Chapter 93: Snatching the Throne for a Spin?

The maid quickly brought over the tea.

“Minister Ye, Miss Ye, please enjoy.”

Ye Jingchuan picked up the cup and gently blew on it.

“I have something to discuss with Chu’er. You may leave us.”

“Yes, this servant takes her leave.”

Once the maid left, he took a sip of the premium pre-rain Longjing tea.

After moistening his throat, he immediately launched into a tirade at Ye Chutang—scolding her for being willful at Prince An’s residence, for refusing to back down even when she was in the right, and for acting with no regard for consequences.

Ye Chutang let it all go in one ear and out the other, entirely focused on savoring the tea.

Ye Jingchuan knew she wasn’t listening to a word but kept nagging anyway.

Under the jade table, he slipped out a white jade bottle and hid some powder under his fingernail.

When Ye Chutang finished her tea and set the cup down, he knew the moment had come. He fell silent and picked up the teapot to pour her another cup.

Seizing the opportunity, he discreetly slipped the powder into the tea.

Ye Chutang appeared absent-minded, but her attention was fixed on the cup.

She saw Ye Jingchuan stretch out his pinky—coated with the white powder—and dip it into the steaming hot tea. His finger turned red from the scalding water, but he endured it without giving away anything.

He quickly withdrew the burned finger and passed the tea to her.

“Chu’er, this is Prince An’s residence. You should behave. If you really stir up trouble, even I won’t be able to protect you.”

Ye Chutang lazily ran her finger along the rim of the cup in slow circles.

“Father, there’s no need for you to behave so carefully. Even if trouble does come, your daughter can handle it for you.”

Ye Jingchuan’s gaze followed her fingertip as it circled the cup, growing more anxious by the second as she still didn’t pick it up to drink.

“Chu’er, don’t think that just because you’re skilled in gathering herbs and practicing medicine, you can run wild in the capital!”

Ye Chutang noticed his impatience and deliberately lifted the teacup—yet still didn’t drink.

“You’re right, that’s not enough. Why don’t you snatch the throne, Father? Make the Ye family the rulers of the realm?”

That casual remark nearly gave her father a heart attack.

Ye Jingchuan’s face went pale as he looked around in a panic.

Once he confirmed the maids and servants were far enough away to not hear, he finally let out a deep sigh of relief.

Then he slapped the jade table hard, lowered his voice, and growled furiously, “Insolent girl! Do you want our entire clan executed? Never speak such treasonous nonsense again!”

“Father, you’re pitiful. No wonder you’ve spent your whole life as someone’s dog.”

With that, Ye Chutang raised the cup to her lips.

Ye Jingchuan’s heart jumped to his throat. He couldn’t even bring himself to scold her for her outrageous words.

He sneered inwardly.

Wretched girl, once you drink this tea, I’ll earn a marquisate!

So what if I’ve been a dog—there are plenty who’d gladly be mine.

Under his eager gaze, Ye Chutang tilted her wrist and brought the cup toward her lips.

Her lips brushed the rim of the drugged tea.

Ye Jingchuan thought he had succeeded.

But then Ye Chutang lowered the cup and sighed regretfully. “It’s gone cold.”

Ye Jingchuan: “……”

“It’s sweltering out. Isn’t cold tea better in this weather?”

“You like cold tea, Father? Then this one’s for you.”

She placed the cup in front of Ye Jingchuan and raised a brow. “Drink up.”

Ye Jingchuan nearly had a stroke from the rage.

“You’ve already touched it with your lips! How could I drink that?”

He poured out the lukewarm tea and prepared to pour her a fresh cup.

But Ye Chutang had no intention of playing along any longer. She stood up.

“Father, we’re guests here. It’s not proper to linger in the gazebo for too long. Let’s go.”

Without waiting for him to reply, she walked away.

As she turned her back, she gently licked her lips that had touched the tea.

Only the taste of tea—colorless, tasteless?

Quite a special poison. I’ll need to find a chance to use Father as the test subject and see how effective it is.

Ye Jingchuan, unaware that he’d been marked for poison testing, scratched his head irritably, feeling like he’d just been thoroughly played.

“Poisoning failed. Guess I’ll have to pin my hopes on His Majesty’s shadow guards now.”

Muttering to himself, he returned to the front courtyard via the flower hall.

Just as Ye Jingchuan stepped into the main hall, Qi Yanzhou called him out.

“Minister Ye came from humble beginnings. Surely he feels deeply for the people’s hardships and is willing to contribute generously.”

“……”

Ye Jingchuan had no idea what everyone had been discussing and suddenly felt exposed and ashamed.

Prince An explained, “The floods in Jiangnan are severe. People are displaced, and food and medicine are scarce. Prince Chen and I discussed it—we hope all officials can donate some silver to help the people discreetly.”

“Discreetly? What do you mean?”

“All credit for the relief effort must go to the Emperor.”

In other words, the officials would spend their own money without getting any recognition.

So many of them were only willing to donate a token amount to appease Prince An.

Once Ye Jingchuan understood, he wasn’t keen on giving much either.

“The two princes are truly devoted to the people. I, your humble servant, am willing to contribute…”

Just as he was about to name a figure, Qi Yanzhou cut in, “Prince An and I have each donated one hundred thousand taels.”

Ye Jingchuan’s eyes widened in shock. The hundred taels he had been about to offer got stuck in his throat.

“I… I can’t afford that much.”

Qi Yanzhou smiled. “It’s the thought that counts. Minister Ye may give as he sees fit.”

Ye Jingchuan noticed many officials shooting him warning looks—say too much and we’ll have to pay more too.

He glanced at Prince An.

Worried that giving too little might offend Prince Chen and ruin his plans, he saw Prince An subtly raise one finger.

Ye Jingchuan instantly understood and said to Qi Yanzhou, “I’m about to marry off my daughter. Funds are tight. I can only spare one thousand taels at most.”

That was no small sum—over half a year’s salary.

Now that someone had taken the lead, the other officials had no choice but to follow, reluctantly raising their own contributions.

Qi Yanzhou was pleased with the outcome.

“Prince An, please have someone record each donation. Once the relief goods are purchased, a full report will be shared to ensure every coin goes to the disaster victims.”

Prince An found it a bit tedious, but still nodded. “Alright.”

As the steward from Prince An’s residence began recording the officials’ donations, Qi Yanzhou walked over to Qin Muyun and sat beside him.

The two were in a quiet corner of the hall.

Everyone else was busy discussing how much to donate—no one noticed them.

Qin Muyun scooted his chair closer and asked in a low voice, clearly fishing for praise, “Those two I picked for Lady Anping—weren’t they perfect?”

That’s right—those scoundrels Qin Zhenglin and Song Rong had been secretly egged on by him. That’s why they had the guts to rush in to “save” Lady Anping and take liberties with her!

Though he didn’t know exactly what had happened, when Qi Yanzhou was taken away by Prince An’s people, he had told him—no matter who causes trouble at Prince An’s residence today, punish them harshly.

He had never doubted Qi Yanzhou’s instructions.

So when he heard that Lady Anping had fallen into the water, he had come up with this malicious scheme.

Qi Yanzhou nodded slightly. “Well done. You’ve had your eye on Master Huai’an’s plum blossom painting, haven’t you? I’ll have it delivered to the Grand Preceptor’s manor in a few days.”

“That’s a fine gift. I like it.”

Qin Muyun grinned, then asked curiously, “But what’s Prince An really up to? Why did Lady Anping save Miss Ye?”

Qi Yanzhou raised his teacup, letting the rising steam blur his vision.

He hesitated for a long time, then decided to tell the truth.

“Prince An originally planned for Miss Ye to fall into the water and force me—who just happened to be nearby—to save her.”

Qin Muyun considered himself clever, but this time he was completely lost.

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m not mistaken… this was the Emperor’s idea.”