After the recorded message from the loudspeaker finished playing, Ye Chutang stored it away in her space.
Qi Yanzhou immediately stepped forward to help her up.
"Ah Tang, are you alright?"
Ye Chutang shook her head and pulled her half-hanging foot back from over the edge of the black hole.
"I'm fine, just a bit startled."
Qi Yanzhou had often heard that when the "Ghost Thief" stole, entire houses would often sink into the ground.
He had never quite believed it, thinking it was an exaggeration.
Now, seeing it with his own eyes, he was deeply shocked.
So, he didn't overthink Ye Chutang being startled at all.
Because the moment the entire courtyard collapsed, he too was taken aback.
"Fortunately, the 'Ghost Thief' is not our enemy."
Otherwise, they could be annihilated in an instant!
Ye Chutang needed to use her earth-based abilities and couldn't afford to be distracted, so she didn't respond to Qi Yanzhou.
The massive black hole was visibly filled with yellow earth at a rapid pace.
It became level and smooth.
But the flagstones were gone, the valuables were gone, and the Imperial Guards were gone too.
A dumbfounded Eunuch De snapped back to reality and roared, "Men, start digging!"
He knew it was futile, but he had to do something.
The Imperial Guards stationed outside the mansion immediately swarmed into Prince Chen's Mansion, using the swords at their waists to dig at the earth.
The tools were ill-suited, making the digging seem like a farce.
Eunuch De watched the group of fools, his vision darkening with anger. "Go find shovels and hoes, quickly!"
No sooner had he spoken than a soldier's head emerged from the soil.
His face was smeared with mud, his head covered in dirt, making his features unrecognizable.
Immediately after, many more heads popped out of the ground.
The Imperial Guard commander did a quick count: fifty-three, matching the number of guards who had fallen.
He walked up to Qi Yanzhou and said, "Master Qi, where are the shovels and hoes within the mansion?"
They had to dig the men out quickly, otherwise the constant pressure of the soil on their chests would be fatal.
Qi Yanzhou didn't usually handle such tools and genuinely didn't know where they were kept.
"You'll have to ask the servants of the mansion, sir."
With that, he paid no further mind to the theft of the valuables, gathering the Qi family in the main hall to discuss procurement matters.
The Qi family already understood that exile meant hardship and toil.
The exile route was fixed.
Apart from reporting and receiving supplies at each prefecture and commandery, they would generally take small paths, occasionally having to cross mountains and ridges.
Therefore, even with money, they couldn't simply buy food along the way.
They needed to prepare pots, pans, bowls, dishes, rice, flour, oil, seasonings, and the like to cook for themselves.
If they didn't want to cook, they would have to eat the cornbread rations distributed by the guards.
Enough to stave off starvation, but so unpalatable one might wish for death.
Moreover, the journey was long, conditions harsh, and illness was likely.
So, they also needed to prepare some common medicines.
The Qi family, accustomed to a life of luxury, had no idea how to manage daily life.
Ye Chutang, this "country bumpkin," thus made a shopping list for them.
Two densely packed pages that made their eyes hurt.
"Since you don't know how to pick out these things, I'll go buy them."
As soon as she said this, Concubine Su was the first to agree.
"The Madam grew up in the countryside, she's most suited to buy what's needed for the exile."
Whoever went to buy the things would be the one spending the silver.
In her view, Ye Chutang had plenty of banknotes, so naturally she should be responsible for the family's expenses.
Ye Chutang had no objection, but she wasn't going to be a fool either.
"The purchased items will be used by everyone, so the required cost should be split evenly per person."
Concubine Su frowned. "Is it necessary to calculate things so clearly among family?"
"Auntie is right, family shouldn't calculate things too clearly. In that case, you can buy these things," Ye Chutang said.
"No!"
Ye Chutang let out a mocking laugh. "So, Auntie just wants to take advantage after all."
Concubine Su's cheeks burned with humiliation.
"I don't want to take advantage. I just think splitting the cost equally is unfair to the three of us concubines."
Due to regulations, the jewelry worn by concubines and their children couldn't compare at all to that of the two elders and the newlyweds.
Her own jewelry was already scarce. Splitting the cost of purchases equally would be too great a loss.
Looking at the calculating Concubine Su, Ye Chutang said with an indifferent expression, "Fine, don't give anything if you don't want to."
Concubine Su looked suspiciously at Ye Chutang, who was suddenly being agreeable, feeling like she was being led into a trap.
"Really, I don't have to contribute?"
"If you don't want to, don't. Does anyone else not want to split the costs equally?"
Although Concubine Gao hadn't had much contact with Ye Chutang, she knew she wasn't someone who would suffer losses.
So she remained silent.
Concubine Xu asked, "Madam, if we don't share the costs, does that mean we can't use the purchased items later?"
Ye Chutang nodded.
"Of course. If you want to use something, you rent it. If you want to eat food cooked with these tools, you have to buy it."
Hearing this, Concubine Su asked warily, "How much to rent? And how much to buy?"
"That depends on what you're renting. If it's just pots and bowls, it's not expensive—ten copper coins per use. If you want to use things like rice or flour, it'll be at least three times the market price."
"You... you're too ruthless!"
"You don't have to buy. I won't force a sale."
Qi Yun'an, Concubine Gao's son, chimed in.
"We're in the middle of nowhere with nothing. Being able to buy things at all is a blessing. Three times the price isn't expensive at all."
Concubine Su muttered, "Then I'll just buy some things myself in the capital and bring them along."
She figured she and her daughter wouldn't eat much, so splitting the cost wasn't worth it. She could buy a little first and restock at each prefecture they passed through.
Ye Chutang would be more than happy to cook for fewer people.
"Fine. After I finish purchasing, you can buy whatever you need yourself."
After saying that, she asked Concubine Xu and Concubine Gao.
"What about you two?"
Concubine Gao asked, "Madam, the jewelry we have on us isn't worth much silver. It certainly won't cover the expenses for the entire journey. If we run out, will we have to rely on the hardtack the guards distribute?"
"Of course not. As long as you're diligent and do more work, you'll have food security."
This reassured Concubine Gao and Concubine Xu.
Old Madam Qi handed over all her jewelry to Ye Chutang—hers and Old Master Qi's.
"Tang'er, from now on, you will manage the Qi family affairs."
After hesitating for a moment, Concubine Xu also handed over all her jewelry to Ye Chutang.
"Madam, please pawn these. Silver will be more useful."
She had been a secondary consort before, so she had quite a bit of jewelry, and it was quite valuable—worth at least two thousand taels of silver.
If she didn't hand it over to Ye Chutang, it would be enough for her and her son to live frugally all the way to Tianshan Prefecture.
But she was smart and knew it was unwise to become estranged from the main family line.
Qi He'an followed suit.
He gave his gold crown, jade pendant, and gem-encrusted belt to Ye Chutang.
"This is all I have. I hope you won't find it too meager, Sister-in-law."
In truth, he had also hidden a few silver notes inside his clothes for emergencies.
Ye Chutang accepted the items from Concubine Xu and her son.
"As long as you two behave honestly and work diligently, Brother Yanzhou and I will ensure your safety."
Then, she looked at Concubine Gao.
"Have you made your decision, Auntie?"
After a moment of silence, Concubine Gao nodded.
"Like Concubine Su, I wish to purchase my own provisions for the exile."
She understood perfectly that the Emperor would not spare the Qi Family.
Who knew when death might come? Rather than living a miserly, bitter life, it was better to enjoy it first.
If they were fortunate enough to evade pursuit, her husband would surely not abandon her and their child.
After the family had discussed and agreed, they began their midday meal.
Due to the incident at Prince Chen's Mansion, the waiter from Guangjuxuan restaurant was stopped by the Imperial Guards at the gate, not even allowed to deliver the food.
Ye Chutang ate a few simple bites before leaving Prince Chen's Mansion under the guard of four Imperial Guards.
In ancient times, newlyweds had to wear bright red for a month after marriage.
Ye Chutang, clad in red robes, was exceptionally eye-catching, and she could hear various comments all along the way.
"Miss Ye is truly pitiful. She didn't get to enjoy a single day of fortune as the 'Princess Consort Chen' before having to accompany the Qi Family into exile and hardship."
"I heard she volunteered. How devoted and righteous!"
"The Qi family members can't carry a load on their shoulders nor lift with their hands. On this exile journey, Miss Ye is likely to suffer greatly."
"Ah, Young Master Qi... and Miss Ye had the people's welfare at heart. Why is there no good reward for them?"
Listening to the commoners' chatter, Ye Chutang went to a carriage house.
She bought a cart for hauling goods, had the shopkeeper reinforce it, and purchased the strongest donkey available.
The officials responsible for escorting exiles would use carts to transport supplies. Since the Qi family had requested exile themselves, using a cart wouldn't break the rules.
Ye Chutang led the donkey to Xinglin Hall pharmacy, where she bought some commonly used medicines.
Shopkeeper Lin absolutely refused to take any silver. He even gave her some medicines for internal and external injuries, as well as a century-old ginseng root to preserve life in critical moments.
"Madam Qi, take care!"
Meeting Shopkeeper Lin's reluctant gaze, Ye Chutang waved her hand breezily.
"We shall meet again if fate allows."
After saying that, she went to the grain and oil shop diagonally across the street.
She stocked up on half a month's supply of rice, flour, and oil, and also prepared various seasonings.
She then went to the dried goods store, the vegetable market, the blacksmith's shop, the clothing store, the farm tools shop, the vegetable market again, a fruit stall...
The cart became visibly piled high with goods at a rapid pace.
Ye Chutang checked her list; everything she needed to buy was purchased.
On her way back to Prince Chen's Mansion, she stopped by a pastry shop.
There, she overheard major news.
"I thought the Emperor wouldn't move against the Minister's estate, but who knew they'd suddenly be raided and exiled."
"Colluding with princes, hoarding military provisions and weapons—how could the Emperor possibly spare Ye Jingchuan."
"With Ye Jingchuan fallen, what about those two princes? Why haven't we heard any news about them?"
"The Crown Prince and the Second Prince are the most likely candidates for the throne. The Emperor relies on them to balance the court, so of course he won't touch them."
"The Ye family wasn't raided and exterminated, only sentenced to exile. That's probably the result of Ye Jingchuan taking the fall for the two princes."
After paying for the pastries, Ye Chutang came out of the shop and asked the few people discussing at the entrance.
"May I trouble you to ask, where has the Ye family been exiled to?"
The people recognized Ye Chutang and promptly replied, "The northwest, to Lincheng City."
Lincheng City was a frontier fortress in the northwest, plagued by constant warfare, its environment a world apart from Tianshan County.
Ye Chutang knew that by arranging for Ye Jingchuan to be exiled to the northwest as well, the Emperor intended for him to deal with the Qi family.
"Thank you!"
After speaking, she went to the tavern next door and ordered a large table of fine dishes.
As luck would have it, she overheard another piece of major news there.
"Prince An and his family have been placed under house arrest in Dingzhou. Their lives are essentially over."
"The Emperor has shown leniency towards his own brother, providing food and drink, only depriving him of freedom."
"Exactly, and the son and daughter sentenced to one year of imprisonment are also going to Dingzhou, which practically counts as a pardon."
"The route to the northwest passes through Dingzhou. Will the Qi Family and the Zhao Family travel together?"
Hearing this, Ye Chutang understood everything.
The Emperor arranged it this way precisely to use Zhao Mingxu's hand to eliminate the Qi Family.
Whether successful or not, that wretched Emperor can remain perfectly hidden!
Ye Chutang could already imagine how "eventful" the exile journey would be.
"Shopkeeper, please deliver the meal to Prince Chen's Mansion at half past six in the evening."
After saying this, she paid and left.
Returning to Prince Chen's Mansion, Ye Chutang led the donkey to the stable, fed it some fodder, and then went to the front courtyard.
The Imperial Guards who had been buried in the ground had already been dug out.
The front courtyard was left with numerous pits.
As there was no longer a need to guard the property, many of the Imperial Guards had withdrawn.
The servants who had sold themselves to Prince Chen's Mansion had also been assigned their destinations.
Those with money paid double the silver to buy back their freedom and left Prince Chen's Mansion.
Those without money would be sent to serve as servants in the mansions of other officials.
Ye Chutang handed the procurement bill to Qi Yanzhou.
"Here are the details. Let everyone have a look."
The daily necessities she bought were mostly top-grade and not cheap, costing nearly three hundred taels of silver.
The pastries and the pre-ordered table of food were paid for out of her own pocket, costing over a hundred taels.
Before leaving the capital, they had to have one good meal.
Qi Yanzhou didn't look at the details and passed them to Concubine Xu.
Concubine Xu did not take them, saying respectfully, "The mistress is in charge of the household. All expenditures are to be decided by the mistress."
She was very clear about her position and naturally wouldn't do anything annoying.
Seeing Concubine Xu so sensible, Ye Chutang took back the detailed list.
If no one knew how much she had bought, no one would suspect that the amounts consumed didn't match up.
The food supplies prepared in her space could then be put to use.
Of course, the discrepancy in quantity couldn't be too large.
Otherwise, someone as sharp as Qi Yanzhou would surely notice.
She yawned. "I'm a bit tired from shopping. I'm going to rest for a while."
Concubine Su quickly called out to stop Ye Chutang. "Mistress, may I look at the procurement details?"
She wanted to know what needed to be bought and the prices, for reference.
Ye Chutang saw through Concubine Su's little scheme and gave her two words.
"No!"
After saying this, she glanced at Qi Yanzhou and entered the eastern side hall.
Concubine Su pursed her lips. "Fine, don't let me see then!"
After speaking, she went out to make purchases under the watch of the Imperial Guards.
Qi Yanzhou sensed that Ye Chutang had something to say and called after her retreating figure, "A-Tang, I have something to discuss with you."
"Come in and talk."
Ye Chutang leaned against the headboard of the canopy bed. Qi Yanzhou sat on the edge of the bed and began massaging her legs.
She closed her eyes comfortably and told Qi Yanzhou the two pieces of news she had heard.
Qi Yanzhou massaged her legs with just the right pressure.
"A-Tang, don't worry. No matter how many changes occur, everything is under control."
"I trust you, but I'm afraid the pregnancy won't be hidden for much longer."
Once the Emperor learned of the pregnancy, she, this "inside source," would no longer receive insider information.
"If it can't be hidden, then don't hide it. It will be easier for you. Lie down and sleep."
Ye Chutang had been getting sleepy very quickly since becoming pregnant.
She gave an "Mhm" and lay down.
"Stop massaging. My legs aren't tired. Go and tell them they should start packing their luggage."
"Alright, sleep. I'll wake you for the meal."
Ye Chutang only slept for half an hour this time.
When she woke up, she happened to see Concubine Su returning from her shopping.
Burdened with numerous large and small packages, she was weighed down, walking unsteadily and panting heavily.
Her fine clothes had been changed for coarse linen, almost soaked through with sweat.
"Yao'er, come help quickly."
Qi Jingyao looked at the disheveled Concubine Su, frowned in distaste, and reluctantly took the bundles from her.
"Mother, what did you buy? Why is it so heavy?"
"Pots, bowls, and food. I bought enough for half a month."
"It's so heavy, will we even be able to walk after carrying it all? Why didn't you buy a donkey?"
A donkey wasn't expensive, only needing three to five taels of silver.
Concubine Su had wanted to buy one, but the Imperial Guards wouldn't allow it.
They said permitting the Qi Family to buy one donkey for pulling goods was already an act of grace from His Majesty.
"Yao'er, your mother's status is lowly, I am not worthy of buying a donkey."
Qi Jingyao pouted unhappily. "Then you should have at least bought a small handcart. It would be easier than carrying everything on our backs."
Concubine Su annoyedly tapped her head.
"I forgot! Mother will go buy one right now."
However, an Imperial Guard said, "You cannot go out again. The Qi Family has only one last chance to go out."
Hearing this, Concubine Gao said, "I'll go!"
She hadn't done her shopping yet!
Concubine Su hurriedly stuffed a piece of broken silver into Concubine Gao's hand.
"Little sister, please bring back a small handcart for me. Sorry for the trouble."
Although she had little concept of prices, a wooden handcart was an ordinary household tool, so it certainly couldn't be expensive.
Concubine Gao looked at the broken silver in her hand and said bluntly, "It's not enough."
"It definitely is enough. A handcart costs at most three hundred copper coins. This piece of silver is worth at least five hundred coins."
"Five taels. I'll help sister bring the handcart back."
Concubine Su's eyes widened in anger. "Five taels? You're extorting me!"
Concubine Gao was indeed extorting money.
The more money she had in hand, the better life would be on the exile journey.
"If you're unwilling, then forget it."
Seeing Concubine Gao turn to leave, Concubine Su called out to her angrily.
"It's just five taels of silver! I'll give it to you!"
Concubine Gao took the silver and went off happily to do her shopping.
Half past the You hour.
The restaurant delivered the meal right on time, ten signature dishes in total, each appealing in color, aroma, and taste.
Right after the waiter left, Guangjuxuan also came to deliver food.
Since the noon meal couldn't be delivered, they sent four dishes in the afternoon.
The table was fully laden.
Ye Chutang invited Old Master Qi, Old Madam Qi, and Qi Yanzhou to sit down.
After the three were seated, she intended to call Concubine Xu and Qi He'an.
However, the sweat-stained Concubine Su took the lead and pulled Qi Jingyao to sit down.
She gazed greedily at the dishes on the table. "Restaurant food really is more fragrant. Just the smell whets the appetite."
Qi Yun'an, seeing Concubine Su about to pick up her chopsticks, quickly reminded her, "My mother hasn't returned yet."
Concubine Su, thinking of the five taels extorted from her, snorted in displeasure.
"She's slow. We can't make everyone wait for her. The food will get cold and won't taste good, right, Master?"
Old Master Qi looked coldly at Concubine Su and rebuked her, "Get off the table with Yao'er!"
"Master, your concubine didn't say anything wrong. Why are you angry with me?"
Concubine Su said pitifully, then looked at Ye Chutang.
"Madam, who knows when Concubine Gao will be back? We can't wait for her forever, can we?"
Ye Chutang looked at Concubine Su mockingly.
"Everyone who is eating is here now, so of course we won't wait."
After saying this, she looked towards Concubine Xu. "Concubine, please come sit with Third Brother."
Concubine Xu knew this table of dishes wasn't cheap, and she also knew Ye Chutang hadn't intended to invite Concubine Su and Concubine Gao to eat.
She said deliberately, "Madam, there was no need for such extravagance."
The implied meaning was that Concubine Su and Concubine Gao hadn't contributed any money and weren't qualified to eat.
Ye Chutang said with a smile, "It's our last meal before leaving the capital, a little extravagance is justified."
Old Madam Qi nodded in agreement.
"Chutang is right. Consider it a farewell meal."
After saying this, she looked at Concubine Su, whose face had turned ugly.
"Su, if you want to eat, then contribute your share. The Qi family, as it is now, cannot tolerate freeloaders."
Concubine Su knew this feast wasn't cheap; contributing her share would probably cost thirty taels.
She couldn't bear to part with the money.
So, with a livid face, she got up and left, pulling her daughter Qi Jingyao along.
If she couldn't eat, so be it. It was no big deal; the kitchen would be sending food soon anyway.
Qi Yun'an looked extremely awkward, his face taut as he left the main hall.
Seeing that the unpleasant people had all left, Ye Chutang said cheerfully, "Quick, let's eat while it's hot."
They had just picked up their chopsticks when Concubine Gao returned, pushing a small cart with both hands.
Right then, the kitchen's meal was also ready.
The four of them ate five dishes and a soup, and they managed to eat quite well.
After a satisfying meal,
Ye Chutang said, "I paid for this meal out of my own pocket; I didn't use the family's funds."
She explained this to avoid being misunderstood as wasteful.
Old Madam Qi shot Ye Chutang a mock-reproachful look. "We all ate this food; how can we let you pay for it?"
Qi Yanzhou chimed in.
"Ah-Tang, spend the family's money freely. If it runs out, I'll find a way."
Ye Chutang nodded. "Alright. Is the luggage all packed?"
"Everything's packed."
The valuables in Prince Chen's Mansion had been confiscated. The Imperial Guards wouldn't let them take anything of even slight value.
So, the Qi family had only packed some clothes and shoes.
The Imperial Guards even restricted the amount, fearing they might sell them for silver.
They were allowed only two sets per season, and they had to choose old ones.
Although the belongings weren't many, because they included thick winter clothing, each person had a bulging bundle.
Qi Yanzhou said, "Ah-Tang, your clothes are only for summer. When the weather turns cold, we'll buy you new ones."
Ye Chutang nodded. "Good. I bought some coarse cloth outer garments for everyone."
On the road of exile, one shouldn't dress too opulently, or they might easily attract the attention of bandits.
She fetched the coarse clothes from the cart and distributed them to the five of them.
"Let's rest early tonight and conserve our energy."
As dusk fell, everyone in the Qi household went to sleep.
Ye Chutang woke up after a nap, rendered the five people in the east side hall unconscious with acupuncture, and left Prince Chen's Mansion.
She went to the imperial summer resort and took away the plump, well-fed medicinal leeches.
Then she took a stroll around the imperial palace, collecting the rather scant vegetables from the imperial kitchens.
After that, she took every last bit of the medicinal herbs that had just been restocked in the Imperial Hospital.
Returning to Prince Chen's Mansion, Ye Chutang went to the ice cellar.
Because of the Frost Cicada, the ice in the cellar had mostly melted.
After finding the Frost Cicada, she placed both it and the medicinal leeches back into the Chinese medicine pharmacy within her space.
The remaining intact blocks of ice were also stored in her space.
Finally, she collected all the valuables she had buried underground that day.
Ye Chutang lay down on the canopy bed and entered her space.
The rate of merit points growth had slowed significantly, indicating the plague in Jiangnan was under control.
She tidied up the gold, silver, and treasures from Prince Chen's Mansion, then left the space and went back to sleep.
She didn't know how long she had slept when she was startled awake by the sound of footsteps gradually approaching.
A slender bamboo tube was inserted through the gap between the two bed curtains.
White smoke wafted from the hole in the bamboo tube.
It was knockout incense.
Ye Chutang had anticipated someone might try to steal her silver and had been on high alert for the past few days.
Tonight, they had finally come.
She quickly plugged the smoking hole and kicked the intruder away.
"Ah!"
A woman's shriek pierced the air.
Ye Chutang paused for a moment, then pushed aside the bed curtains.
