Chapter 54 – Do You Want to Die, or Do You Want to Live?

Old Madam Ye had come straight from Ye Anzhi’s Antiquities Institute.

When she saw her most beloved grandson beaten to a pulp, covered in blood and bruises, her heart ached so badly she nearly passed out.

Upon learning that Ye Chutang and a maid had done it, she immediately stormed off to Liuli Courtyard.

The moment she saw Ye Chutang, the old madam flew into a rage and raised her hand to slap her across the face.

“You lowborn wretch, just like your mother—”

Ye Chutang had intended to dodge, but the second she heard the old hag insult her late mother, she raised her hand and struck back.

“Smack!”

She used the same move she had pulled on Ye Jingchuan and clashed hands hard with the old madam.

The force sent Old Madam Ye stumbling back two steps, her wrist dislocating with a snap.

If Granny Gui hadn’t caught her in time, she would’ve fallen flat on her back.

Agonizing pain spread from her palm, making her scream uncontrollably.

“Ahhh—”

Granny Gui took one look at the old madam’s twisted wrist and felt her heart skip a beat. Her voice trembled.

“Madam, allow me to fetch the doctor!”

Ye Chutang calmly reminded her, “Calling a doctor from outside will take at least half an hour. Do you think Grandmother can bear the pain that long?”

Dan’er caught on and said, “The young lady knows medicine.”

Granny Gui understood the implication behind Ye Chutang’s words.

If the old madam wanted relief, she’d have to beg her.

Without hesitation, Granny Gui dropped to her knees in front of Ye Chutang.

“Please, Young Miss, please help treat the old madam.”

Just then, Kong Ru hurried over as well.

“Chu’er, your grandmother’s health is weak. She can’t endure much. Hurry and treat her, or it would be unfilial.”

Hearing this, the old madam, still in intense pain, glared at Ye Chutang.

“You ungrateful girl! You dare lay hands on your elders? Do you believe I won’t have you thrown in prison?”

Dan’er grew anxious on Ye Chutang’s behalf.

Being unfilial was a punishable offense!

But Ye Chutang showed no fear. She smiled sweetly at the old madam, who was pale with pain.

“I don’t believe it. Father wouldn’t allow it. And besides, I didn’t lay a hand on Grandmother—just clapped too hard, that’s all.”

Old Madam Ye: “…Shameless!”

“Well then, I suppose Grandmother doesn’t need me to reset her wrist.”

With that, Ye Chutang turned to leave.

“Stop!”

“Yes, Grandmother?”

The pain was unbearable. Her clothes were soaked with cold sweat.

Swallowing her fury, the old madam put on a fake kind expression. “Chu’er, you have a kind heart. Please help Grandmother fix her wrist.”

Ye Chutang’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “If you knew this would happen, why bother acting that way in the first place?”

She turned back toward the old madam, grabbed her limp wrist, and gave it a shake.

A wave of searing pain hit, nearly knocking the old woman unconscious.

“You vile girl! You’re doing this on purp—”

Before she could finish, Ye Chutang let go.

“If Grandmother doesn’t trust her granddaughter, she’s free to find someone else.”

The wrist, already in pain, throbbed even worse after the shake, sending sweat pouring down the old woman’s face.

She could feel it—if she waited for an outside doctor, she’d probably die from the pain first.

So, just as Ye Chutang was about to walk off again, she swallowed her pride and apologized reluctantly.

“Chu’er, I spoke out of turn. I’m sorry. As long as you help reset my wrist, I’ll give you the jewelry your mother once gave me as a token of filial piety.”

That did cheer Ye Chutang up.

She smiled. “It’s a deal.”

Then, once more, she grabbed the old madam’s wrist and gave it a good shake.

The old woman trembled from the pain but dared not say a word.

A loud crack rang out.

She cried out in pain—then joyfully rotated her wrist.

“It’s done! My wrist is back in place!”

Ye Chutang clapped her hands, as if brushing off invisible filth.

“Grandmother, remember to send the jewelry to Ningchu Courtyard. I have other matters to attend to.”

As she stepped out of Liuli Courtyard, she suddenly turned back, kindly reminding them:

“I grew up in the countryside. I’m strong. If you lay a hand on me again, best-case scenario, you break a few bones. Worst case… well, you drop dead.”

With that, she walked off.

Kong Ru had thought she’d get to enjoy a good show, but the curtain hadn’t even risen before Old Madam Ye lost the fight completely.

“Who would’ve thought the mighty and dignified Minister’s Manor would one day be at the mercy of a wild girl from the countryside?”

Of course, Old Madam Ye could tell that was a jab.

She slapped Kong Ru across the face.

“If it weren’t for you, wicked woman, suggesting we bring Ye Chutang back as a replacement bride, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

There was no way she could deal with Ye Chutang, but punishing Kong Ru? That was a piece of cake.

“Handle Ling’er’s wedding properly. Don’t bring more shame to the Minister’s Manor!”

Scheming against Ye Chutang again and again, only to end in failure every time—what an idiot!

Kong Ru held her burning cheek and gritted her teeth. “Yes, Mother.”

“Get a doctor for Zhi’er. He’s seriously injured.”

Leaving that final command, the old madam walked away.

On her way back to her courtyard, she saw Ye Chutang heading into the kitchen.

Ye Chutang had just reached the woodshed door when a strong smell of blood hit her nose.

“Open the door, quick!”

The helper with the keys immediately unlocked it and pushed the door open.

Inside, Hongxiu lay slumped against the firewood pile, her clothes disheveled. Half her tongue hung from her mouth, and blood kept pouring out.

She had bitten her tongue to kill herself!

Ye Chutang rushed forward, grabbed the back of her neck, and lowered her head to let the blood drain from her mouth—preventing it from clotting and blocking her airway.

Emptying the mouth also made it easier to inspect the damage to her tongue.

The bite was fresh—not only could the girl be saved, her tongue could too.

After a quick check, Ye Chutang stopped the bleeding with a needle.

Under her careful hands, the unconscious Hongxiu slowly came to.

Her blood loss was severe, and her mind was foggy, but a beautiful voice reached her ears:

“Do you want to die, or do you want to live?”

Ye Chutang wouldn’t save someone who truly wanted to die.

Hongxiu’s unfocused eyes began to regain clarity. She looked at Ye Chutang, who seemed like a goddess descended to earth. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

It wasn’t that her tongue had rendered her mute—it was that she didn’t know how to choose.

She’d had the courage to die once—but she didn’t have the courage to go through with it again.

Yet living… felt unbearably hard.

Ye Chutang saw her hesitation and added, “If you want to die, I’ll give you a quick death. If you want to live, I’ll reattach your tongue and send you to the countryside where I once lived, so you can live out the rest of your days in peace.”

“One blink for death. Two blinks for life.”

Hongxiu hesitated, then blinked twice.

The chill and despair of nearly dying had been too much. She couldn’t go through it again so soon.

Ye Chutang got her answer, scooped up Hongxiu in her arms, and returned to Ningchu Courtyard.

“Dan’er, I’m going to treat Hongxiu. You and Aunt Jin stand guard outside the main room. No one gets in, no interruptions.”

“Yes, Young Miss.”

Ye Chutang placed Hongxiu on the chaise longue and knocked her out with a palm strike.

Then she pulled out medical supplies from her space for the surgery.

Once Hongxiu was sedated, she cleaned and stitched the wound.

It wasn’t a difficult procedure—it was over quickly.

She returned the tools to her space, tossed the medical waste in the trash bin, and exited the room.

Handing a bottle of ointment to Dan’er, she said, “Help wash her up, treat her wounds, and change her clothes.”

Dan’er accepted it. “Yes, Young Miss.”

She tucked the ointment into her sleeve and picked up a tray that had been placed on the floor.

On it was a delicate tortoiseshell jewelry box.

“Young Miss, Granny Gui brought this over. She said the old madam sent it to you.”

Ye Chutang opened the box and glanced at the dainty but worthless trinkets inside, then let out a light laugh.

“Liar.”

Since the old hag wasn’t being honest… she’d just clean out her entire room tonight.