Qin Muyun had followed Qi Yanzhou since childhood, obeying his every word.
But this time, with Ye Chutang surrounded by wolves, he couldn’t bring himself to sit back and watch.
"Ziqian, I want to divine a fortune for Miss Ye. Cover for me."
Qin Muyun was a playboy, but also the youngest disciple of the Imperial Astronomer.
He had a rare talent for astrology, divination, and physiognomy—yet he rarely performed readings for others.
Revealing too much of heaven’s will would not only deplete his own luck but might also invite divine retribution.
Qi Yanzhou studied him gravely. "You’ve fallen for her?"
Normally, Qin Muyun could tell if someone faced imminent misfortune just by observing their face.
But when he cared too deeply, his judgment became clouded, rendering his readings unreliable.
Coin divination, however, was objective—as long as his mind remained clear, the results would be accurate.
Qin Muyun didn’t deny it. "Yes."
He’d first been struck by Ye Chutang’s beauty, but today, her intellect and spirit had won his heart.
Qi Yanzhou pressed further. "What if she feels nothing for you?"
"My feelings are my own. They have nothing to do with her."
After answering earnestly, Qin Muyun shifted closer to Qi Yanzhou, smoothing the gauzy fabric draped over his lap.
Then he drew three coins from his sleeve and cast them onto the cloth.
Six tosses later, the hexagram emerged: peril, but no real harm.
Relieved, he pocketed the coins and settled in to watch the unfolding drama.
Meanwhile, Ye Chutang, who had left the front courtyard for the gardens, remained unaware of this interlude.
She trailed behind Kong Ru, weaving through clusters of ladies exchanging hollow pleasantries and idle chatter.
By the time she’d greeted every guest and returned to the banquet table, her throat was parched.
Just then, Dan’er handed her a cup of fragrant floral tea.
Catching the maid’s veiled glance, Ye Chutang knew the drink had been drugged.
The floral sweetness masked the poison.
She drained it in one go. "Another."
Dan’er gaped.
Seizing the moment, Chun Tao interjected, "This servant will fetch more tea for the young miss," and promptly delivered a second tainted cup.
Ye Chutang drank it without hesitation.
Kong Ru, watching from beside her, hid a triumphant smirk.
You wretched girl!
You’ve strutted about unchecked for days—today, you’ll pay for it.
"Chu’er, you’ve worked hard today. Have some food."
As she served Ye Chutang, Kong Ru "accidentally" knocked over the bowl of rib soup Qiu He had just ladled out.
The broth splashed onto Ye Chutang’s skirts.
"Oh dear! Chu’er, are you scalded?"
Ye Chutang eyed Kong Ru’s clumsy act coldly before rising to shake the oily stains from her hem.
Her voice dripped displeasure. "How could you be so careless, Madam Ye?"
"My apologies—I was so worried you’d go hungry, I rushed. Chun Tao, take the young miss to the guest quarters to change."
For grand banquets like this, hosts always kept spare garments on hand.
Chun Tao gestured politely. "This way, young miss."
Ye Chutang’s delicate brows furrowed. "I’d rather return to Ningchu Court to change."
With that, she swept away in clear irritation.
Passing Ye Anling, she "tripped" on her own skirt, stumbling toward her stepsister.
Ye Anling recoiled instinctively, dodging the fall.
Ye Chutang barely caught herself on the table’s edge.
Kong Ru frowned.
Did we overdose her? Is the drug taking effect already?
She hurried forward, gripping Ye Chutang’s arm—both to steady her and to check for fever.
"Chutang, are you okay?"
There was no fever on her body!
Ye Chutang saw through Kong Ru's intention, withdrew her arm, and lifted her skirt.
"I'm fine. The skirt soaked by the soup was too heavy and dragged on the ground. I accidentally got stepped on it."
Hearing this, Dan'er stepped forward and slightly lifted Ye Chutang's skirt.
"Miss, let this maid accompany you back to Ningchu Courtyard."
Ye Chutang nodded. "Okay. Let Chun Tao stay and serve the ladies and young ladies with dishes."
After leaving the back garden, she made sure there was no one around and then stopped.
"Dan'er, dirty Ye Anling's clothes in an hour."
Dan'er nodded and looked at Ye Chutang with a worried face.
"Miss, you drank the scented tea with medicine in it. Will you be okay?"
"I'm fine. Hurry back to the back garden."
The mistress and the maid parted ways. Ye Chutang carried her skirt back to Ningchu Courtyard, while Dan'er returned to the back garden.
Seeing her come back, Kong Ru asked worriedly, "Why didn't you stay by the miss's side to serve her?"
That damned girl, couldn't have found out, could she?
"The miss was worried that there weren't enough maids in the back garden to serve, so she sent me back."
Kong Ru lowered her voice and asked Dan'er, "Didn't she notice anything?"
"Probably not."
Hearing this, Kong Ru felt relieved and immediately went to the front yard to inform Ye Jingchuan.
She asked him to find an opportunity to take Eunuch De to Ningchu Courtyard.
Thinking that Ye Chutang was about to be disgraced and marry that eunuch, Eunuch De, in her place, Ye Anling was in an extremely good mood.
She picked up the cooled scented tea in front of her and drank it all in one gulp.
Then, she asked the maid to pour her a cup of peach blossom wine.
"Your Highness, I'd like to offer you a toast."
Hearing this, Princess Anping knew that the plan to send Ye Chutang to Eunuch De had succeeded.
She immediately asked the maid to fill her cup with wine.
Taking the opportunity to pass by, Dan'er "accidentally" bumped into the maid's arm.
All the wine in the pot spilled on Ye Anling.
The maid was so scared that she knelt down. "Second Miss, please forgive this maid. This maid..."
Before she could finish her explanation, she was interrupted by a slap from Ye Anling.
"You can't even pour wine properly. Get out of here!"
Knowing that this was not the time to argue, the maid immediately left as ordered.
Looking at her wet and wine - scented clothes, Ye Anling stood up and bowed to the guests.
"Everyone, enjoy your meal. This little girl will go and change her clothes and come back right away."
Between the ugly clothes in the guest room and the gorgeous clothes in her own courtyard, she chose the latter.
Her personal maids, Qiulu and Qiushuang, wanted to follow her, but Ye Anling left them behind to take care of the guests.
When she left the back garden, Eunuch De also left the front yard on Ye Jingchuan's instruction, finding an excuse.
He was led by a maid to Ningchu Courtyard.
On the way, he met Ye Anling, with a flushed face and unsteady steps.
Today, all the maids and servants were serving in the front yard and the back garden, and there was no one in the back yard.
Eunuch De noticed something was wrong with Ye Anling, and the smile on his lips grew wider.
Ye Jingchuan, this sycophant, was really generous. He was even willing to offer his two daughters to him to have fun with!
He said to the leading maid, "Support the second miss and take her to Ningchu Courtyard."
The maid didn't dare to disobey Eunuch De's order. She supported Ye Anling's hot arm and took her to Ningchu Courtyard.
Hidden in the dark, Ye Chutang saw this and the corners of her mouth curled up.
Ye Anling, enjoy the grand gift you prepared for me!
She followed the three of them back to Ningchu Courtyard.
By the time they reached the courtyard, the effect of the medicine in Ye Anling's body had reached its peak.
Ye Anling clung to Eunuch De like an octopus, kissing and nibbling on him, and her hands were also restless, slipping down inside his clothes.
Eunuch De grabbed Ye Anling's hand and took her to Ye Chutang's boudoir.
Looking at the empty room, he flew into a rage.
"Where is Ye Chutang?"
The maid had no idea. She trembled her lips and didn't know how to answer.
Eunuch De flung his sleeve, knocking the maid unconscious to the ground.
He was only interested in Ye Chutang now. He tore open Ye Anling, whose front of the robe was half - open, and threw her on the ground.
"You slutty look should really be seen by that stupid crown prince!"
Just as he finished speaking, he heard a noise in the yard.
Eunuch De came out of the boudoir and looked towards the bamboo grove where the noise came from.
There he saw Ye Chutang sitting on the ground with her back against the bamboo. Her little face was flushed, her eyes were full of spring water, and she was breathing slightly.
He felt an itch in his heart and walked quickly towards her.
"Little beauty, so you're here."
When he got close to Ye Chutang, he smelled a soul - stirring fragrance.
His consciousness became blurred, and the primitive impulse in his body became extremely strong.
Ye Chutang looked at the trapped Eunuch De and sneered with the corners of her mouth hooked.
She stood up and picked up Eunuch De as easily as picking up a chick, then threw him into the boudoir.
Ye Anling, as fierce as a wolf and a tiger, immediately pounced on Eunuch De.
The trapped Eunuch De responded eagerly.
Although Ye Chutang was quite interested in the lewd scene of the eunuch, she still had more important things to do.
