Ye Chutang saw that Qi Yanzhou had agreed to help deliver the disaster relief silver to Jiangnan, so she took out another hundred thousand taels in silver notes.
"Your Highness, this is my small contribution for the disaster victims. Please deliver it to Jiangnan under my name for relief efforts."
By now, she was already wealthy enough to rival a nation, with more silver than she could ever spend. Exchanging it for merit points was well worth it.
The more Qi Yanzhou looked at Ye Chutang, the more he found himself drawn to her.
Forcing himself to avert his gaze, he said, "The disaster victims in Jiangnan will surely remember Miss Ye's compassionate heart."
After speaking, he brought up the matter of the assassin portraits.
"Huaixuan and I not only handed the portraits to the Dali Temple but also spread them far and wide."
This was good news, and Ye Chutang's smile deepened.
"It seems it won't be long before people learn that the assassination attempt at Prince An's residence also had the Emperor's involvement."
"The Emperor won't let his reputation suffer and will surely push Prince An forward to take the blame."
Qi Yanzhou nodded in agreement.
"Even if Prince An finds someone else to pin it on, his princely title won't be spared. Barring any surprises, he’ll be demoted to a count."
Prince An was the Emperor's younger brother, and for the sake of the imperial family's dignity, he would only face a demotion in rank—no real punishment.
Ye Chutang had never expected a few portraits alone to bring Prince An down.
Making him drop three ranks was already the best outcome.
She reminded him, "Your Highness, don’t forget to demand compensation from Prince An—you and Young Master Qin both."
Once the portraits circulate, the compensation will only increase!
Qi Yanzhou looked at Ye Chutang, her eyes bright with triumph, and his pale lips curved slightly.
"Very well. I’ll demand it from Prince An at tomorrow’s morning court."
Then, he recalled something else.
"Miss Ye, the Emperor once ordered me to lure the 'Ghost Thief' into a trap—a scheme to catch him in the act."
Had he not been injured and unable to enter the palace, the plan would already be in motion.
Ye Chutang gave Qi Yanzhou a strange look.
"Why are you telling me this, Your Highness? Do you want me to pass the message to the 'Ghost Thief'?"
Was he still suspecting she was the "Ghost Thief" and testing her?
Qi Yanzhou guessed her thoughts and quickly explained.
"The 'Ghost Thief' once saved my life. This information is to repay the favor."
He then detailed the entire trap scheme.
After listening, Ye Chutang had to admit Qi Yanzhou was clever—his plan was flawless.
Unfortunately, even the most perfect plan was only effective against ordinary people. It wouldn’t work on someone like her, with her spatial abilities and supernatural skills.
She asked, "If the plan fails, how will Your Highness explain it to that wretched Emperor?"
"As long as the 'Ghost Thief' appears, my plan succeeds. Whether the Emperor can capture him is his own problem."
The trap would be set in the palace, with the Emperor’s most trusted men—elite guards, imperial bodyguards, shadow operatives, and even the Dragon Protector Army—all mobilized.
If even they couldn’t catch the "Ghost Thief," the Emperor would have no grounds to blame him.
Relieved that Qi Yanzhou wouldn’t be implicated, Ye Chutang nodded.
"Fine, I’ll relay Your Highness’s words to the 'Ghost Thief.' But whether he chooses to walk into the trap or not, I can’t guarantee."
Qi Yanzhou acknowledged with a nod.
"Miss Ye, though the Emperor is incompetent, he has many capable men at his disposal. Tell the 'Ghost Thief' not to underestimate them."
Ye Chutang gave a word of agreement before rising to take her leave.
After leaving Prince Chen's Mansion, she stopped by a bookstore to buy Jun'er a fine set of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone as a birthday gift.
The next day, Ye Chutang rose early and lit calming incense in both the left side chamber and the adjoining room before returning to her own quarters to enter her spatial realm and bake a cake for Jun'er.
Cake flour, eggs, fresh milk, butter, fine sugar, an oven, and a generator—she had everything she needed.
Since her time in the spatial realm was limited, she had to go in and out several times before finishing.
She made a simple sponge cake, skipping the frosting since cream didn’t exist in this era—no need to raise suspicions with elaborate decorations.
The oven was large, so she baked two cakes and a tray of cookies while she was at it.
Once done, she went to the kitchen to put on a show—scattering flour, tossing eggshells, opening the sugar jar, heating the pan.
Clanging and banging for over a quarter of an hour.
The noise woke Dan'er.
Peering out the window and seeing the sky already lightening, she gasped and scrambled up.
"How did I oversleep?"
Muttering to herself, she dressed and hurried to the kitchen.
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw Ye Chutang lifting the lid of a pot, releasing a mouthwatering aroma.
Dan'er stared at the two golden-brown rounds inside. "Miss, what are you making?"
Ye Chutang took the cakes out of the pot, broke off a piece, and popped it into Dan'er’s mouth.
"Try it. See if it’s good."
Dan'er hadn’t even washed her face yet, making the bite awkward, but after tasting it, her eyes sparkled.
"Miss, what is this? It’s delicious—so soft, sweet, and fragrant!"
Ye Chutang made up an excuse on the spot.
"A village woman taught me this recipe back when I lived in the countryside. I thought it tasted nice, so I made some for Jun'er’s birthday."
"Young Master will love it! I’ll go wake him now."
Ye Chutang stopped her.
"It’s still early. I lit calming incense in your room—let him sleep a little longer."
Dan'er suddenly understood why she had overslept.
"But Miss, won’t these cakes get cold soon?"
"It’s fine. They taste good even when cool."
"Oh! Then you should rest, Miss. I’ll clean up the kitchen."
As Ye Chutang returned to her room, Shuang'er pushed open the courtyard gate and rushed toward her.
"Miss, I have urgent news to report!"
