The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: A Good Eye

Ye Heng shot Ye Chutang a quick glance and immediately retorted, ”How could that be acceptable? No matter how good other academies are, how can they compare to the Imperial College? Enough, you don’t need to say anything else. On this matter, my mind is made up!”

Having just been promoted to Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, countless eyes were on him, both in the open and in the shadows, looking for some leverage against him. Naturally, he had to handle everything perfectly to avoid becoming the subject of gossip.

’If they go and can’t keep up... well, that would be their own problem. It would have nothing to do with me, their Second Uncle.’

’Eventually, they might not be able to take it and drop out on their own.’

Seeing Ye Heng’s resolute attitude, Mrs. Gao knew better than to say more.

Ye Chutang nodded and bowed politely.

”Thank you, Second Uncle.”

...

Ye Chutang was quite satisfied. The issue of Yan’s and A Feng’s schooling was now settled, and they wouldn’t even have to pay tuition.

Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, they ran straight into Ye Mingze, who had just returned.

He had been so furious the previous day that he had spent the night at Chunfeng Lou. He still reeked of stale liquor.

The sight of Ye Chutang, with Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng behind her, made Ye Mingze’s anger flare up again. He shot them a vicious glare.

”Go on... go! Get out of my house!”

Ye Yunfeng took a step forward, but Ye Chutang discreetly stopped him.

She folded her hands, her expression unruffled by his words. ”Mingze, you’re drunk.”

Hearing the commotion, Ye Heng, who had been sitting inside, rushed out, his brow twitching in irritation.

”What is this nonsense you’re spouting! How dare you stay out all night? You’re getting more and more audacious!”

Mrs. Gao quickly grabbed his arm. ”My dear! Getting angry is bad for your health! Besides, Mingze just had a little too much to drink. You can’t take a drunkard’s words seriously, can you? Chutang, isn’t that right?”

It was as if she were implying that if Ye Chutang took offense, she would be the one being petty.

Ye Chutang smiled faintly. ”Second Aunt is right. I can see Mingze has had a lot to drink. It would be best to get him back to his room to rest.”

The phrase ”back to his room” seemed to provoke Ye Mingze further. He gritted his teeth. ”You should never have come back! If it weren’t for you, I—”

Mrs. Gao shot Yu Hong a meaningful look. ”What are you waiting for? Get Mingze back to his room! And go brew a bowl of sobering soup for him!”

Yu Hong quickly complied, calling over two more servants. The three of them worked together to drag Ye Mingze away.

His remaining words dissolved into muffled sobs and were never fully spoken.

Of course, everyone present knew exactly what he had been about to say.

Ye Shixian said apologetically, ”Cousin, Mingze didn’t mean what he said. Please don’t take it to heart.”

”Why would I?”

Ye Chutang’s lips curved slightly.

’Ye Heng is strict and Mrs. Gao is doting. He’s a spoiled young master, utterly ruined. He’ll only cause endless trouble.’

’I’m more than happy to sit back and watch the drama unfold. Why would I mind?’

...

After a quick tidy-up back at their quarters, Ye Chutang led the others out.

Yan and A Feng hadn’t been back to the Capital City in a long time, and Xiao Wu had been just over a year old when they left, so she had no memory of it. Now that they had finally returned, it was only natural to go out and explore.

Ye Chutang politely declined Ye Shixian’s offer to accompany them.

Ye Shixian hadn’t actually wanted to go with them, so she didn’t press the issue after being refused. She used the excuse of looking after Ye Mingze and stayed behind.

The siblings arrived on the street, and seeing its lively, bustling atmosphere, each felt something different.

Ye Jingyan sighed softly. ”It’s been three years, but the Capital City doesn’t seem to have changed. It’s just as noisy as I remember.”

Ye Yunfeng was visibly much more excited. ”You’re right! You can only see a spectacle like this in the Capital City! If we were still in Jiangling, we’d never see anything like it.”

Holding Xiao Wu, he pointed in a certain direction. ”Xiao Wu, look! They’re making candy figurines! Want me to buy you one?”

Xiao Wu’s big, dark eyes went wide, and she nodded emphatically.

Ye Yunfeng immediately carried her over. ”Sir! One candy figurine, please!”

The elderly candy maker looked up at Xiao Wu and beamed. ”You got it! How about—I make one that looks just like this little lady?”

His movements were deft, and in no time, a candy figurine of a chubby, adorable little girl took shape in his hands.

Xiao Wu watched, completely mesmerized.

Soon, the old man handed the figurine over. ”Here you go! Hold it tight, little one!”

But Xiao Wu shook her head and earnestly held up four fingers.

The old man paused, then noticed Ye Chutang and Ye Jingyan approaching from behind. He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

’I wonder which noble family these young masters and ladies are from. They’re all so strikingly good-looking!’

He smiled and asked Xiao Wu, ”You want four, is that right?”

Xiao Wu nodded quickly.

”Alright! Coming right up!”

In a short while, the four candy figurines were all done.

They were vibrant and incredibly lifelike.

Ye Chutang also found herself watching with great interest.

She had woken up in this world as the Second Miss of the Ye Family just a few days before Ye Zheng’s demotion to Wuzhou. The original owner’s body was frail, and she had spent several days bedridden, recuperating and slowly absorbing the memories left behind.

But in truth, the original Ye Chutang hadn’t grown up in the Capital City.

Her father, Ye Zheng, had passed the provincial imperial examinations at a young age. Overflowing with talent, he later entered the political world and steadily rose through the ranks with the help of powerful patrons.

But for the first decade or so of his career, he didn’t hold a post in the Capital City, so the family lived elsewhere.

Until four years ago, he was transferred back to the Capital City.

Unfortunately, Xiao Wu had just been born at the time, and with the original Ye Chutang’s poor health, they had temporarily remained in Jiangnan to recover.

Half a year later, when the weather grew warmer, Ye Zheng finally brought the rest of the family to the Capital City.

However, once she arrived, she couldn’t acclimate to the climate. Her illness relapsed, and she spent another six months recuperating in bed.

Therefore, she herself didn’t have many concrete memories of the Capital City.

While Yan and A Feng might be feeling nostalgic, Ye Chutang was filled mostly with curiosity.

Just then, Xiao Wu stopped Ye Jingyan as he was about to pay. She took out her own small purse, produced a piece of broken silver, and handed it to the vendor. Then, as if they were precious treasures, she gathered all four candy figurines into her hands.

’Big Sister! Third Brother! Fourth Brother! And me! Our family is all here, all together!’

...

When they returned from their stroll, it was already afternoon.

Xiao Wu treasured the four candy figurines, refusing to let them out of her sight.

Ye Chutang sat before the table, lost in thought.

’Now that we’re back in the Capital City, I need to think about how to make money.’

’After all, there will be many expenses to cover.’

’Opening a clinic is unrealistic. My current identity is too inconvenient.’

’I’ll have to find another way.’

’Today, I saw three potential shop locations on the street, but I haven’t decided which one to take.’

”Xiao Wu.” Ye Chutang beckoned her over. She placed three crumpled balls of paper on the table. ”Pick one.”

Xiao Wu came pattering over. Though she didn’t know what her big sister was up to, she obediently picked one of the paper balls.

Ye Chutang opened it and smiled.

’Of course she’d pick the one with the highest rent. It’s on the same street as the Lan Yue Building, where every inch of land is as precious as gold.’

”This is the one, then.”

...

That evening, Lian Zhou hurried back to the manor.

”Master, there’s no movement from the Lan Yue Building for now.”

Shen Yanchuan was not surprised. ”Keep watching.”

Lian Zhou complied, his expression a little strange. ”Master, there’s one more thing...”

Shen Yanchuan said coolly, ”Speak.”

Lian Zhou hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice.

”It seems Doctor Ye has her eye on the fabric shop diagonally across from the Lan Yue Building. Your orders, Master...?”

Shen Yanchuan’s brush paused, and he chuckled lightly.

”She certainly has good taste.”