After seeing off the physicians, Shopkeeper Lin turned to Ye Chutang.
"I trust that Miss Ye would never gamble with human lives. If given the chance, I would personally volunteer to test the cowpox inoculation."
Ye Chutang replied, "The cowpox inoculation may cause some discomfort but poses no life-threatening risks."
Having said that, she brought up the matter of purchasing medicinal herbs.
"Shopkeeper Lin, please have the herbs delivered to Tianshan County. I will arrange for an escort to accompany the shipment."
Shopkeeper Lin had already consulted with his trusted herb suppliers.
"Miss Ye, the prices have been negotiated—all at the lowest rates."
He walked to the counter, retrieved a price list, and handed it to her.
"Here are the prices and available quantities for each herb. Please review them. If anything seems unsatisfactory, I can approach other suppliers."
Ye Chutang took the list and examined it carefully.
"The prices are acceptable, but the quantities are insufficient. Shopkeeper Lin, may I borrow your paper and brush?"
Shopkeeper Lin promptly handed her a fresh ledger and prepared ink for her.
"Please, go ahead, Miss Ye."
Ye Chutang glanced at the herb cabinets before her, noting down each herb's name along with its price and desired quantity.
Her wrist ached by the time she set the brush down.
She passed the ledger back to Shopkeeper Lin. "Kindly assist me in compiling the totals. I will arrange for someone to coordinate with the suppliers regarding deposits and deliveries."
"You’re too courteous, Miss Ye. I’ll certainly help," Shopkeeper Lin replied.
After scanning the quantities listed in the ledger, his eyes nearly bulged in astonishment.
"Miss Ye, such a vast order would cost an immense sum—nearly a million taels of silver!"
Ye Chutang had already estimated the expense, which would exceed a million taels.
Factoring in the transportation costs over thousands of miles, the total would amount to at least 1.3 million taels.
For most, such an amount would be unimaginable, but Ye Chutang had emptied the coffers of the wealthiest figures in the capital, leaving her purse overflowing.
"It’s no trouble. The dowry my mother left me rivals the wealth of nations. A million taels means little to me."
Her tone was indifferent, but Shopkeeper Lin felt a surge of emotion upon hearing it.
Though she spoke lightly, few would sacrifice so selflessly.
He seemed to glimpse a divine radiance of compassion emanating from her.
"I am humbled," he murmured, at a loss for further words.
"I act for others as well as myself. I’ll leave the rest to you, Shopkeeper Lin."
With that, Ye Chutang returned to the Minister's Mansion.
As she approached the gate, she spotted Qi Yanzhou approaching, carrying a pair of wild geese.
Dressed in an azure brocade robe, his ink-black hair secured by a white jade crown, Qi Yanzhou cut a striking figure.
Silver-threaded bamboo motifs embroidered along his hem stretched upward to his lapels, shimmering in the sunlight.
A black belt edged in gold cinched his slender waist, a jade pendant swaying gently with each step.
The scene should have been picturesque—were it not for the incessant honking of the geese in his arms.
Ye Chutang smiled. "Ah, Yanzhou, you’re quite punctual. Please, come in."
Qi Yanzhou entered the Minister's Mansion and proceeded to the main hall.
As he handed the geese to Ye Chutang, he discreetly passed her a list along with two pieces of good news.
"Kong Qingyuan and his son have been stripped of their official titles, imprisoned, and barred from holding office for three generations."
In short, the Kong family was finished.
"Zhao Qingshu took full responsibility for the crimes. Earl Yongning voluntarily requested the revocation of his noble title and will leave the capital with his entire family. The Emperor consented."
Ye Chutang frowned in displeasure. "So the Emperor pardoned Zhao Simin’s crimes?"
Qi Yanzhou raised his hand to smooth the furrow between Ye Chutang’s brows.
“The Emperor’s approval means nothing. I immediately submitted a memorial filled with evidence of Zhao Simin exploiting her status as a commandery princess to oppress commoners and assault noblewomen.”
“What was the outcome?”
“Zhao Simin and Zhao Qingshu were both sentenced to a year in prison. Zhao Mingxu’s entire family was exiled to Dingzhou, granted the title of ‘County Earl,’ entitled to thirty percent of Dingzhou’s taxes.”
Qi Yanzhou knew Ye Chutang wasn’t satisfied with this result and offered an explanation.
“Zhao Mingxu is the Emperor’s younger brother. As long as he doesn’t commit treason, the Emperor won’t deal with him harshly.”
Had Zhao Qingshu and Zhao Simin not targeted Ye Chutang and nearly ruined the Emperor’s plans, the Emperor would never have punished them.
After hearing this, Ye Chutang arched a brow in amusement.
“If there were evidence of Zhao Mingxu plotting rebellion, would he be finished?”
Qi Yanzhou nodded. “Absolutely.”
The Emperor cared most about his throne—anyone who dared covet it would meet death.
Of course, to maintain the appearance of brotherly affection, the Emperor wouldn’t kill Zhao Mingxu. He’d either imprison him or banish him.
Once she received confirmation, Ye Chutang leaned closer to Qi Yanzhou and whispered a secret about the An Manor into his ear.
“Beneath the stables of the An Manor lies a hidden chamber filled with weapons. Find an excuse to dig them out, and Zhao Mingxu is done for.”
Qi Yanzhou knew this information must have come from the “Ghost Thief” to Ye Chutang.
His curiosity about their relationship deepened, but he didn’t press further.
“Understood. I know what to do.”
With that, Qi Yanzhou stood to take his leave.
Ye Chutang escorted him to the gate, where they happened to run into Ye Anling returning home after her wedding.
Ye Anling had come alone, bringing only two meager gifts, a pitiful sight.
Her eyes reddened with envy as she took in the sight of the perfect couple before her.
“Greetings to Prince Chen.”
Qi Yanzhou didn’t spare her a single glance, instead tenderly reminding Ye Chutang,
“Rest well, don’t overexert yourself. The Ministry of Rites will handle everything.”
Ye Chutang deliberately smoothed Qi Yanzhou’s collar in front of Ye Anling.
“I know. Don’t take everything upon yourself either.”
“I must. I want to give you nothing but the best.”
After those parting words, Qi Yanzhou reluctantly left.
Once he was gone, Ye Anling glared at Ye Chutang’s smug expression.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Was I not obvious enough? Why even ask?”
“You viper! If Prince Chen knew your true nature, he’d never marry you.”
Ye Chutang let out a light laugh. “And what is my true nature? Talented and beautiful? Renowned? Wealthier than a kingdom? Avenging my mother?”
She dragged out her next words with exaggerated realization.
“Ah, yes! Kong Ru gave birth to you, raised you, spoiled you, protected you—yet instead of searching the mass graves for her corpse to give her a proper burial, you come back empty-handed for your homecoming. Such a filial daughter!”
Ye Anling’s fragile composure shattered.
She hurled her pitiful gifts at Ye Chutang. “Shut your mouth!”
Ye Chutang kicked them back, striking Ye Anling squarely in the knee.
With a thud, Ye Anling collapsed to the ground in humiliation.
Ye Chutang sidestepped with a smirk.
“Madam Eunuch De, your homecoming gifts are far too generous. I couldn’t possibly accept.”
Then, with light steps, she breezed back into the Minister’s Mansion.
Ye Anling nearly fainted from rage, snapping at her attendant.
“Are you dead? Help me up this instant!”
The palace maid knew Ye Anling was out of favor—on her wedding night, she had been used as a tool for Eunuch De’s cruel pleasures, tortured to the brink of death.
With a scornful tone, the maid looked at the disheveled Ye Anling.
"Madam, don’t embarrass yourself at the palace gates. Too many eyes are watching."
Ye Anling closed her eyes briefly, then gritted her teeth and stood up despite the pain.
She glared fiercely at the insolent maid, swearing silently in her heart:
"I will climb to the very top and crush everyone who ever looked down on me beneath my feet!"
Since Eunuch De was unreliable, she would shift her ambitions—she would become the emperor’s woman.
She would help the emperor overthrow Eunuch De and break the eunuch’s stranglehold on power.
