Ye Chutang was well aware of Ye Anzhi’s selfish and cold-hearted nature, so his words came as no surprise to her.
"As long as you kill Kong Ru, I’ll give you the antidote and never trouble you again."
With that, she left Wenbo Courtyard and headed toward Liuli Courtyard.
She had no intention of making things easy for Ye Anzhi—what she wanted was to witness a mother and son tearing each other apart!
Every night, Liuli Courtyard would echo with Kong Ru’s agonized screams, but tonight, it was eerily silent.
Puzzled, Ye Chutang quickened her steps into the courtyard.
She asked the maid stationed outside the main chamber, "Why is Kong Ru so quiet? Is she dead?"
The maid immediately curtsied.
"Greetings, Young Miss. After learning that her plot to murder the late Madam had been exposed, the Mistress flew into a rage, then collapsed onto the bed, motionless. But she isn’t dead."
"As long as she’s alive."
Ye Chutang entered Kong Ru’s bedchamber.
The woman lay on a filthy bed, her vacant eyes fixed on the canopy above, like a walking corpse.
The torment that should have left her writhing in agony seemed to have no effect on her now.
Ye Chutang strode to the bedside, seized Kong Ru by the collar, and yanked her upright.
"Did you really think ruining your reputation was the end of it?"
The familiar voice snapped Kong Ru out of her stupor.
Her eyes locked onto Ye Chutang, burning with such hatred it seemed she wanted to tear her apart limb by limb.
"How I regret not strangling you back then!"
She had assumed the meek and obedient Ye Chutang was under her control—that was why she had brought her back to serve as a substitute bride.
But what she had welcomed into her home was a wolf in sheep’s clothing!
"Pity you can’t turn back time and change the future. You’ll just have to live with that regret."
Ye Chutang shoved the antidote for the Heartbreak Powder into Kong Ru’s mouth.
Kong Ru had no choice but to swallow.
She thought it was a lethal poison, resigning herself to death—only to realize the excruciating pain in her stomach had vanished.
"What did you give me?"
Ignoring her, Ye Chutang released her and walked to the table, pouring a cup of tea.
But it wasn’t tea—it was Spirit Spring Water, meant to restore Kong Ru’s strength.
In her current state, Ye Anzhi could easily finish her off.
And where was the fun in that?
After being forced to drink the water, Kong Ru suddenly felt invigorated, her exhaustion replaced by boundless energy.
She stared warily at Ye Chutang, a deep unease settling in her heart.
It was like the dread of a pig being fattened before slaughter.
"What do you really want?"
Ye Chutang pinched Kong Ru’s chin, her smile wicked. "To give you a chance to live, of course."
At those words, Kong Ru immediately recalled what Ye Chutang had told her before—that after Ling’er’s wedding, she and Zhi’er would fight to the death!
Terror flashed in her eyes.
"You’re a demon crawled up from the eighteenth layer of hell!"
Ye Chutang grinned, her eyes crinkling with amusement.
"Thank you for the compliment. If you don’t want to kill your own son, you can always choose to end yourself."
Then she added,
"Oh, and whoever survives—I won’t trouble them again."
Not that she had any intention of keeping her word to villains.
But the promise had to be tempting enough to make them fight desperately.
Ye Chutang caught the fleeting glimmer of hope in Kong Ru’s eyes.
Mocking, she released her.
"Ye Anzhi said he’ll kill you before midnight. Good luck."
With that, Ye Chutang left the chamber and instructed the two maids, "Wait outside the courtyard. Don’t let Kong Ru escape. When the Young Master arrives, come to Ningchu Courtyard and inform me immediately."
"As you command, Young Miss."
Once everything was arranged, Ye Chutang left Liuli Courtyard and the Minister’s Mansion altogether.
She was going to find witnesses—people who could testify to what was about to unfold.
Half an hour later, Ye Chutang returned with two officers from the Dali Temple, here to arrest Kong Ru.
The scandal at the Minister’s Mansion had already spread like wildfire.
The officers knew Kong Ru, as a concubine, had murdered the legal wife and her son—a crime punishable by public execution.
So they followed Ye Chutang without hesitation.
On the way, she said, "Gentlemen, there’s quite a spectacle awaiting you at the Minister’s Mansion tonight. Don’t be in a hurry to make the arrest."
The officers exchanged glances. "What do you mean, Young Miss Ye?"
"No need for questions. Just enjoy the show."
Out of respect for Qi Yanzhou, they nodded.
"Very well. We’ll follow your lead."
"You’ll have to climb over the wall and hide for now. My apologies for the inconvenience."
The officers: "..."
Why did they feel like burglars?
Ye Chutang led them over the wall and into Liuli Courtyard.
She whispered, "Before midnight, this courtyard will host a grand performance. Once the curtain falls, you may make your move."
Then she handed each of them a hundred taels of silver as compensation.
Delighted, the officers tucked themselves away in hidden spots.
Ye Chutang returned to Ningchu Courtyard.
The dowry had been stored in the firewood shed, nearly filling the entire room.
Jinzhi and the others had finished dinner and were chatting in the courtyard, relishing the day’s satisfying events.
When they saw Ye Chutang return, they rushed forward, tears already streaming down Jinzhi’s face before she could speak.
Ye Chutang embraced her, patting her back soothingly. "Aunt Jin, this is a day of celebration. No tears."
Jinzhi nodded vigorously, wiping her cheeks, though her voice remained choked.
"The Young Miss and Little Master would be overjoyed, watching from the heavens."
Though they could never return to life, seeing their enemies punished was some consolation.
"Aunt Jin, we should be happy too."
Jinzhi gently pulled away. "As long as you’re happy, Young Miss, this servant is happy."
Then, worry crept into her voice. "Young Miss… will the Master cause trouble for you?"
He had been in a hurry to attend the palace banquet earlier, but once he returned, he would surely seek retribution.
Ye Chutang smiled. "When have you ever seen me suffer losses?"
That much was true. Jinzhi relaxed.
Just then, a maid from Liuli Courtyard hurried in.
"Young Miss, the Young Master has arrived at Liuli Courtyard. He and the Mistress are already arguing."
"Let’s go watch."
By the time Ye Chutang arrived, Ye Anzhi and Kong Ru were locked in a vicious struggle.
"Mother, you’re finished. Why cling to life? Just die already!"
"You unfilial beast! How dare you raise a hand against your own mother? I regret ever giving birth to you!"
"If I’d known you’d be so useless, I’d have never crawled out of your womb!"
"Monster! I’ll kill you!"
Had Ye Anzhi used a pitiful act to beg for mercy, Kong Ru might have willingly given him the chance to live.
But he had come with murder in his heart from the start.
And so, right under the watchful eyes of the Dali Temple officers, mother and son engaged in a brutal fight to the death.
Though Kong Ru had taken the antidote and Spirit Spring Water, she was still a woman—no match for Ye Anzhi’s strength.
With a slash of his blade, her throat was slit.
Ye Anzhi, seeing he was the one left standing, burst into triumphant laughter.
But before his laughter could fade, the officers—at Ye Chutang’s signal—kicked open the window and stormed into the room.
