The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: One Good Show After Another

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the night was quiet.

Ye Heng and Ye Shixian had been sent away, and the attending servants were also dismissed.

Only then did the Eldest Princess turn to Ye Chutang. The stern look on her face faded, and her tone softened. ”Alright, it’s getting late. Hurry and take Xiao Wu to rest. Zhuxin has already prepared the adjoining rooms. You can go straight there. If you need anything else, just ask.”

But Ye Chutang let go of Xiao Wu, took a few steps forward, lowered her gaze, and bent her knees in a solemn salute. ”Chutang thanks Your Highness, the Eldest Princess.”

The Eldest Princess immediately moved to take her by the arm. ”You saved my life. What is a small favor like this in comparison?”

Ye Chutang’s voice was calm, her words sincere. ”Without permission, Chutang took the liberty of borrowing the Eldest Princess’s influence. Your Highness is magnanimous and did not hold it against me, but Chutang cannot fail to remember this kindness.”

The Eldest Princess’s hand paused.

Xiao Wu stood to the side, his big, dark, round eyes blinking.

The next moment, the Eldest Princess released her hand. Looking at Ye Chutang, the smile on her lips deepened with a mix of wonder and admiration.

”No wonder you’ve managed to raise your younger siblings so wonderfully all by yourself these past few years.”

She was truly brilliant, born with an exceptionally sharp and perceptive mind.

Ye Heng’s family had openly occupied Ye Zheng’s mansion and showed no intention of returning it, even after Ye Chutang and her siblings returned to the capital.

Making someone spit out what they’ve already swallowed is never a simple matter.

Ye Chutang was a young woman, and her siblings were still young. As long as Ye Heng brandished his status as their second uncle, he could always keep them under his thumb.

If they were to have a public falling out, others would only say that the Ye siblings were so obsessed with money that they would drive out the very uncle who had arranged their parents’ funerals.

Even if they got the mansion back, the reputations of Ye Chutang and her siblings would be ruined.

Ye Chutang herself didn’t care, but she couldn’t let Yan’s reputation be damaged, much less let A Feng and Xiao Wu become targets of gossip.

Therefore, she needed a just cause and had to borrow power to act.

Only by waiting for Ye Heng to expose his own weakness, earn public condemnation, and be assailed from all sides could Ye Chutang cleanly reclaim everything that was hers.

Her visit to the Long Princess Mansion today, her recounting of the events at Feiyue Lake, and her deliberate mention that Yan would turn fourteen tomorrow—all of it was to request the Eldest Princess’s help.

And what kind of person was the Eldest Princess? She naturally understood Ye Chutang’s intentions.

In truth, the Eldest Princess didn’t mind. First, Ye Chutang had saved her life, and she had already intended to stand up for her. Second, she had her own agenda; even if Ye Chutang hadn’t orchestrated this, she was planning to oust that Han Yao sooner or later anyway.

Now, she was simply going with the flow, killing two birds with one stone. She was more than happy to oblige.

Ye Chutang bowed her head in gratitude.

After she completed her salute, the Eldest Princess once again took her arm, the smile in her eyes warm and kind. ”Alright, you’ve offered your thanks. Can you finally set your mind at ease now?”

A faint smile graced the corners of Ye Chutang’s lips.

The more the Eldest Princess looked at her, the more she liked her. She was utterly fond of the girl.

In her years in a high position, what kind of young lady hadn’t she seen? Yet none could compare to Ye Chutang.

Intelligent and composed, she never panicked in the face of trouble and could always resolve everything in an orderly manner.

More importantly, despite possessing such a remarkable mind and strategic thinking, she remained sincere and earnest, with a pure heart.

That quality was even rarer.

Seeing his sister kneel, Xiao Wu toddled over to her side, posturing as if to follow suit with a serious kowtow.

The Eldest Princess cried out in alarm and quickly pulled the Little Milk Group to a halt.

If he actually磕一下 on the ground, his little head wouldn’t be able to take it.

The Eldest Princess was both pained and amused, laughing as she said, ”Get up, quickly. If you keep kneeling, it’ll be my heart that aches.”

A thought occurred to her, and she turned her head to instruct Zhuxin, ”Right, pick a few capable servants and maids. If the Ye Mansion is short-staffed tomorrow, have them go over and lend a hand.”

...

Late at night, the Ye Family residence was ablaze with lights.

Servants hurried about with panicked expressions, running back and forth.

Hearing the commotion outside, Mrs. Gao, who was about to rest, grew agitated and couldn’t help but shout, ”Someone! What in the world is going on out there? Why is it so noisy!”

No one outside answered.

Mrs. Gao frowned and walked over. Just as she was about to knock, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Startled, Mrs. Gao took two steps back, quickly turning her head and raising a hand to shield her face as she snapped angrily, ”What are you doing! Are you blind!”

She had been staying here ever since she fell ill.

Ye Heng hadn’t locked her in, but she herself was unwilling to go out. With someone suddenly bursting in, how could she not be angry?

Soon, however, Mrs. Gao realized something was wrong.

—The maids who entered had begun packing up the things in the room!

A maidservant scurried over, but upon seeing Mrs. Gao’s pitted, swollen, and ulcerated face, she stumbled back several steps in fright.

”Ma-Madam!”

Mrs. Gao quickly snatched a handkerchief from nearby and tied it around her face. Humiliated and enraged, she yelled, ”Insolent! Who gave you the audacity to barge in here!”

The maidservant finally came to her senses and said nervously, ”Madam, it-it was the Master’s order!”

Mrs. Gao was taken aback. ”What nonsense are you spouting!?”

The maid actually had no idea what had happened. She only said, ”After the Master returned, he ordered that everything in this estate be packed up and moved. He said-he said it must be done by tomorrow—”

”Move out? Move where!?” Mrs. Gao was utterly bewildered.

”He-he said we’re moving back to the residence on Fengling Lane...”

Mrs. Gao was completely stunned. ”What!?”

...

BANG—!

Ye Mingze kicked a chair over and snarled, ”I’m not moving!”

Several servants exchanged glances.

”Second Young Master, this is the Master’s order. I’m afraid you have to move!”

A sense of dread sank in Ye Mingze’s heart; he had a gut feeling that something terrible had happened.

He strode forward and grabbed a servant by the collar. ”Where did Father go today? Why the sudden order!”

How would the servant know? He could only stammer that Ye Heng had gone to the Long Princess Mansion and issued the order immediately upon his return, not leaving them a moment’s respite.

Ye Shixian had gone with him, but she too was currently packing her things.

Aside from those two, no one else had any idea what was going on. But in this situation, who would dare to ask?

Ye Mingze’s gaze flickered as he muttered under his breath, ”Long Princess Mansion... Could it be the Eldest Princess’s doing?”

He suddenly thought of someone and demanded in a sharp voice, ”What about Ye Chutang!? Where is she now!?”

...

「Dingbei Marquis Mansion.」

Lian Zhou remarked with feeling, ”Everyone thought there’d be a good show at the Han Family’s tonight. Who knew the Ye Family would top them, with one good show after another!”

He quickly glanced up.

”Master, I heard the Eldest Princess was furious with Ye Heng. Would you like to pay her a visit?”