TMBIABHL: Chapter 36

 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.

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

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

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

·Madam Cao (曹夫人): Cao Deping's current wife. Mother of Cao Chengwu.

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

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

·Liu Liyi (柳姨娘): Magistrate Yang Zhen's favored concubine. Cao Deping's cousin.

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

---

Chapter 36: Did You Offend Her?

Shen Yanchuan withdrew his gaze, his expression calm and indifferent, clearly signaling he had no intention of making this deal with Xie Anbai.

He was already investigating Ye Chutang. Whatever he wanted to know, he would find out himself. Why waste time and effort sparring with Xie Anbai?

Seeing his reaction, Xie Anbai couldn't accept it.

"Hey,come on, aren't you even a little bit curious?" He had been counting on using this information to get some money from Shen Yanchuan! Who knew Shen Yanchuan wasn't interested at all!

Unwilling to give up, Xie Anbai leaned forward. "Really! Exclusive information! Guaranteed value for your money! For the sake of our many years of friendship, I'll give you a bargain price: one thousand taels!"

Shen Yanchuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip, not even glancing his way.

Xie Anbai gritted his teeth. "Then… eight hundred taels?"

Shen Yanchuan showed no reaction.

Xie Anbai took a deep breath. "Five hundred taels! Not a tael lower!"

Shen Yanchuan remained impassive.

Xie Anbai truly couldn't take it anymore. "Three hundred taels! Will you at least give me an answer!?"

Shen Yanchuan finally looked at him sideways. "One hundred taels. Speak if you will, otherwise, leave."

"……" Xie Anbai's heart ached. It was all because he had left in such a hurry he forgot to bring travel funds. Otherwise, he wouldn't have to humble himself and bargain with this man!

He held out his hand.

Shen Yanchuan signaled to Lian Zhou with his eyes. Lian Zhou immediately stepped forward and handed over a banknote.

Xie Anbai inspected it twice, carefully tucked it into his robe, and only then let out a smug snort. "See, I said you liked her, and you wouldn't admit it. If it were any other woman, you wouldn't spare a second glance, let alone spend money to inquire about her."

Shen Yanchuan couldn't be bothered to explain. "Speak."

Xie Anbai didn't waste words either. With a snap, he closed his fan and spoke in a mysteriously low voice. "I made some inquiries. This Physician Ye fled here from the north with her younger siblings three years ago. You probably already know that. But—do you know where her family originally hailed from?"

A flicker of interest passed through Shen Yanchuan's eyes.

"You know?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ye Chutang and the others had been in Jiangling for three years, and no one knew where they had come from. Yet Xie Anbai's tone was very confident.

A look of triumph appeared in Xie Anbai's eyes.

He chuckled and lowered his voice further. "You'd never guess. They—are from the capital!"

Shen Yanchuan's fingers holding the teacup tightened imperceptibly, though his expression remained unchanged.

"Oh?"

...

Madam Cao's appearance had completely disrupted Cao Deping's plan.

After her scream, a brief, dead silence fell over the surroundings before erupting into noisy chaos!

"What did she say? The three men who died in Cao Chengwen's courtyard before were actually connected to the Cao family!?"

"Yikes—sounds like Cao Deping deliberately had Cao Chengwen hire those men for a job! But it seems things didn't go well, and the men ended up dead in the Cao household…"

"I always suspected that case was fishy. Sure enough! Why would those men, three of them, break into the Cao family compound in the middle of the night? And three against one, yet Cao Chengwen was the one who survived? Anyone could see that wasn't normal!"

"But what were they trying to do? Didn't Liu Si confess and take the blame in the first place?"

Cao Deping broke out in a cold sweat, a panic like never before gripping him.

He held onto Madam Cao with a death grip, trying to drag her away by force. But he had only taken one step before a yamen runner blocked his path.

Yang Zhen demanded in a stern voice, "Cao Deping! Is what she just said true!?"

Cao Deping turned back, his heart a tangle of rage, anxiety, and fear. But in front of this large crowd, there were many things he simply couldn't say.

Seeing his expression, Yang Zhen thought he was still trying to deny it and slammed his hand on the table.

"Speak! Did you hire those men from the gambling den or not!? And for what purpose!?"

Cao Deping's lips turned pale. He trembled, unable to utter a word.

At that moment, a cold, mocking laugh came unexpectedly from the side.

"It was us. The gambling den has close ties to our Cao family. Hiring a few men to do a job was child's play."

Cao Deping whipped his head around to glare at him, a vein throbbing on his forehead. "You beast! What nonsense are you spouting!?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

A look of vengeful satisfaction twisted Cao Chengwen's features.

He should have thought of this moment when he pushed me out just now!

Cao Chengwen suddenly turned to look at Yang Zhen, a bizarre smile curling his lips.

Yang Zhen's heart gave two hard thumps. For some reason, a wave of unease rose from the depths of his being.

The next moment, he finally understood where that unease came from.

Cao Chengwen said in a strange tone, "If not for my cousin, the people at the gambling den probably wouldn't have given us that favor. I suppose we have to thank you, Magistrate."

The entire scene fell into a deathly silence.

Yang Zhen's face instantly changed.

...

The corners of Ye Chutang's lips curved up. She was very satisfied with today's grand spectacle.

From Cao Chengwen to Cao Deping to Liu Liyi—they all had to pay the price for what they had done.

Under the watchful eyes of the public, Yang Zhen had only two choices. First, abandon his official career, openly show favoritism, and let the matter end unresolved once more. Second, sacrifice his relative for the greater good and discard this stumbling block before him.

In his heart, which was more important—the woman he favored, or—

"Someone!"

Yang Zhen roared, his face ashen, each word seeming to be forced through gritted teeth,

"Bring Liu Liyi here at once!"

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod.

Oh. He's made his choice.

She had little interest in watching the remaining act. She turned, intending to leave.

Hurried footsteps sounded beside her. She glanced over casually—it was Zhou Shi, arriving at last.

Zhou Shi had thought she would certainly miss seeing Liu Si off at this hour. But upon reaching the execution ground, she discovered, to her astonishment, that Liu Si had not yet been executed!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She stood there dazed, listening to the rising discussions around her, hardly able to believe it.

Then, she finally spotted Ye Chutang's figure. The moment their eyes met, she saw the young woman give her a faint, gentle smile.

Tears instantly welled up in Zhou Shi's eyes.

The next moment, that young woman turned and left. A breeze rose, stirring the hem of her skirt.

Her face was serene, her dark eyes gentle, an aura of peace and tranquility enveloping her, completely out of place in this noisy, violent setting.

Like a spring crabapple flower swaying softly in the wind.

Ye Chutang walked some distance. When passing by the teahouse, she seemed to look up inadvertently.

The man in the moon-white brocade robe sat by the window, looking down at her from his high vantage point.

—Seen enough of the spectacle?

Shen Yanchuan's thin lips curved upwards as he gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

—It was quite thrilling.

Ye Chutang had no mind to spar with him. She withdrew her gaze and continued forward.

At this hour, A-Feng should have already prepared the meal. She needed to get back early, otherwise those few would keep waiting for her and the food would get cold.

Thinking this, she imperceptibly quickened her pace.

Shen Yanchuan watched her retreating figure, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.

She was actually… from the capital?

Then what was her connection to Xu Fengchi—

"Hey, I say—" Xie Anbai asked gleefully, "Why does the young lady run off as soon as she sees you? This must be the first time you've been so unwelcome, right? What did you do to offend her?"

(End of Chapter)

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