The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Meeting on a Narrow Road

The Eldest Princess was a little surprised. ”You mean... Xu Rongqing?”

Ye Chutang nodded.

”I’ve been meaning to return that umbrella, but I just haven’t had the chance.”

The Eldest Princess breathed a sigh of relief, her tone lightening. ”That’s simple. I’ll have someone take you there later. It’s on the way.”

Just as Ye Chutang was about to speak, she sensed something and turned to look.

A tall, ramrod-straight figure came into view. It was Shen Yanchuan.

He walked in, paid his respects to the Eldest Princess, and then gave Ye Chutang a slight nod. ”Doctor Ye.”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of surprise on his handsome, elegant face. He had clearly known that Ye Chutang had spent the night here.

After the dream she’d had last night, seeing Shen Yanchuan again filled Ye Chutang with a strange mix of feelings.

’Which mountain did he go to? Who exactly was he meeting? What did they discuss? What did the other party ask him to consider?’

Ye Chutang actually had no interest in any of this, but for her own safety, she had no choice but to be concerned.

The Eldest Princess’s gaze shifted between the two of them before she cleared her throat. ”Yanchuan, what brings you here so early?”

Shen Yanchuan said, ”I heard you were upset last night. I wanted to come and check on you, but since it was already late, I decided not to disturb you.”

The Eldest Princess snorted. ”Why would I be angry? It’s just that Ye Heng and the Han Family have gone too far!”

The news had already spread, so it was only natural that Shen Yanchuan knew.

He poured a cup of tea for the Eldest Princess. ”The matter is mostly resolved, so please don’t worry about it anymore. Don’t let your anger affect your health.”

The Eldest Princess leaned back and went along with it. ”Exactly. That’s what I was thinking, too. Since you’re here, you can go and check for me later if that Ye Heng has cleared out completely.”

Ye Chutang lifted her gaze to look at them.

The Eldest Princess suddenly felt a pang of guilt. ”What is it, Chutang? Is something wrong?”

Shen Yanchuan’s gaze swept impassively over Ye Chutang’s face. He knew all too well how much she tried to avoid him.

Besides, it was obvious how many people would be gathered outside the Ye Mansion today, waiting for a spectacle. She certainly wouldn’t want to be seen with him—

”If it’s no trouble for the Princely Heir, then I must thank you in advance,” Ye Chutang said gently.

Shen Yanchuan’s brow arched slightly. His long, elegant fingers traced the rim of the bone china teacup as he lowered his gaze, hiding the turbulence in his eyes.

Ye Chutang looked at him and asked politely, ”Also, I have one more favor to ask, if I may. I’d like to make a stop at the Xu Residence. Would that be convenient for the Princely Heir?”

”...”

Shen Yanchuan suddenly lost all desire to drink his tea.

He lifted his gaze and met her dark, gentle eyes. The refusal on the tip of his tongue inexplicably changed course.

”It’s no trouble at all,” he said, enunciating each word.

Ye Chutang’s expression softened, and a smile bloomed on her lips.

”Thank you, Princely Heir.”

...

”The Princely Heir is so devoted to you, Your Highness, rushing over so early in the morning to see you,” Zhuxin praised as she massaged the Eldest Princess’s shoulders.

The Eldest Princess just hummed.

”He was back in the Capital City for ages and never came to visit. This old woman had to nag him just to get him through the door. And now suddenly he’s coming so often.”

Zhuxin chuckled. ”You know perfectly well the Princely Heir is just scared of you nagging him about marriage.”

”If he were capable, would he need me to nag him?” the Eldest Princess said. Recalling the earlier scene, she leaned back in her chair with a knowing air. ”But I can’t be bothered with it anymore. I’d like to see who ends up being the anxious one.”

”With the Princely Heir’s talent, looks, and family background, he’s the absolute best catch in the entire Capital City. Countless young ladies from noble families would love to marry into the Dingbei Marquis Mansion. It all just depends on what the Princely Heir himself wants.”

Zhuxin wasn’t exaggerating.

Even during the years Shen Yanchuan wasn’t in the Capital City, there were still countless women who longed for him.

But the Eldest Princess laughed. ”Who says there isn’t? I think Xu Fengchi’s son is quite good. I hear that at such a young age, he’s already a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. His looks, talent, and background are all outstanding.”

Zhuxin paused, taken aback.

The Eldest Princess tossed a handful of fish food into the lake.

”To be unmarried at his age... perhaps his heart is already taken.”

...

The carriage made its way toward the Ye Mansion.

Xiao Wu leaned against Ye Chutang, his eyes darting from Shen Yanchuan to his own sister.

’Hmm... I don’t know why, but it feels like whenever the Princely Heir and Big Sis are together, the atmosphere gets a little strange.’

’But I can’t put my finger on what’s so strange about it.’

Xiao Wu secretly suspected it was because his sister disliked the Princely Heir, but he wasn’t entirely sure.

’After all, the Princely Heir is very rich and generous. And Big Sis is always nice to patients—I mean, friends—like him.’

After turning it over in his mind and getting nowhere, Xiao Wu gave up thinking about it. He patted his thick purse and began to seriously consider what gift he should get for his third brother today.

’Big Sis said that the family couldn’t afford it these past few years. Now that we’re finally back in the Capital City, we have to celebrate Third Brother’s birthday properly!’

Ye Chutang was also pondering something.

’How am I going to get any information out of Shen Yanchuan?’

’It would be one thing if it were anyone else, but it had to be Shen Yanchuan.’

’He was someone even she couldn’t figure out. Ye Chutang was certain that the moment she spoke, Shen Yanchuan would immediately sense that something was off.’

’...Men who are too clever are truly exasperating.’

Shen Yanchuan tapped his fingers lightly.

’She was the one who agreed to travel together just now, so why does she seem annoyed again?’

’Logically, on this trip back to the Ye Family, she’d get to watch Ye Heng’s family become a laughingstock. She should be happy.’

’But right now, she seems to be mulling something over, hesitant to speak and extremely cautious.’

’Is she already getting nervous because she’s going to the Xu Residence later?’

An inexplicable tightness constricted Shen Yanchuan’s chest.

He said coolly, ”Xu Rongqing should be on duty at the Hanlin Academy today. You probably won’t see him even if you go to the Xu Residence.”

Ye Chutang froze for a moment.

’Why would he bring up Xu Rongqing out of the blue?’

To Shen Yanchuan’s eyes, her expression was one of stunned disappointment.

He felt an inexplicable surge of irritation and looked away.

Ye Chutang suddenly understood. He must have overheard her conversation with the Eldest Princess and knew she was going to return the umbrella.

In reality, the person she truly wanted to see was Xu Fengchi.

Ye Heng’s family was moving out abruptly and would have to pack many things. Among them, there were surely some items she needed.

If Xu Fengchi could help, it would be ideal.

But to outsiders, she and Xu Fengchi had only recently been reunited and hadn’t interacted much. To suddenly seek him out would be far too conspicuous.

The umbrella was just a pretext.

”In that case...” Ye Chutang began, choosing her words carefully. Before she could finish, the carriage suddenly halted, and a familiar voice came from outside.

”Xu Rongqing greets the Princely Heir.”

Ye Chutang froze, lifting the curtain to look outside. Standing right in front of them was none other than Xu Rongqing, the very person who was supposed to be at the Hanlin Academy.

”Mr. Xu?”

When Xu Rongqing saw her, he was surprised for a moment but quickly recovered, smiling as he spoke.

”Chutang, I was just on my way to find you.”

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow. ”Is Mr. Xu not on duty today?”

”I’ve already heard about the Ye Family’s situation, so I took the day off to come and see,” Xu Rongqing said, letting out a long breath. ”Naturally, Chutang’s affairs are more important.”

The smile on Shen Yanchuan’s face slowly faded.