TMBIABHL: Chapter 25
Glossary
·Ye Chutang (叶初棠): Female Protagonist. Heir to an ancient medical family. "Black-Hearted Lotus." Runs a clinic in Jiangling.
·Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): Male Lead. The Marquis of Dingbei.
·Lian Zhou (连舟): Shen Yanchuan's attendant/guard.
·Cao Chengwen (曹成文): Eldest Young Master of the Cao family.
·Little Five / Xiao Wu (小五): Youngest sister. ~4 years old. Non-verbal but expressive.
·Yang Zhen (杨真): The Magistrate of Jiangling county.
·Liu Liyi (柳姨娘): Magistrate Yang's concubine. Cao Deping's cousin.
---
Chapter 25: No One to Protect Her
Shen Yanchuan narrowed his phoenix eyes.
He knew Ye Chutang would have a way to handle the situation, but the speed at which she resolved it still exceeded his expectations.
Since coming to Jiangling, from the first time he saw Ye Chutang until now, troubles never seemed to leave her.
Yet, no matter what happened or what the situation was, that woman always remained composed and unflustered, always able to resolve matters with an air of casual ease.
This was absolutely not something an ordinary woman could achieve.
Moreover, there was her beautiful "lady's script" calligraphy…
"What about the investigation I asked for earlier?" Shen Yanchuan inquired.
Lian Zhou snapped back to attention, recalling the information he had gathered today. His expression turned somewhat complicated.
"I heard they came to Jiangling three years ago. Physician Ye was only fourteen at the time, yet she managed to establish a life here for her family. Jiangling is a small place, not without its share of prejudice against outsiders. She was an outsider and a woman. One can imagine how much hardship she endured."
Speaking of this, Lian Zhou felt a twinge of emotion.
This world was already difficult, let alone for someone in Ye Chutang's situation.
"Luckily, Physician Ye has exceptional medical skills, otherwise…"
Although Ye Chutang's consultation fees were steep, Lian Zhou paid them willingly because he understood her skills were worth the price.
However…
"It's just unclear where she learned her medical skills or who her master was. Although they've been in Jiangling for three years, no one knows their place of origin. I only heard they came three years ago with refugees fleeing famine and settled here later."
Shen Yanchuan paused. "Fleeing famine?"
Lian Zhou nodded. "Three years ago, there was a snow disaster and major famine in the north. Many people fled south."
He sighed, "If one didn't inquire specifically, it would be hard to tell they had such an experience."
Mainly because Ye Chutang's appearance and bearing were too outstanding—graceful, lovely, and mild-tempered. One might mistake her for a noble lady raised with great care.
And her two younger brothers, though with different personalities, both had fine features and an innate bearing that set them apart from ordinary folk.
(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)
In short… it was impossible to tell they were once famine refugees nearly dying on the road.
Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment. "What about her husband and family? Was there no one to protect her?"
Lian Zhou's expression grew even more peculiar.
"Master, Physician Ye… she is not yet married."
Shen Yanchuan paused, his eyelashes lifting slightly. "Oh?"
Lian Zhou felt rather awkward about such a big misunderstanding. "That little girl is actually her youngest sister, the fifth child, hence the childhood name Xiao Wu (Little Five)."
Shen Yanchuan's slender, jade-like fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair twice, lost in thought.
Lian Zhou continued sighing with emotion. "Think about it. Three years ago, Physician Ye not only had to flee with two young brothers but also care for an infant still in swaddling clothes. It couldn't have been easy! I truly don't know how they managed to endure it."
He even felt a hint of admiration for Ye Chutang.
"And precisely because of this, Physician Ye remains unmarried to this day, with very few even coming forward with marriage proposals."
Logically, with Ye Chutang's looks and bearing, suitors should have worn out her threshold by now. But who could look past her three dependents?
No matter how excellent she was, people kept their distance.
Lian Zhou remembered something else and added, "I heard that Cao Chengwen had taken a fancy to Physician Ye before, wanting to take her as a concubine. Physician Ye naturally refused. Perhaps… this is also a reason why Cao Chengwen targets her so much."
The Cao family was considered a prominent household in Jiangling. If she could gain their protection, Ye Chutang's life would undoubtedly be much easier.
At the very least, she wouldn't have to work so hard alone to support the household and raise her siblings.
Shen Yanchuan glanced out the window.
The yamen officers had all left, leaving only the siblings. Ye Jingyan seemed to let out a long sigh of relief. Ye Yunfeng was speaking excitedly about something. Ye Chutang bent down slightly, pinched the little one's nose, and a smile softened the corners of her lips.
The little one immediately grabbed her finger, pursed her lips into a smile, her eyes crinkling.
Ye Chutang straightened up and led her back inside.
Her brows and eyes were relaxed, a light smile playing on her lips, showing no sign of the heart-stopping events she had experienced today.
(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)
As she walked, a breeze lifted the hem of her skirt, outlining an extremely slender waist.
A stray lock of hair fluttered. She casually raised a hand to tuck the black strands behind her ear, then seemed to glance unintentionally in this direction.
Their eyes met.
Ye Chutang gave a slight nod of acknowledgment and quickly averted her gaze.
Since that night of the Spring Lantern Festival, a strange tacit understanding seemed to have developed between them. Each knew the other was not as simple as they appeared on the surface, yet they maintained their boundaries, never overstepping.
A faint curve touched Shen Yanchuan's thin lips.
…
As soon as Yang Zhen returned to his residence, a graceful, charming figure came to meet him.
"Why is Your Honor back so late today?"
Liu Liyi's voice was sweet and soft, seeming to melt one's bones.
However, Yang Zhen's expression was exceptionally cold and grim.
Sensing something was wrong, Liu Liyi paused her steps and softened her voice. "Has Your Honor encountered some vexing matter?"
Yang Zhen ordered the servants to leave and closed the door before looking at Liu Liyi again.
He asked in a low voice, "You truly don't know why I'm back so late?"
Liu Liyi had never seen him so stern and fierce before and grew tense instantly.
"This concubine truly doesn't know. Your Honor, this…"
"Those two who falsely accused Ye Chutang—you were the one who bribed them, weren't you!" Yang Zhen asked coldly.
Liu Liyi's heart sank.
She already knew about the incident at the Ye Clinic during the day and that Yang Zhen's late return was surely due to personally interrogating the culprits. But she hadn't expected him to guess it was her so directly!
Did those two let it slip?
Liu Liyi put on a wronged expression. "Your Honor, this concubine has been wronged!"
Yang Zhen pointed at her. "You're still making excuses! That woman you could certainly bribe, but that officer from the yamen—if he weren't afraid of certain implications, why would he take such a huge risk for fifty taels of silver!"
(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)
Actually, the two had kept their mouths relatively tight, but Yang Zhen wasn't foolish. Thinking it over, he quickly deduced the mastermind behind it.
—Right now, the one who most wanted to ruin Ye Chutang was Cao Deping. There was no need to guess that today's scene definitely involved Liu Liyi's instigation!
Hearing his tone, Liu Liyi knew there was no room for denial. She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes as she began to sob. "This concubine only wanted to teach her a lesson, nothing more—"
"Nonsense!"
Yang Zhen exploded, cutting her off.
"Of all times, you had to stir up trouble now! Are you afraid my official career won't be ruined!?"
(End of Chapter)
Comments
Post a Comment