Ye Chutang thought that since her disguised face had been exposed, she wouldn’t be able to use it again, so she decided to make the most of it while she still could.
After leaving Yingchun Courtyard, she strolled through the streets, buying snacks along the way.
Pastries, candied fruits, dried nuts, marinated beef, beggar’s chicken, roasted duck…
At every shop, she purchased as much as she could carry, then discreetly stored it away in her spatial storage when no one was looking.
She kept shopping until dusk.
Finding the haphazard pile of goods messy, Ye Chutang decided to visit a carpentry shop to commission some cabinets for better organization.
She also wanted shelves of varying sizes—small ones for pre-made dishes from restaurants, larger ones for bulk goods from the market.
And boxes, to store eggs and meats.
She went to the carpentry shop nearest the Minister’s Mansion and described what she needed.
“Shopkeeper, I’d like two hundred cabinets, each half a zhang tall, two hundred boxes one chi high, a hundred boxes two chi high, a hundred large shelves, and two hundred small shelves.”
The shopkeeper was stunned by the large order but overjoyed.
“Young master, these items can be completed in ten days, but my shop is a small business—I’ll need a deposit.”
Ye Chutang roughly calculated the total cost—around one hundred fifty taels of silver.
She handed over a hundred taels upfront.
“The rest will be paid upon delivery.”
The shopkeeper, delighted by her generosity, beamed.
“As you wish, young master.”
“Young master, your order is quite large—my warehouse can’t hold everything. Would you like me to deliver them in batches every three days?”
“No need. I’ll come collect them myself every three days, after curfew.”
The shopkeeper was baffled. “After curfew, the shop will be closed.”
“Shopkeeper, these items are for official use. Their purpose is… sensitive. It’s best if outsiders don’t know. Leave a back door open—someone will come to retrieve them after curfew.”
“This humble one understands.”
Seeing that the shopkeeper had mistaken her for an official, Ye Chutang didn’t correct him.
She patted his shoulder. “Keep quiet, make your fortune silently. If word gets out…”
The shopkeeper paled as she mimed slitting her throat.
He had thought this was a windfall, but now it seemed his head might be at risk!
He hastily assured her, “Rest assured, my lord. I’ll instruct all the workers—they’ll focus on the work and not utter a single word.”
By the time Ye Chutang left the carpentry shop, night had fully fallen.
She found a secluded spot to change back into the women’s attire she had worn earlier.
On her way back to the Minister’s Mansion, she bought a few roasted sweet potatoes and some candied hawthorns.
At the mouth of an alley, while nibbling on a candied hawthorn, she ran into Qi Yanzhou.
Qi Yanzhou noticed her too.
The young woman held a paper bag in one hand and several skewers of candied fruit in the other. Her cherry lips were stained with red syrup, glistening temptingly.
Even the dim alley couldn’t obscure such breathtaking beauty.
He quickened his steps toward her. “Why is Miss Ye out alone?”
Ye Chutang gave a slight curtsy. “This commoner greets His Highness the Prince of Chen. My maid is recovering at home, so I came out by myself. At the poetry pavilion earlier—thank you for your assistance.”
Qi Yanzhou hadn’t expected her to recognize him.
“I merely intervened where I saw injustice. Miss Ye’s literary talent and magnanimity are admirable.”
Ye Chutang smiled candidly. “Your Highness flatters me. I’m just a vulgar person seeking fame.”
Qi Yanzhou found her refreshingly different from other women.
“Your reasoning is sound—only by standing at the pinnacle can one avoid being trampled upon.”
Tired of formalities, Ye Chutang cut to the chase, eyeing his official robes.
“Your Highness must be here on business. I won’t keep you.”
“Miss Ye, I came to find you.”
The statement put her on guard, though she wasn’t overly concerned.
Even if Qi Yanzhou suspected something, he’d never guess she was the “Ghost Thief.”
“What does Your Highness need from me?”
Realizing the conversation would take time, Qi Yanzhou asked, “Would you join me for a meal?”
Ye Chutang declined. She still had to administer acupuncture to Jun’er later.
“Your Highness, the Emperor intended to arrange a marriage between us, but you refused, wishing to choose a noblewoman as your princess consort. Wouldn’t dining together now be inappropriate?”
At the mention of the marriage arrangement, Qi Yanzhou’s ears tinged pink.
“Miss Ye, I declined because I knew you had no interest in me—not because I deemed you unworthy.”
Ye Chutang nodded at his earnest explanation.
“You’re right—I have no desire to marry into power struggles or compete with a harem of women. That’s no way to live.”
Little did she know, she’d soon eat her words.
One day, she would storm into the Prince of Chen’s residence and demand marriage!
Qi Yanzhou, familiar with her free-spirited nature, wasn’t surprised.
“My invitation was thoughtless. The reason I sought you out is that I suspect the ‘Ghost Thief’ may be connected to you.”
Ye Chutang feigned curiosity. “Why would Your Highness think that?”
“When the Ye family’s grain was stolen in the countryside, you nearly died in a fire. When Ningchu Courtyard was robbed, Madame Ye had just framed you. When the Palace of Longevity was looted, Eunuch De had offended you.”
“Today, the ‘Ghost Thief’ appeared at Yingchun Courtyard, crippling Xu Kang and ruining his reputation—right after he insulted you at the poetry pavilion.”
Ye Chutang admired his sharp instincts.
“Listening to this, it does seem related to me. But what about the Li family granary theft?”
“Perhaps a diversion.”
Qi Yanzhou locked eyes with her. “Do you know the ‘Ghost Thief,’ Miss Ye?”
“I do.”
His eyebrows shot up at her admission.
“But you’ll never catch her—unless…”
“Unless what?”
Her lips curved. “Unless Your Highness becomes a ghost too.”
Qi Yanzhou: “…”
“I don’t believe in ghosts.”
Ghosts didn’t visit brothels in broad daylight!
“I didn’t either—until someone emptied an entire estate in the time it takes to burn two incense sticks. Now I do.”
She was, after all, a ghost who’d crossed over from the apocalypse.
Qi Yanzhou knew no living person could evade imperial guards, infiltrate the palace, and loot the Palace of Longevity without a trace.
Yet he’d sooner attribute it to mystical cultivators than spirits.
“You said you know the ‘Ghost Thief’?”
Ye Chutang took a bite of candied hawthorn and spun a tale.
“Not exactly. I made a wish for Eunuch De to lose everything—half of it came true.”
His wealth was gone, but he still lived. Only half-fulfilled.
Though skeptical, Qi Yanzhou knew he’d get no straight answers.
“My apologies for disturbing you, Miss Ye.”
“Safe travels, Your Highness.”
Aware he’d now keep a closer eye on her, Ye Chutang wasn’t worried. She turned and headed back to the Minister’s Mansion.
The moment she stepped inside, Steward Chen rushed up in a panic.
“Young Miss! Madam is suffering unbearable abdominal pain—the physicians are helpless! The Master requests your presence at Liuli Courtyard at once!”
