Chapter 121: Ye Chutang Surrounded on the Lake

Jun’er didn’t feel any danger at all, and everything on the street seemed new and exciting to him.

“So that’s how they sell candied hawthorns—on bundles of grass! How interesting.”

“There are so many fragrant sachets! Which one does Big Sister like? Jun’er will buy it for you.”

“Is this a mask? Why do they all look like faces and animals?”

“Wow, the fire is so long! So that’s how skilled the opera troupe is.”

“…”

Ye Chutang wasn’t bothered by Jun’er’s chatter. She answered him occasionally and bought everything he showed interest in, having her guards carry it behind them.

When buying dried fruits, she quietly reminded the guards who were unaware.

“It seems someone is following us. Be cautious.”

Upon hearing this, the guards instinctively turned to look behind, but Ye Chutang stopped them.

“Don’t look. It will alarm them.”

After paying for the dried fruits, Ye Chutang picked up Jun’er.

Though Jun’er was a bit older, his long-term illness made him about the size of a three-year-old child.

Carrying him for a short time wasn’t tiring for her.

“Jun’er, someone is targeting Big Sister. If a fight breaks out, listen carefully and don’t overestimate yourself.”

Jun’er tightened his arms around Ye Chutang’s neck. “Okay, Jun’er will listen.”

He was too weak, and the only way to help Big Sister was not to be a burden to her.

“Don’t worry too much. Big Sister will be fine, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

As they spoke, Ye Chutang carried Jun’er to Wanbao Pavilion.

The jewelry she had custom-ordered earlier was ready.

When receiving it, she taught Jun’er the technique for using hidden darts and the “storm pear blossom needles.”

Although she didn’t think Kong Ru would be deranged enough to harm Jun’er, it was always better to be prepared.

After teaching him, she dipped the hidden darts in a sleeping powder, then met with the shopkeeper of Wanbao Pavilion.

“Shopkeeper, in fifteen minutes, please have someone report to the authorities that something big will happen at Yunyin Lake.”

With that, she handed the shopkeeper ten silver notes.

The shopkeeper didn’t ask any questions, just smiling and accepting the money.

“Miss Ye, don’t worry, I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

Ye Chutang noticed how tightly Jun’er was holding his face, and she asked, “Are you afraid?”

She hadn’t had her guards take Jun’er back to the manor because if they left her, he would be even more at risk.

The people following them might try to abduct Jun’er, using him to force her into submission.

Jun’er shook his head firmly. “No, as long as I’m with Big Sister, Jun’er isn’t afraid of anything.”

Without Big Sister, he would have already died.

So, even if he didn’t make it back today, he wouldn’t have any regrets.

Ye Chutang smiled and gently tapped Jun’er’s nose.

“Very brave. Big Sister will take you on a boat ride at Yunyin Lake.”

After leaving Wanbao Pavilion and walking for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they reached the end of the street.

The Minister’s Manor carriage was waiting there.

“To Yunyin Lake.”

At Ye Chutang’s reminder, the guards had already realized that someone was following them.

They strongly disagreed with Ye Chutang’s actions.

“Miss, since you’ve already noticed the danger, we should return to the manor.”

There were more than ten people following them, and their martial skills were above theirs. Going to Yunyin Lake was too dangerous.

“I must go to Yunyin Lake. You can choose not to follow.”

After saying that, Ye Chutang turned to Chen Zhong and said, “Let’s go.”

Chen Zhong, aware of the danger, also wanted to advise her, but when Ye Chutang shot him a cold look, he held his tongue and drove the carriage toward Yunyin Lake.

Reluctantly, the guards followed.

Yunyin Lake wasn’t too far from the end of the street. With a fast horse and whip, it would take about a quarter of an hour.

When the carriage arrived by the lake, people from Wanbao Pavilion had already reported to the authorities.

The lakeside was filled with flower boats for sightseeing, with three sizes: large, medium, and small.

Ye Chutang rented two medium-sized flower boats and ordered two tables of simple yet exquisite food and drinks.

She and Jun’er took one boat, while the four guards took the other, with boatmen for both. The boats were positioned very close to each other.

The fourteen people following Ye Chutang saw it as their perfect opportunity to capture her.

They immediately rented boats and followed her.

They were two separate groups: one was a team of martial artists hired by the Kong family, consisting of eight people, and the other was a team of six people arranged by Zhao Qingshu.

Ye Chutang’s boat was leisurely making its way toward the center of the lake, smooth and stable, not disturbing the meal.

Meanwhile, the two boats following them were rowing quickly, closing in fast.

Ye Chutang noticed them but didn’t react, leisurely eating fresh vinegar fish with Jun’er.

The boatman found it odd and muttered while rowing, “Why are those two boats so fast? They don’t look like they’re here to enjoy the lake.”

Just as he finished speaking, Ye Chutang smiled and said, “Right, they’re here to kill me.”

The boatman’s face froze.

“Miss, don’t joke like that.”

“You’ll know soon enough. Can you swim?”

“Of course, or else I wouldn’t be able to work as a boatman.”

No sooner had he spoken than the boatman saw the two boats heading straight toward them and the other boat.

“Boom!”

The boat shook violently, almost tipping over.

The more solid boat body of their boat didn’t break.

The boatman lost his balance and almost fell into the lake, but Ye Chutang quickly grabbed his arm.

He was greatly startled, unsure of what to do.

Ye Chutang pushed the boatman into the cabin to keep him as a witness, then swiftly leapt onto the canopy.

She shouted to the guard who was spinning around: “Quick, come and protect Jun’er.”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, the martial artists hired by the Kong family raised their swords and rushed toward her.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qingshu’s men tried to enter the cabin to seize Jun’er.

The guards knew that if anything happened to the young master, they wouldn’t survive either.

They immediately climbed up despite their dizziness and jumped onto the boat carrying Jun’er.

The medium-sized boat had a decent weight capacity, and even if ten people came, it wouldn’t sink.

They knew their martial skills were inferior to Zhao Qingshu’s men, so they immediately worked together to grab the front of their boat and rocked it back and forth, preventing Zhao Qingshu’s men from getting close.

Jun’er was sweating with nervousness, but his face remained steady, sitting quietly in the cabin.

He told himself to trust Big Sister, but couldn’t help but worry, his little mouth forming a straight line.

Ye Chutang looked at the martial artists coming toward her, then took out a long whip soaked in a high dosage of sleeping powder from her space.

As soon as she struck the whip, it made a whooshing sound, and the experts surrounding her sensed danger, temporarily retreating.

They landed on the front of the boat controlled by the guards.

The impact caused the boat’s bow to dip into the water.

The other guards released their hold just in time to avoid being thrown off.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhao Qingshu’s men used their toes to spring off the boat and leaped toward Ye Chutang’s boat.

Ye Chutang’s whip was perfect for long-range attacks, and she immediately swung it horizontally through the air.

Zhao Qingshu’s men, having seen her technique, didn’t retreat like the martial artists but instead swung their swords to try to cut the whip.

A group of cowards, scared away by just a whip.

The whip may be strong, but it could be cut, right?!

The outcome…

“Clang!”

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

The black matte steel whip, tipped with sharp barbs, struck two of them, drawing a spray of blood and flesh.

The remaining four had their faces change slightly but endured their fear without retreating.

Although two of their companions were injured, Ye Chutang’s whip was momentarily restrained, and it was the perfect time to board her boat!