When Ye Jingchuan fainted in the secret chamber, a lavish breakfast was delivered to Ningchu Courtyard.
Qi Yanzhou also thoroughly inspected the courtyard.
Just like Xishou Palace, there were no secret passages.
Could it really be the work of ghosts?
Ye Chutang looked at Qi Yanzhou, who was deep in thought, and said, "Your Highness, if you don’t mind, let’s have breakfast together."
Qi Yanzhou had only eaten a few bites at noon the previous day and hadn’t had a meal since then—he was genuinely hungry.
"My apologies for intruding, Miss Ye."
During the meal, Ye Chutang deliberately asked, "Shouldn’t the theft in Ningchu Courtyard be investigated by the Capital Prefecture? How did this task fall to you?"
Qi Yanzhou knew the news about the theft at Xishou Palace would soon spread, so he told the truth.
"Eunuch De’s Xishou Palace suffered the same fate as Ningchu Courtyard—everything was stolen in a short time, leaving nothing behind."
Ye Chutang’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"What wonderful news! Eunuch De deserves it! This thief is truly remarkable—daring to steal from the palace. The Emperor will surely lose sleep over this."
If the thief could rob Xishou Palace, they could just as easily take the Emperor’s head from Qianqing Palace!
Qi Yanzhou glanced at Ye Chutang’s delighted expression and cautioned, "Miss Ye, mind your words."
The Emperor was incompetent and petty, unable to tolerate any criticism.
Ye Chutang took a sip of bird’s nest soup and replied with a smile, "Your Highness need not worry. I know how to speak to humans and how to converse with ghosts."
After breakfast, Qi Yanzhou took his leave.
He needed to return to his residence to bathe and change before heading to the city gates to welcome the Emperor’s arrival.
Meanwhile, Ye Chutang lay back in bed, using the excuse of a nap to enter her space.
She organized the cluttered items inside, sorting them systematically.
Fortunately, objects in the space could float, so even without containers, nothing was in disarray.
Once everything was tidy, she drank a glass of milk before leaving the space.
After a half-hour nap, Ye Chutang got up to practice martial arts in the courtyard.
She hadn’t been at it long when Steward Chen rushed over in a panic.
"Young Miss, the master came to your courtyard earlier but has since disappeared. Do you know where he went? The Emperor is about to enter the capital, and the master must be at the city gates to receive him."
With less than half an hour until the appointed time, any further delay would make him late.
Ye Chutang knew that if Ye Jingchuan angered the Emperor, she would suffer the consequences as well.
"Father said he had official business to attend to and left."
The steward had already checked the study pavilion, but the guards claimed the master wasn’t there.
Hearing this, he assumed the master didn’t want to be disturbed and had instructed the guards accordingly.
"Thank you for the guidance, Young Miss. I’ll take my leave."
The steward went to the study pavilion and, after explaining the situation to the guards, entered the study.
However, he didn’t dare step into the secret chamber, only calling out "Master" toward the dark entrance.
Ye Jingchuan, still unconscious, was roused by the shouting. Remembering his duty to receive the Emperor, he abandoned his concerns about the emptied secret chamber and hurriedly boarded a carriage to the city gates.
Meanwhile, news of the theft at Li’s Granary had spread like wildfire.
"A full granary of food vanished without a trace, and the night patrol didn’t notice a thing."
"They say it was stolen by a man caught red-handed by Prince Chen, but he got away."
"One man did it? Impossible! That much grain would’ve crushed him eight hundred times over."
"Exactly. Sounds like the officials can’t solve the case and are pinning it on someone."
"Some say it was a ghost thief—no wonder the authorities can’t find anyone..."
Once this rumor started circulating, the term "ghost thief" grew increasingly fantastical.
At first, it was a starving ghost stealing the grain.
Later, it became spectral soldiers plundering the supplies.
In the end, the underworld was overcrowded with wandering souls, and the King of Hell, unable to afford feeding his ghostly minions, had no choice but to sneak into the mortal realm to steal grain.
Storytellers and playwrights seized the opportunity, turning the "ghost theft" into all sorts of eerie tales that spread like wildfire through the streets.
Dan'er overheard snippets of these stories while fetching ingredients from the main kitchen and later recounted them to Ye Chutang back in Ningchu Courtyard.
Ye Chutang had already guessed that the emptied granary incident would cause a stir after being caught by Qi Yanzhou the previous night.
But she hadn’t expected the "ghost theft" rumor to take off so spectacularly.
"Dan'er, go rest. I’ll handle lunch today."
"Young Miss, that won’t do!"
"What, afraid my cooking will be inedible?"
Dan'er frantically waved her hands.
"This servant didn’t mean it like that! How could someone as noble as you dirty your hands with such menial work?"
Ye Chutang smiled. "Food is the essence of life—there’s no shame in cooking. Go rest and recover quickly, so you can take over all the chores again."
Touched by her mistress’s concern, Dan'er nodded obediently.
"As you wish, Young Miss."
Ye Chutang entered the kitchen, and once Dan'er had left to rest, Jinzhi hurried in to help.
Watching Ye Chutang skillfully prepare the vegetables and cook, Jinzhi’s eyes reddened with heartache.
Had her young lady not suffered such misfortune, she would have grown up pampered and cherished—never needing to learn these tasks.
"Did you have a hard time growing up on the estate, Young Miss?"
"Not as hard as you, Aunt Jin. Let’s not dwell on the past—it’s bad luck."
Jinzhi wiped her tears and nodded firmly.
"After bitterness comes sweetness!"
One of Ye Chutang’s few joys in her past life had been cooking, and she’d honed her skills to perfection.
While stir-frying, she discreetly retrieved seasonings from her spatial storage, avoiding Jinzhi’s notice.
Only the finest ingredients and spices could create truly exceptional dishes.
She even used spiritual spring water to cook the rice.
Before the pot was fully uncovered, the courtyard was already filled with the sweet, fragrant aroma of steaming rice.
Soon, the meal was served.
Dan'er helped the frail Shuang'er to the dining hall and fetched the recovering Wangcai from the outer courtyard to join them.
The food was so delicious that not a single grain remained.
The Imperial Palace.
The Emperor hosted a grand banquet for his officials upon returning to the capital.
Seated on his dragon throne in golden robes, the middle-aged ruler glanced at Qi Yanzhou, who occupied the second table to his left.
"The climate of the southern border differs greatly from the capital. Has Prince Chen adjusted since your return?"
Qi Yanzhou rose and bowed.
"Your Majesty’s concern honors this subject. Having grown up in the capital, I’ve readjusted easily."
The Emperor studied the prince—humble in speech, impeccable in manner—and his gaze sharpened.
"We heard you refused Princess Anping’s hand due to an existing attachment. Might we know which lady has captured your heart?"
This prince could no longer be tolerated!
If the Chen Manor offered no openings, he’d strike at the woman Qi Yanzhou loved.
Qi Yanzhou guessed the Emperor’s intent and replied, "A Miao healer from the southern border, who once saved my life."
The lie came easily.
By naming a woman from distant lands, he ensured the Emperor’s reach couldn’t extend there swiftly.
The Emperor knew of this healer—Aman.
When he’d learned she’d rescued Qi Yanzhou from death’s door, he’d immediately dispatched assassins.
Yet the southern border’s poisonous miasmas and gu insects had claimed three waves of his men without a trace.
Narrowing his eyes, he pressed, "If you favor her, why not bring her to the capital?"
Qi Yanzhou lowered his gaze, feigning melancholy.
"Your Majesty, her heart belongs to another."
The emperor was surprised. "There are actually women who don’t admire the dashing and peerless Prince Chen."
"Women from the southern border rarely marry outside their own tribe; they prefer men of their own people."
Though this statement wasn’t incorrect, it displeased the emperor greatly.
"Under the vast heavens, every land belongs to the sovereign. Prince Chen has reclaimed the southern border—a feat of great merit. I hereby decree your marriage! That witch doctor shall come to the capital and wed you!"
