The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Enjoying the Moon

Han Yao, who was idly teasing a bird in the courtyard, was startled. Fury and shock washed over him. ”Who is it?! How dare you barge into the Han Family residence!”

The servants rushed over, ready to fight, but they all froze on the spot when they saw the newcomers.

They were all wearing official uniforms. They looked like they were from—

Hearing the commotion, Han Tong hurried outside. He was stunned to see the men who had surrounded and sealed off the main gate.

”Lord Su?”

They were all from the Ministry of Justice!

Han Yao looked back, his face full of confusion. ”Father, they...”

Han Tong shot him a look, signaling him not to say more.

A powerful sense of unease washed over him. He forced a smile, stepped forward, and clasped his hands in a polite gesture. ”Lord Su, what is the meaning of this? If you had business with me, you could have simply sent a messenger. Why go to such lengths?”

Su Wei watched him with an icy expression. At the flick of his right hand, the officers behind him split into two columns and charged into the courtyard, assuming battle-ready positions.

The smile on Han Tong’s face began to falter.

Su Wei’s official rank was higher than his, but they belonged to different ministries—the Ministry of Justice and Guanglu Temple. They typically kept to their own affairs, and Su Wei had no authority to boss him around.

But seeing the courtyard filled with officers, Han Tong felt a nagging sense of dread. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Han Tong’s expression turned cold.

”Lord Su, I am not aware of any crime I have committed that would warrant such a personal visit from you.”

Su Wei looked down on him, his gaze cold and mocking.

”You know what you’ve done.”

Han Tong’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, slowly clenched into a fist. ”Then you must forgive my ignorance, for I do not understand your meaning, Lord Su. Besides, though my rank is not high, I am still an official of the court. For you to barge into my residence with your men like this is rather inappropriate, wouldn’t you say?”

Su Wei looked as if he had heard a joke.

”Zhou You, the temple minister of Guanglu Temple, has testified against you. He claims you secretly instructed him to use poison during the polo match and frame Zhao Hanguang! Han Tong! How do you plead?”

Han Tong’s heart plummeted.

...

”Miss! This is bad!”

A young maidservant ran in, flustered.

Su Pei’er, who was doing needlework, looked up at the sound of her voice. ”What is it?”

The young maidservant, gasping for breath, pointed outside and stammered, ”Lor-Lord Han... he’s been taken away by men from the Ministry of Justice!”

Su Pei’er’s hand slipped. The embroidery needle pricked her fingertip, and a crimson bead of blood instantly welled up, staining the fabric red.

She shot to her feet. ”What exactly happened?”

The young maidservant looked just as bewildered. ”I... I only heard that it had something to do with Lord Han and a polo match... They said he ordered someone to use poison!”

Su Pei’er paced a few steps, biting her lip.

’The Ministry of Justice... This is serious trouble!’

Although she didn’t know the details, she knew that if the Ministry of Justice came to their door and arrested someone in front of everyone, the matter was far from simple.

”And... Mr. Han?” she asked.

The young maidservant pursed her lips at the mention of Han Yao.

”He’s in his room! Ever since Lord Han was taken away, he’s been in a complete panic. In the end, he just locked himself in his room and refuses to see anyone.”

Su Pei’er felt a faint pain in her lower abdomen again. She clutched her stomach, her brows furrowing slightly.

The young maidservant quickly supported her. ”Miss, are you feeling unwell again? I just got back with the medicine. I’ll go brew it right away!”

Su Pei’er shook her head. ”I’m fine.”

’I won’t let this harm my body anymore. Just as Ye Chutang said, it’s not worth it.’

Su Pei’er took a moment to compose herself, then instructed, ”Go and brew the medicine. I’ll drink it when I get back.”

The young maidservant was taken aback. ”Where are you going?”

Su Pei’er looked outside. ”With Lord Han taken away, the Han Family must rely on Mr. Han now. There are countless matters both inside and out to deal with. Naturally, I must be by his side.”

...

「Heavenly Prison.」

Zhao Hanguang almost thought he had misheard. ”What did you say? Zhou You recanted his testimony?”

The prison guard kicked aside a ragged mat on the floor and offered a deferential smile, clasping his hands. ”You’ve suffered these past few days, Mr. Zhao. I hope you can forgive any previous offenses.”

He took half a step back. ”This way, please—”

Zhao Hanguang was still in a daze.

He didn’t know how he had been convicted, let alone how he had been exonerated.

From beginning to end, it felt as if someone was manipulating everything, leaving him completely powerless.

Zhao Hanguang hesitated before getting to his feet.

He hadn’t actually suffered any harsh torture during his days here. Although he had lost some weight, he fortunately had no serious injuries.

When he reached the door, he couldn’t help but ask, ”What about Han Tong? How is he now?”

As the prison guard walked ahead, he explained, ”He has been taken into custody by the Ministry of Justice. His crimes are heinous, and he also falsely accused you, which adds to his sentence. The specific punishment will depend on the decision from above.”

’It serves him right. But... how did things turn out this way?’

Zhao Hanguang frowned.

’I knew Han Tong was never happy with my authority, but I never expected him to be so audacious. To risk everything for the position of Minister of Guanglu Temple!’

’Could this sudden reversal be... the work of the Second Prince?’

Zhao Hanguang’s heart eased slightly at the thought.

’The Second Prince does care about me, after all—’

Just then, another prisoner was brought in.

The two parties met in the dim, narrow corridor.

The moment they brushed past each other, the new prisoner suddenly attacked, lunging straight for Zhao Hanguang’s neck!

A cold glint flashed from his fingertips!

The hair on Zhao Hanguang’s arms stood on end. ’He’s after me!’

The space was tight, and Zhao Hanguang was completely unprepared. There was no way to dodge.

Just as the hand was about to touch his neck, the prison guard in front of him suddenly flew forward with a kick, viciously striking the man’s arm!

CRACK!

The crisp sound of a bone breaking rang out!

”Assassin!”

The prison guard shouted sharply and immediately rushed forward.

However, unexpectedly, the prisoner, seeing his identity was exposed and knowing his mission had failed, chose to commit suicide!

”He had poison hidden in his mouth,” the prison guard said. ”He’s a Death Warrior!”

Watching the figure slowly collapse and the dark red blood that trickled from the corner of the man’s mouth, a chill slowly crept up Zhao Hanguang’s spine.

’This... This... The Second Prince sent someone to kill me!?’

”Drag him out and clean this up,” the prison guard ordered.

The man’s body quickly disappeared, as if nothing had ever happened.

”Mr. Zhao.”

The prison guard turned, his earlier expressions of ferocity and flattery completely gone.

”You have one last chance to choose whether or not you wish to meet my master.”

Zhao Hanguang was silent for a long time. He closed his eyes, his voice still trembling slightly.

”I wish for an audience.”

...

As evening approached, Ye Chutang took Xiao Wu to Feiyue Lake.

She carried Xiao Wu onto a boat and slowly made her way to the center of the lake.

The lake’s surface reflected the moon, which shone as brightly as a jade disk.

The evening breeze stirred her stray hairs, and a few strands blew onto Xiao Wu’s face, tickling her and making her giggle.

Ye Chutang tilted her head to look at her, her eyes crinkling into a smile.

”Now, we can properly enjoy the moon.”