Ye Chutang knew that Kong Ru had handed her the authority to decide the maids' punishment in order to tarnish her reputation as someone who mistreated servants.
She looked at the scheming woman with mockery in her eyes.
"First, poison them mute, then sell them to the lowest brothel."
The reason she willingly stepped into Kong Ru’s trap was because being a true villain was far easier than pretending to be virtuous.
The two maids were still slapping their own faces, their cheeks swollen like pig heads, blood dripping from the corners of their mouths.
Upon hearing Ye Chutang’s words, they burst into tears and begged Kong Ru for mercy.
"Madam, we admit our wrongs. Please show us compassion and spare us this once."
Their words were slurred, but their meaning could still be vaguely understood.
Kong Ru assumed the stern authority of the household’s matriarch, coldly watching the tear-streaked maids.
"As servants, you dared to gossip about your masters. You deserve nothing less than death."
Realizing the implication of her words, the maids quickly turned to Ye Chutang, kowtowing heavily.
"Young Miss, we were wrong! Please give us another chance!"
Ye Chutang observed them—slapping their faces while simultaneously knocking their heads against the ground—and marveled at how they managed to perform these two uncoordinated movements so seamlessly.
She glanced at Kong Ru and said, "Your lives are in Madam’s hands. Pleading with her is more useful than pleading with me."
If Kong Ru could set traps, so could she.
Naturally, Kong Ru wouldn’t oppose Ye Chutang over two gossipy maids.
"Chu’er, you are the Minister’s Mansion’s young lady. You have the authority to discipline the servants. Do as you see fit."
With that, she turned to her personal maid. "Chun Tao, summon Steward Chen and arrange their sale as the young miss instructed."
"Yes, Madam."
"We serve the old madam’s courtyard—"
The maids desperately tried to save themselves, but before they could finish, servants gagged and dragged them away.
Ye Chutang wasn’t the least bit afraid of the old madam and continued following Kong Ru to Ningchu Courtyard.
The entire journey, Kong Ru walked on edge, fearing Ye Chutang might suddenly run off and stir up trouble again.
Fortunately, they arrived without incident.
Ningchu Courtyard was located on the eastern side of the Minister’s Mansion, near the rear garden.
Though not large, it was elegantly arranged, adorned with potted plants and flowers.
A dense cluster of bamboo by the wall added a refreshing, cool ambiance.
Kong Ru adjusted the hairpin threatening to slip from her hair and smoothed the loose strands at her temples.
"Chu’er, this is your courtyard. The main house includes a central hall, a side hall, and your private chambers. The eastern wing houses the maids, while the male servants stay in the outer courtyard at night and come to work during the day. The western wing has a small kitchen, and the privy is in the backyard."
Ye Chutang strolled around, nodding in approval. "A fine courtyard."
"As long as you’re pleased. If you need any furnishings added, just have the maids inform me."
Kong Ru then turned to another personal maid.
"Qiu He, bring the servants we previously selected for the young miss."
"Yes, Madam."
Soon, eight male and eight female servants stood assembled in Ningchu Courtyard, crowding the already modest space.
Kong Ru glanced at the indifferent Ye Chutang. "Chu’er, will you keep them all or choose a few?"
Ye Chutang knew full well these were Kong Ru’s spies planted around her.
After careful scrutiny, she selected two maids and one manservant—the latter for heavy labor, the former for personal attendance.
The three servants stepped forward and bowed in unison to Ye Chutang. "This humble maid/servant greets the young mistress. Please bestow names upon us."
"Single, Double..."
Kong Ru had expected Ye Chutang to follow up with something like "Triple," but instead, she said, "Fortune."
Kong Ru nearly failed to suppress a laugh.
Truly, an ignorant country bumpkin—only capable of coming up with such vulgar names!
Maids and servants had no right to refuse their given names, so they expressed their gratitude respectfully.
"Chu'er, rest for now. If you need anything, just instruct the maids and servants. Ling'er will come by later to take you shopping."
"Fine. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out."
Kong Ru didn’t bother arguing with Ye Chutang and turned to leave.
Ye Chutang glanced at the two maids. "Go pack your belongings and move in."
"Yes, young mistress."
After the maids left, she turned to the servant. "Go to the storeroom and collect my monthly allowance and daily necessities."
"This servant obeys."
Once the servant departed, Ye Chutang entered her bedchamber.
The room was cooled with blocks of ice, a refreshing chill greeting her as she stepped inside.
A canopy bed, a chaise lounge, a dressing table, a low tea table, a round dining table, a wardrobe, a folding screen, and a bathtub—all were present.
The furnishings were made of mahogany, though not brand new.
The room was fairly clean, and the quilt was crafted from fine silk, light and breathable.
Ye Chutang stuffed her decoy bundle into the wardrobe and sat beside the ice basin to rest.
Before long, the two maids returned with several packages of belongings and settled into the eastern side chamber.
After tidying up their quarters and storing their things, they emerged just as the servant returned.
Fortune carried a large tray.
On it were several sets of new clothes, two jewelry boxes, five taels of silver, and a banknote for two hundred taels.
Behind him trailed two others—one carrying various daily supplies, the other holding fruits and pastries.
The three placed everything on the large round table in the main hall.
Seeing Ye Chutang step out of her bedchamber, they immediately bowed. "Young mistress."
Ye Chutang waved a hand. "Go about your duties."
The servant left, while the two maids entered the main hall to attend to her.
Ye Chutang took the silver and banknote, tucking them into her sleeve on the surface but actually storing them in her spatial inventory.
"Single, organize these things. Double, tell me about the people in the Minister's Mansion."
"Yes, young mistress."
Soon, Ye Chutang grasped the family dynamics of the Ye household.
Ye Jingchuan had a widowed mother who no longer involved herself in household affairs, spending her days doting on her grandchildren in peaceful retirement.
He also had a stepwife and two concubines.
His stepwife, Kong Ru, had borne him two sons and a daughter.
The eldest daughter, Ye Anling, was sixteen and renowned in the capital as a talented beauty.
The eldest son, Ye Anzhi, fourteen, was the apple of the old madam’s eye.
The younger son, Ye Anjun, five, had been frail since birth, being a late-born child.
Concubine Jiang had given birth to a daughter, Ye Siyin, now fifteen, who was already betrothed and set to marry by year’s end.
Concubine Liu, an exotic dancer bestowed upon Ye Jingchuan by the emperor years ago, had no children but enjoyed exceptional favor.
Ye Chutang was surprised that Ye Jingchuan had only two concubines, one of whom was childless.
Weren’t ancient people obsessed with "expanding the family line"?
Curious, she asked Double, "Is the madam such a shrew that Lord Ye doesn’t dare take more concubines?"
Double lowered her head, startled by Ye Chutang’s boldness.
"Young mistress, the madam is benevolent and shares a harmonious relationship with the master."
As for matters of concubinage, it wasn’t a servant’s place to question or discuss.
Ye Chutang asked again, "Ye Siyin is already getting married, so why hasn't Ye Anling been betrothed yet?"
"The Eldest—no, the Second Young Miss is both talented and virtuous, sensible and filial. The master and mistress wish to keep her at home for another year or two."
After a pause, she added, "There are many noble suitors in the capital who seek her hand in marriage."
"Then are there any old and ugly nobles who have taken a fancy to Ye Anling?"
"Young Miss, please be cautious with your words. Disrespect toward the imperial family is a punishable offense."
Ye Chutang scoffed.
"We’re just chatting privately as family. It’s not like you’d run to the palace to report me, would you?"
Shuang’er dropped to her knees in alarm, swearing loyalty.
"Shuang’er would never betray the Minister's Mansion, but Young Miss must beware of eavesdroppers."
"That’s true enough. Spies are everywhere."
With that, Ye Chutang lifted Shuang’er’s chin, locking eyes with her.
"So, are the three of you spies sent by the master and mistress to keep watch over me?"
