Chapter 65: Making a Fool of Oneself (First Update)

Chapter 65: Making a Fool of Herself (First Update)

"A-Yan, how are things looking on your end?" Ye Chutang asked again.

Ye Jingyan had also finished flipping through the ledgers for the past three years. He shook his head. "There are issues. There was a snow disaster the year before last, and the fields yielded nothing, but with favorable weather last year and this year, the rent collected is still meager. I suspect the people below are being dishonest."

Ye Chutang nodded, not particularly surprised by this.

What she cared about was—

"We should find an opportunity later to see exactly which link in the chain this money is leaking from. If it's just subordinates lining their own pockets, that's easy enough; we can just punish them and replace them. But if someone is orchestrating it..."

Ye Heng was usually busy with official affairs, and his energy for these matters was limited; Lady Gao handled almost everything.

As for who was responsible, there was still investigating to be done.

Ye Jingyan understood her implication and nodded slightly. "I understand."

Since the land deeds were not currently in their hands, it wasn't convenient to act. Fortunately, they had already gone through the bills and had a general grasp of the situation.

"Put these ledgers away. We'll return them the day after tomorrow."

In Ye Heng's view, Ye Chutang was a woman raised in the inner chambers. Although she had gained some experience outside in recent years, she would surely only have a superficial understanding of the matters regarding shop and field ledgers.

Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng were only twelve or thirteen, so they likely didn't understand much either.

As for Little Wu, there was no need to mention her; she was merely an ignorant little child.

Therefore, it would surely take Ye Chutang a considerable amount of time to go through these two boxes of ledgers alone.

Ye Chutang simply went along with it, playing into his expectations.

...

Three days later, early in the morning, Ye Chutang brought A-Yan and A-Feng to return the two boxes of ledgers.

Ye Heng was just about to head out for court when he saw this, looking somewhat surprised.

"You finished reading them so quickly?"

Those were the ledgers for over a dozen shops spanning three years! Not to mention the income and expenditure records for hundreds of acres of fertile land!

Ye Chutang nodded slightly. "I've finished most of them. The situation is exactly as you said, Second Uncle; there is a significant deficit."

Ye Heng sneered inwardly.

If she insisted on reading them, then he would let her read them. He doubted she would be able to figure anything out!

"I am usually busy with government affairs and neglect these matters. Your Second Aunt has been saying for a long time that we need to find a way to stop losing money like this, hasn't she? But her health has been poor these past few days, which has caused further delays."

Ye Heng sighed, then quickly added a word of comfort. "But you don't need to worry about this. Once your Second Aunt is better in a while, just hand it over to her."

Ye Chutang did not acknowledge his words, instead changing the subject. "By the way, I've been so busy with the ledgers these past few days that I haven't had time to visit Second Aunt. How is her health?"

It was better not to mention it, but once it was brought up, Ye Heng felt extremely irritated.

Several days had passed and the medicine had been taken, but the red rashes on Lady Gao's face showed no sign of receding; instead, they were becoming increasingly severe!

When he went to check yesterday, he found that some parts of Lady Gao's face had already begun to swell and ulcerate. It looked terrifying; he hadn't even finished his meal there before hurrying away.

Looking at such a face was truly nauseating.

But naturally, he could not say such things.

He gave a hollow laugh and smiled. "It's nothing. Your Second Aunt is much better. She should be fully recovered in a while."

Imperial Physician Zhang was completely useless; he would have to find a more capable doctor later!

Ye Chutang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and smiled faintly.

"Then I am relieved."

Just then, footsteps came from behind.

"Cousin, are you ready?"

The newcomer was Ye Shixian.

She had woken up very early and spent a long time grooming herself in front of the mirror, finally satisfied with her appearance.

Hearing that Ye Chutang had come here, she had come directly over.

"The carriage is ready. Let's go—"

As she spoke, she saw Ye Chutang turning around, and her voice cut off abruptly. A flash of uncontrollable jealousy crossed her eyes.

Today, Ye Chutang had styled her hair in a Flying Cloud bun, her dark hair swept up and held by a white jade begonia hairpin set at an angle.

She wore a brocade skirt in celestial blue, which further accentuated her slender, delicate frame and lithe waist.

Just standing there, she was like a spring begonia flower—elegant, tranquil, and unpretentious.

Ye Shixian's hand clenched tightly inside her sleeve, her nails digging into her palm.

She knew Ye Chutang was beautiful, but she hadn't expected that with such simple grooming, she would gain even more allure!

At this moment, Ye Shixian felt that her own elaborate hour-long preparation was a complete joke!

Regret immediately welled up in her heart.

Had she known it would be like this, she really shouldn't have invited Ye Chutang to the Flower Banquet!

But the words had already been spoken; how could she take them back now?

Ye Chutang smiled, her dimples faintly visible.

"Alright."

...

Ye Chutang and Ye Shixian boarded the carriage together, accompanied by a young servant to drive and her personal maid, Shaoyao.

On the way, the atmosphere inside the carriage was quite subtle.

Every time Ye Shixian glanced up and saw that face, another layer of discomfort settled in her heart.

Ye Chutang seemed oblivious, remaining composed throughout.

As the carriage came to a halt in front of the Princess's Manor, the tension in Ye Shixian's heart reached its peak.

She pressed her chest, took a light breath, and lifted the curtain to look out.

Several carriages had already arrived outside the manor, clearly belonging to various high-ranking noble families.

Looking at the towering and magnificent gates of the Princess's Manor, Ye Shixian's heart raced with a mixture of awe and excitement.

She readjusted her appearance and asked, "Shaoyao, do I look alright?"

Shaoyao was just as excited; after all, this was true imperial royalty!

"Miss, you look stunning! In a moment—"

She paused, remembering Ye Chutang was also in the carriage, and swallowed the rest of her words.

Feeling slightly more at ease, Ye Shixian turned to Ye Chutang.

"Cousin, shall we go in?"

Shaoyao stepped down from the carriage first to assist her.

"Miss, please be careful—"

Just as Ye Shixian was about to step down, the rapid and loud sound of galloping hooves suddenly approached from a distance!

*Clatter, clatter, clatter!*

Ye Shixian's heart tightened. She instinctively looked up and saw a woman in red riding gear galloping toward them!

"Giddy up!"

The woman held the reins in one hand and brandished a whip in the other. With a loud *crack*, the whip's sound split the air!

Seeing that the distance between them was closing rapidly, the woman showed no intention of slowing down or stopping; she was charging straight toward them!

Ye Shixian's heart leaped. In her panic to escape, she lost her footing and tumbled straight out of the carriage!

Startled, Shaoyao rushed to help her. "Miss—!"

*Thud!*

The mistress and her maid tumbled into a heap together!

Ye Shixian let out a cry of pain.

Sitting inside the carriage, Ye Chutang only lifted the curtain to look out after hearing the cry.

She saw the horse was about to collide violently with the carriage!

Ye Chutang's eyebrows arched slightly, but she made no move to help, watching the scene with interest in her eyes.

In the next moment, the woman in red suddenly pulled the reins. The horse reared up on its hind legs with a loud neigh!

(End of Chapter)