TMBIABHL: Chapter 6

 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), cleared of murder suspicion in this chapter.

· Cao Chengwen (曹成文): The eldest son of the Cao family. His behavior remains suspicious.

· Madam Cao (曹夫人): The mother of the deceased Cao Chengwu. Beginning to suspect the truth.

· Wu Xu (吴旭): The yamen runner.

· Zhang, the Coroner (张仵作): The official coroner. Confirms the allergic reaction.

· Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): The male lead. Makes a surprising move at the end of the chapter.

· Little Five / Xiao Wu (小五): Ye Chutang's youngest sister. Is apparently quite comfortable with Shen Yanchuan.

---

Chapter 6: Her Home Had Been Stolen!

The Public Mortuary.

Cao Chengwu's body was laid out in the courtyard. A middle-aged man with a goatee hurried over—none other than Coroner Zhang from the magistrate's office.

Ye Chutang, with Ye Yunfeng, stood on one side, facing the Cao family on the other. The atmosphere was tense.

Seeing the newcomer, Cao Chengwen immediately stepped forward, speaking urgently,

"Coroner Zhang, you must conduct a thorough examination and determine the true cause of my brother's death!"

Coroner Zhang assented repeatedly.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Watching from the side, Ye Chutang suddenly remarked, "Although the Eldest Young Master and your brother don't share the same birth mother, your bond seems remarkably deep. It's quite touching."

Cao Chengwen's face stiffened. "I have been by Mother's side since I was young and grew up with my brother. Our relationship is naturally not something outsiders can compare to!"

All of Jiangling knew that Cao Deping, the owner of Caoji Restaurant, was a notorious womanizer. His first wife died in childbirth delivering his son. Within a month, he had married her younger sister—the current Madam Cao.

Cao Chengwen, a few years older, had always been extremely close and indulgent towards this younger brother. Cao Chengwu had caused plenty of trouble growing up, most of which was resolved by Cao Chengwen.

This time, however, things had gone too far, ending in death.

Ye Chutang nodded, saying nothing more. Yet, Cao Chengwen grew increasingly uneasy, stealing glances at Ye Chutang from time to time.

He felt there was something behind her question...

He looked towards Coroner Zhang again, secretly clenching his fist.

Time passed slowly.

Finally, Coroner Zhang completed the autopsy.

Wu Xu asked immediately, "Well?"

Coroner Zhang sighed. "There are no serious external injuries, but there are extensive purpura patches. The cause of death was asphyxiation. I estimate... he ate something he was allergic to before he died. The time of death was around the Chou hour [1:00-3:00 AM] today."

This conclusion matched Ye Chutang's.

Wu Xu nodded, then turned to Ye Yunfeng. "What did you do after your fight with Cao Chengwu yesterday?"

Hearing Coroner Zhang's words, Ye Yunfeng felt more assured, and his initial panic subsided.

He answered seriously, "After our fight at the academy, I went straight home and never saw him again. My classmates can all vouch for that!"

Cao Chengwen frowned. "Who's to say you didn't sneak off to find Chengwu later!"

Ye Chutang raised a delicate eyebrow. "A-Feng's every move at the academy yesterday is accounted for by his classmates. As for Cao Chengwu, from what I understand, he also went home right after class. Eldest Young Master Cao, you suspect A-Feng did something in secret? He's only twelve. Slipping into the Cao residence unnoticed would be rather difficult, wouldn't you say?"

Cao Chengwen's expression turned sour.

He knew all too well that Ye Chutang's words were irrefutable.

The two parties involved in the conflict had returned to their respective homes after leaving the academy and had no further contact.

Under these circumstances, trying to pin the blame on Ye Yunfeng was nearly impossible!

"Furthermore,if A-Feng had indeed tampered with something, Cao Chengwu should have fallen ill much sooner, not waited until the next morning to be discovered," Ye Chutang continued. "And what a remarkable coincidence that when the Cao family's Second Young Master had his sudden attack, there wasn't a single servant by his side by chance, and he wasn't found until the next morning?"

Madam Cao, previously lost in her grief, was jolted by these words. Her head snapped up. "Wh-What do you mean by that!?"

"What I mean should be quite clear to you, Madam Cao."

Ye Chutang didn't believe a woman who had held the position of Madam Cao for so many years was truly witless. Earlier, she had likely been overwhelmed by the shock of losing her son. But with just a little prompting, it wasn't hard to see the issues.

—Cao Chengwu was allergic to river shrimp. If he came into contact with them, he would invariably fall ill within half an hour. If he felt unwell, wouldn't he have called for help? Yet, last night, the Cao household was undisturbed. By the time the servants discovered something was wrong, he was already cold.

Whoever did this was clearly intent on killing him outright, leaving him not the slightest chance of survival.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Madam Cao's eyes filled with panic and dread.

At that moment, Wu Xu also spoke up. "If I may ask, Madam Cao, had your son offended anyone recently?"

"N-No..." Madam Cao repeated, thinking back in disbelief. "Although his temper was a bit short, it was always minor scuffles. Nothing that would warrant killing him!"

Her words held some truth.

Cao Chengwu was fourteen, spoiled rotten since childhood, often bullying the weak relying on his family's influence.

But to have incurred a mortal enemy? That seemed unlikely.

Ye Chutang's gaze swept imperceptibly over Cao Chengwen as she asked, seemingly casually, "Then... what about Eldest Young Master Cao?"

Cao Chengwen started as if pricked by a needle, his head jerking up. "Wh-What!?"

Ye Chutang watched him closely, not missing a single flicker of emotion on his face, though her tone remained calm and indifferent. "I said, Eldest Young Master Cao, you and your second brother were very close. You should know his situation well. Can you think of anyone suspicious?"

Cao Chengwen's lips seemed somewhat pale. "Oh! Oh! Y-You mean that... I... I'm not very sure. I've been busy with the shop lately and haven't paid him much mind."

Wu Xu pondered for a moment. "According to Coroner Zhang's estimated time of death, it's highly likely someone within the Cao household is responsible."

He raised a hand.

"We'll start the investigation with them!"

…

Ye Chutang brought Ye Yunfeng back to the clinic to await the magistrate's investigation results.

Dusk was settling, and the remote path was nearly empty, with only the two siblings walking side by side.

Ye Yunfeng wasn't one to hide his thoughts. Seeing no one around, he finally couldn't resist leaning closer and asking in a hushed voice, "Elder Sister, do you think... that Cao Chengwen is suspicious?"

Instead of answering directly, Ye Chutang brought up another matter. "I heard Master Cao's health hasn't been well recently."

Although Ye Yunfeng was straightforward, he wasn't slow. It only took him a few seconds to grasp her meaning. "Elder Sister, are you saying Cao Chengwen was worried Cao Chengwu would compete with him for the family fortune?"

Cao Chengwu was only fourteen and probably hadn't given such matters much thought. But Cao Chengwen was already nineteen and would certainly be making plans for himself.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

With Cao Chengwu dead, the Cao family fortune would be his alone.

Ye Chutang neither confirmed nor denied it.

Ye Yunfeng scratched his head, still finding it hard to believe. "But they're still brothers. How could he bear to..."

Ye Chutang stopped in front of the clinic gate and said to him with a faint smile, "Don't speak recklessly without evidence."

Ye Yunfeng immediately fell silent.

Ye Chutang pushed the gate open. But the next moment, the smile froze on her face.

In the courtyard, the little milk bun she had carefully cared for over the past three years was currently nestled in a man's arms, diligently munching on a hibiscus cake.

Hearing the noise, the large and small figures both looked up simultaneously.

Meeting those deep, phoenix eyes that held a hint of a mocking smile, only one thought flashed through Ye Chutang's mind—

Her home had been stolen!!!

(End of Chapter)

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