The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Distinguished Guest

A look of profound surprise flashed through the Eldest Princess’s eyes.

She remembered now. Ye Chutang did indeed know medicine. Her own grandson had been saved by her, which was how he had been able to return to the Capital City safely.

But she never would have imagined that after she had suddenly fallen ill this time, Ye Chutang would be the one to save her again.

Th-this...

The Eldest Princess’s hand began to tremble slightly as she opened her mouth to speak.

But having just woken up, her body was weak, and her haste only made her words unclear.

”...G-good... g-good... young lady...”

Shen Yanchuan said, ”I understand what you mean, Grandmother. But you’ve just woken up and need to rest. You can leave the rest to me.”

Only then did the Eldest Princess feel at ease.

Her grandson might have a lazy disposition, but he was also extremely clever. When it truly mattered, he never disappointed.

Shen Yanchuan tucked her hand back under the covers and ordered, ”Zhuxin, brew the medicine for Grandmother according to Doctor Ye’s prescription and take good care of her.”

Zhuxin once again took the prescription from him, tucking it away carefully. ”This servant obeys!”

Zhao Xuanping’s lips moved, wanting to say something, but not a single word came out.

The Eldest Princess was awake! And anyone with eyes could see that her recovery was going exceptionally well!

In other words, Ye Chutang had truly put in a great effort and saved her—

So, using her prescription now was, of course, the logical next step.

Shen Yanchuan left Zhuxin and Lan Yi to care for the Eldest Princess. Princess Qingyang also insisted on staying to watch over her, so he didn’t try to persuade her otherwise and left with his men.

The Eldest Princess needed to rest quietly right now.

Zhao Xuanping followed them out, his head lowered in silence. His earlier arrogance had completely vanished.

Shen Yanchuan clasped his hands behind his back, the corners of his thin lips curling slightly.

”Judge Zhao was right. When it comes to the art of medicine, there is indeed no end to learning.”

Zhao Xuanping’s face immediately burned with shame.

Ye Chutang glanced outside at the sky.

’I’ve been here for quite some time. Yan, A Feng, and Xiao Wu must have seen Ye Shixian return first. They don’t know what happened here, so they’re probably getting anxious.’

Shen Yanchuan turned his head slightly. ”Yun Cheng, prepare the carriage. See Doctor Ye back to her residence.”

「...」

「Ye Mansion.」

Ye Jingyan was writing something while Xiao Wu was sprawled on the small table beside him, blinking as she fiddled with the tassel on her purse.

’Sigh, I really want to go out and play! Fourth Brother said the Capital City has a lantern festival too, and it’s much livelier than the one in Jiangling. I haven’t seen it yet!’

’I heard there are lots of beautiful lanterns. I wonder if they’re as pretty as the one I brought all the way from Jiangling!’

”Third Brother!”

Ye Yunfeng strode in hurriedly,

”Is Sister back yet?”

Ye Jingyan stopped writing and shook his head. ”Not yet.”

Ye Yunfeng froze. ”What? But I just saw Ye Shixian come back!”

Today, Sister and Ye Shixian went to the Long Princess Mansion together in the same carriage. How could it be that only Ye Shixian has returned, with no sign of Sister?

Ye Jingyan frowned. ”Sister didn’t come back with her?”

”No! I saw Ye Shixian’s personal maid come back in the carriage with her, so I thought Sister had returned as well—”

The more Ye Yunfeng spoke, the more something felt wrong.

It wasn’t a short trip to the Long Princess Mansion from here. How could Ye Shixian just abandon Sister there!?

Xiao Wu had sat up at some point, her big, dark grape-like eyes wide.

’Where’s Sister?’

Ye Jingyan stood up.

”I’ll go ask her.”

「...」

”You’re asking about my cousin?” Ye Shixian hadn’t expected Ye Jingyan and his brother to show up at her door right after she’d returned and freshened up.

News of the Eldest Princess’s sudden illness probably hadn’t spread yet, so of course she couldn’t say too much. Besides, she had no obligation to explain anything to them in the first place.

After a moment of deliberation, Ye Shixian gave a vague answer. ”There was a small, unforeseen incident at the Long Princess Mansion, so my cousin stayed behind.”

Ye Jingyan’s brow furrowed. ”An incident? What kind of incident?”

That was no ordinary place—it was the Long Princess Mansion!

What on earth could have happened that would make Sister stay behind alone?

Ye Yunfeng’s eyes narrowed. ”You were the one who invited my sister to go with you, but now you’ve come back by yourself and left her there all alone?”

Ye Shixian’s composure faltered.

’These two brothers aren’t very old, but standing here, why do they give off such an unsettling, oppressive aura?’

’It seems they’re used to running wild outside!’

Shaoyao snorted coldly. ”This has nothing to do with our miss!”

Ye Jingyan retorted, ”You both left from the Ye Mansion. How can you say it has nothing to do with her?”

Shaoyao choked on her words.

”Anyway- anyway, it’s not our miss’s fault! She was the one who insisted on showing off. Who can she blame but herself!?”

”Shaoyao.”

Ye Shixian shot her a warning glance.

Only then did Shaoyao reluctantly shut her mouth.

Ye Shixian glanced outside, and after confirming there were no other idle people around, she began to speak with a look of helplessness. ”Actually, it’s a long story, and I can’t reveal too much. Everything was going smoothly today, but the Eldest Princess suddenly fell ill and fainted. Princess Qingyang sent for an Imperial Physician, but my cousin stepped forward, insisting on diagnosing the Eldest Princess. With the Imperial Physician not yet there, Princess Qingyang had no other choice but to agree.”

She paused and sighed.

”I was quite worried at the time, but I was kept outside the room with everyone else. My cousin said she wouldn’t allow anyone to disturb her examination. So, I have no idea what happened in there after that.”

’So that’s what happened...’

Ye Jingyan felt a little relieved.

Although he didn’t know what illness the Eldest Princess had, with his sister there, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Ye Yunfeng had complete faith in his sister’s medical skills, so his earlier worries vanished. However, he was still extremely displeased with Ye Shixian.

”So you just came back by yourself? What about my sister?”

Ye Shixian sneered inwardly but put on a troubled expression.

”Actually, I did offer to wait for my cousin, but the people at the Long Princess Mansion told us to leave first, so I...”

She paused slightly before adding in a deliberately relaxed tone, ”But I thought to myself, it’s the Long Princess Mansion, after all. They will surely arrange for a small matter like this. Perhaps they’ll send someone to bring my cousin back shortly!”

”You—” Ye Yunfeng’s anger flared.

’She says it so casually, as if she doesn’t care about Sister at all!’

Just then, a servant suddenly rushed in to report.

”Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss! An honored guest has arrived!”

Ye Shixian was taken aback. ”An honored guest?”

Today, Ye Heng had gone to court, while Mrs. Gao and Ye Mingze were both recuperating from illness and couldn’t receive visitors. This left Ye Shixian in charge of the entire mansion.

The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking both nervous and excited.

”It’s- it’s a carriage from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion!”

Ye Shixian shot to her feet.

「...」

Ye Shixian hurried to the front entrance. She stopped just before she reached it, calmly straightened her clothes, then took a deep breath and stepped out.

In the next moment, however, she was frozen in place by the scene before her.

The low-key yet luxurious carriage was parked in front of the gate. A hand, as fair and smooth as white jade, lifted the curtain.

It was Ye Chutang!