Chapter 65: I Am Nothing More Than a Toy

Ye Chutang naturally knew that Kong Ru was suffering from a severe attack of her heartache powder.

She also knew that Kong Ru had been in pain for several hours now.

“Let her endure the pain, she won’t die from it.”

The housekeeper, seeing that Ye Chutang was completely indifferent to Kong Ru’s well-being, immediately knelt before her.

“Miss, Madam has vomited blood several times. She doesn’t seem to be well.”

Ye Chutang looked down from her position, her brows and eyes filled with a smile.

“So, what you’re saying is that between Kong Ru and Jun’er, I should choose the former, right?”

The housekeeper, knowing that the young master was the master’s cherished treasure, dared not stop Ye Chutang. He immediately moved aside.

“Please forgive me, Miss, I overstepped.”

“Twenty slaps.”

“Yes.”

As the sound of slaps echoed through the room, Ye Chutang leisurely ate a sugar-coated hawthorn and left Ningchu courtyard.

Jinzhi was practicing horse stance in the yard.

It was unclear how long she had been standing, but her clothes were completely soaked through.

Shuang’er and Shuang’er were in the kitchen preparing dinner.

Le’er was accompanying Ye Anjun in the main room, writing.

Jinzhi saw Ye Chutang approaching, her heart dropped, and she cheerfully ran over.

“Miss, did you bring something to eat for Zhizhi?”

She had been standing for so long that her legs had fallen asleep, and she almost stumbled.

Ye Chutang propped Jinzhi up with her arm and handed her a sweet potato and a sugar-coated hawthorn.

“From now on, practice horse stance for half an hour each in the morning and afternoon. Your body is weak, so you need more rest.”

Jinzhi bit into a sugar-coated hawthorn, her eyes curving in delight.

“Zhizhi is good, Zhizhi listens well.”

Le’er immediately stood up, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Ye Anjun.

“Young Master, Miss has been out for so long; she must be thirsty. Please take it to her.”

Jun’er, holding half a cup of tea, trotted over to Ye Chutang.

“Elder sister, please have some tea.”

His voice was soft and sweet, slightly panting, making him so adorable that it tugged at the heartstrings.

Ye Chutang left her unfinished sugar-coated hawthorn and handed the rest to Le’er.

“Everyone gets one, except for Shuang’er.”

She then patted Jun’er’s head and took the tea, drinking it all at once.

“Jun’er is very obedient. Your body is weak, so you should eat less roasted sweet potato, but you can finish the sugar-coated hawthorn.”

Le’er cleverly handed Jun’er another sugar-coated hawthorn.

Jun’er took it, happily looking at Ye Chutang. “Thank you, Elder Sister.”

“Eat it, I’m going to the kitchen.”

As soon as Ye Chutang stepped toward the kitchen, Shuang’er limped over and knelt down.

Her face was pale and haggard, her eyes swollen from crying, looking pitiful.

“Miss, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me and don’t make me clean the chamber pot again.”

She had bathed several times but still couldn’t wash away the nauseating smell on her.

If she had to clean the chamber pot for another two days, she might die!

Ye Chutang coldly looked at Shuang’er, a mocking smile curling on her lips.

“How many times have you knelt before me, admitting your mistakes?”

Shuang’er met Ye Chutang’s gaze, which saw right through her, and collapsed on the ground, unwillingly clenching her hands.

Her hands, worn raw from cleaning chamber pots, were covered in painful blisters, causing her whole body to tremble.

“I want to be the master, what’s wrong with that?”

The eldest son’s reputation had already been ruined. If she could get in bed with him now, she could be a proper concubine!

Ye Chutang chuckled softly, “A concubine is nothing more than a plaything. Do you think you’re worthy of being a master?”

Shuang’er retorted, “The madam was once a concubine.”

As long as she could become a favored concubine, there was a chance she could become the main wife, the mistress of the house! Ye Chutang didn’t know where Shuang’er got her confidence, comparing herself to Kong Ru, who came from an official family.

“Have you forgotten that your slave contract is in my hands? As long as I don’t release you, how can you marry?”

Shuang’er thought of Kong Ru’s method, biting her lip.

“I have my own way.”

Ye Chutang bent down and forcefully pinched Shuang’er’s cheek, forcing her to look up.

“Do you know why you can still live after repeatedly betraying me?”

Shuang’er’s cheek hurt from the pinch, her eyes misting with tears.

“Miss… please forgive me.”

Ye Chutang laughed as if she had heard the greatest joke.

“Forgive you? You really think that if you kneel and shed a few tears, I’ll soften? How foolish!”

The last two words made Shuang’er’s heart lurch, as if something had slipped out of control.

“Miss, what do you mean by that?”

“It means that I’m keeping you around to relay messages to Kong Ru, to act as my insider, and then betray her.”

Shuang’er thought Ye Chutang had gone mad.

It was more beneficial for her to please the madam; why would she betray her?

Ye Chutang saw through Shuang’er’s thoughts and squeezed her cheek even harder.

“Because I can decide your life or death!”

Shuang’er, in pain, began to cry, unable to stop herself.

Seeing how scared she was, Shuang’er immediately said, “I haven’t sent any messages to the madam. Miss, you misunderstood.”

“Really? Do you want me to take you to Liuli Courtyard to confront Kong Ru?”

Shuang’er, her face being pinched, struggled to speak.

“I… I haven’t betrayed… Miss, I’m not afraid… to confront her.”

Ye Chutang let go of Shuang’er, slapping her across the face.

The sharp “slap” echoed, making Shuang’er’s face burn, and her ears began to ring.

The cold voice fell by her ear, sounding almost unreal.

“Kong Ru is having a heart attack right now, and it’s so painful she could die. Only I can save her. Do you think she’ll protect you or save her own life?”

These words were like an invisible hand, tightly choking Shuang’er’s throat.

She stared at Ye Chutang in terror, her whole body shaking with fear.

Ye Chutang kicked Shuang’er’s injured backside, and the sight of fresh blood staining her light-colored clothes was almost enough to make anyone shudder.

“Tell me, what did you tell Kong Ru? What made her trust you again?”

Shuang’er was very clear that no matter whether she told the truth or not, the outcome would not be good.

If she stayed silent, she would die right now.

If she spoke, she could live a few more days.

As long as she was alive, there was a chance for a turning point!

She closed her eyes, deciding to be truthful.

“I told the madam that the eldest son’s bad reputation was because you used the young master’s life to threaten the master and forced him to give up the eldest son.”

Ye Chutang smiled, “This matter Kong Ru will figure out soon. Telling her this is not significant. So, what else did you say to her?”

Under Ye Chutang’s pressing gaze, Shuang’er lowered her head, not daring to meet her eyes.

She didn’t dare speak the truth, tightly biting her lip, soon tasting the iron tang of blood.

“Shuang’er, my patience is limited!”

Ye Chutang’s words were like a hammer striking Shuang’er’s heart, making it hard for her to breathe.

The overwhelming pressure forced her to speak the truth.

“I also said… that Miss can’t cure the young master and forced the master to give up the eldest son to take revenge on the first madam.”

After saying this, she was so frightened that she immediately kowtowed to Ye Chutang.

“Miss, I was blinded by wealth and made a foolish mistake. Please, look at how honest I’ve been. Spare me this time.”

She was truly scared now, her head hitting the ground with a thud, blood flowing freely.

Ye Chutang grabbed Shuang’er’s shoulders, looking at her blood-streaked face, clicking her tongue.

“Kong Ru believes what you said and allowed you to become Ye Anzhi’s favored concubine, but she must have set a condition. What did she make you do to me?”