The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Not Going

The moment she finished speaking, Ye Heng’s eye twitched. ”Absolutely not!”

He rushed forward to block Ye Chutang’s path, his expression urgent. ”You’ve only just returned after so much trouble. There’s no reason for you to stay at an inn!”

Without a second thought, he barked at Ye Mingze, ”You! Go and clear out your room immediately!”

Ye Mingze refused. He had been living in that room for three years and was used to it! ’Why should I have to move out just because Ye Chutang said so?’

”Father! Aren’t there plenty of other rooms in the house? Why does it have to be mine?” Ye Mingze complained, thoroughly displeased. ”Besides, I have too much stuff. It’ll be a huge hassle to move everything!”

Ye Heng was so angry his chest ached. ”When I tell you to move, you move!” he roared. ”Enough of your nonsense!”

Ye Mingze shuddered, his arrogant defiance finally shrinking.

A spoiled rake by nature, the only person he feared was his father.

Even on days when he slacked on his studies, his father had never raised his voice like this.

Ye Shixian stepped in to smooth things over. ”Alright, Mingze. Our cousin and the others have suffered who knows what hardships these past three years. Just give them the room. We’re all family, why quibble over something like this?”

That last part of her sentence seemed to carry a hidden barb.

Ye Chutang’s expression was placid. ”Second Uncle, there’s no need to go to all this trouble. The Capital City is large; it won’t be difficult for us to find a place to stay.”

With that, she took Xiao Wu by the hand and started to walk out.

Ye Heng aimed a vicious kick at Ye Mingze.

”What are you spacing out for? Go! Now!” he yelled. ”Are you really going to let your cousin and her family be wronged by staying outside?”

Caught off guard, Ye Mingze nearly fell to the ground. He dared not voice his anger, merely gritting his teeth and stalking off, his heart filled with resentment.

Yu Hong hurried after him, calling to the servants in the courtyard. ”Follow him! Second Young Master, please don’t trouble yourself. We’ll handle everything!”

The group quickly disappeared, heading to the eastern side-residence to clear out the room.

Only then did Ye Heng turn to Ye Chutang, vowing solemnly, ”Chutang, please rest assured. Though my older brother and his family are no longer with us, I, your Second Uncle, will take good care of you in their place!”

He continued reassuringly, ”Yan and A Feng can have their old rooms back. And don’t worry, your room hasn’t been touched. We’ll just have the servants give it a thorough cleaning!”

Ye Chutang lifted her gaze slightly, her eyes having already returned to their usual gentle tranquility.

It was as if her earlier sharpness had been a mere illusion.

She gave a faint smile. ”Thank you for your understanding, Second Uncle. It’s not that I’m trying to be difficult. It’s just that the eastern side-residence was originally prepared by my father for my elder brother. Now that he’s gone, leaving his room as it was gives us something to remember him by.”

Ye Heng, of course, readily agreed.

Not wishing to dwell on the matter, he changed the subject. ”Your journey back to the Capital City must have been exhausting. Why don’t you all go to the rear courtyard and get some rest? Your room will be cleaned shortly, and I’ll have someone bring you new bedding. Also, if there’s anything else you need, just tell me!”

Ye Chutang finally nodded.

”Very well.”

...

Watching Ye Chutang and her party leave, Ye Heng let out a long sigh of relief. Yet, the unease in his heart refused to settle.

He turned to Ye Shixian. ”Keep an eye on Mingze for the next few days and make sure he doesn’t clash with them again. It’s just a room. Giving it up is no big deal; it’s not worth getting upset over!”

Ye Shixian nodded. ”Don’t worry, Father. I understand.”

Ye Heng clasped his hands behind his back and sighed heavily.

”If only Mingze were half as clever as you, I wouldn’t have to worry so much every day!”

Ye Shixian smiled. ”He’s just a bit too fond of games. If you discipline him more strictly from now on, Father, I’m sure he will become a fine man.”

Ye Heng shook his head. ’A father knows his son best.’ He knew exactly what his son was made of.

’My son is a disappointment, but at least my daughter doesn’t cause me any trouble.’

”Later, I want you to ask around and find out what exactly their situation has been for the past three years.”

”I will.”

...

Back in her room, Ye Shixian replayed the recent events in her mind, feeling somewhat dazed.

’She never imagined Ye Chutang and her family would actually return. This current situation...’

”My lady, it’s a good thing you were so farsighted and didn’t choose the western side-residence! Otherwise, I bet that Ye Chutang would have kicked you out too!” Shaoyao said with a pout. ”She’s just an orphan with no parents, yet she has such a temper! Doesn’t she know who’s in charge of the Ye Mansion now?!”

Ye Shixian picked up a wooden comb and slowly ran it through her hair, her eyes downcast. ”There’s something you don’t know,” she said nonchalantly. ”My dear cousin has been frail and sickly since she was a child. It always looked as if a strong gust of wind could blow her away. She was never far from her medicine pot. Who knows if the places she’s lived in are tainted with her sickly aura.”

Shaoyao’s eyes widened in realization. ”Oh, I see! In that case, isn’t their entire family terribly unlucky?”

Ye Shixian shot her a look. ”Don’t you dare repeat such things outside this room.”

Shaoyao gave her an ingratiating smile. ”Don’t worry, My Lady! My lips are sealed!”

Ye Shixian considered for a moment. ”Later, pick out some gifts to send over to them.”

...

Meanwhile, Ye Heng had just returned to his study. As he was pondering how to accommodate Ye Chutang and her party, a woman dripping with jewels stormed in.

”My lord! What is the meaning of this!”

It was none other than Ye Heng’s wife, Mrs. Gao, the mother of Ye Shixian and Ye Mingze.

She had gone to the fabric merchant today to have a few new outfits tailored for Ye Shixian, who would soon be attending the Chao Hua Banquet. She hadn’t expected to return to such shocking news.

Ye Chutang and her three siblings had apparently returned from the dead and were back in the Capital City! And that wasn’t all—the moment they arrived, they had driven Mingze from his own room!

Mrs. Gao was both shocked and furious. She found the whole affair utterly preposterous.

”Even if they are your nieces and nephews, my lord, you can’t let Mingze be wronged like this! Who in the world behaves like such bandits, kicking someone out of their own home the moment they arrive?”

Ye Heng snapped in frustration, ”What do you understand? At this critical juncture, if word got out that they left the Ye Mansion to stay elsewhere on their very first day back in the Capital City, how could I possibly show my face!”

Mrs. Gao flinched. Only then did she remember that Ye Heng had recently been promoted to Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice. The invitations had already been sent, and he would soon be hosting a gathering for his colleagues at the mansion.

If a rumor were to spread at a time like this—that he had seized his deceased brother’s private estate, leaving his brother’s children homeless upon their return to the Capital—his reputation would be utterly destroyed!

Understanding the stakes, Mrs. Gao finally managed to suppress her anger.

She clutched her handkerchief, still fuming. ”Fine! Let it be! Xian’er will be attending the Chao Hua Banquet soon, so we won’t stoop to their level. Finding a good match for Xian’er is what’s most important!”

At this, a smug expression appeared on her face.

”With Xian’er’s beauty and disposition, she is unparalleled in the entire Capital City! She is certain to capture the attention of many noble heirs at the Chao Hua Banquet!”

Ye Heng, however, seemed distracted. For some reason, a gentle and strikingly beautiful face floated into his mind.

’Xian’er was indeed quite beautiful, but when she stood next to Ye Chutang, she somehow seemed... rather plain in comparison.’

Unaware of his thoughts, Mrs. Gao’s eyes lit up as she remembered something else. ”By the way,” she whispered, ”I heard you sent an invitation to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion as well?”

At the mention of this, Ye Heng’s expression finally improved.

He stroked his beard.

”The Heir of Duke Dingbei has returned to the Capital City after many years. Now that I’ve been promoted to a fourth-rank official, it’s only appropriate to extend an invitation.”

...

「Dingbei Marquis Mansion.」

Shen Yanchuan was lounging on a rattan chair, lazily flipping through a book. Without even lifting his gaze, he said coolly:

”I’m not going.”