The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 38: Driving Away Guests

The case against Cao Chengwu and his father caused a huge stir. It also exposed the crimes of County Magistrate Yang Zhen’s concubine from the Liu Family, who had been secretly accepting bribes and bleeding the people dry.

In just a few short days, everything in Jiangling had changed.

Mrs. Zhou had Aunt Yang deliver some Furong Cake to Ye Chutang, asking her to pass along her thanks. Then, she and her child quietly left the city.

Ye Chutang accepted the gift without asking any questions.

She had done what she set out to do. She wouldn’t interfere in the decisions of others.

The brothers, Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng, went to the academy to formally withdraw. They expected their tutor to subject them to another round of passive-aggressive remarks, but to their surprise, the academy wasn’t even open when they arrived.

"I heard men from the government office went to the academy first thing this morning and ’escorted’ our tutor away!" Ye Yunfeng said upon returning home, still in disbelief. "I wonder what crime he committed?"

Given the tutor’s status, the government office would never have shown up at his door and taken him away without conclusive evidence.

"At this rate, who knows when the academy will reopen!"

Ye Yunfeng cheered up as he said this.

He had never enjoyed his studies and especially despised this tutor. Now that he was finally rid of him for good, of course he was happy.

Ye Jingyan explained, "It seems to be related to the Cao Family’s case."

Ye Chutang nodded knowingly. She wasn’t surprised.

She’d long felt that the tutor was unusually partial to the Cao brothers. When A Feng and Cao Chengwu got into a fight, he had sided with Cao Chengwu without any justification. Afterward, he had repeatedly made life difficult for A Feng and Yan.

Now that the Cao Family had fallen, it was only to be expected that he would be implicated.

"It doesn’t matter. Once we’re back in the Capital City, the Imperial College will have much better tutors for you," Ye Chutang said. "Spend the next two days packing your things. We’re leaving in three days."

Ye Jingyan asked in surprise, "So soon?"

He had expected it to be at least another ten days or even half a month. After all, they hadn’t been back in three years. A sudden move like this required a lot of preparation.

’Three days... Isn’t that too rushed?’

Ye Chutang shook her head. "We don’t have that much to bring with us. Since we’re ’returning’ home, it’s best to travel light."

’Speed was what she wanted.’

’She had already sent the letter. The whole point was to arrive in the Capital City right on its heels.’

’She never intended to wait for a reply.’

’It was a notice, not a request.’

With a look of regret, Ye Yunfeng picked up a wooden board. On it was the notice announcing the clinic’s closure.

Ye Chutang had specifically told them to write and hang this up the last time the clinic ran into trouble.

"And here I thought our clinic could finally reopen..." Ye Yunfeng sighed.

In their three years in Jiangling, they had grown accustomed to the daily bustle of people at the clinic. The thought of suddenly closing it for good... was truly... hard to adjust to.

"Sister, when we return to the Capital City, are we closing this clinic for good?" Ye Yunfeng asked reluctantly.

Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow. "When did I ever say that?"

Ye Yunfeng’s eyes lit up. "Does that mean we’re keeping it open?"

Ye Jingyan, however, frowned and looked at Ye Chutang. "Sister?"

’Once they’re back in the Capital City, things will be far more complicated. Trying to open a clinic there would be incredibly difficult.’

’He never thought his sister would still have such a plan.’

Ye Chutang tutted. "You both know how expensive the Capital City is. We need a way to make a living."

Ye Jingyan froze. "But Sec—... aren’t they all still in the Capital City? They wouldn’t just leave us to fend for ourselves, would they?"

’That would be completely unreasonable and improper!’

Ye Chutang smiled, but her expression remained distant and calm.

"They are them, and we are us. As for this return... whether it brings more joy or more sorrow remains to be seen."

...

It was already evening when Shen Yanchuan returned to the clinic.

However, he noticed something was amiss the moment he was back.

The courtyard seemed emptier than before.

Shen Yanchuan glanced from side to side, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.

Lian Zhou found it strange as well and couldn’t help but ask, "Huh? Have all the herbs that have been drying these last few days been collected?"

They had been staying at the clinic for a while now and had become familiar with its process and schedule for sun-drying herbs.

This was the most thoroughly the herbs in the courtyard had been cleared away in all the time they’d been there.

Suddenly, Shen Yanchuan’s gaze landed on a particular spot.

"No. They’ve been thrown out."

Lian Zhou followed his gaze and saw a pile of discarded herbs next to the firewood in the courtyard.

"This—" Lian Zhou was shocked.

Ye’s Clinic had been targeted lately and hadn’t acquired any new herbs in a long time. The ones left were all from their previous stock and should have been considered precious. So why were they all being discarded now?

Shen Yanchuan then looked toward the opposite room. Through the half-open window, he could vaguely make out a small figure sitting before a low table, seriously examining a neat row of purses.

A chubby little hand reached out, carefully squeezing each purse in turn. Her chubby little face was full of reluctance to part with them.

’Sister said I have to put everything into one purse, and that some of the broken silver needs to be exchanged for silver notes. That will make it much lighter for our journey.’

’But I love all these purses! I worked so hard to save them up! It’s such a waste to just throw them away, WAHHHH!’

Xiao Wu rested her chin in her hands, her little brow furrowed in deep thought. After much deliberation, she finally selected one purse and started emptying the contents of the others into it.

It was mostly broken silver, but there was also a Jade Pendant and a golden whistle.

She was so absorbed in her task that she failed to notice Shen Yanchuan watching her.

Lian Zhou’s eyes widened. "Wait, how old is she? How did she save up so much pocket money!?"

Shen Yanchuan’s mind, however, was already racing. He had guessed what was going on.

"Pack our things," Shen Yanchuan said.

Lian Zhou was confused for a moment. "Huh? Master, have you made your decision?"

"Not exactly." Shen Yanchuan gestured with his chin. "We’re about to be kicked out."

Lian Zhou: "..."

...

Sure enough, not long after they got back, Ye Chutang came over.

"How is Mr. Shen’s recovery going?"

Ye Chutang stood outside the door, her tone warm and concerned.

Lian Zhou looked at her with mixed feelings.

’Anyone who saw those dark, gentle eyes and that soft, pleasant smile would believe her kindness and concern were completely genuine.’

’If his master hadn’t given him a heads-up, who would ever guess she was here to throw them out?’

’And recalling the events at the execution grounds earlier that day, Lian Zhou felt a growing sense of both caution and admiration.’

’She was clearly a player in the thick of it, yet she managed to act like a detached observer from beginning to end, calmly orchestrating the entire game...’

’He had never seen such cunning and intellect in anyone besides his own master.’

’And Ye Chutang was only a woman. If she had been born a man, she might even be a match for his master. It was hard to say for sure.’

Before Lian Zhou could reply, a cool, clear voice drifted from inside the room.

"I’m afraid I must trouble Doctor Ye to take my pulse one more time."