The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Before the Old Gate

Ye Mingze’s lips trembled. ”No...”

Ye Chutang feigned surprise. ”You moved?”

Then, as if remembering something, she smiled in understanding. ”Oh, right. Second Uncle has been promoted, so of course you’d have to change mansions. I just wonder where you’re living now?”

Cold sweat beaded on Ye Mingze’s forehead. The words were stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t get them out.

After a long moment, he finally managed to force out, ”In... in Liuwan Lane...”

Hearing this, Ye Jingyan looked up, surprised and delighted. ”Doesn’t that mean you’re on the same street as our home? That’s great! It’ll be much more convenient to see each other in the future.”

Ye Mingze swallowed hard, not knowing how to respond.

He shot a frantic look at the servant beside him. ”You- you go back first! Report to Father and Mother, just say... just say—that Cousin and the others are back in the capital!”

The personal servant had never seen Ye Chutang and her siblings before. Although he found his master’s reaction strange, he didn’t dare ask questions and immediately replied, ”Yes!”

However, just as he turned to leave, a clear and pleasant female voice came from behind him.

”Mingze, what’s the rush?”

A faint smile played on Ye Chutang’s lips as she spoke gently, ”We’ve had a long and dusty journey. It would be improper to send a servant to inform our elders before we’ve even had a chance to tidy ourselves up. Anyone who didn’t know better would think our Ye Family has no breeding and doesn’t understand etiquette.”

Ye Mingze felt as if he’d just been slapped hard across the face.

’Isn’t she just saying I don’t know a damn thing about propriety!?’

The servant looked back, his expression hesitant.

’It seems this woman really is from the Ye Family. In terms of seniority, my own master has to respectfully call her ’Cousin’. So whose orders should I follow?’

Ye Mingze forced a smile. ”I just wanted the family to know you were back sooner so we could all celebrate together. I—”

Ye Chutang cut him off with an air of casual indifference. ”Three years have already passed. A few more moments won’t make a difference.”

Though her tone was calm and gentle, her eyes soft, and she even wore a slight smile, her words carried an inexplicable authority that one could not defy.

The hand hanging at Ye Mingze’s side clenched and unclenched, his mind a tangled mess.

He pressed his lips together and looked at Ye Chutang, suddenly finding her completely unfamiliar.

Three years wasn’t a long time, but it wasn’t short, either.

The weak, sickly, gentle, and quiet cousin from his memory had lost her former immaturity and timidity. In its place was a calm and reserved composure, as placid as a deep, still pool.

Her features were clearly familiar, but her bearing and aura made her seem like a completely different person.

If the former Ye Chutang was a pearl coated in dust—beautiful, yes, but unremarkable due to her soft, timid quietness—

then the Ye Chutang of today was like a polished gem, gradually revealing a brilliant radiance that was impossible to ignore.

Ye Mingze could only suppress his frustration and order the servant to come back and wait while Ye Chutang and her siblings finished their meal.

The scene was so peculiar that it drew the attention of many people around them.

Whispers could be heard from time to time.

”That woman is Ye Mingze’s cousin? Since when did his family have a relative like that?”

”Maybe she’s from their old hometown, trying to claim kinship? After all, Lord Ye is flying high now!”

”She doesn’t look like it... Could an ordinary family raise a girl like that? And even setting her aside, the two young masters with her each have a distinguished air. Even that little child is well-behaved and sensible, acting with such poise in a place like this, not showing the slightest timidity. That doesn’t seem like an ordinary background...”

”Wait! I remember now! Lord Ye used to have an older brother who was also an official in the capital, and I think his rank was even higher than his! I think... I think his name was... Ye Zheng?”

”Yes, yes! That’s right! I remember him! Back then, that Lord Ye Zheng was young and incredibly promising, with a limitless future! Everyone said he was on track to become the youngest Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Unfortunately, he later incurred the Emperor’s wrath and was banished from the capital. Not long after, we heard he’d had an accident on the road and his entire family had perished! To think—his children are actually still alive?”

The patrons of Lan Yue Building were mostly either rich or noble. Even if they weren’t very familiar with the name Ye Zheng, they all knew what it meant to nearly be promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

Moreover, this man was the biological brother of Ye Heng, who was currently at the height of his power.

In an instant, the way everyone looked at Ye Chutang and her siblings changed subtly.

Someone whispered, ”What a pity. With her father and older brother gone, what can a lone, delicate woman do with several younger siblings in tow?”

...

Ye Chutang ignored the stares and whispers around her, finishing her meal in a slow, deliberate manner.

Ye Mingze, waiting beside her, was growing extremely impatient but didn’t dare rush them. The moment Ye Chutang and the others finished, he asked eagerly, ”Can we go back now? I’ll have someone fetch a carriage right away!”

Ye Chutang wiped the corner of Xiao Wu’s mouth with a handkerchief and lifted the girl into her arms before turning back to politely decline with a smile.

”Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. We have a carriage outside. Besides, since we both live on Liuwan Lane, why don’t you just come back with us? It’ll save you the trouble, how about it?”

Ye Mingze was vehemently opposed to the idea and was trying to think of a refusal when he saw Ye Jingyan call the waiter over to settle the bill.

He immediately said, ”Let me get this meal!”

Ye Jingyan glanced hesitantly at Ye Chutang. She shook her head and was about to refuse when Ye Mingze interjected, ”Hey—Cousin, you’ve finally returned after so much trouble. How could I let you pay for this meal? I’m a regular at Lan Yue Building. Just put it on my tab!”

At the mention of money, some of Ye Mingze’s confidence seemed to return.

He hadn’t paid much attention before, but now he noticed that Ye Chutang and her siblings were dressed very simply.

’Of course. Without their parents to protect them, who knows what a poor and difficult life they’ve led these past few years!’

This gave Ye Mingze a strong sense of superiority, which dispelled much of the fear and frustration he’d felt upon seeing them earlier.

’That’s right!’

’They’re just a few helpless, down-on-their-luck relatives. What’s there to be afraid of!?’

Ye Mingze added, ”You may not know this, but Lan Yue Building has raised its prices. A single meal here costs quite a bit.”

The implication was that Ye Chutang and her family couldn’t afford it.

Ye Chutang’s eyelashes fluttered. Seemingly oblivious to his snide tone, she smiled and accepted, ”Then thank you.”

Ye Jingyan immediately put away the purse he hadn’t even opened and also thanked Ye Mingze. ”You’re too kind, Cousin. Thank you very much.”

”HIC~”

Nestled in Ye Chutang’s arms, Xiao Wu suddenly let out a full burp, a flash of sorrow crossing her chubby little face.

’You should have said so earlier! I would have ordered a few more dishes!’

...

A quarter of an hour later, the carriage turned into Liuwan Lane and stopped before a mansion.

Two stone lions stood before the gate, grand and imposing. On the plaque above the entrance, two gilded characters were written with powerful strokes: Ye Mansion.

Ye Yunfeng gazed at the familiar gate, long-suppressed emotions surging within him. He turned back and shouted excitedly, ”Sister! We’re home!”

With that, he leaped straight from the carriage and started to head over.

But at that very moment, the tightly shut gates were suddenly opened from within.

A man who looked like a steward poked his head out.

Ye Yunfeng froze in place, utterly bewildered. ’Why is there a stranger in our home?’

The next moment, he heard the man call out urgently to Ye Mingze behind him, ”Oh my! Second Young Master! Why are you only back now? The Master has been waiting for you for a whole hour!”