Chapter 734: Chapter 735: You Know Him Well?

Xue Ran shook his head. "Mr. Xun didn’t make a reservation for today."

Ye Chutang fell into thought.

Xue Ran almost thought Ye Chutang was going to confront Xun Cheng directly. But on second thought, she had already agreed to serve Xun Cheng as usual whenever he came, so that didn’t seem likely.

"Do you have business with Mr. Xun, Second Miss?" Xue Ran asked. "Actually, he doesn’t always call ahead. Sometimes he just shows up on a whim. Perhaps today..."

"Prepare the carriage."

Ye Chutang stood up.

"I’ll just go find him myself."

...

After the Southern Hu Mission passed, the crowd on the street gradually dispersed.

The carriage rolled slowly down the wide, empty street.

Xiao Wu carefully studied her sister’s expression.

Based on her understanding of her sister, she knew Chutang wouldn’t go looking for Xun Cheng over a small tab. But from the look on her sister’s face, it seemed she had urgent business and had to see him at once.

Xiao Wu mulled it over for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.

’For the money?’

’Her sister would have plenty of opportunities to collect his consultation fees in the future.’

’For his illness?’

’Xun Cheng’s legs didn’t seem to require daily treatment from her sister, and today wasn’t even the right time to fetch his medicine.’

While Xiao Wu was lost in confusion, the carriage finally stopped before a residence.

This wasn’t Ye Chutang’s first visit, so she didn’t stand on ceremony and walked straight up to knock on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

A moment later, the main gate opened from the inside, and Long Jiu peeked out.

When he saw it was Ye Chutang, the vigilance and caution on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a friendly smile.

"Who—Second Miss Ye? What brings you here?"

He opened the gate to welcome her in, then glanced to the side and was even more surprised to see a Little Bun hop down from the carriage.

"The young miss is here too? Please, come in!"

As Long Jiu led the way, he announced their arrival in a loud voice.

"My lord, Second Miss Ye is here!"

Long Jiu was clearly very happy to see Ye Chutang and greeted her warmly.

"My lord was just talking about you yesterday. He was planning to choose a day to visit, but I didn’t expect you to come first."

Ye Chutang smiled and nodded. "What a coincidence."

’She’d also been muttering Xun Cheng’s name in her head over and over ever since she left Yunlai Tavern.’

For some reason, Long Jiu suddenly shivered, feeling an inexplicable chill.

He looked up at the sky.

’The weather was clear, and the sun was shining brightly.’

Before he could figure it out, Xun Cheng wheeled himself out.

He smiled and asked, "It’s a rare sight. Instead of resting at home, what brings Second Miss Ye to my place?"

Ye Chutang naturally caught the teasing in his tone.

—She had gone to the palace yesterday and walked right into a huge drama, something the entire Capital City now knew about.

Ye Chutang laughed as well.

"Oh, please. I’m tied up with trivial matters all day. I can’t compare to the free and easy Mr. Xun, who spends his days drinking and making merry. What a joyous life."

Xun Cheng: "..."

He quickly understood, looking Ye Chutang over again with a hint of disbelief.

"Don’t tell me you just came from Yunlai Tavern? This early?"

Ye Chutang: "..."

’This man clearly felt no remorse for being caught dining and dashing. Instead, he was mocking her schedule.’

But it was hard for Ye Chutang to argue, since on most days, she did indeed sleep until she woke up naturally.

’Today was purely an exception.’

"The Southern Hu Mission has entered the capital," Ye Chutang said concisely, by way of explanation.

Xun Cheng was even more surprised and laughed out loud. "What? Don’t tell me the great Second Miss Ye went to watch the spectacle too?"

Ye Chutang led Xiao Wu over, sat down directly in a chair, and casually ordered Long Jiu.

"A pot of Da Hong Pao, the one I brought last time."

Long Jiu readily complied.

Xun Cheng’s expression was complicated. "You certainly are comfortable ordering my man around."

Ye Chutang: "Right back at you. You certainly are comfortable drinking at my tavern."

Xun Cheng: "..."

He sat up a little straighter, studying Ye Chutang from all angles for a long moment before asking hesitantly, "You didn’t... actually come here today to collect a debt, did you?"

"Not exactly."

Ye Chutang admitted frankly.

"You helped me a great deal, so this little bit of money is nothing. But if you keep drinking like this all day, your body might not be able to take it. To prevent all my previous treatments from going to waste, I decided to come and see for myself."

This was true.

Back then, Ye Chutang had put a great deal of effort into saving Xun Cheng’s legs.

Even if Xun Cheng wanted to bring ruin upon himself and destroy his own legs, Ye Chutang would never allow it.

Xun Cheng let out a laugh and readily extended his wrist.

"If you want to check, then check."

Ye Chutang glanced at him, and without any nonsense, placed her fingers on his pulse.

After a moment, her eyes narrowed slightly.

’Xun Cheng’s pulse...’

"It seems the feng shui of the Capital City is quite nourishing. You’ve only been here a short while, yet your body has recovered remarkably well. Even with daily drinking, your pulse is actually steadier and stronger than before."

Ye Chutang said half-jokingly,

"Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were drinking medicine."

A smile touched Xun Cheng’s eyes. He slowly withdrew his hand and, while straightening his sleeve, said, "It’s not just you. Even I wouldn’t be willing to part with these legs that have finally started to heal. After so many years of painstaking recovery, I’m on the verge of being fully cured. Why would I joke around with my own health?"

Ye Chutang raised a delicate eyebrow, her expression noncommittal.

’Xun Cheng was truly an interesting person.’

’He possessed superb martial arts, able to kill a man in ten paces, yet he carried not a hint of cold killing intent. Instead, he was as gentle as a spring breeze. Anyone who didn’t know him would simply assume he was a noble young master from some prestigious family.’

’He lived in seclusion in Louyang for several years, as if he had completely vanished from the world. Yet when she needed his help, he went to Long City without a second thought and effortlessly obtained its defense map.’

’He was clearly unable to walk properly, yet he seemed faster than anyone, mysterious and powerful.’

’Ye Chutang had never asked about his background before, precisely because she didn’t want to invite trouble.’

’But he was wrapped in too many secrets—so many that it was difficult for her to pretend she didn’t see them.’

’Just what kind of person could drink so much strong liquor and not only avoid getting drunk or harming his body, but actually recover even faster?’

"You order three different kinds every time simply out of curiosity, don’t you?" Ye Chutang’s tone was certain. "In reality, it makes no difference to you what kind of alcohol you drink."

"Of course it does."

Xun Cheng shook his head in disagreement.

"I’m quite particular about flavors. There are some I like, and others that don’t quite cut it. But your tavern is truly excellent. I’ve tried so many varieties, and each one is genuinely unique."

Ye Chutang: "..."

Sometimes, when you’re truly speechless, you can’t help but laugh.

And so, Ye Chutang laughed.

"This isn’t a compliment, is it?"

Xun Cheng looked surprised. "Why? Does it not count?"

Ye Chutang: "..."

She looked at Xun Cheng, then suddenly changed the subject.

"The Southern Hu Mission has arrived in the capital. Just as you said, Shui Xingqiu is indeed here."

She stared at Xun Cheng’s face, not missing the slightest flicker of emotion, and said, word by word,

"I seem to recall you know him... very well?"

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