The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 550: Chapter 550: I’m Better at This

Fan Chengzhuo turned his head in disbelief, only to see the Black Cavalry Guard following Ye Chutang’s instructions, placing the corpses in a nearby open space.

’Now everyone can see them clearly!’

”Second Miss Ye, what are you doing?”

Ye Chutang tilted her head, her tone calm and natural. ”Preparing for the autopsies, of course.”

Fan Chengzhuo was shocked. ”What!?”

The rest of the crowd stared with wide eyes.

’She actually said she’s going to perform autopsies!?’

’This is the Ministry of Justice!’

Fan Chengzhuo almost laughed in exasperation. ”We have more than enough to deal with right now. Second Miss Ye, please don’t add to the chaos. Besides, even if autopsies are needed, the Ministry of Justice has its own forensic doctors. Why trouble yourself, Second Miss Ye?”

Ye Chutang said, ”Time is of the essence. And since everyone is here, they can all bear witness.”

Fan Chengzhuo found this utterly incomprehensible.

’What on earth is Ye Chutang thinking!? Why insist on performing autopsies now, in front of so many people!?’

He took a step forward, his expression darkening. ”Second Miss Ye, a lady of your noble standing, how could you possibly do such a thing? Perhaps—”

”This ’such a thing’ that Mr. Fan speaks of, what exactly is it?” Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes clear and calm. ”Healers save lives, and forensic doctors speak for those who cannot. In the end, they are one and the same. What’s the difference?”

”This—” For a moment, Fan Chengzhuo couldn’t think of a retort. In his desperation, he looked toward Shen Yanchuan. ”Princely Heir, Second Miss Ye has just come out with you. She must have been quite frightened and is surely exhausted. Why not leave these matters to the subordinates and have Second Miss Ye rest for a while?”

’Everyone in the Capital City knows that the Heir of Dingbei Marquis Mansion has feelings for the Second Miss Ye. He’s recently been sparing no expense to lead the investigation for her sake. How could Shen Yanchuan bear to let the woman he fancies do something so...’

However, Shen Yanchuan’s response was completely unexpected.

”Since Second Miss Ye is willing to help, Mr. Fan, you shouldn’t refuse.”

Shen Yanchuan smiled. His gaze rested on Ye Chutang for a moment before he said slowly,

”If it were anyone else, I’m afraid she might not be so willing to offer her assistance.”

Fan Chengzhuo was so furious he nearly started shouting curses.

’Assistance!?’

’To hear him talk, you’d think this was a golden opportunity!?’

’If it were anyone else... Who enjoys dealing with dead bodies! Aren’t they worried about saying such morbid things!?’

Ye Chutang’s eyes curved into a smile. ”After all, this is something I’m rather good at.”

Fan Chengzhuo: ”...”

Everyone: ”...”

They only knew that Ye Chutang was a master healer, now even treating His Majesty’s illness, making her a true favorite in the palace. But who would have thought she would say something like that so bluntly!

Ye Chutang, however, saw nothing wrong with it. She simply called someone over and ordered them to bring wine and her tools.

”Fortunately, the fire is mostly out, so we don’t have to worry about it spreading here. It’s quite convenient.”

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

Countless gazes of all kinds—shock, curiosity, amazement, disdain—landed on Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang acted as if she didn’t see any of them.

She tied her cuffs tightly, clearly ready to begin.

The junior officials were in a difficult position.

They didn’t dare stop the Black Cavalry Guard—not that they could have. But to let a woman openly perform autopsies on the grounds of the Ministry of Justice was simply unprecedented!

In the end, they could only turn their pleading gazes to Fan Chengzhuo.

Unfortunately, Fan Chengzhuo was also at his wit’s end. Other than gritting his teeth and enduring it, he was completely helpless.

His gaze swept over the bodies of the Southern Hu Blade Men before quickly moving away.

”...Since it has come to this, we will have to trouble you, Second Miss Ye.”

After speaking, he walked a few steps to the side and stood before another group of Black Cavalry Guards, blocking their path.

Looking at the variously dressed people they were dragging out, Fan Chengzhuo’s brow furrowed tightly. ”And what’s going on with these people?”

Shen Yanchuan scoffed. ”An excellent question, Mr. Fan. These people took advantage of my solo entry into the prison to harbor ill intentions and try to take my life. I, too, would like to find out exactly who they are and what deep-seated hatred they have for me that they would want me dead.”

As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

”The Princely Heir was attacked!?”

”How... how could this be!? So many people attacked him at once!? Is the Princely Heir... is he injured!?”

”The Ministry of Justice Prison is heavily guarded! How could something like this happen? It’s unbelievable!”

Just moments ago, Shen Yanchuan and Ye Chutang had come out first, and seeing that they both appeared normal, the crowd hadn’t thought much of it.

Who knew that Shen Yanchuan would now claim that someone had tried to assassinate him in the prison!

And not just one or two, but nearly ten of them!

This... this was—

”I’m not seriously harmed. But the identities of these people are a mystery and must be thoroughly investigated.”

Shen Yanchuan paused, the corner of his eyebrow lifting as he gave Fan Chengzhuo a half-smile.

”I had no idea the Ministry of Justice Prison had become as porous as a sieve.”

Color drained from and returned to Fan Chengzhuo’s face.

”Rest assured, Princely Heir, this matter... this humble official will certainly give you an explanation!”

Anyone with eyes could see that among those lying on the ground, some wore prison uniforms, while others were dressed as prison guards!

This scene... it was clearly a premeditated setup!

With this happening on the Ministry of Justice’s turf, how could he possibly escape responsibility!?

Yet Shen Yanchuan merely smiled. His face showed no trace of the anger one would expect from a man who had just escaped an assassination attempt. Instead, he seemed perfectly calm and amiable.

”I know this matter surely has nothing to do with Mr. Fan. It must be a mistake made by your subordinates. There’s no need for you to blame yourself. Besides, I left these men alive. For now, I’ve only severed their tendons. Later, we just need to interrogate them properly and make them spill everything. The truth will naturally come to light.”

”What!?”

Fan Chengzhuo’s heart leaped. He could hardly believe his ears. He pointed a trembling finger at the men, his voice changing pitch.

”You... you’re saying they’re not dead!?”

Shen Yanchuan stared at him, then suddenly laughed. ”Mr. Fan, why are you so agitated? I intended to kill them in self-defense, but alas, I was outnumbered. This was the best I could do. Still, this is for the better. More mouths mean more information to be gleaned. Don’t you think?”

Realizing his gaffe, Fan Chengzhuo nodded hastily. ”Yes, yes! The Princely Heir is right. As long as they’re alive, we can always interrogate them for information. In that case, why not leave them to this humble official? Within three days—no! By tomorrow! By tomorrow at the latest! I will be sure to provide the Princely Heir with a satisfactory testimony! I—”

”There’s no need to trouble Mr. Fan with this.” Shen Yanchuan cut him off. Though the corners of his mouth were turned up in a smile, his eyes held no trace of mirth. They only gleamed with a cold light, sharp and piercing as if it could see through everything.

”These men came to kill me. Naturally, I should be the one to interrogate them personally.”

Fan Chengzhuo’s eyelid twitched violently.

’Shen Yanchuan will interrogate them?’

’Then even if they have nothing to say, they’ll be forced to confess something!’