The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Stand Behind Me

”So, Your Highness means... to find a replacement for Han Yao?”

Shen Yanchuan listened, then spoke unhurriedly.

Xiao Chengxuan, however, paused before lowering his voice. ”Princely Heir, you’re only half right. After this incident, I’m afraid Zhao Hanguang won’t be able to keep his position either. Although he’s innocent, Han Yao was his subordinate, and his actions were driven by jealousy. There’s no way Zhao Hanguang can shake off the connection. As I see it, he’ll be found guilty of lax supervision at the very least. If he steps down, the position of Minister of the Ministry of Rites will become available.”

Shen Yanchuan swirled his teacup. ”What Your Highness says is reasonable; that is a possibility. But from another perspective, he was framed this time. And after such a long interrogation in prison, nothing incriminating was found. If anything, that makes him appear all the more righteous and upstanding. It’s not out of the question that His Majesty might show leniency and restore him to his post.”

Xiao Chengxuan froze for a moment at his words.

”You’re saying... he still has a chance to keep his position?”

Shen Yanchuan gave a noncommittal reply. ”Ultimately, it all depends on the Holy Emperor’s wishes.”

Countless thoughts flashed through Xiao Chengxuan’s mind.

He had assumed that both Han Yao and Zhao Hanguang were finished this time, so he had already selected suitable replacements, waiting only for the right moment to slide them into place.

He had not expected this...

A glint flashed in his eyes.

”That’s not impossible. Zhao Hanguang has been diligent for years and has never made any major errors, save for this one incident... Still, if the Princely Heir thinks so, then perhaps my Father Emperor really will decide to keep him.”

Xiao Chengxuan deliberately frowned, as if somewhat regretful.

”If that’s truly the case, then... the position of Junior Minister of the Ministry of Rites will do.”

’Han Yao is a lost cause. He needs to be disposed of, and quickly.’

’As long as Zhao Hanguang remains the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, I can just send in another one of my people and control the entire hierarchy.’

’Many people know Han Yao is my man, but very few know that I once did Zhao Hanguang a great favor and that he has been working for me ever since.’

So now, he decided to be direct with Shen Yanchuan. By openly declaring his intention to plant an informant in the Guanglu Temple, no one would ever suspect that Zhao Hanguang was his actual, much more valuable, trump card.

Shen Yanchuan smiled faintly.

”That shouldn’t be difficult for you, Your Highness.”

Hearing this, Xiao Chengxuan knew the Dingbei Marquis Mansion wouldn’t interfere. The matter was as good as settled.

His features relaxed, and he smiled, raising his cup. ”Then I must thank you, Princely Heir.”

Shen Yanchuan picked up his teacup, and just as he was about to touch it to the other’s, he suddenly froze.

Xiao Chengxuan’s hand, holding the cup, tightened slightly. ”Princely Heir, what is it?”

Shen Yanchuan’s expression relaxed, returning to normal, and he extended his cup forward.

”It’s nothing. In that case, I’ll offer an early congratulations to Prince Qi on achieving your goal.”

Xiao Chengxuan smiled, his words holding a deeper meaning. ”In truth, the Princely Heir should know full well what I desire most. If you were to agree to my proposal, only then would my greatest wish be fulfilled.”

Shen Yanchuan’s eyelashes lifted slightly, his dark, calm phoenix eyes showing no ripple of emotion.

”Oh?”

Xiao Chengxuan paused for a moment before finally speaking:

”So, I wish to ask one last time: have you given any more thought to our previous discussion, Princely Heir?”

As his voice fell, the air around them seemed to freeze.

Shen Yanchuan’s eyelids drooped slightly, as if he were weighing his response.

Time crawled by, each second agonizingly slow, thick with a subtle, suffocating tension.

Just then! A sharp, cold sound suddenly cut through the air!

SHFFFT—!

Shen Yanchuan’s eyes remained placid. His long, jade-like fingers flipped the teacup, preparing to fling it.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he paused for a fraction of a second.

In that instant, a familiar young woman’s voice pierced through the woods—

”Princely Heir, be careful!”

...

Ye Chutang climbed the steps, her vigilance growing as the surrounding scenery began to overlap with her dream.

Holding her skirt with one hand, her steps were light and silent.

The distance to the octagonal pavilion shortened, and she finally saw that tall, upright figure, as well as the mysterious person sitting opposite Shen Yanchuan.

As she drew closer, the man’s voice became clearer.

Ye Chutang almost immediately guessed the man’s identity—the Second Prince, Xiao Chengxuan!

Concealed by the trees, Ye Chutang stood still, her dark brows knitting together slightly.

’Why is it him?’

’From what I remember, those two didn’t have much interaction, but from the sound of Xiao Chengxuan’s tone right now, it seems...’

However, before Ye Chutang could figure it out, the scene from her dream began to unfold right before her eyes!

WHOOSH—SHFFFT!

That chilling sound of something slicing through the air arrived, carrying with it an extreme danger that sent an instinctive shiver down one’s spine!

Ye Chutang didn’t hesitate, crying out at once!

’Since I’m already here, of course I have to save him.’

Almost at the same instant, Shen Yanchuan, who was sitting in the pavilion, turned his head to look.

And because of that momentary turn, the dart barely grazed his shoulder, embedding itself in a pillar with a THUD!

Xiao Chengxuan shot to his feet, a mixture of shock and fury on his face. ”Guards! Guards! An assassin!”

Hearing his roar, the guard waiting in the distance quickly turned and rushed back, drawing his sword.

”Your Highness!”

Yun Cheng, a step behind him, followed closely toward the pavilion after a brief moment of reaction.

SHFFFT—!

Another dart flew out, but this time the sneak attack came from a different direction.

There was more than one assassin lying in ambush!

Today, Xiao Chengxuan had deliberately chosen this place to meet Shen Yanchuan, aiming for a low profile, and had intentionally brought only one guard.

Shen Yanchuan had done the same.

So now that the unexpected had happened, they only had these two men as protection!

Xiao Chengxuan drew the sword from his waist to defend himself while glancing back at Ye Chutang, his brow furrowed. ”Why is there someone else here!?”

’When did Ye Chutang get here? And just how much did she overhear?’

Just as Xiao Chengxuan’s mind was reeling, a tall figure flashed past him.

Shen Yanchuan was already heading straight for Ye Chutang without hesitation, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.

”There will be time for questions later.”

Xiao Chengxuan choked on his words. In the brief moment he was stunned, Shen Yanchuan had already left the pavilion and was standing in front of Ye Chutang!

SHFFT-SHFFT—!

Several darts flew at him, and Xiao Chengxuan had no time to think, forced to raise his sword to parry.

His guard had also returned by now, standing protectively in front of him. As he swung his longsword, a series of sharp, fierce clashes rang out.

The moment Ye Chutang cried out, she knew she would be exposed. But as she watched Shen Yanchuan suddenly approach, a thought couldn’t help but cross her mind.

’...This guy is fast, huh?’

Shen Yanchuan, unaware of her thoughts, was about to speak when he heard a cold rush of air from behind and his expression immediately tensed.

He swung his sword in a backhand strike!

”Get behind me.”

He turned his back to her, shielding Ye Chutang completely, and murmured the instruction with his head turned slightly to the side.