The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

The Eldest Princess sighed. "He’s had a difficult few years. It’s rare for him to meet a young man he likes."

This was a good thing for both Feng Zhang and Ye Yunfeng.

Ye Chutang, however, seemed unmoved, offering only a faint smile. "A Feng is mischievous. We’ll need Mr. Feng to be very patient with him."

The Eldest Princess just assumed she was being polite and humble, so she paid it no mind. She lightly patted the hand of Lan Yi, who was massaging her shoulders.

Lan Yi stopped at once and took half a step back.

"Lately, I feel my body has gotten much stronger than before. It’s all thanks to you for helping me recuperate."

The Eldest Princess beamed. The more she looked at Ye Chutang, the more she liked her. "Whenever it used to be overcast and rainy, my knees would ache unbearably. But lately, it’s been gradually getting better. My legs feel much more nimble!"

Ye Chutang handed the prescription to Lan Yi before replying, "Even so, the autumn days are cold. Your Highness should still take good care of yourself."

The Eldest Princess nodded repeatedly, then added with an emotional laugh, "Your medical skills are truly rare. Even those old men from the Imperial Hospital might not be able to best you!"

"Your Highness is too kind. I don’t deserve such praise."

’I’ve seen countless difficult and complicated cases in the past. Compared to those, the Eldest Princess’s condition is really nothing.’

The Eldest Princess suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "Oh, that’s right. Princess Yuhe will also be returning to the Capital for the autumn hunt. She has been frail since she was a child, and seeing countless famous doctors has never led to any improvement. Now that we have you, perhaps there’s hope for her!"

Ye Chutang searched her memory for a moment before finally recalling who she was talking about—Princess Yuhe, Xiao Lansi.

The current emperor had three daughters, and this was the least favored among them.

Her birth mother was said to have been a common palace maid whom the emperor visited one night when he was drunk. He was deeply vexed upon waking, but who would have known that a month later, the palace maid was pregnant.

Because of this, he had no choice but to promote her, bestowing upon her the title of Princess Consort Jing.

Three years after giving birth to the Third Princess, Xiao Lansi, Princess Consort Jing passed away. Consort Ru then took the initiative to ask the emperor to let her raise Princess Yuhe herself.

Because Consort Ru was favored, Princess Yuhe’s treatment improved considerably, and her life was no longer as difficult as it had been.

But those days only lasted for eight years.

Xiao Lansi was a premature baby and had been very weak since birth. Coupled with the fact that the emperor despised her mother, her life was even more difficult. At the age of eleven, while still under Consort Ru’s care, she fell gravely ill. The Imperial Physicians said the Capital’s climate was too dry and that it would be better for her to be sent to the warm, humid south to recuperate.

Thus, the Third Princess returned to Guanling.

The reason it was called a "return" was because Guanling was her birth mother’s hometown.

And so she was gone for six years.

"Come to think of it, she should be exactly seventeen this year—the same age as you." The Eldest Princess seemed to be recalling the past and grew rather emotional. "She was only so high when she left the Capital. I wonder what she looks like now."

Ye Chutang had no impression of this Princess Yuhe, simply because the princess had absolutely no presence.

There were many princes and princesses, but she was the only one who had been sent away. Anyone could see that she did not have the emperor’s affection.

’Now that she’s returning, who knows what the situation will be like.’

Ye Chutang nodded lightly. "Please rest assured, Your Highness. Chutang will do her best."

The Eldest Princess’s face lit up with a smile. "With your assurance, I can finally rest easy!"

It seemed she truly saw Ye Chutang as some kind of omnipotent, miracle-working doctor.

Just then, a young maid rushed in from outside and whispered in Zhuxin’s ear.

Zhuxin’s expression shifted slightly, and she glanced at Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang, as if sensing something, narrowed her eyes.

The Eldest Princess also sensed something was amiss and asked, "What is it?"

Zhuxin hesitated for a moment before saying, "Second Miss Ye, Mrs. Gao has committed suicide."

...

Mrs. Gao had hanged herself during the night.

In the morning, a maid had come to her door and called out several times with no response. When she pushed the door open, she saw an overturned round stool. Mrs. Gao had hanged herself and was long dead.

The maid let out a scream, terrified out of her wits, and scrambled out of the room.

A fire can’t be wrapped in paper, and a death is even harder to conceal. There was no way to keep the matter quiet.

The news should have been delivered to the Ye Mansion, but since Ye Chutang was at the Long Princess Mansion, word reached her there instead.

The Eldest Princess frowned. "She’s dead!?"

Zhuxin nodded. "They didn’t want to publicize it, as it’s hardly a matter of honor. But the neighbors, who heard Mrs. Gao’s hoarse curses every day, found the sudden silence strange. After a little probing, they discovered what had happened."

The Eldest Princess leaned back slowly in her chair.

The death of a mere Mrs. Gao was, of course, not worthy of her concern, but...

She looked at Ye Chutang and saw that her brow was slightly furrowed.

The Eldest Princess said comfortingly, "Although she was your aunt, she bullied you terribly in the past. You needn’t be sad about her death."

Of course, Ye Chutang wasn’t sad. She just felt something was wrong.

’I know Mrs. Gao’s temperament better than anyone. She would absolutely never do something like hang herself. Besides, she just suffered a defeat at my hands a few days ago. She was full of unresolved resentment and must have been plotting all sorts of schemes to get her revenge.’

’How could she have just died like that?’

Ye Chutang’s thoughts raced. She stood and bowed. "Thank you for your comforting words, Your Highness. But after all, I once called her Second Aunt. Now that this has happened, it wouldn’t be right for Chutang to remain here. I must take my leave."

The Eldest Princess patted her hand, telling her not to worry too much. Then she had Zhuxin go to the inner room to wake the napping Xiao Wu and arranged for someone to escort them home.

When Xiao Wu climbed into the carriage, she was still groggy and didn’t know what had happened.

Ye Chutang held her close, smoothed her sleep-tousled hair, and fell into deep thought.

Mrs. Gao’s death was suspicious.

’For her to die now, of all times, was truly strange.’

Ye Chutang had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right, as if she were shrouded in a thick fog, unable to see clearly.

Xiao Wu didn’t know what her big sister was thinking and snuggled clingingly into the crook of her neck.

Ye Chutang gently patted her back.

Suddenly, the moving carriage screeched to a halt. The horse reared up on its hind legs with a sharp neigh!

"Whoa—!"

The carriage lurched, and deep fear and anxiety flooded Xiao Wu’s eyes. Her small hand subconsciously gripped the corner of Ye Chutang’s sleeve, her little face deathly pale.

Ye Chutang’s brows knitted together. She immediately hugged Xiao Wu tightly, steadied herself, and whispered comfortingly, "Xiao Wu, don’t be afraid. Big sister is here."

Xiao Wu buried her face in her sister’s embrace, not making a sound, but her small body was trembling slightly.

It had been a very, very long time since she had been this frightened.

Ye Chutang’s eyes turned cold. She lifted the curtain and asked icily, "What happened?"

’What kind of trouble could possibly happen on a main street?’

The driver knew he had made a mistake and said frantically, "Forgive me, Second Miss Ye! I... I didn’t do it on purpose! Someone suddenly blocked the carriage, and I had to—"

There was no need for him to say more, because Ye Chutang had already seen the figure blocking the path of the carriage.

Dressed in white mourning clothes, gaunt and emaciated.

—Ye Shixian.

That familiar, young, and pretty face was now staring at her, filled with hatred and despair.

"Ye Chutang! Give me back my mother’s life!"