TMBIABHL: Chapter 50

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

·Lady Gao (高氏): Ye Heng's wife.

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

·Ye Shixian (叶诗娴): Ye Heng's daughter.

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

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

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Chapter 50: Turning the Tables

Ye Yunfeng's expression instantly turned cold. "Little Five is not mute!"

Being talked back to by a twelve-year-old boy in front of the servants made Lady Gao lose face.

"I was just saying. She's just a child; she doesn't understand. Besides, she really does look like she can't speak!"

What child reaches four years old and still can't call out to anyone?

This Ye Lingzhi clearly had a problem. Why couldn't it be mentioned?

Ye Chutang's expression cooled slightly, her eyes unreadable. "Aunt, Little Five is young, but she understands these words. Even though our parents are no longer here, she is still the youngest, doted upon by our family. In this Ye Residence, there is no reason for anyone to point at her and bully her. You are an elder. We don't expect you to treat Little Five as your own daughter, but we ask you to be mindful of your words."

Lady Gao's face flushed, then paled.

What was wrong with these people? Each one was sharp-tongued!

She was about to explode but caught sight of Ye Heng's disapproving expression from the corner of her eye. She swallowed her anger and forced a smile. "Chutang, you've truly misunderstood me. I was only thinking of Little Five's well-being! If there really is a problem, we must quickly call a physician to have a look!"

Little Five, holding Ye Chutang's hand, felt unhappy hearing this.

Call a physician? Big Sister is the best physician in the world. Why ask someone else?

Ye Chutang gave her little hand a reassuring squeeze before speaking to Lady Gao in a mild tone. "Thank you for your concern, Aunt. However, we understand Little Five's situation well. There's no need to call another physician."

"How can that be? If we delay, others might see her and say your uncle didn't do his utmost." A hint of arrogance appeared on Lady Gao's face. "Besides, the physicians in the capital are not comparable to those unqualified wandering quacks. Later, have your uncle invite an imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital. Perhaps they'll have a solution!"

Hearing this, Ye Heng also nodded in agreement. "That's right. Physician Zhang is coming to the residence tomorrow. We can ask him to take a look then."

Ye Chutang was growing impatient.

If they were inviting Chu Qiyuan, that would be fine—at least he was the Director of the Imperial Hospital and had some skill.

But inviting some useless person who got into the Imperial Hospital through family connections? That wasn't worth the time.

But she couldn't be bothered to argue. If Ye Heng was eager to show his concern, let him.

"Alright. Thank you in advance, Uncle."

Ye Chutang gave a polite bow and led the others to their seats.

Ye Shixian glanced at Little Five a few times and asked proactively, "Should we have Nurse Li assist Little Five with her meal?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ye Chutang served Little Five some food and said with a faint smile, "That won't be necessary. She manages her own affairs very well."

After watching for a moment, Ye Shixian noticed that although Little Five couldn't speak, she indeed didn't need help with eating or drinking.

Of course. Having been adrift since childhood, simply having enough to eat was probably a blessing. How could she compare to the precious, meticulously raised children of capital families?

Thinking this, a sense of scorn and disdain rose in her heart again.

...

A meal filled with divergent thoughts finally concluded.

Having pondered and rehearsed for half the night, Ye Heng finally cautiously broached the subject.

"Chutang, your return yesterday was sudden. Thinking you must be tired from your journey, I didn't ask too much. But now, can you tell us how you managed these past three years?"

He sighed. "After your parents'… incident, I specifically sent people to search for you for a long time, but unfortunately, we found nothing. You all must have suffered a great deal these years, haven't you?"

He simply couldn't understand. How had a fourteen-year-old girl like Ye Chutang managed to keep herself and three young siblings alive?

Ye Shixian also looked at Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang's tone was calm.

"By chance, during our flight, we met an elderly physician. His time was short, and he was worried about his knowledge dying with him, so he taught me some basic medical principles," Ye Chutang said without changing her expression. "After he passed away, I found a place for A-Yan and the others to settle and opened a small clinic. We made a living by gathering herbs and treating patients."

"Wh-What?" Ye Heng was shocked. "You mean you… you opened a clinic!?"

Ye Chutang knew why he was so astonished. Although this dynasty was relatively open-minded, women establishing their own households were still rare.

Ye Shixian's eyes were also full of surprise, her gaze toward Ye Chutang now different.

—How could she, a daughter of an official family, lower herself to such a degree?

She dabbed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, lowering her eyelids to hide the mocking smile within.

When she first saw Ye Chutang yesterday, she had felt a vague sense of threat. But hearing this now, she felt her worries had been unnecessary.

A woman who had worked publicly and struggled to make a living was no longer qualified to be compared with her.

Ye Chutang didn't care about their attitudes. She said softly, "I feel ashamed to say it. As their elder sister, I couldn't provide better conditions for A-Yan and A-Feng. I could only send them to the cheapest local academy. They have truly been wronged these past few years."

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

A flicker of emotion passed over Ye Jingyan's brow. "Big Sister—"

Ye Yunfeng scratched his head, feeling guilty. "Big Sister, why blame yourself! If anything, I'm the one who caused you a lot of trouble!"

Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly to look at the two of them, her voice gentle. "With Father, Mother, and Eldest Brother gone, I am the elder sister. Naturally, I must take responsibility. It's also good to let others know that the children of our Ye family are not without someone to protect them."

Hearing this, Ye Heng finally couldn't sit still any longer.

"Chutang, speaking of this, I was just about to discuss it with you. A-Yan and A-Feng are now at the age for study. In the past, when you were adrift, I didn't know, so it couldn't be helped. But now that you've returned to the capital, I, as your uncle, naturally cannot shirk my duty!"

He declared, "I have already begun contacting suitable academies for A-Yan and A-Feng. Once household matters are settled in a few days, we can send them to study!"

Ye Chutang lifted her gaze slightly, a shallow smile touching her lips.

"Whatever Uncle arranges is naturally the best. I was worried earlier that since Mingze is at the Imperial College, if A-Yan and A-Feng also went, they might clash again. Uncle's consideration is thorough. This way, all three of them can continue their studies peacefully."

Ye Heng's face stiffened.

Only then did he realize he had sent his own son to the Imperial College. Now that his two nephews had returned, if he sent them to some other academy, who knew how harshly outsiders would criticize him once they found out!

He quickly said, "I was inconsiderate before. Thinking about it now, it's better for the three brothers to go together! The Imperial College gathers the best talents. They must go! Their room and board will also be my responsibility. Don't worry about it!"

Lady Gao immediately objected, her tone sarcastic. "Husband, we must be cautious about this! After all, the Imperial College—it's not a place one can just enter."

How much would it cost to send these two boys? Besides, it wasn't just a matter of money.

She looked Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng up and down.

"Your studies have been neglected these three years, haven't they? Even if your uncle can recommend you for entry, once you're there and lagging behind everyone, it will still be troublesome. Wouldn't it be better to go to an ordinary academy where you can at least keep up?"

(End of Chapter)

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