After leaving the Dali Temple, Ye Chutang traveled underground to the imperial ice cellar.
Only a third of the ice remained in the cellar, with melted water covering the floor.
After retrieving the ice silkworm, she headed straight to the emperor's bedchamber.
The guards at the private treasury had increased, but that posed no challenge for Ye Chutang.
Using the same trick she had employed at the Kong residence, she sank the entire side hall into the ground, lifted the roof tiles, and scattered knockout powder inside.
Then, wearing night-vision goggles and protective glasses, she smashed through the ceiling and entered.
In less than half an incense stick’s time, she had looted the side hall clean.
Before leaving, she painted a message on the wall in bright red:
"Dog Emperor, I’ll be back! —Ghost Thief ☻"
With that, she leaped out, restored the hall to its original position, and vanished underground amid the emperor’s furious but futile rage.
When she returned to the Minister's Mansion, the compound was draped in red silk, with maids and servants conducting their final cleaning sweep.
Ye Jingchuan personally oversaw the preparations, ensuring perfection for the wedding banquet the next day.
Spotting Ye Chutang, he immediately called her over.
"Chu'er, I tolerate your usual mischief, but tomorrow you must behave."
Ye Chutang extended her hand. "If you want something from me, you should ask nicely."
Ye Jingchuan: "..."
"Are you obsessed with money?"
"With a useless father and no mother, I have to save for my own dowry. What choice do I have?"
Ye Jingchuan scoffed. "Do you really think I’d shortchange you when you marry?"
Ye Chutang grinned, her eyes nearly disappearing behind her smile.
"Of course not. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop making money. This time, I won’t ask for much—just ten thousand taels."
Ye Jingchuan snorted. "Bold of you. I don’t have it."
His private coffers had been plundered, and parting with ten thousand taels felt like cutting flesh from his bones.
"With all the shops my mother left, you’re telling me you’re broke?"
She patted his shoulder with a sly smile.
"Think carefully, Father—what matters more? Silver or the wedding banquet?"
With that, she returned to Ningchu Courtyard.
The prepared meat strips had finished drying—so many that they covered not just the courtyard but part of the roof as well.
Ye Chutang had previously instructed Dan'er and the others to avoid direct sunlight, so the strips were covered with breathable hemp cloth.
After frying and stir-frying, half the moisture had already been removed, eliminating any risk of spoilage.
During dinner, Ye Jingchuan sent over ten thousand taels in silver notes.
Ye Chutang accepted them without a shred of guilt.
After the meal, she gathered Dan'er and Jinzhi to collect the dried meat.
With heavy dew settling after the recent rainstorm, leaving the meat outside would ruin its texture.
Once the task was done, Jun'er’s medicine had finished brewing.
Ye Chutang waited for him to drink it, changed the dressing on his neck, and administered acupuncture.
"Starting tomorrow, we’ll switch to acupuncture once every three days," she said. "But you must keep taking the medicine."
Jun'er nodded obediently. "Thank you, Eldest Sister."
"Rest early. Tomorrow will be a long, bustling day, and you’ll need to be present."
"You should rest too, Eldest Sister."
With a hum of acknowledgment, Ye Chutang returned to her chambers to bathe.
After her bath, she had Jinzhi help dry her hair.
"Aunt Jin, tomorrow I’ll publicly demand justice for my mother. After this, you won’t need to pretend madness anymore."
Tears immediately spilled from Jinzhi’s eyes.
"Young Mistress, openly shaming the master may brand you as unfilial."
Ye Chutang clasped Jinzhi’s trembling hands and patted them gently.
"Let people say what they will. Their words mean nothing to me."
With her current reputation, what did she care for gossip?
"Apologies for troubling you, Young Miss."
"Tomorrow will only bring the satisfaction of vengeance—what grievance could there be?"
After saying this, Ye Chutang explained the next day's plan to Jinzhi.
The truth must be revealed, but not too overtly.
Jinzhi listened and nodded repeatedly.
"Young Miss need not worry, this servant knows what to do."
Ye Chutang took the towel from Jinzhi's hands.
"Rest early tonight. You'll need energy to act tomorrow."
"Yes, Young Miss."
After Jinzhi left, Ye Chutang entered her space to dry her hair.
She glanced at the clutter piled haphazardly in the open area but couldn’t be bothered to tidy it, opting instead to rest directly.
The next day, at dawn.
A maid delivered the clothes and jewelry Ye Chutang and Ye Anjun were to wear that day.
The siblings dressed festively, yet without overshadowing the main event.
Just as they finished preparing, breakfast arrived—far more lavish than usual.
Since the Ye family had no close relatives in the capital, there was no need to entertain guests early.
After sunrise, Ye Chutang instructed Dan'er and Le'er to sun-dry the meat strips.
After all, no guests would visit Ningchu Courtyard.
Only when the guests were about to arrive did she take Jun'er to the front courtyard.
Kong Ru, now neither human nor ghost, was barred by Ye Jingchuan from attending the wedding banquet.
If anyone asked, he excused her absence by claiming she was gravely ill.
Old Madam Ye oversaw the banquet, with Concubine Jiang and Ye Siyin assisting.
Technically, the eldest daughter, Ye Chutang, should have assisted the old madam, but Ye Jingchuan feared she might offend people and instead had her sit quietly like a decorative vase.
Jun'er, meanwhile, was taken by Ye Jingchuan to greet guests and make introductions in the outer courtyard.
Ye Chutang enjoyed the leisure, sitting in a corner of the garden, snacking on fruits and pastries while listening to the noblewomen gossip.
Of course, she wasn’t entirely left alone—women approached her now and then to make conversation.
Their words, overt or subtle, all circled around probing her marital prospects.
After all, she was talented, wealthy, skilled in medicine, and even martial arts—the ideal wife!
Ye Chutang nearly retorted, "Your calculations are practically slapping me in the face!"
She had no interest in propping up deadweight.
So, whenever someone inquired about her marriage plans, she gave the same reply:
"If I marry, it must be to someone stronger than me."
The moment those words left her lips, the women all reacted identically—faces flushing with embarrassment before hastily retreating.
In all the capital, few men could measure up to Ye Chutang.
After repeated rejections, fewer and fewer approached her.
At noon, the banquet commenced promptly.
Male guests were seated in the front hall, while female guests were hosted in the rear garden.
Ye Jingchuan had spared no expense—the dishes were of the highest quality, visually stunning and mouthwateringly fragrant.
Ye Chutang had been enjoying the feast until the steamed sea bass was served.
A faint fishy odor wafted into her nose, triggering an uncontrollable wave of nausea. She gagged, unable to suppress it.
