The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Ye Chutang met his gaze frankly.

’Hmm... I really can’t tell him. It wouldn’t matter if he asked again.’

Unexpectedly, Shen Yanchuan seemed to understand, and he nodded.

"Prince Qi is a suspicious man, and his mansion is heavily guarded with countless checkpoints. It’s truly not easy to plant someone there to do your bidding. It’s only natural for you to be so cautious, Second Miss Ye."

Ye Chutang: "...???"

’Did Shen Yanchuan misunderstand something?’

’From the sound of it, he actually thinks I have an informant in the Prince Qi Mansion?’

’...This excuse actually seems quite useful.’

This way, she could blame all her actions on this non-existent "informant."

Ye Chutang didn’t speak, which Shen Yanchuan took as a silent admission.

Although he didn’t know how Ye Chutang had managed it, it somehow didn’t feel out of place for her.

It was as if there was nothing she couldn’t do if she set her mind to it.

Shen Yanchuan had always known his boundaries, so he didn’t press the matter further.

Ye Chutang silently breathed a sigh of relief.

With the rain falling outside, the cave felt exceptionally quiet.

Ye Chutang shifted her arm slightly, tugging at the wound on her shoulder and sending another sharp pang of pain through her.

Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Those people are certainly persistent. They chased you from Jiangling all the way to the Capital City and still refuse to give up. There were at least five of them in today’s ambush, right? All of them came for you. If you had been a bit slower— Still, it seems Prince Qi is doing just fine. They say he’s skilled in both literature and martial arts. Seeing him today, he does have some ability."

Shen Yanchuan turned his head to look at her.

Ye Chutang blinked. "Why are you looking at me?"

Shen Yanchuan said, "If you have something you want to ask me in the future, just say it directly."

Hearing this, Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow slightly.

Shen Yanchuan met her gaze, his deep, dark eyes clear and composed.

He said—

"Today’s assassins were indeed sent by Xiao Chengxuan."

...

The rain outside seemed to have lightened. In a brief moment when the wind died down, Shen Yanchuan’s voice was exceptionally clear.

This time, Ye Chutang was genuinely surprised.

She had only meant to probe him, to ask who was secretly trying to have him killed.

She had assumed Shen Yanchuan wouldn’t say a word, but who knew—he had actually just admitted it so directly!?

Seeing the fleeting shock on Ye Chutang’s face and the rare hint of bewilderment in her clear, dark eyes, Shen Yanchuan suddenly felt his mood lift considerably.

He smiled. "What, you don’t believe me?"

Ye Chutang slowly shook her head.

"It’s not that, it’s just... I didn’t think you would tell me."

With that one sentence, he had essentially laid bare the deadliest conflict between him and Xiao Chengxuan.

Shen Yanchuan was always meticulous and farsighted in his actions. Logically, he would never reveal something like this so easily to someone else.

Especially not to someone like Ye Chutang, who had no connection to him.

Yet, he had just told her, so nonchalantly.

Shen Yanchuan nodded. "I also thought you wouldn’t ask."

After all, she used to be terrified of getting involved in his affairs, always avoiding him at all costs.

Ye Chutang: "..."

’Why does that sound so passive-aggressive?’

Truthfully, she hadn’t wanted to ask too many questions. But after that dream she had, she knew she had no choice but to come.

’That dream was definitely about me.’

That’s why she came today.

This meant she had already resolved to get involved, so naturally, the more she knew, the better.

Ye Chutang sighed silently to herself.

"So he deliberately orchestrated this whole scene today, not to actually discuss anything with you, but to use it as an opportunity to strike? It would be best if he could eliminate you, but if not, he could at least clear his name from past events, right?"

A glint appeared in Shen Yanchuan’s eyes. "You heard?"

"A little."

Shen Yanchuan didn’t seem to mind. He nodded. "He knew I wouldn’t agree, so he had other motives from the very beginning."

Ye Chutang felt she was getting to the heart of the matter.

"Agree to what?"

...

Lian Zhou rushed over with his men. As soon as he saw Yun Cheng, he frowned and asked, "Where is the Master?"

Yun Cheng shook his head. "Haven’t found him yet."

Lian Zhou glanced around, pulled him aside, and asked urgently in a hushed voice, "What on earth happened? Wasn’t everything planned? How did it end up like this?"

Yun Cheng reassured him, "Don’t worry, the Master will be fine."

Lian Zhou didn’t believe him at all. "The situation in these mountains is so complicated. How could it be that easy to find someone? What if the Master—"

Yun Cheng cleared his throat and muttered something under his breath.

Lian Zhou didn’t catch it. "What did you say?"

Yun Cheng had no choice but to repeat himself.

"The Master fell with Miss Ye. They should still be together right now."

Lian Zhou’s anxious expression froze for a moment, then he slowly spoke.

"...Oh. Then it’s fine."

After speaking, he gave Yun Cheng another look—one of part disdain, part admiration, and part wonder.

"Tsk, it had to be you. How else would you have become the Chief Steward?"

Yun Cheng said humbly, "Not at all. The rain’s about to stop. We should still hurry and find the Master and Second Miss Ye. Right, and those assassins—"

Lian Zhou jerked his chin toward the men behind him.

"Don’t worry. I brought enough men this time. We’ll clean them up for good."

...

Time passed slowly. By dusk, the pilgrims who had been trapped in the temple were finally allowed to leave in succession.

Both the mountainside and the foot of the mountain were strictly guarded by guards.

In addition to people from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion and the Long Princess Mansion, the Capital Guard had also dispatched elite troops. Some were responsible for standing guard, while others began to search the mountain.

Fortunately, the rain had finally stopped by then.

Princess Qingyang’s skirt was splattered with mud, but she insisted on continuing the search with the team.

She followed the path where Ye Chutang and Shen Yanchuan had fallen, taking a detour to the side and heading steadily downward.

The slope was steep, and no one knew where the two of them were now, or if they were still safe.

Princess Qingyang swung her long whip, clearing away the obstructive branches and leaves as she walked on without stopping.

Xiao Chengxuan was also there, but he had injuries of his own and didn’t go down.

Watching Princess Qingyang’s figure gradually recede into the distance, Xiao Chengxuan frowned and ordered, "Send more men. You must ensure the Commandery Princess’s safety."

"Yes, sir!"

A guard acknowledged the order, and a squad of men quickly followed after her.

Someone behind him tried to persuade him, "Your Highness, you’re injured as well. Why don’t you go back and rest first? With so many people searching, they’re sure to find the Princely Heir and Miss Ye soon."

Without turning his head, Xiao Chengxuan waved a hand dismissively.

"This Prince will wait right here. There’s no need to persuade me further!"

As he spoke, he looked down toward the bottom of the cliff, which was so overgrown with tangled branches that it was nearly impossible to see the ground. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

...

The sky gradually darkened.

Ye Chutang gradually began to feel a chill. A wave of exhaustion washed over her, and her eyelids grew heavy.

Finally, her head lolled to one side, and she slumped sideways.

Suddenly, Shen Yanchuan felt a weight settle on his shoulder.