The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 128: Giving Thanks

Ye Chutang paused, her eyes lifting slightly.

Ye Heng realized he had overreacted and quickly composed himself, trying to make his voice sound calm.

"Th-those are my treasured collections from over the years. Many of them are one-of-a-kind. If they’re damaged, they’ll be irreplaceable."

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow and glanced down at the book in her hand.

"*Spring Sun Mountain Record*?"

It was a travelogue.

"I had no idea you were interested in such things, Second Uncle."

Ye Heng’s throat went dry. As he bent to pick up the scattered books and scrolls, he snapped at the servants, "What are you gaping at!"

The servants snapped out of it and scrambled to help.

Once everything was back in the chest, Ye Heng approached Ye Chutang, his eyes fixed on the book she was holding.

"These books are quite interesting. I read them in my spare time."

"Is that so? In that case, I’ll have to borrow one or two from you someday," Ye Chutang said with a slight smile, handing the book back.

Ye Heng breathed an inward sigh of relief.

’Thank goodness. Ye Chutang hadn’t opened it to see what was inside.’

He placed the book back in the chest. Only after he had sealed and locked it did the knot in his stomach finally loosen. He then frowned slightly. "Don’t worry. I’m only taking what belongs to me."

Ever since his falling-out with Ye Chutang at the Long Princess Mansion, Ye Heng had lost all patience for her.

’He’d already fallen this far; why should he bother being polite to Ye Chutang?’

’She’s probably gloating inside right now!’

Ye Chutang seemed to ignore the sarcasm in his tone. She smiled faintly and explained, "You misunderstand, Second Uncle. I only came back to return Mr. Xu’s umbrella. After all, it belongs to someone else. It would be wrong of me to hold onto it, wouldn’t you agree?"

Ye Heng’s face turned livid.

It was a thinly veiled jab, and it was aimed squarely at him!

Taking a deep breath to suppress his roiling anger, Ye Heng said coldly, "That’s between you and him! It has nothing to do with anyone else!"

’He didn’t care. Not in the slightest!’

With that, he stormed off, making it clear he didn’t want to exchange another word with her.

Ye Shixian hurried after him.

As she brushed past Ye Chutang, she stopped. Unable to hold back, she gritted her teeth and hissed, "Are you satisfied now?"

Ye Chutang glanced at her, a slight curve to her red lips.

"You jest, Cousin."

’This is nothing.’

’Everything is only just beginning.’

Ye Shixian met her gaze, only to find an unreadable calm and indifference. A sharp glint seemed to lie hidden in their depths, promising to cut anyone who dared to get closer.

An involuntary shiver went through Ye Shixian’s heart. She swallowed the rest of her words, turned, and hurried away.

Her steps were frantic, her retreat undignified.

Ye Chutang retracted her gaze and looked down at Xiao Wu, giving her a little wink.

"Well done."

Xiao Wu lifted her little face, beaming with pride.

’That was nothing! I just wonder if Big Sis found what she was looking for.’

Ye Chutang picked her up, her expression turning thoughtful as the previous scene replayed in her mind.

「...」

The Ye Mansion was in utter chaos. Paying no mind to anyone else, Ye Chutang headed straight for her own quarters.

Perhaps intimidated by the Eldest Princess, Ye Heng hadn’t sent anyone to cause trouble here.

Of course, ever since Ye Mingze had moved out, there was nothing of his left here anyway.

’It was filthy.’

Ye Chutang entered the inner room and went to the bookshelf. With a light tap of her finger, a hidden compartment clicked open in the wall behind it.

Come to think of it, her older brother had designed this secret compartment for her and taught her how to open and close it.

But they had left before she ever had a chance to use it.

Ye Chutang checked it again carefully. The heirlooms her parents had left behind, which Xu Fengchi had returned, were all still safe inside.

Slightly relieved, she closed the compartment, grabbed the umbrella she had borrowed from Xu Rongqing from beside the bookshelf, and turned to leave.

「...」

Xu Rongqing was waiting outside the gate.

He had wanted to go in with Ye Chutang, but she had politely declined his offer.

Xu Rongqing had only relaxed after reasoning that with so many people watching, Ye Heng and his family wouldn’t be able to do anything to her.

After a short wait, he saw Ye Heng and his family emerge.

Compared to his former triumphant self, Ye Heng looked considerably more haggard today.

He was directing the servants to load and arrange their belongings on a carriage when he noticed Xu Rongqing, and beside him, the carriage from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.

Ye Heng’s heart skipped a beat.

He could ignore Xu Rongqing, but Shen Yanchuan...

Ye Heng had no choice but to steel himself, step forward, and bow.

"Princely Heir, what brings you here?"

The carriage curtain remained closed, but a cool, clear voice drifted out from within.

"It is nothing of great importance. The Eldest Princess was simply concerned that Lord Ye might overexert himself, so she sent some people to help."

Ye Heng stared, dumbfounded, at the row of male and female servants standing behind the carriage. "Th-this is..."

The man inside the carriage seemed to chuckle.

"These were all hand-picked; they are experts in cleaning and organizing. Please, Lord Ye, do not stand on ceremony. Use them as you see fit."

「...」

Time passed, and as noon approached, Ye Heng’s family had finally moved all of their belongings out.

Several carriages shuttled back and forth, not daring to rest for a moment.

The final trip was for the family themselves.

Mrs. Gao sat in the carriage, her face veiled, her expression resentful and bitter.

Ye Mingze rode in the same carriage, his body bound with ropes and his mouth gagged with a cloth.

He struggled ceaselessly, trying to break free, but to no avail. His eyes were faintly bloodshot.

Ye Heng had done this specifically because he was afraid his son would cause a scene.

Although Mrs. Gao’s heart ached for him, she didn’t dare step outside with so many people around, terrified of being seen in her current state. She could only suffer in silence.

Ye Shixian and Ye Heng were the last to board the carriage.

Neither of them looked pleased, thanks to Ye Chutang’s sudden appearance.

Mrs. Gao finally couldn’t take it anymore. "Husband! Are we really just going to leave like this!?"

’How is this any different from being publicly thrown out onto the street!’

’From now on, our family will be the laughingstock of the entire Capital City!’

Ye Heng snapped, "What else do you suggest!?"

’How could I possibly defy a command from the Eldest Princess!?’

Mrs. Gao’s face was a mask of resentment. "That Ye Chutang! Sooner or later, she’ll meet the same fate as her short-lived parents!"

The more Ye Heng listened, the more irritated he became. "That’s enough! Keep your voice down! Are you afraid people can’t hear you!?"

Ye Shixian couldn’t resist lifting the curtain, only to see Ye Chutang standing under the gateway, having come out at some unknown point.

She looked over at them and smiled faintly.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, take care. Do come and visit often."

Ye Shixian’s chest ached with anger. She slammed the curtain shut.

"Go!"

As the carriage receded into the distance, Ye Chutang withdrew her gaze and walked over to Xu Rongqing, holding out the umbrella. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Mr. Xu, thank you so much for your help earlier."