Chapter 163: Arranging a Way Out for Jun’er (1/2)

Song Jingning sat down and noticed his father pulling his mother aside with a grave expression.

He frowned slightly, recalling his father’s earlier strange behavior.

Was there something wrong with Miss Ye’s birthday?

The young lady chosen to meet him for a potential match noticed his distraction and poured him a cup of tea.

“Young Master Song, I brewed this tea myself. Please have a taste.”

She tried her best to present herself well. Her every gesture was pleasing to the eye, exuding natural elegance and grace.

But Song Jingning wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it. His thoughts had drifted to the private room across the way.

The door to that private room had been closed.

Inside, Cui Xiangyun saw Song Mingyu’s serious face and instantly sensed something big had happened. Panic began to set in.

“Dear, what is it? What’s this important matter you’re talking about?”

“I know who Jingning really is.”

Cui Xiangyun’s hand froze halfway to picking up a cup. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“What did you say?”

“Jingning was born on the exact same year, month, and day as Miss Ye. He’s very likely the long-lost legitimate eldest son of the Ye family—that child of Ye Tangshi who was believed to have died young.”

He had found the baby by the river.

There had always been a folk custom that children who died young were considered unlucky and couldn’t be buried on high ground, as it would bring misfortune to the family. Instead, they were placed in a wooden basin and set adrift down the river, symbolizing the flow of bad luck being carried away.

It was too much of a coincidence for him not to suspect something.

Cui Xiangyun didn’t want to believe it—nor accept it.

“It’s just a coincidence.”

Song Mingyu knew how hard it would be for his wife to accept this.

Jingning was the child she had poured all her love into raising, nurturing with care, and took immense pride in.

But avoidance wouldn’t solve anything.

Ye Chutang was already suspicious. The truth would eventually come to light.

“Xiangyun, once you meet Miss Ye, you’ll know—it’s no coincidence.”

They had the same features, the same birthday. One was abandoned, and one was found. That river was the only natural waterway that flowed through the capital.

Song Jingning was Ye Chutang’s twin brother.

Cui Xiangyun met Song Mingyu’s resolute gaze, her eyes turning red.

“How did you find out? Does anyone else know?”

She couldn’t bear the thought of giving up the child she had raised from infancy.

“I’m the only one who knows so far, but Miss Ye has been suspicious for a while and even tested Jingning. We won’t be able to keep this hidden much longer.”

“What are you planning? Are you going to send Jingning back to the Minister’s Manor? Hand him over to that scum Ye Jingchuan?”

Cui Xiangyun knew all too well the saying “commoners shouldn’t challenge officials.” If she wasn’t so enraged, she wouldn’t have insulted a ranking imperial official.

Song Mingyu poured her a cup of cool tea and handed it to her.

“Calm down. I’m not saying we should return Jingning to Ye Jingchuan. I just think Miss Ye deserves the truth. She’s been through a lot.”

“How could that scum Ye Jingchuan father two such outstanding children?”

“They must’ve taken after Ye Tangshi.”

Cui Xiangyun thought of the kindhearted Tang Wan’ning and relented a little.

“Let’s wait until after Miss Ye’s wedding. We’ll ask her directly. If Jingning really is the Ye family’s eldest son, we’ll tell him the truth and let him decide for himself.”

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

---

Ye Chutang had just finished an hour of calligraphy lessons at Huating Academy.

The students selected by Dean Song were all interested and had some talent in calligraphy, and their progress was evident.

“If you follow the key points I’ve taught you and practice diligently, you’ll definitely make great strides in your calligraphy.”

With that, she left the classroom and headed to the main hall.

Jun’er’s entry exam had long since ended.

He was sitting in the hall waiting for Ye Chutang while reading one of the textbooks he would soon be studying.

As soon as he saw her, he put the book down and ran over excitedly.

“Big Sis, I passed the entrance exam! I can start school anytime now!”

“That’s amazing. Tonight, I’ll cook you something delicious to celebrate.”

Jun’er loved his sister’s cooking and nodded eagerly. “Okay! I’ll help you in the kitchen.”

“Wait a bit longer, Jun’er. I need to talk to Dean Song about something.”

Zigui led Ye Chutang to Song Zhiyan’s study.

Dean Song stood up and poured her a cup of tea. “Miss Ye, the students aren’t too difficult to manage, are they?”

“You chose them well, Dean Song. If they focus on calligraphy, they’re bound to succeed.”

“Calligraphy that becomes truly timeless is always paired with good poetry. If even one or two of them manage that, we’ll be lucky.”

After that, he asked, “So, what brings you to see me, Miss Ye?”

“I’d like to speak with you in private.”

“You may all leave. And don’t let anyone come near the study.”

“Yes, Dean.”

Zigui was the last to leave, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

“Please speak, Miss Ye.”

“I want Jun’er to start school right after my wedding, and board here.”

Though slightly surprised, Song Zhiyan didn’t question it.

“That’s fine. But I remember you mentioning that your younger brother isn’t in the best of health.”

“Exactly. So I’d like him to stay in your courtyard, Dean Song, cared for by a maid.”

“Miss Ye, that’s against the academy’s rules.”

Ye Chutang picked up her teacup and smiled. “Then I’ll need you to bend the rules—for a reason you can’t refuse.”

Song Zhiyan raised an eyebrow. “And what reason is that?”

“I can help you complete the missing mathematical formulas in the Arithmetic Institute.”

When she passed the Arithmetic Institute’s hall in the Danqing Institute, she had seen a huge multiplication table on the wall, along with area and volume formulas for various shapes.

The ancestor of the Song family who had transmigrated probably had a weak grasp of mathematics—many of the formulas were blank.

Song Zhiyan looked intently at Ye Chutang, his deep eyes like a still, cold spring, unreadable.

“Are you serious?”

“I never lie to good people. So, Dean Song, are you willing to bend the rules?”

He chuckled softly. “I’ve already broken the rules once for you, Miss Ye.”

In other words, what’s one more time?

Ye Chutang drained her tea and stood up.

“Let’s go, Dean Song. To the Arithmetic Institute.”

Once there, Ye Chutang not only filled in the missing formulas, but also generously added some that hadn’t even appeared yet.

She even taught shortcut multiplication methods and simplified calculations.

Naturally brilliant, Song Zhiyan might not have grasped everything she said right away, but he memorized it all and planned to study it carefully later.

Ye Chutang added, “If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll explain how to calculate irregular shapes—very useful for land measurements.”

To understand calculus, one needed a solid mathematical foundation and detailed instruction. Knowing formulas alone wasn’t enough.

Song Zhiyan picked up on her implication, and his expression changed slightly.

He closed the classroom door and asked gravely, “Miss Ye, is something going to happen at your wedding with Prince Chen?”

Was the emperor finally making his move against the Qi family?

Ye Chutang met his anxious gaze and said nothing.

She didn’t know Song Zhiyan well. Everything she’d heard about him was just rumor, so she wasn’t about to trust him easily.

Song Zhiyan spoke anxiously, “Miss Ye, please tell Prince Chen—if he ever intends to rebel, the Song family will support him.”

Hearing this, Ye Chutang looked puzzled.

“Isn’t it the Song family motto to stay out of court affairs and not get involved in power struggles?”

“It is. But there’s another saying in our family: When the world is in chaos, only by choosing a wise ruler can one stand firm.”

With dynasties rising and falling, no one could truly stay uninvolved.

The Song family had maintained their position through three centuries precisely because they always backed the right ruler—and quietly aided him from the shadows.

Ye Chutang, seeing that Song Zhiyan wasn’t lying, shared a bit of information.

“Prince Chen has the people’s welfare at heart—he won’t rebel. But he does have his own way of handling danger, so there’s no need for the Dean to worry.”

Song Zhiyan asked again, “If there’s no danger, then why have you brought your younger brother to Hua Ting Academy?”

Could it be that the one in danger wasn’t the Prince Chen’s manor, but the Minister’s household?

That didn’t make sense—Ye Jingchuan had shallow roots and was still favored by the Emperor. The Emperor had no reason to target him.

Ye Chutang glanced at Song Zhiyan’s furrowed brows and smiled faintly.

“You’ll understand on the day of the wedding, Dean Song.”

“How long will your younger brother be staying in my academy?”

“At the least, three years. At most, five. All you need to do is provide lodging—his meals will be taken care of by his maid.”

Song Zhiyan nodded. “Alright, I’ll ensure his safety within the academy.”

With the matter settled, Ye Chutang left the academy with Jun’er and returned to the Minister’s estate.

Ye Jingchuan had already silenced the servants—no word had leaked about the theft at the Minister’s residence.

To keep Ye Anling from causing trouble, he promised her two of his most profitable shops.

Ye Anling agreed immediately.

She didn’t care about the shops. What she really wanted was to publicly expose the stolen dowry on Ye Chutang’s wedding day—to humiliate her!

Ye Chutang didn’t even see Ye Anling as a worthy opponent.

After returning empty-handed to the palace, she smiled and said, “The Shou Palace will definitely be lively tonight.”

After that, she called Jun’er and Le’er into the side room.

“Le’er, if Jun’er ever leaves the Ye family, would you stay here or go with him?”

Although Le’er didn’t fully understand what Ye Chutang meant, she didn’t hesitate at all—she chose to follow Ye Anjun.

“I’m willing to follow Young Master and take care of him always.”

“You’ll be responsible for his food and daily needs. I’ll pay you five taels of silver per month, and in ten years, I’ll return your indenture deed.”

Le’er immediately knelt down and gave Ye Chutang a resounding kowtow.

“Thank you, Miss!”

She was only thirteen now. In ten years, she’d still be young. By then, she’d have money and her freedom. Just thinking about it made her happy.

Ye Chutang warned her, “If you ever betray Jun’er, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

“I swear on my life—I’ll never betray Young Master!”

“You can go. I need to talk to Jun’er alone.”

After Le’er left, Ye Chutang explained to Jun’er about him studying and staying at Hua Ting Academy.

“Besides Le’er, I’ll also assign a bodyguard to watch over you.”

Jun’er immediately sensed something was wrong, his little face tense.

“Sister, is something going on?”

“Mm. I’ll be leaving the capital for a while. You need to study hard.”

“How long will you be gone? Will you come back? Can you take me with you?”

Ye Chutang held his hand. “You’re still young. Studying is your top priority. Of course I’ll come back—but I don’t know when.”

Hearing this, Jun’er’s eyes welled with tears.

“Can I write to you, Sister?”

He wanted to know where she was, if she was doing okay.

Even if she didn’t come back—once he grew up, he’d know where to find her.

Ye Chutang nodded. “Of course. Once I settle down, I’ll write to you—and quiz you on your studies.”

“Alright, it’s a promise.”

“A promise!” the two of them said in unison, pinkies hooked.

Then Ye Chutang left the room to find the old Madam of the Ye family.

Since she now managed the household, all the servants’ indenture deeds were in her hands.

Unwillingly, the old Madam handed over Le’er’s deed.

“Thirty taels down the drain again.”

Ye Chutang ignored her, took the deed, and left.

Back in Ningchu Courtyard, she handed the document to Jun’er.

“Keep it safe. If Le’er stays loyal to you, but you no longer need her, you can let her go early.”

“I understand, Sister.”

“Now I’ll make your favorite food.”

After dinner, Ye Chutang climbed over the estate wall and slipped out.

She was about to be exiled—everything had to be arranged quickly.

She headed for Guang Juxuan.

Entering through the back door of the restaurant, she showed the ink-jade token that represented Qi Yanzhou’s authority and met with the manager.

In the hidden chamber—

Ye Chutang stated her request directly.

“I need someone highly skilled to protect Ye Anjun and teach him martial arts—for at least three years.”

“At once,” the manager replied. “I’ll arrange it immediately.”

His master was Qi Yanzhou—but also anyone holding the Prince Chen’s command token.

“Send someone reliable to coordinate with Lin, the shopkeeper of Xinglin Hall, and arrange for people to accompany the medicine traders to the northwest. The exact location will depend on the Prince’s orders.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Ye Chutang handed over 500,000 taels worth of silver notes to the manager.

“This will cover the deposit and transportation costs for the medicinal herbs. Give each person involved one hundred taels, and prepare a clear record of all expenses.”

The silver notes were mostly small denominations—thick and heavy.

The manager respectfully accepted them. “Understood.”

With everything arranged, Ye Chutang returned to Ningchu Courtyard.

She practiced her martial arts for a while, then sat in meditation before going to bathe.

Aunt Jin brought in hot water, concerned. “Miss, now that you’re pregnant, don’t overdo it.”

“I’m done with everything now, Aunt Jin. Tomorrow, I can rest and start embroidering my bridal veil.”

But despite her words, Ye Chutang was up at the crack of dawn the next day.

She went straight to the vegetable market to wait.

Each time a vendor arrived, she bought up all their produce and stored it in her space.

Under their shocked gazes, she rasped in a deliberately hoarse and aged voice:

“I’m the Ghost Bandit. Take the money and keep quiet—or else…”

She made a slicing motion across her neck.

The vendors trembled and nodded frantically. “N-No—we won’t say a word, not a word!”

“Good. Bring more tomorrow, to the woods outside the city—I’ll be there.”

“Yes, alright!”

Apparently, the name “Ghost Bandit” was terrifying enough that the vendors came cheerfully and left silently, without causing a stir.

Ye Chutang ended up buying out the entire vegetable market.

As for the live animals—she knocked them unconscious and stuffed them into her space.