The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Judgment

Xiao Chengxuan paid them little mind, however. Something else was bothering him.

”Third Brother still isn’t back. Who knows what’s happened to him!”

Consort Ru composed herself and glanced at him.

Xiao Lansi said tactfully, ”Mother, Brother, I’ll go check outside again. That way, we’ll know the moment Third Brother returns.”

Consort Ru nodded, and Xiao Lansi rose and left.

Once she was gone, the smile on Consort Ru’s face slowly vanished. She stared gravely at Xiao Chengxuan.

”Chengxuan, tell me the truth. This business today... was it your doing?”

Xiao Chengxuan was furious. ”Mother! It’s one thing for Father to suspect me, but how can you distrust me too? On an occasion like this, I’d have to be insane to pull something like that!”

The weight on Consort Ru’s chest finally lifted. ”It wasn’t you? Thank heavens... You must understand, you’ve only just been released from confinement. Everyone in the court is watching you! If they find any dirt on you, all our hard work will be for nothing!”

She had moved heaven and earth just to get Xiao Chengxuan freed. They absolutely couldn’t afford any mistakes right now!

But soon, she frowned again. ”If it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

That was exactly what was bothering Xiao Chengxuan.

”How should I know?! Maybe Xiao Chengqi pissed someone off in the past and this is their revenge. Who knows?”

He didn’t care where the assassins came from. He cared that all this crap was about to be pinned on him!

”If this isn’t investigated thoroughly, Father will be convinced I’m the one behind it!”

Remembering the dignified and scrutinizing look his father had given him upon his return, Xiao Chengxuan felt a chill run down his spine.

He couldn’t stand Xiao Chengqi, true, but he had plenty of ways to deal with him. Why resort to such an extreme and dangerous method?

Consort Ru couldn’t figure it out either. In the end, she could only say, ”Forget it. Let’s just wait and see. If you didn’t do it, it’s not like they can successfully frame you, can they?”

...

Ye Chutang and her group ventured deeper into the woods.

The forest was dense, the ground covered in a thick carpet of fallen leaves.

Yet Ye Chutang rode as if on level ground.

Riding beside her, Princess Qingyang grew more and more shocked.

’The Ye Chutang who usually seemed so gentle and serene, with that touch of innate laziness, was actually this capable!’

’Was there anything she couldn’t do?’

Princess Qingyang couldn’t help but lean closer and ask in a low voice, ”Chutang, Yan and A Feng’s horsemanship and archery... you didn’t teach them, did you?”

Ye Chutang tilted her head with a smile. ”No, my brother taught them. Mr. Xu knows that as well.”

Addressed so suddenly, Xu Rongqing, who had been lost in his surprise and admiration, snapped back to reality. His gaze swept over Ye Chutang’s smiling face, and he nodded.

”...Yes.”

’He couldn’t deny it. In the past, Yan and A Feng had indeed always trailed after Ye Xiting.’

’What he hadn’t expected, however, was that after three years, the two brothers—especially Ye Yunfeng—would have made such astonishing progress in these skills.’

Princess Qingyang remarked admiringly, ”Well, you’re an excellent student, then!”

Ye Chutang didn’t dwell on the subject. After scanning her surroundings, she tugged on her reins again, urging her horse in another direction.

”This way.”

Princess Qingyang was amazed.

”Wait, do you actually know where they went?”

’The forest was so dense, it was impossible to get one’s bearings. How was Ye Chutang able to tell which way to go?’