After the mind-reading and gossip-eating incident, officials in the imperial city were demoted one a

Ye Yaoyao was thinking about how to provoke her scumbag father so that the system could see his thoughts.

Ye Mian, sensing that Ye Yaoyao's intentions were not good and having not yet investigated her background, tried his best to maintain the image of a kind father, but was filled with vigilance in his heart.

Both father and daughter had their own agendas.

Having found out nothing, Ye Yaoyao and her two siblings left.

[My scumbag dad is acting so strangely today; he didn't even scold my second brother.]

Ye Jingyang: So in my scumbag father's heart, I'm just someone to be scolded.

[Host, your scumbag father believes you're possessed by something powerful and is searching for a true master to subdue you.]

Haha, then I'm awesome.

But then again, where did that scumbag father get so much money to buy the ointment that cost 10,000 taels?

It couldn't have been saved from the banknotes my mother gave me.

Neither Ye Jingyang nor Ye Xiyao knew that Ye Mian had a secret stash of money.

Their monthly salary of thirty taels was barely enough to make ends meet, not to mention they also had a mistress and her family to support.

[Host, some of the money came from the Yun family, but they've been giving less in recent months, barely enough to support the mistress's family.]

So, did the scumbag father accept bribes, or did he do something behind the scenes?

Ye Yaoyao grew increasingly suspicious, feeling that her scumbag father's involvement would implicate many people.

Ten thousand taels is no small sum for a third-rank official; in the capital city, first-rank officials and aristocratic families are the truly wealthy.

[The scumbag father is the mastermind behind everything, and he must have made a lot of money from it.]

Find Uncle Ji to check out that scumbag dad's secret stash of money, and then empty it.

Ye Yaoyao clenched her fists, her eyes filled with excitement.

【This is possible. 】

Ye Jingyang: I can find a secret stash of money too.

"Second brother, do you know how many political enemies our scumbag father has?"

"Father doesn't have many political enemies. If I had to name one, there's one who's been making quite a fuss."

Ye Mian was good at disguising himself; his political disagreements only occurred in court, while he was very adept at dealing with people outside of court.

"Who is it!" Ye Yaoyao exclaimed, her eyes wide with curiosity. She wanted to know who had such keen insight.

"Lord Lu of the Ministry of Justice."

Is my little sister going to tell Lord Lu about her scumbag father accepting bribes?

[My scumbag father's enemy is my friend; I'll have to meet this Lord Lu another day.]

"Don't worry, little sister, your uncle is investigating." Ye Jingyang lowered his voice.

The next day, Ye Yaoyao also got up early to practice horse stance.

There were a few more people in the courtyard today. Chen Ranran stayed at the Ye family's house, originally wanting to be a maid so she wouldn't eat and drink for free, but Ye Xiyao disagreed, telling her that she would have a chance to repay them in the future.

Granny Xu has woken up after being unconscious for two days. Chen Ranran is eating and drinking well at the Ye family home, and Ye Yaoyao is also preparing medicinal meals for her.

Although she is still very thin, her complexion is better than when we first met, and she is now working out with the sisters to improve her health.

Ye Yaoyao squatted in a horse stance, looking at Ye Jingyang and Xin Chuli who had been staring at each other for a long time with their swords in front of them, and couldn't help but mutter.

"Brother, how much longer are they going to stand there and watch?"

[Isn't it just a swordsmanship contest? Does it need to be like those high-level duels on TV, testing who moves first?]

Ye Jingyang was taken aback; he was waiting for Miss Xin to make the first move!

Xin Chuli shared the same thought as Ye Jingyang.

Helpless, Ye Jingyang launched an attack. With a swing of his longsword, Xin Chuli remained calm and moved her feet lightly, skillfully parrying with her sword. The swords clashed, producing a crisp sound.

Then Xin Chuli took the initiative by turning to the side, moving freely among Ye Jingyang's sword moves.

Ye Jingyang was surprised that Xin Chuli's swordsmanship was not bad, and began to fight seriously.

With a flick of his wrist, he swept his wrist horizontally, unleashing a move called "Autumn Wind Sweeping Leaves," aimed at Xin Chuli. She gracefully leaped back a few steps, dodging the attack.

Xin Chuli leaped into the air, thrusting her sword downwards. Ye Jingyang parried upwards, deflecting the attack.

"Sister Xin is amazing."

Ye Yaoyao was very excited watching it; it was much more exciting than what she saw on TV, and she even forgot that she was doing a horse stance.

"Little sister, squat down properly," Ye Li'an reminded her, standing to the side.

"Okay! Alright." Ye Yaoyao quickly squatted down again.

Both sides unleashed a flurry of swordplay. Ye Jingyang's swordsmanship became increasingly fierce and domineering, while Xin Chuli's swordsmanship was light and graceful, relying on skill to win.

This spectacular competition left everyone in the courtyard in awe, and in the end, it was a close contest.

"Miss Xin, what excellent swordsmanship!" Ye Jingyang exclaimed sincerely, "No wonder you were taught by a martial arts sect."

"Second Brother Ye, you flatter me." Xin Chuli said, cupping her hands in greeting.

When the appointed time arrived, everyone went out to watch the Second Prince's wedding procession. There was still a ceremony for the royal family to take a concubine, but it could not surpass that of the principal wife.

When the royal family welcomed their principal wife, sixteen people carried her in a sedan chair, and the prince personally greeted her. Concubines, on the other hand, were only allowed eight people, and the prince personally accompanied them to the wedding.

To marry a concubine, one only needs to walk around two streets in the capital city. Ye Yaoyao and her companions booked a private room in an inn for breakfast.

"Burp! I'm done eating."

After eating and drinking her fill, Ye Yaoyao sat down to watch the wedding procession and walked to the window.

Before long, a cheerful and festive sound of suona horns and drums drifted from afar, and from upstairs, one could still see the long procession.

Boxes of betrothal gifts were neatly arranged and carried by people, and the dowry items were also quite exquisite and beautiful.

Although she was a concubine, her wedding was no different from that of a legitimate daughter of an official. The Second Prince valued Zhao Qingrou.

The people stood on both sides to make way for the wedding procession, watching the spectacle and whispering among themselves:

"Which family's young lady is getting married? They're making quite a show of it!"

An elderly man craned his neck, squinted at the wedding procession, his face full of curiosity.

The well-informed vendor replied loudly:

"The daughter of Vice Minister Zhao has been betrothed to the Second Prince as a concubine; it's a royal wedding!"

"Isn't it said that the Second Prince has many concubines? And he also married a secondary consort."

A middle-aged woman frowned and muttered to herself.

"You don't know this, do you? Having many concubines can't keep up with not having any children. Miss Zhao may be a secondary concubine, but as long as she gives birth to a son or daughter, she can enjoy a life of luxury."

"How many concubines does the Second Prince have?" Ye Yaoyao asked curiously.

"The Second Prince is a womanizer. After marrying his principal wife three years ago, he has brought in concubines one after another. There must be at least ten by now!"

Ye Jingyang thought for a moment and then guessed.

"Ten, and not a single one has been born. The infighting in the backyard must be too fierce!"

Xin Chuli raised an eyebrow slightly and guessed.

"No, I heard that the Second Prince's wives and concubines live in harmony and there is no competition for his favor."

Ye Li'an shook his head slightly and replied softly.

“That means the Second Prince has a health problem,” Ye Yaoyao blurted out, her words direct and bold.

"Little sister, don't talk nonsense. Royal family members all have imperial physicians who check their pulse regularly. The Second Prince is in very good health."

Ye Li'an's expression changed slightly, and he quickly lowered his voice to warn that if others overheard their discussion of the royal family, it would be troublesome.

"Oh!"

Ye Yaoyao responded, thinking that with the street so lively, no one would hear her.