TMBIABHL: Chapter 41

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

·Ye Heng (叶恆): A young man from the capital, son of an official who is about to be promoted.

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Chapter 41: Return

The weather in April was warm and pleasant, with a high, clear sky and sparse clouds.

Exiting through the north gate, the road was lined with shady green trees, their newly sprouted leaves rustling in the wind.

Ye Chutang let the carriage curtain fall back into place and looked down at Little Five in her arms. Seeing the child had finally fallen asleep, she felt somewhat relieved.

Ever since that accident years ago, Little Five had been terribly afraid of getting near a carriage. Every time she was in one, she would grow very tense.

But she was always sensible. Even when scared, she tried her best to overcome it, striving not to hold anyone back.

Ye Chutang held and soothed her for a while until she quietly drifted off to sleep. Half of her little face was buried in Ye Chutang's embrace, and one chubby little hand unconsciously clutched Ye Chutang's clothes, as if afraid of being separated from her even in her dreams.

Ye Jingyan took one last look at the receding city gate and murmured, "We're really leaving like this…"

He had once thought they would stay here forever, living a peaceful, stable life.

He never imagined three years would pass in the blink of an eye, and they would once again be on the road back to the capital.

Ye Chutang straightened Little Five's collar and said with a faint smile, "It's about a twenty-day journey from here to the capital. In the future, if you ever want to come back, you can come anytime."

Ye Jingyan shook his head.

"I only want to be with you, Big Sister, and the others."

It wasn't Jiangling he missed, but the time spent over the past three years with his big sister and siblings.

He knew that once they returned to the capital, this peace would inevitably be shattered.

Probably to accommodate Little Five, their pace along the way wasn't very fast. The brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, took turns driving, stopping and starting as they traveled north along the road.

Ye Chutang would occasionally enjoy the scenery along the way and pull them in to look with her.

After all, when they had fled south amidst the refugees back then, they hadn't had the leisure for such things.

And so, a journey that should have taken only twenty days ended up taking them a full month.

In early May, they finally reached the capital.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Big Sister, we're here!"

Ye Yunfeng's voice couldn't hide his excitement.

Ye Chutang lifted the curtain and peered outside.

The immense city stood tall in the distance, imposing and majestic.

Compared to the image in her memory, it had hardly changed at all, making one wonder if the intervening three years had truly existed.

Little Five also opened her eyes and looked forward, her large, dark grape-like eyes full of curiosity.

When they had left, she was still in swaddling clothes and had no memory of the capital.

Compared to her big sister and two brothers, this was almost her first real experience of what the capital looked like.

Her fourth brother had told her more than once that the capital had many, many people, that the pastries were especially delicious, and that it was incredibly lively!

Thinking of this, Little Five's stomach let out a loud gurgle.

She immediately felt shy and embarrassedly covered her little belly.

Ye Chutang chuckled. "Hungry?"

Little Five shook her head, then nodded, finally burying her head against Ye Chutang's shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

Ye Chutang ruffled her little head, then called out to Ye Yunfeng, "We're about to enter the city, A-Feng. Can't you hold on a little longer, even if you're very hungry?"

Ye Yunfeng, with a black pot slammed on his head: "……"

He turned back with a look of grievance, wanting to defend himself but forcefully holding back.

Forget it!

What else could he do with his own big sister and youngest sister besides indulging them?

His eyes lit up with an idea, and he chuckled again. "Big Sister, we've been traveling for a whole month. How about we go have a proper meal?"

Ye Chutang could easily guess his thoughts. "Go on, which place do you want to eat at?"

Ye Yunfeng immediately said, "Moon-Viewing Pavilion!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Moon-Viewing Pavilion was one of the capital's most prestigious restaurants. Usually, only the sons of influential families and nobility frequented it, and its dishes were unparalleled.

Since leaving the capital, Ye Yunfeng had thought of this place often. Now that he was finally back, he naturally wanted to go have a proper meal.

"Big Sister, just say yes!" Ye Yunfeng asked shamelessly.

Ye Chutang tilted her head in thought for a moment.

"Alright. Moon-Viewing Pavilion it is."

...

Passing through the heavily guarded city gate and traversing the broad, flat Vermillion Bird Street, the carriage finally stopped before a grand, majestic restaurant.

The street was bustling with people, lively and noisy.

Ye Yunfeng looked up at the golden plaque hanging above and couldn't help but sigh. "Moon-Viewing Pavilion is still Moon-Viewing Pavilion! This is on a completely different level than that Caoji Restaurant!"

And truly, only the capital could have a restaurant of this caliber.

The waiter at the door had noticed this rather plain, even overly simple carriage early on.

Those who came here were either rich or noble, mostly regulars. But the youth driving the carriage looked very unfamiliar.

He clearly wasn't a servant from some household, but if he were a young master… judging by his clothes and shoes, that didn't seem right either.

He seemed like an ordinary person from out of town.

Thinking this, the waiter's attitude noticeably cooled.

He looked Ye Yunfeng up and down, then glanced at the carriage compartment. "Do you have a reservation, guest? If not, then—"

Suddenly, his voice faltered.

A fair, slender hand reached out from behind the curtain, its fingers delicate, the skin like congealed cream.

From this hand alone, it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of beauty its owner possessed.

Next, a graceful figure descended from the carriage.

It was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a Xiangfei-colored (meaning: a light reddish-pink, like plum blossom) brocade dress. Her dark hair was simply tied up, adorned only with a slanting carnelian hairpin with dangling beads.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Her skin rivaled frost and snow; her brows were like distant mountains, her dark eyes like stars. She seemed enveloped in an invisible aura that set her apart from her surroundings, yet carried an undeniable attraction, making one's gaze involuntarily settle upon her.

The corners of her lips curved up slightly, revealing a faint, gentle smile. Her dark, warm eyes were pure and mild.

"We don't have a reservation. We'll just find a casual seat on the first floor for a meal."

Her tone was calm, natural, and poised.

The waiter was momentarily stunned. Only upon hearing her words did he hastily snap back to attention. "O-Of course! Guests—please come inside!"

Ye Yunfeng snorted and immediately stepped to Ye Chutang's side, subtly positioning himself in front of her.

Ye Chutang looked back. Ye Jingyan was helping Little Five down from the carriage.

"Let's go," Ye Chutang said, the corners of her mouth lifting. "Big Sister's treat today. Order whatever you like."

...

Just as Ye Chutang and the others were seated on the first floor, a burst of noisy chatter came from upstairs.

"Hahaha! Brother Ye! I heard your father is about to be promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review! Congratulations!"

Ye Chutang's heart stirred. She looked up and saw five or six young men coming down the stairs, arms slung over each other's shoulders.

The youth in the middle was about sixteen or seventeen, with somewhat refined features, though his frame was overly thin. His luxurious robes hung a bit loosely on him. A hint of gloominess and dissipation lingered between his brows, making him somewhat unpleasant to look at.

Hearing the words, he snorted a laugh, a flash of smugness crossing his face, though he said, "It's not officially decided yet. Don't spread rumors."

Another youth beside him immediately said, "How is it not decided? I heard many people in the capital have already received invitation cards for the banquet! By the way, I heard this time, you even invited the Marquis of Dingbei's household?"

Ye Chutang's elegant eyebrows lifted slightly.

(End of Chapter)

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