The Physician Consort Empties the Enemy’s Warehouse and Ventures into Exile Chapter 64

Ye Chutang thought that since her disguised face had been exposed, she wouldn’t be able to use it again, so she decided to make the most of it while she still could.

After leaving Yingchun Courtyard, she strolled through the streets, buying snacks along the way.

Pastries, candied fruits, dried nuts, marinated beef, beggar’s chicken, roasted duck…

At every shop, she purchased as much as she could carry, then discreetly stored it away in her spatial storage when no one was looking.

She kept shopping until dusk.

Finding the haphazard pile of goods ssy, Ye Chutang decided to visit a carpentry shop to commission so cabinets for better organization.

She also wanted shelves of varying sizes—small ones for pre-made dishes from restaurants, larger ones for bulk goods from the market.

And boxes, to store eggs and ats.

She went to the carpentry shop nearest the Minister’s Mansion and described what she needed.

“Shopkeeper, I’d like two hundred cabinets, each half a zhang tall, two hundred boxes one chi high, a hundred boxes two chi high, a hundred large shelves, and two hundred small shelves.”

The shopkeeper was stunned by the large order but overjoyed.

“Young master, these items can be completed in ten days, but my shop is a small business—I’ll need a deposit.”

Ye Chutang roughly calculated the total cost—around one hundred fifty taels of silver.

She handed over a hundred taels upfront.

“The rest will be paid upon delivery.”

The shopkeeper, delighted by her generosity, bead.

“As you wish, young master.”

“Young master, your order is quite large—my warehouse can’t hold everything. Would you like to deliver them in batches every three days?”

“No need. I’ll co collect them myself every three days, after curfew.”

The shopkeeper was baffled. “After curfew, the shop will be closed.”

“Shopkeeper, these items are for official use. Their purpose is… sensitive. It’s best if outsiders don’t know. Leave a back door open—soone will co to retrieve them after curfew.”

“This humble one understands.”

Seeing that the shopkeeper had mistaken her for an official, Ye Chutang didn’t correct him.

She patted his shoulder. “Keep quiet, make your fortune silently. If word gets out…”

The shopkeeper paled as she mid slitting her throat.

He had thought this was a windfall, but now it seed his head might be at risk!

He hastily assured her, “Rest assured, my lord. I’ll instruct all the workers—they’ll focus on the work and not utter a single word.”

By the ti Ye Chutang left the carpentry shop, night had fully fallen.

She found a secluded spot to change back into the won’s attire she had worn earlier.

On her way back to the Minister’s Mansion, she bought a few roasted sweet potatoes and so candied hawthorns.

At the mouth of an alley, while nibbling on a candied hawthorn, she ran into Qi Yanzhou.

Qi Yanzhou noticed her too.

The young woman held a paper bag in one hand and several skewers of candied fruit in the other. Her cherry lips were stained with red syrup, glistening temptingly.

Even the dim alley couldn’t obscure such breathtaking beauty.

He quickened his steps toward her. “Why is Miss Ye out alone?”

Ye Chutang gave a slight curtsy. “This commoner greets His Highness the Prince of Chen. My maid is recovering at ho, so I ca out by myself. At the poetry pavilion earlier—thank you for your assistance.”

Qi Yanzhou hadn’t expected her to recognize him.

“I rely intervened where I saw injustice. Miss Ye’s literary talent and magnanimity are admirable.”

Ye Chutang smiled candidly. “Your Highness flatters . I’m just a vulgar person seeking fa.”

Qi Yanzhou found her refreshingly different from other won.

“Your reasoning is sound—only by standing at the pinnacle can one avoid being trampled upon.”

Tired of formalities, Ye Chutang cut to the chase, eyeing his official robes.

“Your Highness must be here on business. I won’t keep you.”

“Miss Ye, I ca to find you.”

The statent put her on guard, though she wasn’t overly concerned.

Even if Qi Yanzhou suspected sothing, he’d never guess she was the “Ghost Thief.”

“What does Your Highness need from ?”

Realizing the conversation would take ti, Qi Yanzhou asked, “Would you join for a al?”

Ye Chutang declined. She still had to administer acupuncture to Jun’er later.

“Your Highness, the Emperor intended to arrange a marriage between us, but you refused, wishing to choose a noblewoman as your princess consort. Wouldn’t dining together now be inappropriate?”

At the ntion of the marriage arrangent, Qi Yanzhou’s ears tinged pink.

“Miss Ye, I declined because I knew you had no interest in —not because I deed you unworthy.”

Ye Chutang nodded at his earnest explanation.

“You’re right—I have no desire to marry into power struggles or compete with a harem of won. That’s no way to live.”

Little did she know, she’d soon eat her words.

One day, she would storm into the Prince of Chen’s residence and demand marriage!

Qi Yanzhou, familiar with her free-spirited nature, wasn’t surprised.

“My invitation was thoughtless. The reason I sought you out is that I suspect the ‘Ghost Thief’ may be connected to you.”

Ye Chutang feigned curiosity. “Why would Your Highness think that?”

“When the Ye family’s grain was stolen in the countryside, you nearly died in a fire. When Ningchu Courtyard was robbed, Mada Ye had just frad you. When the Palace of Longevity was looted, Eunuch De had offended you.”

“Today, the ‘Ghost Thief’ appeared at Yingchun Courtyard, crippling Xu Kang and ruining his reputation—right after he insulted you at the poetry pavilion.”

Ye Chutang admired his sharp instincts.

“Listening to this, it does seem related to . But what about the Li family granary theft?”

“Perhaps a diversion.”

Qi Yanzhou locked eyes with her. “Do you know the ‘Ghost Thief,’ Miss Ye?”

“I do.”

His eyebrows shot up at her admission.

“But you’ll never catch her—unless…”

“Unless what?”

Her lips curved. “Unless Your Highness becos a ghost too.”

Qi Yanzhou: “…”

“I don’t believe in ghosts.”

Ghosts didn’t visit brothels in broad daylight!

“I didn’t either—until soone emptied an entire estate in the ti it takes to burn two incense sticks. Now I do.”

She was, after all, a ghost who’d crossed over from the apocalypse.

Qi Yanzhou knew no living person could evade imperial guards, infiltrate the palace, and loot the Palace of Longevity without a trace.

Yet he’d sooner attribute it to mystical cultivators than spirits.

“You said you know the ‘Ghost Thief’?”

Ye Chutang took a bite of candied hawthorn and spun a tale.

“Not exactly. I made a wish for Eunuch De to lose everything—half of it ca true.”

His wealth was gone, but he still lived. Only half-fulfilled.

Though skeptical, Qi Yanzhou knew he’d get no straight answers.

“My apologies for disturbing you, Miss Ye.”

“Safe travels, Your Highness.”

Aware he’d now keep a closer eye on her, Ye Chutang wasn’t worried. She turned and headed back to the Minister’s Mansion.

The mont she stepped inside, Steward Chen rushed up in a panic.

“Young Miss! Madam is suffering unbearable abdominal pain—the physicians are helpless! The Master requests your presence at Liuli Courtyard at once!”