The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: No One to Protect Her

Shen Yanchuan’s handsome eyes narrowed slightly.

He knew Ye Chutang would have a way to handle the situation, but he hadn’t expected her to resolve it so quickly.

Ever since he had come to Jiangling and first met Ye Chutang, it seemed she had never been short on trouble.

Yet no matter what happened or what the circumstances were, the woman always remained composed and unruffled. In the end, she would always resolve things with an air of effortless calm.

This was something no ordinary woman could accomplish.

And then there was her elegant calligraphy...

”What have you found out about the matter I asked you to investigate?” Shen Yanchuan asked.

Lian Zhou snapped back to reality. As he recalled the information he had gathered today, his expression grew complicated.

”I heard they came to Jiangling three years ago. Doctor Ye was only fourteen at the time, but she managed to establish a foothold here for her family. Jiangling is a small place and can be unwelcoming to outsiders. Being a newcomer and a woman, one can only imagine the hardships she must have endured.”

At this, Lian Zhou couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.

Life was already difficult enough in this world, let alone for someone in Ye Chutang’s situation.

”It’s a good thing Doctor Ye is so skilled in medicine. Otherwise...”

Although Ye Chutang’s fees were not cheap, Lian Zhou had paid them willingly. He knew her medical skills were truly worth the price.

However...

”But no one knows where she learned her medical skills or who her master was. They’ve been in Jiangling for three years, but no one knows where they originally came from. I only heard that they arrived three years ago with a group of refugees and settled down here.”

Shen Yanchuan paused. ”Refugees?”

Lian Zhou nodded. ”Three years ago, there was a snow disaster in the north that led to a great famine. Many people fled south as refugees.”

He sighed. ”If I hadn’t specifically looked into it, you’d never be able to tell they had such a past.”

It was mainly because Ye Chutang’s looks and disposition were far too outstanding. She was gentle and beautiful, with an easygoing temperament. Anyone who didn’t know better would assume she was a noble lady, carefully raised by a wealthy family.

And her two younger brothers, despite their different personalities, were also handsome. They had an air about them that was different from ordinary people.

In short... there was no sign that they had once been refugees who had nearly died on the road.

Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment. ”What about her husband’s family? Was there no one to protect her?”

Lian Zhou’s expression grew even more peculiar.

”Master, Doctor Ye... she is not yet married.”

Shen Yanchuan paused again, his lashes lifting slightly. ”Oh?”

The thought of this huge misunderstanding made Lian Zhou feel rather awkward. ”That little girl is actually her youngest sister. She’s the fifth child, so her nickname is Xiao Wu.”

Shen Yanchuan’s long, jade-like fingers tapped twice on the armrest of his chair. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Lian Zhou continued to marvel on his own. ”Come to think of it, three years ago, Doctor Ye not only had to flee with her two young brothers, but she also had to care for an infant still in swaddling clothes. That couldn’t have been easy! I really don’t know how they survived.”

A faint sense of admiration for Ye Chutang was even beginning to form in his heart.

”And because of this, Doctor Ye has remained unmarried to this day. There have been very few matchmakers for her.”

Logically, with Ye Chutang’s beauty and grace, at her age, suitors should have been beating a path to her door. But who would want her when she came with three burdens?

No matter how wonderful she was, those men would keep a wide berth.

Lian Zhou remembered something else and added, ”I heard that Cao Chengwen had designs on Doctor Ye before. He wanted to take her as a concubine, but of course, she refused. Perhaps... that’s also part of the reason why Cao Chengwen targets her so relentlessly.”

The Cao Family was one of the most influential families in Jiangling. If Ye Chutang had their protection, her life would surely be much easier.

At the very least, she wouldn’t have to struggle alone to support her family and raise her younger siblings.

Shen Yanchuan glanced out the window.

The people from the government office had all left, leaving only the siblings behind. Ye Jingyan seemed to let out a long sigh of relief, while Ye Yunfeng was excitedly saying something. Ye Chutang bent down slightly and pinched the Little Milk Group’s nose, a smile spreading across her lips.

The Little Milk Group immediately grabbed her finger, her lips curving into a smile and her eyes crinkling into crescents.

Ye Chutang straightened up and took her hand, leading her back inside.

Her features were relaxed, her eyes filled with a gentle smile. There was no sign of the harrowing ordeal she had gone through today.

As she walked, a gentle breeze lifted the hem of her skirt, outlining her slender waist.

A stray lock of hair fluttered, and she casually raised her hand to tuck the dark strand behind her ear. Then, as if unintentionally, she glanced in his direction.

Their eyes met.

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod before quickly looking away.

Ever since that night at the Spring Lantern Festival, a strange, unspoken understanding seemed to have formed between them. They both knew the other was far from as simple as they appeared on the surface, yet they each maintained their distance, careful never to cross any lines.

A faint smile touched Shen Yanchuan’s thin lips.

...

Just as Yang Zhen returned to his residence, a graceful and charming figure came forward to greet him.

”My Lord, why have you returned so late today?”

Liu Yiyi’s voice was sweet and soft, enough to make one’s bones melt.

Yang Zhen’s expression, however, was exceptionally cold and grim.

Realizing something was wrong, Liu Yiyi paused and softened her voice. ”My Lord, did you run into some trouble?”

Yang Zhen ordered all the servants out and closed the door before turning his gaze back to Liu Yiyi.

He asked in a low voice, ”Do you truly not know why I’m back so late?”

Liu Yiyi had never seen him so cold and stern, and she instantly grew tense.

”I truly do not know, My Lord. What is this...?”

”The two people who falsely accused Ye Chutang—you bribed them, didn’t you!” Yang Zhen demanded coldly.

Liu Yiyi’s heart sank.

In truth, she already knew what had happened at Ye’s Clinic during the day. She also knew that Yang Zhen’s late return meant he had personally gone to conduct the interrogation. What she hadn’t expected, however, was that he would directly guess her involvement!

’Did those two slip up?’

Liu Yiyi put on a wronged expression. ”My Lord, I’ve been wrongly accused!”

Yang Zhen pointed at her. ”Still trying to argue! You might have been able to bribe that woman, but the men from the government office... why would they take such a massive risk for a mere fifty taels of Silver if they weren’t wary of who was behind it?”

In truth, the two had been quite tight-lipped at first. But Yang Zhen was no fool. After thinking it over, he quickly deduced who the mastermind was.

—The one who wanted to harm Ye Chutang the most right now was Cao Deping. And it was obvious that today’s drama couldn’t have happened without Liu Yiyi fanning the flames!

Hearing the tone of his voice, Liu Yiyi knew there was no point in arguing. She bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears as she began to sob. ”I only wanted to teach her a lesson, I meant no other harm—”

”Nonsense!”

Yang Zhen cut her off irritably, ”Do you have any idea what’s going on right now? Yet you insist on stirring up trouble! Are you afraid my official career won’t be ruined fast enough?!”