Chapter 20: Refusing to Leave

Ye Chutang closed the copy of *On the Six States* she had just finished writing and tucked it into a drawer. After instructing Xiao Wu to stay inside and not run around, she stood up and walked out.

"What is going on?"

Ye Yunfeng looked anxious, pointing toward the main gate: "The yamen! People from the yamen are here! They’re even holding sealing strips!"

They had been in Jiangling for three years and had always been very law-abiding. Although they occasionally encountered minor troubles, they had never experienced a situation like this.

Ye Chutang walked outside and soon saw Wu Xu leading several bailiffs, blocking the entrance.

"Officer Wu, what is this about? Why are you suddenly sealing our clinic?" Ye Chutang asked.

Wu Xu looked troubled. He glanced left and right before leaning in to lower his voice: "Dr. Ye, someone reported you to the yamen, claiming that the medicine from your clinic is problematic!"

Ye Chutang narrowed her eyes slightly: "Oh? Who?"

Wu Xu gave a bitter smile: "It’s not just one person. Just today, four people came. Their situations were all different, but they all testified that their conditions worsened after taking the medicine you prescribed! We are just following orders; please forgive us."

Ye Chutang almost wanted to laugh.

Four.

She had practiced medicine for many years without a single mistake. It was quite a coincidence that so many cases of "wrong prescriptions" had popped up in a single day.

If it were just one isolated case and no one had died, the yamen generally wouldn't bother, but with four people involved, the yamen had to make a show of action.

"How many days will it be sealed?"

Wu Xu quickly said: "Don't worry, as soon as it's cleared that it has nothing to do with you, it will be unsealed immediately! Generally, it takes three to five days."

Ye Chutang was not so optimistic.

First, they couldn't buy medicinal herbs, and immediately after came the medical dispute. It was clear that someone had orchestrated everything, just waiting for her to jump into the trap.

Once sealed, there was no telling when they would be able to open their doors again.

Ye Chutang said: "Officer Wu, I have a patient temporarily staying in my clinic. He has nothing to do with these matters. If he is implicated, I would feel terrible. I hope you can make an exception and let him leave."

Wu Xu already owed Ye Chutang a favor, and since the request was reasonable and not excessive, he readily agreed: "No problem."

Ye Chutang thanked him politely.

...

Xiao Wu leaned on a small table, looking out the window, and saw his elder sister walk across the courtyard to the door of the room opposite.

Shortly after, Lian Zhou walked out.

He glanced toward the main gate, having already guessed eight or nine parts of the truth.

Ye Chutang briefly explained her intentions: "...I have already spoken with them. You have no connection to this clinic, and these matters do not involve you. I don't know how long this clinic will be sealed, so you should leave as soon as possible."

As if to put them at ease, Ye Chutang continued: "Your master's injuries are basically healed. For the next three days, follow the prescription I gave you to decoct the medicine, and after three days, apply the ointment for half a month. He will recover quickly."

Lian Zhou looked at her, and finally nodded.

"I will go report to my master."

Inside the room, Lian Zhou repeated what Ye Chutang had just said: "Master, should this subordinate go find a suitable inn now—"

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow.

"Who said I was leaving?"

Lian Zhou was stunned, unable to react for a moment: "Does that mean you intend to stay here, Master?"

But the sealing of the clinic really had nothing to do with them, and as Ye Chutang said, no one could be sure when it would reopen. It was even possible it would be closed permanently.

Anyone could see that they had stumbled into big trouble this time.

"Didn't you say before that you only planned to stay here for a short while?"

The people they were waiting for had already arrived, and according to his master's original plan, they should have been setting off to leave Jiangling by now.

Shen Yanchuan recalled the beautiful small regular script he had seen earlier and said unhurriedly: "Xu Fengchi is upright and stubborn. He has been an official for many years, never participating in factional struggles, and keeps his distance from everyone. But it is precisely because of this temperament that the Emperor appreciates him greatly, and his position is very secure. Aren't you curious how he came to have a correspondence with a woman in Jiangling, thousands of miles away?"

Lian Zhou widened his eyes slightly: "So you intend to stay here to find out her relationship with Xu Fengchi?"

Shen Yanchuan looked toward the courtyard and saw Ye Chutang walking toward her own room.

She reached the eaves, and the little milk-bun inside had already couldn't help but peek out in curiosity.

The little milk-bun looked at her longingly, and she chuckled, reaching out to gently pinch that chubby little face.

Shen Yanchuan lifted his chin, saying with interest: "What kind of person can still smile at a time when their own home is being sealed? And—"

And, with such a carefree and relaxed attitude.

Even though the yamen officials were already blocking the gate and pasting the sealing strips on the door, there was no sign of panic on that clean, clear face; her brows were relaxed, and her posture was light.

As if nothing weighed on her heart.

Shen Yanchuan chuckled softly.

"Such a good show is rare to see; naturally, one must enjoy it properly."

...

Ye Chutang instructed A-Yan and A-Feng: "A-Yan, you can read that book when you have free time. A-Feng, protect Xiao Wu well."

As the doctor of the clinic, Ye Chutang had to go to the yamen to be investigated.

As for the clinic, it was temporarily left under the guard of the bailiffs.

If it weren't for Wu Xu, they probably would have already stormed into the courtyard, turning everything upside down to look for "clues and evidence."

Ye Chutang understood this, so she didn't delay too long.

But—why hadn't Shen Yanchuan left yet?

Ye Chutang had no choice but to go over and ask again: "Haven't you finished packing? If you wait any longer, they won't let you leave."

Lian Zhou felt a bit awkward, coughed into his fist, and said: "My master is suddenly feeling a bit unwell and really cannot leave right now."

Ye Chutang: "..."

How could she not know the condition of her own patient?

That Shen Yanchuan had an excellent constitution and was recovering extremely quickly. Aside from not being able to ride horses or hunt, he should be able to do everything else.

Why was he still lingering here?

...

The Cao family.

In the study, Cao Chengwen knelt on the ground, his face full of urgency: "Father, I really didn't kill Chengwu! You have to believe me!"

Standing before him was a man in his forties, Cao Deping, the owner of the Cao Restaurant.

He stared at Cao Chengwen with a gloomy expression.

"Whether Chengwu's death has anything to do with you, you know in your heart!"

Cao Chengwen's face turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on his palms.

Although he was calculating, ginger is still spicier when it's old; how could Cao Deping not see the ins and outs of this?

But... now that Chengwu was dead, he had to protect the only remaining son he had!

That was why he had personally stepped in to clean up this mess, even going so far as to use his cousin's connections!

He gritted his teeth, pointed at Cao Chengwen, and said bitterly: "You wait for me! After I finish dealing with Ye Chutang, we will talk about your affairs!"

Hearing this, Cao Chengwen knew he was safe, and his spirits immediately lifted.

"Father, she’s entered the yamen this time, she definitely won't be able to turn things around, right?!"