The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Exchange

”That case from years ago was always riddled with doubt.”

Shen Yanchuan spoke as he opened the first volume of the case file.

”Huo Yucheng fought on the battlefield for many years. He was always cautious and his command of troops was masterful. How could he have made such a colossal mistake at the battle of Tongtian Pass?”

It was as if he had been cursed.

”Because the battle was so disastrous, His Majesty was enraged. He ordered the Ministry of Justice to resolve the case as quickly as possible. In less than half a month, the entire Huo Family was executed, and even Ye Zheng and the others who pleaded on his behalf were implicated.”

The candlelight flickered, reflecting in the depths of Shen Yanchuan’s unfathomable eyes.

”Even more coincidentally, after Ye Zheng was demoted, he met with a mishap on his way out of the Capital.”

Lian Zhou recalled the information he had gathered, his expression turning grim. ”I heard the scene was horrific. Ye Zheng was stabbed multiple times while protecting his wife and bled to death. His eldest son, Ye Xiting, had his back covered in wounds as well. It was the dead of winter, and his blood soaked completely through his heavy cloak.”

Even without having seen it firsthand, just hearing the description made it easy to imagine how terrible and bloody the scene must have been.

”I heard that the people who arrived later saw the scene and their faces went pale on the spot. They were so traumatized that it took them a long time to recover after they returned.” Lian Zhou sighed. ”Who knows what Miss Ye and her siblings went through... But for them to have survived and remained safe to this day is truly a miracle.”

Shen Yanchuan’s gaze lowered slightly. He suddenly thought of Xiao Wu.

’Could it be... she was traumatized back then?’ The Little Milk Group seemed perfectly fine, but she was four years old and still couldn’t speak.

An image of a pair of gentle, pure eyes surfaced in his mind.

He seemed to have never seen any intense emotions in those unbelievably beautiful and clear eyes.

She always seemed to be gentle, soft, and poised.

Nothing seemed to be able to stir even the slightest ripple of emotion in her.

Shen Yanchuan looked down at the case file in his hands.

”You said before that she had contacted Xu Fengchi long ago?”

Lian Zhou stiffened. ”Yes.”

In truth, he had been shocked when he discovered this, as it meant Ye Chutang could have returned to the Capital much earlier. Yet, for some reason, she hadn’t.

’What could have possibly made her choose to wander in exile with her younger siblings for three long years, only to return now?’

Shen Yanchuan nodded but remained silent for a long moment.

Unable to contain himself, Lian Zhou asked in a low voice, ”Sir, do you think... Miss Ye is also investigating General Huo’s case?”

Shen Yanchuan’s expression remained unchanged. ”She’s investigating whoever was connected to Ye Zheng’s death.”

”But... she has no connections and no status. A thorough investigation of this case would be next to impossible for her!”

’Where on earth did she find the courage and audacity to take on such a task?’

Shen Yanchuan flipped open the case file, a brow arching slightly.

”Isn’t she about to see the case file from back then very soon?”

Lian Zhou froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. ”You... you’re going to give this case file to Miss Ye?”

”Of course not.” A faint smile seemed to touch Shen Yanchuan’s lips. ”I never make a losing deal.”

He wasn’t giving it away. He was making an exchange.

...

「That day,」 Ye Chutang brought Xiao Wu to the Imperial College.

Her two brothers got word and hurried to the entrance.

”Sister! Xiao Wu!”

Ye Yunfeng ran over excitedly and swept Xiao Wu into his arms.

”Let me see, have you grown any taller these past few days? Hey, Xiao Wu, have you put on weight?”

Ye Yunfeng bounced the Little Point in his arms, a look of mock heartbreak on his face. ”I thought you’d miss me so much while I was gone that you’d waste away!”

’How did she end up getting heavier?’

Xiao Wu struggled to pull a bag of squashed chestnut cakes from her robes.

’This! It’s for Third Brother and Fourth Brother!’

”Pastries from Lan Yue Building?” The disappointment vanished from Ye Yunfeng’s face, replaced by delight as he took the bag. ”I knew you still cared about me and Third Brother! It doesn’t matter if they’re squashed! Our dear Xiao Wu brought these all the way from Lan Yue Building. It’s the thought that counts, and we can’t let that go to waste!”

Xiao Wu blinked.

Ye Jingyan, who had walked up behind him, glanced at the bag and asked, ”Sister, did you and Xiao Wu just come from a meal at Lan Yue Building?”

Xiao Wu silently clasped her little hands together.

Ye Chutang replied, ”That’s right.”

Ye Jingyan gently pinched Xiao Wu’s chubby cheek and asked, ”How many meals has that been?”

Xiao Wu lowered her head guiltily.

Ye Chutang’s expression didn’t falter. ”Not that many. Lan Yue Building just has such a wide variety of dishes, and I thought since Xiao Wu just returned to the Capital, I should let her try a little of everything.”

’We really haven’t gone that many times. After all, we sometimes stay at the Long Princess Mansion for our meals.’

’There are only three meals in a day. If you mix in the meals here and there, it doesn’t really add up to that much, right?’

Ye Jingyan: ”...”

He glanced at Ye Yunfeng, who was happily munching on a chestnut cake, and thought to himself, ’Oh, well. They’re just the leftovers from Sister and Xiao Wu’s meal, but I guess it’s better than nothing.’

’At least it proves she hasn’t completely forgotten about me and Yunfeng.’

”Your ten-day break is in two days, isn’t it?” Ye Chutang cleared her throat, offering a small olive branch. ”We’ll all go together as a family then.”

However, she didn’t get the reaction she expected.

Ye Yunfeng’s cheek was puffed out with cake, muffling his words. ”Sister, maybe we should skip it this time? The monthly exams are right after the break. Jingyan and I only just got here, so we need to use the time to catch up!”

Ye Chutang was genuinely surprised. She took a step back and looked him up and down.

”Is the Imperial College really that incredible? You’ve only been there a few days and you’re already so diligent and studious?”

Ye Yunfeng choked on his cake and pounded his chest.

Ye Jingyan smoothly took the remaining chestnut cakes and explained, ”Yunfeng isn’t being clear. The monthly exams test the Six Arts. He wants to get a good score in Charioteering and Archery.”

’I see.’

’I knew I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.’

Ye Chutang considered it for a moment. ”Well, it’s not impossible.”

’Yunfeng doesn’t like to read, but he does have a knack for other things.’

Since they had both entered the Imperial College mid-term, they were bound to attract attention. This first monthly exam was naturally very important.

Ye Jingyan’s brow furrowed slightly. ”Yunfeng will have no problem with Charioteering and Archery, but...”

Before he could finish, Ye Yunfeng tugged on his sleeve. The carefree smile on his face didn’t waver. ”Sister, next time I want some crystal radish cakes, okay?”

Ye Chutang’s gaze flickered between the two brothers.

”What is it? Is there a problem with the monthly exams?”

No one knew her brothers better than she did; she could tell what they were thinking with a single glance.

”Yunfeng?”

Ye Yunfeng laughed nonchalantly. ”No problem at all!”

Ye Chutang ignored him. ”Yan, you tell me.”

Ye Jingyan paused for a moment before saying, ”Murong Ye and Yunfeng have agreed to compete against each other on the training grounds during the monthly exam.”

”Oh?” Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow.

Ye Jingyan looked at her and added,

”For Charioteering and Archery, the students must provide their own equipment. I’ve heard that Murong Ye’s set, the Purple Cloud Bow and Arrow, was specially procured for him by Commander Murong.”