Qi Yanzhou trusted Ye Chutang completely and naturally had no reason to be wary of her.
He nodded, "Of course. When I go to the Minister's Mansion tomorrow to deliver the betrothal geese, I’ll give you the list."
"Good. See you tomorrow, but don’t come too early—around mid-morning."
She had to be at Xinglin Hall at dawn to explain the method of preventing smallpox to the physicians.
She also needed to discuss purchasing medicinal herbs with Shopkeeper Lin, which would likely take about an hour.
"Alright, mid-morning it is."
After leaving the teahouse, Ye Chutang found a secluded corner to enter her space and change clothes.
She traveled underground to the warehouses of various cloth shops, collecting all the cotton and reed flowers needed for winter into her space.
When she spotted animal pelts, she took those too, leaving behind more than enough silver.
By the time she finished, it was already curfew.
Ye Chutang made a stop at the carpentry shop.
The shelves, cabinets, and chests she had ordered earlier were all completed.
Not only was the warehouse fully stocked, but the courtyard was also piled high with them.
She stored everything in her space and returned to the Minister's Mansion.
Ningchu Courtyard was brightly lit.
Ye Jingchuan sat in the main hall’s chair, his head bobbing as he dozed off.
Since he was the head of the household, Dan'er stood by to attend to him.
Spotting Ye Chutang’s return, she announced loudly, "Young Mistress, you’re back."
The sudden voice startled Ye Jingchuan, nearly making him fall off the chair.
He stood up, glaring at Ye Chutang in displeasure.
Just as he was about to scold her, Ye Chutang cut him off, "Save your breath. I’m exhausted and in no mood to listen."
"……"
Ye Jingchuan knew he couldn’t win an argument with her, so he swallowed his reprimands.
"I’ve already divorced Kong Ru. Consider it my atonement to your mother."
Ye Chutang had long since grown accustomed to Ye Jingchuan’s shamelessness and couldn’t be bothered to engage.
"Get to the point."
"Chu’er, could you speak to the Prince of Chen and ask him to spare Zhi’er? Though he’s foolish and wicked, he doesn’t deserve death."
The Ye family had few heirs, and he wanted to save his eldest son to continue the family line.
Ye Chutang let out a mocking laugh.
"Father, have you lost your mind? The Ministry of Justice belongs to the imperial family—you should be begging the Emperor. The Prince of Chen is merely a minor official; he has no authority to release a matricidal scoundrel."
The Beichen Kingdom valued filial piety, and Ye Jingchuan wouldn’t dare bring such a matter before the Emperor.
"Chu’er, if the Prince of Chen could persuade the two officers who witnessed the incident to testify that Zhi’er was forced to kill his mother, that would suffice."
At worst, Zhi’er would receive thirty lashes, and the matter would be settled.
Ye Chutang poked Ye Jingchuan’s forehead.
"Is your brain full of dung? Why would the Prince of Chen tarnish his reputation for the sake of a scoundrel?"
Ye Jingchuan rubbed his sore forehead, shamelessly replying, "If you ask him, he’ll surely agree."
"I want Ye Anzhi dead. I won’t lift a finger to save him. But if you’re desperate, there is one way."
"What way?"
Ye Chutang leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Kill the Emperor. When the new sovereign ascends, there’ll be a general pardon."
Ye Jingchuan: "……"
What kind of monster had he fathered?!
"I’ve told you the method. Now get out."
Fuming, Ye Jingchuan pointed to a tray on the table.
On it lay a plain silk red bridal veil and high-quality embroidery thread.
"Stop gallivanting around and finish embroidering the veil."
"Got it. Now leave."
After Ye Jingchuan left, Ye Chutang instructed Dan'er to prepare a bath.
While adjusting the water temperature, Dan'er hesitantly asked, "Young Mistress, when you marry the Prince of Chen, will you take us to the prince’s residence?"
She and Jinzhi were considered impure and couldn’t serve as bridal attendants.
Ye Chutang pinned up her hair. "I won’t take you to the prince’s residence. I have other plans for you."
Exiled officials and their families were typically punished—maids forced into military brothels, servants sent to hard labor.
She wouldn’t allow Dan'er and Jinzhi to suffer such a fate.
Though disappointed she couldn’t serve Ye Chutang in the prince’s residence, Dan'er was relieved her mistress hadn’t abandoned them.
"This servant will obey the Young Mistress."
"Go rest. The next few days will be hectic."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave."
Dan'er closed the bedchamber door and retreated to the side room.
After her bath, Ye Chutang slept.
The next day, just before dawn, Ye Chutang woke and forced herself out of bed.
Once ready, she ate a quick breakfast and left for Xinglin Hall.
The hall was closed for the morning, with no medicines sold.
The main hall was packed with physicians—at least fifty.
Even Xue Dong had come from the palace.
Ye Chutang arrived a quarter-hour early, only to find everyone already waiting.
"Have you all been waiting long?"
Xue Dong, the Divine Physician, replied, "Given your extraordinary medical skills, waiting for you is only natural."
Shopkeeper Lin brought over a comfortable armchair, while attendants placed ice basins on either side to ward off the heat.
"Young Lady Ye, shall we begin now, or would you like to rest first?"
"Let’s start now. The wedding is approaching, and I’m quite busy."
Hearing this, the group offered congratulations, but Ye Chutang cut them off. "Let’s focus on the matter at hand."
She first explained smallpox—its origins, transmission, symptoms, and treatments—in meticulous detail, leaving the physicians in awe.
Shopkeeper Lin was relieved he’d had the foresight to assign a scribe to transcribe her words.
"Young Lady Ye, how can smallpox be eradicated?"
"Through cowpox inoculation."
Ye Chutang elaborated on the method of using cowpox to prevent smallpox.
The physicians frowned skeptically, turning to Xue Dong.
"Divine Physician, what do you think?"
Though Xue Dong understood her explanation, he was doubtful about inoculating healthy people with cowpox.
"It sounds like fighting poison with poison."
Ye Chutang shook her head. "It’s prevention, not treatment."
She had anticipated their reluctance—after all, cowpox was essentially smallpox in cattle.
The idea of introducing it into a healthy body seemed absurd.
"If you all think I’m spouting nonsense, then wait until an outbreak occurs and test the method. What if it works?"
With that, she stood. "You may all leave now."
Knowing Ye Chutang needed to discuss medicinal herbs with him, Shopkeeper Lin had attendants escort the physicians out.
Most left disappointed, feeling the trip had been a waste.
But Xue Dong, convinced Ye Chutang never spoke idly, resolved to test the method when the opportunity arose.
