TMBIABHL: Chapter 46

 Glossary

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

·Ye Heng (叶恆): Ye Chutang's second uncle. Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

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

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

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

·Ye Shixian (叶诗娴): Ye Mingze's elder sister, daughter of Ye Heng.

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

·Yu Hong (于洪): The steward of the Ye residence.

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Chapter 46: Homeless

Ye Heng hurried over, a high-quality cloud and wild goose jade pendant hanging from his waist, its red tassel swaying with his movement.

Compared to his earnest, somewhat restrained demeanor of three years ago, he seemed like a completely different person—high-spirited and walking with an air of importance.

Ye Chutang waited for him to approach before slowly rising and giving a polite bow. "Second Uncle."

That form of address made Ye Heng's heart quiver.

—The young woman before him was indeed Ye Chutang!

His steps faltered. In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. The expression on his face shifted from shock to disbelief, then to agitation.

"It really is you!"

His gaze swept quickly around the room, his eyes faintly reddening.

"This… this must be Jingyan, right? And Yunfeng! Three years apart, and you've all grown so much! And this one, this is—"

Ye Chutang held Little Five's hand and gently lifted her chin. "Little Five, this is Second Uncle."

Little Five blinked her large, dark grape-like eyes, leaning closer to Ye Chutang and tightening her grip on her fingers, seeming somewhat shy.

Ye Chutang stroked her little face and smiled at Ye Heng. "Please don't mind her, Second Uncle. Little Five is introverted and a bit wary of strangers."

The phrase "wary of strangers" sounded rather pointed, but Ye Heng couldn't dwell on it now.

He seemed so excited he was almost at a loss for words.

"You… you… you're all actually alive! This is wonderful! Truly wonderful!"

He turned and called out, "Shixian! Come quickly!"

Ye Shixian, standing outside the door, had already seen the scene inside.

From the first second she arrived, she couldn't help but stare at the young woman sitting in the seat of honor, hardly believing her eyes.

Was that really Ye Chutang?

She had been traveling with her young siblings. Shouldn't she be travel-worn and haggard?

Yet the woman sitting there had a straight back, exceptional grace and beauty. Aside from the carnelian hairpin with dangling beads in her cloud-like hair, she wore no other ornaments, yet it was still impossible to conceal her radiant presence, captivating one's attention.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

She seemed exactly the same as before, yet also as if reborn, exuding an undeniable gentle elegance.

How could this be… Ye Chutang, who had been wandering outside for three years and should have been in a wretched state?

At that moment, Ye Chutang also calmly looked up.

Meeting those dark, tranquil eyes, Ye Shixian finally snapped back to reality. She quickly adjusted her expression, a mix of shock and joy, covering her mouth with a handkerchief. "Cousin!"

She hurried forward with small, quick steps. In just a few paces, her eyes were already brimming with glistening tears, as if weeping for joy.

"Cousin, where have you been these three years? Why didn't you send any word back? We thought you had also… in that accident…"

Mentioning the past, she seemed overcome with sorrow, tears streaming down.

Ye Heng, for his part, wanted to ask for clarification immediately. He promptly followed up, "Yes! Back then, when your father was demoted to Wuzhou, we thought once His Majesty's anger subsided, he would surely transfer him back to the capital. Who could have imagined you encountered bandits on the road…"

He frowned deeply, sighing heavily. "By the time we received the news, it was already too late. Later, I personally took people there and saw the bodies of your father, your mother, and Xiting…"

He looked at Ye Chutang, half-probing, half-asking. "At the time, we couldn't find any trace of you few. We only found a few pieces of your blood-stained clothing and assumed you had also met with misfortune. Who could have guessed you'd return safely! How on earth—"

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod. "We did encounter trouble back then. Father, Mother, and Eldest Brother fought with all their might to protect us few. In the end, amidst the chaos, they helped us escape. It was truly a matter of luck. Otherwise, today we wouldn't be able to see you again, Second Uncle."

Her tone was calm and indifferent, glossing over the events of that time as if unwilling to dwell on the past.

Ye Heng listened vaguely, still unable to understand how, in such a dangerous situation, Ye Chutang and her siblings had managed to escape.

After all, Ye Chutang back then was merely a fourteen-year-old girl, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng were just waist-high, and there was an infant in swaddling clothes. Logically, in such a situation, they should have been doomed!

His hands clenched slightly inside his sleeves. "And these past three years, you—"

"The weather was bitterly cold then. With A-Yan, A-Feng, and Little Five, I had nowhere to go. By chance, we came across a group of refugees fleeing famine to the south. We had no other choice, so we simply went south with them. Wandering for three years, we finally settled down somewhat. Then we did our best to save up travel expenses to return north to the capital."

Ye Chutang paused briefly, the corners of her lips curving up into a faint smile.

"After all, home is here, isn't it?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

As her words fell, the entire main hall fell silent for a moment.

Home.

The home they were returning to had now become someone else's residence!

A shadow passed through Ye Heng's eyes. He reacted almost instantly.

"Of course!"

He sighed deeply, seemingly full of emotion.

"After your… accident, a huge mess was left here in the capital for me to handle. Several people took a fancy to this residence, privately telling me they wanted to buy it. But how could I bear to part with it? This was your father's residence in the capital, the only remaining memento he left behind. How could I just give it to someone else?"

He lowered his eyes, appearing quite sorrowful.

"So later, I brought Shixian, Mingze, and the others here. Every table and chair, every plant and tree, made it seem as if your father hadn't left… Now that you've returned, it's even better! Chutang, rest assured. From now on, with your Second Uncle here, I won't let you suffer the slightest hardship!"

As he spoke, he snapped at Yu Hong. "Why are you still standing there? Go tell people to tidy up the few rooms in the west wing of the rear courtyard! Then instruct the kitchen to prepare a welcoming feast for Chutang and the others tonight!"

Yu Hong hurriedly said, "Yes, sir!"

However, the moment he turned, he heard Ye Chutang laugh lightly. "Second Uncle, there's no need to be so polite. We're returning to our own home. Why would we need a welcoming feast? As for the rooms—there's even less need for trouble. Little Five can stay with me. As for A-Yan and A-Feng, they used to live in the east wing with Eldest Brother. Now that they're back, they can stay there as before."

Upon hearing this, Ye Heng's face stiffened.

Beside him, Ye Mingze could no longer contain himself and loudly objected, "That won't work!"

Ye Chutang tilted her head. "Why won't it work?"

"Because there aren't any rooms for you in the east wing anymore!" Ye Mingze said matter-of-factly. "Right now, there are only a few empty rooms left in the west wing. You can stay there!"

Ye Yunfeng frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Ye Mingze shrugged. "I live in the east wing now. The adjoining rooms have been converted into a study and a training room. There's no space to make room for you!"

Ye Yunfeng could hardly believe it. "You—"

Before he could erupt, a cool, clear woman's voice suddenly came through, faint yet distinct.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"In other words, you took over my elder brother's room?"

Ye Mingze instinctively looked at Ye Chutang. Her voice was clearly light and soft, yet for some reason, the moment those words left her lips, a chill inexplicably ran up his spine, and his speech became stammering.

"… Y-Yes!"

The smile vanished from Ye Chutang's face. Her dark eyes were clear and sharp, threads of coldness swirling within them, sharp as a blade, piercing to the bone.

"It seems there is no place for us siblings in this Ye Residence anymore. Since we have no home to return to—"

Her tone was terrifyingly calm, word by word,

"A-Yan, go book an inn."

(End of Chapter)

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