The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 556: Chapter 556: A Match Made in Heaven

Ye Chutang took a step back, lowering her gaze demurely.

”Chutang dare not speak rashly on matters of the court.”

Emperor Muwu said, ”If it were any other matter, I would not ask you. But you happened to be there last night and know the circumstances. Just speak your mind; you needn’t be too concerned.”

Ye Chutang paused for a moment before speaking softly.

”Your Majesty, you put me in a difficult position. Last night, the Princely Heir left something behind, and I went to return it to him. I did not expect to stumble upon the fire at the Ministry of Justice, which led to the subsequent series of events. However, I am not familiar with the details surrounding the fire, and thus, I dare not pass judgment casually.”

Emperor Muwu watched her, his aged eyes heavy, their gaze weighing down on her shoulders like a physical burden.

Ye Chutang held her posture, motionless, with quiet dignity.

After a long moment, that strange, oppressive feeling finally dissipated.

Emperor Muwu sighed.

”I have been muddle-headed.”

Only then did the taut string in Ye Chutang’s heart finally relax.

’Even if Emperor Muwu was old and sick, he was still the Emperor. And emperors were naturally suspicious.’

So much had happened last night; he was bound to trust no one.

His earlier words had been nothing but a test.

’If Ye Chutang had actually critiqued the people involved, it would have only made Emperor Muwu suspect her as well.’

’No matter how much the outside world praised and envied Ye Chutang for being Emperor Muwu’s current ”favorite,” she was keenly aware that she was just a ”Healer.”’

’Fan Chengzhuo was a key court official of high rank and great power. Even if he was at fault, what right did she have to pass judgment?’

”You may continue.” Emperor Muwu closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, seemingly lost in thought. ”I need to think about this more.”

”Yes.”

Ye Chutang acknowledged and stepped forward again.

Time trickled by. The tea in the hall grew cold and was replaced with a fresh, hot pot.

When the stick of incense finally burned out, Ye Chutang began to remove the needles.

”Later, after you take your medicine, you should rest more and calm your mind to recuperate. You will feel better tomorrow.”

After the acupuncture, Emperor Muwu’s spirits had recovered significantly, and the color had returned to his face.

He pressed his temples and said with a chuckle, ”You truly are a capable girl. My headache has eased considerably, and the tightness in my chest is gone.”

Hearing this, the Eldest Princess couldn’t help but say:

”That’s only because Chutang is here. But if Your Majesty doesn’t take care of your own health, it will ultimately still be a problem.”

Her words carried a rare hint of reproach, yet the smile on Emperor Muwu’s face only deepened.

”You are right, sister. I have been too negligent. It’s just... with so many pressing matters, my hands are tied!”

He let out a long sigh and gestured outside.

”Take those people from the Ministry of Justice, for example. Deciding how to deal with them is a major headache.”

The Eldest Princess frowned.

In truth, she knew that what Emperor Muwu said was right.

”Punish those who deserve punishment and reward those who deserve reward. That should be sufficient. Why must Your Majesty worry so much?”

Emperor Muwu was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to Xiao Chengqi and asked:

”When will the Wazhen Mission arrive in the Capital City?”

Xiao Chengqi immediately replied, ”Reporting to Father Emperor, according to our intelligence, they are two days away from the Capital City.”

”So they will arrive the day after tomorrow.” Emperor Muwu shook his head with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He looked at the Eldest Princess. ”They’re so close. I’m afraid they’ll learn of the slightest whisper of trouble in the Capital City.”

The Eldest Princess opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated.

She naturally shared the same concern.

This was also why she had forcefully suppressed the farce involving Xiao Lansi and Xiao Chengxuan earlier.

The situation was tense, and they had to be extra cautious.

”What Your Majesty says is reasonable. However, the Ministry of Justice has made such a massive blunder this time. It would be unjust not to discipline them. Not only did the fire nearly burn down the entire Ministry of Justice Prison, but it also almost incited a riot among the inmates. What’s more, even Yanchuan nearly died inside.”

As the Eldest Princess spoke, a coldness flickered in her eyes.

”That Fan Chengzhuo is good at putting up a front, but if something had truly gone wrong, ten of his lives wouldn’t have been enough to atone for it!”

Emperor Muwu pondered for a long time.

”In that case, let’s first transfer him from the Ministry of Justice. We will hold him accountable after the peace talks with Wazhen are resolved.”

「...」

「Ye Mansion.」

Ye Chutang had just returned when a servant hurried over to report that Princess Qingyang had come to visit and had been waiting in the front hall for quite some time.

Knowing that Princess Qingyang was quite close with their Second Miss, they had shown her in directly.

When Ye Chutang went over, she saw Princess Qingyang, just as she’d expected, idly fiddling with the half-finished Go board that Xiao Wu had been playing with last time.

”Princess, what brings you here today?”

At the sound of her voice, Princess Qingyang immediately turned around, both surprised and delighted. ”Chutang! You’re finally back! I was about to die of boredom.”

She gave the Go board a push and complained, ”Playing Go like you do is too mentally taxing. What’s so fun about something so difficult?”

’She glanced at the board and swallowed her explanation. She mused that she hadn’t paid much attention to Xiao Wu lately, leaving her to play by herself all day. It seemed she had really improved quite a bit.’

She smiled and said, ”You knew I’ve been going to the palace to provide treatment these past few days. Why didn’t you choose to come in the afternoon?”

Princess Qingyang stood up. ”I wanted to, but I just couldn’t wait!”

She hurried forward, grabbed Ye Chutang’s arm, and gave her a gossipy look.

”Quick, quick! Tell me! What exactly happened last night?”

Ye Chutang let herself be pulled down to a seat and raised an eyebrow. ”What happened last night that you wouldn’t know about?”

Others might genuinely be in the dark, but Princess Qingyang was the Capital City’s resident hell-raiser. It would be a simple matter for her to find out anything she wanted.

”Aiya! I’m not talking about that mess at the Ministry of Justice! What’s so interesting about that? What I want to ask is—” Princess Qingyang glanced around furtively before giving Ye Chutang a suggestive grin and a nudge. ”I want to ask, how are things... between you and my brother?”

Ye Chutang understood and smiled faintly. ”It was nothing more than me returning something to him and helping him with a small matter.”

”That’s it?”

Disbelief was written all over Princess Qingyang’s face.

”Don’t you lie to me! I heard everything! You ignored the danger and charged into the fire without a second thought to save my brother!”

Ye Chutang: ”...”

She felt like something was off about that, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

”It wasn’t that bad.” Ye Chutang lifted her teacup for a sip. ”The fire hadn’t reached that area yet. Although it looked intense, it wasn’t really—”

”What do you mean, ’not that bad’!?”

Princess Qingyang’s eyes went wide.

”I saw it! The fire was huge! Half the people in the Capital City could see it!”

As she said this, her eyes started to well up with tears.

”What did my brother ever do to deserve you braving such dangers and risking your life for him?”

Ye Chutang: ”...”

’Something really did seem off about this.’

After a moment of consideration, Ye Chutang said, ”The Princely Heir has also saved me before. I was just repaying—”

”His love! It’s mutual!”

Princess Qingyang wore an expression that said, ’I get it, I totally get it,’ and squeezed Ye Chutang’s hand tightly.

”Where in this world could he ever find another woman who would treat him as you do?”

Ye Chutang: ”...That seems like an exaggeration, doesn’t it?”

’Lian Zhou and the others arrived right after me, didn’t they?’

’It looked dangerous, but in reality—’

”Of course it’s not an exaggeration!”

Princess Qingyang was beside herself with excitement.

”And you’re still being so modest! The entire Capital City now knows you were willing to give up your own life for my brother! Add that to how he sent people to protect you and stepped up to clear your name in that case—what is this?”

”This is—mutual devotion! A love that moves heaven and earth! A match made in heaven!”

Ye Chutang: ”...?”