Ye Chutang locked eyes with a stranger.
Caught spying, the man panicked and immediately shut the window.
Rolling her eyes, she withdrew her gaze and said to Ye Anling inside the carriage, "I'll go in and browse first. You can come in later to pay."
With that, she stepped into the Mingxiang Teahouse, unfazed by the curious stares of the onlookers.
As soon as she left, the murmurs grew louder.
"Who is this woman? She dared to order the Minister's Mansion's legitimate young lady!"
"I've never seen her before. She must not be from the capital."
"Could she be a princess from some fiefdom?"
In a private room upstairs, Qin Muyun listened to the chatter and remarked, "So she's royalty. No need to investigate further."
Though the fleeting glimpse had stirred his heart, he was determined to avoid any entanglement with the imperial family.
Qi Yanzhou, seated in a position where he could see Ye Chutang clearly, commented, "She’s Ye Jingchuan’s eldest legitimate daughter."
In truth, he hadn’t immediately recognized Ye Chutang as the same woman who had taken advantage of him that night.
One had been pale and frail, while the other was now healthy and radiant—too stark a difference.
Qin Muyun looked at Qi Yanzhou with surprise. "You know her?"
"I saw her mother when I was younger. Their appearances are quite similar."
That night had been an accident—a secret neither he nor Ye Chutang could ever speak of.
But he had indeed met Ye Tang, a gentle, intelligent, and kind woman.
Though Qin Muyun had never met Ye Chutang’s mother, he knew a fair bit about the Ye family.
"So she’s the eldest daughter Ye Jingchuan abandoned in the countryside for fifteen years. Why has she suddenly returned to the capital?"
Ye Jingchuan hadn’t even hosted a coming-of-age banquet for his eldest daughter, signaling he had no intention of arranging a marriage for her. It was clear he had completely given up on her.
Yet now, the eldest daughter had returned and was overshadowing the favored second legitimate daughter. Something was amiss!
After Ye Chutang had helped suppress the fire poison in him, Qi Yanzhou had immediately investigated her upon his return to the capital.
Naturally, he discovered the reason Ye Jingchuan had brought her back.
"Eunuch De has taken a liking to Ye Anling."
Qin Muyun instantly understood. "Unwilling to send the second legitimate daughter into the fire pit, he brought the eldest daughter back as a replacement. What a beast!"
He suddenly paused, suspicious. "How do you know all this so clearly?"
Qi Yanzhou picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"My network of informants spans the entire capital."
Qin Muyun raised an eyebrow, his smile not reaching his eyes.
"You know what I’m really asking."
Informants wouldn’t actively report private family matters.
Qi Yanzhou knew Qin Muyun was questioning him but kept his expression flawless.
"When it involves Eunuch De, it’s no small matter."
At the mention of that eunuch who disrupted court affairs, Qin Muyun felt both anger and helplessness.
"I’ve calculated his destiny. He’s going to live a long life!"
Frustrated, he shifted the topic back to Ye Chutang.
"Ye Tang was a good person. During the famine, she set up shelters and distributed porridge, saving countless lives. I must save her daughter. I’ll ask my father to propose marriage to the Ye family!"
Qi Yanzhou: "..."
If not for that night, he would have fully supported the idea.
"Ye Jingchuan wants to protect Ye Anling. He won’t agree to your father’s proposal."
"True. How about I stage a scene as a scoundrel enamored with a beauty and elope with her?"
"If you don’t mind angering your grandfather to death, be my guest."
Qin Muyun proposed a new plan. "Then let’s spread the word that Eunuch De has taken a liking to Ye Anling, and let Ye Jingchuan’s scheme fail before it even begins!"
"It’s too late. From the moment Ye Chutang appeared on the streets, she was already drawn into the trap."
The next developments wouldn’t depend on Ye Jingchuan, but rather on the lustful nature of Eunuch De.
Qin Muyun eventually figured this out and slumped over the table, frustratedly ruffling his hair.
"Are we just going to stand by and watch Ye Chutang fall victim to Eunuch De’s schemes?"
Qi Yanzhou rubbed his fingertips thoughtfully. "The Minister's Mansion will host a homecoming banquet in three days. Let’s go and join the festivities."
"Fine, we’ll deal with whatever comes up then."
***
Downstairs, Ye Chutang didn’t pay any mind to the prying eyes from the private room on the second floor. She leisurely sampled the pastries.
Finding some of them to her liking, she ordered two boxes of each.
When Shuang’er could barely carry them anymore, Ye Chutang finally stopped herself.
"That’s enough for today."
The pastries from Mingxiang Teahouse weren’t cheap, with the lowest price being two taels of silver.
The shopkeeper calculated the total and said, "Miss, all of this comes to sixty-four taels of silver."
Ye Chutang nodded and turned to Shuang’er. "Go ask the second young lady for a silver banknote."
Just as her words fell, Ye Anling, freshly groomed, walked into Mingxiang Teahouse.
Her steps were light, and a smile graced her lips. "Elder sister, if you like these, feel free to buy more."
With those words, Ye Chutang’s true identity was revealed.
"So this is the eldest daughter of Minister Ye, sent to the countryside? I didn’t expect her to grow up so beautiful."
"I heard she’s in poor health, and Minister Ye had no choice but to send her to the countryside to recuperate."
"I thought she looked familiar. Turns out she’s the daughter of Tang Wanning."
In the capital, few had seen Tang Wanning in person, but as soon as the name "Tang Wanning" was mentioned, nearly everyone knew of her.
Eighteen years ago, during a devastating famine, countless people were displaced and starving.
Tang Wanning single-handedly saved all the refugees who had fled to the capital.
Her actions not only earned her the title of "Living Bodhisattva" among the people but also convinced Ye Jingchuan, who had just achieved second place in the imperial examination, to stay in the capital and serve as an official.
Among the servants buying pastries today, some had personally tasted the porridge Tang Wanning had distributed.
Listening to everyone recount those past events, Ye Chutang’s face showed gratitude.
"Thank you all for remembering my mother. If she’s watching from heaven, she would surely be comforted."
Ye Anling, seeing Ye Chutang basking in the spotlight, felt quite pleased.
The more people knew about her, the more her reputation for beauty would spread far and wide!
"Elder sister, Mingxiang Teahouse also sells excellent tea. Let me buy some for you."
Ye Chutang wasn’t fond of tea, but she wouldn’t turn down a gift.
After learning about the types of tea Mingxiang Teahouse offered, she chose some red tea and floral tea.
The pastries and tea cost Ye Anling nearly one hundred and fifty taels of silver.
As the two left, everyone commented on how kind Ye Anling was to Ye Chutang.
Shuang’er and Qiulu loaded the purchased items into the carriage.
Ye Anling pointed to a rouge shop not far ahead. "Elder sister, it’s just a short walk. Let’s go there on foot."
Ye Chutang understood Ye Anling’s intentions and nodded, "Alright."
Along the way, her striking beauty drew countless gazes.
Especially after entering the rouge shop and adding a touch of makeup.
Her breathtaking appearance made all the women in the shop fade into the background.
The shopkeeper praised, "Even as a woman, I find myself enchanted by Miss Ye."
Ye Anling listened, filled with jealousy.
Her own looks were quite striking, yet beside Ye Chutang, she was nothing but a mere leaf.
If it weren't for needing this face to charm Eunuch De, she would have long since marred it!
Ye Chutang wasn't interested in cosmetics that couldn't be turned into cash.
But upon seeing Ye Anling's sour expression, she purchased the most expensive full set.
The shopkeeper was overjoyed and waived the small change, asking for fifty taels.
Ye Anling hadn't expected Ye Chutang to spend silver so freely.
She decided that from now on, she would frequent cheaper shops, or else her five hundred taels wouldn't be enough to cover the bills.
The two were about to leave the cosmetics shop.
A long whip sliced through the air, landing right by Ye Chutang's feet.
"Snap!"
The wooden floorboards cracked from the blow.
Ye Anling jumped in fright, instinctively stepping back two paces.
Soon, she recognized the owner of the whip, her slightly lowered eyes filled with gleeful anticipation.
She hadn't expected Princess Anping to arrive so quickly!
