Chapter 134: Participation in the Dali Temple Interrogation

Ye Chutang was leading a lame deer through the streets, attracting many curious glances.

Some familiar faces greeted her and asked, “Miss Ye, where did this deer come from?”

“I went hunting in Meishan today, and I was lucky to catch this deer.”

She made a point to be ostentatious, wanting everyone to know she was not in the capital today.

“Didn’t expect Miss Ye to be so skilled not only in literary talent but also in archery and horsemanship.”

“Miss Ye, where are you taking the deer?”

Ye Chutang smiled and replied, “The day the Duke of An was released from prison, Prince Chen saved me. This deer is a token of gratitude.”

Before long, news of her delivering the deer to Qi Yanzhou spread.

Qi Yanzhou was investigating the Yunyin Lake encirclement case at the Dali Temple. Upon hearing the news, he immediately left the government office.

He had just arrived at Prince Chen’s residence when Ye Chutang appeared, leading the deer.

The doorman respectfully invited Ye Chutang in, saying, “Miss Ye, you arrived just in time. The prince has just arrived, and he knows you’re coming, so he asked you to go directly to the back garden to find him.”

After acknowledging, Ye Chutang took the deer to the back garden.

Qi Yanzhou was sitting in a pavilion by a lotus pond, brewing tea.

Upon seeing Ye Chutang approach, he poured her a cup.

“The ‘Ghost Thief’ is impressive. Today, he made the emperor quite angry.”

Ye Chutang tied the rope around the deer’s neck to a column and sat down opposite Qi Yanzhou.

“I heard the emperor wants to humiliate himself, and no one can stop him.”

She then asked, “The emperor didn’t vent his anger on the prince, did he?”

“My baiting plan failed. If we couldn’t catch the ‘Ghost Thief,’ it has nothing to do with me, and the emperor has no reason to blame me.”

After that, Qi Yanzhou curiously asked, “Miss Ye, why did you suddenly go hunting in Meishan?”

“Last night, I met Young Master Song Wu, and he was talking about going hunting in Meishan with his friends. I was interested, so I shamelessly joined them. I got lucky, and this deer is for the prince.”

“It seems Miss Ye and Young Master Song get along well, to go hunting together right after meeting.”

Ye Chutang felt a slight discomfort in her heart at his words, a hint of jealousy.

She quickly dismissed the thought.

Prince Chen liked Miaojiang witch doctors; it was impossible for him to have any thoughts about her.

It was probably the result of his strong masculine tendencies!

After all, they had been intimate, and according to ancient thinking, she was considered his woman.

“Good wine is always too little with a true friend, and a conversation always too much with one who doesn’t get along. It’s just fate.”

Ye Chutang said, then quickly changed the subject.

“Prince, I heard that there’s a plague in the Jiangnan region. Is it serious?”

Qi Yanzhou lifted his tea cup and drank it in one go, extinguishing the irritation in his heart.

“Miss Ye, don’t worry. Xize has taken medicine and herbs there, and the plague won’t spread widely.”

He hadn’t clarified the situation in the Jinluan Hall, hoping to push the emperor to act faster in providing disaster relief.

Ye Chutang sighed in relief, “As long as the plague can be controlled, that’s good.”

She stood up to leave.

Qi Yanzhou hurriedly stopped her, “This prince’s roasted deer meat isn’t bad. Miss Ye, would you like to stay and try some?”

“No need. I’ve already eaten lunch. Please enjoy your meal, Prince.”

As she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something.

“Prince, last night I overheard something at the Kong residence. The encirclement of Yunyin Lake is related to the Kong family and the Duke of An… Yongning’s Duke Qian. They also mentioned an organization called ‘Night Kill.’ The Dali Temple can investigate this.”

Qi Yanzhou was familiar with “Night Kill.”

“Night Kill” was an assassination organization, elusive and mysterious, with a leader who controlled his subordinates through poison, preventing betrayal.

They had an unguarded shop in the black market, filled with wooden plaques.

If someone wanted “Night Kill” to carry out a task, they would write the job and the bounty on an empty wooden plaque.

If “Night Kill” accepted the task, they would flip the plaque and arrange a meeting.

After hearing Qi Yanzhou’s explanation, Ye Chutang asked, “So, the Dali Temple and the Jingzhao government haven’t gotten anything out of it?”

“Miss Ye, don’t worry. I will find the evidence and make Kong Qingyuan and Zhao Mingxu pay the price.” Zhao Mingxu was the former Duke of An, now the Duke of Yongning.

Ye Chutang believed in Qi Yanzhou’s ability.

But she also wanted to lend him a hand.

“Prince, may I participate in the Dali Temple’s interrogation?”

Getting someone to talk wasn’t difficult for her.

Qi Yanzhou didn’t immediately agree.

“The Dali Temple’s prison and methods—just a glimpse is enough to give someone nightmares. Do you still want to go?”

Ye Chutang smiled, “Once the prince sees my interrogation methods, you’ll realize that the Dali Temple’s torture is nothing.”

She then asked, “A life or two lost—it’s no problem, right?”

“As long as they’re dead, it doesn’t matter.”

“With your word, I can rest assured. Will we meet at the Dali Temple at the time of Hai?”

Qi Yanzhou nodded, “We’ll meet at Hai.”

After confirming the time, Ye Chutang returned to the Minister’s residence.

As soon as she entered, Steward Chen said, “Miss, the master asked you to visit his courtyard after you came back.”

“Tell him I’ll go after dinner.”

Steward Chen knew that Ye Chutang meant what she said.

“Yes, Miss.”

Ye Chutang returned to Ningchu Courtyard.

Jun’er immediately ran over, looking curious. “Elder sister, did you enjoy the hunt?”

“Yes, once your body recovers, I’ll take you hunting.”

“Thank you, elder sister.”

Shan’er stepped forward and said, “Miss, the wild game that was brought earlier, I’m afraid it might spoil, so I’ve stored it with ice. Do you need to process it?”

Ye Chutang looked at the wild game in the ice basin.

“The wild rabbit and pheasant don’t need processing. I’ll take them out later to give to others.”

Sending them to others was just a cover; she would soon store them in her space.

“Understood, Miss. What about the other meats? Should we freeze them in the ice cellar?”

“No need. The sun’s intense lately. It’s perfect for making jerky. You and Le’er, cut the bear meat, deer meat, and wild boar into strips, and I’ll marinate them.”

If she wanted fresh meat, she could always go hunting in Meishan.

Shan’er complied, “Understood, Miss. What would you like to eat tonight?”

Ye Chutang smiled, “Barbecue.”

She had planned to make barbecue tonight before returning to the city, which was why she asked everyone to wait for her.

“Shan’er, go to the big kitchen and get some charcoal and barbecue tools. I’ll prepare the barbecue ingredients.”

Jun’er quickly said, “Elder sister, I want to help.”

“Go ahead. Le’er, go bring the vegetables from the kitchen, and I’ll see if there’s anything usable.”

Barbecue wasn’t just about meat; it needed some vegetables to balance out the richness.

Le’er quickly returned with the vegetables from the big kitchen.

Since there weren’t many people in Ningchu Courtyard, there wasn’t much to bring back.

Ye Chutang glanced at the vegetables and told Le’er, “Go to the big kitchen and see if there are any other vegetables or mushrooms.”

“Got it, Miss.”

Ye Chutang asked Jun’er and Jin Zhi to pick the vegetables, while she took the wild boar meat, bear meat, and deer ribs into the kitchen.

By the time Shan’er and Le’er returned with the barbecue tools and vegetables, she had already marinated the meat with a special barbecue sauce.

She had also made several dipping sauces.

Knowing that ancient times didn’t have iron skewers or grill nets, she took some out of her space.

She then taught the others how to skewer the vegetables, mushrooms, and marinated meat.

Although they were curious about the smooth iron skewers and the grill nets they had never seen before, they didn’t ask many questions.

Ye Chutang told them what to do, and they quickly prepared all the ingredients.