What Ye Chutang gave Kong Ru was not the antidote for the “Duanchang Powder,” but another poison meant to counteract it.

This poison could temporarily suppress the effects of the Duanchang Powder but did nothing to alleviate the symptoms of poisoning.

The effects struck swiftly, doubling the agony!

Kong Ru felt as though a rod were churning in her stomach, while her head throbbed as if struck by a heavy hammer.

Writhing in unbearable pain, she rolled from the bed to the floor, wishing for death.

Ye Chutang paid her no mind and returned to Ningchu Courtyard.

Dan’er, who had been waiting in the courtyard, hurried forward.

“Young Miss, you’re back. Let this servant assist you with your bath.”

“I can manage on my own. You should rest.”

Dan’er noticed Ye Chutang’s exhaustion and quickly insisted, “This servant has recovered well—such simple tasks are no trouble.”

“Very well, then.”

Soon, the wooden tub was filled with warm water, scattered with flower petals.

As Ye Chutang removed her hair ornaments, she said, “Dan’er, go rest. I’ll handle the rest myself.”

“This servant takes her leave.”

Before retiring, Dan’er brought in a bucket of cold water for Ye Chutang to use later in rinsing the tub.

Once alone, Ye Chutang undressed and sank into the bath.

The warmth enveloped her, drawing a contented sigh.

“Nothing eases fatigue like a good soak.”

Jinzhi offered to help wash her, but Ye Chutang declined.

“Aunt Jin, rest early. I can dry my hair myself.”

The absorbent towels from her space were far superior to the cotton cloth of this era.

Jinzhi lingered behind the screen, unwilling to leave.

“Young Mistress, what happened at Liuli Courtyard? You seem troubled.”

Hearing this, Ye Chutang rested her arms on the edge of the tub, peering at Jinzhi’s blurred silhouette through the screen.

She hesitated before answering.

“Aunt Jin.”

“This servant is here. Speak freely, Young Mistress. At my age, there’s little I haven’t seen.”

Encouraged, Ye Chutang decided to confide in her.

“I’ll tell you after my bath.”

“Very well. This servant will wait.”

Once bathed and dressed, Ye Chutang stepped out of the bathing chamber to find Jinzhi sewing by dim light.

“Aunt Jin, working in poor light will strain your eyes.”

“Don’t worry, Young Mistress. My eyes are still sharp.”

She wanted to make clothes for her young mistress, but since she had to feign madness during the day, nighttime was her only opportunity.

Ye Chutang took the fabric from her hands.

“This material isn’t the best. Once you’ve regained your strength, I’ll buy fine cloth for you to work with.”

Jinzhi understood—her young mistress was sparing her the effort.

Setting aside the needle and thread, she asked, “What did you wish to tell me, Young Mistress?”

Ye Chutang spoke plainly.

“Aunt Jin, my brother wasn’t stillborn—Kong Ru smothered him. And my mother didn’t waste away—she was poisoned by Kong Ru.”

Jinzhi’s tears burst forth like a flood.

Clutching her mouth with one hand and pounding her chest with the other, she wept as if her heart would shatter.

“Uuuu…”

It was all her fault! If only she hadn’t stepped away for that brief moment, the young master would still be alive!

If only she’d been more vigilant, her lady wouldn’t have been poisoned and died so young!

Her heart felt torn by countless hands, the pain so fierce she wished for death.

Ye Chutang embraced the sobbing woman, gently stroking her back.

“Don’t blame yourself, Aunt Jin. Kong Ru was determined to harm them—no one could have stopped her. But we’ll avenge my brother and mother together!”

“Young Mistress, this servant is useless! All these years, I never suspected… I thought…”

“It’s not your fault. Kong Ru’s schemes ran deep. My mother was too kind—no match for her. But I am wicked and ruthless. She won’t defeat me!”

Jinzhi pulled back slightly, shaking her head.

“No, Young Mistress, you’re the kindest soul. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have saved the young master.”

Had it been her, she might have resented the innocent child.

Ye Chutang studied Jinzhi—her swollen eyes, her bitten lips.

“Aunt Jin, gather your strength. The hunt begins now. I’ll strip Kong Ru of everything—her wealth, her allies, even her corpse!”

Apart from Ye Anjun, not a single member of the Ye family would be spared.

Hearing this, Jinzhi’s despair transformed into fierce resolve.

“What would you have this servant do?”

“First, regain your health. Otherwise, you won’t be able to help me. Now, rest.”

“This servant understands.”

Once Jinzhi retired to the outer chamber, Ye Chutang dried her hair, lay down, and entered her space.

She checked her virtue points.

Today, she had killed four and wounded two—earning thirty-four points in total.

“They truly deserved death.”

In the resting area, she examined the ice leech and frost cicada on the vanity.

“Time to nurture you.”

With the creatures in hand, she left the space.

After lighting calming incense, she prepared to slip away through the courtyard—then recalled Qi Yanzhou’s men might be watching.

Instead, she pried up a floorboard and exited directly from her room.

First stop: the imperial icehouse.

The frost cicada thrived in cold; the icehouse was ideal.

Ye Chutang had originally planned to visit the market at dawn for fresh produce.

But since she was already in the palace, the imperial kitchens were too tempting to ignore.

By now, it was well past Hai hour, yet the kitchens bustled with activity—chefs preparing breakfast, simmering tonics for nobles, or cooking midnight meals for guards.

Amid the clatter, gossip flowed freely.

“For Princess An’s birthday, His Majesty will send imperial chefs. If only I could be chosen!”

“Who wouldn’t want to go? The reward alone is twenty taels!”

“Rumor says Prince An is hosting a grand celebration to help Princess Anping choose a husband.”

“Isn’t His Majesty urging Prince Chen to select a bride too? They’d make a fine pair!”

“Nonsense! The princess isn’t fit to stand beside Prince Chen…”

After eavesdropping, Ye Chutang slipped into the storeroom.

The vast space was neatly organized—sections for grains, dried goods, fresh produce, seafood, pastries, poultry, raw meat, cooked dishes, and spices.

Every shelf was meticulously arranged, nearly overflowing—except for the nearly empty produce and meat sections, replenished daily.

Ye Chutang’s eyes gleamed.

“A bountiful night indeed!”

With a sweep, she transferred the entire inventory into her space.

Though the live seafood and poultry would perish inside, they’d remain fresh when retrieved.

Satisfied, she glanced at the barren storeroom—then froze at the voices outside.

A frustrated apprentice grumbled,

“What nonsense is this ‘elixir of immortality’? Heavenly Master Zhang is clearly deceiving His Majesty! In all my years of medicine, I’ve never heard of using bird’s nest for alchemy!”

“Doctor Kong, mind your words! If this spreads—”

The chef’s warning died as he swung open the door.

His face paled at the emptiness.

“GUARDS! THE STOREROOM’S BEEN LOOTED!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep