Chapter 14 – Let Father Go to the Ye Family to Propose Marriage

Ye Chutang and a strange man locked eyes.

Caught peeping, the man was startled and immediately shut the window.

She wordlessly looked away and turned to Ye Anling in the carriage. “I’m going in to look around first. You can come in later and pay the bill.”

With that, she walked straight into Mingxiang Zhai, under the surprised gazes of the onlookers.

The moment she entered, the murmurs grew louder.

“Who is that woman? She actually ordered the legitimate daughter of the Minister’s household!”

“Never seen her before. She probably isn’t from the capital.”

“Could she be from some fiefdom or border region?”

In the private room on the second floor, Qin Muyun listened to the chatter and said, “If she’s a member of the imperial clan, then forget it—we don’t need to look into her.”

Even that brief glimpse had set his heart racing.

But he had no desire to get involved with the royal family.

Qi Yanzhou was seated in a position that allowed him a clear view of Ye Chutang.

He spoke, “She’s the legitimate eldest daughter of Ye Jingchuan.”

In fact, he hadn’t recognized Ye Chutang right away as the woman who had forced herself on him that night.

Back then, she was sallow and skinny; now she looked healthy and radiant. The difference was too stark.

Qin Muyun looked at Qi Yanzhou in surprise. “You know her?”

“I saw her mother when I was young. They look quite similar.”

What happened that night was a secret neither he nor Ye Chutang could speak of.

But he had indeed met Ye Tang-shi—gentle, wise, and kind.

Qin Muyun had never seen Ye Chutang’s mother, but he did know a bit about the Ye family.

“So she’s the legitimate daughter Ye Jingchuan left in the countryside for fifteen years? Why has she suddenly returned to the capital?”

Ye Jingchuan hadn’t even held a coming-of-age ceremony for this daughter, clearly showing he had no intention of arranging a marriage for her—he had completely abandoned her.

And yet, the legitimate eldest daughter had not only returned but seemed to have upstaged the favored second daughter. Something wasn’t right!

After Ye Chutang had helped suppress his fire poison, Qi Yanzhou had looked into her the moment he returned to the capital.

Naturally, he knew Ye Jingchuan’s motive for bringing her back.

“Eunuch De took a liking to Ye Anling.”

Qin Muyun immediately understood. “So he couldn’t bear to send the younger daughter into the fire pit, so he brought back the eldest to take her place? Beast!”

Then he frowned. “How do you know all this so clearly?”

Qi Yanzhou picked up his teacup and took a sip.

“I have informants all over the capital.”

Qin Muyun raised an eyebrow, his smile not reaching his eyes.

“You know that’s not what I’m asking.”

No informant would report on something this private.

Qi Yanzhou understood what Qin Muyun was suspecting but his expression didn’t waver.

“If it’s related to Eunuch De, then it’s not a minor matter.”

At the mention of this eunuch who had wreaked havoc in court, Qin Muyun felt both angry and helpless.

“I’ve calculated this eunuch’s fortune—he’s not dying anytime soon!”

Frustrated, he shifted the topic back to Ye Chutang.

“Ye Tang-shi was a good person. During a famine, she set up tents and handed out porridge, saving countless victims. I want to save her daughter. I’ll ask Father to go to the Ye family and propose marriage!”

Qi Yanzhou: “…”

If not for that night, he’d fully support the idea.

“Ye Jingchuan wants to protect Ye Anling. He won’t agree to your father’s proposal.”

“True… then how about I put on a show of a spoiled noble falling for a beauty and eloping with her?”

“If you’re not afraid of making your grandfather keel over in anger, be my guest.”

Qin Muyun thought up another plan. “Then let’s spread the word that Eunuch De has taken a liking to Ye Anling—let Ye Jingchuan’s plan die before it begins!”

“It’s too late. From the moment Ye Chutang appeared on the streets, she was already part of the game.”

What happens next no longer depends on Ye Jingchuan, but on the lecherous Eunuch De.

Qin Muyun realized this too. He slumped over the table, irritably scratching his head.

“Are we just going to stand by and watch that eunuch lay his hands on Miss Ye?”

Qi Yanzhou rubbed his fingers. “The Minister’s estate is hosting a homecoming banquet in three days. Let’s join the fun.”

“Alright, we’ll handle things as they come.”

Downstairs, Ye Chutang paid no mind to the peeping from the second floor. Leisurely, she sampled the pastries.

The ones she liked, she ordered two boxes of.

Seeing that Shuang’er was nearly out of hands to carry them, she finally stopped.

“That’ll do for today.”

The pastries at Mingxiang Zhai weren’t cheap. The cheapest was two taels of silver.

The shopkeeper calculated the total. “Miss, these come to sixty-four taels of silver.”

Ye Chutang nodded and looked at Shuang’er. “Go ask Second Miss for the silver note.”

Just then, Ye Anling stepped into the shop, freshly cleaned up.

She walked in lightly, with a smile at the corner of her lips. “Elder Sister, if you like them, buy more.”

With that one sentence, Ye Chutang’s true identity was revealed.

“That’s the legitimate eldest daughter that Minister Ye sent to the countryside? Who would’ve thought she’d grow up to be so beautiful.”

“I heard she was in poor health. Minister Ye had no choice but to send her away to recuperate.”

“I knew she looked familiar—she’s Ye Tang-shi’s daughter!”

Not many people in the capital had seen Tang Wannian, but nearly everyone had heard of “Madam Ye Tang.”

Eighteen years ago, during the great natural disaster, corpses lined the streets, and refugees fled their homes in droves.

Tang Wannian had single-handedly saved every refugee who made it to the capital.

This act not only earned her the reputation of a “living Bodhisattva” in the eyes of the people, but also secured Ye Jingchuan’s official post in the capital after placing second in the imperial exam.

Among the servants shopping for pastries that day, some had even eaten the porridge she had personally distributed.

Ye Chutang’s expression turned grateful as she heard them speak of the past.

“Thank you for remembering my mother. She’ll be comforted in heaven.”

Ye Anling saw Ye Chutang stealing the spotlight and smiled sweetly.

The more people who knew about her, the further word of her beauty would spread!

“Elder Sister, Mingxiang Zhai’s tea is quite good too. Let me buy you some.”

Ye Chutang wasn’t fond of tea, but she wouldn’t refuse a free gift.

After looking over the available teas, she asked for some black tea and floral blends.

Pastries and tea together cost Ye Anling nearly a hundred and twenty taels of silver.

As they left the shop, everyone praised Ye Anling for how well she treated Ye Chutang.

Shuang’er and Qiulu loaded their purchases onto the carriage.

Ye Anling pointed to a rouge shop not far ahead. “Elder Sister, it’s just a few steps away. Let’s walk over.”

Ye Chutang understood her intent and nodded. “Alright.”

Along the way, her outstanding looks drew many glances.

Especially once they entered the rouge shop and she applied just a bit of makeup—

Her breathtaking beauty instantly outshone all the other women in the shop.

The proprietress praised, “Even as a woman myself, Miss Ye, I feel bewitched by your beauty.”

Ye Anling seethed with jealousy.

Her looks were considered outstanding, but standing next to Ye Chutang, she was nothing but a backdrop.

If not for needing that face to seduce Eunuch De, she’d have torn it apart long ago!

Ye Chutang wasn’t interested in makeup that couldn’t be turned into money.

But after seeing Ye Anling’s sour expression, she ordered the most expensive full set.

The proprietress was overjoyed, waived the small change, and asked for a hundred taels.

Ye Anling hadn’t expected Ye Chutang to spend silver so freely.

She decided to stick to cheaper shops next time—her two hundred taels wouldn’t last at this rate.

Just as the two were about to leave the shop—

A long whip cracked through the air, landing right at Ye Chutang’s feet.

Snap!

The wooden floor was split open by the strike.

Startled, Ye Anling instinctively stepped back.

But then she recognized who the whip belonged to, and her eyes gleamed with excitement.

She hadn’t expected Princess Anning to arrive so soon!