The maids lifted the sheer curtains and tied them to the pavilion’s pillars.
This made it easier for Concubine Chen and the five noble ladies to watch the duel between Ye Chutang and Luo Rou.
Qi Yanzhou also circled around the pavilion and stood at the entrance of the corridor.
Luo Rou was a bit nervous, her body stiff and upright.
To showcase her superior martial skills, she kept her left hand behind her back and looked disdainfully at the stunningly beautiful Ye Chutang.
“Miss Ye, I’ll let you fight with only one hand,” Luo Rou said arrogantly.
Ye Chutang smiled lightly as she regarded Luo Rou’s boastful words.
“Miss Luo, aren’t you the daughter of a military general? Don’t you know that underestimating your opponent is a grave mistake?”
Luo Rou was too impatient for words and struck out immediately.
“Miss Ye, take this!”
Her attack aimed straight for Ye Chutang’s throat, hoping to end the fight with a single move.
Ye Chutang stood still, unmoving, until Luo Rou’s fingertips brushed against the skin of her neck.
The five noble ladies watching rolled their eyes in disbelief.
They had expected Ye Chutang to at least have some skill, to exchange a few moves with Luo Rou.
But this?
Concubine Chen knew how vulnerable the throat was; a harsh strike could be fatal.
She was quite frightened.
Just as she was about to call a halt, she saw Ye Chutang’s right foot step back and her neck tilt backward, dodging Luo Rou’s hand.
Luo Rou’s strike failed. She shifted her palm into a claw and swung back, trying to grab Ye Chutang’s neck.
Ye Chutang lifted her left foot and swept across Luo Rou’s waist.
Luo Rou dared not use her left hand to block, fearing Qi Yanzhou would think her untrustworthy.
She could only pull back her right hand.
Exactly what Ye Chutang was waiting for.
She grabbed Luo Rou’s wrist and, using the force Luo Rou exerted to break free, leapt into the air and kicked her with both feet.
As she landed, she used Luo Rou’s kneeling posture to steady herself and twisted her hand behind her back.
A perfect move to end the fight!
Everyone except Qi Yanzhou was stunned.
Concubine Chen blinked in disbelief, “Already… over?”
The five noble ladies were equally incredulous.
Wasn’t Luo Rou, the second daughter of the Luo family, supposed to be one of the best fighters among the noble ladies in the capital?
Luo Rou stared blankly at the ground, utterly dazed.
Only when the pain spread through her knee did she realize what had just happened.
She gritted her teeth and glared at Ye Chutang, wishing she could tear her apart and chew her up.
Playing the fool to hide her strength, luring her into fighting with one hand — so underhanded!
Ye Chutang smiled warmly at the furious Luo Rou and asked, “Not convinced? Then put up a stake and we’ll have another match.”
Fighting was exhausting; without some reward, she wouldn’t bother.
Luo Rou thought she had been careless and tricked again, which was why she lost.
If they fought again, she would definitely defeat Ye Chutang.
“Fine, let’s fight again. But I don’t have anything valuable to offer as a stake. If I lose, I’ll go home and bring you a thousand taels of silver.”
Compared to jewelry, Ye Chutang preferred silver that could be used immediately.
“Alright. You’re injured — do you want to rest a bit?”
Luo Rou immediately stood up and rubbed her knee.
“No need. This little injury is nothing. I once went on a military campaign with my father and nearly lost half my life.”
She was letting Qi Yanzhou know she understood the hardships and dangers of leading troops in battle and was the most suitable choice for his princess.
Ye Chutang caught the meaning and glanced over at Qi Yanzhou.
Seeing him as serene and composed as a meditating monk, she withdrew her gaze.
Luo Rou noticed that Qi Yanzhou showed no reaction to her words, and her expression darkened slightly.
But she quickly encouraged herself: As long as she defeated Ye Chutang, Prince Chen would surely change his opinion of her!
“Miss Ye, this time, I won’t let you win again!” Luo Rou declared fiercely.
In his heart, Qi Yanzhou thought, “No matter how hard you try, it’ll only prolong the match against Ye Chutang by a few moves.”
Ye Chutang smiled and said, “I never asked Miss Luo to go easy on me.”
With that, she took the initiative to strike but held back.
It wasn’t out of pity for Luo Rou, but rather because she didn’t want to reveal all her cards.
Luo Rou’s martial skills were not to be underestimated, and now, fueled by determination, she fought both offensively and defensively.
She gave it her all, while Ye Chutang deliberately restrained herself.
Back and forth they went, exchanging over a hundred moves, until Luo Rou gradually fell behind.
In the end, Ye Chutang seized Luo Rou’s throat, claiming victory.
Ye Chutang released her and said, “Well played.”
Luo Rou’s face turned pale as paper, biting her lip so hard she soon tasted blood.
She hadn’t held back at all—she had given everything—but still lost!
“I’ll have the maid deliver one thousand taels to the Minister’s Mansion later,” Ye Chutang said.
Without another word, she left as if fleeing.
Turning to the remaining five noble ladies, Ye Chutang asked, “Who’s next?”
No one wanted to lose their precious belongings for nothing.
But with Concubine Chen and Prince Chen silent, the others could only wager their finery and grit their teeth to compete against Ye Chutang.
The outcome was predictable—they all lost.
Whether it was chess, embroidery, or other skills, Ye Chutang won every time.
And with no suspense whatsoever.
Concubine Chen’s gaze toward Ye Chutang grew increasingly fervent.
She wished she could just keep Ye Chutang locked in Prince Chen’s Mansion, forcing her and her son to become a done deal—as his princess consort.
Completely forgetting that her son “could not be intimate with others.”
After the noble ladies slunk away in defeat, Concubine Chen immediately invited Ye Chutang to stay.
“Miss Ye, dinner is about to be served. Please stay and dine before you leave.”
Her intentions were written all over her face—not only did Ye Chutang see through them, but Qi Yanzhou understood as well.
Ye Chutang collected her winnings and declined, “Concubine Chen, I’ve been out all day. I need to return to the Minister’s Mansion.”
Qi Yanzhou quickly offered, “Miss Ye, I’ll see you off.”
“No need, I know the way,” Ye Chutang replied briskly and hurried out of Prince Chen’s Mansion.
Concubine Chen grabbed her son as he tried to leave.
“Zhou’er, stay and talk with your mother.”
Qi Yanzhou knew what she wanted to say and bluntly replied, “Mother, there’s no chance between Miss Ye and me.”
Concubine Chen appraised her son from head to toe, clearly pleased.
“You’re handsome and of high status—why would Miss Ye look down on you?”
Qi Yanzhou looked at his mother with curiosity.
“Why don’t you think it’s me who looks down on her?”
She chuckled, “You’re my son; can’t I tell you have feelings for Miss Ye?”
Qi Yanzhou smiled wryly.
“Mother, maybe you’ve been choosing noble ladies for so long that your judgment’s clouded.”
He admired Ye Chutang but had no other feelings for her.
Seeing her son still not understanding, Concubine Chen poked his chest with her finger.
“You really ought to be more careful!”
Qi Yanzhou ignored Concubine Chen’s advice, stood up, and headed to the Dali Temple.
Just as he stepped out of Prince Chen's Mansion, Shuangxi, Eunuch De’s personal attendant, arrived.
“Your Highness, the Emperor summons you to the palace.”
Qi Yanzhou had assumed the Emperor’s summons was regarding the relief efforts in Jiangnan.
But instead of taking him to the Qinzhen Hall for official business, Shuangxi led him straight to the Emperor’s bedchamber.
“Eunuch, may I ask the reason for His Majesty’s summons?” Qi Yanzhou inquired.
Shuangxi, knowing that once the prince entered the bedchamber he’d soon learn the matter, was eager to do him a favor and told him truthfully, “Your Highness, the Emperor’s secret treasury has been ‘ghost-burgled.’”
