The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Life and Death on a Snowy Night

Ye Heng’s breath caught, and the blood in his veins seemed to freeze solid.

His mind went blank for a moment, leaving only a single thought: ’This man is going to kill me!’

Ye Heng didn’t know where the blade had come from or how it had escaped the notice of the government officers, but he could now feel its chilling sharpness with terrifying clarity.

If he made the slightest move, the man could kill him in an instant.

Ye Heng swallowed hard, his palm trembling uncontrollably.

He had just started to turn his head when he felt the blade press in deeper.

A sharp sting made him freeze on the spot.

His mind raced, trying to figure out who could possibly want him dead.

He had already lost everything and was being exiled to Tongbei. Why was someone still after him?

To pursue him over such a great distance was one thing, but to strike on the very eve of his arrival in Tongbei!

The more Ye Heng thought, the more certain he became that something was wrong. Finally, a name flashed through his mind.

Just then, the man leaned in close and whispered, ”Lord Ye, this is as far as you go.”

Ye Heng’s eyes flew wide open.

He recognized that voice!

He’d heard it at the Second Prince’s manor!

He remembered being forced by Han Yao to go and plead for Han Tong. He hadn’t actually cared whether Han Tong lived or died—in fact, he’d hoped for a swift death to settle the matter once and for all. So, after the Second Prince refused, he hadn’t said much more.

But he clearly remembered encountering someone on his way out.

The man’s head had been slightly bowed, so Ye Heng hadn’t seen his face clearly, but as he stepped out of the room, he’d heard the man’s voice: ”Your Highness, if I may report.”

Ye Heng had an excellent memory, so while he hadn’t paid the man any mind at the time, he had still committed the sound of his voice to memory.

He just never imagined he would hear that voice again in a place like this.

What else was there to misunderstand?

The Second Prince wanted him dead!

Ye Heng didn’t know how this man had infiltrated the group of prisoners, but he knew the man had bided his time for this long just to make sure Ye Heng would be left here for good.

It was now night, and with the snow swirling down, everyone was too cold and hungry to notice what was happening between the two of them.

Black spots began to cloud Ye Heng’s vision, and his limbs felt heavy and weak.

’It’s poison!’

Ye Heng was filled with a searing hatred. He tried to open his mouth to call for help, only to find his tongue was numb and he couldn’t speak.

The blade wasn’t just poisoned; it was coated in a fast-acting toxin that could kill in minutes!

His vision grew blurry, and his mind became muddled.

But he refused to accept it!

He had done so much for the Second Prince! He was waiting to return to the Capital City and have his position restored!

To die here today would make him nothing more than a lonely, wandering ghost!

Ye Heng nearly bit his tongue in half as he used his last ounce of strength to lunge forward.

THUD! He crashed heavily to the ground.

The sound immediately drew everyone’s attention, and all eyes turned toward him.

”What’s going on?” a government officer strode forward with a foul attitude and kicked Ye Heng’s leg.

Ye Heng didn’t move.

The fall had used up what little strength he had left. Combined with the solid impact, he was seeing stars and on the verge of passing out.

”Is this one a goner too?” the government officer cursed. ”Useless trash!”

The government officer who had checked the other man’s breathing earlier looked over. Upon seeing Ye Heng lying on the ground, his eyes narrowed.

He walked over again. ”This one doesn’t seem to be dead yet. Probably just frozen stiff. Hey, can you still walk?”

Ye Heng wanted to speak, but all he could manage was a muffled, weak whimper.

”Forget it. Don’t worry about him. Look at him, he’ll be dead soon enough. We should get going! If we wait, the storm will get worse, and we’ll be completely stuck. It’s easy to get lost in this snow. If we can’t reach the relay station tonight, we’ll be done for too!”

The officer’s nose twitched slightly, his gaze lingering on Ye Heng’s waist for a second before darting away.

He nodded and stood up.

”I’ll follow your lead.”

He paid Ye Heng no more mind, turning instead to urge the group onward. ”Everyone, hurry up!”

No one in the group was surprised by this outcome. In an environment like this, if you couldn’t walk on your own, no one could help you. There was only one possible result: being left behind to die.

Ye Heng heard them, and the realization that he was being abandoned sent him into a panic. His breathing grew ragged as he struggled to stand up.

But he couldn’t summon any strength in his limbs. He couldn’t get up.

Finally, the sound of footsteps faded into the distance. ’They’re really gone!’

Half of Ye Heng’s body was buried in the accumulating snow, and he was gradually losing body heat.

It was unbearably cold, and he couldn’t help but curl his body into a ball.

It seemed to help. He actually felt a little warmer, as if a pleasant warmth was spreading through his limbs.

Ye Heng closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

He hadn’t felt this comfortable in a long time; it was a sensation he couldn’t help but sink into.

As he drifted in and out of consciousness, he sensed someone else approaching.

He tried to open his eyes to see who it was, but he no longer had the strength. He could only vaguely hear unfamiliar whispers.

”He’s over here. Still alive.”

”He’s wounded. Looks like he’s been poisoned, too.”

”It’s a good thing our master ordered us to follow them closely. If we’d been any later, this guy would’ve really frozen to death. Let’s carry him away.”

Ye Heng listened to the fragments of conversation, his sluggish mind piecing things together. ’More than one person... They’re not the government officers from before... But... it sounds like they know me?’

Before he could think any more, Ye Heng lost consciousness completely.

...

Miles and miles away, Ye Shixian, of course, knew nothing of what had transpired on this snowy night.

She had slept deeply all night but was plagued by nightmares, so when she woke up, her face was exceptionally haggard and her eyes were bloodshot.

Shaoyao had risen early and was now serving her mistress, her every movement exceptionally cautious, terrified that Ye Shixian would bring up last night’s threat to send her back to her ancestral home.

Ye Shixian slowly combed her hair in front of the mirror.

”What’s the situation outside?”

Shaoyao froze for a second, then quickly realized what her mistress was asking. ”The news has spread,” she said hurriedly. ”In every street and alley, everyone is saying that Ye Chutang drove her own aunt to suicide. I heard that this morning, people were secretly throwing rotten eggs and vegetables at the entrance of Yunlai Tavern. It’s caused quite an ugly scene.”

A smile, one that had been absent for a long time, finally appeared on Ye Shixian’s face.

But on her thin, gaunt face, the smile looked particularly unsettling.

”It’s about time she learned what it feels like to have a ruined reputation.”

Ye Shixian was very satisfied. The pain she had endured recently—one day, she would return it to Ye Chutang, tenfold, a hundredfold!

Shaoyao looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Ye Shixian saw her expression in the mirror, and her smile gradually faded.

”What is it you want to say?”

Shaoyao glanced at her quickly before saying hesitantly, ”Young Miss, besides that, there’s one other thing... I’m not sure who spread it, but there’s a rumor that the madam’s death is suspected to be related to the flower tea Mr. Murong gave you before. If Mr. Murong were to hear...”

”Young Miss!”

A servant came jogging over.

”Mr. Murong is here!”