The late mistress was Tang Wanning.
Though Shuang'er had only recently come of age, she had already spent eight years in the Ye household.
She had once served as Ye Anling's study companion for a time and knew some of the Ye family's secrets.
Since it concerned her birth mother, Ye Chutang asked, "What secret?"
"If the young mistress promises to let me stay, then I'll..."
Ye Chutang narrowed her eyes, her gaze laced with mockery as she watched Shuang'er push her luck.
"No need to say anything. I don’t want to know now."
With that, she turned to Wangcai, who was trimming branches.
"Wangcai, take Shuang'er to the Glazed Courtyard and inform Madam Ye that she knows a secret about my mother."
If she didn’t put this maid in her place, she’d never learn her standing!
Shuang'er paled at these words.
"Young mistress, you’re sentencing me to death!"
Ye Chutang watched her coldly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"In a noble household, the death of a maid is hardly worth mentioning, is it?"
Then she turned and walked away.
Dan'er, seeing Shuang'er frozen in shock, offered a word of advice. "Don’t make demands of the young mistress. If your secret is useful, she’ll naturally let you stay."
Shuang'er hastily called after Ye Chutang’s retreating figure, "The late mistress’s fall and premature birth—it wasn’t an accident!"
Ye Chutang, who had just reached the gate of Ningchu Courtyard, turned back.
"Why do you say that?"
Shuang'er instinctively opened her mouth to bargain again, but Dan'er discreetly kicked her.
She quickly changed her words.
"This servant once served as Second Young Miss’s study companion and overheard an old servant mention it in passing."
In truth, she had heard it from Ye Anling, but she wanted to leave herself an escape route, so she didn’t tell the whole truth.
Ye Chutang knew Shuang'er was cunning and didn’t believe her.
"Which old servant?"
"Aunt Chen. She left the household five years ago to return to her hometown."
"How convenient. Get up."
Realizing she had been allowed to stay, Shuang'er kowtowed again. "Thank you, young mistress."
Ye Chutang ignored her and headed to the front courtyard’s kitchen.
By the dining table, the entire Ye family had gathered.
As they watched Ye Chutang enter gracefully, impeccably dressed, a single phrase flashed through their minds:
A lady of noble bearing.
Ye Chutang greeted each family member with perfect etiquette, and her manners at the table were flawless, leaving no room for criticism.
Even when they deliberately tried to provoke her, she handled it effortlessly.
Ye Jingchuan sighed with paternal pride.
"Chu'er’s etiquette is impeccable."
"Less flattery, more rewards."
"..."
Ye Jingchuan thought about the homecoming banquet the next day, where Ye Chutang would need to dress splendidly.
He turned to Kong Ru. "Fetch Chu'er a fine set of hair ornaments."
Kong Ru nodded. "The gown for tomorrow has also been prepared. I’ll have it sent to her."
"Good. With so many guests tomorrow, assign her a clever maid as well."
"Yes, master."
Kong Ru instructed Qiu He to fetch the hair ornaments and gown from her quarters.
She also assigned Chun Tao to assist Ye Chutang with hosting duties the next day.
Old Madam Ye, recalling the theft at Ningchu Courtyard, asked, "Jingchuan, what progress has the capital’s magistrate made?"
At this, Ye Jingchuan’s expression darkened.
"The thieves left no traces. The magistrate can only monitor the pawnshops, so it’s unlikely there will be leads anytime soon."
He then mentioned the two hundred bushels of wheat stolen from the estate.
"The theft of the wheat is also strange. Though there’s a tunnel from the warehouse leading to the wilderness, there are no footprints near the exit."
Just like the theft at Ningchu Courtyard, it was as if the goods had vanished into thin air.
Ye Chutang spoke up again. "Could it really have been my mother? Otherwise, it makes no sense."
Ye Jingchuan and Kong Ru shuddered at the thought.
"Don’t speak nonsense!"
"Such precious items lost—what a shame."
As soon as Ye Chutang finished speaking, Qiu He arrived with the hair ornaments and gown.
"Tomorrow will be busy, so I’ll retire early."
After bidding the elders farewell with perfect courtesy, she turned to leave.
Ye Anling watched Ye Chutang’s graceful figure, her emotions in turmoil.
Who would have thought that in just over two days, this country bumpkin would transform into a noble lady?
Chun Tao took the tray from Qiu He and followed Ye Chutang back to Ningchu Courtyard.
But the moment she stepped out of the dining hall, Kong Ru’s panicked cry rang out.
"Jun'er!"
Ye Jingchuan, seeing his son collapse suddenly, shouted, "Call the physician!"
Ye Chutang paused mid-step and turned back.
She approached Kong Ru, who was cradling Ye Anjun, and reached to check his pulse.
During the meal, she had noticed something off about the child, but since they weren’t close, she hadn’t paid it much mind.
Kong Ru slapped her hand away, glaring defensively.
"What are you doing?"
"I have some medical knowledge. Let me examine him."
"No need. Jun'er has always been under Doctor Gao’s care. He knows his condition best."
Ye Chutang didn’t want to meddle, but Ye Anjun’s face was turning a dangerous shade of purple from lack of air.
If he didn’t receive help soon, he might die.
"Madam Ye, if you don’t want to lose your son, let me examine him now."
Ye Jingchuan, seeing the gravity in Ye Chutang’s expression, urged, "Madam, let Chu'er check."
Kong Ru refused. "I poisoned Chu'er before. Who’s to say she won’t take revenge on Jun'er?"
Ye Chutang frowned. "I don’t blame the innocent for others’ crimes."
"You can never know what’s in someone’s heart—"
Before Kong Ru could finish, Ye Jingchuan snatched Ye Anjun from her arms.
"Chu'er, help him!"
"Alright."
The moment Ye Chutang’s fingers touched Ye Anjun’s wrist, Kong Ru yanked her away frantically.
"No!"
She knew her son’s condition was critical, but his illness could only be treated by Doctor Gao.
Otherwise, she was doomed…
Old Madam Ye, observing Kong Ru’s bizarre behavior, scolded sharply.
"Kong Ru, this is about Jun'er’s life! Stop this nonsense!"
Kong Ru was on the verge of tears. "Mother, I—"
Just then, Doctor Gao rushed in with his medical kit.
"The physician is here. Let him handle it. There’s no need to trouble Chu'er."
Ye Chutang’s instincts told her Ye Anjun’s condition was unusual, so she didn’t leave immediately.
Doctor Gao’s face darkened as he examined Ye Anjun’s purplish complexion.
The madam has gone too far—dosing the young master with such a potent medicine!
He quickly pulled out a jade vial and tipped two black pills into Ye Anjun’s mouth.
But Ye Anjun was unconscious, his throat swollen shut, unable to swallow.
Doctor Gao tried everything, but nothing worked. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
"Madam, the young master can’t take the medicine."
Kong Ru’s face turned deathly pale. "W-what does that mean?"
"The young master is beyond saving."
"If Jun'er dies, you’ll pay with your life!"
Ye Chutang shoved Doctor Gao aside, tilted Ye Anjun’s chin up, and pressed her thumb against his throat, using a special technique to massage the swelling.
From Kong Ru’s angle, it looked like Ye Chutang was strangling him.
"Ye Chutang, let go of Jun'er!"
"I don’t have to save him. If you’d rather bury your own child, I’ll stop."
With Doctor Gao at a loss, he was secretly relieved to see Ye Chutang take the blame.
"Madam, let the young mistress try."
Ye Jingchuan also spoke up, "Chutang, don’t mind Madam. Just focus on saving Anjun."
Ye Chutang replied, "Father, help prop Anjun up. I need to press the acupoints on his back."
Ye Jingchuan immediately complied.
Soon after, the unconscious Ye Anjun swallowed the pill.
Having saved him, Ye Chutang gained 10,000 merit points.
She was slightly surprised and thought to herself, "Could it be that Ye Anjun is destined to become someone extraordinary in the future?"
With the pill swallowed, everyone’s tense hearts finally eased.
Seeing his son’s complexion visibly improve, Ye Jingchuan asked, "Chutang, is Anjun out of danger now?"
"Yes, his life is no longer at risk."
The house physician looked at Ye Chutang in astonishment, never expecting her to possess such skill.
Remembering the cause of Ye Anjun’s sudden illness, he quickly interjected, "Young Miss, allow this old one to take over from here."
Ignoring the visibly guilty house physician, Ye Chutang placed her fingers on Ye Anjun’s wrist to check his pulse.
