Chapter 73: The Northern Chen Kingdom Must Not Have Internal Strife

Since Qi Yanzhou stopped being a spoiled rich playboy, Song Zhiyan and he had no more dealings. He was a little surprised by his sudden visit.

He glanced at Ye Chutang and then went out to greet him.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Prince of Chen.”

Qi Yanzhou casually raised his hand.

“Mr. Song needn’t be so formal. The Prince has come for Miss Ye’s pipa performance.”

“Miss Ye is inside. Your Highness, please.”

After Qi Yanzhou entered the music room, Song Zhiyan dismissed the maidservants and young attendants.

He personally brewed tea, preparing to leave.

But Qi Yanzhou stopped him. “Mr. Song, please stay.”

In broad daylight, he was worried about being alone with Ye Chutang, fearing it might harm her reputation.

He turned to Ye Chutang. “Miss Ye, would you be willing to sell the pipa piece you just played? The Prince is quite fond of it.”

Especially the earlier sections, they were invigorating and would serve as an excellent battle tune.

“I won’t sell it, but I can give it to you. However, I can only play it; I cannot write the score. If the Prince wants it, he must hire a composer.”

She had seen the music score for this alternate dynasty yesterday, but she could only barely understand a third of it, let alone compose one herself.

Song Zhiyan looked at Ye Chutang in surprise.

He hadn’t expected her to play so well yet not know how to write music.

“Miss Ye, there’s no need to hire a composer. I can transcribe it by ear.”

Qi Yanzhou declined, saying, “No need to trouble Mr. Song. The Prince will handle it himself.”

Although he had once been a notorious playboy in his youth, he had also been an extraordinarily talented one.

Ye Chutang played the “Ambush from Ten Sides” again, but at a slower pace.

The sense of urgency was greatly diminished, giving it a completely different flavor.

Once she finished, Qi Yanzhou had completed the score as well.

He took out a jade pendant from his waist, which was decorated with intricate patterns of serpents, and handed it to Ye Chutang.

“Miss Ye, consider this a favor from the Prince. If you ever need anything, you can present this jade pendant at the Prince of Chen’s residence, and the Prince will surely assist you.”

Ye Chutang knew that this jade pendant represented Qi Yanzhou and was extremely valuable.

She couldn’t accept it.

“Your Highness needn’t be so polite. ‘Ambush from Ten Sides’ was taught to me by someone else; it’s not a favor.”

Saying this, she pushed the jade pendant away.

Song Zhiyan stared at the two of them—one offering and the other refusing—in shock.

Did the Prince of Chen trust Miss Ye that much?

He was openly giving away a jade pendant that represented his status!

Did Miss Ye not know the value of this jade pendant?

She actually rejected it outright!

Seeing that Ye Chutang insisted, Qi Yanzhou took the pendant back and attached it to his thin waist.

“Being able to receive Miss Ye’s score is something the Prince greatly appreciates. If you ever need help, even without this token, the Prince of Chen’s residence will always welcome you.”

He said this using his inner force, and everyone within a mile of the Poetry Tower heard it.

Ye Chutang knew that Qi Yanzhou was giving her support and also helping to raise her reputation.

She accepted this favor and smiled. “I hope that day never comes.”

She finished speaking, handed the pipa back to Song Zhiyan, and said, “If you two have no further matters, I will take my leave.”

Qi Yanzhou and Song Zhiyan spoke in unison.

“Miss Ye, please take care.”

After leaving the music room, Ye Chutang was immediately surrounded by a group of music enthusiasts, eager to ask her questions.

Seeing that Qi Yanzhou had not left, she guessed that he and Song Zhiyan had something to discuss, so she led the group away from the music room.

As the noise gradually faded, Qi Yanzhou turned to Song Zhiyan and bluntly said, “Brother Song, since the Song family’s rules prohibit involvement in government affairs, you should avoid interfering with political matters.”

Song Zhiyan hadn’t expected him to be so discreet, yet still be discovered.

“Your Highness, the Song family is of course willing to remain as bystanders, but in today’s world, how can one remain uninvolved?”

“On the way back to the capital, Your Highness must have seen that this is not a prosperous time, but one where the common people are suffering, right?”

Qi Yanzhou was well aware of the hardships of the people and the emperor’s incompetence.

But the Northern Chen Kingdom could not afford internal strife; otherwise, foreign enemies would take advantage, and the people would suffer even more.

He stood up and patted Song Zhiyan on the shoulder.

“Brother Song, I’ve said all I need to say.”

Song Zhiyan immediately stood up and stopped Qi Yanzhou, lowering his voice. “Your Highness has won the hearts of the people. Have you considered…”

Before he could finish, Qi Yanzhou interrupted.

“The Qi family is loyal to the country.”

Song Zhiyan watched his departing figure, his expression inscrutable.

“Prince Chen, you will change your mind.”

---

Ye Chutang stayed at the Poetry Tower for the whole morning, answering questions from scholars.

Later, she heard some news.

The Prince of Chen had proposed the execution of the evil Taoist and put an end to rumors, angering the emperor. He had been punished with a half-salary deduction.

She couldn’t quite understand it. With the Prince of Chen’s prestige and the 100,000 troops of the Qi family stationed across the lands, he could easily change the course of the country.

But he chose to cling to blind loyalty and suffer indignity!

Although Ye Chutang didn’t understand it, she respected others’ choices in life.

After lunch, she left for Wanbao Pavilion.

Today was the delivery date for a set of custom-made jewelry, which had just been finished by two craftsmen.

The hairpin was hollow inside, capable of concealing poison that could kill upon activation.

The bracelet had a hidden compartment that could store eight kinds of medicine, useful for both healing and killing, depending on the design.

The pendant was a small version of the “Rain Pear Blossom Needle,” highly lethal.

The modified sleeve arrows could hold more arrowheads and could be set for single or multiple shots.

Ye Chutang tested each item, and they met her expectations.

“You’ve done well. Continue working. Make as many as you can. I’ll pay an extra twenty wen for daily wages.”

Twenty wen wasn’t much, but over time, it would add up.

The two craftsmen were pleased. “Thank you, Miss Ye. We’ll work hard without slackening.”

Their pay was based on the number of items produced, so they wouldn’t slack off.

Ye Chutang asked, “Can you make gold-coated iron? Material costs and labor aren’t an issue.”

With her current identity, wearing iron wasn’t suitable.

The craftsmen exchanged looks and nodded. “It’s possible, though it will take some time.”

“It’s fine. Apart from the sleeve arrows, make three sets of each.”

“Understood, Miss Ye.”

After leaving Wanbao Pavilion, Ye Chutang changed clothes in a secluded area, disguising herself as a rough, heavy-set man.

She visited several nearby taverns, ordering their signature dishes and arranging for them to be delivered to the second prince’s estate through the back door. She also threatened the tavern workers to keep quiet.

She would enjoy a fine meal while making the second prince suspicious—killing two birds with one stone!

Ye Chutang then visited a grain shop and used the same method to have the shopkeeper send grain to the back door of the Crown Prince’s estate.

Afterward, she went to the Spring Pavilion.

Xu Kang had already been taken home, and from now on, he would only be able to sit in a wheelchair, his reputation and future ruined.

If not for the “evil Taoist’s extermination of the country” incident, Ye Anling would certainly have been the topic of gossip today.

It was still early, and due to yesterday’s incident, the Spring Pavilion had almost no customers.

The madam personally greeted her. “This guest—”

Before she could finish, Ye Chutang used a quick, forceful hand to pull her clothes open, revealing her figure.

“Too old, no fun.”

After saying this in disdain, Ye Chutang turned and left.

By the time the stunned people reacted, there was no trace of her.

The madam was about to get angry when she felt something sharp in her chest.

Looking down, she found a folded note wedged into her undergarment.

Quickly adjusting her clothes, she muttered, “Everyone, carry on. It’s just a small matter. I’ll change and be right back.”

After entering her room and closing the door, she opened the note.

“Tell Prince Chen that the herbs at Ziyun Pavilion are watered with fresh blood, and the corpses of the dead sustain it. The lotus pond is filled with the bones of children.”

Ye Chutang didn’t want to waste the efforts of the previous night, so she planned to use Qi Yanzhou’s influence to continue targeting Master Zhang.

The madam, after reading the note, realized that the rough, heavy-set man was the “Ghost Thief.”

Her expression changed slightly. “Such incredible disguise skills! Such keen insight!”

She immediately went to the wine cellar’s secret room to send a message to Qi Yanzhou.

She not only passed on the note left by Ye Chutang, but also added, “Master, the ‘Ghost Thief’ has already discovered that the Spring Pavilion is your hidden property.”