TMBIABHL: Chapter 37

 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.

·Ye Jingyan (叶璟言): Third Brother. Also called A-Yan. Calm and studious.

·Ye Yunfeng (叶云风): Fourth Brother. Also called A-Feng. Impulsive and protective.

·Little Five / Xiao Wu (小五): The youngest Ye sister.

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Chapter 37: Settling Old Scores

Shen Yanchuan didn't answer his question but asked another instead.

"You said she's from the capital. But I recall that three years ago, the north suffered a famine, and the capital wasn't affected. If she never experienced a great famine, why would she travel all the way south to Jiangling?"

Xie Anbai scratched his head.

"That, I don't know. How about—"

He chuckled. "You go ask her yourself?"

If you like someone, it's always good to learn more about them!

Shen Yanchuan leaned back in his chair,his slender, jade-like fingers lightly stroking the teacup.

He didn't need to think to know Ye Chutang definitely wouldn't say. Asking would be pointless.

She seemed to treat her family's past with the utmost secrecy. Otherwise, after three years in Jiangling, people would still have no clear idea of their history.

If it were a simple matter of fleeing famine, why be so evasive?

Seeing he couldn't guess Shen Yanchuan's thoughts, Xie Anbai simply brought up another matter. "By the way, when do you plan to return to the capital?"

Shen Yanchuan looked up. "Why?"

Xie Anbai grinned. "Well, my meaning is, whenever you decide to go back, be sure to tell me in advance and leave me some travel funds—"

Otherwise, drifting around with no money would make life far too difficult!

Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment. "I'll set off once my injuries have fully healed. But—by then, I probably won't have any extra money to give you either."

Behind him, Lian Zhou nodded vigorously with a pained expression.

—Exactly! Given how black-hearted Ye Chutang was, if they stayed much longer, not only would they spend all their money, they'd probably end up in debt! No matter how wealthy the master was, he couldn't withstand her extravagance!

Xie Anbai: "……"

Absurd. Truly absurd!

What decent person uses the woman he hasn't even courted yet as a shield before he's even won her over!?

He stood up indignantly. "You're so noble! You spend money to make Physician Ye happy, but your brother's life means nothing to you! 'Forgetting your brothers over a woman'! I must have been blind to think so highly of you!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

And here he was, eagerly investigating Physician Ye for his sake, trying every which way to play matchmaker for his brother. Turns out, he was the biggest fool!

Pah!

...

By the time Ye Chutang returned home, it was well past noon.

But A-Yan, A-Feng, and Little Five hadn't eaten yet. They were all sitting at the table waiting for her.

The two brothers had originally wanted to accompany Ye Chutang, but she had refused.

It wasn't that she feared the bloodshed; she simply saw no need.

With the outcome already clear, why waste more time and energy?

"Big Sister is back!"

A-Feng, sharp-eyed, was the first to see Ye Chutang and immediately called out with delight.

A-Yan looked up immediately. Seeing her return looking completely at ease, his hanging heart finally settled.

Little Five didn't know the details. She just felt she hadn't seen her big sister for a long time and missed her terribly. She pattered over and threw herself into her arms.

Ye Chutang ruffled her little head. "Let's eat."

Ye Yunfeng held back but couldn't resist. "Big Sister, how did things go… outside?"

Ye Jingyan also looked over, clearly very concerned about the matter as well.

"It's rather complicated," Ye Chutang said.

The brothers immediately tensed.

Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly. "Jiangling might be getting a new magistrate."

"What!?" Ye Jingyan was stunned. He had thought the best outcome today would be making the Cao father and son pay for their deeds. Who knew the magistrate would also be implicated?

Ye Yunfeng, however, didn't overthink it. He immediately became happy. "Well, that's great! When those three people died before, he shielded the Cao family. He doesn't deserve to be magistrate at all!"

After everything that had happened recently, he had come to understand many things.

"With a local official like that, if you don't have some capability, you'd really be bullied to death!" Ye Yunfeng snorted. "If Big Sister didn't have a plan, would we be able to sit here and eat a proper meal now?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ye Yunfeng grew more excited as he spoke. But when he turned his head, he saw his big sister still wore her usual indifferent, calm expression.

He couldn't help asking, "Big Sister, aren't you happy? This is a good thing!"

Good deeds are rewarded with good, and evil deeds with evil. If the retribution hasn't come, it's only because the time isn't ripe!

Ye Chutang's eyebrow arched slightly. "What's there to be happy about? Is the next one guaranteed to be better than this one?"

"This—" Ye Yunfeng was speechless.

He really hadn't thought of that before. Only when Big Sister mentioned it did he realize that possibility existed.

Ye Chutang continued in her mild tone, "At any time, the only person one can rely on is oneself. If you place all your hopes on others, you'll only end up losing everything in the end."

Ye Yunfeng's previously agitated and restless mood instantly calmed considerably.

He lowered his head, somewhat embarrassed. "Big Sister is right. I'll remember that!"

Ye Chutang shook her head. "It's not important. Whatever kind of magistrate comes to Jiangling next has nothing to do with us."

Ye Jingyan's heart stirred, vaguely guessing something. "Big Sister, you mean—"

Ye Chutang's dark eyes were serene. "Start packing our things during this time. We're returning to the capital."

"What!?"

Ye Yunfeng was the most shocked.

"But Big Sister, back then we went through so much to finally…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but they all understood.

They had all thought they would never set foot in the capital again in this lifetime. Who could have guessed Big Sister would suddenly—

Ye Yunfeng pressed his lips together tightly. "Big Sister, did someone bully you? Tell me, and I'll go teach them a lesson!"

Ye Chutang shook her head.

"It has little to do with recent events. It's mainly for your sakes. A-Yan is already thirteen. If he keeps delaying his studies at the local academy here, his potential will be buried forever. As for you, A-Feng, didn't you love the capital the most before? Don't you want to go back?"

"But—" Ye Yunfeng didn't know what to say. A strange, stifling feeling swelled in his chest.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

The capital was bustling and lively. He did love it. But all that was far less important than what Big Sister and the others meant to him.

He wanted to persuade her further but met Ye Chutang's calm, gentle gaze.

In that instant, he suddenly understood—

"Big Sister, you… you've been planning to go back for a while, haven't you?"

Ye Chutang smiled.

"The time has come. There are some old scores that need to be settled back there."

Ye Jingyan, who had been silent all this while, suddenly spoke. "Wherever Big Sister goes, I go."

Little Five listened, thoroughly confused, her large, dark grape-like eyes looking left and right.

She had no memory of the capital and naturally didn't understand what they were talking about. But—she was the same as Third Brother! Wherever Big Sister went, she would go!

Ye Yunfeng clenched his fists. "I'll do whatever Big Sister says!"

No matter what they might face upon returning, he would protect Big Sister and the others to the end!

Ye Chutang nodded. Remembering something, she said, "It's only April now, not the official enrollment period for the Imperial College. I'll write a letter later. Once we reach the capital, the two of you can go directly. That way, your studies won't be delayed."

(End of Chapter)

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