The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Mute

Night fell. The May evening breeze in the Capital City already carried a faint, lingering warmth.

The brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, stayed in their older brother’s room, while Ye Chutang took Xiao Wu back to her own former quarters.

No one had touched her rooms. After the servants finished cleaning, the place looked exactly as it had before.

Ye Chutang hung a small sachet by the head of the bed, and a light, herbal fragrance drifted through the air.

Xiao Wu looked around for a moment, then sat obediently on the bed, took out her purse, and counted its contents once more. Only then did a happy smile spread across her face.

’Fourth Brother said every inch of land in the Capital City is worth its weight in gold and everything is expensive. I was all ready to spend my savings! But after a whole day, I didn’t even spend a single tael of silver!’

Seeing this, Ye Chutang gently pinched the little girl’s cheek.

”Xiao Wu, do you like it here?”

Xiao Wu tilted her head in thought for a moment before shaking it, then nodding.

’She didn’t like the people they’d met today, and she didn’t like living in the same place as them. But she could tell Big Sister cared a lot about this place. When they went to Big Brother’s room today, Big Sister had been lost in thought for a long time!’

’And Third Brother and Fourth Brother clearly felt the same way as Big Sister.’

’Since they cared, she would care too!’

The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips curved slightly. ”Don’t worry. This will always be our home. No one can take it away.”

Xiao Wu seemed a little confused, but she still nodded vigorously.

’She believed everything Big Sister said!’

...

A full moon hung high in the sky, spilling its clear, bright light onto the world below.

「Xu Residence.」

At his desk, handling case files, Xu Fengchi looked at the letter in his hand and let out a long sigh.

”She actually... she actually came back!”

He had repeatedly warned Ye Chutang not to return to the Capital City, telling her that he would handle things here.

But he never expected her to return anyway, and to do so without telling him first. This letter had clearly been intentionally delayed until today.

By the time he saw it, they had already arrived in the Capital City and even gone straight to the Ye Mansion!

”I imagine some people won’t be sleeping well tonight...”

Xu Fengchi murmured softly.

His gaze swept over the letter again. Ye Chutang had briefly described the events in Jiangling. It was only a few short sentences, but it wasn’t hard to imagine the hardships she must have faced.

A girl of only seventeen, with no one to rely on, had been caught up in such turmoil, yet she had managed to escape unscathed... Even he was deeply shocked.

It seemed that too much had happened in the past three years, and it had forged her into the person she was today.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Fengchi held the letter to a candle flame until it caught fire, then summoned an attendant.

”Go prepare a gift. I will visit the Ye Mansion in a few days.”

The attendant was a little surprised. ”Master, you’re going personally?”

Xu Fengchi served in the Imperial Supervision Office and was a man of lofty integrity who rarely associated closely with other court officials.

This Ye Heng was a slick and calculating man who was fond of forming factions—exactly the type of person Xu Fengchi detested most.

So why would he suddenly—

Just as Xu Fengchi was about to nod, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside.

A tall, slender youth dressed in indigo brocade ran inside.

He was elegant and handsome, with a rare scholarly air about him that made him appear as gentle and refined as jade.

”Father!”

He spoke, his voice still breathy with excitement.

Xu Fengchi was surprised. ”Rong Qing, what is it?”

Xu Rongqing struggled to suppress the turmoil in his heart, but his tone still betrayed his urgency.

”I heard Chutang and her siblings didn’t die?! And that they returned to the Capital City today!?”

Xu Fengchi understood and nodded. ”That’s right.”

The news had already spread, so there was no need to deny it.

The weight that had been pressing on Xu Rongqing’s heart finally lifted. His features relaxed, and a genuine smile blossomed on his face.

”That’s wonderful... wonderful! I thought back then that they had also—”

He had never told anyone that he was in contact with Ye Chutang, not even his own son.

He and Ye Zheng had been as close as sworn brothers, and their families had been very near back then. The children had all known each other well, so it was only natural for Rong Qing to react this way.

At this thought, Xu Fengchi’s expression softened considerably, and he asked with a smile,

”Those children were certainly lucky to have survived against all odds. I’m going to the Ye Mansion the day after tomorrow. You haven’t seen them in a long time, have you? Want to come along?”

...

That night, some were joyful while others were worried.

Ye Chutang, however, holding Xiao Wu in her arms, had a rare, sound sleep.

They had been on the road for a month. Although the journey hadn’t been rushed, it was still exhausting, and only now could she finally lie down and rest properly.

As she recalled, she hadn’t been this tired since the early days of their flight south with Yan, A Feng, and Xiao Wu.

Ye Chutang didn’t wake until a maidservant knocked on the door.

”Second Miss, it’s time to wake up. The Master and Madam are waiting for you!”

Only then did Ye Chutang lazily open her eyes. Xiao Wu was lying in her arms, blinking her big, glittering eyes that resembled black grapes.

”Awake so early?” The moment Ye Chutang spoke, Xiao Wu’s stomach let out a GURGLE.

Ye Chutang was speechless. ’So it was hunger that woke her up.’

Xiao Wu’s face instantly turned red, and she buried it in Ye Chutang’s embrace out of embarrassment.

Ye Chutang sat up and pressed her temples.

”Xiao Wu, following me these past few years... it must have been really hard on you. Not only have you been displaced since you were little, but you often couldn’t even eat on time because of me.”

Xiao Wu quickly shook her head.

’That’s not true! It’s already so hard for Big Sister to support Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and me all by herself!’

Ye Chutang lifted her up, helped her wash up, and changed her into a fresh set of clothes.

Last night, Ye Heng had offered to host a welcome banquet for them, but Ye Chutang had refused.

’Why go through so much trouble when we’re just coming back to our own home?’

In the end, Ye Heng could only have the servants send food to their rooms. They had a simple meal, with Chutang explaining that they were too tired after their first day of travel and would deal with everything tomorrow.

’Oh, which is today.’

Once they were ready, she led Xiao Wu out the door.

”Come on, Big Sister will take you to get something to eat.”

...

Meanwhile, Ye Heng, Mrs. Gao, and Ye Shixian had been waiting for a long time.

A lavish breakfast was spread across the table, and servants stood in attendance, yet no one had touched their chopsticks.

Mrs. Gao was growing impatient and couldn’t help but snap, ”What is wrong with those children? Do they have any sense of propriety at all? Look at the time, and they’re still not up! Are they expecting us to wait here for them forever?”

Ye Heng shot her a displeased look. ”They’re our own juniors. Why make such a fuss?”

’The servants are right here. Can’t she watch what she says!’

His look only made Mrs. Gao more resentful. She scoffed, ”Juniors, you say? Anyone who didn’t know better would think we were waiting for honored guests! What juniors dare to make their elders wait like this?”

Just then, a clear, pleasant young woman’s voice suddenly came from outside. ”Second Aunt, why would you say such a thing?”

Everyone in the room looked up to see Ye Chutang walking in, leading Xiao Wu by the hand.

She wore no makeup, yet she was still captivating, a faint smile playing on her lips.

”After such a long journey, we’re finally back home, so we thought we might sleep in. We had no idea Second Uncle and Second Aunt would be waiting for us so early.”

Ye Heng quickly tried to smooth things over. ”Of course, you should get more rest. Come, sit down!”

Mrs. Gao finally snapped out of her daze, forcing her gaze away from Ye Chutang’s face. The handkerchief in her hand was clenched tight.

’This Ye Chutang... it’s only been three years, but she’s blossomed into such a beauty?’

’This—’

Ye Chutang looked at Mrs. Gao and said, ”We didn’t see you yesterday, Second Aunt. I hope you don’t mind. Yan, A Feng, Xiao Wu, come and greet your Second Aunt.”

Although the two brothers were unhappy about it, they still offered their greetings.

”Second Aunt.”

Xiao Wu blinked but said nothing.

Mrs. Gao’s eyes widened slightly as she asked in surprise, ”Is this child mute?”

The moment she spoke, the air in the room seemed to freeze.