Chapter 53: A Rustic Villager

Chapter 53: Country Bumpkin

Xiao Wu peeked curiously, seeing that the bowl of Chuanbei pear water was clear and fragrant; it looked perfectly fine.

Ye Chutang tapped her little head.

"If you drink this, you'll end up with an upset stomach later."

Xiao Wu hurriedly stepped back, clutching her little tummy and shaking her head vigorously.

—No, no! Every time she felt unwell, her elder sister had to work hard to take care of her. She didn't want to be sick!

Ye Chutang stood up and poured the contents into a potted plant by the window.

It seemed someone felt tonight's drama wasn't exciting enough and wanted to perform a scene themselves.

Well... she wasn't opposed to fulfilling their wish.

...

The guests arrived one after another. Ye Shixian, having finished her preparations, took her seat following Lady Gao.

As she entered, many eyes turned toward her.

Today, Ye Shixian wore a pale jade-green skirt embroidered with silver, which complemented the jade hairpin in her hair, further accentuating her slender figure and bright, beautiful features.

Whispers broke out among the crowd.

"Is that Ye Heng's eldest daughter?"

"There have long been rumors in the capital that his daughter is a great beauty. Seeing her today, it is indeed so!"

"I heard she is also quite talented, capable of both poetry and painting."

Lady Gao caught glimpses of these praises, a smile spreading across her face as her pride swelled.

Even looking across the entire capital, her daughter was one of the best!

Ye Shixian greeted the guests, every movement poised and proper. With a gentle smile playing on her lips, she fully embodied the mannerisms of a noble lady from a prestigious family.

Seeing this, a look of satisfaction appeared in Ye Heng's eyes.

Though his son was a failure, this daughter was truly someone he could be proud of.

Suddenly, a voice drifted over.

"Lord Ye, I wonder when Chutang and the others will arrive?"

The lively banquet fell silent as everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

The speaker was none other than Xu Fengchi.

From the moment he stepped into the Ye residence, he had wanted to see Ye Chutang and her siblings as soon as possible. Having waited for a while without seeing them, he had simply decided to ask directly.

Ye Heng seemed somewhat surprised and immediately called for Yu Hong. "Go and see why Chutang and the others haven't arrived yet. We have distinguished guests today; they cannot be late and lose their manners."

Yu Hong responded, "Yes, sir."

Ye Heng turned back to Xu Fengchi with an apologetic smile. "Lord Xu, I am truly sorry. Chutang and the others might have just returned to the capital and are not yet adjusted."

Many people exchanged subtle glances.

No matter how lacking in etiquette one might be, they shouldn't arrive later than the guest, right? This...

The conversation naturally shifted toward Ye Chutang and her siblings.

When Ye Zheng had met with his misfortune, everyone thought the whole family had perished. Who could have known that after three years, Ye Zheng's second daughter would actually return with three younger siblings!

Who wouldn't be curious about how they had survived these past three years?

Ye Shixian lowered her eyelashes slightly and took a sip of tea.

This was considered Ye Chutang's first formal appearance since returning to the capital. If there were any negligence, she would inevitably be the subject of gossip.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

"The second young lady is here!"

This exclamation instantly drew everyone's attention. Looking up, they saw a young girl in a begonia-colored skirt walking slowly toward them.

The banquet fell silent.

Having just seen Ye Shixian, everyone thought she was beautiful enough, but no one expected Ye Chutang to be even more striking.

She wore no excessive ornaments; her oval face was exceptionally clean, and as she walked, she seemed enveloped in an invisible aura.

Particularly her eyes—dark, warm, pure, and gentle.

She truly resembled a begonia flower swaying in the wind.

She arrived at the table and bowed in greeting.

"Please forgive me, everyone. I was feeling unwell just now and was delayed, so I have arrived late."

Only then did the crowd notice that two youths were following behind Ye Chutang—one refined and elegant, the other spirited and unrestrained—along with a small child, perhaps only three or four years old, who looked very well-behaved, her large, grape-like eyes full of curiosity.

—These must be the bloodline left behind by Ye Zheng.

The crowd was momentarily stunned.

Hadn't it been said that these children had been wandering for three years and were only recently found? By all accounts, they should have looked quite disheveled and impoverished. Yet, although they weren't dressed in luxurious silks, the temperament in their bones was not inferior to the young masters and ladies raised in the capital.

Ye Heng immediately said, "Chutang, do not take it to heart. We have no intention of blaming you. It is just that Lord Xu has been wanting to see you and has been waiting for a long time, which is why—"

"Chutang?"

Xu Fengchi had already stood up and was walking briskly toward Ye Chutang and her group.

He struggled to restrain the surging emotions in his chest. A thousand words were stuck in his throat, but in the end, they only manifested as a single sentence: "...It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back!"

Ye Chutang gave him a respectful bow.

"Uncle Xu, it has been a long time. I hope you have been well."

That single sentence made Xu Fengchi's eyes sting with emotion.

The last time they met was three years ago.

Everyone said that Ye Chutang and the others were dead, but he didn't believe it. He insisted on searching, thinking that if they were alive, he would see them, and if they were dead, he would find their bodies. Even if they had truly met with an accident, he had to find them to give the deceased Ye Zheng some closure.

He had searched continuously for half a year, only to have Ye Chutang find him of her own accord.

He still remembered the Ye Chutang of that time—slender and frail, her still-youthful face carrying a maturity and calmness that belied her age.

Her first words had been: "Uncle Xu, I would like to ask for your help."

In the two years that followed, although they had exchanged letters, he had not gone to find them again for various reasons.

Meeting her again now, how could he not be moved?

"A-Yan and A-Feng have grown so tall!" He let out a breath, and his expression softened significantly when he looked at Xiao Wu. "This is Xiao Wu, right? You look just like you did when you were little."

Ye Chutang looked apologetic. "Truthfully, we should have been the ones to come and visit you—"

Xu Fengchi immediately shook his head. "You have traveled so far; you should be resting! As for you, you have been frail and sickly since childhood. Is your health acting up again?"

Ye Chutang smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Xu. It is just a minor ailment; it is nothing serious."

Yet Xu Fengchi remained worried. "One cannot be careless with health. Perhaps you should ask a physician to take a look?"

Lady Gao finally couldn't help herself and interrupted with a smile, "Lord Xu, there is no need to worry. Chutang is a physician herself; she even ran a medical clinic before. Why would she need someone else to look at her?"

As soon as these words were spoken, many people looked on in astonishment.

Ran a medical clinic? Ye Chutang?

Xu Rongqing could not contain himself and asked in shock, "Sister Chutang, is that true?"

Before Ye Chutang could speak, Lady Gao let out a long sigh, sounding both relieved and heartbroken. "It is indeed! It was precisely because of this that Chutang was able to support her younger siblings. This child must have endured so much hardship over the past three years!"

The atmosphere became subtle, and the expressions of those looking at Ye Chutang became complicated.

If that were the case, then during these past three years, hadn't she been constantly exposing herself to the public...

Lady Gao added, "But speaking of which, we must trouble Imperial Physician Zhang today to help examine Xiao Wu."

Imperial Physician Zhang, being suddenly called upon, was also stunned. "What? Didn't you just say she understands medicine? Then—"

Lady Gao said in a light tone, "In such a small place, she usually only treats common ailments for country bumpkins. But Xiao Wu's situation is special, and even Chutang has no way to handle it, so we had to invite you, Imperial Physician Zhang."

Outside the moon gate, Shen Yanchuan's footsteps paused.