Chapter 654: Chapter 654: Bygone Days

"No wonder..."

Ye Chutang looked back at Fan Chengzhuo and saw that the pot of wine on his table was empty.

He tipped his empty cup, didn’t order more, and simply placed a silver ingot on the table before getting up to leave.

Snow Drink was extremely potent. After drinking a full pot, he looked a little flushed.

But his steps remained steady as he walked straight out and boarded his carriage.

The driver gave him a token hand for support before turning, taking his seat, and driving the horses away.

"Looks like he can hold his liquor," Ye Chutang murmured. "No wonder he dared to show up like that."

He clearly knew that even after drinking, he wouldn’t get drunk or do anything to lose his composure in public.

Shen Yanchuan merely glanced at the carriage before looking away. "Aren’t you curious about the exact nature of his relationship with Zheng Baosu?"

Ye Chutang’s lips curved into a smile. "While that is important, it’s not the most important thing to me. As long as I get the results I want, the rest... doesn’t matter."

It was obvious Fan Chengzhuo was flustered by this matter, and that was enough.

When a person is flustered, they’re prone to making mistakes.

Ye Chutang’s smile deepened as a thought occurred to her.

"Besides, my Snow Drink has quite a kick."

...

「Prince Jing Mansion.」

Xiao Chenglin had already heard about the events at the morning court assembly. A thin layer of frost seemed to cover his strikingly handsome features, radiating a bone-chilling cold.

His Chang Sui stood by his side, hesitating for a long moment before cautiously speaking up. "Your Highness, what do you make of this...?"

Xiao Chenglin raised a hand.

The Chang Sui immediately fell silent.

Xiao Chenglin’s voice was cool and emotionless. "I’m aware of all that. We just need to wait and see how things unfold."

The Chang Sui looked hesitant. "But..."

"This matter has nothing to do with me. Why should I get involved in this mess?"

As he spoke, a flicker of coldness flashed through his eyes.

"But that Fan Chengzhuo... Is he insane? Going straight to the Xie Family right after the court assembly?"

’So many eyes in the Capital City are watching him!’

The Chang Sui said in a low voice, "After all, Zheng Baosu is his..."

"It doesn’t matter who he is! For committing such a great crime, he deserves to die!"

Xiao Chenglin fell into thought.

"Have some men keep a close eye on him. If he—"

Before he could finish, the sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside.

"Your Highness!"

Xiao Chenglin swallowed the rest of his words and looked up to see a servant hurrying over.

"What is it?"

The servant pointed outside, his expression rather odd.

"Your Highness, someone has delivered wine!"

"Wine?" Xiao Chenglin’s brows furrowed slightly. "Who sent it?"

"They said they’re from Yunlai Tavern! They were ordered to deliver two jars of wine to you—oh, right! They also said it isn’t ordinary wine, but medicinal wine! And that it’s good for your health!"

’Yunlai Tavern?’

Xiao Chenglin guessed her identity almost instantly, stunned for a moment.

"Ye Chutang?"

’Why would she suddenly send medicinal wine out of the blue?’

He pondered for a moment, then said, "Bring them in."

The servant scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Your Highness, they just left the medicinal wine at the gate and left. They said they were busy at the tavern and couldn’t linger. As for the wine, what... what should be done with it?"

Prince Jing Mansion was perennially deserted, with few visitors. Even the servants who worked in the mansion had long grown accustomed to it.

It was no wonder they reacted this way to someone suddenly delivering a gift.

After all, the item was from the famous Second Miss Ye of the Capital City, so they didn’t dare be negligent. But they’d never heard that their own prince knew her, so should they accept it or not?

The servant couldn’t make up his mind and had no choice but to come and ask for instructions.

Xiao Chenglin considered for a moment. "Bring it in."

’Ye Chutang would have to be crazy to tamper with two jars of wine delivered so openly.’

’Besides... he also wanted to see what trick she was pulling this time.’

"Yes!"

The servant turned and hurried away. Soon, the two jars of medicinal wine were placed on Xiao Chenglin’s desk.

After dismissing the others, Xiao Chenglin stared at the two jars for a moment, then reached out a hand—

"Your Highness!"

The Chang Sui immediately stopped him, extremely wary.

"Perhaps we should have an Imperial Physician take a look first?"

Xiao Chenglin let out a laugh.

"She has no need for such crude tactics. You can relax."

The Chang Sui hesitated for a moment but still stepped aside.

Xiao Chenglin opened one of the jars.

A rich aroma of wine mingled with the distinct scent of herbs, creating a unique fragrance that wafted toward him.

Xiao Chenglin took a sniff, and his expression suddenly froze.

The Chang Sui grew concerned. "Your Highness, what’s wrong?"

Xiao Chenglin was silent for a moment.

Just then, a slip of paper fell out from under the lid.

There were only a few simple words on it.

Yet Xiao Chenglin stared at it for a long time.

"Your Highness?"

The Chang Sui called to him twice before he finally snapped out of it, his expression complex.

"It’s nothing. Don’t you find the scent of this medicinal wine... a little familiar?"

The Chang Sui paused, then also leaned in for a sniff. He said hesitantly, "I suppose it is... It seems very similar to the medicine you used when she was treating you before?"

Xiao Chenglin handed him the slip of paper.

"She said she overpaid for the last consultation fee, so this settles the difference."

The Chang Sui’s eyes widened slightly. He never would have thought Ye Chutang sent these two jars of medicinal wine... for this reason.

By a chance encounter back then, Xiao Chenglin was saved by Ye Chutang. He later left without a word, thinking they would never meet again, only to unexpectedly run into her in the Capital City.

He had deliberately avoided contacting her. Even when they met previously, he had simply put on a mask and exchanged polite pleasantries with her.

He knew she wouldn’t take his empty words seriously, either.

But he never expected her to send these two jars of medicinal wine.

’It’s just...’

The Chang Sui frowned. "Your Highness, for her to do this so suddenly, we can’t be sure she hasn’t put something in it. Maybe we should just pour it out!"

Xiao Chenglin pressed down on his hand and shook his head.

"There’s no need."

’Ye Chutang is a smart woman.’

’Even if she wanted to do something, she has plenty of other methods. There’s no need to resort to this.’

"Perhaps... she really did just want to repay the extra consultation fee."

Xiao Chenglin’s hand slowly tightened, and a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him.

The scent of the medicinal wine was too familiar. He still remembered it was bitter and astringent.

But he never missed a single dose.

Because it was truly effective; his health visibly improved.

Those were almost the only days in his life when he didn’t have to worry about tomorrow.

He knew that the next day, she would always bring freshly brewed medicine.

He later deliberately sealed away that period of his life, a time filled with the bitter fragrance of medicine.

Because it was too comfortable, and for him, that was too dangerous.

It was only when he realized he was starting to wish he could stay there forever that he was jolted awake, and he left the very next day without a word.

If they hadn’t met again, he would have never recalled a single word from that time for the rest of his life.

Sensing his master’s somber mood, the Chang Sui acknowledged with a quiet sound and retreated from the room.

Xiao Chenglin’s overly slender fingers tightened, his knuckles turning white as if he were about to crush the slip of paper.

CREAK—

The door closed, locking the last sliver of light outside.

As if suddenly drained of all strength, Xiao Chenglin slowly leaned back in his chair, his arm falling limp.

Deep in his palm, the flimsy slip of paper lay perfectly intact.

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