Chapter 55: Stealing Half of Kong Ru’s Dowry

Ye Chutang closed the lid of the jewelry box and placed ten taels of silver and a contract of sale onto the tray.

She said to Dan’er, “Take this silver and the deed to Chunlan’s family. Let them give her a proper burial.”

Chunlan had lost the will to live long ago, but didn’t dare die, for fear of angering Ye Anzhi and dragging her family down with her.

By hanging herself, she ruined Ye Anzhi’s reputation—both an act of revenge and her final release.

Dan’er looked at the silver and the deed, her breathing heavy.

“Miss, there won’t be anyone to collect Chunlan’s body. Ever since the day she was sold, she’s had no family.”

Ye Chutang was quiet for a moment, then said, “After dinner, go to the coffin shop and pay someone to see that she’s buried with dignity.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Dan’er carried the tray into the main house.

Ye Chutang headed to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal, with Jinzhi helping her.

Considering all the wounded in the courtyard, she kept dinner especially light.

While the last pot of soup was simmering, Ye Jingchuan arrived carrying thirty-two chests of dowry items that had belonged to Kong Ru.

“Chuer, Father’s brought you your dowry.”

Ye Chutang stepped out of the kitchen, still smelling faintly of food and spices.

She glanced at the boxes filling the courtyard and said to the servant delivering them, “Put them in the woodshed.”

Ye Jingchuan, worried the dowry might go missing again, offered, “Chuer, your courtyard doesn’t have a proper storage room. How about I send you a few guards?”

Ye Chutang refused. “I haven’t even married yet. How inappropriate would it be to have strange men hanging around my courtyard?”

“They won’t go inside. Just guard outside.”

“Fine—send me a few who can take a beating. I can use them as sparring partners.”

Ye Jingchuan: “…”

Now he didn’t want to send any guards at all.

But then he thought again—if the guards could test how strong Ye Chutang’s martial arts were, it wouldn’t be a loss.

“Alright, I’ll send a few over shortly.”

With that, he got to the real reason for his visit.

“Chuer, Anzhi’s reputation is ruined. I’ve also brought you half of Madam’s dowry. Now, the antidote?”

Ye Chutang pulled out Kong Ru’s dowry list from her spatial space and waved it.

“I’ll give you the antidote once I verify everything is in order.”

This time, the dowry items were real. Ye Jingchuan wasn’t afraid of them being checked.

“Alright. Then what about Jun’er’s illness?”

“Send him to Ningchu Courtyard. His personal maid should come with him too.”

Ye Jingchuan agreed immediately. “Okay.”

Ye Chutang figured the soup must be ready by now and politely saw him off. “Father, I won’t see you out.”

“Chuer, I was hoping to stay for dinner.”

The delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen had his stomach growling.

“Sorry, I didn’t make enough for you.”

“…”

Ye Jingchuan left, disgruntled.

Just then, Ye Chutang remembered something and called him back. “Father, wait.”

Ye Jingchuan thought she’d changed her mind and happily turned around. “Chuer, what is it?”

“The hundred mu of farmland and the estate in the countryside—I’ll take them. Have someone bring me the land deeds.”

She planned to settle all the concubine maids who didn’t want to stay by Ye Anzhi’s side there.

They could grow vegetables, do embroidery, and sell their work—definitely enough to be self-sufficient.

Ye Jingchuan looked at her suspiciously. “Chuer, are you planning to return to the countryside?”

“No, I just think that after living there for fifteen years, the land and property should be mine.”

If this had been earlier, Ye Jingchuan wouldn’t have agreed.

But after being extorted by Ye Chutang time and again, he didn’t want to haggle over these “small things” anymore.

Fussing over small stuff only leads to bigger losses!

“Fine. Once I get the antidote, I’ll send you the land and house deeds.”

“Deal.”

Not long after Ye Jingchuan left, a few guards arrived to stand watch outside the courtyard.

Halfway through dinner, Ye Anjun’s personal maid Le’er arrived carrying the boy and a travel bundle.

She gently laid Ye Anjun down and respectfully saluted Ye Chutang.

“Your maid Le’er greets the Eldest Miss.”

Ye Chutang nodded and pointed to a side room in the main house.

“You’ll be staying there for now. I’ll handle Jun’er’s food and medicine. Your job is to look after him. Don’t even think about anything else.”

Le’er had watched Ye Anjun grow up and knew how much he had suffered. She truly cared for him.

“Don’t worry, Eldest Miss. I only hope the young master recovers.”

Then she turned to Ye Anjun and said, “Young Master, greet the Eldest Miss.”

Jun’er looked frail and shaky as he knelt down and bowed deeply to Ye Chutang.

“Jun’er greets Elder Sister. Forgive the intrusion.”

Ye Chutang saw how proper his manners were and helped him up.

“Dan’er, bring another pair of chopsticks and a bowl.”

Le’er quickly interjected, “Eldest Miss, Young Master already ate before coming.”

“A little soup won’t hurt.”

The soup was made with spiritual spring water—very beneficial to the body.

“Yes, I’ll go get the room ready.”

For some reason, Ye Anjun really liked his eldest sister and voluntarily sat beside her.

Ye Chutang touched his belly and ladled out a small bowl of soup for him.

“Drink it all.”

Jun’er wasn’t actually hungry, but he didn’t want to disappoint her and nodded. “Okay.”

The soup was lightly seasoned but rich, with a slight tang that whetted the appetite.

After just one sip, warmth spread through his usually cold body.

It was even warmer than when Father held him.

Ye Chutang noticed how quickly Jun’er finished the soup—and that he wanted more.

She said, “Your body’s too weak. Don’t overdo it. If you like it, I’ll make more tomorrow.”

Jun’er obediently nodded. “I like it. Thank you, Sister.”

After dinner, Dan’er went to the coffin shop while Ye Chutang performed acupuncture on Jun’er.

She handed a prescription to Le’er. “Once a day, after dinner. Send someone to get the medicine.”

Although her spatial space had herbs grown with spiritual spring water, she couldn’t take them out openly.

Besides, she didn’t want to waste them on the Ye family.

Once Le’er brought the herbs back, she’d swap them out.

Le’er didn’t dare delay. She took the prescription and went to Liuli Courtyard.

After finishing the acupuncture, Ye Chutang went to the woodshed to sort through Kong Ru’s dowry.

Once she confirmed everything was correct, she walked out of the courtyard and handed the antidote for Duanchang Powder to one of the guards.

“Give this to my father.”

Then she went back to her room to bathe.

After her bath, both Le’er and Dan’er returned.

Chunlan’s funeral had been arranged. The people from the coffin shop had already taken her body, and the funeral would be held the next day.

Le’er also brought back the medicine. Ye Chutang took the packet under the pretext of checking it.

After switching out the herbs, she returned the packet to Le’er.

“It’s late. Brew it tomorrow.”

“Yes, Miss.”

When Ye Chutang returned to her room, the still-weak Hongxiu had woken up, though she was clearly low in energy.

After checking her tongue and finding no inflammation, Ye Chutang fed her a bowl of soup.

Hongxiu was too weak—she fell asleep as soon as she finished it.

Jinzhi, who had been practicing her horse stance all afternoon, also drifted off quickly.

Ye Chutang had plans tonight: not only to visit Old Madam Ye’s courtyard for supplies but also to go out and stock up.

She didn’t wait until midnight. She immediately disguised herself as a wealthy family’s servant boy and used her tunneling ability to slip out of the Minister’s Estate.

Tonight’s stockpile target: medicinal herbs!