The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Delivered to the Ye Mansion

Lian Zhou followed his gaze and coughed. ”Master, should we go say hello to Doctor Ye?”

Shen Yanchuan lowered the curtain, his tone indifferent. ”It’s rare to see her so happy. No need to disturb her.”

Lian Zhou shivered for some reason and looked up at the sky.

’Why do I feel a bit chilly on such a hot day?’

”Well... I suppose so. But who would’ve thought? I never realized Doctor Ye liked this sort of stuff.”

Even from this distance, he could clearly see the axes, halberds, swords, and spears displayed on the wall inside.

It was already strange enough for Ye Chutang to be here, but with Xu Rongqing as well, it was even more baffling.

Shen Yanchuan didn’t speak.

Lian Zhou shot a quick glance at his master. Seeing him leaning lazily against the carriage wall with his eyes lightly closed, showing no reaction, Lian Zhou sheepishly shut his mouth.

”Giddy-up!”

Lian Zhou flicked the reins, and the carriage moved forward.

Suddenly, the deep, cool voice spoke again.

”How is the Eldest Princess’s recovery coming along?”

Lian Zhou quickly replied, ”We received a message from the Long Princess Mansion. They said she’s doing very well. The Eldest Princess was even able to eat on her own this morning—”

Shen Yanchuan opened his eyes.

”Let’s go take a look.”

Lian Zhou faltered. ”But didn’t you plan to go to the General Zhen Country Mansion...?”

The rest of his words died in his throat. When he met his master’s indifferent gaze, Lian Zhou wisely shut his mouth.

”...Yes!”

He immediately turned the carriage around. The horse, with its four snow-white hooves, shook its head and neighed.

「...」

”I’ll take these two sets.”

Ye Chutang pointed.

”Please have them delivered to the Ye Mansion in Liuwan Lane later.”

Hearing this, the attendant’s eyes instantly lit up.

’Liuwan Lane!’

’That’s where all the high-ranking officials and nobles live!’

When this young lady first came in, he hadn’t paid her much mind, assuming she was just browsing.

’Who would have thought she was a noble lady from Liuwan Lane! And so generous, buying two sets at once! The most expensive ones, too!’

”Yes! Of course! Rest assured, we’ll deliver them as soon as possible! We guarantee they’ll arrive at your esteemed mansion safe and sound!”

Ye Chutang nodded with a faint smile. Hearing a horse whinny outside, she subconsciously glanced back.

A rather familiar carriage was passing by the entrance.

Xu Rongqing also recognized the carriage and said in surprise, ”The Dingbei Marquis Mansion?”

Lian Zhou, who was slowly passing by, heard him and immediately turned his head, his face lighting up with joy. ”Doctor Ye? What a coincidence!”

Since he had greeted her first, it would have been rude not to respond.

Ye Chutang smiled faintly. ”It is quite a coincidence.”

Lian Zhou continued eagerly, ”Our master is on his way to the Long Princess Mansion. If you don’t have anything else to do, would you like to come along for the ride?”

Lately, Ye Chutang had been going to the mansion every day to perform acupuncture on the Eldest Princess, usually a bit later than this. She had originally planned to return to the Ye Mansion first and wait for the Long Princess Mansion’s carriage to pick her up.

She hadn’t expected—

Just as Ye Chutang was about to refuse, the attendant from behind caught up to her and asked eagerly, ”Miss, the total for those two sets of bows and arrows is one thousand six hundred and eighty taels. If you would please...”

Inside the carriage, Shen Yanchuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, a single eyebrow raised slightly.

The next moment, he heard the young woman’s clear, gentle voice from outside the carriage. ”Send them to the Ye Mansion. Someone will pay for them there.”

The corner of his lip curled up ever so slightly.

The attendant froze for a moment, then quickly glanced at the discreetly luxurious carriage. A sense of awe filled him, and he nodded repeatedly. ”Yes, yes! I understand!”

’Although I don’t know this young lady’s identity, judging by her appearance and bearing, her speech and manners, she must be the daughter of some great family. And with that carriage...’

’She’s definitely an honored guest who must be treated well!’

Ye Chutang took a step forward, but Xu Rongqing suddenly called out to her.

”Chutang!”

Ye Chutang looked back. ”Is there something else, Mr. Xu?”

Xu Rongqing was suddenly at a loss for words, the tips of his ears turning slightly red.

”I... I—My father said that you’ve been back in the capital for so long, and we haven’t had a chance to properly welcome you. He’d like to invite you... all of you... to be our guests in a few days. I was wondering if that would be convenient for you?”

This wasn’t the first time he had mentioned it. Ye Chutang smiled and nodded. ”Of course. When Yan and A Feng have their next ten-day break, we’ll all pay you a visit.”

Xu Rongqing let out a sigh of relief, joy welling up inside him. The smile on his face deepened.

”Great! Then it’s settled!”

Ye Chutang gave a slight nod, then turned and took two more steps toward the carriage.

She bent down and picked up Xiao Wu.

Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted.

A handsome, noble face flashed into view.

Immediately after, a pair of long, jade-like hands reached out, took Xiao Wu from her, and lifted her into the carriage.

Ye Chutang then boarded the carriage.

She seemed to tug at the hem of her skirt as she entered, and only then did the curtain slowly fall.

The entire sequence was as smooth as flowing water, utterly natural.

It was as if an invisible barrier had been placed between them, something he couldn’t touch.

”Chutang—” Xu Rongqing began to speak, but he suddenly felt a pair of deep, cool eyes land on him.

He froze. Just as he was about to get a better look, the carriage started moving.

It all felt like an illusion.

「...」

This wasn’t the first time Ye Chutang had shared a carriage with Shen Yanchuan.

”Princely Heir.”

She gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, intending to stick to the same principle of mutual non-disturbance as last time, keeping her eyes down and minding her own business.

’It’s not that far to the Long Princess Mansion anyway. All I have to do is—’

CLICK.

Xiao Wu, her face full of curiosity, fiddled with a small lock on a drawer.

The carriage was spacious, comfortable, and expensive, so it was perfectly normal for a solid gold lock to attract Xiao Wu’s attention.

’Yes, normal.’

Ye Chutang gave her a deadpan look.

”Ling Zhi.”

Xiao Wu froze, obediently pulled her little hand back, and straightened her small body.

Shen Yanchuan’s lips curved slightly. ”That’s an interlocking lock. Most people would find it very difficult to open. Do you want to try?”

Xiao Wu’s expression wavered for a moment, but then she shook her head firmly.

’—No thanks! I don’t want to play with it at all!’

Ye Chutang politely declined. ”Thank you, Princely Heir, but Xiao Wu is still young. I’m afraid it wouldn’t be good if she were to break it.”

Shen Yanchuan acted as if he hadn’t heard her and said to Xiao Wu, ”If you can open it, all the little trinkets inside are yours.”

Xiao Wu: ?

Ye Chutang: ???

The reactions of the big one and the little one were surprisingly identical, as if they were carved from the same mold.

Something stirred in Shen Yanchuan’s heart. He reached out and pinched Xiao Wu’s chubby cheek, his gaze lifting slightly.

Their eyes met, and the corners of his own eyes seemed to hold a hint of a smile.

”I, for one, always keep my word.”

「...」

「Ye Mansion.」

Ye Heng hadn’t slept well for several days. Knowing that Su Wei was quite displeased with him, he had simply taken leave to rest at home.

He was in his study when a servant hurried in to report:

”Master, there are two men outside who say they’re here to deliver something!”

Ye Heng frowned, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

”What are they delivering?”

’I don’t remember buying anything.’

The servant hesitated. ”It seems... it seems to be two sets of bows and arrows. They said they were ordered by our mansion. The total is one thousand six hundred and eighty taels.”

Ye Heng’s head snapped up. ”What?!”