Flashback
After the steward was dealt with.
"Before we begin planning our revenge," said Shen Xiatang.
"How did Ye Shin Ah gain so much favour so quickly, in the Ye family residence?" Shen Xiatang asked Ye Shin Ye.
"It was out of nowhere," Ye Shin Ye said in a bewildered manner.
"We were welcoming and didn't mistreat Ye Shin Ye of course but there was always that little bit of distance between I, her, father and grandmother." Ye Shin Ye said as she used her hands to demonstrate.
"I was the first to close in the distance by befriending her and teaching her all the things she needed to know and we were quite amiable with each other but things suddenly changed when Ye Shin Ah curried favour with grandmother."
"Go on." Shen Xiatang said, as she urged Ye Shin Ah to elaborate.
"Grandmother was always standoffish with Ye Shin Ah because she said she was a stain in the Ye family lineage but one day grandmother collapsed from soreness in her bones from top to bottom and Ye Shin Ah was there to massage her everyday." said Ye Shin Ye.
"Bad situations make the heart go fond." Shen Xiatang muttered before pausing slightly.
"Where were you in all this?" Shen Xiatang asked Ye Shin Ye curiously.
"At the time of grandmother's collapse I was at my maternal grandparents' residence for a visit that took up to fourteen days." Ye Shin Ye said and Shen Xiatang nodded as a smile slowly started forming on her face.
"Grab a brush and write down a list of guests that have a high chance of showing up to your grandmother's banquet." Shen Xiatang said to Ye Shin Ye.
"Is that really necessary?" Ye Shin Ye asked as she grabbed a brush and dipped it in ink.
"We don't even know if the Old madam will send for me, so what's the use of preparing for it? asked Ye Shin Ye.
"A solid plan cuts off useless misery." Shen Xiatang lectured Ye Shin Ye.
"If we don't plan now, it might be difficult to plan again after more eyes and ears have been added to the equation." Shen Xiatang said, referring to the numerous maids and servants who could act as spies for Ye Shin Ah and Ye Shin Ye nodded in understanding as she began to write the list of names.
"Among all the people you have written down, which person knows you best or has been in close contact with you?" Shen Xiatang asked Ye Shin Ye.
"Lin Shuying." Ye Shin Ye said as she pointed to the fifth name on the list.
"She owns the biggest embroidery store in all of Da Xia and her embroidery skills are second to none. I learnt from her when I was six and she has always praised my work." Ye Shin Ye said with a smile.
Humming Shen Xiatang asked "Does anyone on your list know anything about herbs?" and Ye Shin Ye looked at the air before her oddly.
"Someone might." Ye Shin Ye said unsurely.
"The list I compiled is filled with high level scholars and noble women plus the Grand Chancellor." Ye Shin Ye said as her eyes skimmed the list before her.
"Someone is bound to know something." Ye Shin Ye said in an optimistic tone but Shen Xiatang shook her head.
"I don't make a gamble on one percent surety. If no one on this list is knowledgeable on herbs then we just have to create a situation for them to learn." Shen Xiatang said with a cold smile.
Few days after Ye Shin Ye was invited back to the Ye's family Residence
"Run faster!" Shen Xiatang urged Ye Shin Ye as Ye Shin Ye sprinted silently.
"I am trying my best." Ye Shin Ye said as she dodged another servant by twisting her body around a pillar.
Groaning in frustration because she wasn't moving as fast as she wanted, Shen Xiatang said "All that training from your mom's adoptive brother for nothing!" with a humph.
"I am trying!" Ye Shin Ye said before slipping into her living quarters undetected.
"Young Miss!" Lan Zhi exclaimed as she ran to Ye Shin Ye.
"What you are doing is dangerous!" Lan Zhi said with a whine.
"It's fine, it's fine." Ye Shin Ye said with a smile before suddenly turning serious.
"Lan Zhi," Ye Shin Ye said and Lan Zhi stood at attention
"I will need you to find everything you can about this herb." Ye Shin Ye said and Lan Zhi nodded.
"And if things pan out the way I expect, I will tell you what to do next." Ye Shin Ye said with a sly smile.
On the day Ye Shin Ah took Ye Shin Ye's embroidery piece.
"And what about that matter I told you about?" asked Ye Shin Ye
"Young Miss is wise." Lan Zhi stated.
"I asked around as you said and it was just as you predicted." Lan Zhi said with pride in her eyes.
"Did you prepare everything accordingly?" Ye Shin Ye asked with a small smile as she took out.
"Yes, young Miss." Lan Zhi said with a smile of her own.
"I made sure to get people to create a huge scene regarding the herb in the presence of the Grand Chancellor and I also made sure that someone who had profound knowledge of the herb was coincidentally walking by." Lan Zhi said with a mischievous smile.
"Good." Ye Shin Ye said with a smile of her own as she began to stitch characters into a scroll.
Flashback end
Amongst the jewellery that tumbled to the floor, a purple herb in the center of the room caught the Grand Chancellor's eyes. Sending a servant to bring it to him, the conversation in the room paused as the purple herb was handed over to the Grand Chancellor.
Wondering what was so special about the herb, Ye Shin Ye's father momentarily stopped talking and everyone stared at the Grand Chancellor in a transfixed manner.
Raising the herb to his face to identify it properly, the Grand Chancellor said "Is this not the herb from Dauyaun?"
"Dauyaun?" muttered the crowd in confusion.
"Is that not the small kingdom just off the border?" muttered a male scholar.
"I recently learnt about this herb fourteen days ago and I am shocked to see it in a place such as this." said the Grand Chancellor.
"Is this herb normally used in the Ye residence?" the Grand Chancellor asked Ye Shin Ye's father and Ye Shin Ye's father nodded.
"My daughter, Ye Shin Ah, recommended this herb to the old madam and she has been using it to reduce some of the pain she feels in the morning." Ye Shin Ye's father said.
"Yes." said the old madam as if she remembered something.
"Ye Shin Ah has always taken good care of me and even massages me to late in the night, day after day without asking anything in return. " said the old madam
"Are you really going to punish her for this little mistake she's made?" Ye Shin Ye's grandmother asked Ye Shin Ye's father in a scolding tone.
"Mother!" Ye Shin Ye's father said in a rebuking manner.
"You can't keep favouring her." Ye Shin Ye's father said in disappointment.
"It's exactly because you favor her that she gets bold enough to commit this unforgivable acts!" Ye Shin Ye's father said and a little bit of shame pierced through the old madam's shameless facade.
Coughing uncomfortably due to what he was going to say next, the Grand Chancellor said "I am sorry to say this, but this herb is poison.