, as if her soul had left her body.
Meanwhile, Ye Anjun picked up the heavy bundle from the ground and struggled to hoist it onto his small frame.
"Young Master, let this old servant carry the bundle for you."
Jun'er tightened his grip on the bundle. "I can do it myself. Let's go."
Hearing this, Kong Ru snapped out of her daze.
She roared at Steward Chen, "Get out! I still have things to say to Jun'er!"
Steward Chen ignored Kong Ru, instead looking at Jun'er with affection.
"Young Master, would you like to speak with Madam for a while?"
Jun'er felt that since he had already spoken up, he might as well settle everything at once.
"Mm. You may leave. I'll join you shortly."
Steward Chen's puzzled gaze lingered between Kong Ru and Jun'er before he exited the Glazed Courtyard.
Kong Ru paid no mind to the pain in her knee, which felt as if it had split open. She pressed a hand to her chest, where her heart threatened to leap out.
"When did you find out?"
Jun'er, finding the bundle too heavy, set it down.
"At three years old. That time I had a high fever for five days, delirious and nearly dead.
At one point, I woke up and overheard you and Chun Tao discussing my origins.
You complained that despite my humble roots, my body was delicate and couldn’t endure hardship."
Kong Ru stared at Jun'er in horror.
"You’ve kept this secret all this time—what are you plotting?"
She never imagined a five-year-old child could be so calculating!
Jun'er suddenly smiled, answering with another question.
"If I had confronted you directly, would I have lived to see today?"
The answer, of course, was no.
Kong Ru was momentarily speechless.
Back then, she had finally conceived a child late in life, only to miscarry after a fall.
A child was her lifeline to securing favor—she couldn’t afford to lose it.
So she faked the pregnancy, instructing her maids Chun Tao and Qiu He to find a woman who had given birth around the same time. She bought the child at a high price, passing him off as the Ye family’s young master.
She thought this secret would die with her.
Yet, that single moment of carelessness had been overheard by this counterfeit heir!
Ye Anjun studied Kong Ru’s ashen face and asked, "My birth parents… they’re dead, aren’t they?"
That much was true.
In Kong Ru’s eyes, only the dead could keep secrets!
But she wouldn’t admit it.
"I only arranged to buy a child. Whether your parents lived or died was none of my concern. I don’t even know who they were—Chun Tao brought you back, but she’s dead now."
Her implication was clear: with no witnesses left, the truth was whatever she said.
Ye Anjun had expected Kong Ru to reveal nothing, so he didn’t press further.
"Mother, remember this: those with nothing to lose fear nothing. Whether you tell Father the truth is up to you."
With that, he shouldered the bundle and left the Glazed Courtyard.
When he returned to the Tranquil Dawn Courtyard, Ye Chutang had already prepared lunch.
Seeing Jun'er’s pale face, she immediately instructed Le'er to take the heavy bundle from him.
"Jun'er, carrying heavy things isn’t good for your recovery. Leave such tasks to the servants."
Steward Chen, sensing Ye Chutang’s sharp gaze, hurried to explain.
"This old servant offered to help, but the Young Master refused."
As a servant, he couldn’t defy his master’s orders.
Jun'er tugged at Ye Chutang’s hand, swaying it playfully.
"It’s not Steward Chen’s fault. These are gifts for Eldest Sister—I wanted to carry them myself to show sincerity."
Though he was borrowing someone else’s generosity now, he vowed to earn his own means to give his sister finer things in the future.
Hearing this, Steward Chen handed a jewelry box to Ye Chutang.
"Miss, knowing your courtyard was robbed, the Master worried you might lack proper adornments. He sent two exquisite sets for you. Please accept them."
Ye Chutang motioned for Dan'er to take them.
"How rare for him to offer jewelry willingly."
"If Miss has no further instructions, this old servant will take his leave."
"You may go."
Once Steward Chen was gone, Jun'er spoke up. "Eldest Sister, Father only gave these because Dan'er reminded him."
Ye Chutang gave Dan'er an approving look. "Well done."
Jun'er then pulled out a thousand-tael banknote from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Chutang.
"I asked Father for this under the pretext of my birthday. It’s for you."
He pointed at the bundle.
"That’s everything I’ve saved over the years. It’s all yours too."
Now, Eldest Sister’s courtyard would also have valuables!
Ye Chutang peeked into the bundle and smiled. "I appreciate the thought, Jun'er, but you should keep these for yourself."
Jun'er’s eyes dimmed, his expression that of an abandoned puppy.
"Eldest Sister… do you dislike my gifts?"
Ye Chutang knew he was feigning pitifulness but didn’t indulge him.
"Trying to manipulate your Eldest Sister now?"
Afraid his cunning had displeased her, Jun'er quickly apologized.
"Jun'er was wrong. I won’t do it again. But these are my heartfelt gifts—please accept them."
Understanding his sensitive nature, Ye Chutang relented. "Fine, I’ll take them."
She wouldn’t actually keep his belongings, only safeguard them for him.
"Let’s eat before the food gets cold."
The meal consisted mostly of nourishing dishes, perfect for a household of convalescents.
After lunch, Ye Chutang left the estate.
She spent an hour at the Poetry Pavilion before heading to Prince Chen's Mansion.
Qi Yanzhou, his internal injuries worsened from exerting himself the previous night, was confined to bed.
When he saw Ye Chutang, memories of the intimate dream he’d had about her resurfaced, and his expression turned awkward.
"Miss Ye, I must apologize for last night’s impropriety."
"It’s nothing. I came to discuss something with you."
"What is it?"
Ye Chutang asked, "The men you sent to Jiangnan—they should have arrived by now, right?"
Qi Yanzhou calculated the time and nodded.
"If there were no delays, Xi Ze would have reached Jiangnan territory this morning. Why do you ask?"
Ye Chutang produced the stack of banknotes Qin Muyun had given her earlier.
"Back at Prince An’s guest quarters, I saved Qin Muyun’s life. These are his tokens of gratitude. The people of Jiangnan need this money more than I do. Could you use it in his name to aid the disaster victims?"
Qi Yanzhou stared at the thick wad of banknotes, deeply moved.
Such selflessness was rare.
"Miss Ye, aiding disaster victims is the quickest way to earn fame. Didn’t you want to make a name for yourself? Why let Huaixuan take the credit?"
Ye Chutang placed the banknotes on the bedside table.
"This money was never mine to keep. Since I couldn’t refuse it, I might as well put it to good use."
Though the funds were Qin Muyun’s, distributing them herself would still earn her some karmic merit.
Qi Yanzhou watched the faint smile on Ye Chutang’s lips, his heart pounding uncontrollably.
Suddenly, he recalled his mother’s words:
"You’re my son. Did you think I wouldn’t notice your feelings for Miss Ye?"
At the time, he hadn’t understood love, mistaking his admiration for mere appreciation.
But after every encounter with Ye Chutang, he realized the truth.
He had fallen for this extraordinary woman!
"Rest assured, Miss Ye. I’ll contact Xi Ze and have him withdraw silver from the Treasure Bank under my name first, distributing it as Huaixuan’s charity. The banknotes will be replenished afterward."
