TMBIABHL: Chapter 1

 Character & Term Glossary 

· Ye Chutang (叶初棠): The female protagonist, a reborn heir to an ancient medical family. The "Black-Hearted Lotus." Runs a small clinic in Jiangling.

· Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): The male lead. Introduced here as a severely wounded, noble-looking young man. 

· Lian Zhou (连舟): Shen Yanchuan's attendant/guard.

· Fourth Brother / Si Lang (四郎): Ye Chutang's younger brother. Gets into fights frequently.

· Little Milk Bun (小奶团): Ye Chutang's youngest sister, the baby of the family.

· Auntie Yang (杨婶子): A local woman from Jiangling.

· Caoji Restaurant (曹记酒楼): The largest restaurant in Jiangling, owned by a powerful local family.

· Jiangling (江陵): The town where Ye Chutang and her siblings live.

---

Chapter 1: First Meeting

Early spring, the third month. Grass grew long and orioles flew.

Ye Chutang had just finished laying out her medicinal herbs to dry in the courtyard when she heard a knock at the gate.

"Is anyone there?"

She casually brushed off her clothes, waiting for the faint, astringent scent of medicine clinging to her to dissipate slightly before going to open the door.

"Coming."

Lian Zhou waited anxiously by the gate. When he saw the young woman who appeared behind it, he was momentarily stunned.

This young woman looked to be only seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a plain, unadorned dress embroidered with cherry blossoms, which accentuated her slender figure. Her dark hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin.

She had an oval face, delicate brows like distant mountains, and skin that seemed even fairer than snow. What was most striking were her eyes, dark and clear, gentle and moist, utterly pure.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot) 

She stood there, poised and graceful like a spring cherry blossom that had never experienced frost or storm, making one instinctively lower their voice.

Lian Zhou snapped back to reality, clasped his hands in a salute and stated his purpose. "Greetings. I'm looking for the physician of this clinic."

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod. "I am the physician."

Lian Zhou was even more surprised, then frowned, glancing back worriedly.

He and his master had traveled a long way to get here. His master's condition had worsened and could be delayed no longer, so they sought out the nearest clinic.

He never expected the physician to be such a young woman.

He turned and walked to the carriage, speaking softly to the person inside. "Master, should I look for another clinic?"

A faint eyebrow rose on Ye Chutang's face.

When she had first come to Jiangling to open this clinic three years ago, no one had trusted her skills either.

This master and servant seemed to be from out of town; it was normal for them to react this way.

https://gossipyperennial.com/ixjkivmkq?key=dbd8da2cdf3adba0538bfd92957495ad

A moment later, a cold, deep voice, as if veiled by a thin layer of frost and carrying a penetrating chill, came from the carriage.

"Her will do."

Lian Zhou acknowledged the order and walked back, his attitude slightly more respectful than before.

"Payment is no issue. Please, you must do your utmost to treat my master."

Just as Ye Chutang was about to respond, she heard Auntie Yang's voice shouting from the other end of the street.

"Physician Ye! It's terrible! Your Fourth Brother has gotten into another fight at the academy!"

Ye Chutang's expression didn't change, as if she was long accustomed to such things. She asked gently, "What happened?"

Auntie Yang, gasping for breath, said, "I heard he's brawling with the Second Young Master from Caoji Restaurant and his gang! They can't even pull them apart! You should go take a look!"

Caoji Restaurant was the largest in Jiangling. Rumor had it the owner's cousin was the Magistrate's wife. The whole family was wealthy, powerful, and tyrannical.

The Cao Young Master always had several lackeys around him, experts in cockfighting, dog-walking, eating, drinking, and making merry.

This fight...

Ye Chutang turned her head to Lian Zhou. "Please, come in."

"...What?" Lian Zhou looked from Auntie Yang to Ye Chutang.

Unless he had misheard, it seemed like her family was in some trouble? Wasn't she going to check on it?

Ye Chutang had already turned away, but then seemed to remember something and looked back to remind him. "Oh, right. The consultation fee is one hundred taels."

Lian Zhou was utterly astounded. "One hundred taels?!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot) 

Even clinics in the capital wouldn't dare charge so much!

Ye Chutang sighed inwardly. What choice did she have? If she didn't extort a bit now, where else was she going to get the money to pay for the medical bills for the several people Fourth Brother had beaten up this time?

"Whether you seek treatment or not is entirely voluntary." Her gaze rested on the carriage for a moment. "However... if your master is delayed any further, I'm afraid his condition will not be good."

A chill ran down Lian Zhou's spine.

Did she mean... she could already tell her master's situation was critical? But no, her master had been inside the carriage the whole time. How could she have seen him?

Probably just being paranoid from all the recent stress. A young woman from a small-town clinic—if she knows a little, that's already good. How could she possibly know that much?

https://gossipyperennial.com/ixjkivmkq?key=dbd8da2cdf3adba0538bfd92957495ad

Ye Chutang thanked Auntie Yang and invited the visitors into the clinic.

Auntie Yang watched the slender, graceful figure and shook her head sympathetically.

"Ay, a young woman, raising the whole family all by herself... it's so hard..."

...

The moment Ye Chutang entered the room and saw the patient, she regretted it—regretted setting the fee too low, and even more regretted taking this job.

The man looked to be only around twenty years old. He had a tall, straight nose bridge, deep-set eyes that held a quiet intensity, and wore a moon-white brocade robe. Though his face was pale, it did little to diminish his striking, handsome features.

He was the best-looking man she had seen in Jiangling—no, the best-looking man she had seen in both her lifetimes.

His clothes were understated, his aura cool and detached, his entire person carrying an indescribable nobility.

This was no ordinary young master.

He had two wounds, one on his left chest, one on his right abdomen, both pierced through by sharp arrows. It seemed they had been inflicted some time ago, but the wounds were festering and showed no signs of healing—a clear indication of poison!

This was an attempt to kill him! Anyone could guess there must be deep-seated hatred behind such a lethal attack.

If she wasn't careful, she would get dragged into it, too.

Ye Chutang: "..."

I dislike patients who bring boundless trouble to my doorstep.

Lian Zhou saw her slightly darkened expression and grew anxious. "What? Can you treat it or not?"

I knew we couldn't pin our hopes on a small clinic like this...

Ye Chutang finished taking the pulse and stood up. Hearing his words, she felt a little like laughing.

As the 31st generation heir of the Ancient Medical Family, countless people had once begged for her consultations without success.

Back then, she had died unexpectedly before she could assume the role of family head, but for the first twenty-plus years of her life, she had prepared for it relentlessly, striving for mastery in every discipline and technique—a true champion of overwork. Who would have thought that after being reborn, her professional competence would be questioned repeatedly?

"I can treat it." She wrote a prescription and handed it to Lian Zhou. "Go out and turn right to get this medicine. Additionally, this unique, secret formula will cost two hundred taels."

Lian Zhou: "..."

He was reluctant to go. He was the only one left by his master's side now. With danger lurking everywhere, he couldn't let his guard down.

"I must stay by my master's side."

Ye Chutang's tone was mild. "If he doesn't get the medicine within one hour, your master will no longer need your protection."

Lian Zhou's eyelid twitched. Just as he was about to retort, he saw his master give what seemed like a faint smile.

"Go."

Lian Zhou had no choice but to comply and left quickly.

Only the two of them were left in the room, a quiet stillness settling around them.

Ye Chutang picked up a pair of scissors from the side and looked at the man lying on the bed, gesturing vaguely towards his left chest.

"Shall I begin? You don't mind, do you?"

The man looked at her with deep, unreadable eyes and smiled slightly.

"Please."

...

When Lian Zhou returned, he saw his master lying there with his eyes closed, clothes in disarray.

"Master!" He rushed forward in a panic.

"The medicine and dressings have already been changed," Ye Chutang said, taking the herbs he had brought to prepare the decoction. As she walked out, she added, "His serious injuries haven't healed, there's residual poison in his system, and he's physically weak. Let him rest for now. He can take the medicine after it's ready."

Only then did Lian Zhou realize he had misunderstood, and his anxiously suspended heart finally settled.

"Th-thank you!"

Ye Chutang had only taken a few steps when a little milk bun suddenly rushed out into the courtyard and threw herself against her legs.

She looked down at the chubby, fair little face and couldn't help but smile.

"Awake now? Are you hungry? Do you want some hibiscus cake?" 

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The little milk bun's big, black-grape eyes looked up at her, and she nodded vigorously.

Ye Chutang gently pinched the little one's cheek.

Inside the room behind them, the lying man had opened his eyes at some point.

Lian Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That's great! Who would have thought the physician in this small clinic really does have some skill? Truly hidden depths!"

https://gossipyperennial.com/ixjkivmkq?key=dbd8da2cdf3adba0538bfd92957495ad

Shen Yanchuan watched the scene in the courtyard quietly, thoughtfully, then gave a slight nod of his chin.

"Indeed. Who would have thought, at such a young age, her child is already this big."

(End of Chapter)

---

Translator's Note:

Hello everyone! Here is the first chapter of our new project, The Marquis's Beloved is a Black-Hearted Lotus. I hope you enjoyed meeting Ye Chutang and the mysterious, wounded nobleman! As you can see, our female lead is already demonstrating her unique blend of medical prowess, pragmatic cunning (hence the "Black-Hearted Lotus"), and weary responsibility. The dynamic between her and the male lead promises to be fascinating. Looking forward to sharing more of their story with you!

← prev next →