Old Madam Ye had come from Ye Anzhi's Wenbo Academy.
When she saw her most beloved grandson whipped until his flesh was torn, her heart ached so fiercely she nearly fainted.
Upon learning that Ye Chutang and her maid were responsible, she stormed straight to Liuli Courtyard.
The moment she laid eyes on Ye Chutang, Old Madam Ye raised her hand to strike the girl across the face.
"You worthless little wretch, just like your moth—"
Ye Chutang had intended to dodge, but hearing the old woman insult her late mother, she retaliated instead.
Slap!
She used the same move she'd employed against Ye Jingchuan earlier, delivering a forceful palm strike against the matriarch.
Old Madam Ye staggered back two steps, her wrist dislocated.
Excruciating pain radiated from her palm, drawing continuous screams.
"Aah—!"
Nanny Gui trembled at the sight of Old Madam Ye's "broken hand," her voice shaking.
"Madam, this servant will fetch the physician."
Ye Chutang remarked coolly, "Calling a physician from outside will take nearly an hour. Can Grandmother endure such prolonged agony?"
Dan'er caught her meaning and added, "The young mistress knows medicine."
Nanny Gui understood the implicit demand—to beg for mercy.
Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees before Ye Chutang.
"Begging the young mistress to treat Madam."
Just then, Kong Ru hurried over.
"Chu'er, your grandmother's health is frail. She cannot withstand such torment. Tend to her at once, lest you be branded unfilial!"
"You vile girl! How dare you raise your hand against an elder? Believe me, I'll have you thrown into prison!" Old Madam Ye shrieked.
Dan'er broke into a cold sweat for her mistress.
Unfilial conduct was punishable by law!
Yet Ye Chutang remained unshaken, smiling sweetly at the ashen-faced matriarch.
"I don't believe you. Father wouldn't allow it. Besides, I never struck Grandmother—our palms merely met with excessive enthusiasm."
Old Madam Ye: "...Shameless!"
"Since Grandmother refuses my help relocating her wrist..." Ye Chutang turned to leave.
"Stop!"
"Does Grandmother require something else?"
The old woman was truly suffering, her robes soaked through with cold sweat.
Swallowing her rage, she forced a doting tone. "Chu'er has always been kind-hearted. Quickly mend your grandmother's wrist."
Ye Chutang's lips curled in a mocking smile. "Had you shown restraint earlier, we wouldn't be here."
She approached Old Madam Ye, lifting the limp, dangling hand—and gave it a deliberate shake.
Agony ripped through the matriarch, nearly sending her into oblivion.
"Wretched girl! You're doing this on pur—"
Before she could finish, Ye Chutang released her grip.
"If Grandmother distrusts me, seek another healer."
The dislocated wrist throbbed worse after the shaking, drawing fresh beads of sweat. Old Madam Ye feared she'd die of pain before any physician arrived.
"Chu'er... if you set my wrist, I'll gift you the jewelry your mother once presented to me."
This pleased Ye Chutang.
"Agreed!" she beamed.
Seizing the injured wrist again, she resumed shaking it vigorously.
Old Madam Ye trembled violently but dared not protest.
Click.
One moment the matriarch wailed; the next, she rotated her wrist in amazed relief.
"It's healed! My wrist is whole again."
Ye Chutang brushed imaginary dirt from her hands with distaste.
"Remember to deliver those trinkets to Ningchu Courtyard."
As she exited Liuli Courtyard, a sudden thought made her pause. She called back sweetly—
"I grew up in the countryside, strong and sturdy. Don’t mess with me unless you want broken arms and legs—or worse, to meet your end."
With that, she walked away.
Kong Ru had expected to witness a spectacle, but before the drama could even begin, Old Madam Ye had already suffered a crushing defeat.
"Who would have thought the once-glorious Minister’s residence would one day be controlled by a country bumpkin?"
Old Madam Ye wasn’t deaf to Kong Ru’s mocking tone.
She raised her hand and slapped Kong Ru across the face.
"If it weren’t for your poisonous suggestion to bring Ye Chutang back as a substitute bride, the Minister’s residence wouldn’t be in such disgrace today!"
She might be powerless against Ye Chutang, but dealing with Kong Ru was child’s play.
"Make sure Ling’er’s wedding goes smoothly. Don’t embarrass the family again!"
Kong Ru clutched her stinging cheek, gritting her teeth as she replied, "Yes, Mother."
"Call a physician for Zhi’er. His injuries are severe."
After giving her orders, Old Madam Ye left.
On her way back to her courtyard, she spotted Ye Chutang heading toward the main kitchen.
As Ye Chutang approached the firewood shed, the metallic tang of blood hit her nose.
"Open the door, now!"
The kitchen helper holding the key hastily unlocked and pushed the door open.
Inside, Hongxiu lay slumped against a pile of firewood, her clothes half-torn, a severed tongue dangling from her mouth as blood gushed forth.
She had tried to bite off her own tongue!
Ye Chutang immediately grabbed Hongxiu by the nape, tilting her head forward to let the blood drain and prevent clotting in her airway.
Clearing the mouth would also make it easier to examine the wound.
The tongue was freshly bitten—not only could the woman be saved, but the tongue could too.
After assessing the damage, she used acupuncture to stop the bleeding.
Under Ye Chutang’s ministrations, the unconscious Hongxiu stirred awake.
Pale from blood loss and barely coherent, she heard a serene voice whisper in her ear:
"Do you want to die, or do you want to live?"
Ye Chutang wouldn’t waste effort on someone who sought death.
Hongxiu’s unfocused eyes slowly sharpened, taking in the ethereal figure of Ye Chutang as if she were a goddess descended from the heavens.
She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak—not because her tongue was severed, but because she didn’t know how to choose.
She’d had the courage to die once, but not to face death again.
Yet living felt impossible.
Seeing her hesitation, Ye Chutang added, "If you choose death, I’ll make it quick. If you choose life, I’ll reattach your tongue and send you to the countryside estate where I once lived. You can live out your days in peace."
"Blink once for death, twice for life."
After a long pause, Hongxiu blinked twice.
The icy grip of death and its suffocating despair were too terrifying to endure a second time.
With her answer, Ye Chutang scooped Hongxiu into her arms and carried her back to Ningchu Courtyard.
"Dan’er, I need to treat Hongxiu. You and Aunt Jin guard the main chamber. No one enters, and don’t disturb me."
"Yes, Young Miss."
Ye Chutang laid Hongxiu on the daybed and knocked her unconscious with a swift chop to the neck.
From her spatial storage, she retrieved surgical supplies for suturing.
After administering an anesthetic, she cleaned and stitched the wound.
The procedure was straightforward and soon completed.
Ye Chutang stored the medical tools away, disposed of the waste, and stepped out of the chamber.
She handed Dan’er a jar of ointment.
"Clean Hongxiu’s body, tend to her other wounds, and change her clothes."
Dan’er accepted the medicine. "Understood, Young Miss."
Tucking the jar into her sleeve, she picked up an ornate tortoiseshell jewelry box from a nearby tray.
"Young Miss, Nanny Gui delivered this earlier. She said Old Madam Ye sent it for you."
Ye Chutang opened the jewelry box and gazed at the delicate yet relatively worthless trinkets inside, letting out a light chuckle.
"Swindler."
Since the old woman couldn’t be honest, she might as well empty out her courtyard tonight.
