TMBIABHL: Chapter 32

 Glossary

·Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): The Marquis of Dingbei. Currently recuperating at the Ye Clinic.

·Xie Anbai (谢安白): Shen Yanchuan's friend from the capital.

·Ye Chutang (叶初棠): Female protagonist. Heir to an ancient medical family. Runs the Ye Clinic.

·Little Five / Xiao Wu (小五): The youngest Ye sister, approximately 4 years old.

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

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

·Liu Si (刘四): Zhou Shi's husband. A servant in the Cao household. Confessed to murdering Cao Chengwu and is sentenced to execution.

·Zhou Shi (周氏): Auntie Yang's niece. Wife of Liu Si.

·Yang Zhen (杨真): The Magistrate of Jiangling county.

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

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Chapter 32: To Gain Life, First Embrace Death

Shen Yanchuan withdrew his gaze and casually placed a stone on the Go board, asking with an air of nonchalance, "Which of your eyes saw that I like her?"

Xie Anbai pointed to his own eyes. "Both of them, okay? Don't tell me you're staying here without a single thought about her!"

Shen Yanchuan tilted his head in contemplation. He was investigating the connection between Xu Fengchi and Ye Chutang, which indeed meant he was paying her considerable attention.

However, he hadn't made any headway on that matter yet and didn't want to draw attention to it. In the end, he only said, "Her medical skills are excellent."

Xie Anbai understood clearly that to receive such praise from him was proof enough of Ye Chutang's capability.

But he still felt Shen Yanchuan definitely had ulterior motives.

When he first heard Shen Yanchuan mention "Physician Ye," he had imagined an elderly gentleman with an air of immortal grace. Who could have guessed it would be such a young and beautiful woman! Although she hadn't come close in the courtyard earlier, one could still see how extraordinarily lovely and refined her face was. That gentle, pristine demeanor was in no way inferior to those noble ladies in the capital.

Leaning back on the soft couch, Xie Anbai snorted a laugh. "When you left, the hearts of so many young women in the capital followed you. Who would have thought you'd be living such a carefree life here?"

Shen Yanchuan's face was truly captivating. Even though he had rarely appeared in the capital these past years, he still effortlessly captured affections, becoming the secret object of longing for countless women.

One might have thought this man was cold-hearted and ruthless, but now it seemed he just hadn't met the one who could rein him in.

Shen Yanchuan gave a wry smile. After just one meeting, Xie Anbai had decided he must be infatuated with Ye Chutang because of her looks. He didn't know that this little white flower was actually a black-hearted lotus who could kill without blinking.

Falling for a woman like that would be extremely dangerous.

But he couldn't be bothered to explain, especially since he would be staying here for some time to come. "If you came today just to ask about this, then you can leave now."

Xie Anbai immediately sat up straight. "Hey, hey, hey! Don't be like that! Let's chat a bit longer! What exactly is that little dumpling's relationship to her?"

Shen Yanchuan said, "Her younger sister."

Xie Anbai immediately let out a long sigh of relief. "Good, good!"

He had almost thought his dear brother was about to happily become a stepfather.

Shen Yanchuan naturally caught his implication. His finger paused, and the black stone changed position as it landed.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

With that single move, it was like a sharp dagger instantly tearing through the white stones' defense!

The previously chaotic game became clear in an instant: the black stones had deliberately set a trap, lured the white stones in, and were now surrounding and annihilating them from the rear!

—To gain life, first seek death!

Xie Anbai was shocked. "That move is too ruthless! Who plays like that!?"

Shen Yanchuan leaned back. "Put the stones away. You can go now."

Xie Anbai: "......"

His earlier worries were clearly unnecessary. Who could possibly be a match for a king of hell like this!

...

"Little Five, did you have fun at Young Master Shen's place?" Ye Chutang asked.

The little milk bun nodded vigorously, then shook her head.

—It was fun! But being with Big Sister is still the most fun!

Ye Chutang was somewhat surprised.

Little Five's temperament was different from other children's. She usually maintained a strong wariness toward outsiders, but with Shen Yanchuan, she didn't seem resistant at all. In fact, they got along exceptionally well.

This was quite rare.

Little Five lowered her head and pulled out the golden whistle Xie Anbai had given her from her pocket, holding it up for Ye Chutang to see.

—Look, Big Sister! Money earned today!

Ye Chutang took the golden whistle, her eyebrow arching slightly.

"His friend gave this to you?"

In this era, gold was very valuable. For someone to bestow such a generous gift upon first meeting indicated an extraordinary status.

She pondered for a long while, then let out a soft sigh.

Regret. So much regret!

I charged too little for the medical fees before!

Judging by the lavishness of Shen Yanchuan's friend, his family's wealth must be even greater than she had initially estimated. To have saved his life for only that little bit of silver… what a huge loss!

Little Five blinked in confusion.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Big Sister doesn't seem very happy… Does she not like me accepting gifts from strangers?

Little Five hugged her arm, rubbing her head against Ye Chutang's leg.

—If Big Sister doesn't like it, then I won't keep it. I'll go return it right now!

The corners of Ye Chutang's mouth curved up as she pinched the little girl's cheek.

"Young Master Shen will be staying with us for a while longer. It just so happens your Third Brother and Fourth Brother are very busy with their studies lately and don't have much time to play with you. If you feel bored, feel free to go to his side."

She thought about it—Shen Yanchuan was quite good at looking after children.

No point letting that go to waste.

...

The next day was clear and sunny.

Early in the morning, a large crowd had gathered at the execution ground.

Today was the day Liu Si would be beheaded. Jiangling hadn't seen such a vicious case in years, so this public execution naturally drew many onlookers.

The street was packed, people jostling against each other as they waited for the officers to bring Liu Si over. The noise was immense.

Time passed, the sun rose high, gradually approaching noon.

Finally, Liu Si, bound in chains and shackles, was brought forward.

"The murderer is here!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and then a piece of rotten vegetable leaf was hurled at Liu Si.

As if a signal had been given, the crowd's emotions erupted instantly. Some spat at him; stones, vegetable leaves, and rotten eggs rained down upon Liu Si.

"A life for a life!"

"How terrifying! I always thought he was an honest fellow. Who knew he could be so brutal!"

"It's a good thing he was caught. If a murderer like that stayed in Jiangling, who knows what else he might have done! Frightening!"

Liu Si had already been tortured. His death-row prisoner's uniform was filthy, and now he was even more of a wretched sight.

He hung his head, silent, his face hidden beneath disheveled hair, impossible to see clearly.

Amidst countless curses, he was pushed onto the execution platform.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Not far away, at Caoji Restaurant, Cao Deping and his son were watching the scene from the second floor.

Although there had been several twists and turns, fortunately, the one about to die was still Liu Si!

"Father, once he dies, this matter will be completely over!" Cao Chengwen could hardly contain his excitement.

He had been living in fear every day this whole time, and he had finally waited for this day!

Cao Deping's gaze suddenly focused, and he snorted coldly. "That Ye Chutang actually came too?"

Cao Chengwen followed his line of sight and, indeed, spotted a slender, graceful figure at the back of the crowd.

She stood there quietly, seeming out of place amidst everything around her.

Cao Chengwen scoffed. "It's good she came. Let her see with her own eyes that my Cao family is not someone she can afford to provoke!"

In a private room of a teahouse on the other side of the street, Shen Yanchuan raised his teacup and took a light sip.

"She's here."

Lian Zhou, standing behind him, didn't quite understand his master's words.

At that very moment, Yang Zhen, seated high on the execution platform, threw the command token to the ground and barked in a deep voice:

"Carry out the execution!"

The executioner immediately raised his blade. Liu Si, who had been silent all this while, slowly lifted his head. His bloodshot eyes swept over the crowd, and indeed, he did not see Zhou Shi or their child.

A wave of immense grief and indignation surged in his heart. A look of desperate resolve flashed in his eyes as he screamed with all his might:

"Your Honor! I wish to make an accusation! The one who ordered me to kill Cao Chengwu was none other than his own half-brother—Cao Chengwen!"

(End of Chapter)

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