The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: If Only He Got Injured Again

Ye Mingze was silent. Even Ye Shixian, usually so silver-tongued, fell quiet for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Ye Chutang was truly—

Fortunately, Ye Chutang didn’t stay long. She sat for a little while before leaving.

Only after her figure had receded into the distance did Ye Mingze fiercely throw his pillow.

”Who asked for her fake kindness! I think she clearly said all that on purpose!”

Ye Shixian glanced at him. ”That’s enough. Haven’t you caused enough of a scene? It doesn’t matter if she says a few words. Just let her be.”

But Ye Mingze couldn’t swallow his anger. ”Was she just ’saying a few words’? Anyway, I can’t stand living in this place anymore!”

He hadn’t felt this way before, but now, looking at the room, everything seemed to be an eyesore.

Ye Shixian pressed her lips together.

Before, she had just thought Ye Mingze was imagining things. But now, for some reason, after hearing what Ye Chutang said, she felt a chill run down her spine.

”Alright, just focus on recovering. I’m going to check on Mother.”

With that, Ye Shixian stood up and left directly.

Ye Mingze called after her twice, but she didn’t slow her pace.

...

The moment Ye Shixian entered Mrs. Gao’s room, Mrs. Gao grabbed her and asked anxiously, ”How is Mingze?”

A day had passed, but the large, raised red rashes on Mrs. Gao’s face hadn’t disappeared. In fact, they had even spread to her collarbones and behind her ears, and looked poised to spread further.

Ye Shixian’s gaze swept over her face before she quickly looked away.

”Mingze just woke up and has already taken his medicine. You don’t need to worry too much.”

”That’s good, that’s good...” Mrs. Gao finally relaxed, letting out a long sigh of relief.

Ye Shixian suddenly felt a wave of irritation.

Mrs. Gao had always doted on her only son. Even now, when she could barely take care of herself, the moment something happened to Ye Mingze, he was still the only one on her mind.

She changed the subject. ”Mother, the Eldest Princess’s Chao Hua Banquet is in three days. You’re unwell, so maybe... you should sit this one out?”

According to their original plan, Mrs. Gao was supposed to go with her.

But now, Ye Shixian naturally had no such intention.

Mrs. Gao faltered, her expression hesitant. ”But this is an invitation from the Eldest Princess...”

It was a rare opportunity, and it would be a terrible shame to miss it.

She had waited so long to finally get this chance. How could she be willing to give it up now?

Ye Shixian paused. ”You’ve surely heard about the Eldest Princess’s temperament. If we do something to displease her and make her angry, we’ll be in trouble.”

Mrs. Gao frowned, feeling a little displeased, but she also understood that Ye Shixian had a point.

In her current state, if she were to frighten the Eldest Princess...

”But if you go alone, I won’t be at ease!”

But Ye Shixian already had a solution.

”Mother, you’ve forgotten there’s someone else who can go with me.”

Mrs. Gao was confused. ”Who?”

Ye Shixian slowly enunciated the name.

”Ye. Chu. Tang.”

”You want to take her? No! Absolutely not!” Mrs. Gao immediately objected. ”Is the Long Princess Mansion a place for any riffraff to enter? We only got this opportunity thanks to your father’s efforts. How can we just hand it to her on a silver platter!”

The Chao Hua Banquet was a matchmaking event in disguise, and all the noble ladies of the Capital City’s prominent families would be invited.

Many young women hoped to shine at the Chao Hua Banquet to secure a good marriage for themselves.

Mrs. Gao naturally had the same idea.

After all, Ye Heng’s footing in the Capital City was still unstable. If Ye Shixian could marry into a high-ranking family, the benefits would be considerable.

But Ye Shixian smiled, a dark, calculating glint flashing in her eyes.

”It’s precisely because this opportunity is so rare that taking her will demonstrate our magnanimity and care for her. Besides, if by some chance she does something inappropriate at the Chao Hua Banquet and loses face, then that would be—”

Mrs. Gao’s eyes instantly lit up.

’That’s right! Why didn’t I think of that?’

Once Ye Chutang makes a fool of herself at the Chao Hua Banquet, she’ll never be able to recover, no matter how capable she is!

”Xian’er, then you—”

”Don’t worry, Mother. I have my own plans.”

...

After visiting Ye Mingze, Ye Chutang felt refreshed and invigorated.

’The more chaos in the Ye Family, the better.’

’Whether it’s because those siblings are unlucky, or because certain people are getting their karmic retribution, it’s really hard to say.’

Xiao Wu had already finished with the account books. Seeing Ye Chutang return, she immediately pounced on her.

Ye Chutang hoisted up her little bottom, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the accounts Xiao Wu had been calculating.

”Are we still short this much silver?”

It would take a lot of money to take over that shop. This was the Capital City, after all, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold.

She had saved some over the past three years, but she was still short.

’Not everyone is Shen Yanchuan, after all.’

At this thought, Ye Chutang sighed softly. ”It would be great if he got injured and fell unconscious again...”

’Now that we’re back in the Capital City, wouldn’t that be the perfect chance to drive up the price and extort a fortune from him?’

Xiao Wu blinked.

For some reason, even though Big Sis hadn’t said who ”he” was, she guessed it immediately.

She nodded vigorously in agreement.

’Yeah! If that happens, I can get more purses!’

...

「Dingbei Marquis Mansion.」

Yun Cheng brought over the freshly brewed medicine and placed it by Shen Yanchuan’s hand.

”Princely Heir, your medicine.”

Shen Yanchuan grunted in acknowledgment and put down the game piece in his hand.

Yun Cheng couldn’t help but ask, ”Princely Heir, your injuries have clearly healed. Why do you insist on drinking this medicine?”

But Shen Yanchuan shook his head, a faint smile playing on his thin lips.

”They went through all the trouble of sending people to kill me. Even if they didn’t succeed, they’d be happy to know I was half-dead.”

Yun Cheng couldn’t quite figure out his master’s plan, but hearing him say this, he naturally understood and bowed his head in agreement.

Then, he handed over a letter.

”The Long Princess Mansion sent another invitation. Are you still not going?”

This was already the second one.

Shen Yanchuan took it and opened the envelope. Inside was a single, thin sheet of paper with just a few words written on it.

”If you don’t come, I’ll arrange ten more betrothals for you.”

Shen Yanchuan: ”...”

’It’s only been a few years since I was last back. How have the Eldest Princess’s methods become so numerous?’

He put the letter away.

”Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Long Princess Mansion.”

Yun Cheng was taken aback. ”Now?”

Shen Yanchuan knew he couldn’t get out of this one. After all, he had gone to the Ye Family yesterday. To refuse now would be unjustifiable.

The Eldest Princess always did what she said she would. He didn’t doubt for a second that if he didn’t go today, several potential in-laws would be lining up at the gates of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion by tomorrow.

Shen Yanchuan started walking outside, and Yun Cheng hurried to follow.

...

The distance from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion to the Long Princess Mansion wasn’t far. When the carriage arrived, the steward of the Long Princess Mansion was already waiting at the entrance.

Shen Yanchuan wasn’t surprised, but he still raised an eyebrow. ”Grandmother knew I was coming?”

The steward stepped forward with a cheerful smile. ”The Eldest Princess is deeply concerned for you, Princely Heir. She had this humble one wait here to welcome you since early this morning.”

’So, when the letter was sent from the Long Princess Mansion, she had already predicted I would come.’

Shen Yanchuan flicked the hem of his robes and strode inside.