The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Return

The April sky was warm and pleasant, high and clear.

Driving out from the north gate, the road was shaded by green trees on both sides, their new leaves rustling in the wind.

Ye Chutang lowered the curtain and looked at Xiao Wu in her arms. Seeing that the little girl had finally fallen asleep, she felt a sense of relief.

Ever since that accident years ago, Xiao Wu had been terrified of carriages. Every time she was in one, she would become extremely nervous.

But she had always been a sensible child. Even when terrified, she did her best to overcome it, trying not to hold them back.

Ye Chutang held her and coaxed her for a while until she finally drifted off to sleep. Half of her small face was buried in Ye Chutang’s embrace, and one chubby little hand was still unconsciously clutching Ye Chutang’s clothes, as if afraid of being separated from her even in her dreams.

Ye Jingyan took one last look at the receding city gates and murmured, ”So we’re just leaving like this...”

He had once thought they would stay here forever, living out their lives in peace and stability.

But he never expected that three years would pass in the blink of an eye, and they would once again be on the road back to the Capital City.

Ye Chutang tucked in Xiao Wu’s collar and said with a faint smile, ”It’s about a twenty-day journey from here to the Capital City. If you want to come back in the future, you can return whenever you like.”

Ye Jingyan shook his head.

”I just want to be with all of you.”

It wasn’t Jiangling he was attached to, but the past three years he had spent with his big sister and brothers.

He knew that once they returned to the capital, this peace would surely be shattered.

Probably to accommodate Xiao Wu, they didn’t travel very fast. The two brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, took turns driving the carriage, stopping and starting as they made their way north.

Ye Chutang would occasionally admire the scenery along the road, pulling her brothers over to look with her.

After all, back when they were fleeing south mixed in with refugees, they hadn’t been in the mood for such leisure.

And so, a journey that should have taken only twenty days ended up taking them a full month.

At the beginning of the fifth month, they finally arrived in the Capital City.

”Big Sis, we’re here!”

Ye Yunfeng’s voice was filled with unconcealed excitement.

Ye Chutang lifted the curtain and peeked outside.

The vast city stood in the distance, imposing and grand.

It looked almost exactly as she remembered, so much so that it made one wonder if the intervening three years had even happened.

Xiao Wu opened her eyes and looked ahead as well, her big, grape-like eyes full of curiosity.

When they had left, she was still in swaddling clothes and had no memory of the Capital City.

Compared to her big sister and two older brothers, this was practically her first time truly seeing what the Capital City looked like.

Her fourth brother had told her more than once that the Capital City had lots and lots of people, that the pastries were especially delicious, and that it was incredibly lively!

At that thought, Xiao Wu’s stomach let out a GURGLE.

She immediately grew shy and bashfully covered her little tummy.

Ye Chutang couldn’t help but laugh. ”Hungry?”

Xiao Wu shook her head, then nodded, and finally threw herself onto her sister’s shoulder, snuggling into her neck.

Ye Chutang rubbed the little girl’s head, then called out to Ye Yunfeng, ”We’re about to enter the city. A Feng, even if you’re hungry, can’t you hold on for a little longer?”

Ye Yunfeng, who had just been thrown under the bus: ”...”

He looked back with a wronged expression, about to defend himself, but then forced himself to hold it in.

’Forget it!’

’What else can I do but spoil my own big sister and little sister?’

His eyes darted around as an idea came to him. He then chuckled. ”Big Sis, we’ve been on the road for a whole month. How about we go get a nice meal?”

How could Ye Chutang not guess what he was thinking? ”Go on, which restaurant did you have in mind?”

Ye Yunfeng immediately replied, ”Lan Yue Building!”

Lan Yue Building was one of the most exclusive restaurants in the Capital City. On a typical day, it was frequented by the scions of noble and powerful families, and its cuisine was second to none.

Ever since leaving the Capital City, Ye Yunfeng had been dreaming of this place. Now that he was finally back, he naturally wanted to go and have a proper feast.

”Big Sis, just say yes or no!” Ye Yunfeng asked shamelessly.

Ye Chutang tilted her head, considering for a moment.

”Alright. Lan Yue Building it is.”

...

After passing through the heavily guarded city gates and along the wide, flat Vermilion Bird Street, the carriage finally stopped in front of a magnificent and imposing restaurant.

The street was bustling with people, a lively and noisy scene.

Ye Yunfeng looked up at the hanging, gold-lettered plaque and couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Lan Yue Building is still Lan Yue Building! It’s leagues above that Cao’s Restaurant!”

’Only the Capital City could have a restaurant of this caliber.’

The attendant at the entrance had long since noticed the plain, almost overly simple carriage.

The patrons who came here were either rich or noble, and most were regulars. But this young man driving the carriage looked completely unfamiliar.

He clearly wasn’t a servant from some noble house, but if you were to say he was a young master... his clothes and shoes suggested otherwise.

’Like some commoner from out of town.’

With that thought, the attendant’s attitude cooled considerably.

He sized up Ye Yunfeng from head to toe, then glanced at the carriage. ”Do you have a reservation, sir? If not, then I’m afraid—”

Suddenly, his voice caught in his throat.

A fair hand suddenly reached out from behind the curtain, its fingers slender and jade-like, its skin as smooth as fine cream.

From this hand alone, it was not difficult to imagine the beauty of its owner.

Then, a graceful figure stepped down from the carriage.

It was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a lavender-rose brocade dress. Her black hair was styled in a simple bun, adorned with only a single, slanted Red Agate Hairpin.

Her complexion was fairer than frost and snow, her dark brows like distant mountains, and her black eyes like stars. An invisible aura seemed to envelop her, setting her apart from her surroundings, yet possessing an undeniable allure that drew one’s gaze irresistibly to her.

The corners of her lips curved slightly into a faint smile, her dark, gentle eyes pure and warm.

”We don’t have a reservation. A simple table on the first floor will be fine.”

Her tone was calm, poised, and elegant.

The attendant stared, dumbfounded. Only after hearing her speak did he snap back to his senses. ”O-Of course! R-Right this way, esteemed guests!”

Ye Yunfeng snorted, immediately moving to Ye Chutang’s side and subtly shielding her with his body.

Ye Chutang turned to see Ye Jingyan getting out of the carriage with Xiao Wu in his arms.

”Let’s go,” Ye Chutang said, her lips curving into a smile. ”It’s Big Sis’s treat today. Order whatever you want.”

...

Ye Chutang and her party had just sat down on the first floor when they heard a clamor from upstairs.

”Hahaha! Ye! I hear your father is about to be promoted to Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Congratulations!”

Ye Chutang’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up and saw five or six young men coming down the stairs, their arms slung around each other’s shoulders.

The young man in the center of the group was about sixteen or seventeen. He had a somewhat refined appearance, but his frame was too thin, causing his fine brocade clothes to hang loosely on him. There was a gloomy, dissolute look in his eyes that was rather unsettling.

Hearing this, he let out a smug laugh. A flash of pride crossed his face, but he said, ”It’s not official yet. Don’t spread rumors.”

Another young man beside him immediately said, ”What do you mean, not official? I heard plenty of people in the capital have already received invitations to the banquet! Oh, right, I also heard that even the Dingbei Marquis Mansion was invited this time?”

Ye Chutang’s dark brows arched slightly.