Chapter 86: If You Lose, Take Off the Mask

Only Ye Sisi is blind!

But if Zhao Shi insists, the Medicine King Pavilion could truly go off the rails.

However, seeing our lady's calm‑as‑water demeanor, Zhuang Xian felt reassured.

The miss has always acted without any oversight.

This time is no exception.

Ye Sisi: "???"

Where are any Tiger King Pills left?

She ate them all!

Although not tasty, the effect is still pretty good!

Seeing Ye Sisi unresponsive, Zhao Ya urged once more.

Ye Sisi then stammered, "Mother, I ate all the Tiger King Pills!"

"What?!"

Zhao Shi widened her eyes.

"Didn't I tell you not to eat them, to keep them?"

Zhao Shi's voice involuntarily rose an octave!

The Tiger King Pill is gone, so there's no evidence, right?

"Why keep them? I think the Tiger King Pill is quite useful!"

At that remark, Ye Qingran couldn't hold back, and let out a "pfft" laugh.

"Ye Qingran, why are you laughing?" Zhao Shi asked displeased.

"No, Zhao Yi Niang, when you deal with outsiders, can the internal side be a bit more united?"

Zhao Shi's complexion darkened.

She glared at Ye Sisi with hatred as stubborn as iron, almost wishing death!

If this second daughter were half as clever as the eldest, that would be great!

"Zhao Yi Niang, you keep slandering me and Miss Ye for colluding, selling fake medicine to the Ye Residence, yet you can't produce evidence; are you playing me?"

Zhuang Xian said with a half‑smile, half‑sneer, and an invisible pressure swept like a gale, frightening Ye Yu and several others.

"What are you still standing there for? Quickly apologize to Zhuang Shopkeeper!"

"If apologies are needed, they should be from the Medicine King Pavilion and Ye Qingran; I did nothing wrong!" Zhao Shi was indignant; after all, the Medicine King Pavilion sold fake medicine to Ye Sisi, why should she apologize?

"Whether I apologize or not, I don't mind. However, this concerns the reputation of my Yaowang Valley; I will promptly report to the Valley Master, investigate thoroughly, and if Zhao Yi Niang defamed, my Yaowang Valley will demand an explanation from the Ye Residence!"

Zhuang Xian's tone was no longer the previously gentle elegance, but a sudden harshness.

Ye Yu's heart trembled; without a word, he stepped forward and slapped Zhao Shi's heavily made‑up cheek twice, the crisp sound echoing in the hall, scattering jeweled hairpins across the floor.

Ye Yu's slap was delivered with great force.

Ye Qingran watched coldly, internally mocking.

Ye Yu is extremely selfish. In his view, he is the most important. Back then, he promised Yun Sui Feng a lifetime partnership, used her, then turned to Zhao Shi's bed.

He had intended to proclaim it to the world, but upon learning she couldn't cultivate, he treated her coldly and called her a waste right before her!

As for Zhao Shi, she is even less deserving of sympathy!

Back then, she awoke from the Abyss of Jiu Fu Lin, body covered in scale‑like wounds, nearly dying. After exhausting her lifelong medical skills to save herself, she discovered a chronic poison inside her.

This poison doesn't cause sudden death, but makes the body grow weaker day by day, gradually disabled, eventually bedridden; it also scatters the spirit, clouds the mind, prompting crazy actions; moreover it blocks the meridians, preventing cultivation!

Even with her superb medical skill, it took her a full three years to purge the poison completely!

One can imagine how insidious and long‑lasting Zhao Shi's poison is!

These two slaps actually sobered Zhao Shi up.

She suddenly realized offending Zhuang Xian was a serious matter!

"Zhuang Shopkeeper, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have wronged you; please don't report to the Valley Master!" Zhao Shi was truly frightened. Previously she relied on evidence to challenge Zhuang Xian, but now lacking any proof, how could she confront him?

"Ye Qingran, it's all your fault!"

At this moment, Ye Sisi shouted angrily. She clenched her fists, her face blazing, rushed toward Ye Qingran, swinging her fists to strike Ye Qingran's face!

"If you hadn't snatched the Tiger King Pill then, would I have spent so much money to buy it? It's all your fault! You bastard!"

Ye Qingran stepped back two paces, evaded Ye Sisi's attack, then kicked her to the ground, looking down from above.

"Ye Sisi, before you speak, please use your brain. Since Zhuang Shopkeeper is present, we can ask him whether I arrived first; if not you, the Tiger King Pill would be mine. I haven't accused you of taking my thing; you're the one who first complained!"

Zhuang Shopkeeper agreed: "That day, indeed Miss Ye arrived first."

Zhuang Xian has taken a stance; the truth is no longer important.

"Sisi, shut up!" Ye Yu scolded.

"I won't! If it weren't for that bastard Ye Qingran, would I have spent so much money?"

Ye Sisi kept uttering "bastard" each time she spoke, and Zhuang Xian's eyes flashed with a chilling murderous intent.

Their miss, in Yaowang Valley, is actually cradled in their palms; Ye Sisi must have become jaded to dare such an insult.

"Miss Ye, your upbringing as the third daughter is truly astonishing to Zhuang!"

Ye Yu's complexion instantly turned a mix of blue and black, unsure how to respond.

"You Rebellious Woman, shut up right now! Got it?!" Ye Yu roared in a deep voice, his expression terrifyingly snarling.

Ye Sisi's face turned pale.

Zhuang Xian again produced the IOU signed and sealed by Ye Sisi: "Miss Ye, the total is 4,010,500; considering your Ye Residence is an old client, we'll waive the remainder and take 4,000,000 taels. Miss Ye, how do you intend to pay?"

"What, isn't it 3,500,000?"

Zhao Shi shouted in a sharp voice.

She is a miser, especially sensitive to money.

"Overdue payment incurs interest. This is the rule of my Medicine King Pavilion, Zhao Yi Niang—you wouldn't not know that, would you?"

Zhao Shi's heart was dripping blood.

Zhuang Xian sneered, "An honest and trustworthy person wouldn't need to pay extra these fifty-plus thousand taels."

Implication: the Ye Family lacks integrity!

Ye Yu was left speechless, only able to have the steward gather money, exchange it for banknotes, and pay Zhuang Xian.

"Ye Qingran, I challenge you!"

Ye Sisi suddenly stood up and shouted loudly.

Everyone looked at her in astonishment.

"Do you dare to accept or not?!"

Ye Qingran raised her brows, how could she not know the little schemes in Ye Sisi's heart?

She thinks that without the Tiger King Pill, she can't display her previous strength?

Ye Sisi, you're really stupid!

"You, challenge me? Are you worthy?"

Ye Qingran stood tall and graceful, wearing a simple white dress that outlined her lovely figure; standing there, her demeanor was cool and ethereally beautiful, like a tall, elegant orchid in a secluded valley.

Ye Yu's colleagues, all court officials, are also well-versed.

Yet, Ye Qingran standing before them now, a fleeting stunning glance, unexpectedly makes people's hearts stir with amazement.

Recently, there have been too many rumors about her; it seems that this Ye Family's eldest daughter, since returning to Xiliang, has continually shown her talent.

Previously, Ye Yu's other two daughters were considered outstanding talents, but compared to this eldest daughter Ye Qingran, they pale in comparison.

"Ye Qingran, just say whether you dare to accept or not!"

Ye Sisi curled the corner of her mouth; the smile hid unfathomable thoughts.

"What's there to not dare?"

"All right, then let's meet on the Xuanwu Platform on the fifth day of the fifth month."

Next day.

Fu Qianchen and Mo Xiaohu were playing outside, and Ye Qingran didn't intervene.

She now realizes that these two kids, each more capable than the other and especially clever, so she no longer worries as before.

Mo Xiaohu and Fu Qianchen were playing hide-and-seek; initially inside Ting Yu Xuan, then they went farther and farther, simply leaving the Ye Residence.

"Fu Ze, if you lose, take off your mask and let me see what you look like, okay? Of course, if you're unwilling, then forget it!"

Although he was curious about Fu Ze's appearance, he would rather listen to the beautiful lady's words and respect Fu Ze's personal wishes.

Fu Qianchen thought it over and agreed.