Chapter 51: The Imperial Physician Can’t Cure Duanchang Powder

Concubine Jiang was the illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official’s household.

When she was taken into the Ye family by Ye Jingchuan, she didn’t bring much dowry with her.

Now that she had a chance to take some dowry from the two previous wives, she naturally became quite enthusiastic.

The more dowry a daughter brought to her husband’s home, the less she would be looked down upon.

Ye Jingchuan glanced at the concubine-born daughter who never had much presence in the family and nodded.

“Although Jiang Huai is only an eighth-rank editor, the Jiang family is an old established family and even produced a noble consort. His future prospects are limitless. It’s only right that Yin’er brings more dowry with her.”

The legitimate eldest daughter was about to be abolished, and the second legitimate daughter had no future either. It was time to shift some attention to the daughters of concubines.

Ye Siyin curtsied. “Thank you, Father.”

Ye Jingchuan gave a noncommittal “Mm.” “We’ll divide the dowry after breakfast tomorrow. Jiang-shi and Liu-shi, you may leave for now.”

Concubine Jiang and Ye Siyin rose and took their leave.

Concubine Liu had no children, so she wasn’t entitled to any dowry, but she wasn’t the least bit envious.

Because Ye Jingchuan often rewarded her with gifts—she wasn’t short on money.

As she left, she tossed him a flirtatious look.

Receiving Liu-shi’s signal, Ye Jingchuan suddenly felt that having only two sons and three daughters meant his lineage wasn’t exactly flourishing.

Looks like he’d better marry a legal wife soon, and take in a few more concubines to continue the Ye family line!

His eyes fell on Kong Ru, whose face was full of sorrow and worry. His disdain for her was completely unconcealed.

“It’s time to arrange a marriage for Zhi’er. When you’re reviewing the invitations from the various families, keep an eye out—see if there are any suitable young ladies.”

Kong Ru knew she had completely lost favor. If she wanted to survive in the Ye family, she had to prove her value.

“Please rest assured, my lord. I’ll keep it in mind.”

But Ye Anzhi had no interest in getting engaged at all.

Once engaged, he’d be bound by his fiancée, and many of his favored maidservants would be sold off.

More importantly, he was completely preoccupied with his eldest sister right now—there was no room in his heart for anyone else.

“Father, I’m only fourteen. I don’t want to get engaged so early.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he received a heavy slap across the face.

Smack!

Looking at the eldest legitimate son who had been spoiled by the old madam, Ye Jingchuan was so furious that his temples throbbed violently.

“How could I have such a useless son? You’re neither scholarly nor martial. Aside from chasing women, what else can you do?”

Kong Ru’s heart ached terribly as she looked at the slap mark on her son’s face.

“My lord, Zhi’er is still young and ignorant. Why hit him?”

“Young? The Ministry of Works’ minister’s second legitimate son passed the imperial exam at thirteen. The Ministry of War’s illegitimate son joined the military at ten. And your precious son is fourteen and spends all day buried in women’s skirts!”

The more Ye Jingchuan looked at his eldest son, the more he felt he was unfit to lead the family. His only value now was to produce offspring!

Thinking this, his gaze shifted to his second son, whose face was pale and sickly.

Jun’er’s talent wasn’t bad. Although he was constantly ill, he could already compose poetry.

If it weren’t for that stupid woman Kong Ru harming him, he’d definitely be even better.

Smack!

Unable to contain his anger, Ye Jingchuan gave Kong Ru a slap as well.

“If anything happens to Jun’er, I’ll make you pay with your life!”

Jun’er mustn’t die. He had to be nurtured carefully so he could grow up, become accomplished, and inherit the title.

Kong Ru knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare argue.

“I know I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again.”

She mouthed the apology, but hatred surged in her heart.

If Ye Jingchuan had been willing to visit the Glazed Pavilion even just on the first and fifteenth of the month and given her some semblance of authority as the household matron, would she ever have stooped so low as to harm her own son just to win favor?

She gave her stunned eldest son a push. “Zhi’er, apologize to your father.”

Luckily, the Ye family’s only two sons came from her womb. As long as she held on until one of them took over the household, she’d become the most respected matron of all!

Frightened by Ye Jingchuan’s livid expression, Ye Anzhi quickly said, “I was wrong, Father. I’ll obey whatever you decide.”

“Get out and reflect on your mistakes!”

Ye Anzhi couldn’t wait to scurry back to his courtyard to fool around with his newly acquired maid.

As soon as he heard this, he vanished in a flash.

“Hopeless!”

After saying that, Ye Jingchuan saw Ye Anjun looking sleepy and ordered the maids to take him to rest.

Then he turned to Kong Ru. “Find Zhi’er a wife who knows martial arts and has a fiery temper.”

If that useless boy still didn’t shape up after marriage, let his wife beat him within an inch of his life!

Kong Ru didn’t want a daughter-in-law she couldn’t control, but she wasn’t foolish enough to oppose Ye Jingchuan directly. Pretending to obey while planning otherwise was enough.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Ling’er’s wedding must be held with great fanfare. Not a single mistake can be allowed.”

At that, Kong Ru brought up a concern.

“My lord, the time is tight, and the household servants aren’t enough. We’ll need to hire some help temporarily. But I’m worried something might go wrong, so I’d like the guards to keep a closer watch.”

This would normally have been her decision to make, but since her authority as matron was stripped, she had to ask for the master’s approval.

Ye Jingchuan understood she was hinting at restoring her control over household matters.

And truthfully, he didn’t have the energy to manage such petty things right now.

“Until Ling’er’s wedding is over, you may resume your role as matron.”

“I won’t disappoint you, my lord.”

After saying that, she dismissed all the servants from the room.

“My lord, if the imperial physicians can’t cure Duanchang Powder and can’t save Jun’er… what then?”

Ye Jingchuan snorted coldly. “What else? We’ll have to beg Chu’er.”

“Chu’er is convinced that I killed her mother. She definitely won’t give us the antidote. If I die before Ling’er’s wedding, then Ling’er, Zhi’er, and Jun’er would all have to go into mourning for three years. Even Yin’er would have to delay her marriage for a year.”

Kong Ru knew very well—even if she knelt and banged her head in front of Ye Chutang, the girl wouldn’t show a shred of mercy.

So she tossed the problem to Ye Jingchuan.

Of course, he saw through Kong Ru’s little ploy, and his expression turned even colder.

If he could earn a marquis title, he wouldn’t need to curry favor with the Kong family. Whether Kong Ru lived or died, he wouldn’t care one bit.

Still, even if she was to die, she had to wait until their daughters were all married.

“Let’s wait for the imperial physician to examine us first.”

Kong Ru saw clearly that Ye Jingchuan didn’t care about her life or death. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a tight fist.

She gave a quiet acknowledgment and began discussing wedding matters with him.

Half an hour later, Ye Anling arrived with the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

The chief physician took their pulse and immediately knew they had been poisoned—but it was a pulse he had never encountered before.

“Lord Ye, how did you and Lady Ye come to be poisoned so severely?”

Ye Jingchuan made something up on the spot. “We accidentally ingested it. Imperial Physician Wang, can you cure it?”

The chief physician frowned. “In all my thirty years of practice, I’ve never seen this kind of poison before. If I knew what kind of poison it was, or had some dregs of the medicine, I might be able to give it a try.”

That statement chilled Ye Jingchuan to the bone.

He quickly added, “It’s called Duanchang Powder—might be related to the heartbreak herb.”

The physician shook his head. “It’s probably not heartbreak herb. The pulse is different. If it were that, the poison would act within fifteen minutes.”

“Imperial Physician Wang, the poison is set to activate the day after tomorrow. Is there any way you could try to suppress it for now?”

Ye Jingchuan really didn’t want to go beg Ye Chutang.

He was afraid she’d extort another huge price from him!

The chief physician looked helpless. “My lord, it’s not that I won’t help. But I don’t even know the components of this poison, and you and your wife aren’t showing any obvious symptoms yet. There’s no way I can prescribe anything based on pulse alone.”