The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Giving a Flower Lantern

Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly. ”Xiao Wu, come here.”

Only then did Xiao Wu lower the little hands covering her eyes and look back at Ye Chutang.

Shen Yanchuan had expected her to be frightened by the scene, but to his surprise, when the Little Milk Group saw the three people lying on the ground, she wasn’t scared at all. Instead, her eyes lit up, and she trotted over.

And then—

After rummaging around for a moment, she actually managed to find three purses on the men, containing some copper coins, broken silver, and a silver note.

Then, as if presenting a treasure, she ran to Ye Chutang.

’Big Sis! I found more money!’

Ye Chutang took a look and saw that all the miscellaneous bits added up to over one hundred taels of silver. She patted the girl’s head and praised her generously, ”Good job!”

’Come to think of it, this Cao Chengwen is quite willing to spend money on me. This one hundred tael silver note must be their down payment. There’s probably a final payment, too.’

’To deal with a supposedly weak woman who just runs a clinic, this price really isn’t low.’

Ye Chutang was very satisfied. She felt tonight had been quite fruitful.

Shen Yanchuan watched this unfold, raising an eyebrow.

The three men in black weren’t dead, but they were brutally beaten. Their faces and bodies were covered in blood, and large, dark crimson stains had pooled on the ground.

An undeniable, metallic scent of blood hung in the air.

It was a scene that would have startled even an ordinary adult, yet the Little Milk Group seemed completely unconcerned.

She was clearly only three or four years old, with a soft and adorable appearance, yet this was her reaction.

A moment ago, she had even run right up to the men to search them.

Shen Yanchuan felt that even if the men lying there were dead, her reaction would have been exactly the same.

Ye Chutang ran a clinic and was a skilled physician. Now, it seemed her martial arts were also excellent. It was only natural for her to be so calm.

’But this Little Milk Group... just how was she raised to be like this?’

Ye Chutang beckoned to Xiao Wu, ready to head back.

Seeing that they were really about to leave, Shen Yanchuan spoke up, ”These men... Doctor Ye, do you plan to just leave them here?”

Ye Chutang blinked, the corners of her lips curving slightly. ”Isn’t Mr. Shen here?”

Shen Yanchuan: ”...”

Ye Chutang lifted her chin toward the other side of the wall. ”It seems you’ve pretty much handled things on your end. It’s inconvenient for me with a child, so I’ll have to trouble you to help me out and deal with these men as well.”

Shen Yanchuan was silent for a moment, then chuckled.

He had never met someone so shamelessly unreasonable. She had made this mess and was just going to dump it on him?

”Doctor Ye, I don’t believe we are familiar enough for this, are we? Are you really so trusting of me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the government?”

If he were to use some connections, Ye Chutang would find herself in endless trouble.

Ye Chutang feigned surprise. ”Report me? Did I kill anyone? Mr. Shen, I am a law-abiding citizen. You can’t just say things like that.”

Shen Yanchuan looked at the three unconscious and heavily injured men on the ground and fell silent.

’Law-abiding citizen... did she have anything to do with that phrase?’

Ye Chutang, however, seemed to see no issue with her statement. Her gaze lingered for a moment on Shen Yanchuan’s left chest as she said pointedly, ”Besides, I was under the impression that Mr. Shen and I were already friends who have gone through life and death together.”

’To put it bluntly, they had already reached the point of baring their bodies to each other. If that wasn’t close, what was?’

She paused, her gaze traveling further down—

”Mr. Shen suffered two injuries before. Could it be that they haven’t healed yet?”

Shen Yanchuan’s deep, phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly.

The woman before him had merely glanced at him from where she stood, yet he felt as if her gaze carried a searing heat, scalding whatever spot it landed on.

A faint smile still played on her lips, as if she couldn’t be more agreeable.

Yet, hidden within her words was a cold glint, a chilling threat that could not be ignored.

’This Doctor Ye... she’s even more inscrutable than I thought.’

They held each other’s gaze for only a brief moment, but it seemed a silent understanding had already been reached.

Shen Yanchuan gave a slight nod. ”Doctor Ye, please be sure to enjoy the rest of the Lantern Festival.”

This was his concession, his agreement to help Ye Chutang resolve the remaining trouble.

A hint of a smile touched Ye Chutang’s dark, gentle eyes.

”You too, Mr. Shen. The night is dark and the wind is cold. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, so you should go back and rest early.”

The subtle, confrontational tension in the air silently dissipated, as if nothing had happened.

Ye Chutang reached for Xiao Wu’s hand, but Xiao Wu suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned, ran to the side, and picked up the rabbit lantern.

Ye Chutang had a realization.

’It seems Xiao Wu is exceptionally fond of this lantern.’

But in the next second, she saw Xiao Wu’s eyes widen, her whole little face falling in a look of great distress.

Ye Chutang asked, puzzled, ”What’s wrong?”

Xiao Wu came back carrying the lantern and held it up for her to see.

Only then did Ye Chutang see that it was spattered with a few drops of crimson blood, which were quite jarring to the eye.

No wonder Xiao Wu was so upset.

But this lantern was now unusable, no matter what.

Ye Chutang ruffled her little head. ”It’s just a lantern. It’s okay that it got dirty. We can buy a new one later, all right?”

Xiao Wu hung her head, still very sad.

’She’d picked it specially for her big sis! But they weren’t even home yet, and now the lantern was ruined...’

Just then, a low, clear voice spoke.

”Take this one.”

A hollowed-out lantern suddenly appeared before Xiao Wu’s eyes.

This lantern was in the shape of a Haitang flower, simple yet exquisite, with extremely fine details.

Xiao Wu liked it at once.

She looked up at Ye Chutang with pleading eyes. It was obvious she really wanted it.

But Big Sis had told her not to simply accept things from others, so she had to ask her first.

Ye Chutang could, of course, see how much she adored the lantern. After a night full of unexpected events, this small wish should certainly be granted.

She nodded and looked at Shen Yanchuan. ”Thank you, Mr. Shen. How much for the lantern? I’ll buy it.”

Shen Yanchuan handed it directly to Xiao Wu and said with a faint smile, ”There’s no need. It’s just a lantern. As long as she likes it.”

Xiao Wu took the lantern and gave Shen Yanchuan a solemn bow, her fair, tender, and chubby little face unable to hide her delight.

Shen Yanchuan’s eyes flickered.

He had been staying at the Ye’s Clinic for a few days now and had never seen the Little Milk Group speak a single word.

’She...’

Xiao Wu, however, didn’t think much of it. Having received the lantern, she turned and happily presented it to Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang was a little surprised and pointed to her own nose. ”For me?”

Xiao Wu nodded emphatically.

’Mhm! It’s for Big Sis!’

Then she tilted her little head and flashed a brilliant smile at Shen Yanchuan.

’Thank you! Big Sis really likes the lantern you gave her!’