Chapter 45: Capturing the Court Doctor Who Escaped with Kong Ru’s Help

Under the trio’s complicated gazes, Ye Chutang withdrew the silver needles from Grand Tutor Qin.

She reminded, “Be sure to continue drinking the lung-nourishing and breath-calming decoction. Combine it with acupuncture for the best effect.”

Qin Moyun quickly nodded. “Of course. Miss Ye, how much is the consultation fee?”

“Grand Tutor Qin is a good man—it’s free.”

Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. It was because Qin Moyun had defended her against the Crown Prince during the Guijia Banquet.

Ye Chutang didn’t like owing people favors, so she naturally wouldn’t accept payment.

Before she left, she even gave Grand Tutor Qin a cup of spiritual spring water.

Virtue Points +3863.

As expected, Grand Tutor Qin was truly a good person!

Qin Moyun wanted to see her off, but was declined.

“Master Qin, no need. I remember the way.”

“Miss Ye, farewell.”

Grand Tutor Qin noticed that his normally flippant grandson was uncharacteristically well-behaved in front of Ye Chutang and immediately understood his intentions.

“Miss Ye seems like a fine lady. Which family is she from?”

Qin Moyun immediately shared everything: Ye Chutang’s tragic past, Ye Jingchuan’s scheming against her, her fierce comeback, and her stunning performance at the Guijia Banquet.

As he listened to his grandson talk a mile a minute, Grand Tutor Qin’s lips curved into a smile.

“If you like her, have your father go propose a marriage alliance with the Ye family.”

Qin Moyun’s face fell, and he sighed. “Grandfather, I’m not good enough for her.”

“Don’t belittle yourself. If it weren’t for the family dragging you down, you wouldn’t be labeled a wastrel or seen as good-for-nothing.”

The common people only knew that Qin Moyun had wasted a privileged birth by refusing to serve the country and acting like a rich idler.

But they didn’t understand that as the head of the prominent Qin family, he was under constant imperial suspicion.

Only by presenting the illusion of mediocrity and decline could the Qin family maintain its century-old glory—at least for a while.

Qin Moyun smiled. “I enjoy the family’s protection, so naturally, I also bear its burden.”

Grand Tutor Qin patted the back of his hand. “It’s rare to meet someone you truly like. Cherish it well.”

“Don’t worry, Grandfather. I’ll give it my best shot.”

---

As Ye Chutang left the Grand Tutor’s estate, she sneezed.

Rubbing her nose in annoyance, she muttered, “Who’s talking about me behind my back?”

After that, she headed to Wanbao Pavilion.

The shopkeeper immediately welcomed her warmly when he saw her.

“Miss Ye, have you decided on the custom jewelry?”

“Yes. What I want is a bit complicated. Bring me your two best craftsmen. Price isn’t an issue.”

The shopkeeper especially loved hearing the last part.

Grinning from ear to ear, he said, “Right this way, Miss Ye.”

She followed him into the reception room, and soon, two skilled craftsmen arrived.

“I want to make a hairpin, bracelet, and pendant. The material should be iron.”

The shopkeeper thought he’d misheard. “Miss Ye, surely you mean gold or silver?”

Iron jewelry? That was something only poor families would buy.

As the legitimate eldest daughter of the Minister’s household, even the bare minimum should be silver.

Ye Chutang toyed with her teacup, speaking in a lazy tone, “Gold and silver are too soft. Iron has just the right hardness.”

The shopkeeper was utterly confused.

It’s jewelry, not a weapon—what’s the need for hardness?

“Miss Ye, iron is too hard and not easy to mold. Though the material is cheap, the labor cost is very high.”

“I require very high craftsmanship. As long as the craftsmen can make it, I’ll pay double the labor fee, calculated as if it were silver.”

This was a very profitable deal for both the shopkeeper and the craftsmen, so the three immediately agreed.

“What kind of jewelry would Miss Ye like to custom order?”

“Weapons disguised as jewelry.”

Shopkeeper: “…Please, Miss Ye, don’t joke around.”

“I’m serious. If this business isn’t for you, just pretend I was never here.”

While the shopkeeper hesitated, the two craftsmen said, “If the shopkeeper won’t take it, we can take the private job.”

Taking private jobs was quite common for craftsmen. As long as it didn’t interfere with their main work, the shopkeeper usually turned a blind eye.

The shopkeeper knew Ye Chutang was notorious for stirring up trouble and didn’t want to get the shop involved.

“As long as Miss Ye agrees, I have no objections.”

“I agree. The deposit I gave earlier goes to the shopkeeper, but you’ll give these two craftsmen three months off and provide some iron for them to work with.”

The shopkeeper was thrilled. “No problem at all.”

Iron was cheap anyway, and forty taels in deposit was almost a whole year’s wage for the craftsmen.

After he left cheerfully, Ye Chutang began describing the concealed weapons and multi-shot sleeve darts she wanted.

The craftsmen were indeed former palace artisans—listening carefully, asking questions as they sketched.

By the time Ye Chutang finished, the blueprint was already drawn.

She asked, “Can you make these?”

The two craftsmen nodded. “Yes. The four items you described—we can finish them in five days.”

“Then I’ll be back in five days to inspect them. If they’re good, I want thirty full sets.”

She left a pile of silver scraps as a deposit.

After leaving Wanbao Pavilion, she wandered through a rice shop, an oil shop, and a seasoning store.

Then she visited a fabric shop and bought several sets of clothing for Jinzhi.

As the sun began to set, she also stopped by a wine shop, the food market, a dry goods store, and the coal market.

After browsing every shop needed for stockpiling supplies, the sky had gone completely dark.

Ye Chutang wove through the bustling night market and headed to the most luxurious restaurant in the capital—Guangjuxuan.

She bought a table full of exquisite dishes and asked a servant to deliver them to the Minister’s residence.

As they neared the estate, she spotted a suspiciously familiar figure.

It was that court doctor from earlier—Doctor Gao.

She told the servant, “Give the food box to the gatekeeper and have him take it to Ningchu Courtyard.”

The servant bowed respectfully. “Yes, Miss Ye.”

Ye Chutang went straight for Doctor Gao.

Sensing danger, he tried to flee, but was caught red-handed.

He immediately threw a handful of white powder at Ye Chutang.

She simply flicked her sleeve, sending the powder right back onto Doctor Gao.

Just as he held his breath, her punch landed squarely on his chest.

In pain, he gasped—accidentally inhaling the poison.

His expression changed drastically as he hurriedly fumbled out a porcelain vial from his robes.

Ye Chutang guessed it was the antidote and snatched it away.

Doctor Gao instantly dropped to his knees and kowtowed.

“Miss Ye, please! Give me the antidote, or I’ll die!”

“I love watching villains bleed from their seven orifices. It’s such a pitiful way to go.”

With that, Ye Chutang grabbed him by the hair and dragged him straight into the Minister’s residence.

Doctor Gao felt like his scalp was about to be ripped off, screaming in pain.

The nearby gatekeepers of other officials heard the commotion and all came out to watch.

When they saw it was Ye Chutang, a single phrase popped into all their minds: Miss Ye is savage!

Steward Chen of the Minister’s estate saw Ye Chutang dragging back the escaped Doctor Gao and immediately rushed to report it to Ye Jingchuan in the kitchen.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Chutang tossed Doctor Gao into the kitchen.

She looked at the clumps of hair in her hand with disgust and shook them off.

Doctor Gao’s head slammed hard into a table leg, and his vision went black from the pain.

Ye Jingchuan had always regretted not being able to make the quack who harmed his precious son pay—and the man had even escaped.

Now that he saw Doctor Gao again, he immediately got up and began kicking him—each kick harder than the last.

“You dared to harm my son—I’ll kill you!”

Ye Anling, worried that Doctor Gao might die before revealing the truth behind Jun’er’s illness, picked up the clay pot of soup from the table and smashed it onto his head.