Chapter 41: The Return

The April weather was warm and comfortable, with high skies and clear clouds.

Driving out from the North Gate, the roads were lined with lush green trees, their new leaves rustling in the wind.

Ye Chutang lowered the curtain and looked down at Xiao Wu in her arms. Seeing that the girl had finally fallen asleep, her heart eased slightly.

Ever since that accident years ago, Xiao Wu had been very afraid of being near a carriage; whenever she stayed in one, she would become extremely nervous.

But she had always been sensible. Even when she was afraid, she tried her utmost to overcome it, striving not to be a burden.

Ye Chutang held her and coaxed her for a while until she finally drifted into a quiet sleep. Half of her small face was buried in Ye Chutang's embrace, and one chubby little hand unconsciously gripped Ye Chutang's clothes, as if she were afraid of being separated even in her dreams.

Ye Jingyan took one last look at the receding city gates and murmured, "We're just leaving like this..."

He had once thought they would stay here forever, spending their lives in peace and stability.

But he hadn't expected that three years would pass in the blink of an eye, and they would actually be setting out on the road back to the capital once again.

Ye Chutang tucked in Xiao Wu's collar and said with a faint smile, "It's about a twenty-day journey from here to the capital. If you want to come back in the future, you can do so at any time."

Ye Jingyan shook his head.

"I only want to be with you, Sister."

What he missed was not Jiangling, but the time they had spent together over the past three years.

He knew that once they returned to the capital, this tranquility would inevitably be broken.

Perhaps to take care of Xiao Wu, they did not travel very fast. Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, the two brothers, took turns driving the carriage, stopping and starting as they traveled north along the road.

Occasionally, Ye Chutang would admire the scenery along the way and invite them to look as well.

After all, when they were mixed among the refugees fleeing south back then, they certainly hadn't had the luxury of such leisure.

In this manner, a journey that should have taken only twenty days ended up taking them a full month.

In early May, they finally arrived at the capital.

"Sister, we're here!"

Ye Yunfeng's voice could not hide his excitement.

Ye Chutang lifted the curtain and poked her head out to look.

The massive city stood in the distance, heavy and majestic.

Compared to her memories, there was almost no change, to the point where one might doubt whether those three years had truly existed.

Xiao Wu also opened her eyes and looked forward, her large, grape-like eyes full of curiosity.

When they had left, she was still an infant and had no impression of the capital.

Compared to her sister and two brothers, this was almost her first formal experience seeing what the capital was actually like.

Her fourth brother had mentioned more than once that the capital was incredibly crowded, that the pastries were delicious, and that it was incredibly lively!

At this thought, Xiao Wu's stomach let out a "gurgle."

She immediately became shy, bashfully covering her little tummy.

Ye Chutang laughed. "Are you hungry?"

Xiao Wu shook her head, then nodded, and finally lunged into her shoulder, burying her face in Ye Chutang's neck to act spoiled.

Ye Chutang rubbed her little head and then said to Ye Yunfeng, "We're about to enter the city. Ah-Feng, even if you're very hungry, can't you hold on a little longer?"

Ye Yunfeng, who had just been unfairly blamed, went: "..."

He looked back with a face full of grievance, wanting to defend himself, but forced himself to endure it.

Forget it!

What else could he do with his elder sister and youngest sister besides indulge them?

His eyes darted around as an idea came to him, and he gave a cheeky grin. "Sister, we've been traveling for a whole month. Shall we go have a good meal?"

How could Ye Chutang not guess his intentions? "Speak up, which place do you want to eat at?"

Ye Yunfeng immediately said, "Lanyue Pavilion!"

Lanyue Pavilion was one of the top-tier restaurants in the capital. Usually, it was frequented by the children of noble and powerful families, and its cuisine was superb.

Ever since leaving the capital, Ye Yunfeng had been thinking of this place. Now that he was finally back, he naturally wanted to have a proper feast.

"Sister, just say yes!" Ye Yunfeng asked thick-skinnedly.

Ye Chutang tilted her head, considering for a moment.

"Fine. Lanyue Pavilion it is."

...

Passing through the heavily guarded city gates and along the wide, flat Zhuque Street, the carriage finally stopped in front of a magnificent and grand restaurant.

The streets were bustling with people coming and going, filled with lively noise.

Ye Yunfeng looked up at the gold-lettered plaque hanging above and couldn't help but remark, "Lanyue Pavilion is indeed Lanyue Pavilion! This is many levels higher than that Cao's Restaurant!"

Truly, only the capital could have a restaurant of such scale.

The waiter in front of the door had noticed this seemingly ordinary, even overly simple carriage long ago.

Those who came here were either wealthy or powerful, and were mostly regulars, but the youth driving this carriage looked very unfamiliar.

He clearly wasn't a servant from any notable house, but to say he was a young master... looking at his clothes and shoes, he didn't seem to be one either.

He looked like an ordinary person from out of town.

With this thought, the waiter's attitude became noticeably colder.

He sized Ye Yunfeng up from head to toe and glanced at the carriage. "Do you have a reservation, sir? If not, then—"

Suddenly, his voice faltered.

A delicate hand suddenly extended from the curtain, with slender fingers and skin as smooth as jade.

From that hand alone, it was not difficult to imagine the beauty of its owner.

Then, a graceful figure stepped down from the carriage.

She was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a Xiangfei-colored brocade skirt, her dark hair simply tied up with a single red carnelian hairpin tucked in at an angle.

Her complexion was as white as snow, her eyebrows like distant mountains, and her dark eyes like stars. She seemed to be enveloped in an invisible aura that set her apart from her surroundings, yet carried an irresistible attraction that made people instinctively fix their gaze upon her.

The corners of her lips curled slightly into a faint smile, and her dark, moist eyes were pure and gentle.

"We do not have a reservation. We will just find a random seat on the first floor to eat."

Her tone was calm and poised.

The waiter was momentarily dazed, only snapping back to his senses when he heard her words. "Ye—yes! Please, guests, come inside!"

Ye Yunfeng snorted and immediately moved to Ye Chutang's side, unobtrusively shielding her.

Ye Chutang looked back to see Ye Jingyan carrying Xiao Wu down from the carriage.

"Let's go." The corners of Ye Chutang's lips curved. "Sister is treating today. Order whatever you want."

...

Just as Ye Chutang's group had taken their seats on the first floor, a commotion erupted from upstairs.

"Hahaha! Brother Ye! I heard your father is about to be promoted to the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Congratulations!"

Ye Chutang's heart stirred. She looked up and saw about five or six youths walking down the stairs with their arms around each other.

The youth in the center was about sixteen or seventeen years old. He had a somewhat refined appearance, but his frame was too thin, making his fine silk clothes look baggy on him. There was a hint of gloom and superficiality in his eyes that made people feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Hearing the words, he gave a cold laugh, a flash of pride crossing his face, though he said, "It hasn't been officially decided yet, don't talk nonsense."

A youth beside him immediately said, "How is it not decided? I heard many people in the capital have already received invitations to the banquet! By the way, I heard that even the Marquis of Dingbei's manor has been invited this time?"

Ye Chutang's eyebrows rose slightly.