Chapter 17 Dog Skin Plaster

He turned to his servants and said, "Bring Zhou here! No, tie her up and bring her here!"

The servant was startled and hurriedly went to do it.

Ye Wanning watched this scene without the slightest surprise; she had long seen through Zhou's ruthlessness.

A short while later, Zhou was brought over bound. When she saw Liu Ma and Wang Ma kneeling on the ground, along with the packet of white powder, her face turned pale.

"Husband, what's wrong?" Zhou asked in a trembling voice.

"What's wrong?" Minister Ye roared. "You dare ask? Zhou, I've treated you well, how could you poison Ningning?"

"I didn't!" Zhou said. "They framed me! Husband, you must believe me!"

"Framed you?" Minister Ye said, "The evidence is overwhelming, and you still want to deny it?"

"I really didn't!" Zhou said. "Husband, we've been married for so many years, don't you believe me? How could I harm Ningning?"

"I know you too well! You're jealous of Ningning, jealous of her favor with the emperor, so you wanted to kill her! Zhou, you've disappointed me so much!"

“My husband, I really didn’t…” Zhou said, crying.

"Enough! From now on, you'll stay obediently in Jingxin Garden. You're not allowed to step out without my permission! And Liu Ma, take her away and have her beaten to death!"

"No! Madam, save me!" Liu Ma cried as she was dragged away.

As Zhou watched her retreating figure, she turned ashen with fright.

"Husband, you can't do this to me..." Zhou said, crying.

Minister Ye ignored her and turned to Ye Wanning, saying, "Ningning, I'm sorry you had to go through this. I will definitely make it up to you."

"Thank you, Father," Ye Wanning said weakly.

Minister Ye comforted her a few more times before ordering his men to drag Zhou away and keep her under strict guard.

Watching their retreating figures, Ye Wanning's eyes turned cold.

Zhou, this is just interest. You owe me from my past life, and I will get it back little by little.

The atmosphere in the Marquis's residence is somewhat oppressive now.

Minister Ye would visit Ye Wanning every day, bringing her many tonics and showing concern for her well-being, as if he wanted to make up for his mistakes in this way.

Ye Chengjing also visited often, always bringing some of Ye Wanning's favorite snacks or chatting with her. His eyes were filled with guilt and heartache as he looked at Ye Wanning.

"Ningning, I'm sorry." Ye Chengjing came to see Ye Wanning again, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, "It's my fault. I didn't protect you well and made you suffer so much."

Ye Wanning looked at him, somewhat surprised.

“Brother, this isn’t your fault,” Ye Wanning said. “It’s Zhou who’s too wicked.”

“But even though I knew she wasn’t a good person, I still couldn’t guard against her,” Ye Chengjing said. “And Jing Shu, I didn’t keep an eye on her either, letting her bully you time and time again.”

"Brother, it's all in the past," Ye Wanning said. "From now on, we'll just live our lives well."

Ye Chengjing nodded, his eyes hardening: "Ningning, don't worry, from now on, your big brother will protect you and won't let anyone bully you again."

Ye Wanning looked at him, somewhat moved. This older brother had finally come to his senses.

"Thank you, brother," Ye Wanning said.

"Why be so polite with your elder brother?" Ye Chengjing smiled. "By the way, the imperial physician said you need to rest well, so I've hired the best doctor for you to come and check your pulse every day."

"Thank you, brother."

Ye Chengjing stayed for a while longer before leaving.

After he left, Chuntao said, "Miss, the young master seems to have changed a lot."

“Yes,” Ye Wanning said, “he finally understands.”

"That's wonderful," Chun Tao said. "Now the young lady will have someone to protect her."

Ye Wanning smiled but didn't speak. She knew that Ye Chengjing's change was just the beginning, and the road ahead was long. She needed to rely on her own strength to truly protect herself.

In the days that followed, Ye Wanning rested and recuperated, and her health gradually improved.

Ye Chengjing would visit her every day, talk to her, and sometimes tell her about things happening in the court. Ye Wanning took this opportunity to inquire about the Third Prince and the Crown Prince, so as to prepare for the future.

Ye Chengjing didn't hide anything and told her everything.

Through Ye Chengjing's explanation, Ye Wanning gained a better understanding of the situation. Although the Crown Prince was the eldest son of the legitimate wife, he was weak-willed and incapable of handling many matters, thus not being favored by the Emperor. The Third Prince, however, was unwilling to remain merely a prince. He had enlisted the help of many ministers, wielding considerable power and eyeing the Crown Prince's position covetously.

Pei Zhi is a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince and enjoys the Emperor's trust. He is the Third Prince's greatest rival.

Ye Wanning knew in her heart that she needed to maintain a good relationship with Pei Zhi in order to gain a foothold in the court.

That day, Ye Wanning was taking a walk in the courtyard when Ye Chengjing arrived, looking very unhappy.

"Big brother, what's wrong?" Ye Wanning asked.

“Ningning, Xue Lin’an is back again,” Ye Chengjing said.

"Why are you back again?" Ye Wanning frowned.

"I don't know what connections he used, but he was somehow released and even rented a house in the capital. He also sent someone to say he wanted to meet with you, saying he had something important to tell you."

"I won't see him," Ye Wanning said. "I have nothing to say to him."

“That’s what I think too,” Ye Chengjing said. “I’ve already had his men driven out and warned him not to approach the Marquis’s residence again.”

"Thank you, brother."

"Why are you being so polite with me?" Ye Chengjing said. "I'm just afraid he won't give up and might do you a disservice."

“I will be careful,” Ye Wanning said. “Brother, you don’t need to worry too much.”

“I’ve already increased the frequency of guard patrols,” Ye Chengjing nodded, “to prevent him from having a chance to contact you.”

Ye Wanning felt a warmth in her heart. It's so good to have such a brother.

Ye Chengjing's words struck Ye Wanning like a pebble dropped into a pond, creating ripples. Her eyes were lowered, and the silver fork she used to stir the bird's nest in her bowl touched the rim of the porcelain bowl, making a soft sound: "He dares to come again?"

“Who says otherwise?” Ye Chengjing sat in the chair opposite her, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of his teacup. “He was given forty strokes of the cane by the authorities, and the documents for his exile were already written, but somehow they were suppressed.”

Chun Tao had just peeled some lychees and brought them over when she heard this and spat out, "That Xue fellow is a piece of trash! Miss slapped him to the ground, and he still dares to come closer!"

Ye Wanning didn't respond to her words, but instead picked up a lychee with her fork and peeled it. The plump, glistening flesh was moist, but she had little appetite, her fingers unconsciously pinching the lychee shell: "What message did he send through someone?"

"He claims to have 'important clues' about how you were abducted back then!" Ye Chengjing sneered. "I think he's desperate for money and wants to sell this for cash."

Ye Chengjing said, "Then should I have someone guard the gates of the mansion properly?"