The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: A Good Show

Ye Heng rushed to the front hall and saw the two brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, at a glance.

Ye Jingyan was dressed in white brocade embroidered with pines and bamboo. His lanky frame had grown even taller and straighter than before. Just standing there, he resembled a resilient, slender stalk of green bamboo—the very picture of a refined and elegant gentleman.

Seeing this, Ye Heng stopped in his tracks, his mind momentarily dazed.

’That posture, that profile... he looks so much like Ye Zheng...’

Hearing the footsteps, Ye Jingyan turned, cupped his fist in greeting, and spoke in a voice as smooth as jade, ”Second Uncle.”

Ye Heng snapped back to his senses, a thin layer of sweat having broken out on his back.

’No, they’re still different.’

Ye Zheng had been upright and uncompromising, with a sharp, spirited air. While Ye Jingyan’s build and appearance bore a certain resemblance to his father, his temperament was completely different.

Ye Heng’s tense heart relaxed slightly, but his expression remained grim, his face dark.

”What are you two doing here?”

Ye Yunfeng was instantly annoyed by his tone. His sharp brows furrowed as he crossed his arms and took a step forward, only to be stopped by Ye Jingyan.

”A Feng and I have come today because there is indeed an extremely important matter for which we’d like to ask for your help, Second Uncle.”

’Help?’

Ye Heng gave a cold laugh, his gaze sweeping over their faces. He said sarcastically, ”In my current state, am I even qualified to help you? Your sister is so capable. Why not go to her instead of coming to me?”

Ye Jingyan seemed completely unfazed by his cold, barbed words. ”To be honest, today’s matter does indeed concern our sister.”

”It concerns her?” Ye Heng sensed something was off. ”Didn’t they just say it was about relocating the graves? What, did she suddenly change her mind and was too embarrassed to come back, so she sent you two instead?”

Ye Yunfeng almost burst out laughing.

’This Ye Heng may not have any other skills, but his imagination is certainly rich.’

Ye Jingyan met Ye Heng’s gaze without flinching and said, word by word, ”Not at all. The date for moving our parents’ and older brother’s graves has already been set. But before that, we must ask you, Second Uncle, to return our sister’s dowry in full.”

Ye Heng’s eyes flew wide. ”What... what did you say!?”

Ye Jingyan said, ”The farmlands and storefronts our parents left behind have been managed by you, Second Uncle, for the past few years. But now that we have returned, we can’t trouble you with this labor any longer. I am already fourteen years old; these are my responsibilities, and I ought to fulfill them. Our parents and older brother will also be at peace in the afterlife, knowing this.”

”You... you—”

Ye Heng never imagined that Ye Jingyan had come today with this scheme in mind!

He had previously used the excuse that since Ye Chutang was a woman, her marriage was a matter for him, her second uncle, to handle. But with how things had turned out, that excuse was clearly no longer valid.

More importantly, Ye Jingyan was now fourteen. It was perfectly reasonable for him to step forward and demand Ye Chutang’s ”dowry” on her behalf, leaving no room for criticism!

Ye Heng’s heart burned with anxiety, and for a moment, he couldn’t think of a single rebuttal.

He looked at the boy standing before him. At fourteen, his face was still somewhat boyish, yet his calm and composed expression held a firmness and decisiveness that belied his age.

’He even looked a bit like Ye Chutang...’

Ye Heng gritted his teeth.

Suddenly, a young woman’s voice called out:

”Yan, we’re all family. Why must you be so aggressive?”

Ye Jingyan turned his head to see Ye Shixian approaching, her brows slightly furrowed in apparent disappointment.

”Father has long said that all of that is being kept for her and he would never take a single bit of it. Do you not even trust your own uncle?”

Ye Yunfeng snorted. ”Oh, we trust him! Isn’t that trust the very reason she almost jumped into the Han Family’s fiery pit?”

”You—” Ye Shixian choked on her words. But since she was clearly in the wrong on this matter, she could only change the subject and retort, ”That’s not what I meant. I just think... you could have come at any time, but you chose now. You can see the state our family is in. Do you really have no regard for family ties at all?”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened and her voice grew choked with sobs, making her look as if she were deeply wronged and disappointed.

Ye Yunfeng asked quizzically, ”It’s just the simple matter of taking out the deeds. Does that take up a lot of your time?”

”...”

Ye Shixian’s tears welled at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall but not quite, leaving her in an awkward position.

’She was secretly furious. This Ye Yunfeng really is an uncivilized brute, to say something so blunt and harsh!’

’Who just comes up and demands things so directly!’

The worst part was, his words were hard to refute.

Ye Heng was naturally unwilling to agree. He said coldly, ”You’re young; you don’t understand these things. They’re easier said than done. You have no idea how much trouble is involved—”

”You worry too much, Second Uncle. We’ve been away these past few years and have experienced a thing or two. We are not as ignorant as you might think. Besides, these are our family’s assets. There’s no reason to trouble an outsider to manage them indefinitely.”

Ye Jingyan smiled faintly.

”Otherwise, if others were to see this, they might think you’re unwilling to let go and are trying to seize my sister’s property. Wouldn’t that make you a laughingstock?”

These words left Ye Heng speechless. After all, he still had his reputation to consider.

But—

”Of course not! But this matter requires some time to handle. You’ll just have to wait for me—”

Before he could finish, the steward rushed over, his expression anxious and tinged with flustered panic.

”My lord! Mr. Han is here!”

Ye Heng took a moment to process this. ”Who did you say?”

”Han Yao! Mr. Han! He has come in person and says he wishes to see you!”

That name was now incredibly unlucky in Ye Heng’s eyes. He wanted nothing more to do with the entire Han Family, so what on earth was Han Yao thinking, showing up so suddenly!

Seeing Ye Heng’s dark expression, Ye Shixian was the first to speak. ”Didn’t they say he’s been staying in his residence and refusing to see anyone? Why would he come now?”

They all knew the Ministry of Justice had publicly arrested Han Tong, and that the entire Han Family was now under scrutiny, their every word and action being watched. Wasn’t Han Yao just asking for trouble by coming here at a time like this!?

Ye Heng flicked his sleeve. ”I won’t see him!”

Before the steward could reply, Han Yao’s voice drifted in from outside.

”Lord Ye! This junior begs you, please help my father just this once!”

Ye Heng’s heart skipped a beat. He looked up to see Han Yao striding in, ignoring the servants trying to block his way.

Seeing that he had actually made it inside, Ye Heng couldn’t help but curse inwardly, ’Useless fools. So many of them, and they can’t even stop a single Han Yao!’

Ye Yunfeng, however, was delighted.

”Well, isn’t it lively in here?”

Ye Heng had no time for him. He formulated a response in his mind for a few seconds and was just about to speak when Han Yao reached the courtyard entrance and, without warning, dropped to his knees with a THUD!

”Uncle Ye! You and my father are the closest of friends. I beg you, for the sake of your past friendship, please lend a hand!”

Ye Jingyan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Ye Yunfeng, unable to contain the grin spreading across his face, nudged him with his elbow.

”Hey, hey! Third Brother! Looks like there’s another good show to watch!”