The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Whose Home?

That cry of ”Second Young Master” instantly froze the atmosphere.

Ye Chutang tilted her head to look at Mingze. ”Mingze, is he calling for you?”

’Second Young Master? But there was no ”second young master” among her siblings.’

The color drained from Ye Mingze’s face, then flushed red.

Just then, the butler, Yu Hong, finally noticed that several other people had returned with Ye Mingze.

He hurriedly asked, ”Second Young Master, are these people your guests?”

’How strange. The Second Young Master usually hangs around with those wastrels from the Capital City who do nothing but loaf around, drinking and carousing all day. When did he make friends like these?’

’And that woman in the carriage... even though the curtain was only half-lifted, he could still make out a glimpse of an incomparably refined and beautiful face.’

’Was there a small child with them, too?’

’This...’

Before he could make sense of it, Ye Yunfeng, who was at the front, stormed forward with a deep frown. ”What nonsense are you spouting! This is clearly our—”

”A Feng.”

Ye Chutang called out, stopping him as she stepped down from the carriage.

She stood tall and graceful, her hands clasped before her abdomen. Every gesture exuded an innate refinement. Anyone who saw her could guess she was a noble lady from a great house, meticulously taught etiquette and propriety.

Yu Hong grew even more confused.

The next moment, he saw Ye Mingze explain awkwardly, ”Uncle Hong, this is my older cousin.”

Older cousin?

’Where did an older cousin come from?’

Ye Mingze didn’t have time to dally with him and simply ordered, ”Hurry inside and announce this! Tell Father my older cousin is back! Right! And—and my two younger male cousins! And my younger female cousin! They’re all back!”

Yu Hong was utterly bewildered.

’The Master had come home early today and, seeing that the Second Young Master wasn’t studying but had snuck out to have fun again, he’d flown into a rage. He’s been waiting in the study ever since.’

’He’d been perfectly clear earlier, so the Second Young Master must have understood the situation. Why wasn’t he worried at all? Instead, he’d brought back these mysterious ”cousins” and was now in such a rush to have him announce their arrival?’

’Was the arrival of these people really so important?’

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from the side.

Ye Yunfeng sounded as if he’d just heard a hilarious joke. ”We’re returning to our own home, yet we need an outsider to announce our arrival?!”

’This Ye Mansion was clearly his family’s house, but at some point, it seemed to have gotten a new master!’

The smile on Ye Chutang’s face faded. In a soft voice, she asked, ”Mingze, what is going on here?”

Her voice was soft, yet it made Ye Mingze shiver involuntarily.

He opened his mouth but didn’t know how to explain.

Ye Chutang lifted her chin slightly, her limpid gaze sweeping across the great gate before them. Finally, she asked in a soft, questioning tone:

”You said your family also moved to Liuwan Lane. It couldn’t be a coincidence that you live... right here, could it?”

...

”Eldest Miss, these are the new jewelry pieces from the Golden Jade Pavilion, and they’re all of the highest quality. Especially this golden silk eight treasure hairpin—it’s absolutely radiant! In a few days, at the Eldest Princess’s Chao Hua Banquet, if you wear this, you’re sure to outshine all the other ladies!”

The woman seated before the bronze mirror smiled, covering her mouth. Her limpid eyes shimmered beautifully.

She was in the bloom of her youth, with exquisite makeup and a perfectly tailored gown of Moonlight Brocade. Her every gesture exuded the air of a pampered upbringing. When she smiled, a touch of arrogant splendor brightened her features.

”This hairpin is lovely, but it’s too ornate—” She admired herself in the mirror for a moment, then removed the hairpin and replaced it with another. ”This Jade Feathered Phoenix Hairpin is better.”

Her maid, Shaoyao, hesitated. ”The quality of the jade is excellent, but isn’t it a bit too plain? Eldest Miss, this is your first time being invited to the Chao Hua Banquet. You can’t let those other noble ladies surpass you!”

”It’s better to be understated,” Ye Shixian said, stroking the hairpin. ”Everyone who qualifies to attend the Chao Hua Banquet is a noble lady from a prestigious family. Princess Qingyang will be there, in particular. Why would I want to steal the spotlight and displease her?”

’In the past, Father’s official rank was low, so despite her beauty, she was never qualified to attend events like this.’

’Because of that, she had been openly and secretly mocked and slighted by the other noble ladies more times than she could count.’

’Now that the opportunity had finally arrived, she naturally wanted to hold her head high and redeem herself. But Princess Qingyang already looked down on her, and she knew better than to push her luck.’

Shaoyao pouted. ”Honestly, that Princess Qingyang! She’s interested in Mr. Murong, but he happens to like you, so she takes her anger out on you. She’s used it as an excuse to make trouble for you several times already. Is she really going to bother you at the Chao Hua Banquet, too?”

”It’s always best to be cautious,” Ye Shixian said as she secured the Jade Feathered Phoenix Hairpin in her hair. ”Besides, when all the flowers are competing for attention, being the one who doesn’t fight for the spotlight is a unique style in itself, isn’t it?”

Shaoyao’s eyes darted, and she chimed in with a sycophantic smile, ”You’re right, Eldest Miss! In the entire Capital City, your beauty is unparalleled! Even if you wore ragged clothes, you’d still be a hundred times more beautiful than any of them!”

Ye Shixian smiled, calm and composed.

”All right, put these away. By the way, has Mingze returned yet?”

”Er... I don’t think so.”

Ye Shixian’s brows furrowed slightly. ”His playful nature really needs to be disciplined. Mother spoils him far too much.”

Shaoyao said solicitously, ”Don’t worry, Eldest Miss. The Second Young Master is actually very clever; he just has a penchant for fun! If he put even a fraction more effort into his studies, he would have no trouble earning a title. You—”

She was cut off before she could finish. A servant rushed in from outside. ”Eldest Miss!”

Ye Shixian, looking slightly displeased, shut the jewelry box with a deliberate—not too loud, not too soft—CLICK.

”What’s all the rush about?”

The servant stood outside the door, his expression complex.

”You... you—The Master asks that you go over at once! Please, hurry!”

Ye Shixian paused. ”Father? What’s happened?”

The servant wrung his hands, seemingly at a loss for words. After a moment, he stammered, ”I-I’m not sure myself. I... I only heard that some guests have returned with the Second Young Master! And... and they’re saying something about... cousins...”

CLATTER.

The wooden comb in Ye Shixian’s hand fell to the floor.

She shot to her feet, her face a mask of disbelief. ”What?!”

...

Ye Shixian rushed toward the study. Just as she reached the entrance to the courtyard, she ran into Ye Heng, who was heading out.

”Father?”

She took a step forward, both shocked and bewildered.

”She... They’re really back?!”

Ye Heng clasped his hands behind his back, fists clenched. His expression was fraught with emotion, but he said, ”That’s what the servants are saying. I haven’t seen them for myself yet. I was just on my way to the front hall.”

Ye Shixian opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

”How... How could this be? Back then, didn’t they say that all of them had...”

Ye Heng cut her off. ”It’s useless to say more. We have to go and see for ourselves to find out the truth!”

...

Ye Chutang stepped over the threshold and walked straight through to the front hall.

She took a seat as if she owned the place, then said, ”Yan, A Feng, sit down. We’ve been on the road for so long. Now that we’re home, it’s time to get some rest.”

As she spoke, she glanced up at Ye Mingze. ”You should sit too, Mingze.”

But Ye Mingze was on pins and needles and could not bring himself to sit. Instead, he snapped at the butler, ”What are you gawking at! Go and make some tea!”

But in the next instant, Ye Chutang spoke with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. ”There’s no need. We are home. It makes no sense to have a guest busy himself with hosting.”

Ye Mingze felt his chest tighten.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from outside.

An urgent voice called out, ”Chutang! Is it really you? You’re all back?!”

Ye Chutang calmly lifted her gaze—