When the officers from the Dali Temple burst into the bedroom, Ye Anzhi was holding a dagger, poised to stab Kong Ru in the chest.
"Stop!"
The officer shouted, kicking the blood-stained dagger out of his hand.
Ye Anzhi stared blankly at the officers who had appeared out of nowhere.
"It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it! She—she was trying to kill me! I had no choice!"
Blood gushed from Kong Ru’s neck as she fixed her gaze on the son she had doted on since childhood. Suddenly, she let out a bitter laugh.
"Liar! You’re a damned liar!"
That wretched Ye Chutang had never intended to leave her or her son a way out!
As she spoke, bloody froth bubbled from her lips, her eyes burning with hatred and despair.
How had things come to this?
Before she could find an answer, her eyes glazed over in death, wide with unfulfilled rage.
Ye Anzhi collapsed to the floor, terrified by the sight of Kong Ru’s bloodshot eyes.
"You brought this on yourself! Don’t come haunting me!"
The officer scoffed. "You killed her. Who else should we take?"
Ye Anzhi shook his head frantically. "I was forced! If I hadn’t done it, she would’ve killed me!"
He thought the officers had just arrived and didn’t know the truth, so he desperately tried to justify himself.
"Young Master Ye, we’ve been in this courtyard for a while. We saw you come in."
At those words, Ye Anzhi’s face turned ashen.
"Then… why didn’t you stop me?"
"We thought it was just a quarrel between mother and son. By the time we realized something was wrong, it was too late."
Though the explanation made sense, Ye Anzhi didn’t believe a word of it.
He understood now—Ye Chutang had set him up!
"Ye Chutang sent you here, didn’t she?"
As soon as he spoke, Ye Chutang herself stepped into the bedroom from the main hall.
"These officers came at my request. Kong Ru murdered my mother and caused my brother’s death. Arresting her is only justice—what’s the problem?"
Ye Anzhi knew it was useless to argue. The officers had witnessed him kill his own mother.
"Ye Chutang, I hope you die a wretched death!"
Ye Chutang smirked. "How I die is none of your concern. But how you die—I’ll be there to see it."
"You bitch! I’ll kill you!"
Ye Anzhi barely managed to stand before an officer knocked him to the ground and pinned him.
"Daring to threaten murder right in front of us? You’ve got a death wish!"
With that, the officer punched him hard in the stomach.
"Stay down, unless you want a taste of our blades!"
Ye Anzhi immediately fell silent.
He didn’t want to die. His grandmother adored him—she would surely find a way to save him.
The officers turned to Ye Chutang. "Miss Ye, please have someone guard this room. We’ll take Young Master Ye to Dali Temple first and send men later to handle the rest."
"Of course. Thank you for your efforts."
As Ye Anzhi was dragged away, he screamed for the maids and servants to fetch the Old Madam Ye to save him.
Just as they reached the gates, Ye Jingchuan returned with Ye Anjun and Ye Siyin.
He glared at the officers. "What is the meaning of this?"
If anyone should be arrested, it was Kong Ru!
Before the officers could answer, Ye Anzhi wailed, "Father, save me! That bitch Ye Chutang plotted against Mother and me while you were gone! She’s already killed Mother!"
Ye Jingchuan couldn’t care less about Kong Ru’s fate.
The moment Ye Chutang had forced him to publicly admit Kong Ru’s crimes in front of all their guests, Kong Ru’s death had been sealed.
Frowning, he asked, "If your mother is dead, why are they taking you?"
Then it dawned on him. "You killed her?"
Ye Anzhi denied it instantly. "Father, Ye Chutang forced me! She even made Mother try to kill me!"
But when it came to Ye Chutang, Ye Jingchuan didn’t hesitate to abandon his son.
"You unfilial monster! Killing your own mother—utterly despicable! Take him away!"
On one side was a daughter who could become an imperial consort and secure him a marquis title.
On the other was a worthless son who had long since ruined his own reputation.
The choice was obvious.
Ye Anzhi stared at his father in disbelief.
Even as the officers dragged him far away, he still couldn’t process what had happened.
Once they were gone, Ye Jingchuan’s suppressed fury erupted.
"Where is Chutang?"
Steward Chen stepped forward. "Master, the young mistress is in Ningchu Courtyard."
"That wretched girl! Does she have to destroy this family to survive?"
"Master, please calm yourself."
Ye Jingchuan’s rage only grew, his breathing ragged.
He handed Jun’er to Steward Chen. "Take the young master to play for a while."
Then he stormed off toward Ningchu Courtyard.
Steward Chen had more to report, so he left Jun’er behind and hurried after him.
"Master, there’s something you should know before you see the young mistress."
Ye Jingchuan braced himself for bad news.
"Speak!"
"Concubine Jiang suspected the young mistress was pregnant. The young mistress had her slapped fifty times—her face is ruined."
When Concubine Jiang had gone to Ningchu Courtyard to greet the Prince of Chen, the servants were clearing away the red decorations.
She had uttered the words "with child" loudly enough for nearby servants to hear.
After the slapping, the servants reported it to Steward Chen.
Naturally, he also learned that Ye Chutang had vomited twice in one day—possible signs of pregnancy.
At the mention of pregnancy, Ye Jingchuan’s first instinct was denial.
But then he remembered Ye Chutang’s scandalous reputation in the countryside, and his head spun.
Could that wretched girl really be carrying some peasant’s bastard?
He ordered Steward Chen, "Spread the word: anyone who dares tarnish the young mistress’s reputation will be executed!"
"Yes, Master."
"Keep the young master away from Ningchu Courtyard."
With that, Ye Jingchuan marched off in a rage.
Ye Siyin, who had been standing closer, overheard most of the conversation and quickly retreated to Qingyou Courtyard.
Jun’er, though he hadn’t heard much, sensed his father’s anger.
He tried to return to Ningchu Courtyard, but Steward Chen stopped him.
"Young Master, your father and sister have matters to discuss. It’s not suitable for you to be there. Let this old servant play with you for a while."
"But I brought treats for Eldest Sister!"
"Young Master, the master’s orders cannot be disobeyed. Don’t make things difficult for me."
Seeing no way out, Jun’er reluctantly gave up.
By then, Ye Jingchuan had already reached Ningchu Courtyard.
Ye Chutang, knowing he would come, sat leisurely at the stone table in the courtyard, eating fruit while she waited.
The sight of her calm demeanor only fueled Ye Jingchuan’s fury.
After turning the Minister’s Mansion upside down and humiliating them all, she had the nerve to sit there snacking!
"You did this on purpose, didn’t you?"
Ye Chutang didn’t even look up, replying lazily, "Father, you should thank me. I could’ve exposed how you favored your concubine over your wife."
"Oh, how generous of you!"
"No need for thanks. We share the same blood, after all. Otherwise, you’d end up like Kong Ru."
Ye Jingchuan was momentarily speechless.
He sat across from her, unnerved by her faint smile. Strangely, his anger began to fade, replaced by eerie calm.
"Chutang… what exactly do you want?"
Ye Chutang set down her half-eaten peach. "Isn’t it obvious? I’m avenging Mother and Brother."
"No one stopped you from seeking revenge! But family matters should stay private! Did you have to shame the Minister’s Mansion on such an important day?"
"Father, wasn’t it you who schemed for Mother’s dowry first? Isn’t the humiliation well-deserved?"
Ye Jingchuan was left speechless by the retort.
He demanded, "Has Jinzhi actually been faking her madness all along?"
