odessanovel Chapter 227
Chapter 227
Han Chong knew that Zhao Simin had brought misfortune upon herself, having been violated by a group of men.He hadn’t gone to see for himself, but early on, some commoners had gone to watch the commotion.
He overheard a few remarks about Zhao Simin.
“Not a single inch of her body is unscathed. She looks nothing like a human being, lying on the ground with no sorrow or joy, as if her soul had left her.
The room reeks of blood, and three soldiers died there—each of them bitten to death…”
He didn’t continue, but Qi Yanzhou understood what was meant.
Zhao Simin was skilled in martial arts, and once the medicine wore off, she would definitely fight back.
She couldn’t hope to defeat the formidable Zhao Meng, but she could easily handle the soldiers, who only knew flashy but ineffective moves.
Only three soldiers dead—she had shown mercy.
“Send Zhao Mingxu to gather the men.”
Han Chong nodded. “Alright, I’ll notify Zhao Mingxu right away.”
As he turned to leave the pharmacy, Qi Yanzhou’s voice called out.
“Tell Zhao Chengyu I won’t meet him. If he’s made up his mind, just let me know through you.”
“Got it. I’ll stall Zhao Chengyu for now. I’ll go after breakfast.”
Not long after Han Chong left, Sun Chu returned carrying hot dishes.
He placed the soup basin holding the food on the examination table, then went to the cart to find the seasonings.
The spices were in a basket and easy to locate.
When he saw the prepared blend of ground spices, his eyes widened in surprise.
In ancient times, spices were mostly used whole; although some were ground into powder, they were usually added separately to dishes.
Sun Chu had never seen anyone mix various ground spices together like this.
Isn’t this just like the seasoning blends used in modern cooking?
Curious, he asked Qi Yanzhou, “Young Master Qi, who came up with this ground spice blend?”
Qi Yanzhou, noticing Sun Chu’s interest in Ye Chutang’s seasoning, casually explained.
“Conditions were harsh on the exile route. Cooking wasn’t convenient, and even if you could carry dozens of spices, using them wasn’t easy.
My wife has high standards for food, so she came up with the idea of grinding the spices into powder and mixing them together.”
The explanation made sense, but Sun Chu still felt suspicious.
Yet, he kept his doubts to himself.
“Madam Qi is truly impressive. Even if someone thought of this method, mastering the right proportions of each spice would be very difficult.”
Qi Yanzhou caught the hidden meaning in Sun Chu’s words and was about to ask for clarification when Ye Chutang strolled into the pharmacy, yawning.
Sun Chu’s voice had been loud enough for her to hear.
“If I weren’t impressive, how could I keep Sun Gongzi by my side?”
Sun Chu had mostly operated north of the capital and deliberately avoided news about the court and high officials.
His knowledge of Ye Chutang was limited to her being a talented woman, renowned throughout the capital for her beauty and literary skills.
After being coerced into becoming her subordinate, he wanted to learn more about her.
But due to his physical condition, he had been practicing the “Turtle Breath” technique to stay in a semi-conscious state for healing, leaving him no chance to investigate.
At this moment, he decided that once his intelligence network was established, his first mission would be to thoroughly uncover Ye Chutang’s secrets!
“Of course Madam Qi is remarkable—beautiful, kind-hearted, skilled in both arts and martial arts, knowledgeable in medicine—a true jack of all trades.”
As he said this, Sun Chu fixed his gaze tightly on Ye Chutang’s eyes.
He wanted to see if she would slip up when hearing “jack of all trades.”
After all, the word itself didn’t exist in ancient times, but nowadays it’s quite common.
Ye Chutang calmly met Sun Chu’s gaze, her eyes betraying no hint of emotion.
“Young Master Chu, hurry and try cooking with this mixed seasoning. If you find the taste agreeable, I can write down the recipe, and your shop can sell it. We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty.”
Sun Chu couldn’t detect anything unusual in Ye Chutang’s eyes and looked away.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
Being from the north in modern times, his stir-frying skills weren’t great, but he was excellent at preparing cold dishes.
He combined scallions, ginger, garlic, small hot peppers, fine salt, and seasonings, then drizzled vinegar, added some sauces and sugar, and finally mixed it all with fragrant sesame oil.
Sun Chu took a bite—the flavor was quite good.
It would taste even better with oyster sauce and chicken essence.
“Try it, you all.”
Ye Chutang looked at the glistening cold greens and immediately felt her appetite stir.
She took out some beef sauce and jerky from the cart.
“Eat first, there’s still a lot to do today.”
After saying that, she took a bite of the cold dish Sun Chu had prepared.
The taste was decent—tangy and spicy, perfect for a pregnant woman.
Qi Yanzhou doused the remaining firewood with water, stood up, and said, “You all eat first. I’ll go call my eldest sister to come eat, and we can discuss the family separation.”
With that, he left the pharmacy.
Sun Chu chewed on some venison jerky, his eyes shining.
“This jerky is delicious. Where did you get it?”
Ye Chutang picked up a piece of jerky, firm yet tender, and bit into it.
“My maid made it; you can’t buy it anywhere.”
Sun Chu sighed regretfully, “It’s a pity. After the Qi and Ye families were raided, the maids were all sent away.”
Ye Chutang said nothing, leisurely sipping the medicinal porridge.
Before long, Qi Yanzhou returned with Qi Qingyu.
She didn’t see the child and assumed he was still asleep, so she didn’t ask further.
Qi Qingyu sat beside Ye Chutang.
“Sister-in-law, thank you for handling the separation with the Chen family.”
Ye Chutang smiled, “It’s nothing. We’re family; there’s no need for formalities.”
Soon, members of the Qi family gradually came to drink the porridge.
They were all pleased to hear that Qi Qingyu was separating from the Chen family.
Old Master Qi asked, “Qingyu, you don’t need to split your wealth, do you?”
Qi Qingyu served some cold greens to the two elders of the Qi family.
“No need. When the Chen family was raided, the officers didn’t search me. I had already converted my jewelry and silver notes into my dowry, which has nothing to do with the Chen family.”
She had long anticipated the separation and made precautions.
Old Master Qi smiled, “That’s for the best.”
After breakfast, Ye Chutang accompanied Qi Qingyu to the inn where the Chen family was staying.
They carried porridge to bring to Chen Shaoping and the two children.
Madam Chen was old and seldom slept, so she had long been up.
She stood at the inn’s entrance, watching Qi Qingyu approach, and reached out her hand.
“Qingyu, you’re so filial, going out this early to get food. What did you bring back?”
Madam Chen was used to freeloading—it wasn’t new to her.
As long as she wasn’t served dry, tough black wheat buns, she could shamelessly take advantage.
But this time, Qi Qingyu didn’t hand over the medicinal porridge she was carrying.
“Grandmother, I’m sorry, but this porridge can prevent the epidemic disease, and there’s only enough for my husband and our two children. I can’t give you any.”
With that, she stepped around Madam Chen and walked further inside.
Upon hearing that the porridge could prevent the epidemic, Madam Chen immediately reached out to grab it.
“I’m old and frail; this porridge must be for me!”
She hadn’t been able to drink the medicinal soup to ward off the disease last night, leaving her uneasy and sleepless.
Now that porridge with the same healing effect was right in front of her, how could she let it slip away?
“Smack!”
Ye Chutang slapped Madam Chen’s hand hard.
“This porridge belongs to me. You have no right to claim it.”
Madam Chen stared at her reddened hand, her face growing pale as she looked at Qi Qingyu.
“Will you give it or not?”
Since marrying into the Chen family, Qi Qingyu had never once defied Madam Chen.
That gave Madam Chen a smug look as she glanced at Ye Chutang, as if to say: The porridge may be yours, but once I ask for it, it’ll be mine!
Yet reality disappointed her.
Qi Qingyu said coldly, “Grandmother, this is the last time I’ll call you that. This porridge is for Shaoping and the children. You won’t get any.”
Those words caused Madam Chen’s face to darken.
“What do you mean by ‘last time’? Make yourself clear!”
Ye Chutang smiled. “It means we’re splitting the family.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Madam Chen shouted into the inn, “Ming’er, come out quickly! Qingyu wants to split the family!”
Ye Chutang waved at Qi Qingyu.
“Eldest sister, you go take care of our husband and the children. Leave the rest to me.”
“All right. Call me if you need anything.”
Qi Qingyu said this, then avoided the furious Madam Chen and stepped inside the inn.
Madam Chen reached out to stop her but was warned by Ye Chutang.
“The medicine to prevent and treat the epidemic is in my hands. If you don’t want to die in Dayang Town, you’d better let the main branch and the second branch split!”
Chen Weiming, head of the Chen family, still half-dressed, stumbled out from the backyard.
“I don’t agree to split the family!”
He believed Ye Chutang had arranged for both the Qi and Chen families to live in the inn because no one in the Chen family had caught the disease.
So, he thought he had no need for the medicine or to bow to Ye Chutang’s threats.
Ye Chutang guessed what Chen Weiming was thinking and curled her lips in mockery.
“You will agree.”
Then, she grabbed Chen Weiming by his collar and threw him into the nearest cellar.
Inside the cellar were townsfolk infected with the plague.
She looked at the panicked Chen Weiming, smiling coldly.
“Tell me, do you want to die in there, or do you want to come out alive?”
Chen Weiming panicked and tried to climb out, but Ye Chutang kicked him back down.
He clutched his chest and sat up, furious and unwilling.
“You’re treating human lives like dirt!”
Ye Chutang ignored his furious outburst, a smirk playing on her lips.
“If I hadn’t discovered the problem in Dayang Town, this would have been your grave. I saved you yesterday, and today I can just as easily let you die. This isn’t treating lives like dirt—it’s just bringing you back to square one.”
Chen Weiming was left speechless.
Seeing Ye Chutang about to leave, he immediately relented.
“Fine, we’ll split the family!”
Although the Chen family was finished, with no chance of a comeback, living was still better than dying.
Ye Chutang looked at Chen Weiming, who was reluctant and unwilling, and beckoned with his finger.
“Come out.”
The two returned to the inn.
Ye Chutang looked at Qi Qingyu, who was anxiously waiting, and said, “It’s settled. You handle the family division yourselves. Once you’re done, write the severance letter. I’ll have the town magistrate come to seal it officially.”
The town magistrate was the highest official in Dayang Town, making him the perfect witness.
“All right, thank you, sister-in-law.”
Ye Chutang waved her hand casually and returned to the pharmacy.
Just as she was about to discuss the villagers’ illness with Qi Yanzhou, Zhao Mingxu arrived.
He handed Ye Chutang a patchwork sum of two thousand taels in silver notes.
“I want to save four people.”
Ye Chutang accepted the silver without hesitation. “Go ahead.”
“My wife, Qingshu, and Zhinian.”
Zhao Zhinian was Zhao Mingxu’s youngest concubine daughter, whom he doted on.
Her mother had died in the poisoned hornet incident, leaving her alone and vulnerable — a situation he wanted to exploit.
He spent an extra five hundred taels to keep Zhao Zhinian, aiming for a marriage alliance.
Ye Chutang nodded. “Understood. I’ll send the medicinal soup to you shortly.”
Zhao Mingxu then pulled a small silver coin from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Chutang.
“I want to buy arsenic or some poison that can kill.”
Min’er’s reputation was ruined, and her body was no longer pure. Living in such pain was worse than death — better to end it all.
The pharmacy had been looted clean; apart from the herbs Ye Chutang had brought out, there was nothing left.
She understood why Zhao Mingxu wanted poison and suggested, “Try buying rat poison from the villagers. They’ll probably be more than willing to sell it.”
That kind of medicine was worthless—like picking up silver coins off the ground.
She had no sympathy for the despicable woman scheming against Qi Yanzhou.
After Zhao Mingxu reminded Ye Chutang to deliver the medicine quickly, he left the pharmacy to buy rat poison.
Ye Chutang informed the Protecting Army to deliver four servings of medicinal soup to the inn later.
Then she checked on the condition of the villagers in Dayang Town.
Qi Yanzhou handed Ye Chutang a peeled pear.
“The villagers’ illnesses are under control now. They just need to keep taking the medicine. A large batch of herbs will arrive soon, which will be enough to solve the crisis in Dayang Town.”
Last night, Nan Xiao had secretly sent people to Bingzhou to purchase a large quantity of herbs.
Ye Chutang bit into the pear. It was very sweet and juicy.
“We need to stay in Dayang Town for at least five more days to ensure the epidemic is completely resolved. That means more delay, and I’m afraid we won’t reach Tianshan Commandery before the heavy snow blocks the roads.”
Qi Yanzhou thought for a moment and said, “How about taking the official road? Riding in a carriage would be easier.”
But the time to reach Tianshan Commandery wouldn’t be shortened by traveling by carriage.
The official road was smoother but took a much longer detour.
Ye Chutang shook her head. “We’ll take the mountain path. The more strictly we follow the rules, the more it exposes the despicable nature of that dog emperor, ensuring his everlasting infamy.”
“Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”
Just as Qi Yanzhou finished speaking, Zhao Meng, who was guarding the entrance to Dayang Town, arrived.
“Young Master Qi, Madam Qi, the herbs have arrived.”
Qi Yanzhou stood up. “I’ll go take a look.”
Nan Xiao hauled over three full carts of medicinal herbs—enough to treat the afflicted townsfolk.
“Master, I have something to report,” came the voice of a subordinate.
Qi Yanzhou instructed Zhao Meng to deliver the herbs to the pharmacy, then walked off with Nan Xiao toward a distant spot.
“What’s happening in Bingzhou?” he asked.
“The Imperial Astronomer has appeared in Bingzhou. Last night, he even visited the northwest garrison camp.”
Qi Yanzhou knew that Xie Yi had left the capital under imperial orders to seek out the General Star.
“So, the General Star is at Zhao Meng’s garrison?”
Nan Xiao nodded. “Most likely. The Imperial Astronomer’s divinations have never been wrong.”
Qi Yanzhou recalled that Sun Chu had visited the garrison last night.
“Keep someone watching Xie Yi.”
“Yes, Master.”
After Nan Xiao left, Qi Yanzhou returned to the pharmacy.
He told Ye Chutang about the Imperial Astronomer’s appearance in Bingzhou and shared his suspicions about the General Star.
The General Star hailed from the Wuji Sect, and Sun Chu was also from Wuji Sect.
Ye Chutang nodded in agreement.
“Sun Chu is highly skilled in martial arts and a master strategist—he’s the perfect candidate for the General Star.”
“If the General Star emerges, the kingdom will change hands. The emperor wants the Imperial Astronomer to find the General Star and kill him.”
“If the General Star could be killed so easily, he wouldn’t deserve the title.”
Qi Yanzhou poured himself a cup of tea. “Indeed, throughout history, no General Star has ever been slain by a doomed ruler.”
Ye Chutang tossed the pear core he had just eaten onto the street and wiped his hands with a cloth.
“The Imperial Astronomer isn’t truly loyal to the emperor. Don’t worry.”
As the hour approached the late afternoon,
the county magistrate of Lai County and many respected figures were summoned to Dayang Town.
People from nearby towns, villages, and neighboring counties, having heard the news, gradually arrived.
Seeing the growing crowd, Qi Yanzhou instructed Han Chong to bring Zhao Chengyu to the town’s entrance.
Tormented and broken, Zhao Chengyu agreed to reveal the truth behind Liangzhou’s “Substitute Plan” and Dayang Town’s “Scorched Earth Plan.”
If his father—the emperor—could abandon him, the crown prince, without hesitation, then he could very well betray him in return!