The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Retreating to Advance

Ye Chutang pinched her cheek.

”Don’t worry, I’ll let you look at all of them.”

Xiao Wu’s eyes curved into crescents.

’I knew Big Sis was the best!’

Ye Chutang carried Xiao Wu into the room and had Ye Yunfeng open the two chests.

”Yan, you’re familiar with the climate and harvests from the past three years. You take a look at the land lease section.”

Ye Jingyan agreed. ”Alright.”

Ye Chutang herself started flipping through the ledgers for the shops.

Xiao Wu sat beside her, with a ledger placed in front of her as well.

She read quickly, the abacus in her hands CLACKING away.

Among the siblings, only Ye Yunfeng was left with nothing to do.

He looked left and right, then finally couldn’t resist leaning in for a peek. Seeing the rows of characters, his handsome face scrunched up in a knot.

’A headache! This is giving me a real headache!’

Without looking up, Ye Chutang said, ”A Feng, if you really have nothing to do, go out and buy some green bean cakes for Xiao Wu.”

Ye Yunfeng felt as if he’d been granted amnesty. ”You got it! I’m on my way!”

When Xiao Wu heard this, her little ears twitched, and she quickened her pace.

’Green bean cakes! I have to finish this ledger before Fourth Brother gets back!’

...

Ye Yunfeng was quick on his feet and returned shortly with the purchase.

Unexpectedly, he ran into Ye Shixian on the way.

”A Feng, where have you been?” Ye Shixian’s gaze swept over the item in his hand as she spoke with a smile.

Ye Yunfeng had no goodwill for her family, so his attitude was naturally cold and indifferent.

”Buying a snack for Xiao Wu.”

With that, he turned and strode away.

Ye Shixian nodded knowingly, then asked, ”By the way, I also bought a few things. I was originally planning to give them to you when you went to study at the Imperial College. But since you can’t go now, perhaps I should just give them to you directly?”

Ye Yunfeng stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowing tightly. ”What did you say?”

...

”Big Sis!”

Ye Yunfeng hurried back, jogging into the room.

Ye Chutang looked up at him. ”What’s wrong?”

Ye Yunfeng looked frantic. ”I just ran into Ye Shixian. She said Third Brother and I can’t go to the Imperial College anymore? Is that true?”

At these words, Ye Jingyan also put down the ledger in his hands.

Ye Chutang had thought it was something serious. Hearing this, she turned her attention back to the ledger.

”Don’t take her seriously.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Ye Yunfeng’s face. ”Big Sis?”

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe his sister, but Ye Shixian’s tone and expression had been so natural when she said it!

”She said it was because of her father—”

Ye Yunfeng paused, scratching his head in frustration.

”Actually, I don’t really care, but Third Brother has to go! What Second Uncle did—”

He wasn’t cut out for studying, so it didn’t matter where he went, but it was different for his third brother.

If he couldn’t get into the Imperial College, wouldn’t it ruin his future?

Ye Chutang closed the ledger in her hands, one eyebrow slightly raised.

”If you really counted on him, you and Yan would never get ahead.”

Ye Jingyan seemed to guess something. ”Big Sis, you never intended to ask for his help in the first place?”

Ye Chutang waved the ledger in her hand.

”If he hadn’t failed to handle this matter, how could he have handed over these ledgers so easily as compensation?”

She knew from the very beginning that Ye Heng was unreliable, so it was better to feign a retreat to advance.

At the very least, she had now gotten what she wanted.

”Pay no mind to what she said. In a few days, someone will come to take you to the Imperial College.”

Hearing her say this, the anxiety in Ye Yunfeng’s heart finally settled.

Although he didn’t know what method his big sister had devised, she had never broken a promise. This time would surely be the same!

...

In the afternoon, Ye Shixian paid a sudden visit.

”Cousin, I hope I’m not disturbing you?”

Ye Chutang smiled faintly. ”Not at all. But you, aren’t you supposed to be taking care of Mingze?”

The smile on Ye Shixian’s face faded slightly, but she quickly composed herself.

”He’s feeling much better now. He doesn’t need to be watched every second.”

’Otherwise, wouldn’t that make him a real lunatic with a broken mind?’

Ye Chutang nodded. ”That’s good.”

Ye Shixian didn’t want to discuss Ye Mingze with her, afraid that Chutang would again say something about wanting to see her parents and older brother.

”Actually, I came here today to discuss something with you, Cousin. The Long Princess Mansion is about to host the Chao Hua Banquet, and I’d like to invite you to go with me. What do you think?”

As she said this, a hint of smugness appeared on her face.

”The Eldest Princess’s status is incredibly noble, as I’m sure you know without me having to elaborate, Cousin. Every person qualified to attend this Chao Hua Banquet is a noble lady from a prestigious family in the capital. Why don’t you come with me, Cousin?”

It was as if she was afraid Ye Chutang didn’t understand what a great honor it was to be invited to the Chao Hua Banquet.

Ye Chutang looked at her, finding the situation somewhat amusing.

’It seems Ye Shixian really thinks she’s already broken into that circle.’

”For an occasion like this, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me to go uninvited?”

Ye Shixian already had her excuse prepared. ”It’s fine. Invited guests are allowed to bring their relatives along. As it happens, my mother can’t go, so if you come with me, Cousin, we can keep each other company. Besides, you haven’t been back for a long time, so you probably don’t know many people. This is a good opportunity for me to introduce you to them, isn’t it?”

Her words were earnest, making it seem like a sincere invitation.

Ye Chutang pondered for a moment, appearing to be swayed.

Ye Shixian offered a few more words of persuasion, and Ye Chutang finally nodded.

”Alright.”

...

After Ye Shixian left, Xiao Wu ran out from the inner room, looking up at Ye Chutang with a curious expression.

’Doesn’t Big Sis dislike these kinds of events? Why did she agree?’

Seeing her, Ye Chutang smiled. ”Finished with the ledger?”

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, but in the next second, her little face fell.

Seeing her looking so dejected, Ye Chutang guessed what was wrong. ”What is it? Is there a problem with the accounts?”

Xiao Wu’s face turned red as she held back her frustration.

’A problem? It’s more than a problem! It’s a huge problem! All thirteen shops are losing money!’

Since she had learned to read, she had never seen such terrible ledgers. She nearly fainted after finishing the calculations.

’This is so upsetting, so, so upsetting!’

Ye Chutang comfortingly stroked her hair, not at all surprised. She said with a smile, ”It would be strange if they were actually making money.”

Xiao Wu was still fuming.

’The numbers don’t add up at all! They just used a fake ledger to trick people!’

Ye Chutang wasn’t actually that angry, but she did find one thing rather strange.

Some of these shops were in excellent locations. Logically, no matter how poorly they were managed, it should have been impossible to produce such terrible accounts.

If Ye Heng had anticipated their return and prepared fake books in advance, that would be one thing.

But the crucial point was—these dozen or so ledgers weren’t newly forged.

At the very least, in the short time since their return, there was absolutely no way to create so many fake ledgers.

Since Ye Heng had long assumed they were all dead and considered these assets his own, why had he been consistently faking the accounts?

It was so much trouble. What was he after?