Jinzhi continued her relentless outburst.
"Even if I die today, I won’t let you bully the young mistress and steal her dowry!"
"The late Madam never once said her dowry should go to the illegitimate children!"
"Young Mistress, come out quickly! This servant has something extremely important for you!"
Upon recognizing Jinzhi’s voice, Ye Jingchuan immediately shouted, "Guards, take this madwoman away!"
If not for the taboo of shedding blood during a wedding, he would have gladly killed the wretched woman.
Ye Chutang reached the front courtyard before the guards, standing firmly by Jinzhi’s side.
"No one touches her until this matter is clarified."
Ye Jingchuan roared, "Chu’er! Today is Ling’er and Eunuch De’s joyous occasion—don’t cause trouble!"
With that, he signaled the guards to seize Jinzhi.
Ye Chutang patted the dowry chest beside her.
"What isn’t mine, I won’t take. But what is mine, no one can steal."
Then, she kicked away an advancing guard.
"Father, if you don’t want this to become uglier, let me settle this first."
Ye Jingchuan knew all too well the truth behind the dowry.
"Chu’er, the Emperor is waiting in the palace to officiate the wedding. Don’t delay the auspicious hour."
He thought invoking the Emperor would force Ye Chutang to swallow her grievances for the sake of the antidote.
The guests assumed the same.
But things took an unexpected turn.
Ye Chutang smiled faintly. "As long as Father stops wasting time hindering me, the auspicious hour won’t be delayed."
Then, she turned to Jinzhi, who clung tightly to the dowry chest.
"Aunt Jin, you said earlier that my mother never intended her dowry for the illegitimate children. Is that true?"
Hearing this, Ye Jingchuan panicked.
"Chu’er, she’s just a lunatic trying to ruin the wedding! How could you be foolish enough to believe her?"
He motioned for the guards to ignore Ye Chutang and continue seizing Jinzhi.
At that moment, Qi Yanzhou stepped forward, blocking the guards.
"Minister Ye, Miss Ye merely wishes to ask a few questions. Why do you keep stopping her? Could it be that this maid speaks the truth?"
"If it’s true, and this dowry includes her mother’s belongings, then it cannot be taken. Otherwise, you’d be accused of scheming against your wife and daughter’s property."
"If it’s false, this clears any doubts. And if the auspicious hour is delayed, I’m sure Miss Ye will personally apologize to the Emperor."
These three reasoned statements left Ye Jingchuan cornered.
He glanced furtively at Eunuch De.
Eunuch De coveted the dowry, but he couldn’t openly seize it before all the guests.
Knowing he’d only lose face if he stayed, he said, "Very well, let the dowry—"
Before he could say "remain," Jinzhi rolled up her sleeve and peeled off a fake layer of skin from her arm, revealing the hidden dowry list and suicide note.
As she tore away the "skin," the guests gasped in horror.
The faint-hearted shrieked and shut their eyes, cutting off Eunuch De’s words.
"N-no blood!"
Only then did everyone realize it was a prosthetic layer.
"Young Mistress, these are what Madam left for you before her death. This servant has kept them hidden for over a decade—I’ve fulfilled my duty!"
Ye Jingchuan nearly fainted from rage.
All these years, the very documents he’d searched for were hidden on Jinzhi’s person!
That wretched woman had concealed them flawlessly!
After countless nights together, he’d never noticed a thing!
As Ye Chutang reached for the items, Ye Jingchuan’s voice turned shrill.
"Chu’er, they might be poisoned or a trap—don’t take them!"
Eunuch De caught the hint.
With a palm strike fueled by full-force internal energy, he aimed to destroy the documents—and kill Jinzhi.
Though skilled in martial arts, Ye Chutang lacked sufficient internal energy.
She could dodge, but saving Jinzhi would require exposing her earth-manipulation ability.
Just as she resolved to take the risk, Qi Yanzhou—still injured—intercepted the deadly strike.
"Gah!"
Blood splattered across the ground like crimson blossoms.
Ye Chutang caught the dowry list and suicide note, then steadied Qi Yanzhou.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Qi Yanzhou took a deep breath and pushed her away.
"I’m fine. Don’t mind me—do what you must."
Eunuch De glared at the meddling prince, ready to strike again, but Ye Jingchuan stopped him.
"Eunuch De, remember the Emperor’s grand plan."
Ye Jingchuan hadn’t expected Qi Yanzhou to risk his life for Ye Chutang and Jinzhi.
It seemed his brilliant daughter had already won over Prince Chen!
Compared to gaining a marquisate, losing face was trivial.
The dowry wouldn’t end up with him anyway—it’d either go to Ling’er as a gift for Eunuch De or to Chu’er as the future imperial consort.
The latter brought far greater benefits.
Having realized this, Ye Jingchuan no longer obstructed Ye Chutang.
"Chu’er, what is in your hands?"
Jinzhi answered, "Young Mistress, it’s Madam’s dowry list and her final letter."
Ye Jingchuan had assumed only the dowry list existed.
At the mention of a "suicide note," he paled, fearing Tang Wanning had written something damning.
But it was too late to stop it now.
Ye Anling was the most frantic of all.
Seeing her father abandon her, she nearly lost her mind.
"Father, the dowry is a family matter. Must we inconvenience the guests and keep the Emperor waiting? If Eldest Sister doubts the dowry’s legitimacy, and His Highness is injured because of it, surely Eunuch De wouldn’t mind leaving it behind for now and delivering it later."
If the truth wasn’t exposed now, she could still persuade Eunuch De to pass off empty chests as the dowry!
Ye Jingchuan agreed it was a sound plan.
But Ye Chutang saw through Ye Anling’s scheme and read Tang Wanning’s suicide note aloud.
"Chu’er, I cannot watch you grow up… The only legacy I can leave you is a lifetime of wealth. Guard your dowry well… I go now to find your elder brother. May you live peacefully, free from sorrow."
The word "brother" stunned everyone.
"Did Tang Wanning bear twins? Why has no one heard of this?"
"Likely died young. They say she had a premature birth."
"This letter clearly states the dowry belongs solely to Miss Ye. How could—"
The guests’ gazes turned scornful, directed at Ye Jingchuan.
What kind of man schemed to steal his late wife’s dowry?
Humiliated by their whispers, Ye Jingchuan burned with shame.
Ye Chutang pressed her advantage, unfolding the dowry list.
"My mother’s embroidered dowry list is said to be one of a kind. Many have seen it—its authenticity is unmistakable."
Then, she flung open the nearest dowry chest.
"Of these one hundred twenty-eight dowry trunks, eighty percent were taken from my mother."
Gasps filled the hall.
This was outright robbery!
Ye Chutang fixed her icy gaze on Ye Jingchuan.
"Father, tell everyone—why did my mother have a premature birth? And why did she die?"
