Chapter 23: Poisoning, She’s a Professional

Sure enough.

After hearing Kong Ru’s words, Ye Jingchuan lost his temper.

“Nonsense! Ginseng is Jun’er’s life-saving herb, it cannot be touched!”

After yelling, he cast a cold glance at Ye Chutang.

“Jun’er has a weak constitution, the meeting gift and the mouth fee are waived.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Anjun softly said, “Father, I am also a member of the Ye family, I cannot be an exception.”

Ye Chutang glanced at the weak and innocent Ye Anjun sitting in the armchair.

“Your situation is special, you don’t need to give anything.”

She was dealing with those in the Ye family who harbored ill intentions toward the original owner, but she would not harm innocent people.

Ye Anjun insisted, “Elder sister, you must give it!”

Ye Chutang met his clear gaze and said no more.

She continued to collect the meeting gifts from the two concubines and the illegitimate daughter, Ye Siyin.

After finishing, she looked at Ye Siyin.

“I heard you’re about to get married?”

Ye Siyin obediently nodded. “Yes, elder sister.”

“Madam Ye said she will divide her dowry among each child, regardless of whether they are legitimate or illegitimate. Remember to claim your share when the time comes.”

What Ye Chutang didn’t say was that if Ye Siyin was not behaving properly, she wouldn’t get a single coin!

Concubine Liu and Ye Siyin were both stunned.

They looked at Kong Ru in disbelief, kneeling in respect.

“Thank you, Madam.”

Kong Ru didn’t expect Ye Chutang to openly say this in front of everyone.

Even if she was unwilling, she could only nod and agree now.

“We’re family, it’s only right.”

Concubine Liu and Ye Siyin knew that this wasn’t Kong Ru’s sincere words, and they glanced at Ye Chutang in secret.

Since she arrived, she had firmly controlled the direct lineage, not simple!

Ye Chutang ignored their scrutiny and waited for the 13,000 taels of mouth fee and a ginseng root to be handed over.

“Grandmother, Jun’er, Zhi’er.”

She said, then instructed Shan’er and Shuang’er to deliver the meeting gifts to Ningchu Courtyard.

Although Ye Anling didn’t care about Ye Chutang acknowledging her as a sister, the fact that she spent so much money, lost face, and got injured without being recognized made her feel uneasy.

Just as she was about to say something, Ye Jingchuan told everyone to begin their meal.

The food was quite to Ye Chutang’s taste.

She didn’t hold back at all, eating whatever she liked, and ate with a wild and carefree appetite.

Everyone at the table was stunned.

Kong Ru looked at Ye Chutang, who didn’t seem worried about the food being poisoned, and deeply regretted not poisoning her food when she had the chance.

If Ye Chutang knew what she was thinking, she would definitely say one thing:

“You should be thankful you didn’t poison it, or the one falling ill would have been you!”

Ye Jingchuan watched Ye Chutang, who had no decorum, and reminded her, “Chutang, eating too fast will cause indigestion.”

Ye Chutang threw the chicken drumstick she had finished eating onto the table and deliberately licked her greasy fingers.

“I’ve lived for over ten years, and this is the first time I’ve eaten such good food, I couldn’t control myself.”

After saying this, she continued to eat without a care in the world.

Ye Jingchuan felt a headache, “From tomorrow, you need to start learning some manners.”

“Ten thousand taels.”

“…Are you obsessed with money?”

Ye Chutang didn’t even raise her eyelids, “No pressure, Father, do as you like.”

Ye Jingchuan thought that with no surprises, he would be able to control Ye Chutang tonight.

He begrudgingly agreed, “Fine, fine, fine!”

Ye Anling: “…”

This was the first time she knew that ten thousand taels could be earned so easily!

After finishing dinner, Ye Chutang got up and looked at Kong Ru.

“In half an hour, I want to see Ye Madam’s dowry list in Ningchu Courtyard, along with my share.”

After saying that, she left in big strides.

Old Madam Ye angrily threw her chopsticks.

“The elders haven’t even started eating, yet she’s already leaving the table. Is there no sense of propriety?”

Ye Jingchuan had the maid bring tea to Old Madam Ye to cool her temper.

“Mother, please bear with it for a moment, it won’t be long.”

After saying that, he looked at Kong Ru, “Go prepare the dowry and send it to Ningchu Courtyard.”

Half an hour later.

The sky had turned dark, resembling a thick black veil, with stars floating above it, barely visible.

The lanterns in the Minister’s Mansion were lit, casting a dim glow.

Kong Ru instructed the servants to carry the eight large dowry chests to Ningchu Courtyard. Ye Chutang, who had already washed and bathed, sat in the courtyard wearing her outer robe, sipping iced grape juice made with spiritual spring water.

Shuang’er helped her twist her still damp hair.

As the dowry chests were brought into the courtyard, Ye Chutang counted them—there were only eight chests.

Kong Ru met Ye Chutang’s puzzled gaze and handed her the old dowry list.

“When I married, I had fourteen dowry chests. The ones that were crossed off have already been used to supplement the family, and the rest were divided into four portions.”

In fact, none of her dowry was missing.

The crossed-out valuables were deliberately removed because she didn’t want to give Ye Chutang too much.

Even though she would be able to take them back soon, she still didn’t want to part with them.

Ye Chutang looked at the dowry list handed to her, and she smelled a faint unusual fragrance on it.

It was a mixture of soft tendon powder and sedative.

She slightly curled her lips, raised her hand to tuck the loose hair behind her ear.

Taking this opportunity, she fetched some poison from her space and applied it to her fingertips.

When it came to poisoning, she was a professional.

As she took the list from Kong Ru, she deliberately brushed her thumb against Kong Ru’s thumb.

Kong Ru didn’t notice it, as her attention was entirely on the dowry list.

When Ye Chutang pinched the spot where she had applied the poison, Kong Ru’s heart leaped with joy.

It wouldn’t be long before this vile woman would be paralyzed and unable to move.

This wicked girl wanted her to kneel in front of Tang Waning’s tomb to apologize? Not a chance!

Ye Chutang took in Kong Ru’s barely concealed joy.

After glancing at the list, she handed it to Shan’er.

“Make a copy of Madam Ye’s dowry list later.”

Kong Ru’s mind went on high alert. “Chutang, why do you need to copy this?”

“It’s nothing, I just like to be thorough.”

Kong Ru thought that whatever Ye Chutang was doing would be in vain, so she didn’t press further.

“Do as you like.”

Ye Chutang told Shan’er, “First, count the dowry. If there are no problems, put it in the storage room.”

Ningchu Courtyard didn’t have a storage room.

She had asked Wangcai to tidy up the firewood room beforehand, so they would use it temporarily.

Shan’er worked quickly, and in about the time it took to burn an incense stick, she finished counting the dowry.

“Miss, the dowry and list match perfectly.”

Ye Chutang nodded and looked at Kong Ru.

“Madam Ye, you can leave now. After Shan’er finishes copying the list, I’ll have Shuang’er bring it to you.”

“No rush, tomorrow will be fine.”

After Kong Ru said this, she glanced at Shuang’er in secret and turned to leave.

Shan’er called over a small servant to carry the dowry chests into the firewood room.

After the little servant left, Shuang’er arrogantly said, “Miss, overexerting yourself is not good for you. You should…”

Ye Chutang turned her head and looked at Shuang’er, her dark eyes as cold as a deep lake.

“Should what?”

Shuang’er met Ye Chutang’s gaze and felt a chill run down her spine.

She quickly changed her tune, “It’s nothing, Miss, do whatever you like.”

After all, no matter what the Miss did, she was just a grasshopper in the autumn, hopping around for a short time!

Ye Chutang called Shan’er to help her twist her hair and said to Shuang’er:

“Shuang’er, remember, what I want is a maid who listens and protects her master, not one who talks too much about everything.”

Her cold tone carried a chilling pressure.

Shuang’er immediately knelt, “I was wrong, Miss.”

“Don’t let it happen again, or the next maid to be sold off to the lower brothels will be you.”

“I obey.”

“Get up.”

Soon, Shan’er finished twisting Ye Chutang’s hair.

“Miss, who do you want on night duty tonight?”

As soon as Ye Chutang heard this, she knew Shan’er had something to say.

“It’s you.”

After saying that, she returned to her room.

Shuang’er remembered the way Kong Ru had looked at her when she left, instinctively thinking that Ye Chutang would make a move tonight.

She told Shan’er, “You take the night duty. Go wash up first.”

After Shan’er finished washing up, she went to Ye Chutang’s room.

Ye Chutang was leaning on the noblewoman’s couch, her hair half covering her face, savoring the meeting gifts she had received during dinner.

The sight of her side-lying was enough to stir anyone’s heart.

Shan’er’s face flushed, she collected herself and quickly walked over.

“Miss, where would you like to keep these precious items?”