The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 564: Chapter 564: Words Like Knives

At his words, the expressions of everyone present changed.

The smile on Emperor Muwu’s face faded. His aged yet still sharp eyes fixed on Ugle for a long moment before he offered a breezy smile.

”Chu Hospital Director, I didn’t expect your reputation to have spread all the way to Wazhen.”

Chu Qiyuan rose and gave Ugle a polite bow.

”You flatter me, Crown Prince. His Majesty was only slightly unwell. I was merely fulfilling my duties as a subject, prescribing and preparing his medicine as usual.”

Ugle looked him up and down, then let out a hearty laugh.

”I know that the Hospital Director is the most capable one in the Imperial Hospital. But how is it that I heard the one who treated His Majesty was a woman?”

The atmosphere in the great hall froze.

A cold look flashed across Emperor Muwu’s face.

News of his illness had been kept strictly confidential. Aside from a few key ministers in the Cabinet and the Six Ministries, most officials had no idea how serious his condition truly was.

But Ugle’s words implied that he was extremely well-informed about the news in the capital!

Mind you, he had only arrived in the Capital City today!

Such words were a blatant provocation!

Emperor Muwu impassively suppressed his emotions and looked in another direction.

”Chutang, you share in this credit. Come and greet the Crown Prince.”

In an instant, everyone in the hall turned to look, their gazes falling upon Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang didn’t need to discern each expression to know that everyone was now regarding her with mixed feelings.

She pretended not to notice, obediently rising to her feet and offering Ugle a faint smile and a curtsy.

”Greetings, Crown Prince.”

Ugle’s eyes flashed with amazement as he looked at her.

”To think that the healer who resolved His Majesty’s troubles is such a young and beautiful woman!”

With perfect composure, Ye Chutang replied in a calm, even voice, ”His Majesty is blessed by the heavens; his recovery was a certainty. I just happen to know a few minor, unorthodox techniques and was merely assisting Chu Hospital Director. You flatter me, Crown Prince.”

Her answer was flawless, completely deflecting all credit for treating Emperor Muwu.

Emperor Muwu stroked his beard, a smile in his eyes, clearly very satisfied with Ye Chutang’s tactful response.

Chu Qiyuan had no intention of stealing the credit, but in the current situation, no one knew what Ugle was plotting. It was better for Ye Chutang to keep a low profile.

If anything happened, it would be more appropriate for him to take responsibility.

So he nodded in agreement. ”Although Second Miss Ye is young, she is extremely earnest and meticulous in her work, which is quite rare.”

He was essentially confirming Ye Chutang’s account: he had taken the lead, and she had merely assisted.

However, Ugle just laughed heartily, clearly not believing such an explanation.

”Second Miss Ye is too modest! I’ve also heard that when the Eldest Princess and Prince Lie fell ill one after another, you helped them as well!”

Ye Chutang’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

The expressions of the onlookers shifted drastically.

At this point, even a fool could understand. When it came to the recent events in the capital, even if Ugle didn’t know everything, he grasped the vast majority of it!

As if oblivious to the stiffening faces around him, Ugle praised loudly:

”Such excellent medical skill is truly rare!”

Ye Chutang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’These words sound like praise, but in reality, they’re pushing me into the eye of the storm.’

The peace talks between the two nations should have been a matter for court officials. She had merely come to attend a banquet, yet she was suddenly being put on the spot.

At this rate, people were bound to grow resentful of her, or worse, suspect she had some connection with these Wazhen people.

She had never met nor was she acquainted with Ugle, yet it seemed he was targeting her specifically.

At this thought, Ye Chutang gave a faint smile.

”It seems the Crown Prince has heard many interesting rumors from the capital. To be frank, I recently happened to hear a rumor myself—that the Wazhen Leader, your royal father, Mu Mu Zhen’er, is bedridden. If the Crown Prince wouldn’t mind, perhaps you could describe his condition to me in detail. Should I happen to have encountered a similar case, I might be able to offer some assistance. What do you say?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Ugle’s face instantly froze.

The news of Mu Mu Zhen’er’s illness was a secret in Wazhen. Although rumors had long been circulating privately that Mu Mu Zhen’er wouldn’t last much longer—which was why the various princes had begun to vie for power—no one dared to mention this matter openly.

He led the delegation this time, and Emperor Muwu and the others were no fools; they could certainly guess that something had gone wrong within Wazhen.

After all, such secrets can’t be kept forever.

But he never expected that before anyone else could even speak, Ye Chutang would go straight for the jugular!

She said it so bluntly, in front of so many people!

Ugle’s face darkened, his tone no longer light as before. He said stiffly, ”My royal father has always been in excellent health. He merely injured his leg during the last hunt and is resting in his tent. There is no need for Second Miss Ye to trouble herself.”

Ye Chutang’s brows curved as she smiled gently:

”I see. In that case, I was overthinking things. I hope the Crown Prince won’t take offense.”

The Eldest Princess spoke with a smile. ”Chutang is used to worrying about her younger siblings. She also used to run a clinic to treat the sick and save people. It is a healer’s compassionate heart that made her ask such a question. Please don’t take it to heart, Crown Prince.”

Turning to Ye Chutang, she added, ”Chutang, you were too rash. Wazhen is thousands of miles away. Even with your skill, how could you possibly diagnose a patient or prescribe medicine without a personal examination?”

Her tone was mildly reproachful, but her eyes held a smile.

Ye Chutang curtsied. ”The Princess is right. It was I who was presumptuous.”

The Eldest Princess gestured for her to sit down, then smiled at Ugle.

”His Majesty and I are both acquainted with your royal father. We know he has a constitution of iron. A mere leg injury is surely nothing to him. I’m sure he will recover soon and be even stronger than before.”

Ugle choked on his anger, his face flushing darkly.

It was a long moment before he said, ”The eagles of the grassland never land.”

A man behind Ugle, seeing the situation, changed the subject to the matter of tribute, and people began to present gifts one after another.

The previous topic was thus brought to an end.

A tacit understanding settled over the hall. Wine cups clinked and laughter rang out, the conversation flowing pleasantly once more.

It was as if the turbulent undercurrent from moments before had never existed.

Ye Chutang lifted her teacup for a light sip. Princess Qingyang secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

”Chutang, you’re incredible! That was masterful—deflecting a thousand-pound force with a mere flick! That Ugle came looking for trouble, but he never dreamed he’d pick a fight with the one person he absolutely shouldn’t have! HAHA!”

Ye Chutang glanced at her with a smile.

”I just exchanged a few pleasantries. It’s not as profound as you make it sound.”

Princess Qingyang, completely won over, lowered her voice:

”How is it not? In dealings between nations, every word is a razor’s edge!”

Ye Chutang smiled but said nothing.

Everyone said that King Yan Nan’s only daughter, Princess Qingyang, was spoiled, arrogant, and domineering. They said that at the slightest displeasure, she could turn the Capital City upside down, and that she had been ruined by her upbringing.

’But in my eyes, this princess is extremely clever. Her insight is sharp enough to draw blood, and her almond-shaped eyes see through everything with perfect clarity. Many of the old foxes present probably couldn’t compare to her.’

Ye Chutang glanced up inadvertently and saw the elegant and refined man sitting opposite her. A sudden smile touched her lips.

’Then again... how could I have forgotten who she grew up beside?’