After Ye Jingchuan issued the order, the guards immediately moved to seize Ye Chutang.
"Miss, forgive our offense!"
Ye Chutang remained motionless, allowing the guards to apprehend her.
Ye Jingchuan knew she was skilled in martial arts and had expected resistance, but she surrendered without a fight.
"At least you know better than to fight a losing battle!"
He showed no mercy toward Ye Chutang and turned to Steward Chen.
"Summon all the masters to the front courtyard—including that madwoman!"
"Yes, Master."
Instinct told Ye Chutang that this "madwoman" was significant.
Why would Ye Jingchuan specifically mention her?
Could she be connected to the original owner of this body?
As Ye Chutang pondered the possibilities, the guards brought out a long bench and placed it in the courtyard.
Meanwhile, the house physician arrived in a hurry, carrying his medicine box.
After examining Ye Jingchuan’s dislocated wrist, the physician relaxed slightly.
"Master, it’s just a dislocation. A quick reset will fix it."
Ye Jingchuan exhaled in relief—at least his hand wasn’t truly broken.
Pale-faced, he nodded. "Do it."
"Very well. It will hurt—please bear with it."
Before Ye Jingchuan could brace himself, a sharp crack echoed as his wrist was snapped back into place.
Agony surged through him, and he let out a howl, his clothes drenched in cold sweat.
Watching Ye Jingchuan flex his wrist, Ye Chutang smirked.
"Master Ye, if you’re this fragile, perhaps you shouldn’t challenge others to high-fives."
Ye Jingchuan’s fury flared. "You wretched girl! Guards, slap her!"
"Master Ye, you’ve already sent out some invitations for the homecoming banquet, haven’t you?"
The implication was clear: Dare you mar this face now?
"What does that matter? A father disciplining his daughter is only natural."
Even if her face hadn’t healed in three days, no one would dare criticize him!
Seeing Ye Jingchuan’s resolve, a guard raised his hand to strike Ye Chutang’s face.
In a flash, she yanked the jade hairpin from Ye Jingchuan’s bun and drove it straight through the guard’s palm.
Blood dripped to the ground, blooming like crimson petals.
Ye Jingchuan’s loosened hair tangled over his face.
Instead of the expected slap, the metallic tang of blood filled the air.
Brushing the strands aside, he saw Ye Chutang holding the bloodied pin, his right hand trembling with rage.
"You—"
Before he could finish, she thrust the pin toward his eye.
"Master!"
"Jingchuan!"
"Father!"
The Ye family, having just arrived in the courtyard, shrieked in horror at the sight.
Ye Jingchuan’s pupils shrank in terror, his heart skipping a beat.
His mind screamed at him to dodge, but his body froze.
The pin loomed larger, closer—
Then stopped, a hair’s breadth from his eyeball.
The blood on the pin splattered into his eye, staining his vision red.
Gasping for breath, he collapsed onto the ground, utterly humiliated.
Old Madam Ye, supported by Kong Ru, rushed to his side.
Kong Ru helped him up, dabbing at his bloodied eye with a handkerchief.
"Master, are you alright?"
Old Madam Ye glared at Ye Chutang, whose resemblance to Tang Wanning was uncanny.
Her disgust was unmistakable.
"Daring to raise a hand against your elders—have you lost the will to live?"
Ye Chutang met her gaze calmly.
"Indeed. So before I die, I won’t suffer in silence. Whoever provokes me will pay."
"Madwoman!"
"Flattery won’t save you."
Old Madam Ye choked on her retort and turned to Ye Jingchuan, who had regained his composure.
"Jingchuan, you must teach this girl a lesson, or she’ll defy the heavens!"
Humiliated, Ye Jingchuan’s hatred for Ye Chutang peaked.
"Guards, give the young miss a caning!"
As soon as he spoke, a disheveled, filthy woman threw herself onto the bench in the courtyard.
"Spank… spank bottom…"
Ye Jingchuan’s lip curled at the sight of the grimy Jinzhi.
"Restrain that lunatic! Make her watch the punishment!"
This confirmed Ye Chutang’s suspicion—Jinzhi was tied to the original owner.
And Ye Jingchuan had plans for her.
Forcing her to witness the beating was likely a test of her sanity.
When the guards moved to grab Jinzhi, she scrambled up and giggled, darting toward Ye Chutang.
"Miss… hungry… want food…"
She barely took two steps before a guard seized her matted hair, yanking her back.
"Another word, and I’ll smash your teeth in!"
The threat told Ye Chutang everything—this "madwoman" had suffered endless abuse.
The "miss" Jinzhi referred to was probably Tang Wanning.
Suppressing the urge to intervene, Ye Chutang watched the approaching guards—then snatched Old Madam Ye’s golden hairpin and pressed it to her throat.
The old woman shrieked. "You little—"
A sharp prick silenced her. A trickle of blood seeped from her neck.
The family gasped. Striking her father, threatening her grandmother—
Such crimes could land her in prison!
Ye Jingchuan trembled with rage. "Ye Chutang, what do you want?"
She tilted her head. "Master Ye, do you still plan to slap me? Or cane me?"
"Release your grandmother, and I’ll spare you."
"Have everyone gather in the courtyard. We’ll talk."
Kong Ru panicked. "Master, she’s insane! Don’t agree!"
Ye Chutang’s icy gaze shifted to her.
"If the master and mistress are so devoted, why not stay together?"
Her tone suggested they’d make a lovely pair—in the afterlife.
Kong Ru gulped, instantly regretting her outburst.
Ye Jingchuan knew Ye Chutang wouldn’t kill him—she’d had chances already.
"Everyone, out!"
He’d hear what this rebellious daughter had to say.
The family, guards, and physician filed out.
Kong Ru tried to follow but froze at Ye Chutang’s voice.
"Madam Ye, leaving so soon?"
"The master dismissed us."
Though true, Ye Jingchuan frowned at her eagerness to flee.
"Stay."
Soon, only four remained in the hall.
Ye Chutang didn’t bother closing the doors—letting all witness the scene.
Tired of standing, she released Old Madam Ye and sat.
As Ye Jingchuan moved to drag his mother to safety, the golden hairpin whizzed past their faces, embedding in the doorframe.
"Move again, and you won’t walk out alive. Sit."
Cowed, the three obeyed, settling around the table.
Ye Chutang poured herself tea, sipped, then met Ye Jingchuan’s glare.
"Thanks to you, Eunuch De knows of my beauty.
Thanks to me, he also knows you tried to shield Ye Anling by offering me as a substitute bride.
That eunuch lusts for pretty things—your ‘gift’ pleased him, balancing your offense.
But if I displease him in three days… what then?"
Ye Jingchuan knew Eunuch De’s vindictive nature too well.
Gritting his teeth, he admitted, "At best, I’d be demoted. At worst—the Ye name would vanish."
Ye Chutang smiled. "So. Dare you touch me now?"
