The curfew in the capital begins at half past Hai hour (9:30 PM).
By now, many shops were preparing to close for the night.
Ye Chutang headed to the largest pharmacy in the capital—Xinglin Hall.
An apprentice was sliding the wooden door panels into place, ready to shut the shop.
Spotting the lavishly dressed Ye Chutang, he immediately propped the panel against the wall and stepped forward with a smile.
"May I ask if the young master seeks a consultation or wishes to purchase medicine?"
Ye Chutang replied in a gruff, masculine voice, "I need medicinal herbs—a large quantity."
With that, she produced a gold ingot.
The apprentice’s eyes widened. "Young master, please come inside."
After ushering Ye Chutang in, he called toward the back room, "Manager, we have a distinguished guest here to buy herbs!"
The manager had been tallying the day’s earnings in the inner quarters.
At the mention of a "distinguished guest," he hurried out.
When he saw the roughly ten-tael gold ingot in Ye Chutang’s hand, his face creased into a delighted grin.
"Young master, what herbs do you require?"
"My master intends to venture into the herb trade—purchasing in bulk here in the capital to sell at high prices in the harsh, remote borderlands. I’ll take everything you have."
She dared to buy so openly because medicinal herbs, unlike grain, were not daily necessities.
No matter how much she acquired, it wouldn’t cause prices to skyrocket.
The manager found Ye Chutang’s plan highly impractical.
The impoverished borderlands, though lacking in herbs, had few who could afford them.
But that wasn’t his concern.
"Young master, a single gold ingot won’t be enough to buy out Xinglin Hall’s entire stock."
As the capital’s largest pharmacy, Xinglin Hall had substantial reserves in its warehouses.
"Calculate the total, then. My master has no shortage of funds."
The manager studied Ye Chutang and concluded: a wealthy young fool with more money than sense!
"Young master, curfew is approaching, and tallying will take time. Perhaps you could leave a deposit and return tomorrow morning?"
"My master is in a hurry. It must be tonight."
The manager frowned. "Our warehouse holds a vast quantity. Transporting it all before curfew is impossible."
"My master has already made arrangements. Just do the calculations."
"Very well. Please wait a moment, young master."
Ye Chutang added sharply, "I’m familiar with herb prices and their quality. Don’t try to pass off inferior stock or inflate the numbers."
The manager hastily assured her, "Young master, rest assured. Xinglin Hall is a century-old establishment built on integrity."
Turning to the apprentice, he ordered, "Attend to the young master."
Before the apprentice could respond, Ye Chutang interjected, "Once the total is settled, move all the herbs to the warehouse for easy inventory and loading. I’ll step out briefly and return shortly."
Before leaving, she left another gold ingot as a deposit.
The manager hefted the heavy gold piece, beaming with joy.
To the apprentice, he said, "Gather the others. Set aside only the daily-use medicines and record the rest. Move everything salable to the warehouse."
"Yes, Manager."
The apprentice quickly rounded up the other workers—some to tally the stock, others to haul it to the warehouse.
Meanwhile, the manager calculated the total value of the inventory.
By the time Ye Chutang finished repeating this routine at every major pharmacy in the capital, it was well past midnight (Zi hour).
She returned to Xinglin Hall to find the shop closed, though one door panel had been left ajar for her.
Seeing Ye Chutang stride in unbothered by the curfew, the apprentice assumed she had bribed the authorities for after-hours transport.
"Young master, please come in. The manager awaits you inside."
"Take me to the warehouse. I’ll inspect the goods while reviewing the ledger."
The manager agreed this would save time. "Of course. This way, young master."
Fifteen minutes later, the bill and the herbs were verified.
Ye Chutang paid the remaining sum without hesitation.
"Manager, clear the warehouse. The men coming to transport the goods prefer no witnesses."
"Understood, young master. Discretion is key."
"Good. Dismiss everyone."
The manager promptly evacuated the warehouse.
Ye Chutang stored all the herbs in her spatial inventory, organizing them for future additions.
On her way out, she left the warehouse door ajar.
She repeated this process at every pharmacy, emptying their stocks.
By the time Ye Chutang returned underground to the Minister's Mansion, it was halfway through Chou hour (1:30 AM).
She emerged from beneath an osmanthus tree in the southwest corner of Old Madam Ye’s courtyard.
The compound was vast, with lanterns glowing along the covered walkways. A maidservant assigned to night watch dozed by the main chamber’s entrance.
Ye Chutang knocked the girl unconscious with a swift chop to the neck and slipped silently into Old Madam Ye’s quarters.
The room was fragrant with sandalwood incense, meant to soothe and induce sleep.
Old Madam Ye slept soundly, her faint snores drifting from the curtained canopy bed.
Too tired to search meticulously, Ye Chutang yanked the old woman upright.
Startled awake, Old Madam Ye scowled in irritation.
"Wha—"
Her mouth was instantly muffled as a rough male voice hissed in her ear:
"Unless you want the world to know you entertain young men at night—accused of lusting after youth—keep quiet."
The shock of a man’s voice made Old Madam Ye’s eyes roll back as she fainted.
Ye Chutang: "..."
She grabbed a cup of cold tea from the table and splashed it on the old woman’s face.
Old Madam Ye jolted upright. Seeing a shadowy figure looming over her, she opened her mouth to scream.
Ye Chutang clamped a hand over her lips while tearing the woman’s white sleeping robe open, exposing a pale blue undergarment.
Terrified, Old Madam Ye thrashed wildly.
After two decades of widowhood, she couldn’t let a scoundrel ruin her virtue!
"Keep struggling, and you’ll die."
At this threat, Old Madam Ye froze. Between chastity and death, the latter was far worse.
Ye Chutang smirked and released her.
"Unless you want to hang naked from the city gates, hand over everything of value."
Old Madam Ye clutched the blankets to her chest. "You—you only want riches?"
"I’d take both wealth and pleasure, but your sagging skin turns my stomach."
Ye Chutang hauled the old woman off the bed.
"Gather your valuables. No tricks, or I’ll kill you."
From her spatial inventory, she drew a gleaming Swiss dagger and cleanly sliced off a corner of the bedside table.
Old Madam Ye paled, nodding frantically.
"I’ll comply! Right away!"
Ye Chutang spread a thin silk quilt on the floor as an improvised sack.
"Everything valuable goes here."
"Y-yes!"
Fear for her life left no room for deception.
Soon, the quilt held a small mountain of treasures—jewelry, jade ornaments, decorative pieces, and more.
"Sir, th-that’s all!"
Ye Chutang knew Old Madam Ye hadn’t lied, but her wealth extended beyond this room.
She pressed the cold blade to the old woman’s throat.
"Where’s the storeroom?"
[Author’s Note: Some readers questioned why the heroine saved Ye Anjun. Here’s why:
1. Ye Anjun has never committed evil deeds. His high karma points mark him as a good person with future significance.
2. The heroine doesn’t punish the innocent for others’ crimes. She spares the good while eliminating the wicked.
3. Though this is a revenge-driven story, the heroine embodies righteousness and compassion.]
