The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Inside the woodshed, the light was dim.

A man in night clothes lay on the ground, his hair disheveled. He bore several sword wounds, and his hands and feet were bound with rope. A thick, nauseating stench of blood emanated from him.

He lay there motionless, on the verge of death, as if he could draw his last breath at any moment.

"Master."

Yun Cheng, who was standing guard nearby, lowered his head in a bow.

Shen Yanchuan raised a hand. "Has he woken up?"

Yun Cheng shook his head. "No."

Shen Yanchuan took two more steps forward, stopping beside the man.

"Have you been able to identify him?"

Yun Cheng looked ashamed. "Forgive my incompetence. Other than his bow and darts, he had nothing else on him. We don’t recognize his face, either. I’m afraid it will take some effort to uncover his origins."

Shen Yanchuan kicked the man, who showed no reaction.

"Go get Doctor Chen. Use whatever means necessary to wake him up as soon as possible. Keep him alive so we can properly interrogate him later."

"Yes!"

...

「The moon climbed high in the sky.」

With Zhuxin’s help, Xiao Wu obediently washed up.

Zhuxin watched her earnestly wipe her face with a small cloth, her heart filling with a mix of affection and heartache.

Usually, Xiao Wu followed Ye Chutang around like a little shadow, but when it mattered most, she was always remarkably sensible, never crying or making a fuss.

Ever since Princess Qingyang sent word that they would be spending the night on the mountain and returning the next day, Xiao Wu had obediently eaten, played, and then washed up for bed.

She wasn’t the least bit of trouble.

Zhuxin couldn’t resist patting her little head and said with a gentle smile, "Fifth Miss, you sleep tight now. When you wake up tomorrow, Miss Ye will be back to take you home."

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously.

Then, she went to the side of the bed, placed her little shoes neatly on the floor, and clambered onto the bed. She burrowed under the covers, leaving only her soft, round little face showing.

Zhuxin walked over, tucked her in, and asked, "How about I sleep in here with you?"

Xiao Wu blinked and shook her head.

’Nope! I’m already four, I can sleep by myself!’

Zhuxin thought for a moment. "Then I’ll keep watch in the outer room, all right?"

Since Xiao Wu couldn’t speak, if she needed help, she wouldn’t be able to call out. Of course Zhuxin couldn’t go far.

Xiao Wu obediently nodded and closed her eyes.

Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Zhuxin blew out the candle and tiptoed out of the room.

The room fell into darkness.

Xiao Wu opened her eyes.

’I still miss Big Sis so much...’

She rolled over and closed her eyes again.

’Big Sis isn’t here. I have to be good and wait for her to come back.’

...

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

After returning to his residence, Xiao Chengxuan was still on edge and couldn’t calm his mind.

The thought that Shen Yanchuan still had one of his men in custody made him anxious and restless.

Shen Yanchuan was no simple character. Xiao Chengxuan had no doubt that if the man woke up, Shen Yanchuan would be able to extract a great deal of information from him.

Furthermore, Wulan Mountain was still sealed off. Who knew how many more people they would capture?

If even one of them leaked the information...

"Guards!"

Xiao Chengxuan ordered in a low voice.

A figure appeared soundlessly, hidden in the shadows, its features obscured.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

Xiao Chengxuan’s fists slowly tightened.

"At any cost, get rid of them all. Cleanly!"

...

After drinking her medicine, Ye Chutang finally fell into a deep sleep again.

Princess Qingyang closed the door, then turned and went into the adjacent room.

"Brother?"

Shen Yanchuan was in the middle of a game of chess. Hearing her, he didn’t even look up, as if he had been expecting her.

"It’s so late. Do you need something?"

Princess Qingyang huffed.

"Is that any way to welcome me? Don’t forget, I was the one who led the search party that found you today!"

She hummed smugly. "If I hadn’t been so clever and sharp-eyed, who knows how long Second Miss Ye would have had to wait down there. Could you afford to waste her time like that?"

That much was true.

Shen Yanchuan looked up. "Just say what you want."

Princess Qingyang pressed her palms together, leaning forward with a face full of anticipation.

"I heard Ta Xue was brought back. Can I ride him? Please?"

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow. "You’re certainly well-informed."

Princess Qingyang pleaded desperately. "A month? Half a month? If not, even ten days will do! Seriously, I’m dying of boredom in the Capital City! Please, Brother, just agree!"

Shen Yanchuan retorted, "In the last three months, you’ve run down two people, gotten into five fights, and visited Chunfeng Lou three times. And now you’re telling me you’re—dying of boredom in the Capital City?"

Princess Qingyang: "..."

Shen Yanchuan looked back at the board and placed a black stone.

"Go to sleep. You might be able to in your dreams."

Princess Qingyang couldn’t take it anymore and shot to her feet. "Shen Yanchuan, don’t you go too far! I only went to Chunfeng Lou twice! Where did you get a third time from? Stop slandering an innocent person!"

Shen Yanchuan said, "Hmm. You would have gone a third time, too, if Su Pei’er hadn’t entered the Han Family’s household."

"..." Princess Qingyang’s bravado instantly evaporated. She cleared her throat. "I... I was just trying to help you out, Brother! That old fossil Ye Heng wanted to marry Chutang off to Han Yao, and how could I let that happen? Han Yao has plenty of old flames at Chunfeng Lou. It seemed like a convenient place to start digging up dirt, you know..."

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow. "So I should be thanking you?"

Princess Qingyang waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, it was nothing! A trivial matter, not even worth mentioning!"

’Besides, I got to watch plenty of drama and listen to some nice songs. It was great. Totally worth it.’

"I didn’t know Chutang was so capable back then. If I’d known she could handle that trouble herself, why would I have bothered to get involved? But—there is one thing you really do have to thank me for."

Princess Qingyang’s expression turned serious.

Shen Yanchuan picked up a white stone, his demeanor nonchalant.

"Oh?"

Princess Qingyang stared at him, enunciating every word. "I prayed for a marriage talisman for you today at Guling Temple! And it was the best possible fortune!"

Shen Yanchuan: "..."

"At first, I was wondering what on earth possessed Chutang to risk her own life to save you. Then it hit me—" Princess Qingyang snapped her fingers and declared with conviction, "It worked! It must be the Bodhisattva’s divine intervention! Why else would Chutang suddenly be so nice to you? Everyone and their mother could see how much she used to despise you—"

"Li Yue," a low, cool male voice interrupted.

Princess Qingyang stopped mid-sentence. "Huh?"

Shen Yanchuan looked at her and said calmly, "I can always send Ta Xue back to Huizhou."

Princess Qingyang: "..."

"I could also send you back to the Southwest, and Murong Ye to the Northern Desert. He has been wanting to go to the border to earn military honors for some time, I believe."

Princess Qingyang: "..."

Finally, there was silence.

Shen Yanchuan’s gaze returned to the game. "All right, you can go now."

Princess Qingyang asked reluctantly, "But about Ta Xue—"

WHOOSH—!

The sound of something slicing through the air came from outside the window. Princess Qingyang’s expression changed, and she whipped her head around.

"Who’s there!?"