The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Raising a Daughter

Mrs. Zhou smiled bitterly. ”Anywhere is better than here. After Liu Si killed a man, my son and I can’t possibly stay in Jiangling. Rather than remain here, suffering the constant gossip and scorn of others, it’s better if we just leave on our own accord.”

Her worries were not unfounded.

But a woman traveling alone with a child would face innumerable dangers.

Ye Chutang asked, ”You’re not going back to your parents’ home?”

Tears welled in Mrs. Zhou’s eyes. She quickly bowed her head to wipe them away. ”I’d only be a burden to them if I went back, so it’s best I don’t. I’ll wait until tomorrow to see my husband off on his final journey, and then I’ll take my child and leave.”

Ye Chutang nodded in understanding and, in the end, pressed the purse into Mrs. Zhou’s hand.

Mrs. Zhou hastily refused. ”Doctor Ye, you’ve already helped us so much! We couldn’t possibly trouble you again!”

Ye Chutang patted her hand, her voice gentle. ”Times are hard. Even if not for yourself, you must think of your child.”

The rims of Mrs. Zhou’s eyes grew red, and she moved to kneel before Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang raised a hand, stopping her. Then, she pointed to a nearby box and said with a warm smile, ”These are Furong Cakes from the Xinghua Building. Children love them. They’re not worth much, so please take them as well.”

Holding back tears, Mrs. Zhou nodded. She thanked Chutang repeatedly before finally taking her leave.

The curtain was lifted, then fell shut. Only then did Ye Chutang rise to wash her hands, carefully drying her slender, fair fingers with a handkerchief.

Then, she went out.

”Yan, I’m heading out. I’ll be back in an hour.”

”Alright,” Ye Jingyan replied.

Ye Yunfeng had just finished his boxing practice, but the frustration simmering in his chest had yet to dissipate.

He returned to the front courtyard just in time to see Ye Chutang leaving. He sidled up to Ye Jingyan and asked curiously, ”Third Brother, it’s almost dark. Why is Elder Sister going out at a time like this?”

”Our sister has her reasons for everything she does.”

Ye Yunfeng figured as much and simply sat down, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Ye Jingyan glanced at him. ”What’s wrong? Still upset?”

Ye Yunfeng’s lips tightened. After a long moment, he said in a muffled voice, ”I just feel so wronged! The evidence was conclusive. Anyone could see what really happened! How could this be the final verdict?”

The true mastermind gets off scot-free, without having to pay even the smallest price!

”Is this really how it has to end?”

Ye Jingyan put away his book. After a brief pause, he said, ”It’s not over until the very last moment. Who can say for sure?”

...

”What? Doctor Ye, you want to visit Liu Si?”

Hearing this, Wu Xu felt a headache coming on.

”It’s... it’s not that I don’t want to help you. It’s just that Liu Si is scheduled for public execution tomorrow at noon. By rule, no outsiders are allowed to visit him during this time...”

Ye Chutang offered him the food container she was carrying, smiling with a hint of resignation. ”I know I’m putting you in a difficult position, but I have no other choice. I’ve accepted a task and I must see it through. This container has steamed buns that Mrs. Zhou made by hand. She wanted Liu Si to have them as a final meal. They were husband and wife, after all.”

Wu Xu was surprised. ”Why doesn’t she deliver them tomorrow?”

’No matter the crime, a prisoner is always allowed a final meal. Why insist on sending it tonight?’

Ye Chutang paused and sighed.

”Mrs. Zhou... won’t be going to the execution grounds tomorrow. Liu Si’s crime was heinous, and if she and her child show up, they’ll likely be dragged into it and become targets of public scorn.”

It dawned on Wu Xu. ”Ah, that’s true...”

”So she came to me for help, and I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.” The corners of Ye Chutang’s lips lifted in a gentle, calm smile. ”But if it’s still impossible... then never mind.”

She gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

”Wait!”

Wu Xu called her back, gritting his teeth.

”Fine! I’ll take you!”

...

The prison was dim and cramped. The thick stench of blood hung in the air, punctuated by occasional groans of pain and weeping that would make one’s blood run cold.

Ye Chutang followed Wu Xu, and the deeper they went, the more intense the suffocating sense of despair became.

Wu Xu tilted his head slightly and whispered, ”He’s just ahead. But you only have a few minutes, so you must—”

THUD!

Someone covered in bloodstains suddenly lunged from a nearby cell, slamming hard against the bars. A skeletal arm stretched out desperately, as if trying to grasp something.

A hoarse, shrill cry echoed piercingly through the prison. ”Sir! Sir, I’ve been framed!”

”What do you think you’re doing? Settle down, all of you!”

Wu Xu barked, shoving the man back with his baton.

Apparently intimidated, the prisoner shrank back, trembling against the corner of his cell.

Wu Xu looked at Ye Chutang with concern. ”Doctor Ye, I’m sorry. Did that frighten you? This place is like that... there are always a few who’ve gone mad...”

Ye Chutang shook her head and gave him a faint smile. ”I’m fine.”

Gazing at the gentle and serene face before him, the rest of Wu Xu’s words caught in his throat.

’Most people are deeply unsettled on their first visit to a place like this. Yet Ye Chutang, a young woman of just seventeen, remained completely unfazed.’

’It was as if nothing around her could elicit the slightest reaction.’

Wu Xu suppressed his thoughts and continued leading Ye Chutang deeper into the prison.

Finally, Ye Chutang saw Liu Si.

His hair was a mess and his face was grimy. His clothes were filthy and stained with blood, which seemed to have accumulated over the past few days. Some of the stains had already darkened to black.

Wu Xu tactfully stepped back to keep watch for her.

Ye Chutang took a step forward.

”Liu Si.”

Liu Si didn’t react, as if he hadn’t heard her. He was utterly lifeless.

Ye Chutang continued, ”I’m here to bring you a meal from Mrs. Zhou.”

Liu Si finally stirred. He looked up, his voice raspy. ”Where is she?”

...

The few minutes passed quickly, and Ye Chutang returned to Wu Xu’s side.

Wu Xu let out a sigh of relief. He glanced into the cell and saw Liu Si, head down, devouring the steamed buns.

He looked away. ”Doctor Ye, this way please.”

...

There were no stars or moon tonight. A cool evening breeze drifted in through the window.

Shen Yanchuan, who had been sitting alone before a chessboard for a long time, suddenly sensed something and turned his head.

Two small hair buns popped up above the windowsill.

A corner of Shen Yanchuan’s mouth lifted. ”The door is open.”

The two little buns bobbed out of sight. A moment later, the unlatched door was pushed open, and a small, round head peeked in.

Xiao Wu’s large, grape-like eyes blinked as she looked from Shen Yanchuan to the chessboard, her expression curious.

Shen Yanchuan beckoned her over.

Xiao Wu shuffled over on her short little legs and stood by the chessboard, watching intently.

Shen Yanchuan found this rather amusing. ”Want to learn?”

Xiao Wu turned her head, slowly glanced at the black stone he held, and said nothing.

’He doesn’t play as well as my big sister!’

Just then, the wind blew open the window on the other side of the room, revealing a tall, slender figure.

”What the hell?!”

A voice, thick with astonishment, called out.

”Shen! It’s been a few years, and you’ve gone and gotten yourself a daughter?!”