TMBIABHL: Chapter 12

 Character & Term Glossary 

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

· Ye Yunfeng (叶云风): The fourth brother (四郎). Hot-tempered but learning restraint.

· Ye Jingyan (叶璟言): The third brother (三郎). Calm, studious, and protective.

· The Tutor (夫子): The teacher at the local academy. Holds a bias against the Ye brothers.

· Cao Chengwu (曹成武): The deceased Second Young Master of the Cao family.

---

Chapter 12: The Capital

The incident at the yamen entrance caused a huge uproar, spreading throughout the entire Jiangling in just a single day.

The matter had already attracted significant attention, and now, with the apparent involvement of fratricide within the Cao family, it stirred the gossipy nerves of many.

The next day, the Ye brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, went to the academy as usual. The moment they arrived at the gate, they were met with various looks from many people.

Especially Ye Yunfeng.

Ye Yunfeng, being bold and direct, paid no mind to these gazes, while Ye Jingyan remained as quiet and introverted as ever, his expression normal.

It was as if the external disturbances couldn't affect them in the slightest.

The brothers were only a year apart, and since the academy was small with not many students, they attended classes together.

The two seemed completely unaware of their classmates' stares, taking their seats one after the other.

A young boy was pushed forward by a few others. His mouth moved, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.

It was Ye Yunfeng who lost his patience first: "Spit it out if you have something to say."

The boy at the front, hearing this, finally spoke cautiously, "So, Ye Yunfeng, Cao... Cao Chengwu's death really has nothing to do with you, right?"

Ye Yunfeng had expected this question. He sneered, "What do you think? If I had really killed him, would I be sitting here right now?"

Wouldn't he have been arrested long ago?

These people were ridiculous.

The boys looked at each other.

They had never encountered anything like this in Jiangling. Temporarily shocked, they couldn't help but feel both fear and curiosity.

"S-So, he really died from eating river shrimp?"

Ye Yunfeng snorted, "I opened the coffin and saw it with my own eyes! How could it be false?"

Hearing this, the group instinctively stepped back again, their eyes towards him now holding a trace of fear.

Opening a coffin to examine a corpse right on the street!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

And Ye Yunfeng was only twelve! His courage was simply too great!

A thin, small boy couldn't help but ask, "Y-You weren't scared? That was... that was a coffin with a dead person inside!"

Ye Yunfeng found it laughable.

"What's there to be scared of a dead person? My elder sister said that sometimes, the living are more frightening than the dead!"

A dead person lying there can't harm you!

When he mentioned Ye Chutang, everyone's expressions became very complicated.

Another tall, thin boy muttered under his breath, "Speaking of which, your elder sister is so fierce. Who would dare to marry her in the future!"

Ye Yunfeng instantly flared up, standing up with a thud: "What did you say!?"

The boy was startled by him. Feeling timid, he stepped back two steps, but then felt this was too shameful, so he raised his voice to retort, "What did I say that was wrong? What other girl is like your elder sister, daring to open a coffin and examine a corpse in public!?"

Ye Yunfeng, in his anger, laughed instead. "My elder sister is the most remarkable woman in the world! What do you bunch know!?"

That boy snorted, "So what if a woman is remarkable? If she can't get married in the future, she'll still end up unwanted!"

Ye Yunfeng's fists clenched tightly, veins throbbing on his forehead.

Seeing him like this, the boy thought he was about to strike and grew afraid again.

"You! What do you think you're doing!? You'd dare to start a fight here!?"

Someone nearby chimed in, "Exactly! Don't forget, you just fought Cao Chengwu here a couple of days ago. Do you want to cause more trouble now? The Tutor will never tolerate your insolence!"

Ye Yunfeng gritted his teeth but, contrary to everyone's expectations, did not throw a punch as he usually would.

He laughed coldly, "I hit him because he deserved it! As for you lot... you're not worth me lifting a finger!"

Ye Jingyan, who had put down his book at some point, had a calm and composed expression on his handsome face.

He glanced at Ye Yunfeng, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

Elder Sister was right. This incident with the Cao family had indeed taught A-Feng a lesson, making him less impulsive and prone to trouble than before.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Seeing that Ye Yunfeng surprisingly didn't make a move, everyone thought he was afraid and couldn't help but laugh and mock him loudly.

"What 'not worth it'? You just don't dare! You chickened out!"

Ye Yunfeng's fists clenched even tighter. The next moment, they heard Ye Jingyan speak coolly from behind, "My elder sister opened the coffin to examine the corpse to prove her younger brother's innocence. A-Feng fought to protect his elder sister's reputation. Both acts show exceptional courage. As for you gentlemen, instead of focusing your minds on your studies, you choose to gossip about others in a place meant for reading the sages' books. Pray tell, in what way are you superior to us?"

His words shamed and embarrassed the boys immensely. They wanted to argue back but didn't know where to start.

"You—"

Before they could finish, someone suddenly shouted, "The Tutor is coming!"

Everyone hastily scattered and returned to their seats.

Shortly after, an elderly man with a long beard and wearing a long robe walked in.

He first looked at Ye Yunfeng and slightly frowned.

The old Tutor disliked this kind of student the most, not to mention that the academy had recently been dragged into trouble because of Ye Yunfeng.

Ye Jingyan tugged at Ye Yunfeng, and only then did Ye Yunfeng sit down.

However, the very next second, the Tutor spoke.

"Ye Yunfeng, the text I assigned you to recite last time. Have you memorized it?"

Ye Yunfeng was stunned for a moment, a look of difficulty appearing on his face.

He never liked reading to begin with, and with everything that had happened the past two days, he had forgotten all about it.

The Tutor didn't seem to have expected him to know it either. He snorted coldly, "Nothing but the courage of a rash brute!"

He came to Ye Yunfeng's desk and took out the ruler.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Ye Yunfeng didn't shrink back and directly held out his hand.

Smack!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The Tutor didn't hold back. A bright red mark instantly appeared on Ye Yunfeng's palm.

Ye Yunfeng pressed his lips together and didn't make a sound.

The Tutor then looked at Ye Jingyan behind him, implying meaningfully, "This is an academy, a place for learning! Having you study diligently is to help you understand reason, not to enable you to win a war of words! Some should not presume themselves so clever just because they can recite a few books!"

Anyone could tell these words were meant to reprimand Ye Jingyan.

The boys who had been arguing earlier turned back and made faces at them, unable to hide their smugness.

Ye Jingyan acted as if he didn't see them, nodding gently. "The Tutor speaks wisely."

Only then did the Tutor, satisfied, turn back and begin the lesson.

...

"Third Brother, I really don't understand. It's one thing if the Tutor doesn't like me, but why does he dislike you too?"

On the way home from the academy, Ye Yunfeng couldn't help but complain.

His third brother's scholarship and essay writing were beyond reproach, yet the Tutor always seemed to find fault with him and never gave him a good look.

"Is it just because you corrected him once when you first started attending his class? He was the one who taught it wrong, but in the end, he blamed you!" Ye Yunfeng kicked a pebble away, feeling very indignant on his behalf.

Ye Jingyan, however, was long accustomed to it. "It's a small matter. Pay it no mind."

Ye Yunfeng's mouth moved. Finally, he couldn't hold back and muttered quietly, "If only we were still in the capital, then Third Brother you wouldn't be—"

"A-Feng!"

Before he could finish, Ye Jingyan immediately cut him off, his expression serious.

"Don't ever say that in front of Elder Sister again."

(End of Chapter)

---

Translator's Note: check out my other work— My Younger Sister Insisted On A Marriage Exchange Wanting To Make Me The Wife Of A Marquis and Rebirth as the Matriarch of a Noble Family (⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

← prev next →