The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Living Under Someone Else’s Roof?

Yun Cheng answered, ”Yes.”

After his master returned to the Capital City, invitations poured in from all sides, but he rejected them all.

Ye Heng was nowhere near important enough to be considered, so it was only natural his master wouldn’t go.

He added, ”The Ye Family is caught up in some trouble at the moment, so by not going, you’re saving yourself the headache.”

Shen Yanchuan paused, his gaze finally lifting from the book. ”Which Ye Family?”

Yun Cheng explained, ”Ye Heng, the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice.”

Shen Yanchuan mulled it over for a moment. ”I don’t recall hearing much about him before...”

Yun Cheng smiled. ”You’ve been away from the Capital City for a long time, so it’s only normal that you’re not familiar with them. Three years ago, that man was just a minor Right Temple Minister. He’s been highly favored these past few years and has a promising career ahead of him. If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have the audacity to send you this invitation.”

”He certainly was promoted quickly,” Shen Yanchuan remarked.

”Indeed. His is a classic case of ’when a man gets to the top, all his friends and relatives get there with him.’ I heard that people were already knocking on his door before the official appointment was even sent down.”

Yun Cheng had always been responsible for handling Shen Yanchuan’s affairs in the capital, so he was always well-informed about what went on there.

A flicker of interest crossed Shen Yanchuan’s mind. ”Oh?”

Yun Cheng was a little surprised. His master usually had no interest in such matters and never asked for more details.

’Perhaps because he just returned to the capital, he wants to get a better grasp of the current situation?’

With this in mind, Yun Cheng added, ”I wonder if you remember, but three years ago, during General Huo’s case, a courtier pleaded on his behalf, infuriating the Holy Emperor. That man was Ye Heng’s older brother, Ye Zheng. After being banished from the capital, he supposedly encountered bandits on the road and his entire family was murdered. Who would have known that three years later, his children, who apparently survived, have now returned.”

”I heard they happened to run into Ye Heng’s son, Ye Mingze, at the Lan Yue Building. A lot of people were there at the time, so the story is already spreading in private.”

Yun Cheng sighed with some emotion.

”Back then, everyone thought Ye Zheng’s family had died on the road. This younger brother handled all the funeral arrangements himself. Who would have guessed that now... Speaking of which, the mansion Ye Heng and his family now occupy used to be Ye Zheng’s. So if you think about it, those children aren’t just latching onto relatives—they’re returning to their own home. But what can a weak young woman with several younger siblings and no one to rely on possibly accomplish? The best they can hope for is to live under another’s roof.”

’Who would be willing to spit out what they’ve already swallowed?’

After hearing all this, Shen Yanchuan actually chuckled.

”A coincidence?”

Happening at the Lan Yue Building, of all places, where so many children of high officials gather.

Happening just as Ye Heng is being promoted, a critical time when his reputation matters most.

That’s all a little too coincidental.

Yun Cheng couldn’t quite figure out his master’s reaction, but in the next moment, something even more unexpected happened.

Shen Yanchuan set down the book in his hands and asked, ”When is the banquet?”

Yun Cheng was stunned. ”You—you’re going?!”

Shen Yanchuan pressed a spot on his chest. The scar there had healed long ago.

He raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.

”My injuries are more or less healed. It’s about time I got out.”

...

「Ye Mansion.」

After four hours of work, the rooms in the eastern side-house were finally ready.

Yu Hong came over, treading carefully, to invite them in.

Ye Chutang took Xiao Wu’s hand and led Yan and A Feng over.

Standing inside, she quietly surveyed the room.

Ye Mingze’s belongings had all been packed and moved out, leaving the space feeling rather bare.

Fortunately, however, the tables, chairs, and folding screen hadn’t been moved, so the layout was almost the same as before.

For a moment, Ye Chutang was lost in a daze.

When she first woke up in this body, the first person she saw was her elder brother.

He was wearing a greatcloak, his shoulders dusted with snow as he arrived, his boyish face full of fiery spirit.

”Awang, Mother said we’re going to Wuzhou with Father in a few days! I hear it’s even colder there than in the Capital City. Here, this hand warmer is for you! It’ll keep your little frame from freezing and stop you from sniveling on the road, haha!”

Without another word, he thrust the hand warmer into her hands, giving her no chance to refuse.

Just like when he later shielded her with his body, taking those sharp arrows in her place.

”Big Sis, Brother’s old things are all gone,” Ye Jingyan said in a low voice after looking around.

Ye Chutang wasn’t surprised by this outcome.

When they left the Capital City, it was winter and travel was difficult, so most of her brother’s manuscripts and clothes had been left behind.

Yu Hong wiped the sweat from his brow. ”Th-this... Please forgive me. They were likely buried with him three years ago...”

Ye Chutang’s expression remained unchanged.

’The clothes, I can understand. But there’s no reason his books would have been included. They were most likely thrown away or burned.’

’They even usurped this mansion, so why would they care about anything else?’

”You may go. We’ll find you if we need anything,” Ye Chutang said coolly.

Yu Hong couldn’t help but steal another glance at her.

He didn’t know why, but though the young woman’s voice was clear and mild, it carried an authority that brooked no defiance.

”Yes, of course!”

The master had kicked out his own son for them; of course Yu Hong’s attitude would be exceedingly respectful.

He had just withdrawn when Shaoyao arrived with more people in tow.

”Second Miss, this is a red gold silk bracelet from my mistress for you. The clay inkstone and Redwood Wolf Hair Brush beside it are for the two young masters, and the Eight Treasures Glazed Necklace is for the little miss.”

She smiled as she subtly sized up Ye Chutang and her siblings. Noting their plain clothes and accessories, her heart filled with disdain and her tone became even more cheerful. ”My mistress said your return with the two young masters and the little miss was so sudden that she had no time to prepare proper gifts. She had to pick these for now. When she has a free moment, she’ll take you all out for a proper tour of the Capital City.”

The implication was that for the current Ye Shixian, these gifts were nothing special.

Ye Chutang’s gaze swept over the items. ”Then please thank your mistress for me.”

Shaoyao had the servants set the items down before turning to leave.

Ye Yunfeng snorted. ”Who cares about their stuff! It’s not like we’ve never seen things like this before!”

”Back then, Father’s position was much higher than Second Uncle’s. If he hadn’t relied on Father, Second Uncle becoming a Beijing Official would have been nothing but a pipe dream!”

”And now he has the nerve to come and flaunt his wealth in front of us!”

”We have to give them a chance to make an overture and put on a show,” Ye Chutang said, not particularly bothered. She pinched Xiao Wu’s soft, tender cheek. ”Take a look. See anything you like?”

Xiao Wu hadn’t been interested, but at her sister’s words, she stood on her tiptoes to glance at the items.

Then she shook her head.

’So ugly. I don’t like it.’

Ye Chutang said, ”If you don’t like them, that’s fine. A Feng, put the items away.”

Ye Yunfeng huffed, ”I’d feel dirty just touching things they sent! I’ll have to wash my hands at least three times afterward!”

Ye Chutang tutted. ”What do I always teach you? Don’t look down on the poor and fawn over the rich.”

Ye Jingyan nodded in agreement. ”The inkstone and brush aren’t the best, but we’re back in the Capital City now and we’ll have a lot of expenses. We should keep them to use when we go to the Imperial College.”

’Big Sis always says: spend where you must, save where you can.’

Ye Chutang shot Ye Jingyan an appreciative glance.

’Good kid. You really know how to save your big sister money.’

Only then did Ye Yunfeng remember that. He scratched his head. ”Oh, right! Going to the Imperial College... the annual tuition must cost a lot, right?”

Ye Chutang said nonchalantly, ”Don’t worry about it. Since we’re living under someone else’s roof, what sense does it make for us to pay for our own schooling?”