The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

The night was thick, and a trace of dry heat remained in the wind.

A single candle burned quietly, its flickering light elongating the shadows in the room.

Shen Yanchuan sat at a desk. A young man in tight-fitting black attire knelt on one knee before him, presenting a file.

"My lord, this was just obtained from the interrogation. Please review it."

Shen Yanchuan glanced down. The pages were filled with lines of testimony.

Extracting information from a Death Warrior was no easy feat, but for Xi Su, who was accustomed to such work, it was hardly a challenge.

Shen Yanchuan turned the pages one by one.

"Well done."

Xi Su reported, "Besides the three Death Warriors we captured, two more bodies were found on Wulan Mountain. They must have known they were exposed and chose to kill themselves. However, based on the tracks from that day, there were likely six men in the ambush, which means one is still unaccounted for."

Shen Yanchuan wasn’t surprised.

"Even a Death Warrior wants to live."

The remaining one was probably clinging to the hope of slipping through the blockade on Wulan Mountain and escaping with his life.

"Keep searching for him. Dead or alive."

"Yes!"

Suddenly, Yun Cheng’s voice came from outside. "My lord, Mr. Zhao is here to see you."

Shen Yanchuan gathered the papers. "You may go."

Xi Su bowed his head in assent and turned to leave.

...

This was Zhao Hanguang’s first visit to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion, and he couldn’t help but feel a little constrained.

A servant brought him a cup of tea and withdrew, leaving him alone in the room.

He was halfway through his tea when Shen Yanchuan finally appeared.

"Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Hanguang turned and immediately rose to his feet, bowing. "Princely Heir."

Shen Yanchuan raised a hand. "Mr. Zhao, no need for formalities. Please, have a seat."

He spoke as he took the seat of honor, and only then did Zhao Hanguang sit as well.

Shen Yanchuan asked, "Mr. Zhao, what brings you here so late at night?"

A look of embarrassment crossed Zhao Hanguang’s face.

"Well... I heard about your accident, Princely Heir, and I thought I should come to check on you. My apologies for the intrusion."

Shen Yanchuan smiled. "I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Hanguang expected Shen Yanchuan to ask why he hadn’t come during the day, choosing to visit at such an hour instead. But after waiting for some time, he realized Shen Yanchuan had no intention of asking.

This made him all the more restless.

"...Aren’t you curious why I’ve come at this hour, Princely Heir?"

Shen Yanchuan arched an eyebrow. "You wish to be discreet, Mr. Zhao. It’s only natural you’d choose this time."

Zhao Hanguang flushed with shame and lowered his head.

"I... I... Your insight is remarkable, Princely Heir. It is I who was being foolish."

’Indeed, no one else knew of his visit to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.’

"You have done me a great service. Now that you’ve had an accident, it would be utterly heartless of me not to inquire after you. It’s just..."

He couldn’t bring himself to say the rest, but it was an unspoken understanding between them.

’He was still Xiao Chengxuan’s man. How could he justify associating with Shen Yanchuan?’

Shen Yanchuan nodded, unconcerned. "You have your own considerations, Mr. Zhao."

This only made Zhao Hanguang feel more ashamed.

He wrung his hands, hesitating for a long moment before asking, "Was I able to keep my position as Minister of the Ministry of Rites because you intervened, Princely Heir?"

’He’s a sharp one.’

Shen Yanchuan’s tone was placid. "Don’t worry about it, Mr. Zhao. You have been diligent in your duties for years; His Majesty is well aware of this. If that weren’t the case, no amount of help from anyone would have mattered."

Zhao Hanguang pressed his lips together.

’Shen Yanchuan was downplaying it, as if it were a trivial matter, but he knew it was far more complicated than that. The scandal this time was enormous. Knowing the Second Prince’s temperament, he would have surely abandoned him without a second thought. In fact, he had already braced himself for it. But he never imagined... that in the end, it would be Shen Yanchuan who saved him.’

"I will never forget this great kindness, Princely Heir."

Shen Yanchuan lifted his teacup, tracing its rim with his thumb. He then asked, a half-joking tone in his voice, "Mr. Zhao, you’ve always been a man of sentiment and loyalty, but that can often land you in trouble. You must have heard about what happened on Wulan Mountain. Tell me, do you hope that I live, or that I die?"

Zhao Hanguang’s head snapped up, his face a mask of shock and alarm. "Princely Heir, why would you ask such a thing?"

He shot to his feet, his expression resolute. "How could I ever wish for harm to befall you, Princely Heir? That would make me a heartless beast, worse than any animal!"

Shen Yanchuan simply watched him, his gaze placid and unreadable.

Silence descended, and the air seemed to congeal.

Zhao Hanguang’s whole body stiffened, his expression conflicted.

’Of course, he understood Shen Yanchuan’s meaning. Xiao Chengxuan had repeatedly sent assassins after him. The two were like fire and water, their secret war irreconcilable. He was still technically Xiao Chengxuan’s man, so coming here to say such things to Shen Yanchuan was more than a little inappropriate.’

Zhao Hanguang opened his mouth, but all that came out was a long sigh.

"...I have been presumptuous. Please, just pretend you never saw me tonight."

He gave a deep, formal bow.

Shen Yanchuan suddenly asked, "So you don’t mind that he sent assassins to the Heavenly Prison to silence you?"

Zhao Hanguang froze.

After a long silence, he gave a bitter smile.

"My life has always belonged to the Second Prince. If a monarch wants his subject to die, the subject must obey."

Shen Yanchuan didn’t speak.

Zhao Hanguang took a deep breath and turned to leave.

Just as he was about to step through the doorway, the voice came from behind him again.

"What if I told you that the time he ’saved’ you was a setup he orchestrated from the beginning? Would you still be so utterly loyal to him?"

Zhao Hanguang spun around, incredulous. "What!?"

Shen Yanchuan said, "Why do you think I kept you waiting?"

He drew a stack of papers from his sleeve and placed it on the desk.

"His Death Warriors confessed a great deal. If you’re interested, you can see for yourself."

...

Half an hour later, Zhao Hanguang finally departed.

Yun Cheng walked in. "Princely Heir, Mr. Zhao didn’t take a carriage. He left on foot."

Shen Yanchuan glanced at the night sky.

"It’s good for him to clear his head on his own."

Yun Cheng bowed his head. "It’s late. Shouldn’t you get some rest, my lord?"

Shen Yanchuan walked a few steps, then remembered something.

"Any movement from Ye Heng?"

"He went to the Prince Qi Mansion today and stayed there for over an hour."

"Is that all?"

"For now, yes. We haven’t seen him make any other moves."

Shen Yanchuan ordered, "Keep an eye on him. Report back immediately if anything changes."

Yun Cheng understood. "Yes!"

...

Ye Chutang recuperated at home for two days, and her injuries gradually improved.

One morning, after the four siblings finished breakfast, Ye Chutang suggested going out.

"What? That’s not a good idea! Sister, you haven’t fully healed yet!" Ye Yunfeng was the first to object. "You can walk around the Capital City anytime! Once you’re better, I’ll go with you—"

"You won’t be idle, because you’re coming with me," Ye Chutang declared. "And so are Yan and Xiao Wu."

She lifted her chin.

"The weather is nice today. It’s a perfect time to go see the shopkeepers and review the accounts."