Chapter 95 – Taking the Bait

Princess Consort An hosted an extravagant birthday banquet. There were too many male guests, so only the outer courtyard could accommodate them.

The sun blazed overhead, and the air was hot and dry.

The outer courtyard was filled with large oil-paper umbrellas for shade. Beneath each umbrella were two adjacent dining tables.

Beside each table sat ice basins emitting tendrils of cold air, instantly reducing the heat.

Everyone was seated in order of rank.

On the eastern side of the outer courtyard was the Xiang Hall.

There were only half as many female guests as male ones, and they were arranged to dine in the Xiang Hall.

A folding screen stood at the entrance connecting the Xiang Hall and the outer courtyard, separating the men from the women.

Ye Chutang entered the Xiang Hall first and chose a seat tucked away in a corner.

Princess Consort An saw her but said nothing.

Once all the guests had taken their seats, the maidservants filed in, serving dishes, snacks, and tea.

After the food was served, Princess Consort An went over to the male guests’ side and, along with Prince An, gave thanks to the attendees.

The polite formalities took nearly the time of one incense stick burning.

Prince An raised his cup. “If our hospitality has been lacking and disrupted your enjoyment, I’ll drink three cups as punishment.”

After he downed the three cups, Princess Consort An smiled and said, “I’m not good with alcohol, but I’ll still have one cup with everyone.”

The male guests immediately raised their cups.

“We wish the Princess Consort longevity and happiness.”

She finished her drink and turned her empty cup to show them.

“May everyone enjoy freely, drink to your heart’s content, and appreciate the music and dance together.”

Musicians and dancers arrived at the front hall and began to play and perform. The banquet officially began.

Princess Consort An returned to the Xiang Hall to entertain the female guests.

“Ladies, today’s wine is the mellow Peach Xiang Brew—it doesn’t intoxicate easily, so feel free to drink. I offer a toast to all of you.”

All the women raised their cups and drank with her.

Ye Chutang, knowing that Ye Jingchuan possessed a colorless and tasteless poison, had already decided not to touch anything from Prince An’s residence.

When it came time to drink, she used her sleeve to conceal her action and quietly poured the wine into the trash bin within her spatial storage.

Princess Consort An noticed and gave a subtle signal to the maid serving beside Ye Chutang.

The maid understood and immediately went to refill Ye Chutang’s wine.

Sensing her intention, Ye Chutang dodged.

The peach-scented wine spilled onto the ground, splashing onto her embroidered shoes.

The startled maid quickly withdrew her hand and dropped to her knees.

“I deserve to die! Miss Ye, please forgive me!”

Ye Chutang knew she had done it on purpose and curled her lips in mockery.

“You can’t even pour a cup of wine properly? Don’t want your hands anymore?”

Princess Consort An quickly signaled her personal attendant.

The old maid stepped forward, came to the trembling young maid, and kicked her to the ground.

“How dare you offend a noble guest! The Prince’s residence has no place for someone like you. Guards! Drag her away, cripple her hands, and throw her out!”

The maid immediately kowtowed and begged Ye Chutang for mercy.

“Miss Ye, please have mercy! If I lose my hands, I won’t survive!”

Ye Chutang looked down coldly at her, unmoved.

Just as the guards were about to take the maid away, someone spoke up in her defense.

“Miss Ye, it was just a bit of spilled wine. Isn’t it too harsh to punish her like this?”

Others chimed in.

“Yes, a slap or a caning would be enough. Crippling her is going too far.”

“Miss Ye, please say something. This is a human life we’re talking about!”

Ye Chutang finally spoke, but not to plead on the maid’s behalf.

She smiled and said, “You all think the Princess Consort is too harsh with her servants and doesn’t value their lives. Why not tell her that directly? Why try to get me to speak up—what are you trying to do?”

If they wanted to stand on the moral high ground and point fingers at her, then she’d just toss that blame right back at them!

The ones who spoke for the maid: “…”

“Please don’t misunderstand, Princess Consort. That’s not what we meant!”

But Ye Chutang didn’t let up.

“Weren’t your words just now a subtle rebuke of how the Princess Consort manages her household? Or do you think my authority surpasses hers and I can make decisions in the Prince’s residence—even about whether a maid lives or dies?”

“You misunderstand, Miss Ye. That’s not what we meant either.”

“Then what did you mean? Go on, explain.”

The three women: “…”

They regretted it.

What did the maid’s life or death have to do with them?

They never should’ve meddled and ended up getting scolded from both sides.

Princess Consort An hadn’t expected Ye Chutang to be so sharp-tongued, turning the situation around with just a few words.

Seeing the three madams put in such an awkward spot, she quickly smoothed things over.

“The maid offended Miss Ye. If Miss Ye is willing to forgive her, I naturally won’t pursue harsh punishment.”

Ye Chutang waved at the guards. “Let her go.”

The guards immediately released the maid and exited the hall.

The maid crawled over to Ye Chutang and kowtowed again.

“Thank you for your great mercy, Miss Ye. I’m eternally grateful.”

“Get up and keep serving. Don’t make another mistake, or I won’t be able to protect you.”

“Yes, miss.”

The maid stood, quickly tidied herself, and poured Ye Chutang another drink.

Princess Consort An signaled the musicians to resume playing, and the banquet continued.

As the music started, the floral hall grew lively again.

The maid dared not make another move and served Ye Chutang with utmost caution.

Ye Chutang appeared to be enjoying the feast, but in reality, she hadn’t eaten a single bite—the food and wine had all gone into her spatial storage.

Halfway through the banquet, Princess Consort An noticed that Ye Chutang seemed a bit tipsy and knew she couldn’t wait any longer.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to complete the task the Emperor had assigned her.

She gave the maid another signal.

While Ye Chutang was rubbing her temples, the maid subtly pushed the Eight-Treasure Bird’s Nest Soup closer to the edge of the table.

Ye Chutang was only pretending to be drunk and saw everything.

As she lowered her hand, she deliberately knocked over the soup, staining her skirt.

The maid immediately dropped to her knees. “Please spare me, Miss Ye!”

Ye Chutang waved her hand. “It’s my own clumsiness. This has nothing to do with you.”

She knew very well—whether she accepted the move or not, that dog of an emperor would go through with his plan.

Rather than wait passively, why not take the initiative?

Princess Consort An, seeing that the plan had finally succeeded, let out a deep breath of relief.

“Someone, escort Miss Ye to a side chamber to change her clothes.”

Ye Chutang stood. “Sorry to trouble you, Princess Consort.”

With that, she followed the maid to a guest courtyard’s side chamber.

To get there, they had to pass through the outer courtyard.

Ye Jingchuan, seeing Ye Chutang being led away, knew that half of Prince An’s plan had succeeded.

He immediately looked at Qi Yanzhou, who was sitting across from him, and raised his cup.

“Your Highness, a toast to you.”

He muttered to himself: I wonder when the other half of the plan will succeed?

Qi Yanzhou also glanced at Ye Chutang being taken away.

The hand holding his wine cup tightened slightly, and his lowered eyes concealed the worry within them.

“Thank you, Lord Ye.”

Using his left hand as cover, he used internal force to evaporate the wine in his cup.

The young servant at his side promptly refilled it.

Qi Yanzhou hesitated, wondering if he should trick the servant into spilling wine on him—

Just then, Prince An staggered over with a wine cup in hand.