When the news of Ye Chutang beating the mistress of the household reached Ye Anling’s ears, she was so furious that she immediately rushed to the Glazed Courtyard.
She happened to intercept Ye Chutang, who was just about to leave.
“If you want to live, kneel down, kowtow, and admit your wrongdoing!”
Though marrying Eunuch De was humiliating, her status had risen significantly, and no one could bully her anymore!
With just a whisper in Eunuch De’s ear, she could have anyone killed—it was as simple as that.
Ye Chutang looked at the haughty Ye Anling with mockery in her eyes.
“I can make Eunuch De believe it was you who poisoned him, and I can also make him kill you.”
With that, she left Ye Anling frozen in fear and walked out of the Minister's Mansion.
She needed to prepare some medicinal herbs for Prince Chen’s fire poison treatment, so she headed to the apothecary. While she was at it, she also wanted to familiarize herself with the capital and stock up on supplies.
Though these weren’t troubled times, and there were no natural disasters, it was always wise to prepare for the worst.
After asking a passerby for directions, Ye Chutang went to the largest apothecary in the capital—Xinglin Hall.
As soon as she entered, she spotted Qin Muyun picking up medicine, with Qi Yanzhou standing beside him.
Qin Muyun also noticed Ye Chutang, his face lighting up with delight. “Miss Ye, what a coincidence! What brings you to the apothecary?”
Qi Yanzhou glanced at the oblivious Qin Muyun, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.
What else would one come to an apothecary for? To buy medicine, of course!
He asked instead, “Is Miss Ye feeling unwell?”
Ye Chutang shook her head. “The medicine isn’t for me. A patient of mine needs it.”
Qi Yanzhou knew she was referring to him.
Qin Muyun looked surprised. “Miss Ye knows medicine?”
“Just a little.”
“Then… could I trouble you to examine my grandfather?”
Saving lives was the fastest way to accumulate merit—provided the person was good, of course.
Ye Chutang replied bluntly, “I only treat good people. Is your grandfather a good man?”
The apothecary’s owner immediately chimed in, “Rest assured, miss—Grand Tutor Qin is a great man!”
He then listed numerous benevolent deeds Grand Tutor Qin had done for the country and its people.
With a sigh, he added, “But good deeds don’t always bring good fortune. Grand Tutor Qin suffered an arrow wound in his youth, and now in his later years, he’s plagued by a chronic cough. His days are numbered.”
Ye Chutang turned to Qin Muyun. “Wait for me. After I get the medicine, I’ll go see your grandfather.”
“Thank you, Miss Ye.”
Qin Muyun didn’t hold much hope—he simply wanted his grandfather to meet the woman he admired before his time came.
Ye Chutang, of course, didn’t realize this, but Qi Yanzhou saw right through it.
Still, he had no right to comment.
Though Ye Chutang was tempted by the apothecary’s well-stocked shelves, she only bought what she needed.
She planned to return in disguise late at night to stock up properly.
The three of them headed to the Prime Minister’s residence.
But as soon as they arrived at the gate, Qi Yanzhou was intercepted by officers from the Ministry of Justice.
“Chief Inspector, Eunuch De’s palace was robbed. The Ministry has been given three days to solve the case, and Lord Qing has assigned it to you.”
After refusing an imperial marriage with his military merits, Qi Yanzhou had surrendered his military authority and was now the Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Justice.
He suspected this was a trap set by Lord Qing.
“What was stolen?”
“Everything. The entire Palace of Joy and Longevity was cleaned out.”
A flicker of confusion crossed Qi Yanzhou’s eyes.
The palace was heavily guarded—who could possibly empty an entire palace unnoticed?
Most likely, Eunuch De had staged this himself to frame Qi Yanzhou and please the emperor.
“Fine. I’ll go to the palace right now.”
After Qi Yanzhou left, Qin Muyun sighed. “Ziqian never should have returned to the capital.”
Ye Chutang shattered his wishful thinking with brutal honesty. “Disobeying an imperial decree means execution for the entire family.”
“……”
“Let’s go. I’ll examine your grandfather.”
Grand Tutor Qin’s condition was exactly as Ye Chutang had expected—an old lung injury from his youth, never properly treated, had worsened with age, leaving him beyond conventional medicine’s help.
She couldn’t fully heal the decades-old damage, but she could give him a few more years.
As Ye Chutang withdrew her hand from his pulse, Qin Muyun asked anxiously, “Miss Ye, how is he?”
“I can’t promise much, but I can ensure Grand Tutor Qin lives for at least three more years.”
“Wh—what?”
Qin Muyun had asked half-heartedly, but her answer left him wide-eyed in shock.
Was he hallucinating from sheer desperation?
Grand Tutor Qin smiled kindly. “Miss Ye, I know my condition. There’s no need to comfort me.”
Even the imperial physician-in-chief had given up—what could a young girl possibly do?
He assumed his grandson had brought her here to ease his mind.
Ye Chutang’s expression was firm. “I never lie to my patients.”
Without further ado, she began acupuncture.
As the needles took effect, Grand Tutor Qin felt his breathing ease, and the relentless urge to cough gradually faded.
He stared at Ye Chutang in astonishment.
“My earlier words were disrespectful. Please forgive me, Miss Ye.”
Ye Chutang gave a faint smile. “Given my age and appearance, your skepticism is understandable.”
Once the needles were in place, she struck his shoulders—front and back—with precise force.
The needles vibrated intensely, sending a strange mix of numbness and soothing relief through his meridians.
Ye Chutang turned to the stunned Qin Muyun.
“Young Master Qin, could you fetch me ink, brush, and paper?”
Snapping out of it, Qin Muyun hurriedly complied. “Right away, Miss Ye.”
After writing the prescription, Ye Chutang asked, “Does your family have a resident physician?”
“Yes, a retired imperial physician. His skills are excellent.”
“Call him here.”
Soon, the physician arrived.
Ye Chutang pointed at the needles on Grand Tutor Qin. “Can you do this? Do you understand it?”
The physician admitted, “I’ve only studied acupuncture superficially.”
True mastery of acupuncture was often a closely guarded family secret—ordinary physicians only knew the basics from medical texts.
Ye Chutang nodded and wrote down the acupuncture method.
She handed it to the physician. “From now on, you’ll perform this on Grand Tutor Qin. The intervals are noted here.”
The physician took the still-damp paper, stunned.
“Miss… why?”
Though physicians were meant to heal, none would willingly teach their prized techniques to outsiders.
Ye Chutang shrugged. “Passing on knowledge is the foundation of tradition.”
Grand Tutor Qin’s eyes filled with admiration—until she added,
“Also, I’m lazy. I don’t want to keep coming back to the Grand Tutor’s residence.”
