Ye Chutang caught the malicious glint in Ye Jingchuan's eyes.
She paid it no mind and stood up, asking, "Lord Ye, it’s getting late. When shall we have dinner?"
Ye Jingchuan, considering that everyone still needed to present Ye Chutang with welcome gifts, scheduled the meal for two quarters later.
Ye Chutang pushed open the main hall’s door. "Alright, see you then."
Before returning to Ningchu Courtyard, she cast a glance at the "madwoman."
Once Kong Ru confirmed Ye Chutang had left the front courtyard, she said to Ye Jingchuan, "Master, we can’t let Chutang run wild any longer. If this continues, the entire Minister’s Mansion will be dragged down by her recklessness!"
Old Madam Ye touched her injured neck, her expression venomous.
"Jingchuan, that wretched girl dared to harm even me! You must teach her a lesson!"
Ye Jingchuan, ever the filial son, quickly soothed her.
"Mother, don’t worry. Your son will surely avenge you."
Kong Ru proposed a plan. "Master, since Chutang has threatened to poison us all, why don’t we drug her first and bring her under control?"
Medicine and poison were two sides of the same coin—the mansion’s physician surely had toxins on hand.
Once Ye Chutang was incapacitated, they could use the antidote to manipulate her into obedience!
Old Madam Ye nodded in agreement. "Jingchuan, don’t hesitate."
Ye Jingchuan had initially considered tampering with the dinner to poison Ye Chutang.
But he quickly dismissed the idea.
If Ye Chutang had openly threatened to kill the family, she likely had knowledge of poisons.
If she discovered the plot, he would lose all advantage.
"Mother, I have a way to make Chutang obey willingly. Leave this to me."
Then he turned to Kong Ru. "Go inform everyone to prepare welcome gifts for Chutang—the more lavish, the better."
Kong Ru was reluctant. "Master—"
"Foolish woman, go now!"
"Yes, Master."
Ye Jingchuan watched Kong Ru’s resentful retreat, too exasperated to explain his reasoning to someone so shortsighted.
The priority now was to placate Ye Chutang and lull her into lowering her guard.
Once he gained control over her, he could reclaim everything given to her—no one would lose out.
Old Madam Ye grasped his meaning. "I’ll fetch the pair of jade bangles and the white jade Buddha I recently acquired."
Ye Jingchuan helped her rise. "Mother, no rush. Let the physician tend to your injury first."
"It’s just a scratch. Nothing serious."
Two quarters later, the dining hall was laden with delicacies, their rich aromas filling the air.
Ye Chutang sat at the head of the table, flanked by Dan'er and Shuang'er.
One tallied the gifts while the other recorded them.
Ye Jingchuan’s offering was twenty thousand taels in silver notes and a priceless set of scholar’s treasures.
"Chutang, you mustn’t call me ‘Lord Ye’ anymore—it’s too distant."
Ye Chutang accepted the silver notes with a smile. "Thank you, Father, for the ten thousand tael ‘address-changing fee.’"
The remark sent a ripple of shock through the room—except for Kong Ru, who was in the know.
Shouldn’t calling him "Father" be expected?
Since when did it require a fee?
And ten thousand taels, no less—nearly seven years of a second-rank minister’s salary!
Did this mean they, too, had to pay up for the privilege of being addressed properly?
Though Ye Jingchuan cared little for Ye Chutang’s acknowledgment, the title of "Father" sounded far sweeter when bought.
"As long as Chutang is happy."
His words only deepened the others’ bewilderment.
The master of the house, who had once threatened punishment, was now groveling for her favor—what had changed?
Ye Chutang had Dan'er put away the writing brush, ink, inkstone, and paper, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.
"Of course I'm happy to receive money and gifts. Let's continue."
Kong Ru suppressed her disgust as she stepped forward, presenting Ye Chutang with two sets of expensive jewelry, two pairs of bracelets, and two thousand taels in silver notes.
Ye Chutang accepted the gifts and remarked, "Madam Ye isn't as generous as your daughter."
"As the mistress of the household, I practice frugality. I don't have many fine things or much silver to spare."
"Madam Ye should stop being so thrifty. After pinching pennies for so many years, you've only managed to save five thousand taels."
Humiliated in front of everyone, Kong Ru lost her temper.
"Who said—"
She barely started speaking when Ye Jingchuan cut her off.
"Enough. Let everyone finish presenting their gifts so we can have dinner."
Only then did Kong Ru realize she had fallen for Ye Chutang's provocation and nearly exposed the Minister's Mansion's financial situation.
Old Madam Ye had her personal maidservant hand over the prepared gifts to Ye Chutang.
In addition to the promised jade bracelet and white jade Buddha, she also included an antique zither.
Once Ye Chutang accepted the gifts, Old Madam Ye asked, "How much do you want for the name-changing fee, Chutang?"
Ye Anling, who had asked for the zither multiple times but was never given it, was green with envy.
She forced a frail, innocent smile.
"Grandmother has already given Eldest Sister so many precious things. Surely she won't ask for the name-changing fee too, right?"
Someone more easily embarrassed might have conceded at those words.
But Ye Chutang would never shortchange herself.
She loved seeing the Ye family seethe with resentment yet unable to do anything about it.
"If Second Miss Ye is so fond of being generous with other people's money, why don't you pay Old Madam Ye's five thousand taels for the name-changing fee?"
Ye Anling's smile vanished.
After paying for the embroidery workshop's fabric, her purse was completely empty.
"Eldest Sister must be joking. The savings I've accumulated over the years have already been spent by you, down to the last coin."
"If you're broke, then stay quiet and stop making a scene."
Ye Chutang then turned to Old Madam Ye. "Since you've lived over a decade longer than Father, surely you've saved up five thousand taels by now?"
Old Madam Ye's face darkened like a burnt pot, her tone sharp.
"Guixiang, go fetch the silver notes!"
If not for the fact that this money could be reclaimed later, she would never have handed it over!
While the old madam's maidservant went to retrieve the silver notes, the remaining members of the Ye family presented their gifts.
Ye Anzhi, the eldest legitimate son, was not only fond of beautiful women but also had peculiar tastes.
From the moment he saw Ye Chutang, his eyes hadn't left her.
His gifts were numerous and extravagant.
"Eldest Sister, welcome home. The five thousand taels for the name-changing fee will be delivered shortly."
Kong Ru was stunned.
What did peers have to do with name-changing fees?
Soon, she realized her son harbored improper thoughts toward Ye Chutang.
She quickly scolded him, "Anzhi, don't be ridiculous. The name-changing fee is for elders—it has nothing to do with you!"
If the eldest son gave money, the younger son would have to as well.
Even if the silver could be taken back later, she didn't want to give Ye Chutang an extra ten thousand taels.
Ye Anzhi immediately retorted,
"How is it unrelated? Only after paying the fee will I truly be Eldest Sister's brother."
Ye Chutang had already learned from Dan'er that Ye Anzhi was a vile man.
But she hadn't expected him to harbor such filthy desires toward his own blood-related sister.
Very well—she would play along for now, then ensure his complete disgrace during the homecoming banquet!
She flashed a bewitching smile. "As long as the name-changing fee is paid, you'll be my brother."
Ye Anzhi's heart raced wildly. He lowered his gaze to hide the depravity in his eyes.
Kong Ru could see the carefully concealed thoughts in her eldest son's heart, and she felt the urge to kill Ye Chutang.
That wretched girl!
A fox spirit!
She must not be allowed to ruin Anzhi!
"Qiu He, go fetch the three thousand taels of silver notes I set aside for Anjun's treatment, along with the century-old ginseng. They will serve as his greeting gift and the fee for addressing me properly."
She knew that Ye Jingchuan doted on his youngest son, Ye Anjun, who had been frail since childhood.
By saying this, she deliberately pressured him to act quickly against Ye Chutang.
