The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 493: Chapter 493: Ms. Aye

Zhao Xuanping had always trusted his apprentice, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter with panic.

’Nothing is impossible in this world. If the price is right, then—’

Zhao Xuanping was silent for a long time, his mind replaying the procedures he followed when he previously examined Xiao Chengqi.

He himself was surely not the problem, but those medicinal herbs...

”I have to go back and ask,” he said.

Chu Qiyuan didn’t press the matter further. He turned his head to look at Ye Chutang.

She stood by the bed, needle in hand. Her expression was calm and composed, as if she had already moved on from the previous topic.

Right now, the more important thing was to do everything possible to treat Xiao Chengqi.

Chu Qiyuan couldn’t resist taking a step forward, wanting to get a closer look.

’This was a rare opportunity to watch Ye Chutang at work; others would kill for such a chance and still not get it.’

But worried he might disturb Ye Chutang, he quickly stood still again.

Zhao Xuanping saw this and a vague thought crossed his mind: ’Why does Chu Hospital Director seem so respectful toward Ye Chutang, even taking the stance of a student?’

But the thought was fleeting.

After all, Ye Chutang had successfully treated both the Eldest Princess and Emperor Muwu. It didn’t seem out of place for Chu Qiyuan to have such an attitude.

Without thinking further on it, Zhao Xuanping was quickly lost in his own reflections again.

Ye Chutang’s movements were crisp, decisive, and fluid.

As the last needle was placed, blood slowly trickled from the corner of Xiao Chengqi’s mouth.

Zhao Xuanping was startled. ”His Highness!?”

But Xiao Chengqi didn’t wake up. His eyes remained tightly shut, and he didn’t move at all.

Ye Chutang seemed to have expected this. She took a handkerchief from the side and wiped the blood from the corner of Xiao Chengqi’s mouth.

On the snow-white cloth, the blood was dark and black—clearly poisoned.

”I’ve used acupuncture to force out some of the residual poison from His Highness. We’ll let him recuperate for a few days before deciding the next step.”

Ye Chutang instructed as she collected her needles.

”Starting tomorrow, you can halve the dosage of his medicine.”

Chu Qiyuan nodded repeatedly. ”That would be best. His Highness is severely drained of vitality and blood; he needs to rest and recover properly.”

Zhao Xuanping snapped back to his senses, his gaze shifting between the two of them in a daze.

’How... when these two are together, they make Xiao Chengqi’s illness seem not so serious?’

’They’ve already decided the subsequent treatment plan in just a few words?’

But before Zhao Xuanping could think about it further, an announcement suddenly came from outside.

”Chu Hospital Director, His Majesty urgently summons you to the palace to examine the Imperial Concubine!”

Ye Chutang had just finished putting away the last needle. Hearing this, she raised an eyebrow slightly and glanced outside.

’She must be gravely ill for them to be so desperate as to come directly to Prince Lie’s Mansion to summon someone.’

Chu Qiyuan had clearly thought of this as well and subconsciously looked toward Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang said, ”Doctor Zhao and I are here. You can go without worry.”

Chu Qiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.

”Alright. I can also use this trip to the palace to investigate where those rumors started.”

This concerns a Prince; an ordinary person would never have the audacity to fabricate such rumors so casually.

Besides, anyone with eyes could see that this wave of attacks was aimed at Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang chuckled and nodded. ”In that case, I thank you in advance.”

Chu Qiyuan left in a hurry.

Ye Chutang turned around to see Zhao Xuanping still in a daze.

She didn’t ask any questions, simply packed her things, and rose to take her leave.

”I have some trivial matters to attend to at home, so I’ll be leaving first. As for His Highness Prince Lie, I hope Doctor Zhao will look after him well.”

Only then did Zhao Xuanping snap out of it.

”Ah? Oh, yes, of course!”

Ye Chutang studied him for a moment, then asked with some hesitation, ”You don’t look too well. Why don’t you... go home and rest? We can ask someone else to come.”

’Who could they possibly ask to come at a time like this?’

Prince Lie was unconscious. Having another person in the mansion would just add a lot of trouble.

Zhao Xuanping was genuinely worried that Xiao Chengqi might never wake up. If that happened, his own future would be utterly ruined. He didn’t dare take that gamble.

With both Chu Qiyuan and Ye Chutang gone, he had to stay and watch over the prince himself!

”No, no, it’s fine. I’ll just stay here.”

Ye Chutang didn’t insist. She smiled faintly. ”I’ll leave him in your capable hands, then.”

...

After leaving through the main gates of Prince Lie’s Mansion, Ye Chutang instructed the coachman to turn around and head for Yunlai Tavern.

Xiao Wu’s eyes widened with curiosity.

Ye Chutang gently tapped her on her little head.

”Your Fourth Brother has been gone for quite some time. By my calculations, he should have reached Xia City by now. It’s a remote and bitterly cold place, so he’s probably short on supplies and will surely face hardships. The tavern just received a new batch of freshly brewed Snow Drink. We’ll go pick out two jars for your Fourth Brother to have when he returns.”

Having gone so far away, the boy certainly wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

But even though he wasn’t here, her thoughtful gestures couldn’t be lacking.

Whenever she came across anything good, Ye Chutang always made sure to save some for him.

Xiao Wu’s eyes sparkled, and she clapped her hands enthusiastically.

’Yay! Fourth Brother will be so happy when he sees this!’

But as she smiled, Xiao Wu grew a little wistful. She propped her chin on her little hands and sighed.

’I just wonder when Fourth Brother will be back.’

She had asked Ms. Aye before, but Ms. Aye hadn’t given her a specific answer either.

’That’s true. Joining the army to guard the border is fraught with danger. No one knows what tomorrow will bring.’

’But Third Brother said that if Fourth Brother earns military merits, he might have a chance to return to the capital for a reward. Then they would be reunited.’

At this thought, Xiao Wu’s hope was renewed.

’Fourth Brother is so brave. He’ll definitely win a battle and come home soon!’

Suddenly, the carriage slowed down.

The driver said, ”Second Miss Ye, a person of high status is passing ahead.”

Ye Chutang lifted the curtain, glanced outside, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Approaching them was another carriage. It looked very plain on the outside, no different from an ordinary carriage.

But the person driving it looked somewhat familiar.

More importantly, the carriage bore the insignia of Prince Jing Mansion.

’That’s the carriage of the Fourth Prince, Xiao Chenglin.’

Ye Chutang said, ”Pull back and let them pass first.”

The coachman acknowledged the order and immediately pulled on the reins to back the carriage up.

Although Ye Chutang was currently a ”red man” in the palace, she ultimately couldn’t compare to true Royal Nobles.

In such a situation, it was only proper for them to yield the way.

Just as Ye Chutang was about to lower the curtain, the sound of hoofbeats suddenly reached her ears.

Ye Chutang turned her head and saw a familiar figure riding toward them from around a street corner.

It was Shen Yanchuan, who had just left the palace.

He wasn’t in a carriage today. He wore a black cloak, which further accentuated his tall, sturdy, and elegantly handsome figure.

A flicker of emotion crossed Ye Chutang’s eyes.

Shen Yanchuan rarely wore black. Today’s attire dispelled some of his usual refined gentleness, revealing a seldom-seen sharpness.

His noble face, with its sharp angles and defined features, now carried a heart-stopping intensity in the cold, quiet winter day, its full force landing squarely upon her.

Even for someone like Ye Chutang, only a single thought flashed through her mind at that moment:

’Top-tier good looks really are a lethal weapon.’

The instant their eyes met, Ye Chutang felt as if something had gently tickled her heart.

However, before she could speak, a boy’s voice, full of surprise and disbelief, suddenly came from ahead.

”Ms. Aye?”