Chapter 50: Turning the Tables

Ye Yunfeng's expression instantly turned cold. "Xiao Wu is not a mute!"

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

"I was just saying it casually; she's just a child and doesn't understand. Besides, looking at her, she truly does seem unable to speak!"

What kind of family has a child who can't even call out to people at four years old?

This Ye Lingzhi clearly had an issue; why wasn't she allowed to speak?

Ye Chutang's expression softened slightly, her eyes devoid of visible emotion. "Second Aunt, though Xiao Wu is young, she can understand these words. Even though Father and Mother are no longer with us, she is still our family's most cherished youngest child. Within this Ye Manor, there is no reason for anyone to point fingers and bully her. You are an elder; we do not ask you to treat Xiao Wu like your own daughter, but please, watch your words and accumulate some virtue."

Lady Gao's face flushed and paled in succession.

What was wrong with these people? Every single one of them was sharp-tongued!

Just as she was about to lash out, she caught a glimpse of Ye Heng's disapproving expression from the corner of her eye and swallowed her anger, forcing a smile. "Chutang, you've truly misunderstood your Second Aunt. Am I not doing this for Xiao Wu's sake? If she truly has an issue, we must quickly invite a physician to take a look!"

Xiao Wu, clutching Ye Chutang's hand, listened with a hint of unhappiness.

Find a physician? Big Sister is the most amazing physician in the whole world; why would they need to invite someone else?

Ye Chutang gave her small hand a comforting squeeze before saying calmly to Lady Gao, "Thank you for your kindness, Second Aunt, but we are well aware of Xiao Wu's condition. There is no need to invite a physician."

"How can that be? If it's delayed, others will see her and say your Second Uncle wasn't being diligent and conscientious." Lady Gao's face showed a hint of arrogance. "Besides, the physicians in the capital are not comparable to those low-class itinerant doctors. I'll have your Second Uncle invite an imperial physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine later; perhaps they will have a way!"

Hearing this, Ye Heng nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It just so happens that Physician Zhang is coming to the manor tomorrow; we can ask him to take a look."

Ye Chutang was becoming a bit impatient.

If they were inviting Chu Qiyuan, it might be acceptable; at least he was the Director of the Imperial Academy of Medicine and possessed some actual skill.

But inviting a useless waste who had slitherled into the Imperial Academy through ancestral connections was nothing more than a waste of time.

However, she was too lazy to waste her breath. If Ye Heng was eager to show off, she would let him.

"Fine. Then I shall thank Second Uncle in advance."

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

Ye Shixian glanced at Xiao Wu a few times and took the initiative to ask, "Should we let Nanny Li serve Xiao Wu during the meal?"

Ye Chutang placed some food in Xiao Wu's bowl and smiled faintly. "That won't be necessary. She handles her own affairs very well."

After watching for a while, Ye Shixian realized that although Xiao Wu could not speak, she indeed did not require assistance with eating or drinking.

*True,* she thought, *having drifted abroad since childhood, she was likely lucky just to have enough to eat. How could she compare to a precious child raised with the upbringing of a capital aristocratic family?*

As she thought this, a sense of disdain and contempt rose in her heart again.

The meal, filled with varying thoughts, finally concluded.

Ye Heng had been brooding and contemplating for most of the night, and only now did he carefully open his mouth to ask.

"Chutang, you all returned so suddenly yesterday, and thinking you were exhausted from your journey, I didn't ask too much. But now, can you tell me—how exactly did you all survive these past three years?"

He sighed. "After the incident with your eldest brother and sister-in-law, I specifically searched for you for a long time, but unfortunately, I found nothing. These past few years, you all must have suffered a great deal, haven't you?"

He simply could not fathom how a fourteen-year-old girl like Ye Chutang could have survived while looking after three young siblings.

Ye Shixian also turned her gaze toward Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang's tone was calm.

"By a stroke of luck, while we were fleeing, we encountered an old physician. He didn't have much time left and was worried about having no successor, so he taught me some basic medical principles." Ye Chutang's expression remained unchanged. "After he passed away, I took A-Yan and the others to find a place to settle. We opened a small clinic, and we made a living by gathering herbs and treating patients."

"Wha—what?" Ye Heng was shocked. "Are you saying you... you opened a clinic?!"

Ye Chutang knew why he was so shocked. Although this dynasty was relatively enlightened, it was still rare for a woman to establish her own business.

Ye Shixian was also wide-eyed with surprise, her gaze toward Ye Chutang shifting.

*—After all, she was a noble lady from an official family; how could she lower her status like this?*

She pressed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, lowering her eyes to hide the mocking smile in them.

When she first met Ye Chutang yesterday, she had felt a faint sense of crisis, but hearing this now, she felt her worries were redundant.

A woman who had once had to show her face in public to scrape a living was no longer qualified to be compared to her.

Ye Chutang did not care about their attitudes, merely saying softly, "It is shameful to speak of. As the eldest sister, I failed to provide better conditions for A-Yan and A-Feng, only being able to afford the cheapest academies. They have truly been wronged these past few years."

Ye Jingyan's brow twitched slightly. "Sister—"

Ye Yunfeng scratched his head, his voice filled with guilt. "Sister, why blame yourself! It's me who has caused you so much trouble!"

Ye Chutang turned her head slightly toward the two of them and spoke softly. "With Father, Mother, and Brother gone, I am the eldest sister, so I must take on this responsibility. It is also to let people know that the children of our Ye family are not without protection."

Hearing this, Ye Heng could no longer remain seated.

"Chutang, speaking of which, I was just about to discuss something with you. A-Yan and A-Feng are at the age where they should be studying. I didn't know while you were wandering abroad, but now that you have returned to the capital, as their Second Uncle, it is my duty!"

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

Ye Chutang lifted her eyelids slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Whatever Second Uncle arranges will naturally be the best. Previously, I was worried that if A-Yan and A-Feng went to the Imperial Academy where Mingze is, they might clash again. It seems Second Uncle has thought things through; this way, all three of them can continue their studies in peace."

Ye Heng's expression stiffened.

He realized only then that he had sent his own son to the Imperial Academy. Now that his two nephews had returned, if he sent them to a different academy, people would say such nasty things if they found out!

He hurriedly said, "I was inconsiderate before. Thinking about it now, it would be better for the three brothers to go together! The Imperial Academy is a gathering of talents; they must go! I will also take responsibility for their room and board, so you don't need to worry!"

Lady Gao immediately became unwilling, saying sarcastically, "My Lord, you must be cautious! After all, that Imperial Academy—it's not something one can just enter whenever one pleases."

How much money would it cost for those two brothers to go there? Moreover, it wasn't just a matter of money.

She scanned the two brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, from head to toe.

"Your studies have been neglected for these three years, haven't they? Even if your Second Uncle can recommend you, if you find yourselves inferior in every way once you get there, it will be just as much trouble. It would be better to go to an ordinary academy; at least you can keep up."