Chapter 12 – Her Favorite Thing is 0 Yuan Shopping

Ye Anling had never been so humiliated in her entire life. She almost lost her temper.

She bit the soft flesh inside her lip hard, using the pain to keep calm.

Then, looking pitifully at Ye Chutang, she said,
“We share the same blood, we’re sisters—if I don’t call you ‘sister,’ what else would I call you?”

Ye Chutang knew there was nothing technically wrong with the way Ye Anling addressed her, but it made her uncomfortable.

“Call me Miss Ye.”

Ye Anling didn’t understand where Ye Chutang got the audacity to act so disdainfully.

Being able to return to the Ye family as the eldest daughter, being able to call her sister—shouldn’t Ye Chutang be honored by that?

“Calling you ‘Miss Ye’ sounds too distant. If someone overheard, they might think we’re not on good terms as sisters.”

Ye Chutang smiled indifferently.
“I was born the legitimate eldest daughter, and you were born of a concubine. Yet things ended up reversed—I’m the one who was left to grow up in the countryside for fifteen years like an abandoned orphan, and you became the precious jewel of the Minister’s household. Us not getting along? That sounds perfectly normal.”

Ye Anling’s face changed subtly, her eyes swirling with anger.

Her mother had once been a concubine and was only elevated to wife after giving birth to a son.

That near-three-year period as a concubine’s daughter was the most shameful stain of her life—something she never wanted to be mentioned again.

Staring at Ye Chutang, who was clearly poking at her sore spot on purpose, she thought:
She’s jealous.

These kinds of people are always desperate for love. Treat them a little nicely, and they’ll come wagging their tails like dogs.

Ye Anling tried her best to calm down.

“Elder Sister, I never tried to take your place. You are also the precious daughter of the Ye family. Whatever you’ve missed out on, we’ll make it up to you—twice over.”

That was exactly what Ye Chutang had been waiting for. She sneered.

“Anyone can talk big. But not everyone acts on it. So tell me, how do you plan to make it up to me? With money?”

Sure, she could rob the Ye family blind, leave them with nothing.

But why bother stealing when taking it by force is so much more satisfying?

She was going to make the Ye family swallow their broken teeth with blood—without even daring to spit it out.

Ye Anling couldn’t tell whether Ye Chutang wanted money or affection.

“You’ll have both—money and family.”

“Then I’ll wait and see. Until I see your sincerity, I’m not acknowledging any of you.”

Ye Anling noticed Ye Chutang’s hostility had lessened slightly, and her heart finally settled a bit.

Just then, Qiulu came back with the Eight-Treasure Auspicious Bangle.

“Si—”

Ye Anling had just opened her mouth when Ye Chutang shot her a cold look. She immediately changed her wording.

“Miss Ye, this Eight-Treasure Auspicious Bangle is one of a kind in all of Beichen’s capital. It’ll definitely look beautiful on you.”

Ye Chutang accepted the delicately crafted jewelry box Qiulu held out and opened it.

The bangle was gold, inlaid with eight different kinds of top-grade gemstones, each the same size but of different types.

The bangle was engraved with the Heart Sutra in standard script—intricately carved.

She liked it a lot and put it on directly.

“Second Miss really went all out.”

Ye Anling’s heart ached bitterly but she still had to act generous.

“As long as you like it. This bangle was even blessed by a master. It’s said to bring protection and good fortune.”

Just as she finished speaking, Shuang’er entered the room carrying a bowl of peeled grapes.

She was about to kneel and greet Ye Anling when Ye Chutang said,
“Give me the bowl.”

The grapes had been chilled in well water, making even the porcelain bowl icy to the touch.

“Go to the kitchen and bring me some honey and a mortar.”

“Yes, Eldest Miss.”

The honey was spring-harvested wildflower honey with a natural, refreshing aroma.

Ye Chutang crushed the grapes in the mortar, poured in the honey, and stirred the mixture until smooth.

The fruity and floral scents mixed in the air—pleasant and tempting.

Ye Anling twitched at the sight of the grape mush. “Miss Ye, you’re…”

“Didn’t like the look of the grapes. Gave them a beating. Same principle applies to people.”

“……”

Ye Chutang handed the honey-grape puree to Shuang’er. “Put it on ice.”

Once they returned from shopping, she could mix it with some spiritual spring water and enjoy a chilled grape drink.

Seeing the sun sinking in the west, she stood up and said to Ye Anling,
“Let’s go. Time to shop.”

Ye Anling had been bored for a while already.

“Qiulu, go tell Steward Chen to prepare the carriage.”

Ye Chutang left Dan’er behind to look after the courtyard and brought Shuang’er along to carry bags.

Ye Anling took Qiulu with her.

By the time they left the Minister’s Residence, the carriage was already waiting at the gate.

The coachman was one of the estate’s guards—highly skilled in martial arts.

Ye Chutang and Ye Anling got into the carriage, while Shuang’er and Qiulu sat on either side of the driver.

The Minister’s carriage was spacious and comfortable. In the middle sat a low table with a three-tiered shelf.

The bottom layer held a basin of ice for cooling, the middle tier had sliced fruits, and the top tier was filled with exquisite pastries.

As the coachman cracked his whip, the carriage began to move.

Ye Anling started enthusiastically introducing the best eateries in the capital, the most high-end tailor shops, the most complete cosmetics stores, and her favorite jewelry stores.

She went on and on until her mouth was dry—but got no response.

“Elder Sister, are there any places you’d like to visit? Anything you want to buy?”

Ye Chutang replied lightly,
“I’ll just look around. If I see something I want, I’ll pay for it.”

Ye Anling noticed she didn’t object to being called “Elder Sister” this time and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Outside the home, appearances mattered most—she didn’t want to be laughed at.

“I saved up some personal money and brought it all with me. If you see anything you like, I’ll buy it for you.”

She was offering money and acting all sweet—surely Ye Chutang would be satisfied now?

Ye Chutang smiled.
“With those words, I feel much more at ease.”

She loved 0 yuan shopping the most!

Ye Anling looked at Ye Chutang’s smiling face and had a bad feeling.

But she’d already said the words—taking them back now would look petty.

Clutching the few hundred tael banknotes hidden in her sleeve, she comforted herself:

She’s just a country bumpkin—never seen the world. If she gets greedy, I’ll just drag her to some cheap stores and bluff my way through.

Ye Chutang ignored Ye Anling’s pained expression and focused on the fruits and pastries.

As the carriage left the district where nobility and officials resided and entered the bustling main street, the atmosphere livened up.

She listened for a while.

Everyone was talking about the war god prince who had returned to the capital yesterday.

“I didn’t expect Prince Chen to be so handsome—riding his horse through the streets, he’s captured every young lady’s heart in the capital!”

“I heard His Majesty summoned Prince Chen back to arrange a marriage between him and Princess Anping.”

“Princess Anping is the number one beauty in the capital, and Prince Chen is the top war god. A perfect match.”

“Rumor has it that Prince Chen rejected the marriage with military merit, saying his heart already belongs to someone.”

“I wonder what kind of woman could win the heart of someone like Prince Chen?”

Ye Chutang wasn’t interested in gossip—she let it go in one ear and out the other.

Ye Anling, on the other hand, listened attentively, sometimes frowning, sometimes secretly smiling.

Ye Chutang took in all of Ye Anling’s expressions and asked,
“You like Prince Chen?”

Ye Anling’s heart was struck and she hurriedly denied it.

“Elder Sister, don’t talk nonsense! Prince Chen is the one Princess Anping is fond of.”

“You and Princess Anping are close?”

“I was once a study companion in the palace. I’m fairly acquainted with the princesses, princes, and nobles.”

Ye Chutang looked at her smug expression and smiled.
“Does Princess Anping know you like Prince Chen?”

Ye Anling did like Qi Yanzhou.

But her real goal was to become empress—she would only marry the crown prince!

“Don’t joke, Elder Sister. Prince Chen restored the Southlands and stabilized the southwest border. He’s a hero of Beichen. I only admire him with respect.”

Since she wouldn’t admit it, Ye Chutang didn’t press the matter.

She genuinely admired a national hero like Prince Chen and didn’t want to associate his name with someone like Ye Anling.

She casually asked,
“Will Prince Chen be attending the homecoming banquet in three days?”