Under the complex gazes of the three onlookers, Ye Chutang withdrew the silver needles from Grand Tutor Qin’s body.

She instructed, “The lung-nourishing and qi-soothing herbal decoction must be taken consistently. Combined with acupuncture, the effects will be more pronounced.”

Qin Muyun nodded eagerly. “Understood, Miss Ye. How much is the consultation fee?”

“Grand Tutor Qin is a good man. It’s free.”

The real reason, of course, wasn’t that—it was because Qin Muyun had once defended her against the Crown Prince during the homecoming banquet.

Ye Chutang disliked owing favors, so naturally, she wouldn’t accept payment.

Before leaving, she even gifted Grand Tutor Qin a cup of spiritual spring water.

Merit points +3863.

Indeed, Grand Tutor Qin was a truly virtuous man!

Qin Muyun wanted to escort Ye Chutang out, but she refused.

“Stay here, Young Master Qin. I remember the way.”

“Until we meet again, Miss Ye.”

Grand Tutor Qin observed how his usually carefree eldest grandson became uncharacteristically well-behaved in Ye Chutang’s presence and realized his feelings for her.

“Miss Ye seems like a fine young woman. Which family is she from?”

Qin Muyun immediately launched into an account of Ye Chutang’s tragic past, Ye Jingchuan’s schemes against her, her remarkable resilience, and her dazzling brilliance at the homecoming banquet.

Watching his grandson speak with uncharacteristic eloquence, Grand Tutor Qin smiled faintly.

“If you fancy her, have your father propose to the Ye family.”

Qin Muyun’s expression fell. He sighed. “Grandfather, I’m not worthy of her.”

“Don’t belittle yourself. If not for the family’s burdens, you wouldn’t have played the wastrel and remained unaccomplished all these years.”

The common folk only knew Qin Muyun as a man who squandered his privileged upbringing, refusing to seek glory and instead embracing dissipation.

What they didn’t know was that the Qin family, as the foremost among civil officials, lived under the emperor’s constant suspicion.

The only way to preserve their century-old prestige was for the Qin family to produce mediocrities—creating the illusion of inevitable decline after reaching the pinnacle.

Qin Muyun chuckled. “I’ve enjoyed the family’s blessings, so it’s only fair I bear its burdens.”

Grand Tutor Qin patted his grandson’s hand. “A true love is rare in this life. Cherish it.”

“Don’t worry, Grandfather. I’ll do my best.”

After leaving the Grand Tutor’s Mansion, Ye Chutang sneezed.

Rubbing her nose, she muttered irritably, “Who’s gossiping about me behind my back?”

With that, she headed to Wanbao Pavilion.

The shopkeeper spotted Ye Chutang and hurried over.

“Miss Ye, have you decided on the jewelry you’d like to commission?”

“Yes, but the designs are rather intricate. Fetch me your two best craftsmen. Price is no concern.”

The shopkeeper’s favorite phrase was that last one.

Grinning from ear to ear, he gestured. “This way, Miss Ye.”

Ye Chutang followed him to a private room, where two elderly craftsmen soon arrived.

“I want hairpins, bracelets, and pendants—all made of iron.”

The shopkeeper thought he’d misheard. “Miss Ye, surely you meant gold or silver?”

Iron jewelry was typically only bought by the poor.

The eldest daughter of the Minister’s Mansion should at least opt for silver, shouldn’t she?

Ye Chutang twirled a teacup in her hand, her tone casual.

“Gold and silver are too soft. Iron’s hardness is just right.”

The shopkeeper was baffled.

It wasn’t as if she planned to kill someone with the jewelry—why did hardness matter?

“Miss Ye, iron is too rigid for intricate shaping. Though the material is cheap, the labor costs will be high.”

“The craftsmanship must be flawless. If your artisans can deliver, I’ll pay five times the usual fee, and the material will be priced as silver.”

Seeing the lucrative opportunity, all three men agreed immediately.

“What kind of jewelry would you like, Miss Ye?”

“Hidden weapon jewelry—designed to kill.”

The shopkeeper: “…Miss Ye, you must be joking.”

“I’m serious. If this is beyond your shop’s capabilities, I’ll take my business elsewhere.”

As the shopkeeper hesitated, the two craftsmen spoke up. “If the shop won’t take it, we can handle it privately.”

It was common for craftsmen to take side jobs as long as it didn’t interfere with their main work, and the shopkeeper usually turned a blind eye.

Knowing Ye Chutang’s penchant for trouble, the shopkeeper didn’t want to invite complications.

“If Miss Ye agrees, I have no objections.”

“I agree. The deposit I paid earlier is yours, but you must grant these two craftsmen three months’ leave and supply the iron for the jewelry.”

The shopkeeper beamed. “Not a problem.”

Iron was dirt-cheap, and the forty-tael deposit was nearly a year’s wages for the craftsmen.

Once he left gleefully, Ye Chutang began describing the concealed weaponry in the jewelry and a multi-shot wrist-mounted dart launcher.

The craftsmen, former palace artisans, listened intently, asking questions and sketching as she spoke.

By the time she finished, the blueprints were ready.

“Can you make these?”

The two craftsmen nodded. “Yes. The four items can be completed in five days between the two of us.”

“I’ll return in five days for inspection. If the work is satisfactory, I’ll order twenty more sets.”

Ye Chutang handed them some silver as a deposit before leaving.

After Wanbao Pavilion, she visited nearby rice shops, oil vendors, and spice merchants.

She then stopped at a cloth store to buy several outfits for Jinzhi.

As the sun dipped westward, she made rounds to a wine shop, the marketplace, a dried goods store, and the coal market.

By the time she’d covered all the shops for her stockpiling needs, night had fallen.

Weaving through the bustling night market, she arrived at Guangjuxuan—the finest restaurant in the capital.

She ordered a lavish meal and had a waiter accompany her to deliver it to the Minister’s Mansion.

Nearing the mansion, she spotted a furtive yet familiar figure—Doctor Gao, the former household physician.

She told the waiter, “Give the food to the gatekeeper and have it sent to Ningchu Courtyard.”

The waiter bowed. “At once, Miss Ye.”

Ye Chutang then went straight for Doctor Gao.

Sensing danger, he tried to flee but was caught immediately.

He flung a handful of white powder at her.

With a flick of her sleeve, the powder blew back onto him.

He barely held his breath when a punch landed on his chest.

Gasping in pain, he inhaled a lungful of the poison.

Panicked, he scrambled for a porcelain vial in his robe—only for Ye Chutang to snatch it away.

Doctor Gao dropped to his knees, kowtowing frantically.

“Miss Ye, have mercy! Give me the antidote, or I’ll die!”

“Nothing pleases me more than watching villains bleed from every orifice and die horribly.”

Grabbing him by the topknot, Ye Chutang dragged him into the Minister’s Mansion.

Doctor Gao howled as his scalp threatened to tear off.

Neighboring officials’ gatekeepers rushed out at the commotion.

Recognizing Ye Chutang, they all thought the same thing: Miss Ye is terrifying!

Steward Chen of the Minister’s Mansion, seeing that Ye Chutang had captured the fugitive Doctor Gao, hurried to inform Ye Jingchuan in the dining hall.

Before he could finish, Ye Chutang hurled Doctor Gao inside.

She shook off the clumps of hair in her hand in disgust.

Doctor Gao’s head slammed into a table leg, leaving him dazed.

Ye Jingchuan had long resented the quack who harmed his precious son escaping justice.

Now, seizing the chance, he kicked Doctor Gao repeatedly, each blow fiercer than the last.

“You dare hurt my son? I’ll kill you!”

Worried Doctor Gao might reveal the truth behind Jun’er’s illness under torture, Ye Anling snatched a clay pot from the table and smashed it over his head.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep