TMBIABHL: Chapter 43

 Glossary

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

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

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

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

·Ye Mingze (叶明泽): The Second Young Master of Vice Minister Ye's household. Cousin to Ye Chutang.

·Han Yao (韩尧): A young man from the capital, son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments.

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Chapter 43: Ghosts and Gods

Ye Mingze's face instantly turned deathly pale. His legs went weak, and he almost tumbled right down the stairs.

Only the quick reflexes of the person beside him kept him from falling.

"Brother Mingze, what's wrong?"

Seeing his reaction, the others were completely bewildered, their eyes darting back and forth between the two.

"You… know each other?"

Ye Mingze clutched the wrist of the person beside him tightly. He tried several times before barely managing to stand steady. Yet the look he directed at the young woman was full of terror.

His right hand trembled as he pointed at Ye Chutang, stammering, "G-Ghost! Ghost!"

This exclamation immediately drew the attention of many people, who curiously looked over.

Ye Chutang glanced left and right, her eyebrow arching slightly as if puzzled. "What are you saying? In broad daylight, where are there ghosts?"

As she spoke, she lifted her chin slightly. "A-Yan, A-Feng, you've seen your cousin. Why haven't you even greeted him?"

Ye Jingyan immediately stood up. His refined, handsome face also clearly came into Ye Mingze's still-fearful eyes.

He smiled apologetically and gave a polite bow. "Cousin, please forgive us. We didn't recognize you immediately."

Ye Yunfeng reluctantly put down his chopsticks and lazily offered a greeting too. "Cousin."

Ye Chutang patted Little Five's head, a smile touching her lips as she introduced, "This is Lingzhi." (Note: 'Lingzhi' (灵稚) is likely Little Five's formal given name).

Hearing her name, Little Five obediently looked up, blinking at Ye Mingze with her large, dark grape-like eyes, pure and unfamiliar.

—So this is the one Fourth Brother mentioned, the one who always liked to steal their things when they were little and often ran off to tattle? But Fourth Brother didn't say he was this cowardly!

And also, ugly.

She lost interest and looked away, swinging her little feet.

A chill shot through Ye Mingze's scalp; his soul felt like it was about to flee in terror.

He couldn't believe his eyes. He rubbed them hard, but the scene before him didn't change.

Those familiar yet long-unseen faces he thought he'd never lay eyes on again in this lifetime had actually appeared before him once more!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Cold sweat broke out on his forehead,his throat went dry, and he instinctively looked down at Ye Chutang's feet.

Th-There's a shadow?

So they re-really aren't ghosts, but people?

Seeing him like this, Ye Chutang blinked, a trace of concern appearing on her face.

"Mingze, are you feeling unwell?"

Ye Mingze was more than unwell; he was utterly shaken!

Han Yao never imagined that his attempt to strike up a conversation with this rare beauty and incidentally curry favor with Ye Mingze would lead to such a huge misunderstanding.

He was instantly extremely embarrassed, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into. "Brother Mingze, sh-she's your cousin? How… how come you never mentioned her before…"

Ye Mingze truly had a bitterness he couldn't express. A knot of frustration stuck in his chest, impossible to swallow or spit out.

He couldn't have imagined it either!

Who would actively mention people who should have died three years ago? And who could have thought they'd meet again!

The others quickly exchanged glances and joined in to smooth things over.

"Yes, yes! Really never seen her before!"

"No wonder you kept looking over there just now. Did you just recognize her too?"

"What a coincidence, haha! To meet here! Brother Mingze, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Ye Mingze finally managed to pull back a shred of rationality.

Realizing his loss of composure, he took a deep breath and forced a smile onto his face.

But the look he directed at Ye Chutang and the others was exceedingly complex.

"C-Cousin, is it really you? But weren't you—"

He stopped halfway.

In front of so many people, how could he ask those questions!

The corners of Ye Chutang's lips curved up. "We were delayed due to some unforeseen events before, so we're only returning now. It's been a long time since we were back. The capital is still as prosperous and lively as before. By the way, I heard from your conversation earlier that Second Uncle has been promoted to Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? My sincere congratulations."

If anyone else had said this, Ye Mingze would have been exceedingly proud. But it just so happened that the one saying it was Ye Chutang!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He mentally bolstered himself several times before finally managing to move his still-weak legs.

"You… you're back. Why didn't you send word ahead?"

His words actually carried a hint of reproach.

Ye Chutang smiled, her expression composed and gentle. "There were many matters to attend to. We didn't have time."

Put this way, no matter how much dissatisfaction Ye Mingze felt in his heart, he couldn't voice it.

He walked down the stairs but still kept some distance from Ye Chutang and the others. Whether out of fear or some other reason, he didn't approach further.

In comparison, Ye Chutang was much more relaxed and at ease.

"A-Yan, A-Feng, sit down and eat. The food won't taste as good once it gets cold."

As she spoke, she also addressed Ye Mingze. "Mingze, will you join us?"

Ye Mingze reflexively said, "No need!"

After saying this, he also realized his reaction was too strong and hurriedly explained, 

"I…  I've already eaten upstairs!"

Ye Chutang gave a faint smile.

Three years ago, Ye Mingze's father, her own second uncle Ye Heng, was merely an insignificant sixth-rank Right Assistant of the Court of Judicial Review. In just three short years, he had actually been promoted several ranks to become a fourth-rank Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Consequently, even his son Ye Mingze had become much more prosperous and generous than before, easily entering private rooms at Moon-Viewing Pavilion and becoming someone many idle young men from wealthy families vied to flatter.

Three years. Truly, too many things had happened, too many changes had occurred.

She gave Little Five another piece of the squirrel fish.

"This fish has no bones. Want to try it?"

Little Five took a bite, her eyes instantly lighting up. She nodded vigorously, then offered the peeled phoenix tail shrimp to Ye Chutang.

—Delicious! Big Sister, you eat too!

Watching this scene, seeing Ye Chutang's unflappably calm demeanor from start to finish, Ye Mingze couldn't help clenching his fists, feeling both angry and annoyed.

He didn't know why, but just sitting there, Ye Chutang seemed to carry an invisible air about her that made him unconsciously nervous!

But he wasn't the person he was three years ago anymore! His father was now a fourth-rank senior official in the court! Far superior to Ye Chutang and the others by who knew how many levels!

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Thinking this, he wanted to immediately return home and inform his father and the others that Ye Chutang and her siblings were still alive. But if he left just like that, who knew what Ye Chutang and the others might do afterwards!

After much deliberation, Ye Mingze felt he had to keep a firm grasp on their situation.

He turned back to Han Yao and the others. "I won't join you today. My cousin is here. I'll take them back later."

The others naturally didn't object. Exchanging glances, they bid their farewells in unison.

Though as they left, their gazes still lingered on Ye Chutang for a moment longer.

Such looks and bearing… compared to Ye Mingze's sister, who bore the title of the capital's number one beauty, she might even surpass her…

But the next moment, they saw the youth sitting to Ye Chutang's right suddenly turn his head and look over. His handsome, sharp features held a dangerous warning.

With just that one look, the group felt a chill run down their spines and hastily averted their eyes.

Ye Chutang didn't pay it any mind. She only looked at Ye Mingze and said with a faint smile, "Mingze, thank you for your kindness. However, since it's our first day back in the capital, we plan to go home first. After we've rested and settled, we'll formally visit Second Uncle's residence tomorrow."

Ye Mingze's face stiffened instantly.

Ye Chutang asked as if unintentionally, "By the way, are you still living on Fengling Alley?"

(End of Chapter)

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