Chapter 123: Ye Chutang Saves Jun’er

Ye Chutang’s plan was to use seduction to attract the man’s attention and find an opportunity to save Jun’er.

But Jun’er had no idea about her plan.

Unable to bear seeing his elder sister insulted, he impulsively moved his neck towards the sharp dagger.

The already significant wound instantly expanded.

The man was startled and instinctively pulled the dagger away from Jun’er’s neck.

“Brat, have you lost your mind?”

Ye Chutang was also shocked by Jun’er’s actions.

But she only froze for a moment, quickly taking advantage of the man’s loosened grip on Jun’er. She immediately used her earth-element ability.

The damp earth transformed into slippery vines, rapidly growing up the man’s legs.

In an instant, they wrapped around his wrists and tightened quickly.

The sound of bones breaking mixed with his screams.

The man could no longer hold onto Jun’er’s head, nor could he harm him.

Losing too much blood, Jun’er became disoriented and weak, falling downward.

The vines caught him and sent him into Ye Chutang’s arms.

Ye Chutang plunged a hairpin into the man’s heart to silence him.

She held the nearly unconscious Jun’er and instantly teleported to the entrance of the restaurant, quickly walking inside.

After placing Jun’er on the nearest vacant table, she took out silver needles to stop the bleeding.

The patrons and the waiter were shocked by the sight of fresh blood and immediately called for the manager.

The manager recognized Ye Chutang and spoke, “Miss Ye…”

Before he could finish, Ye Chutang interrupted, “Is there a doctor?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll call him right away.”

The doctor soon arrived, carrying his medical bag.

Ye Chutang snatched the bag from him, quickly cleaning and dressing Jun’er’s wounds.

Once done, she immediately checked Jun’er’s pulse.

Relieved, she confirmed it was just blood loss, letting out a heavy sigh.

Seeing Ye Chutang and Jun’er drenched, the manager said, “Miss Ye, there are guest rooms behind the restaurant, and we also have spare clothes prepared for guests. Would you like to change?”

Ye Chutang took out ten liang of silver and handed it to the manager. “Lead the way.”

After she and Jun’er changed into fresh clothes and came out, some officials had already returned from Yunyin Lake.

They had also brought back several men who had been drugged and were still unconscious.

Seeing Ye Chutang, the lead official immediately approached and asked, “Miss Ye, are you alright? Why did these people want to kill you?”

Ye Chutang shook her head. “I don’t know, please investigate further.”

“Rest assured, Miss Ye. The Jingzhao Prefecture and the Dali Temple will work together on this case and provide you with an explanation.”

“Thank you, Sir. You and your men must be tired. The wind and rain outside are harsh. We can’t return to the government office for now. Manager, please prepare a few tables of fine food and wine.”

The official was about to decline, but Ye Chutang quickly took out a wet fifty-liang silver note and handed it to the manager.

“Can this silver note still be used?”

The manager carefully took it, nodding.

“As long as it’s dried properly, it will be fine. Miss Ye and the officials can wait here. I’ll instruct the kitchen right away.”

The lead official saw that Ye Chutang had already paid and no longer declined.

“Miss Ye, I’d like to ask some details about the incident. May I?”

“Of course, Sir. Please go ahead.”

Before the meal was served, Ye Chutang explained what had happened during the attack.

She also mentioned noticing she was being followed and that reporting it to the authorities was her decision.

“Miss Ye, why would you risk yourself knowing there was danger?”

Ye Chutang, holding the unconscious Jun’er, gave a faint smile.

“I couldn’t just stay home for the rest of my life just because someone wants to harm me.”

That wasn’t wrong, so the official didn’t press the matter further.

---

Summer rains come quickly and leave just as fast.

By the time Ye Chutang had finished her meal with the officials, the wind and rain had stopped.

The sky was clear and bright, a faint rainbow hanging in the sky, making passersby stop to admire it.

The officials had all returned from Yunyin Lake.

They had captured nine living people and three corpses.

None of them were guards.

Ye Chutang found this strange and asked, “Sir, is that all? Where are the guards from the Minister’s residence?”

They couldn’t have all sunk to the bottom of the lake, could they?

“These are all we’ve found so far. We will continue searching around Yunyin Lake later.”

Just as the official finished speaking, a wounded guard hobbled into the restaurant.

“Miss, I’m fine. When we went to save the young master, the storm was too strong, and we were blocked, scattering apart.”

He had been quite seriously injured.

Since he survived, the others likely did too.

Ye Chutang knew that what the guard said wasn’t the whole truth.

They had scattered because of the instinct to flee, not due to the storm.

She didn’t bother to argue. When they returned to the Minister’s residence, Ye Jingchuan would handle the matter.

“Let’s go. Jun’er is hurt, let’s head home.”

Chen Zhong had been waiting for the carriage outside the restaurant.

But when the storm hit, the horse got spooked, and he didn’t know where it had taken him.

The restaurant had a carriage for guests.

The manager, seeing how much Ye Chutang had spent, kindly provided a free one for her.

As the carriage drove along, Jun’er slowly regained consciousness.

He opened his eyes, saw Ye Chutang leaning against the side of the carriage, her face pale.

“Elder sister… you…”

When he decided to use his life to force her to leave, he hadn’t expected to survive.

So, he thought he was already dead.

Ye Chutang reached over the small table in the middle of the carriage and gently patted Jun’er’s head.

“As I promised, I won’t let you get hurt, and I won’t let myself be hurt. So, we’re both alive.”

She then looked at the wound on Jun’er’s neck, her eyes full of apology.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t protect you, and you got hurt so badly.”

The Crown Prince was right—she had been too confident.

She had thought that for Kong Ru, Jun’er was her last hope, so she wouldn’t harm him.

But she had miscalculated!

Jun’er sat up, enduring the pain in his neck, and slowly shook his head.

“Elder sister, don’t blame yourself. It was my own foolishness that got me hurt.”

Although he didn’t know exactly what happened after he collided with the dagger, he now understood that his sister wasn’t being humiliated by taking off her clothes, but rather using it as a tactic to deceive the enemy.

It was he who was too stupid, not noticing at the time and not trusting his sister.

Ye Chutang lightly flicked Jun’er’s forehead.

“It’s all over. Don’t think too much. You were very brave, and I’m proud of you.”

Jun’er gave a weak smile.

“Elder sister, does this count as sharing life and death together?”

Though it wasn’t as dramatic as Jun’er made it sound, Ye Chutang smiled and nodded.

“Of course!”

Jun’er’s smile became even brighter.

From now on, the bond between him and his elder sister would deepen.

He suddenly remembered something.

“Elder sister, my injury isn’t too serious. Can I still go to Huating Academy?”

Ye Chutang didn’t want to agree.

But looking into Jun’er’s hopeful eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Yes, but you haven’t eaten lunch yet. Eat first, then go.”

Jun’er’s eyes curved into crescents.

“Thank you, elder sister.”

After leaving the academy, he would confess everything to his sister!