The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 414: Chapter 414: The Xie Family

Xie Anjun’s eyelid twitched violently.

He swallowed hard and forced out the words, ”Father, why would you ask such a thing?”

The Eldest Princess was the current Princess Huan Ning, Xiao Jiayi—Xie Anjun’s wife.

More importantly, she was the apple of Consort Ru’s eye.

Xie Pei’s voice was harsh. ”Just tell me—yes or no!”

”Of course not!”

Xie Anjun shuddered. He straightened up, tilted his chin, and enunciated every word.

”I know what’s at stake. How could I possibly drag her into this!?”

Xie Pei met his gaze. After a long moment, he finally narrowed his eyes.

With a SLAP, Xie Pei threw the stack of letters onto the desk.

”So you’re not completely muddle-headed! Her status is sensitive, and she’s spoiled and willful. The slightest misstep could stir up a mountain of trouble! Consort Ru and the Second Prince are already in a bad position. We absolutely cannot afford any more mistakes.”

Huo Yucheng’s case was inextricably linked to Xiao Chengxuan. After the Holy Emperor ordered a thorough investigation, the Second Prince had been confined to his residence and hadn’t stepped out since.

Xie Anjun lowered his head, his palms already slick with sweat.

”I only sent people to the Heavenly Prison to gather information... I had no other intention. I just thought... thought that since we were friends, I could at least use what little influence I have to make his time there a bit easier...”

”Fool!”

Xie Pei cut him off abruptly, a fire of rage burning in his chest.

”The ten-day deadline set by His Majesty is almost up! Everything that could be interrogated, and even things that shouldn’t, has probably been gone over several times by now! Whether Xu Jie lives or dies is his fate. It’s not your place to worry about him! Do you have any idea what would happen if those people found out you sent men to pull strings for him?!”

Of all the officials in the imperial court, Xie Anjun was hardly the only one on good terms with Xu Jie.

But who had stepped forward at a time like this?

Every single one of them was wishing they had never had anything to do with Xu Jie!

And what does Xie Anjun do? He flies right into the storm!

”Did you really think you’re the only smart person in the world? Did you believe your petty tricks could actually deceive the people at the Ministry of Justice? If I hadn’t stopped you in time, you’d be in the Heavenly Prison right now!”

Xie Anjun had never been scolded like this before, but since the person yelling at him was his own father, he could only swallow his frustration.

He knew, of course, that Xu Jie’s fate was hanging by a thread. Anyone who got involved would meet a terrible end.

But the matter was related to his dear brother-in-law. How could he just sit back and do nothing?

The one in his room—his wife—was worried sick about her younger brother, unable to sleep at night. That, coupled with his own selfish motives, was why he had secretly sent people to gather information so they could prepare a response.

He just hadn’t expected his father to intercept his efforts midway.

Of course, he could never say any of this out loud.

Xie Pei, unaware of his son’s thoughts, saw him standing with his head bowed in silence and assumed he had learned his lesson. His heart softened slightly.

He was, after all, his eldest son and heir, the one in whom he had placed great hope. If he hadn’t been so utterly furious, he wouldn’t have reprimanded him so harshly.

”Enough! You may go! And from now on, you are forbidden from having anything to do with this matter!”

As if granted a royal pardon, Xie Anjun immediately kowtowed. ”I was wrong! Thank you for your forgiveness, Father!”

Xie Pei waved his hand dismissively.

Xie Anjun bowed and backed out of the room, carefully closing the door behind him.

The room fell silent once more. Xie Pei supported himself on the desk as he slowly sat down. After a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh.

It wasn’t that he was being unreasonable; it was that the Duke Zhongyong Mansion was already treading on thin ice and could not afford a single misstep.

He had always thought his eldest was intelligent and had always held high hopes for him. But today, he suddenly realized he might have misjudged him.

’How can I entrust the entire Xie Family to him?’

Chapter 415: A Sweet Dream

The lamp in the study was extinguished.

The courtyard grew even quieter. Only the cold moonlight spilled down silently, coating the roof ridges in a thin, chilled layer of frost.

A cold draft seemed to blow in, lifting a corner of the door curtain before letting it fall again.

Xie Pei suddenly felt a chill and couldn’t help but shiver. He glanced outside, his brow furrowing.

There was nothing there.

He let out a long breath and pressed his temples.

’It’s probably because my eldest son infuriated me... that’s why I’m being so paranoid.’

Xie Pei stood there for a while before turning and moving to the bed behind the screen to rest.

He did not sleep well that night. He seemed to be lost in a hazy dream all night, but upon waking, he couldn’t remember a thing. He only had a splitting headache.

The sky was still dim when Xie Pei rose from his bed.

He had to attend the morning court session today. More importantly, it was the final day of the ten-day deadline.

In other words—the Xu Jie case, or rather, the Huo Yucheng case, was about to reach a verdict!

Xie Pei changed into his official robes. Just as he was about to board the carriage, he seemed to remember something and stopped, turning his head to ask:

”Did An Bai not come home again yesterday?”

The servant lowered his head and nodded timidly.

The Second Young Master was a dissolute rake who rarely stayed home. The situation outside had been tense recently, so after a scolding from the Marquis, he had started coming home more often.

But it didn’t last long. Yesterday, he was out all night again.

Xie Pei was already in a foul mood, and this news only made him more irritated. He flicked his sleeve angrily. ”That degenerate son! He’s incorrigible!”

The crowd of servants didn’t dare say a word.

Xie Pei was furious, but there was nothing he could do about Xie Anbai at the moment, and he couldn’t be late for the court session.

His face was grim as he boarded the carriage.

As the sound of the wheels began to rumble, Xie Pei’s mood slowly calmed.

Thinking of the situation he had to face today, he sighed heavily and closed his eyes.

’I hope nothing unexpected happens...’

...

Ye Chutang also woke up early today.

Xiao Wu was still asleep, but she heard the noise and managed to pry one eye open.

’Is Big Sister going out today?’

But she soon realized Ye Chutang had no intention of leaving. Instead, after tidying up, she warmed a pot of wine.

’...Wine?’

The faint, crisp aroma finally woke Xiao Wu completely.

She wrapped herself in her thick quilt, her big, dark eyes wide as she watched her big sister sitting leisurely by the window.

Ye Chutang looked back at her, her eyes curving into crescents as a smile touched her lips.

”You’re up?”

A brazier was burning in the room, so Xiao Wu didn’t feel cold. In fact, she felt quite toasty.

She dressed herself, then pattered over to Ye Chutang in her shoes and threw herself onto her lap. She tilted her head back to look up at Ye Chutang, her expression curious.

’Big Sister seems to be in a very good mood today.’

’But we’ve been home this whole time, and it doesn’t seem like anything special has happened. What’s gotten her so excited?’

After all, her big sister rarely drank alone.

As if reading her mind, Ye Chutang chuckled and gently tapped Xiao Wu’s nose with a slender, pale finger.

”I had a dream last night. I dreamt that good news would arrive today, so I’m celebrating a little early.”

Xiao Wu was a little baffled.

’...That’s it?’

Ye Chutang poured a cup of the freshly warmed wine. It was fragrant, sweet, and potent.

Since returning to the capital, she truly hadn’t had such a moment of carefree satisfaction in a long time.

She raised the cup, then paused. Winking at Xiao Wu, she whispered—

”It was a very happy dream.”