Chapter 20: Feelings Stirring in Secret

"Corpse-Rotting Grass? No one in the capital can cure it? What are we to do?" The Old Matriarch paced back and forth, frantic with worry.

The physician’s words struck the hearts of the Ye family like a bolt of lightning. Ye Qingyan gripped Chen Huai’an’s hand tightly, her heart aching, tears falling uncontrollably.

"This young man, who just risked his life to protect me, has only just walked back from the gates of death, only to be sentenced to it again?" she thought to herself.

"System!" she roared in her mind, her voice laced with anxiety and desperation. "Didn't you claim to be the most powerful existence in this world? Didn't you call yourself a monarch? If you saved him, you must see it through to the end!"

[What is there to panic about!]

The system’s voice remained cold, though the anger was gone, replaced by a hint of disdain.

[I recognize this poison. It is the Corpse-Rotting Grass, a rare poison offered as tribute by a small southern border nation years ago. The antidote exists in the national treasury, but the cost in points... is extremely high.]

Ye Qingyan’s heart sank. She knew what "extremely high" meant. Sure enough, when the system interface displayed the astronomical point requirement, her breath hitched. She had never seen such a massive figure; it was nearly the sum of all her points combined, and then some.

"Credit!" Ye Qingyan shouted without hesitation. "I want to purchase on credit! No matter how much it costs, I agree!"

[Is the host certain? This is no small sum.] The system seemed somewhat surprised.

"I am certain! As long as Huai’an can be saved, I will pay any price!"

[Very well.] The system’s indifferent voice seemed to carry a trace of imperceptible satisfaction. [Given that the host currently lacks sufficient points, credit is permitted. However, to ensure my interests are protected, the host must sign a series of unequal treaties, promising to generate massive benefits for me until all credit is repaid, along with high interest.]

Ye Qingyan did not think twice. She saw a dense wall of clauses appearing on the interface and, without even bothering to read them, she chose "Agree" without hesitation.

[Contract active. The antidote has been dispensed into your consciousness space.]

As the system’s chime faded, a small porcelain vial appeared in her mind. With a flick of her will, the vial materialized in her hand.

She immediately uncorked it, and a faint, fragrant medicinal scent wafted out. She poured a few drops and handed it to the physician. "This is the antidote. Take a look."

The physician took the liquid, sniffed it, and cautiously touched a drop to his fingertip; shock washed over his face.

"This... this fragrance is pure, the medicine is mild yet carries a strange, vibrant vitality..." he muttered, having never seen such miraculous medicine.

With trembling hands, he administered the liquid into Chen Huai’an’s mouth.

Ye Qingyan then poured most of the remaining medicine from the vial and carefully applied it to the spot on Chen Huai’an’s back where the sleeve arrow had struck. Although the wound had already closed, the toxins likely remained in his system.

Only after doing this did she let out a sigh of relief. She held Chen Huai’an’s hand, feeling warmth gradually return to his palm.

In his unconscious state, Chen Huai’an murmured, "Eldest Miss... Eldest Miss... ah... no... Qingyan..."

Ye Qingyan’s eyes softened with tenderness and residual fear. She gently stroked his forehead. "I will never let anyone hurt you again."

The physician checked Chen Huai’an’s pulse once more. A moment later, his eyes lit up with ecstasy. "The poison is neutralized! Young Master Chen’s pulse is steady and strong; although his body is weak, he is out of danger!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Chengzong and the Old Matriarch wept with joy.

"Thank goodness! Thank goodness!" the Old Matriarch repeated, tears streaming down her face.

Ye Chengzong also breathed a long sigh of relief, his tense body finally relaxing. However, the look he cast at Chen Huai’an carried a trace of reproach.

"Huai’an, you were far too reckless this time!" Ye Chengzong’s voice held a hint of displeasure. While he acknowledged that Chen Huai’an had saved the Ye family’s face, he was more concerned with his future. "Do you realize how much your studies have been delayed by this injury? What are we to do about the Autumn Examinations in a few days?"

Ye Chengzong did not mention the heroic feat of Chen Huai’an blocking the arrow for Ye Qingyan, as if it were a trivial accident.

Ye Qingyan’s heart turned cold in an instant. She looked at Ye Chengzong’s hypocritical face, a fire of rage burning in her chest.

"Father!" Ye Qingyan’s voice was cold and clear. "Huai’an did this to protect me—your eldest legitimate daughter, the face of the Ye family."

She stared directly into Ye Chengzong’s eyes, refusing to back down.

"If anything had happened to him, the backbone of the Ye family would have been broken!" Her words were heavy and forceful, carrying an overwhelming pressure. "How would your colleagues in the imperial court view a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue who cannot even protect his own family?"

Ye Chengzong’s face flushed red instantly, choked into silence by her words. "Uh... you..."

The official reputation he took such pride in, and his career prospects, were his greatest weaknesses. Every word of Ye Qingyan’s struck at his sore spot.

The Old Matriarch frowned as she looked at Ye Chengzong, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Sigh, what a misfortune for this family!"

Following this crisis, the Ye estate was in complete disarray. With Wang Feifei’s downfall, the management of the household was left vacant. Several stewards began to engage in deceit, and the account books were in total chaos. The entire estate had descended into disorder.

Early the next morning, the Old Matriarch summoned Ye Qingyan to her quarters.

"Qingyan," the Old Matriarch looked at her kindly, her tone gentle. "Your mother passed away early, and you have never handled the household affairs. Now that the Wang woman has fallen and the management is vacant, I am old and lack the energy. Why don't you try managing the household and share some of the burden for your grandmother? What do you think?"

Ye Qingyan knew this was not a simple request. The Old Matriarch wanted to see whether her granddaughter was truly a fool or merely playing dumb. She wanted to see if she had the capability to prop up this crumbling estate.

"Yes, Grandmother." Ye Qingyan did not decline; she knew this was the perfect opportunity to seize control of the Ye family.

That afternoon, Chen Huai’an woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Ye Qingyan guarding his bedside, her eyes full of worry.

"Eldest Miss..." his voice was hoarse, but he immediately thought of something. "Although Wang Feifei has fallen, most of the stewards in the house are her people, with deep-rooted connections. Eldest Miss must be careful."

Ye Qingyan tucked the blanket around him, her movements gentle and her gaze confident.

She smiled. "Don't worry. Their good days are at an end. From today on, the Ye estate is under my command."

Her eyes were filled with confidence—a regal, innate air of authority, as if the entire Ye family were already in the palm of her hand.

The next day, under the guise of the "hell-raising demon," Ye Qingyan strode toward the accounting office. All the stewards were waiting inside, whispering to one another with gloating smiles, waiting to make a mockery of this "foolish eldest miss."

However, they did not know that a storm was about to descend—she had come to collect their due!