The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

The servant was taken aback. "Ah? Y-Yes, I suppose so... But why do you ask?"

Ye Chutang took Xiao Wu’s hand, her eyes crinkling into a slight smile.

"I’ve been cooped up at home for a few days. It’s time to go out and join the excitement."

...

Time ticked by, and Ye Shixian grew frantic.

She knew many people were watching her now, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

Right now, she regretted only one thing—not noticing Shaoyao’s disloyalty sooner!

Seeing the main gate still shut tight, Ye Shixian finally lost her patience and strode forward.

"I’m getting through this gate today, no matter what!"

The servants guarding the gate certainly weren’t going to be polite about it. Hongtao, startled, instinctively moved to stop Ye Shixian.

"Miss Ye! What are you doing?!"

’If I’d known this Ye Shixian was so difficult to handle, I never would have come!’

Hongtao glanced around and lowered her voice. "If Mr. Murong finds out about this, I’m afraid he’ll be displeased! Please, listen to my advice. Let’s not..."

But how could Ye Shixian possibly listen?

She threw off Hongtao’s hand and prepared to force her way in.

"Ye Chutang harmed my mother! Don’t I even have the right to come here and demand an explanation!?"

Caught off guard, Hongtao was shoved aside. She stumbled a few steps and nearly fell to the ground.

Ye Shixian was already charging forward.

Just then, however, with a loud CREAK, the gate slowly swung open.

Ye Chutang stood there quietly, holding Xiao Wu’s hand.

The crowd immediately erupted into an uproar—

"The gate is open! Ye Chutang’s come out!"

"So she’s finally willing to show her face. I thought she was going to hide in there for the rest of her life!"

"How could she? It’s been several days since the incident, and the Shuntian Prefecture is about to close the case. Even if she didn’t want to come out, she can’t defy the government, can she?"

"That’s true. Ye Shixian might be a bit extreme, but it’s understandable. Who could stay calm after their own mother was murdered?"

"Exactly! If I were her, I wouldn’t have even lasted these few days. I’d have been at her door long ago! Why should a murderer get to live peacefully, as if nothing ever happened?"

"Um... I thought Mrs. Gao’s death wasn’t conclusive yet? The government hasn’t even announced its findings. How can everyone be so sure Ye Chutang did it? I heard there were some signs at the scene suggesting it was murder, not suicide..."

"How could it be murder? The courtyard they live in is so remote and not very large. If someone snuck in at night to do the deed, how could not a single person have noticed?"

...

The onlookers chattered amongst themselves, their opinions all over the place.

But it was obvious that most people were on Ye Shixian’s side.

When they saw Ye Chutang appear, many showed looks of disgust.

Ye Chutang paid them no mind, her gaze resting coolly on Ye Shixian.

"The seven days aren’t up yet. I wonder what kind of explanation you’ve come here for now."

Her tone was calm, yet she seemed shrouded in an invisible aura that commanded both distance and awe.

Especially when those dark, tranquil eyes looked over, they were like a whirlpool hidden beneath a placid lake, capable of effortlessly swallowing everything whole.

A shiver went through Ye Shixian’s heart. For some reason, a flicker of fear took hold, and she took a step back.

But she quickly realized her mistake. ’If others see me being so timid, won’t they think I have a guilty conscience!?’

’What do I have to feel guilty about!’

With that thought, Ye Shixian mustered her courage again. Her gaze went past Ye Chutang, searching behind her.

There was no sign of Shaoyao.

’But that doesn’t prove Shaoyao isn’t hiding in here.’

Ye Shixian gritted her teeth. "Ye Chutang, don’t think you can pull the wool over everyone’s eyes! Sooner or later, people will find out what you’ve done!"

Ye Chutang actually laughed, as if she’d just heard a joke.

She retorted, "Pull the wool over everyone’s eyes? What are you referring to?"

"You—" Ye Shixian was suddenly at a loss for words.

Of course, she couldn’t publicly announce that she was here looking for Shaoyao.

She stared intently at Ye Chutang, scrutinizing her expression, trying to glean something from her face.

But Ye Chutang’s expression was calm and composed. She didn’t flinch or look away, appearing perfectly open and frank.

She stewed for a good while, unsure how to respond. But Ye Chutang’s attention had already shifted to Hongtao behind her, and she raised a delicate eyebrow.

"Second Aunt just passed away. Her body has barely grown cold, yet you already have the leisure to find a new handmaiden?"

Ye Shixian’s heart skipped a beat.

Hongtao hadn’t expected to be dragged into this, but she had no choice but to speak up.

"Mr. Murong was worried Miss Ye would be overwhelmed with grief after the sudden loss of her mother, so he sent me to take care of her."

There was nothing wrong with her explanation. Everyone was perfectly clear about the relationship between Murong Ye and Ye Shixian.

It was only natural for him to show extra concern when the woman he admired was going through such an ordeal.

Ye Shixian’s heart also settled slightly.

She glared at Ye Chutang with resentment. "You have no right to mention my mother!"

The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips quirked up, but a chill emanated from her eyes.

"I didn’t harm her. Why wouldn’t I have the right?"

Ye Shixian’s voice was shrill. "Just because you say you didn’t do it, that means you’re innocent?! You—"

"I, Ye Chutang, swear today on the lives of my entire family: If I killed Mrs. Gao, may we all not die a good death!" Ye Chutang cut her off abruptly, her voice icy as she spoke each word deliberately.

All the noisy chatter vanished in an instant. Countless people stared in astonishment.

Who would have thought that Ye Chutang would dare to make such a venomous oath!

Even Ye Shixian was stunned. She forgot all the words she had prepared, standing there, stiff as a board.

Ye Chutang looked impassively at the suddenly silent girl and continued, "At the same time, I also pray with all my heart: May the one who murdered Mrs. Gao suffer death by dismemberment and a thousand cuts, and may they die a horrible death!"

"Ye Chutang!"

A sharp, shrill cry shattered the silence of the long street.

Ye Shixian’s face was twisted in a grimace. She gasped for air, her chest heaving, her whole body trembling, her face as pale as a ghost.

Ye Chutang met her gaze directly and asked in a slow, deliberate manner—

"What’s wrong? Are those words so hard for you to hear?"

Ye Shixian’s mind was a chaotic mess. She wanted to speak, but not a single word would come out.

The crowd also sensed that something was wrong and began to stir.

"What’s going on? Ye Chutang makes a venomous oath, and Ye Shixian is the one who panics?"

"This... isn’t this suspicious?"

"I don’t know, Ye Chutang seems completely open, but Ye Shixian, on the other hand... something’s not right with her..."

Once the seed of doubt is planted, it quickly takes root and sprouts.

Ye Chutang’s words had been too ruthless, and too frank, leaving everyone at a loss.

In contrast, Ye Shixian’s reaction was extremely strange.

Just then, a series of urgent footsteps were suddenly heard in the distance.

Ye Shixian instinctively turned to look and saw Zhang Qian leading a troop of soldiers, approaching quickly!

Seeing Ye Shixian, his face grew solemn, and he waved a hand.

"Ye Shixian is a suspect in the murder of Mrs. Gao. Arrest her immediately and take her to the Heavenly Prison!"