The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 112: Mutual Affection

"Oh?"

The Eldest Princess seemed a little surprised.

Ye Heng paused for a moment before explaining, "Han Tong’s son, Han Yao, has long admired Chutang."

Han Yao hadn’t expected the Eldest Princess to actually intend to arrange a marriage for Ye Chutang. Hearing Ye Heng mention his name, he was momentarily flustered but quickly stood up.

"This junior is indeed sincere in asking for Miss Ye’s hand in marriage."

The Eldest Princess’s brow lifted slightly, the smile in her eyes gradually fading.

’Ye Chutang had mentioned before that Ye Heng was keen on arranging her marriage. And after all that picking and choosing, this is the person he selected?’

The Eldest Princess dabbed the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, her tone betraying no emotion. "I recall that Han Tong is currently the Junior Minister of the Guanglu Temple?"

Ye Heng himself had already been promoted to the fourth-rank, yet he was choosing to marry his own niece to the son of a fifth-rank official. His intentions were plain as day.

"Y-Yes..." Ye Heng had, of course, caught the underlying meaning in the Eldest Princess’s words. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he forced a smile. "Lord Han and I are old friends, and I watched Han Yao grow up. We know each other’s families well..."

It sounded as if he was truly thinking of nothing but Ye Chutang’s best interests.

Princess Qingyang narrowed her eyes, looking Han Yao up and down. "You want to marry Doctor Ye?"

Han Yao choked.

’I originally planned to take Ye Chutang as a concubine, and Ye Heng even agreed. But in this situation, if I dare say that, wouldn’t I be publicly slapping the Eldest Princess in the face?’

Han Yao quickly weighed the pros and cons and said with a fawning smile, "It is my sincere wish—"

"PFFT!"

Princess Qingyang burst out laughing, unconcealed mockery in her eyes.

"You? Han Yao, you must be dreaming!"

The words were incredibly harsh, and Han Yao’s expression instantly froze.

But the one who said it was Princess Qingyang, a truly fearless soul who was always the one causing trouble for others, never the other way around.

One of her favorite pastimes was, when she took a dislike to someone, to metaphorically rip their face off, throw it on the ground, and stomp on it relentlessly.

Clearly, Han Yao had just become the unlucky victim.

"Qingyang," Emperor Muwu called out to her. "Mind your words."

’We are in front of so many people, after all.’

Princess Qingyang, unafraid, was only further emboldened.

"Your Majesty, you may not be aware, but this Mr. Han is good friends with Ye Mingze. They spend most of their days frequenting brothels, living such a carefree and libertine life! And now Lord Ye actually wants to arrange a marriage between him and Doctor Ye?"

Princess Qingyang scoffed and turned back to look at Ye Heng.

"I’d like to ask you, Lord Ye, do you really think he is a good match for your own niece?"

...

The atmosphere turned awkward, the air seeming to freeze.

No one had expected Princess Qingyang to be the first to cause a scene.

Han Yao’s libertine reputation was well-known throughout the Capital City. Anyone who bothered to ask around would have no trouble learning of his conduct.

For Ye Heng to choose such a person for his own niece was indeed difficult to justify.

"Th-This..." Ye Heng was about to offer a rebuttal when he saw the Eldest Princess leaning back in her chair, perfectly calm and composed, with no intention of stopping Princess Qingyang.

His heart instantly sank.

’Is this just Princess Qingyang acting on a whim, or is she doing this with the Eldest Princess’s blessing?’

Ye Heng forced a smile, trying his best to salvage the situation. "Actually, youthful indiscretion is quite common. Han Yao may have been a bit wild in the past, but his character isn’t bad!"

He feigned great difficulty. "With my elder brother and sister-in-law gone, I, as her second uncle, am the only one who can oversee Chutang’s marriage. Ever since he met Chutang, Han Yao has thought of nothing but her. He cares for her deeply, and the two of them get along very well. You could say their feelings are mutual—"

A soft chuckle was suddenly heard from the side.

Ye Heng looked over instinctively, a baffled expression on his face. "Princely Heir, what are you laughing at?"

A faint smile touched Shen Yanchuan’s lips as he spoke in a light tone, "It’s nothing. I’m just a bit surprised. Doctor Ye has been back in the Capital City for little more than a month. But from what Lord Ye just said, anyone who didn’t know better would think she and Han Yao have known each other for a long time and share a deep bond."

Ye Heng’s face flushed.

For some reason, even though Shen Yanchuan was smiling as he spoke, Ye Heng felt an inexplicable fear. An indescribable chill shot up from the soles of his feet and quickly enveloped his entire body.

Ye Heng lowered his head, not daring to meet those deep, indifferent eyes.

Standing behind him, Ye Shixian’s heart stirred, and she spoke in a soft voice, "What the Princely Heir says is reasonable, but matters of the heart are the most difficult to fathom in this world. ’Some know each other for a lifetime yet remain strangers, while others become fast friends at first meeting.’ That’s how it is, isn’t it?"

Shen Yanchuan glanced at her.

Ye Shixian instantly tensed up, holding her breath slightly. Her heart pounded wildly, and her cheeks burned hot.

She lowered her head, revealing a long, slender, pale neck, putting on a docile and pretty appearance.

Shen Yanchuan leaned back, his tone calm. "I didn’t realize Miss Ye knew what’s on Doctor Ye’s mind even better than she does herself."

The color instantly drained from Ye Shixian’s face, her lips turning pale.

’I was too impulsive! In my eagerness to speak with him and to lock Ye Chutang into a match with Han Yao, I spoke out at such an inappropriate time!’

Ye Heng immediately stepped in to smooth things over with a laugh. "The Princely Heir’s correction is astute. But Xian’er meant no harm. She was just concerned about her cousin’s marriage and spoke out of turn. Please forgive her, Princely Heir."

Princess Qingyang rolled her eyes.

’This family is so full of silver-tongued liars! They could argue that black is white!’

’If that Han Yao were such a great catch, why wouldn’t Ye Heng marry his own daughter to him?’

Ye Heng said, "All I wish is to find a good family for Chutang, one that will treat her well—"

Han Yao also scrambled to his knees, crying out with what seemed like deep sincerity, "Eldest Princess, please see the truth! My feelings for Second Miss Ye are genuine!"

The Eldest Princess glanced at her grandson, who remained calm and composed, then at the half-full cup of tea by his hand that he hadn’t touched since earlier. The corners of her lips flickered upward in a fleeting smile.

She calmly retracted her gaze. Instead of responding directly to Han Yao, she asked, "When that horse went wild earlier, it charged at you. Were you injured?"

Han Yao froze. He never would have imagined the Eldest Princess would suddenly ask about this. Flustered, he quickly replied in a respectful tone, "Thank you for your concern, Eldest Princess. I was not seriously harmed."

The Eldest Princess nodded. "Right. It was your servant who took the blow for you, wasn’t it?"

Han Yao’s expression froze solid.

’How could I have forgotten? That horse was originally charging at me! In my panic, I shoved my servant in front of me to save my own skin. That servant had several bones broken by the horse’s hooves and was carried away long ago. It’s uncertain if he’ll even survive.’

’More importantly—it was because of that, that the horse changed direction and charged toward the Eldest Princess!’

At this realization, Han Yao’s legs went weak. The strength seemed to drain from his body in an instant, and he nearly collapsed where he knelt.