Chapter 59: Beating the Guards Until They Can’t Find Their Teeth

Ye Chutang, coming from a family of ancient martial arts passed down for thousands of years, had seen many valuable items.

However, when looking at the dowry in the box, she was still shocked.

There were twenty-eight sedan chairs of dowry, and the boxes were four times the size of a normal dowry box, with an enormous quantity of items.

Just taking out a random piece, its value was above a thousand taels.

Some of the rare treasures could be sold for tens of thousands of taels.

It took Ye Jingchuan more than an hour to divide it all.

Kong Ru’s three children took half of the dowry, and Ye Anling got thirty-two sedan chairs.

Ye Siyin received twenty-four sedan chairs, and the remaining forty sedan chairs were Ye Chutang’s.

Ye Jingchuan looked at Ye Chutang, who hadn’t spoken a word the entire time, feeling a little uneasy.

“Chuer, if you like anything in Ling’er’s or Yin’er’s dowry, you can exchange it.”

Aunt Jiang smiled and added, “Miss, this dowry was left by Madam Tang, and it’s for you to decide.”

“For me to decide? But I don’t want to take any of the dowry. Are you planning to return it to me?”

Aunt Jiang’s smile froze, and she awkwardly replied, “It wouldn’t be proper for me to go against Madam Tang’s wishes.”

“Her wishes? That’s what you’re saying? I haven’t heard of it.”

Kong Ru saw that Ye Chutang seemed to be reconsidering, and quickly spoke up.

“Chuer, your mother was sick back then, and many maids served her. They can all be witnesses.”

The cooked duck can’t fly away now!

Ye Chutang sneered lightly, “The maid’s contract is in your hands. Isn’t it all up to you what gets said?”

Ye Jingchuan, having finally finished dividing the dowry, didn’t want any more trouble.

He made a decision: “The dowry is divided. Let it be.”

Then, he turned to Ye Chutang. “When you get married, I will add more dowry for you.”

Ye Chutang ignored Ye Jingchuan’s words and patted the large box.

“I heard my mother’s dowry emptied half of the Tang family’s house. Each box was packed to the brim, yet these boxes are only filled about 60-70%?”

Naturally, it had been secretly hidden by Ye Jingchuan.

He said, without a hint of guilt, “Don’t believe all rumors. Also, your mother sold a lot of her dowry to help the Ye family establish itself in the capital and to ensure my career path was smooth.”

Ye Chutang didn’t believe a word, but she didn’t pursue the matter further.

In any case, she had ways to get back all the dowry.

“I understand. So, should we keep the dowry in the Buddhist hall or take it back to the respective courtyards?”

Ye Jingchuan was about to say they should keep it in the Buddhist hall for collective safekeeping, but Aunt Jiang spoke first.

“Master, the second miss is about to marry, and Yin’er is soon to follow. Why don’t we send their dowries to their courtyards first and have someone guard them?”

She felt more at ease when the things were in her sight.

Ye Anling thought the same.

“Father, these dowry boxes are too large and old. I’d like to change them to regular ones. When mother and you add more, we can gather twenty-eight sedan chairs of dowry. That way, not only will the Minister’s residence have face, but even the Duke of De will be pleased.”

Ye Jingchuan thought this was a good idea, “Alright, that’s settled then.”

Once this was decided, Aunt Jiang was the happiest.

Ye Siyin had been secretly observing Ye Chutang.

Seeing that although Ye Chutang wasn’t too pleased, she didn’t say anything, she finally relaxed.

She bent over and saluted, “Thank you, father, thank you, eldest sister.”

Ye Jingchuan reached out and helped Ye Siyin up.

“We’re family. Don’t stand on ceremony.”

Ye Anling’s gaze landed on Ye Jingchuan’s hand as he helped Ye Siyin up, her eyes grew cold.

Who would have thought that this inconspicuous concubine-born daughter would one day be treated with such attention!

“Father, it’s getting late. Let the guards move the dowry.”

Ye Chutang preemptively said, “Before you take the dowry, you must first create a list and sign it. I need to burn it for my mother, so she knows you’ve fulfilled her wishes.”

“So, make sure you don’t lie to me. Otherwise, my mother definitely won’t let you off.”

At these words, everyone’s face changed slightly.

“Why does everyone look so uncomfortable? Could it be that my mother never had a wish to divide the dowry?” Ye Chutang asked knowingly, and Ye Jingchuan stiffly adjusted his lip corner.

“Chuer, how could your father deceive you? I just felt it wasn’t necessary to go through so much trouble. When we perform the memorial rites for your mother, we can just mention it.”

“It must be a list, signed and sealed! No one can take a single item of the dowry without it!”

After saying that, Ye Chutang slammed her palm on the dowry box.

The dowry box immediately sank into the ground.

Not only Ye Jingchuan and the others, but even the martial arts guards were drenched in cold sweat.

If this force had been used on them, they would have been dead for sure!

Kong Ru was so scared her legs were shaking, and she quickly said, “Chuer’s idea is very good. Let’s do it her way.”

Ye Jingchuan nodded repeatedly, “The list must be written, and the signatures must be on it!”

Ye Chutang nodded in satisfaction, “Father, without my mother, you wouldn’t have the life you have today, so you write it.”

“Alright, I’ll write it.”

Ye Jingchuan had the guards bring tables and chairs, and prepared ink, paper, and inkstones.

He wrote the list, Aunt Jiang ground the ink, and Kong Ru read off the dowry, working in perfect harmony.

By now, it was almost noon, and the sun was scorching hot.

Ye Anling and Ye Siyu immediately had the guards bring umbrellas to shield them.

Ye Chutang, citing practice as an excuse, handed over the task of holding the umbrella to her two black-hearted sisters.

The guards, not wanting to be crushed to death by Ye Chutang’s palm, flattered her madly.

“Miss, your martial arts skills are unparalleled, and we are no match for you. We voluntarily admit defeat.”

“We only know a bit of petty martial arts, not worthy of comparing with your skill.”

“Miss…”

Ye Chutang interrupted the guards, “Don’t be afraid. We’re just practicing techniques, no internal power used, so the harm is minimal.”

She had just started training in internal power, so she wouldn’t achieve anything major in a short time.

The way she made the dowry box sink earlier wasn’t from her martial arts skills, but from earth-based abilities.

The guards didn’t know this and were scared out of their wits.

However, they didn’t dare defy Ye Chutang’s orders, so they had to grit their teeth and carry on.

They dared not hurt Ye Chutang, but she wasn’t afraid to be ruthless.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Ye Chutang had beaten twenty guards so badly that they couldn’t even find their teeth.

Her fierce and domineering demeanor made Ye Anling and Ye Siyin quite frightened. They didn’t even dare glance around and worked hard to stay low-profile.

Ye Chutang wiped her sweat, then kicked the guard closest to her.

“Go get some tea and snacks from Steward Chen. I’m tired, hungry, and thirsty.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The guard painfully got up and limped away.

Soon, a maid brought water, snacks, and tea.

While Ye Chutang ate and drank, she enjoyed the sight of the five men drenched in sweat under the sun.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, Ye Jingchuan finally finished the dowry list.

He turned his aching wrist and said, “Ling’er, Yin’er, you two can sign the dowry list now.”

Ye Anzhi and Ye Anjun’s share of the dowry was signed by Kong Ru on their behalf.

Once the three of them signed, Ye Jingchuan handed the list to Ye Chutang.

“Chuer, are you satisfied now?”

Ye Chutang took the list, checked it carefully, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Second Miss Ye and Third Miss Ye, you can take your dowries now.”

After saying this, she turned and left.

Ye Jingchuan instructed the guards to look after the dowry, then hurriedly followed her.

“Chuer, the dowries are finished. Can you go and see your grandmother now?”

Ye Chutang didn’t stop walking, “Not yet. She’s been a disaster for a thousand years, and she’s not that easy to die.”

After speaking, she left the Minister’s residence and went to a poetry tower favored by scholars.