TMBIABHL: Chapter 20

Glossary

·Ye Chutang (叶初棠): Female Protagonist. Heir to an ancient medical family. "Black-Hearted Lotus." Runs a clinic in Jiangling.

·Ye Jingyan (叶璟言): Third Brother (阿言). Calm, studious.

·Ye Yunfeng (叶云风): Fourth Brother (阿风). Impulsive, protective.

·Little Five / Xiao Wu (小五): Youngest sister. ~4 years old. Non-verbal but expressive.

·Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): Male Lead. The Marquis of Dingbei.

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

·Wu Xu (吴旭): A yamen runner who owes Ye Chutang a favor.

·Cao Deping (曹德平): Owner of Caoji Restaurant. Father of Cao Chengwen and Cao Chengwu.

·Cao Chengwen (曹成文): Eldest Young Master of the Cao family.

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Chapter 20: Refusing to Leave

Ye Chutang closed the newly transcribed "On the Six States," placed it in a drawer, instructed Xiao Wu to stay in the room and not run around, and then stood up and walked out.

"What's going on?"

Ye Yunfeng looked anxious, pointing towards the main gate. "The yamen! People from the yamen are here! And they have sealing strips!"

They had lived in Jiangling for three years, always being very proper and law-abiding. Although they occasionally encountered minor troubles, they had never experienced a situation like this.

Ye Chutang walked towards the entrance and soon saw Wu Xu blocking the door with several other officers.

"Officer Wu, what is the meaning of this? Why are you suddenly sealing my clinic?" Ye Chutang asked.

Wu Xu looked troubled. He glanced around before lowering his voice helplessly. "Physician Ye, someone has filed a complaint against you at the yamen, claiming the medicine from your clinic is problematic!"

Ye Chutang narrowed her eyes slightly. "Oh? Who was it?"

Wu Xu gave a bitter smile. "Not just one. Just today alone, four people came forward. Their situations vary, but they all allege their condition worsened after taking the medicine you prescribed! We are just acting on orders. Please understand."

Ye Chutang almost felt like laughing.

Four.

She had practiced medicine for years without a single misstep. This time was strange indeed, with so many alleged prescription errors in a single day.

If it were just one isolated incident without any loss of life, the yamen generally wouldn't intervene. But with four people, the yamen had to take action.

"How many days will it be sealed?"

Wu Xu quickly replied, "Don't worry! Once it's cleared that you're not at fault, it will be unsealed immediately! Generally, it takes about three to five days."

Ye Chutang wasn't so optimistic inwardly.

First, she couldn't buy medicinal herbs, and now this medical dispute. Clearly, someone had set a trap, waiting for her to fall in.

Once sealed, who knew when it could reopen.

Ye Chutang said, "Officer Wu, there is a patient temporarily staying at my clinic. He has no connection to these matters. I would feel remorseful if he were implicated because of this. I hope you can make an exception and allow him to leave."

Wu Xu already owed Ye Chutang a favor, and this request was reasonable and not excessive. He agreed promptly. "No problem."

Ye Chutang thanked him politely.

…

Xiao Wu, lying on the small table, looked out the window and saw her elder sister walk across the courtyard to the door of the opposite room.

Shortly after, Lian Zhou came out.

He glanced towards the main gate and had already guessed most of the situation.

Ye Chutang briefly explained the situation. "...I have already informed them that you have no relation to this clinic and are not involved in these matters. It's uncertain how long this clinic will be sealed. You should leave as soon as possible."

As if to reassure them, Ye Chutang continued, "Your master's injury is basically healed. For the next three days, decoct the medicine according to the prescription I gave you. After three days, apply the medicated ointment for half a month. He will recover completely very soon."

Lian Zhou glanced at her and finally nodded.

"I will inform my master."

Entering the inner room, Lian Zhou repeated Ye Chutang's words. "Master, should I go find suitable lodgings now—"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow.

"Who said I was leaving?"

Lian Zhou was startled, not reacting immediately. "Does Master mean to stay here?"

But the clinic being sealed truly had nothing to do with them. Moreover, as Ye Chutang said, once sealed, no one could be sure when it would reopen, or if it might even close permanently.

Anyone could see they had provoked serious trouble this time.

"Didn't you say before that we only planned to stay here for a short while before leaving?"

The people they were waiting for had already arrived. According to the original plan, they should have set off from Jiangling by now.

Shen Yanchuan recalled the beautiful calligraphy he had seen earlier and said leisurely, "Xu Fengchi is rigidly upright and stubborn. After years in office, he has never engaged in factional struggles, maintaining distance from everyone. But precisely because of this temperament, His Majesty appreciates him greatly, and his position is very secure. Aren't you curious how he could be corresponding with a woman a thousand li away in Jiangling?"

Lian Zhou's eyes widened slightly. "So you plan to stay to investigate her relationship with Xu Fengchi?"

Shen Yanchuan looked into the courtyard, just in time to see Ye Chutang walking towards her room.

She arrived under the eaves, where the little one inside had already poked her head out, unable to contain her curiosity.

The little one looked at her eagerly. Ye Chutang chuckled softly and reached out to gently pinch the chubby little cheek.

Shen Yanchuan lifted his chin, looking intrigued. "What kind of person can still smile when their home is being sealed? And moreover—"

Moreover, with such a casual and unburdened demeanor.

Even with yamen officers blocking the gate and posting sealing strips on the main door, that clean, pure face still showed no panic. Her brows were relaxed, her posture light.

As if nothing in the world weighed on her mind.

Shen Yanchuan let out a soft laugh.

"A good show like this is rare. Naturally, one should enjoy it properly."

…

Ye Chutang instructed A-Yan and A-Feng: "A-Yan, you can read that book in your spare time. A-Feng, protect Xiao Wu."

As the physician of the clinic, Ye Chutang had to go to the yamen for investigation.

The clinic itself was temporarily handed over to the yamen officers to guard.

If not for Wu Xu's presence, they probably would have barged into the courtyard long ago, rummaging through things for "clues and evidence."

Ye Chutang understood this clearly, so she didn't delay for long.

But—why hadn't Shen Yanchuan left yet?

Ye Chutang had to go over and ask again: "Haven't you finished packing? If it gets any later, they won't let you leave."

Lian Zhou looked somewhat embarrassed, clearing his throat with a fist to his mouth. "My master suddenly isn't feeling well. He truly can't leave right now."

Ye Chutang: "…"

She knew her patient's condition perfectly well, didn't she?

That Shen Yanchuan had an excellent constitution and recovered extremely quickly. Apart from not being able to ride horses or hunt, he should be capable of doing everything else by now.

So why was he still lingering here?

…

The Cao Residence.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

In the study, Cao Chengwen knelt on the floor, his face full of anxiety. "Father! I really didn't kill Chengwu! You have to believe me!"

Standing before him was a middle-aged man in his forties—Cao Deping, owner of Caoji Restaurant.

He stared grimly at Cao Chengwen.

"Whether Chengwu's death has anything to do with you, you know perfectly well in your heart!"

Cao Chengwen's face turned pale, cold sweat breaking out on his palms.

Although he was scheming, the older ginger is spicier. How could Cao Deping not see through the intricacies here?

But… Chengwu was already dead. He had to protect his only remaining son!

That's why he had personally stepped in to clean up this mess, even going so far as to use his connection with his cousin!

Gritting his teeth, he pointed at Cao Chengwen, his voice filled with anger. "You just wait! After dealing with Ye Chutang, we'll settle your matter!"

Hearing this, Cao Chengwen knew he was safe. His spirits immediately lifted.

"Father, now that she's been taken to the yamen, there's absolutely no way she can turn things around, right?!"

(End of Chapter)

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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＾⁠)⁠/⁠～♡ 

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