Chapter 52: Ye Anzhi’s Ruin and Disgrace

The head of the Imperial Medical Institute had thought this visit would be a simple pulse check, but it turned out to be far more complicated.

Ye Jingchuan clearly didn’t want to talk about the poisoning, so the head physician didn’t press the matter.

“Lord Ye, perhaps we could try a standard detox prescription first.”

He wasn’t sure if it would work, but at least it wouldn’t cause any harm.

Ye Jingchuan nodded. “Much appreciated, Imperial Physician Wang. Please keep the matter of the poisoning involving my concubine and my wife confidential.”

He pulled a banknote worth a hundred taels from his sleeve and stuffed it into Wang’s hand.

Imperial Physician Wang didn’t take the money.

“Rest assured, Lord Ye. I won’t breathe a word.”

The reason he’d held his position for so many years was because he focused solely on medicine, never asked unnecessary questions, and knew how to keep his mouth shut.

After writing the prescription, he was ready to leave.

Ye Jingchuan hurriedly said, “Sorry to trouble you again, but could you please take a look at my second son, Jun’er? He’s been harmed by the manor physician since childhood, and his body is all but ruined.”

“Very well, Lord Ye. Please lead the way.”

They arrived at the Liuli Courtyard.

Upon seeing Ye Anjun lying in bed—thin, pale, and sickly—Wang immediately understood how severely his health had deteriorated.

After checking his pulse, he pulled Ye Jingchuan aside with a grave expression.

“Lord Ye, the young master’s body is already beyond saving. He likely won’t live more than two years. I can only prescribe some tonics to make his remaining days a little less painful.”

Ye Jingchuan heard the same verdict the other physicians had given, and a surge of hatred toward Kong Ru welled up in him.

“No need. We have plenty of nourishing prescriptions at home.”

“Then Lord Ye might consider taking the young master to see Divine Physician Xue. I’ll take my leave now.”

After sending off Wang, Ye Jingchuan headed to Ningchu Courtyard.

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Ningchu Courtyard.

Ye Chutang was practicing martial arts again.

While picking vegetables for the evening meal, Dan’er asked, “Young Miss, can I train with you too?”

She wanted to learn a few self-defense skills.

Ye Chutang walked over and gave Dan’er’s bones a quick feel, then shook her head.

“Your bones are already stiff. It’s a bit late for martial arts, but I can teach you some simple self-defense techniques. Once your injuries heal, we’ll start.”

Dan’er beamed with joy. “Thank you, Young Miss!”

Jinzhi leaned in with a goofy smile. “Miss, I want to learn too!”

She was determined to train hard and protect her little miss!

“Alright.”

Ye Chutang responded, then pulled Jinzhi into a horse stance.

When Ye Jingchuan arrived, he saw Jinzhi squatting clumsily in a crooked posture and looked at her with open disdain.

“I have something to discuss with Chuer. All of you, leave.”

Jinzhi giggled like a fool and pretended not to understand.

Dan’er flat-out ignored him.

Shuang’er, who had been resting inside, got up but, seeing the others unmoved, also slipped back into the room.

No one obeyed him. Ye Jingchuan felt his authority as head of the household being challenged and roared, “Are you all deaf?!”

Ye Chutang lazily lifted her eyes and looked at the furious Ye Jingchuan.

“They’re my people, of course they won’t listen to you. If Lord Ye is here to throw his weight around as the family head, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

Ye Jingchuan remembered he was here to ask a favor and softened his tone.

“Chuer, you said before that you could cure Jun’er. Is that true?”

Ye Chutang straightened her back. “Of course.”

“Then I’ll leave Jun’er to you.”

“Fine. But I don’t do favors for free.”

Ye Jingchuan had expected her to ask for something outrageous and had mentally prepared himself.

“How much?”

Ye Chutang stepped forward and patted imaginary dust off his shoulder.

“Father, this time, I don’t want money.”

Those words made Ye Jingchuan’s heart skip a beat. A bad feeling crept over him. “Then what do you want?”

Ye Chutang enunciated each word clearly: “Ye Anzhi is a lustful and vile man. I want him ruined and disgraced!”

She had promised Dan’er she’d help her get revenge—and she wasn’t going to break that promise.

She had originally planned to expose Ye Anzhi’s twisted tendencies during yesterday’s homecoming banquet, but hadn’t found the opportunity.

Ye Jingchuan stared at Ye Chutang in disbelief. “You’re insane!”

“Then you choose—your heir’s reputation, or your second son’s life.”

“Chuer, you said yourself you’d treat Jun’er after the banquet!”

Once again, Ye Chutang was reminded of how shameless Ye Jingchuan could be.

“Lord Ye, are you having a fit of hysteria? Forgotten what happened at the banquet? If you think just sacrificing Ye Anzhi isn’t enough, I can take down the entire Ye family!”

She leaned in close and whispered so only the two of them could hear:

“Father, I doubt the Crown Prince knows you’re secretly backing the Second Prince, does he?”

Whether that got out to the Crown Prince or the Emperor, the Ye family would be finished.

Ye Jingchuan’s face drained of color.

How did this wretched girl know such a closely guarded secret?

Could she be the “Ghost Thief” who stole everything from the secret vault?

Impossible!

There were so many things—she couldn’t have moved them all alone, nor did she have a place to hide them!

He forced himself to remain calm and hissed in a low voice:

“Chuer, don’t spout nonsense about something that could get us all beheaded! You’re a Ye, and your fate is tied to the family’s. Understand?”

Ye Chutang saw through his guilt and smiled sarcastically.

“Funny how that never mattered when you were scheming against me.”

She straightened up, tired of wasting words, and issued her final ultimatum.

“Father, one last time—who will you protect?”

Faced with the choice, Ye Jingchuan naturally chose the second son.

The eldest was already ruined. Even if he earned a title, he wouldn’t be able to keep it.

He had to save the second son and raise him up.

He looked solemnly at Ye Chutang. “Chuer, even the head of the Imperial Medical Institute said Jun’er only has two years left. Are you certain you can save him?”

He didn’t want to throw away the eldest son only for the second to die too.

Ye Chutang reminded him, “If not for me that day, Jun’er would already be dead.”

That was true. Ye Jingchuan chose to believe her.

“As long as you save Jun’er, I’ll see to it that Anzhi is ruined. But it has to be after Ling’er’s wedding.”

“Tomorrow. Non-negotiable.”

Ye Jingchuan bristled. “So soon…”

Ye Chutang cut him off with a sly smile, like a fox.

“With your cleverness, I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

Ye Jingchuan took a deep breath, telling himself he just had to endure one more day.

“Fine. I’ll try. When will you give me the antidote for Duanchang Powder?”

“When you’ve completed the task. In exchange for half of Kong Ru’s dowry.”

Ye Jingchuan thought about how Tang Wan’ning’s dowry was worth far more and agreed without hesitation.

“Deal.”

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly asked, “Is there one antidote pill or two?”

Ye Chutang held up one finger.

Ye Jingchuan ground his molars. “Kong Ru mustn’t die. Otherwise, Ling’er and Yin’er’s weddings will have to be postponed!”

“Relax. I won’t let her die until she’s suffered enough.”

That put his mind at ease.

Half an hour after he left Ningchu Courtyard, a maidservant—covered in wounds—was found hanged at the gate of the Minister’s residence.

Before dying, she had sobbed bitterly and accused Ye Anzhi of monstrous depravity in the bedroom.

Another maid threw the whips and tools Ye Anzhi had used to abuse them outside the homes of nearby officials.

As she did so, she described Ye Anzhi’s perversions in vivid detail.

By the time the news reached Ningchu Courtyard, it had already spread through every corner of the capital.

Ye Anzhi was utterly ruined and disgraced!