As Kong Ru fainted, the parted bed curtains swiftly closed again.
Princess Anping arrived a step too late and missed seeing that the person on the bed was Ye Anling.
But she heard the gasps from the courtyard.
Refusing to believe it wasn’t Ye Chutang on the bed, she yanked the curtains open once more.
When she saw that the one entangled with Eunuch He De was Ye Anling, her face turned deathly pale.
"H-how… how could this be?"
On the bed,
Ye Anling appeared to be the victim, but upon closer inspection, she was the one taking the lead.
Yet Eunuch He De, being a eunuch, could not satisfy her—only torment her.
The bed was streaked with blood, a horrifying sight.
The noblewomen who had gathered gasped and whispered among themselves.
"Wasn’t it said that the one involved with Eunuch He De… was the eldest Miss Ye?"
"Given the situation, it seems the second Miss Ye was framed by the eldest Miss, no?"
"Not necessarily. Eunuch He De had his eyes on the second Miss from the start."
"But before the luncheon, Eunuch He De hinted that he’d chosen the eldest Miss."
"..."
Amid the murmurs, the stunned Ye Jingchuan snapped back to reality.
He dearly wished to faint and escape this unbearable humiliation.
But he couldn’t—he had to swallow his pride and handle the aftermath, or the situation would spiral out of control!
Ye Jingchuan snatched the bed curtains from Princess Anping’s frozen hands and swiftly closed them.
The scene on the bed was hidden, but the obscene sounds could not be silenced.
"Ladies, none of us can afford to offend Eunuch He De. I implore you not to speak of what you’ve witnessed here."
Qi Yanzhou had arrived at some point unnoticed.
Hearing this, he let out a mocking chuckle.
"When you thought it was your eldest daughter involved, you rushed everyone here to witness the spectacle. But now that it’s your second daughter in disgrace, you invoke Eunuch He De’s name to silence them."
"Minister Ye, could it be true, as the rumors say, that you brought the eldest Miss back solely to force her into a substitute marriage?"
Ye Jingchuan’s face tightened. Instead of answering, he countered, "Why has Prince Chen come to the inner courtyard?"
The spectators were all gossip-loving noblewomen—no other men were present.
Qi Yanzhou’s sharp gaze fell on the canopy bed.
"If Eunuch He De can be here, why can’t this prince?"
Ye Jingchuan lacked the power to confront Qi Yanzhou directly, nor dared he imply that Eunuch He De was not a man. His tone softened.
"This official meant no offense—only that your presence here is unexpected."
"I came for the spectacle, and indeed, it was quite the entertaining show."
After his remark, Qi Yanzhou swept a glance over the gathered ladies.
"Ladies, unless you wish to linger for more of this indecent display, I suggest you leave."
At his words, the noblewomen hastily departed.
Ye Jingchuan called after them, "This matter concerns Eunuch He De’s reputation. I trust you will all be discreet."
"Rest assured, Minister Ye. Our lips are sealed."
Once the noblewomen had left, Princess Anping turned to Qi Yanzhou.
"Brother Yanzhou, you’ve never been one for gossip or meddling. Why do you keep intervening for Ye Chutang…?"
She didn’t want to overthink it, but this was the second time he’d come to that wretch’s aid!
He, who cared for nothing, had broken his indifference for her!
Had even he fallen for her beauty?
Ye Chutang!
Just wait—I’ll carve up that pretty face of yours!
Remembering the earlier commotion, Princess Anping rushed out of the main chamber.
Her eyes quickly landed on Ye Chutang, lying unconscious beneath the window.
She stormed over, yanked a hairpin from her updo, and aimed it at Ye Chutang’s flawless face.
Ye Chutang sensed the threat.
Just as she prepared to "wake up," Qi Yanzhou appeared, kicking the jade hairpin from Princess Anping’s hand.
The pin shattered against the stone pavement.
Hearing the sound, Ye Chutang lamented inwardly, "What a waste—hundreds of taels gone."
Princess Anping stared in disbelief at Qi Yanzhou, who had shielded Ye Chutang yet again.
"Brother Yanzhou, have you truly fallen for this slut? She’s nothing but a vulgar, ignorant country bumpkin! How am I inferior to her?"
Qi Yanzhou’s expression turned icy at her foul words.
He wanted to say she was inferior in every way but held back, not wanting to bring more trouble upon Ye Chutang.
"Princess Anping, cease your baseless slander. This prince merely opposes needless cruelty. Whether it’s the daughter of a minister or a beggar on the street, I would intervene all the same."
Princess Anping knew Qi Yanzhou’s character well.
He upheld justice, abhorred tyranny, and never lied.
Convinced, she quickly switched to fawning.
"Brother Yanzhou, I only acted out of love for you. Please don’t be angry with me!"
His gaze grew colder.
"Princess Anping, I rejected the imperial marriage decree because I have no feelings for you. Do not waste your affections further."
Tears streamed down Princess Anping’s face.
"Brother Yanzhou, I’ve loved you for ten years! You’re all I think about—how can I let go?"
"Princess Anping, my stance is clear. If you persist, the consequences are yours alone to bear."
Having delivered his final rebuke, Qi Yanzhou left Ningchu Courtyard.
Princess Anping hurried after him.
Now, only the Ye family, Kong Ru, and Eunuch He De remained.
Not daring to disturb Eunuch He De’s "activities," Ye Jingchuan carried the unconscious Kong Ru out of the main chamber into the courtyard.
He fetched a bucket of icy water from the well and splashed it over her.
Kong Ru jolted awake, shivering violently.
Dazed, she wiped the freezing water from her face—then the sounds of ragged moans brought back her memories.
"Anling!"
Ye Jingchuan slammed the bucket down and roared, "What went wrong? Why was Eunuch He De affected too?"
He dreaded to think of the eunuch’s wrath once he regained his senses.
Kong Ru shook her head, her face ashen.
"I don’t know! The plan was flawless—how did it come to this?"
Sobbing, she covered her face.
The original plan had been simple:
Dan'er would drug Ye Chutang and deliver her to Eunuch He De, making her the one to "serve" him.
They’d then lead witnesses to confirm her seduction, forcing her into the substitute marriage.
Meanwhile,
Ye Anling would approach the Crown Prince, offering herself as a concubine or even a mere consort.
Once caught in an intimate moment, the Crown Prince would have no choice but to persuade the Empress to accept her.
A perfect scheme.
So why was her precious daughter now the one beneath Eunuch He De?
The thought of Ye Anling’s brutal violation made Kong Ru weep harder.
Ye Jingchuan, irritated by her wails, snapped, "Enough!"
Then it struck him—the linchpin of their plot: Ye Chutang.
He rushed to where she lay by the window, her hair matted with blood, and checked her pulse.
Relieved to find her alive, he shook her.
"Chutang, wake up."
Just as his palm was about to strike her cheek, Ye Chutang "awoke" with perfect timing.
"Father… my head hurts."
She touched the back of her skull, her fingers coming away red.
Ye Jingchuan ignored her injury, demanding urgently,
"Chutang, what happened? How did you get hurt? Why were you lying here?"
