The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

A maidservant hurried over, quite surprised. "Second Miss Ye, you said to prepare a banquet?"

’But isn’t Second Miss Ye’s birthday tomorrow?’

Ye Chutang nodded.

"A family banquet—oh no, an honored guest is coming."

’When expressing gratitude, one must be sincere.’

...

"She wants to see the Master?"

A rare look of surprise appeared on Yun Cheng’s face. He felt a hint of joy for his master and couldn’t help but confirm again,

"Did Second Miss Ye really say that?"

Lu Yu just gave him a cool, indifferent glance.

Yun Cheng’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "Hey, don’t get upset. I’m not questioning your abilities; I’m just utterly surprised."

’The Master has always been the one to proactively visit Second Miss Ye. When has Second Miss Ye ever taken the initiative to see the Master?’

Even when she sent the wine, Second Miss Ye had sent someone in her place. She never even stepped foot through the gates of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.

’Today is truly a rare occasion.’

After his initial joy, Yun Cheng grew worried. "But the Master isn’t in the mansion right now, and he probably won’t be back for a while. What should we do?"

Lu Yu hadn’t considered that and was momentarily stunned. "The Master went out?"

’But he was here this morning when I came to deliver the testimony.’

"Yes. There was an urgent matter that the Master went to handle personally." Yun Cheng thought for a moment, feeling that such an opportunity couldn’t be missed. "How about this? You go back first and tell Second Miss Ye that the Master might be a little late, but he will definitely be there. Tell her not to worry."

Lu Yu was skeptical. "Really?"

’There was quite a commotion in the palace today. Under such circumstances, the Master didn’t even go to the palace. It’s obvious that the matter he went to handle personally is far more important than all that.’

’Can he even finish it within the day?’

But Yun Cheng already had a plan. He smiled and patted Lu Yu’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, I keep my word. The Master will certainly pay a visit today. Just go back and tell Second Miss Ye."

Although Lu Yu was still uncertain, he didn’t ask any more questions after hearing Yun Cheng’s assurance. He nodded and vanished once more.

"Tsk. He sure left in a hurry. Anyone who didn’t know better would think he served the Ye family."

Yun Cheng chuckled and shook his head, then glanced up at the sky.

’Judging by the time, the Master should be on his way back now, right?’

...

Time trickled by. The sun sank silently into a thick layer of clouds, extinguishing the last of its afterglow.

The octagonal lanterns under the eaves lit up one by one, illuminating the deep night.

Yun Cheng put down his brush and peered outside again.

After waiting for so long, even he was starting to feel uncertain. ’Will the Master really be able to make it back in time?’

’If this drags on any longer, Second Miss Ye—’

Suddenly, the sound of urgent, powerful hoofbeats came from outside.

Overjoyed, Yun Cheng immediately stood up to greet him.

Outside the main gate, Shen Yanchuan, who had been gone for almost the entire day, returned on horseback.

He abruptly pulled the reins, and the horse reared before coming to a swift halt.

"Master, you’re finally back!"

Shen Yanchuan swung himself off the horse in one clean, fluid motion. His black cloak sliced through the night, stirring a slight ripple in the cold wind before settling gracefully.

As he walked forward, Yun Cheng saw by the candlelight that he seemed to be holding something.

It looked like... a black wooden box.

Yun Cheng froze for a second. ’The Master went out today just for this?’

Shen Yanchuan was about to head inside when he noticed Yun Cheng’s expression. "Is something the matter?"

Yun Cheng snapped back to his senses and said quickly, "Yes, there is something I must tell you."

He coughed into his fist, took a step forward, and said, "Second Miss Ye has invited you to visit today."

As expected, Shen Yanchuan stopped in his tracks.

"She invited me? Why?"

Yun Cheng summarized what Lu Yu had said:

"It seems she wants to see you."

Shen Yanchuan’s heart skipped a beat.

Yun Cheng added in a low voice, "Master, the hour is late. If you go now, you should still be able to make it."

Shen Yanchuan’s fingers tightened slightly.

He glanced down at the wooden box in his arms, then immediately turned and mounted his horse again.

Yun Cheng let out a sound of surprise and reached out. "Huh? Master, if you’re going, it’ll be inconvenient to carry that. Why don’t you—"

"This was always meant for her," Shen Yanchuan said.

Yun Cheng was even more astonished.

’It’s a gift for Second Miss Ye? What could it be, to make the Master go to such lengths today?’

But this wasn’t the time to ask. Yun Cheng acknowledged him and tactfully stepped back.

Shen Yanchuan pulled the reins and turned his horse toward the Ye Mansion.

"Hya!"

...

「Ye Mansion.」

The front hall was brightly lit with candles, and the room was warmly heated.

The aroma of food wafted through the air, making one’s mouth water.

Xiao Wu stared eagerly at the sumptuous banquet on the table and swallowed.

Yan sat on the other side, reading a letter from A Feng.

—He had already read it countless times.

Ye Chutang glanced at him. "You’ve probably memorized that letter by now. Are you still reading it?"

Ye Jingyan said seriously, "A Feng’s handwriting has improved quite a bit."

Ye Chutang was silent for a moment. "How can you tell?"

Ye Jingyan held up the letter. "I taught him cursive script before."

Ye Chutang: "..."

She looked outside.

Ye Jingyan finally put the letter away. He followed her gaze outside and asked hesitantly, "Sister, do you think the Princely Heir will still come tonight?"

He had just returned from the Imperial College to find the mansion staff bustling about. Only after asking did he learn that his sister was actually hosting a banquet for Shen Yanchuan today.

Thanking him was proper, and the preparations were well-done. It was just that the sky had already grown dark, and after waiting and waiting, the man still hadn’t arrived.

Ye Chutang shook her head. "He’ll come."

’Since Lu Yu already brought back a reply, there won’t be a problem. It’s just a matter of waiting a little longer.’

Ye Jingyan thought about it. ’After all, the man protected my sister completely. Arriving a little late is no big deal.’

Just then, a faint sound came from outside.

Ye Chutang’s brow twitched.

The next moment, a maidservant came in with a smile to announce, "Second Miss Ye, the Princely Heir has arrived!"

Ye Chutang stood up.

The night outside was deep and dark. A tall, upright figure emerged from the blackness.

The candlelight shone on his incomparably noble and handsome face, outlining his perfect features and the smooth line of his jaw.

His eyes, as black as deep pools, seemed to hold a glimmer of starlight. They were profound, unfathomable, and utterly captivating.

A thought suddenly flashed through Ye Chutang’s mind—Shen Yanchuan, it seemed, suited black even more.

Unlike his usual snow-white brocade robes, he now strode through the darkness draped in a black cloak. With his ink-black hair and eyes, he seemed even more aloof and noble, yet possessed a fatal attraction that made it impossible to look away.

Shen Yanchuan raised his gaze slightly, and in that instant, their eyes met.

His fingertips twitched slightly.

It had clearly only been a few days since they last saw each other, yet to him, it felt like a long time had passed.

Ye Chutang curtsied.

"Greetings, Princely Heir."