The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Being a Good Person to the End

This was more than just killing a man; it was an attack on his very soul.

Ye Heng had longed to see his son one last time, but this scene only filled him with more bitter resentment.

Others might not have known, but he was keenly aware of Ye Chutang’s malicious intentions.

’It wasn’t enough to drive my family from the Ye Mansion in Liuwan Lane. She had to pursue us to the bitter end!’

’This was like carving a pound of flesh straight from my heart!’

Ye Heng’s breathing grew ragged, and he could faintly taste the metallic tang of blood in his mouth.

He summoned all his strength, gritted his teeth, and snarled, ”If that’s the case, why... why would they be here, outside the city?”

’She obviously knew I was being exiled to Tongbei and deliberately had these people wait here with the coffin!’

The banner-bearer, however, heard this and replied matter-of-factly, ”What’s so strange about that? Second Young Master Ye is to be buried at Bao’er Pass. Naturally, the procession has to leave the city—”

”What did you say!?”

Ye Heng cut him off sharply, his eyes widening in disbelief.

’Bao’er Pass?’

’What kind of place is that?!’

’Sending Mingze there would be no different from dumping him in a potter’s field!’

The man snorted. ”Lord Ye, given your family’s current circumstances, it wasn’t easy to find a quiet place for Second Young Master Ye’s burial. This was only possible because Second Miss Ye personally interceded on his behalf to secure a peaceful resting place. Otherwise—”

’—his body would have been left uncollected!’

Ye Heng opened his mouth to speak but instead violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

The government officer standing nearby immediately took a disgusted step back and brushed off his sleeves.

”Hey! What do you think you’re doing? I’m telling you now, there won’t be any Imperial Physicians to treat you on the road to Tongbei! If you don’t make it, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself!”

Countless people died on the road to exile every year. They were all serious criminals, so even if they perished, few would inquire, and no one would be held responsible.

The banner-bearer cupped his fists. ”Thank you for your flexibility, my Lords. I wouldn’t dare delay you on your official business. I just needed to deliver the news.”

The government officers were pleased. The man was sensible. They had expected him to ask if Ye Heng could accompany Ye Mingze’s procession for a while, but he knew his place.

This saved them a lot of trouble, and they were more than happy to earn their money the easy way.

”Of course. We’re all aware of Second Miss Ye’s sentiments, and I’m sure Lord Ye is too.”

The government officer waved a hand dismissively. The man bowed and scraped his thanks before turning and rejoining the funeral procession.

From start to finish, the procession kept its distance—close enough for Ye Heng to see the coffin and hear the news, but too far for him to get a clearer look.

”Move out—!”

With a mournful cry, the group resumed playing their instruments and proceeded onward—in the direction of Bao’er Pass.

The wind sighed, carrying their mournful wails.

Yet Ye Heng, the one who truly had cause to weep, could only stand rooted to the spot, forced to watch.

He watched as his most beloved son was carried away from him, step by step.

In the distance, the sky gradually darkened. Ominous clouds gathered, weighing heavily on the horizon.

Ye Heng suddenly recalled a similarly overcast day three years ago, when he had led the procession to bury his elder brother and his family.

Back then, he never would have imagined that he would one day face the same fate.

Ye Heng’s vision went black, and he collapsed.

...

In a remote, shabby courtyard, Ye Shixian sat in a daze, as motionless as a stone statue.

She looked as though she had been crying for a long time. Her eyes were red and swollen, tear stains streaked her cheeks, and her hair hung in a tangled mess. She no longer possessed the glamorous air of the eldest daughter of the Ye Family.

After their assets were seized, she and Mrs. Gao had been thrown out.

This courtyard belonged to Murong Ye. He must have received the news early, for he had sent his men to help pay off their debts and then escort them here to settle in.

Murong Ye himself never made an appearance; all this was handled by his subordinates.

’Of course, that’s to be expected. With so many eyes on us now, who would want to be associated with our family?’

At this thought, a self-deprecating smile touched Ye Shixian’s lips, but it faltered and fell as the reality of her situation sank in.

”Mingze? Mingze!”

Mrs. Gao seemed to be awake. The moment she opened her eyes, she began searching for Ye Mingze. When her hands met an empty mattress, she panicked and rushed out the door.

Only as she crossed the threshold did she realize this wasn’t the Ye Family’s home in Fengling Lane. Her anxiety intensified.

Seeing Ye Shixian sitting there, Mrs. Gao clung to her as if she were her last hope.

”Xian’er!”

she asked frantically. ”Where’s Mingze? Where did he go?”

Ye Shixian turned to look at her, her gaze cold.

’I had her knocked out earlier because I was afraid she’d never stop causing a scene. And now that she’s awake, the first thing she thinks of is still her precious son.’

”Mingze has been buried,” Ye Shixian stated, her face devoid of emotion. ”We’ve been driven out. We couldn’t afford a funeral, so they took him away.”

’It’s been several days; we couldn’t keep his body here any longer. We can barely fend for ourselves, so how could we have managed anything else?’

Mrs. Gao’s eyes slowly widened as she processed the words. Realizing what had happened, she suddenly raised her hand to slap Ye Shixian.

But the slap never landed.

Ye Shixian, sensing her mother’s intent, quickly raised an arm to block the blow.

”You were going to hit me?”

”What kind of sister are you!?” Mrs. Gao shrieked, her voice hoarse with tears. ”He was your own brother! And you just let them take him away like that!? Have you no conscience!?”

Ye Shixian narrowed her eyes and let out a laugh born of pure fury.

”I have no conscience? If he hadn’t brought this disaster upon himself, would I have had people showing up at my door, cursing me to my face?”

’I already begged Murong Ye for help! I still have no idea how I’ll repay those five thousand taels, to say nothing of all our other debts!’

’With Father exiled and our home seized, what more could I do!?’

Mrs. Gao pounded her chest, sobbing wretchedly. ”How is it that Ye Chutang can protect her siblings, but you couldn’t even save Mingze!?”

The emotions Ye Shixian had suppressed for so long instantly erupted.

She shoved Mrs. Gao violently and screeched, ”Don’t you dare mention her to me!”

’Everything that’s happened to me is because of that bitch!’

The force of the shove nearly sent Mrs. Gao to the ground, but she suddenly seemed to remember something and scrambled forward.

”Yes, yes! Ye Chutang! Go beg her! If you go and ask her for help, she can’t possibly refuse!”

Ye Shixian thought she must have misheard. The idea was absurd. ”Mother, do you hear yourself?”

But Mrs. Gao clutched her daughter’s hand, muttering with desperate urgency:

”Your father’s case has been settled, hasn’t it? He was cleared in the matter of Ye Zheng’s death, right? So what reason could she possibly have to refuse us?”

The more Mrs. Gao spoke, the more plausible the idea seemed.

”She’s always posturing as some kind of saint, isn’t she? Well, let’s make her live up to it!”