Ye Chutang was well aware that the Duanchang Powder inside Kong Ru had taken effect.
She also knew Kong Ru had been in pain for several hours now.
"Let her suffer. She won’t die."
When Steward Chen saw Ye Chutang’s utter indifference toward Kong Ru’s condition, he immediately knelt before her.
"Young Mistress, the Madam has vomited blood several times. She appears to be in a dire state."
Ye Chutang looked down at Steward Chen with cold detachment.
"So, what you’re saying is that between Kong Ru and Jun’er, I should choose the former, is that it?"
The steward knew that the young master was the lord’s most treasured child. How could he dare stand in Ye Chutang’s way? He quickly moved aside.
"This old servant overstepped. Please forgive me, Young Mistress."
"Slap yourself twenty times."
"Yes."
Amid the sound of Steward Chen’s self-inflicted slaps, Ye Chutang leisurely ate her candied hawthorn and returned to Ningchu Courtyard.
Jinzhi was in the courtyard practicing horse stance.
It was unclear how long she had been standing, but her clothes were drenched in sweat.
Dan'er and Shuang'er were in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Le'er was in the main hall with Ye Anjun, helping him practice calligraphy.
When Jinzhi saw Ye Chutang return, her anxious heart settled, and she happily ran over.
"Young Mistress, did you bring Jinzhi something tasty?"
Her legs had gone numb from standing, and she nearly stumbled.
Ye Chutang steadied Jinzhi with an arm and handed her a roasted sweet potato and a stick of candied hawthorn.
"From now on, practice horse stance for only half an hour in the morning and afternoon. Your body is weak—you need more rest."
Jinzhi took a bite of the candied hawthorn, her eyes crinkling with delight.
"Jinzhi is good. Jinzhi listens."
Le'er poured a cup of tea and handed it to Ye Anjun.
"Young Master, the Young Mistress has been out for so long—she must be thirsty. Hurry and take this to her."
Jun'er, holding the lukewarm tea, toddled over on his short legs to Ye Chutang.
"Elder Sister, please have some tea."
His voice was soft and breathy, so adorable it tugged at the heart.
Ye Chutang kept the unfinished candied hawthorn for herself and gave the rest to Le'er.
"Everyone gets a share—except Shuang'er."
With that, she patted Jun’er’s head and drained the tea in one gulp.
"Jun’er is so well-behaved. Your constitution is weak, so eat less roasted sweet potato, but you can finish the candied hawthorn."
Le'er promptly handed Jun’er another stick of candied hawthorn.
Jun’er took it, beaming at Ye Chutang. "Thank you, Elder Sister."
"Go ahead. I’m going to the kitchen."
As soon as Ye Chutang reached the kitchen door, Shuang'er limped over and fell to her knees.
Her pale, haggard face was streaked with tears, a pitiful sight.
"Young Mistress, this servant knows her wrongs. Please revoke your order—don’t make me clean the chamber pots anymore!"
She had bathed repeatedly, but the nauseating stench still clung to her.
Two more days of this, and she would die!
Ye Chutang looked down at Shuang'er with icy mockery.
"How many times is this now that you’ve knelt before me, claiming you’ve learned your lesson?"
Shuang'er met Ye Chutang’s piercing gaze and clenched her fists in resentment.
Her hands, blistered from scrubbing too many chamber pots, trembled in pain.
"Is it wrong for a servant to aspire to be a mistress?"
The eldest young master’s reputation was already ruined. If she offered herself now, she could become his concubine!
Ye Chutang let out a soft laugh. "A concubine is nothing more than a plaything. How dare you call yourself a mistress?"
Shuang'er retorted, "Madam Kong was once a concubine too."
If she could become a proper concubine, she might one day rise to be the legal wife—the true mistress!
Ye Chutang didn’t know where Shuang'er found the audacity to compare herself to Kong Ru, who came from an official’s family.
"Have you forgotten? Your deed of sale is in my hands. If I don’t release you, how will you marry?"
Shuang'er bit her lip, thinking of Kong Ru’s plan.
"This servant has her own ways."
Ye Chutang bent down, gripping Shuang'er’s chin and forcing her to look up.
"Do you know why I’ve let you live, even after you’ve betrayed me time and again?"
Shuang'er’s cheeks ached under the pressure, her eyes welling with tears.
"Young Mistress… is kind-hearted."
Ye Chutang laughed as if she’d heard the greatest joke.
"Kind-hearted? Did you truly believe a few tears and kneelings would soften me? Fool!"
The last word struck Shuang'er like a hammer, sending a jolt through her heart—something had slipped beyond her control.
"What… does Young Mistress mean?"
"It means I kept you alive so you could pass information to Kong Ru—to be my spy, then betray her in turn."
Shuang'er thought Ye Chutang had lost her mind.
Wouldn’t currying favor with the madam benefit her more? Why betray her?
Ye Chutang saw through Shuang'er’s thoughts and tightened her grip.
"Because I hold your life in my hands!"
Shuang'er whimpered in pain, tears streaming.
Quick to adapt, she stammered, "I never passed any messages to the madam. Young Mistress misunderstands."
"Oh? Shall we go to Liuli Courtyard and have you repeat that to Kong Ru’s face?"
With her face still squeezed, Shuang'er struggled to speak.
"This servant… has never betrayed… Young Mistress. I’m not afraid… to confront her."
Ye Chutang released Shuang'er only to slap her hard across the face.
The sharp crack echoed as Shuang'er’s cheek burned, her ears ringing.
A cold voice, barely audible, whispered near her ear.
"Kong Ru is writhing in agony from the poison right now. Only I can save her. Do you think she’ll protect you—or herself?"
The words were like an invisible hand choking Shuang'er’s throat.
Ye Chutang kicked Shuang'er’s still-unhealed backside, watching blood seep through her light-colored clothes.
"Speak. What did you tell Kong Ru to regain her trust?"
Shuang'er knew that whether she told the truth or not, her fate was sealed.
If she stayed silent, she would die now.
If she confessed, she might live a few days longer.
As long as she lived, there was still hope!
Closing her eyes, she steeled herself and spoke the truth.
"To become the eldest young master’s concubine, I told Madam that the reason for his ruined reputation was because Young Mistress threatened the lord with Young Master Jun’s life, forcing him to abandon the eldest young master."
Ye Chutang smiled. "Kong Ru could verify that easily. There’s little value in you telling her. So, what else did you say?"
Under Ye Chutang’s relentless pressure, Shuang'er lowered her head, not daring to meet her eyes.
She hesitated, biting her lip until she tasted blood.
"Shuang'er, my patience is wearing thin."
The words crushed Shuang'er’s chest, making it hard to breathe.
The overwhelming force compelled her to confess.
"I also said… that Young Mistress could never truly cure Young Master Jun. Threatening the lord was a ploy to kill two birds with one stone—to take revenge for the late madam."
Trembling, she kowtowed desperately.
"Young Mistress, this servant was blinded by greed and made a terrible mistake. Please spare me for my honesty!"
Terrified, she knocked her head against the ground until blood flowed.
Ye Chutang grabbed Shuang'er’s shoulders, studying her bloodied face with amusement.
"Kong Ru believed you and promised you a place as Ye Anzhi’s concubine. But she must have set a condition—what did she order you to do to me?"
