Ye Chutang closed the lid of the jewelry box and placed ten taels of silver along with a deed of servitude on the tray.
She said to Dan'er, "Take this silver and the deed to Chunlan's family."
Chunlan had long been unable to endure life but dared not die, fearing she would anger Ye Anzhi and bring misfortune upon her family.
For her, hanging herself to ruin Ye Anzhi's reputation was both vengeance and liberation.
Dan'er stared at the silver and the deed, her breathing growing heavy.
"Eldest Miss, no one will come to claim Chunlan's body. From the day she was sold, she no longer had a home."
Ye Chutang pondered for a moment before saying, "After dinner, go to the coffin shop and hire someone to give Chunlan a proper burial."
"Yes, Eldest Miss."
Dan'er carried the tray into the main house.
Ye Chutang went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, with Jinzhi assisting.
Considering the many injured in the courtyard, she made the evening meal especially light.
While simmering the final soup, Ye Jingchuan arrived with Kong Ru's dowry, carried by thirty-two bearers.
"Chu'er, your father has brought your dowry."
Ye Chutang looked at the courtyard filled with dowry items and instructed the servants, "Store them in the firewood shed."
Ye Jingchuan, worried the dowry might go missing again, suggested, "Chu'er, your courtyard has no storeroom. Should I send a few guards?"
"I am still unmarried. How would it look to have strange men in my courtyard?"
"They won’t enter the courtyard, only stand guard outside."
"Fine. Send a few who can take a beating—they’ll be useful for my martial arts practice."
Ye Jingchuan: "..."
He suddenly felt reluctant to send guards. But then again, if they could test Ye Chutang's martial prowess, it wouldn’t be a loss.
"Very well. I’ll send six guards shortly."
Then, he turned to business.
"Chu'er, Anzhi’s reputation is ruined, and I’ve brought half of Madam’s dowry. Now, the antidote?"
Ye Chutang retrieved Kong Ru’s dowry list from her spatial storage and waved it.
"Once I verify everything is correct, I’ll send the antidote."
Since the dowry delivered this time was genuine, Ye Jingchuan had no fear of inspection.
"Fine. And Jun'er’s illness?"
"Bring him to Ningchu Courtyard, along with his personal maid."
Ye Jingchuan agreed readily. "Done."
Estimating the soup was ready, Ye Chutang dismissed him. "Father, I won’t see you out."
"Chu'er, I’d like to stay for dinner."
The tantalizing aroma of the dishes made Ye Jingchuan’s stomach growl.
"Apologies, I didn’t make a portion for you."
"..."
With a displeased expression, Ye Jingchuan turned to leave.
Ye Chutang suddenly called after him. "Father, wait."
Thinking she had changed her mind, he turned back eagerly.
"Yes, Chu'er?"
"The hundred acres of fertile land and the estate in the countryside—I want them. Have someone deliver the land deeds later."
She planned to send the concubines unwilling to stay with Ye Anzhi to live on the estate.
Ye Jingchuan eyed her suspiciously. "Chu'er, do you wish to return to the countryside?"
"No. I simply believe that after living there for fifteen years, the land and property should belong to me."
In the past, Ye Jingchuan would have refused. But after being extorted repeatedly, he no longer cared to argue over such "trivial matters."
Resisting would only lead to greater losses.
"Fine. Once I receive the antidote, I’ll send the deeds."
"Deal."
Not long after Ye Jingchuan left, six guards took their posts outside the courtyard.
As Ye Chutang, Dan'er, and Jinzhi were halfway through dinner, Ye Anjun’s maid, Le'er, arrived carrying luggage and holding the boy.
Le'er set Ye Anjun down and bowed respectfully.
"This servant greets Eldest Miss."
Ye Chutang nodded and pointed to a side room in the main house.
"You’ll stay in the side room for now. I’ll only provide Jun'er’s meals. Your duty is to care for him—no other schemes."
Le'er had watched Ye Anjun grow up and knew how much he had suffered. Her concern was genuine.
"Eldest Miss, I only wish for Young Master’s well-being."
Then she said to Ye Anjun, "Young Master, pay your respects to Eldest Miss."
Weak and trembling, Ye Anjun knelt and performed a full bow.
"Jun'er greets Eldest Sister. I apologize for the intrusion."
Impressed by his manners, Ye Chutang helped him up.
"Dan'er, bring another set of bowls and chopsticks."
Le'er interjected, "Eldest Miss, Young Master has already eaten."
"A little soup won’t hurt."
The soup was brewed with spiritual spring water, beneficial to health.
"Yes. This servant will first tidy the room."
For some reason, Ye Anjun felt drawn to his eldest sister and willingly sat beside her.
Ye Chutang checked his stomach and ladled him a small bowl of soup.
"Finish it all."
Though not hungry, Ye Anjun didn’t want to refuse her kindness. "Alright."
The soup was light yet rich, with a hint of sourness that whetted the appetite.
With the first sip, warmth spread through his perpetually cold body—warmer than even his father’s embrace.
Seeing him finish quickly and eye the pot, Ye Chutang said, "Your body is too weak for more. If you like it, I’ll make it again tomorrow."
Ye Anjun nodded obediently. "I like it. Thank you, Eldest Sister."
After dinner, Dan'er left for the coffin shop while Ye Chutang administered acupuncture to Ye Anjun.
She wrote a prescription and handed it to Le'er. "Once daily, after dinner. Send someone to fetch the herbs."
Though her spatial storage held medicinal plants nourished by the spiritual spring, she couldn’t reveal them—nor did she want to benefit the Ye family.
Once Le'er returned with the herbs, she would secretly replace them.
Le'er hurried off to Liuli Courtyard.
After finishing Ye Anjun’s treatment, Ye Chutang inventoried Kong Ru’s dowry in the firewood shed.
Satisfied, she stepped outside and handed the antidote for the Heartbreak Powder to a guard.
"Deliver this to my father."
Then she returned to bathe.
By the time she finished, both Le'er and Dan'er had returned.
Chunlan’s funeral arrangements were settled—the coffin shop had taken her body, and the burial would be tomorrow.
Le'er had also brought the herbs, which Ye Chutang confiscated under the pretense of inspection.
After swapping the ingredients, she returned the package.
"It’s too late tonight. Brew the medicine tomorrow."
"This servant obeys."
Back in her chamber, she found Hongxiu awake but listless.
After checking her tongue for inflammation, Ye Chutang fed her a bowl of soup.
Hongxiu, still frail, fell asleep immediately.
Jinzhi, exhausted from hours of horse-stance practice, also dozed off quickly.
Tonight, Ye Chutang had two tasks: "shopping" in Old Madam Ye’s courtyard and stockpiling supplies outside.
Without waiting for midnight, she disguised herself as a servant of a wealthy family and slipped out of the Minister's Mansion using the earth escape technique.
Her target for the night: medicinal herbs!
