Chapter 32: Survival Through Desperate Situations

Shen Yanchuan withdrew his gaze, casually placed a piece on the board, and asked with a leisurely laugh, "Which eye of yours told you that I am fond of her?"

Xie Anbai pointed to his own eyes. "I saw it with both of them, okay! Don't tell me that staying here has nothing to do with any feelings for her!"

Shen Yanchuan tilted his head in thought. He wanted to investigate the relationship between Xu Fengchi and Ye Chutang, and indeed, he had invested a considerable amount of thought into her.

However, since there were no leads yet and he did not wish to be conspicuous, he did not mention it, ultimately saying only

"Her medical skills are quite good."

Xie Anbai knew very well that receiving such an evaluation from him was enough to prove Ye Chutang's ability.

But he still felt that Shen Yanchuan definitely had ulterior motives.

When he first heard Shen Yanchuan mention "Doctor Ye," he thought it would be some elderly gentleman with a transcendent, scholarly air; who could have imagined it would be such a young and beautiful woman!

Although the woman had not approached the courtyard just now, one could still see how elegant and ethereal her face was.

That gentle and pure aura was not inferior at all to the noble ladies in the capital.

Xie Anbai leaned back on the soft couch and snorted. "With you leaving, how many women's hearts in the capital have followed you? Who would have thought you'd be living such a carefree life here."

Shen Yanchuan's face was truly captivating. Even though he had rarely appeared in the capital in recent years, he still easily captured hearts; he was the dream lover of countless women.

He had thought this man was cold-hearted and ruthless, but now it seemed he simply hadn't met the person capable of taming him yet.

Shen Yanchuan chuckled. Xie Anbai had only met Ye Chutang once, yet he had concluded that he must be moved by her beauty. He did not know that this "little white flower" was actually a "black lotus" who could kill without blinking.

Falling in love with such a woman was extremely dangerous.

However, he couldn't be bothered to explain. After all, he would be staying here for a while longer.

"If you only came here to ask these things today, you may leave now."

Xie Anbai immediately sat up straight. "Hey, hey, hey! Don't! Chat a bit more! That little kid—what exactly is her relationship to her?"

Shen Yanchuan: "Her younger sister."

Xie Anbai breathed a long sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good!"

He had almost thought his brother was actually going to become a father.

Shen Yanchuan naturally understood his subtext. His finger paused, and a black piece was placed in a different position.

As the piece landed, it was like a sharp dagger, instantly tearing through the white pieces' defense!

The originally chaotic game became clear in an instant, but it was a trap set by the black pieces to lure the white pieces in, only to surround and execute them from behind!

—To find life through the jaws of death!

Xie Anbai was instantly shocked. "This move is too dirty! Is this how you're supposed to play!"

Shen Yanchuan leaned back. "Collect the pieces. You may leave."

Xie Anbai: "..."

His previous worries were indeed redundant. Against a Yama like this, who could be his match!

...

"Xiao Wu, are you having fun with Young Master Shen?" Ye Chutang asked.

The little toddler nodded vigorously, then shook her head.

—Happy! But being with Big Sister is the happiest!

Ye Chutang was somewhat surprised.

Xiao Wu's personality was different from other children; she was usually very wary of strangers, but with Shen Yanchuan, she didn't seem to resist at all, and they even got along quite harmoniously.

This was rare.

Xiao Wu lowered her head, pulled out the gold whistle Xie Anbai had given her from her bosom, and held it up for Ye Chutang to see.

—Big Sister, look! The money I earned today!

Ye Chutang took the gold whistle, her eyebrows arching slightly.

"Did his friend give this to you?"

In this era, gold was extremely precious. For the other party to be so generous with a single gesture showed an extraordinary status.

She pondered for a long time, letting out a soft sigh.

Regret. She regretted it so much!

She had asked for too little in her previous medical fees!

Judging by the generosity of Shen Yanchuan's friend, his family's wealth must be even more substantial than she had predicted. To save his life for only that much silver was a massive loss!

Xiao Wu blinked blankly.

Why did Big Sister look unhappy? Was it because she didn't like her accepting gifts from others?

Xiao Wu hugged her arm and rubbed against her leg.

—If Big Sister doesn't like it, then I don't want it. I'll go return it right now!

The corners of Ye Chutang's lips curled upward as she pinched the girl's small face.

"Young Master Shen will continue to stay at our house for a while. It just so happens that your third and fourth brothers have heavy schoolwork lately and don't have much time to accompany you. If you feel bored, feel free to go to his side."

She felt that Shen Yanchuan was quite good at babysitting.

There was no use in letting such a resource go to waste.

...

The next day was a bright, sunny day.

Early in the morning, many people had already gathered around the marketplace execution grounds.

Today was the day Liu Si was to be beheaded. Jiangling had not seen such a violent crime in years, and this public execution naturally drew many onlookers.

The streets were crowded with people pushing and shoving, everyone waiting for the officials to escort Liu Si over; it was extremely noisy.

As time passed and the sun rose high, it finally approached noon.

Liu Si, bound and shackled, was finally brought forth.

"The murderer is here!"

Someone shouted in the crowd, and immediately after, a piece of rotten vegetable leaf was thrown at Liu Si.

As if it were a signal, the crowd's indignation erupted instantly. People spat at him, and stones, vegetables, and rotten eggs flew in succession, all landing on Liu Si.

"Pay with your life for your crimes!"

"How terrifying. I thought he was quite honest normally, who knew he was so brutal!"

"It's a good thing he was caught. Otherwise, if such a murderer had stayed in Jiangling, who knows what else he would have done! It's frightening!"

Liu Si had already undergone torture; his prisoner's clothes were filthy, making him look even more wretched.

He kept his head down, silent, his face hidden beneath his disheveled hair, making him unrecognizable.

Amidst the countless insults, he was escorted onto the execution platform.

Not far away, at the Cao Family Restaurant, Cao Deping and his son were watching this scene from the second floor.

Despite the many setbacks, fortunately, the one dying was still Liu Si!

"Father, as long as he dies, this matter will be completely over!" Cao Chengwen could not hide the excitement in his heart.

He had been living in fear every day during this period; he had finally waited for this day!

Cao Deping's gaze suddenly froze, and he snorted coldly. "That Ye Chutang actually came too?"

Cao Chengwen followed his gaze and indeed saw a slender, graceful figure in the back of the crowd.

She stood there quietly, seemingly out of place with everything around her.

Cao Chengwen sneered. "It's good that she came. Let her see with her own eyes that the Cao family is not someone she can provoke!"

In a private room of a teahouse on the other side of the street, Shen Yanchuan picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

"She's here."

Lian Zhou, standing behind him, didn't quite understand his master's words.

Just then, Yang Zhen, sitting high on the execution platform, threw his command token to the ground and shouted in a deep voice

"Execute!"

The executioner immediately raised his blade. The long-silent Liu Si slowly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes scanning the crowd. Sure enough, he did not see the figures of Lady Zhou and the children.

A massive surge of grief and indignation rose in his heart. A flash of desperation crossed his eyes as he screamed at the top of his lungs

"My Lord! I want to report a crime! The one who instigated me to kill Cao Chengwu was none other than his own half-brother—Cao Chengwen!"

(End of Chapter)