Chapter 682: Chapter 682: No Coincidence, No Story

Ye Chutang smiled as well.

"If only it were that easy. That would be nice."

’Xiao Lansi plotted this move for who knows how long. How could she possibly be found so easily?’

"She should still be in the Capital City, but trying to find someone here is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Ye Chutang couldn’t possibly mobilize the Imperial Army to go door-to-door searching for her.

Xun Cheng’s interest was piqued. "You’re that certain?"

Everyone thought Xiao Lansi was dead. If she were still in the Capital City, wouldn’t that be far too dangerous? If she was seen and recognized, it would be difficult to explain.

"Eighty to ninety percent sure," Ye Chutang said. "After all, she has nowhere else to go if she leaves the Capital City."

Princess Consort Jing’s clan had been wiped out long ago. As a captive brought into the palace, she was supposed to be a hard laborer. But because she had a beautiful face, she was favored by Emperor Muwu, and her fate was changed.

’No, in a way, her life wasn’t changed at all. No matter what path she chose, it led to the same end—an early death.’

"Besides, for her to successfully ’shed her golden cicada shell,’ she must have had people covering for her both inside and outside the palace. The person helping her from behind the scenes probably also thinks that keeping her close is the safest option."

This was definitely not something an ordinary person could achieve.

The person backing her was resourceful and calculating, so they would naturally be the same toward her.

"No one in this world is willing to make a losing deal. Since the other party helped her regardless of the cost, they will naturally find a way to get something back from her."

It was just that for now, Ye Chutang couldn’t guess what other plans the other party had.

Ye Chutang’s expression was calm. "I just feel that Shui Xingqiu is a crucial link in all this. If we can find a clue from him, perhaps—the entire mystery will unravel."

Xun Cheng couldn’t help but clap, laughing as he said,

"It’s been a few years. I thought you’d be living a quiet life after returning to the Capital City. I didn’t expect your decisive methods to be even more formidable than before."

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. "I’ve only ever treated your injuries. Why are you talking about ’decisive methods’?"

Even if she had them, she hadn’t really used them on Xun Cheng.

"Besides, once you’ve entered the Capital City, who can truly live a quiet life?" Ye Chutang lifted her chin slightly, the corner of her lips hinting at a knowing, teasing smile. "Isn’t it the same for you?"

Xun Cheng had a mysterious background and was highly skilled in martial arts. It was also obvious that he was either shouldering a vendetta or a debt.

He was very familiar with the Capital City; this clearly wasn’t his first time here.

Xun Cheng picked up his teacup, his gaze lowered, and used the lid to gently push aside the floating tea leaves.

Hearing her words, he looked up with a smile.

"If you wish to hear it, I will tell you."

"Stop right there."

Ye Chutang immediately refused.

’I’m neck-deep in my own troubles. Where would I find the spare energy to worry about someone else?’

"I’m just a physician. What could I possibly know?"

Xun Cheng: "..."

He sighed with some regret. "I was hoping I could ask for your help... To think that as soon as I received your letter, I rushed to Long City without stopping. Now that I’m in the Capital City, you’re turning your back on me."

Ye Chutang glanced at his leg.

"Fine, I’ll help you. But I won’t treat your leg."

Xun Cheng: "...I’d still like to keep my leg."

’That settles it, then.’

Seeing her relaxed expression, Xun Cheng couldn’t help but say, "What, is the Dingbei Marquis Mansion that broke? You’re haggling over such a small consultation fee."

Ye Chutang took a sip of tea. "Shen Yanchuan’s first prescription cost one hundred taels."

Xun Cheng: "..."

His slight dissatisfaction vanished in an instant, replaced by a faint, secret delight at having gotten a bargain.

The comparison instantly lifted Xun Cheng’s spirits.

He nodded and said sincerely,

"You’re right. You have a large household to support. You should charge more."

Xun Cheng then added, "However, I do have some news about Shui Xingqiu."

Ye Chutang paused. "Oh?"

Xun Cheng smiled.

"This time, it’s highly likely he’ll come to the Capital City with the Nanhu Royal Family’s delegation."

"Really!?"

Ye Chutang was stunned.

"Where did you hear that? Is the information reliable?"

’If that’s true, I can save myself a lot of effort and just wait for him in the Capital City!’

"Didn’t I just tell you that Shui Xingqiu is Tuoba Yu’s master? Tuoba Yu’s recent downfall is, to some extent, related to Shui Xingqiu. There’s something I didn’t mention before: when Long City fell and King Yan Nan was trapped, he was actually poisoned with a Gu."

Ye Chutang’s eyelid twitched. "What kind of Gu?"

When she had seen King Yan Nan entering the city from afar, he hadn’t seemed to be in any distress.

"It wasn’t a very serious Gu technique. Tuoba Yu was simply wary of his superior martial arts and feared his fierce temperament, worrying he might choose to die in a desperate situation. So, he used a Soft Bone Gu on him to make him weak and powerless."

Xun Cheng explained,

"I’ve already confirmed it myself. His life was not in danger."

Ye Chutang breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good."

If the enemy had used more sinister methods back then, the subsequent series of events would likely not have gone so smoothly.

"Tuoba Yu was the one who used that Gu technique on King Yan Nan. Because of this, he was overconfident in his plan and let his guard down, allowing your fourth brother to seize an opening and capture them all in one fell swoop. Since he suffered such a huge loss, Shui Xingqiu can’t escape responsibility. That’s why this time, he has to come to the Capital City personally to bring Tuoba Yu back, whole and intact."

No matter how high his status or how great his power, Shui Xingqiu could never defy the Monarch.

Tuoba Shan dotes on his only brother. Even if he didn’t say it outright, he would definitely put pressure on Shui Xingqiu in private.

This trip, Shui Xingqiu has no choice but to come.

"If he’s coming, things are about to get lively."

The thought of that scene immediately struck Ye Chutang as quite interesting.

’It goes without saying that if the Nanhu want to take Tuoba Yu back, they’re going to get fleeced!’

Ye Chutang propped her head on one hand, her slender, fair fingers tapping gently on her chin, her eyes curving into a smile.

"Tell me, do you think Xiao Lansi will show up to welcome the Shui Family Head who helped her so much? And what about the person backing her... The two sides must have been in contact for a while, right? I wonder what it will be like when they meet again in the Capital City."

Ye Chutang suddenly felt a flash of clarity, as if a hopelessly tangled ball of yarn had been completely unraveled, revealing the clear path of every single thread.

"If he’s still willing to help Shui Xingqiu and Tuoba Yu, well then—that would be even more interesting."

...

The carriage slowly departed, heading toward the Ye Mansion.

Ye Chutang hadn’t planned on staying long this time, so she hadn’t brought Xiao Wu.

In any case, with Lu Yu and the others protecting her in secret, she could rest a little easier.

Passing by Lin’s Snack Shop, Ye Chutang didn’t forget to pick up a Red Date Chestnut Cake for Xiao Wu.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside.

Ye Chutang lifted the curtain and looked out to see a carriage stopped in the middle of the road. It seemed to have hit someone.

The driver’s brows were tightly knit as he shouted,

"How dare you block our master’s carriage! Have you eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall!? If you delay our master, can you bear the consequences!?"

Ye Chutang looked at the rather familiar carriage and smiled.

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