The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 101: Entering the Palace

Xiao Wu’s eyes lit up in an instant, a smile blooming on her face, but it was quickly followed by a look of confusion.

’Of course it’s great that we can go see the polo match! But... isn’t it a little too early to go now?’

Ye Chutang walked over and gently rubbed Xiao Wu’s soft cheek.

"Haven’t you been dying to try the buns from Lin’s? Since the weather cleared up today, shall we go have some?"

Xiao Wu immediately brightened and nodded vigorously.

’Ever since her fourth brother took her to eat them once, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them. But after her third and fourth brothers enrolled in the Imperial College, her big sister could never seem to wake up... no, that’s not it. Her sister was always busy, so they never got around to it.’

This was a rare opportunity. Of course, she had to go!

Ye Chutang changed her into a new set of clothes, which made her small, fair face look all the more precious and lovely.

"There are a lot of rules at the palace banquet, and you might not like the food. That’s why we’ll eat our fill before we go." Ye Chutang patted her little head. "Go on, call your third and fourth brothers to come with us."

Xiao Wu scampered off.

...

An hour later, the siblings, having eaten their fill, started walking back.

They had indeed gotten up early, and the morning market was only just starting to get busy.

The streets were bustling, with people packed shoulder to shoulder and voices raised in a din.

As they passed a corner, a few drunk men staggered toward them, arms slung over each other’s shoulders, muttering incessantly.

"What a shame! We didn’t get to see Su Pei’er again!"

"She’s the main attraction of Chunfeng Lou, after all. She’s not that easy to see. Don’t be mad, brother. Even without her, aren’t there still plenty of other pretty girls at Chunfeng Lou? The two I had in my room last night took very good care of me..."

The man said with a lewd grin.

Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly. Ye Jingyan had already covered Xiao Wu’s ears.

Xiao Wu, not understanding what was happening, obediently leaned against his shoulder, blinking.

Ye Yunfeng frowned. "Sister, we should take another street—"

Ye Chutang suddenly raised her hand.

In the brief silence that followed, one of the men was heard again, this time with a dissatisfied sneer:

"How is that the same? Besides, I’ve spent a fortune on her! But lately, for some reason, she keeps claiming she’s sick and won’t come out! That bitch. Does she really think she can turn from a sparrow into a phoenix just by cozying up to Han Yao? She should take a good look at where she comes from! And she even dreams of keeping herself pure for him? Pah!"

The man next to him chimed in, "Exactly! All that happened was Han Yao requested her to play for him a few times. He hasn’t been around much lately, so he’s probably just gotten tired of her." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"And that stupid woman is still lost in her pipe dream!"

As they spoke, the men rounded the corner and came face-to-face with Ye Chutang and her siblings.

When they saw Ye Chutang, they froze for a moment, their eyes flashing with a mix of awe and greed.

However, before they could open their mouths, a tall youth with a roguish glint in his eyes stepped in front of her, his gaze a clear warning.

Sensing danger, the men didn’t press their luck. They hastily turned and hurried away.

Ye Yunfeng scoffed.

Ye Chutang looked away, collecting her thoughts.

"All right, let’s go. Today’s polo match is very important, and we don’t want to be late."

...

Ye Shixian sat before her mirror, getting ready. She had already tried on several outfits, but wasn’t satisfied with any of them.

Shaoyao picked a jade hairpin from the jewelry box. "Miss, what about this one?"

Today they were going to the Imperial Palace, and all the noble young ladies would be vying to outshine one another. In a situation like this, a simpler, more elegant look would stand out.

However, Ye Shixian frowned. "This won’t do. Do you know what kind of event this is? Dressing so simply would be far too plain. People will think the Ye Family can’t afford anything nice."

Shaoyao quickly agreed and picked out a pair of golden silk step shakes inlaid with rubies.

"It was my mistake, Miss. What about these? You would look so magnificent and beautiful wearing them!"

Ye Shixian touched one, murmuring with a hint of regret, "The style is nice, but the quality of these rubies is a bit lacking... Oh, well. These will have to do."

She was still brooding over the incident at the Long Princess Mansion where she’d fallen into the water. She was determined to use this opportunity to regain some face, so naturally, she wanted to look her absolute best.

By the time she was finally ready, a maid had already arrived to hurry her along.

"Miss, the Master is ready. He is waiting for you."

Ye Shixian rose, smoothed the hem of her skirt, and after confirming that her appearance was flawless, she walked outside with small, graceful steps.

Ye Heng was waiting by the carriage. With him was Ye Mingze.

In just a few short days, he seemed to have completely deflated. He was listless, with dark circles under his eyes, and exuded an air of sullen irritability.

Ye Shixian hadn’t wanted him to come, but Ye Heng wanted to take this opportunity to get him out and be seen.

’The rumors circulating outside were getting more and more absurd. If Ye Mingze didn’t show his face soon, who knew what people would start saying.’

Furthermore, Ye Heng also wanted to use this chance to put in a good word with the Sacrificial Officer and others to get him back into the Imperial College.

’Having him stay at home all the time wasn’t a solution. He was his own son, after all.’

Although Ye Shixian was reluctant, she knew this was the best way to help Ye Mingze, so she had no choice but to agree.

"Where are Chutang and the others?"

Ye Shixian looked around but didn’t see any sign of Ye Chutang or her siblings.

Shaoyao suddenly raised a hand and pointed. "Isn’t that them?!"

They all looked and saw Ye Chutang and her siblings heading toward them.

Ye Shixian immediately stepped forward, asking with feigned concern, "Cousin, where have you been? I almost thought you’d forgotten we were leaving today!"

Holding Xiao Wu’s hand, Ye Chutang smiled faintly. "We just took Xiao Wu out for a bite to eat. The polo match is far too important to forget, how could we?"

Ye Shixian let out a small breath. "Oh, good... Well, since everyone’s here, shall we get in the carriages? Cousin, why don’t you and Xiao Wu ride with me?"

Looking at the carriage, which was more gaudy than luxurious, Xiao Wu pursed her lips and silently tightened her grip on Ye Chutang’s hand.

"There’s no need." Ye Chutang politely declined. "We have the carriage we used when we came to the capital. We’ll just take that one."

Ye Shixian paused, then laughed. "But that carriage is so... well, it’s a bit old. You should ride in ours. Otherwise, if people see you in that one, they’ll think we’re not willing to spend any money on our cousins."

Her words were laced with barbs.

Ye Chutang acted as if she hadn’t caught the jab. Her eyes crinkled in a smile as she said, "How could they think that? Didn’t Second Uncle just buy a new bow and arrow set for both Yan and A Feng? Everyone knows how well Second Uncle treats us."

Ye Shixian’s words caught in her throat.

But Ye Chutang had already turned and lifted Xiao Wu into their own carriage.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Ye Heng didn’t intervene.

"Everyone’s here. Let’s go!"

...

The polo match was to be held inside the palace grounds. The closer they got to the Imperial Palace, the wider the roads became and the sparser the crowds grew.

Ye Chutang lifted the curtain and gazed steadily forward.

The golden eaves shimmered in the sunlight. Upon the roof ridge sat a line of nine decorative beasts, and the corners of the eaves swept elegantly upward.

Majestic and noble, imposing and solemn.