TMBIABHL: Chapter 48

 Glossary

·Shen Yanchuan (沈延川): The Marquis of Dingbei. Currently recuperating at the Ye Clinic.

·Yun Cheng (云成): Shen Yanchuan's attendant in the capital.

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

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

·Ye Zheng (叶铮): Ye Chutang's father. A disgraced former official who died three years ago.

·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.

·Shaoyao (芍药): Ye Shixian's personal maid.

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

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Chapter 48: Living Under Someone Else's Roof?

Yun Cheng acknowledged the order. "Understood."

Since his master's return to the capital, invitations had poured in from all sides, but all had been declined by his master.

Ye Heng didn't even rank among them, so of course his master wouldn't go.

He added, "The Ye household is also quite troublesome right now. You not going will avoid the fuss."

Shen Yanchuan paused, finally lifting his gaze from the book. "Which Ye household?"

Yun Cheng explained, "Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Ye Heng."

Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment. "I haven't heard much about him before…"

Yun Cheng smiled. "It's normal you're not familiar, having been away from the capital for so long. Three years ago, this man was just a lowly Right Assistant of the Court of Judicial Review. These past few years, he's been highly favored, with promising prospects. If not for that, he wouldn't have had the confidence to send this invitation."

"He has indeed risen quite quickly," Shen Yanchuan remarked.

"Indeed. It's a case of 'one man attaining the Dao, and even his pets ascend to heaven' (meaning: when one person gains power, all those connected to him benefit). I heard people were knocking on his door even before the official appointment document was issued."

Yun Cheng, who had always been in the capital handling various affairs for Shen Yanchuan, was always well-informed about events in the capital.

A flicker of interest passed through Shen Yanchuan's mind. "Oh?"

Yun Cheng was somewhat surprised. His master usually had little interest in such matters and never inquired further.

Perhaps, having just returned to the capital, his master wanted to understand the situation of various factions better?

Thinking this, Yun Cheng added more explanation. "I don't know if you recall. Three years ago, during that case involving General Huo, a court official pleaded for leniency on his behalf in court, infuriating His Majesty. That official was Ye Heng's elder brother, Ye Zheng. After being demoted and sent out of the capital, his entire family was killed by bandits on the road. Who could have guessed that three years later, his children didn't die and have returned."

"I heard they ran into Ye Heng's son, Ye Mingze, by chance at Moon-Viewing Pavilion. Many people were there. The matter is already being talked about privately."

Yun Cheng sounded somewhat moved, emotional.

"Back then, everyone thought Ye Zheng's whole family had died on the road. The funeral arrangements were handled entirely by this younger brother. Who could have imagined now, actually… To put it plainly, the residence Ye Heng and his family live in now used to belong to Ye Zheng. Strictly speaking, they aren't seeking refuge with relatives; they're returning to their own home. But what can a delicate woman with a few young siblings, having no one to rely on, really accomplish? The best outcome is probably just living under someone else's roof."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Once something has been swallowed, who would be willing to spit it out again?

After listening, Shen Yanchuan actually laughed.

"A chance encounter?"

Of all places, at Moon-Viewing Pavilion, with many young nobles present.

Of all times, right when Ye Heng had been promoted, at a moment when reputation mattered most.

That was a bit too coincidental.

Yun Cheng didn't quite grasp his master's reaction. But the next second, something even more unexpected happened.

Shen Yanchuan set down the book in his hand and asked, "When is the banquet?"

Yun Cheng was directly stunned. "Y-You're going!?"

Shen Yanchuan pressed a hand to his chest, where the wound had long since healed.

He raised an eyebrow with a faint smile.

"My injuries are almost fully recovered. It's time to go out for a walk."

...

Ye Residence.

After two busy hours, the rooms in the east wing were finally tidied up.

Yu Hong came over cautiously to invite them.

Ye Chutang took Little Five's hand and led A-Yan and A-Feng over together.

Standing inside the room, she quietly looked around.

All of Ye Mingze's belongings had been packed up and moved out, leaving the place feeling somewhat empty for the moment.

Fortunately, the tables, chairs, and screens were untouched, and the layout was almost the same as before.

For a moment, Ye Chutang's mind wandered.

When she first awoke in this body, the first person she saw was her elder brother.

He wore a heavy cloak, arriving with snow on his cape, his youthful face full of warmth.

"A-Wan, Mother says we'll be going to Wuzhou with Father in a few days! I heard it's even colder there than the capital. Here, this hand-warmer is for you! So your little body doesn't get cold on the road and you start crying again, haha!"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

He had shoved the hand-warmer into her hands without giving her a chance to refuse.

Just like later, when he stood in front of her, blocking those sharp arrows for her.

"Big Sister, Eldest Brother's things from before are all gone," Ye Jingyan said softly after looking around.

Ye Chutang wasn't surprised by this result.

When they left the capital back then, it was winter, and travel was inconvenient. Most of her elder brother's manuscripts and clothes had been left behind.

Yu Hong wiped sweat from his forehead. "Th-This… my apologies. They… were probably all interred with him three years ago…"

Ye Chutang's expression didn't change.

Clothes were one thing, but there was no reason to throw away books. Most likely, they had all been taken away and burned or discarded.

If even the house itself had been seized, what chance did other belongings have?

"You may leave. We'll call for you if we need anything," Ye Chutang said mildly.

Yu Hong couldn't help giving her another look.

For some reason, when this woman spoke, though her voice was light and clear, it carried an air of authority that couldn't be defied.

"Yes, yes!"

The Master had even driven out the Second Young Master for their sake, so of course Yu Hong's attitude was also respectful and polite.

No sooner had he withdrawn than Shaoyao arrived with people in tow.

"Second Young Miss, this gold filigree bracelet is a gift from my Young Miss for you. The Duan inkstone and rosewood wolf-hair brush beside it are for the two Young Masters. The eight-treasure colored glass necklace is for the Little Miss."

She wore a smile on her face, subtly sizing up Ye Chutang and the others. Seeing their ordinary clothes and accessories, she felt scornful, her tone becoming even breezier. "My Young Miss said your return with the two Young Masters and the Little Miss was rather sudden, so she didn't have time to prepare proper gifts. She could only select these to send over for now. When she has more time later, she'll take you all out for a proper tour of the capital."

The implication was that these gifts were nothing significant to the present Ye Shixian.

Ye Chutang's gaze swept over the items. "Then please convey my thanks to your Young Miss."

Shaoyao had her people set the things down before turning to leave.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ye Yunfeng snorted coldly. "Who wants their stuff! As if we've never seen such things before!"

Back when their father's rank was much higher than Second Uncle's, if not for relying on their father, Second Uncle's dream of being a capital official would have been pure fantasy!

And now, here they were, showing off in front of them!

"We have to give people a chance to mediate and show their goodwill, "Ye Chutang said, not minding much. She pinched Little Five's soft, tender cheek. "Take a look. Is there anything you like?"

Little Five wasn't very interested initially, but hearing this, she stood on tiptoe to look.

Then she shook her head.

—So ugly. Don't like it.

Ye Chutang said, "If you don't like it, that's fine. A-Feng, put these things away."

Ye Yunfeng snorted. "Stuff they sent. I'd feel dirty just touching it! I'll have to wash my hands at least three times later!"

Ye Chutang clicked her tongue lightly. "What have I taught you? Don't despise the poor and fawn over the rich."

Ye Jingyan nodded in agreement. "That inkstone and brush aren't great, but now that we're back in the capital, there will be many places to spend money. Let's keep them. We can use them at the Imperial College."

Big Sister had said: spend where you should, save where you can.

Ye Chutang gave Ye Jingyan an appreciative look.

Good lad. You really know how to save money for your big sister.

Only then did Ye Yunfeng remember this detail and scratched his head. "Ah, right! Going to the Imperial College… the tuition for a year must cost quite a bit, right?"

Ye Chutang said casually, "It's fine. Since we're now living under someone else's roof, what's the logic in paying for our own schooling?"

(End of Chapter)

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