Chapter 153 – The Marriage is Settled, the Emperor is Overjoyed

Qi Yanzhou’s grandmother had two sons.

The eldest was Qi Yanzhou’s father, who inherited the noble title.

The younger son, Qi Yanzhou’s second uncle, had left the family a long time ago, taking their grandmother with him and leaving the capital.

So, the Prince of Chen’s residence only housed Qi Yanzhou’s immediate family.

However, the old prince had a weakness for women, so there were quite a few people in the residence.

He had one official consort, one secondary consort, and two concubines.

There were also many bedmaids, but since none bore children, they didn’t count and could be ignored.

The Princess Dowager of Chen had two sons and one daughter.

The eldest son, Qi Shuyan, had passed the imperial examination and was posted as a local official in the harsh northwest. He hadn’t returned to the capital in years.

The younger son was Qi Yanzhou, who inherited the title and became the Prince of Chen.

The daughter had married and moved to Liangzhou two years ago.

The secondary consort had a son named Qi He’an, who was obsessed with poetry and painting and lived in a country estate on the outskirts of the capital.

Currently residing in the old prince’s quarters was Concubine Su, who had a young daughter not yet of marriageable age.

There was also Concubine Gao, who had a son and was full of schemes.

Both of these concubines were bestowed by the emperor—planted in the prince’s residence as his spies.

After hearing all this, Ye Chutang said, “If the emperor wants to bring down the entire Prince of Chen’s household, he probably wouldn’t schedule our wedding too soon. He’ll need time to get your elder brother back from the northwest.”

Qi Yanzhou disagreed.

“No, the royal family has long wanted to wipe out the Qi family. Once the opportunity arises, the emperor will definitely choose the nearest auspicious date and send a secret decree to the northwest, ordering the local officials to arrest my brother and execute him on the spot.”

“Then you’d better send a letter to your brother right away and warn him.”

Qi Yanzhou chuckled. “Don’t worry. If my brother were that easy to kill, he’d have died eight hundred times by now.”

Still, the letter needed to be sent.

He had to tell his brother that he was getting married—to the woman he loved.

Ye Chutang thought about it and agreed.

Qi Shuyan was out there all alone. With such a prime opportunity, how could that dog of an emperor possibly pass it up?

He’d have killed him eight hundred times already!

It seemed the Qi family wasn’t so simple after all.

She was just about to bring up the matter of exile when the steward came to announce that lunch was ready in the front hall.

Worried that Ye Chutang might not be used to dining with a large crowd, the Princess Dowager had arranged a more private lunch without anyone else present.

Though the old prince still maintained his noble air, he was very friendly toward Ye Chutang. One could tell he was quite easy to get along with.

After the meal, Ye Chutang left the Prince of Chen’s residence early.

Qi Yanzhou had to head to the Court of Judicial Review and decided to leave with her.

“A-Tang, now that you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t get involved in the plan to take down ‘Nightshade.’ Just give me the antidote.”

Ye Chutang refused. “You’re still recovering from internal injuries. I’m going with you.”

Qi Yanzhou tried to persuade her again, but was silenced by a sharp glare from her.

“Fine. I’ll come see you tonight. Tomorrow’s morning court will be the end of the Kong family and the Marquis of Yongning!”

They parted ways at the gate.

Before returning to the Minister’s residence, Ye Chutang stopped by Xinglintang.

Shopkeeper Lin was a little surprised to see her. “Miss Ye, what brings you back?”

She had just been there that morning.

“Shopkeeper Lin, please inform all the medical clinics: if they want to learn how to completely prevent smallpox, they should come to Xinglintang at the hour of Chen tomorrow morning.”

Now that the marriage had been decreed, she would soon be busy with wedding preparations and stockpiling supplies. There wouldn’t be time later.

Shopkeeper Lin immediately agreed. “Very well. I’ll notify them shortly.”

He then bowed deeply to her.

“Miss Ye, you act wholly for the good of the people. Please accept this old man’s gratitude.”

Ye Chutang helped him up.

“If you truly wish to thank me, then do me a favor.”

“Just say the word, Miss Ye. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it without hesitation.”

“The northwest is bitterly cold and lacks supplies. They’re short on everything. I want to ship a large batch of medicinal herbs there. You know many herb dealers—help me contact them. I’ll buy whatever herbs they have. I’ll pay forty percent upfront, and the remaining sixty percent once the herbs arrive in the northwest.”

Shopkeeper Lin recalled that a servant of some rich young master had also come by not long ago to buy a lot of medicinal herbs, saying they were being sold to the cold and remote northwest.

Why was Miss Ye now doing the same business?

Although he had promised that servant to keep quiet, he didn’t consider Miss Ye an outsider.

So, he told her the whole story.

Ye Chutang: “……”

So much for integrity and keeping secrets!

Luckily, that “servant” back then was her. Otherwise, she’d have been sold out!

“Shopkeeper Lin, I’m not buying herbs for business. I’m doing this to help the common folk for free. The northwest is plagued by hunger and cold, and herbs are even more scarce. Too many people have died simply because there was no medicine.”

And not just civilians—soldiers too!

She was sending herbs to the northwest not just out of goodwill, but to win over the border army.

Shopkeeper Lin didn’t know her real motive and looked at her as if she were a living Bodhisattva sent to save the suffering masses.

“Miss Ye, you truly are a saint. Not only will I help, I’m willing to cover ten percent of the cost of the herbs myself.”

Ten percent might not sound like much, but with such a large purchase, it was a considerable expense.

“Miss Ye, I’ll also reach out to other clinics and pharmacies and persuade them to contribute as well, to help lighten your burden.”

Ye Chutang appreciated Shopkeeper Lin’s goodwill, but she didn’t want word of the herb shipment to the northwest spreading too widely.

“Shopkeeper Lin, this needs to be kept secret. The emperor is suspicious by nature—he might misunderstand. I’ll cover all the costs myself. Just contact the dealers and get me the lowest possible prices.”

Shopkeeper Lin had a gut feeling that things weren’t as simple as she claimed, but he didn’t ask further.

“All right. Where exactly in the northwest should the herbs be sent?”

He needed the precise destination in order to calculate shipping costs.

Ye Chutang didn’t know much about the northwest of Beichen and didn’t have any contacts there. She’d have to ask Qi Yanzhou.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow morning.”

With that, she returned to the Minister’s residence.

Not long after, the old prince and Princess Dowager of Chen arrived, bearing priceless gifts.

Ye Jingchuan happened to be home and received them alongside the old madam.

When he learned they had come to propose marriage, he was overjoyed and accepted on the spot.

“For Chu’er to marry the Prince of Chen is a blessing earned over several lifetimes. But since this is a royal marriage, it must be decreed by His Majesty. I’ll go to the palace immediately to request a marriage grant!”

He personally saw the old prince and princess dowager off, then rushed to the palace without delay.

When the emperor heard that Ye Chutang had completed her mission and was about to marry Qi Yanzhou, he laughed heartily with joy.

“Let Us issue the marriage decree right away!”