The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 62: Dowry

Shen Yanchuan made his way inside, arriving at the lakeside pavilion.

The butler excitedly announced, "The Princely Heir is here!"

The Eldest Princess, who was sitting in the pavilion feeding the fish, seemed not to have heard. She continued to toss fish food into the pond.

Shen Yanchuan approached and bowed. "Grandmother, your grandson has arrived late."

Only then did the Eldest Princess turn her head to look at him.

This Eldest Princess, who had once fought on battlefields and earned merit protecting the nation, was now approaching sixty. Yet her eyes were clear and her spirit was hale. Her salt-and-pepper hair was neatly coiffed, and though her face bore wrinkles, it was easy to see how valiant and stunningly beautiful she must have been in her youth.

"How kind of you to remember this old woman," the Eldest Princess said slowly. "Are your injuries all healed?"

The corner of Shen Yanchuan’s lip curled slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Your grandson is well."

The Eldest Princess snorted. "If I hadn’t summoned you today, when were you planning on visiting? You were away from the Capital City for years and never thought to return!"

Shen Yanchuan was silent for a moment. "...Didn’t you just visit Huizhou two months ago?"

The Eldest Princess swung her cane at him. "You dare bring that up! I had barely left before you let someone beat you half to death! Some grandson you are!"

Shen Yanchuan didn’t flinch or dodge, allowing the cane to strike him. He smiled. "But isn’t your grandson fine now?"

In the end, the Eldest Princess had held back her strength.

Ever since receiving news of Shen Yanchuan’s injury, she had been terribly worried in the Capital City. She waited and waited for him to return, and when he finally did, he still didn’t come to see her.

Although she suspected his public claim of recuperating was just an excuse, her heart couldn’t rest until she saw him with her own eyes.

It was only now, truly looking at him, that she could finally feel at ease.

Shen Yanchuan took some fish food and joined the Eldest Princess in feeding the fish.

But the Eldest Princess hadn’t really asked him over to keep busy with such things.

"Yanchuan, you’ve already reached the age of majority this year. It’s time for you to marry and start a family," the Eldest Princess said, getting straight to the point. "I brought this up with you twice before, and you refused both times. But now you’re back in the Capital City. Surely you can take the time to choose someone properly now?"

Shen Yanchuan was completely uninterested.

Seeing his nonchalant expression, the Eldest Princess knew he wasn’t taking her words to heart.

"Your father only cares about his own affairs and can’t be bothered to worry about you. Are you really planning to drag this on forever?"

The Eldest Princess was deeply distressed.

Her precious grandson had been handsome since childhood. By the time he was a teenager, countless noble ladies in the Capital City were smitten with him.

And yet, he himself never showed much interest in the matter. Plus, his departure for the northern frontier a few years ago had delayed things even further.

"Look at the other young masters in the Capital City around your age. Even if they aren’t married, they at least have attendants by their side. And you?" The Eldest Princess was full of disdain.

Shen Yanchuan remained unmoved.

The Eldest Princess seemed to recall something and lowered her voice. "Tell your grandmother the truth. When you went to the Ye Mansion yesterday, was it for one of the Ye Family’s young ladies?"

Shen Yanchuan’s eyelashes fluttered, and for a moment, he didn’t deny it.

The Eldest Princess’s expression said, ’I knew it’.

"I knew it! They all say that Ye Family girl is as beautiful as a flower, well-read, and sensible. Though her birth is a bit common, if you like her, then—"

Shen Yanchuan sensed something was off. "Who are you talking about?"

The Eldest Princess paused. "The older sister of the Ye Family’s fraternal twins! I think her name is... Ye Shixian?"

Shen Yanchuan’s brow furrowed slightly. "It has nothing to do with her. I don’t know her."

The Eldest Princess was a little surprised. "Then why did you make a special trip to the Ye Mansion yesterday?"

She knew her grandson all too well. He was born extremely clever, but he was also quite indolent and never did anything without a reason.

She refused to believe that Ye Heng had enough influence to persuade him to visit.

Shen Yanchuan pondered for a moment. "The physician who treated me earlier is the Second Miss of the Ye Family, who they just found and brought back. I went to their home to express my gratitude."

The Eldest Princess truly didn’t know about this and was quite astonished. "The one who saved you was a young woman?"

Shen Yanchuan nodded.

The Eldest Princess murmured, "Then she must be quite capable..."

Shen Yanchuan said, "Her medical skills are indeed superb."

The Eldest Princess gave him a second glance. "It’s rare to hear you praise someone like that. When I have the chance, I must see her for myself."

Then, she seemed a little disappointed again.

"And here I thought you’d finally found a woman you like. All that worrying for nothing..."

For some reason, a gentle and beautiful face suddenly appeared in Shen Yanchuan’s mind.

「 」

Just as Ye Heng returned to the mansion, Ye Chutang came looking for him.

He frowned, unable to guess why Ye Chutang would seek him out at this hour, but he still invited her into the study.

"Chutang, did you need me for something?"

Ye Chutang nodded and bowed. "There is indeed a matter I’d like to ask for your help with, Second Uncle."

"Go on," Ye Heng said.

Ye Chutang chose her words carefully for a moment before speaking. "I remember that besides this residence, Father also owned over a dozen shops and more than a hundred mu of farmland in the Capital City. I was wondering if the deeds to these properties are currently in your possession, Second Uncle?"

Ye Heng’s eyelid twitched. ’It’s starting!’

’Ever since Ye Chutang and the others returned, I knew this question would come eventually!’

’I just didn’t expect Ye Chutang to be so patient as to wait until now.’

He nodded. "That’s right."

Ye Chutang looked at him. "Second Uncle, to be honest, I’m a bit short on money right now. So, I was wondering if you could return those things to me?"

Ye Heng was taken aback. "Short on money? Why is that?"

When Ye Chutang and the others returned, although their food, clothing, and expenses seemed ordinary, they didn’t look destitute.

How could she suddenly be short on money?

Ye Chutang sighed. "You may not know this, but before, when I was taking care of Yan, A Feng, and Xiao Wu, there was a time we had no means to support ourselves, so we had to borrow money. Later, although I opened a medical clinic, our income still couldn’t cover our expenses, and we barely scraped by. Moreover—"

She paused, looking somewhat helpless.

"Moreover, you know how impulsive A Feng is. He’s caused quite a bit of trouble over the years, and we’ve had to pay out a lot of money in compensation. After three years, there’s a rather large hole to fill."

In the courtyard, Ye Yunfeng, who was practicing his punches, felt his nose tickle. He threw his head back and let out a huge sneeze.

"ACHOO—!"

He rubbed his face and turned to Ye Jingyan. "Third Brother, do you think Big Sis can get our parents’ money back all by herself?"

Without looking up from his book, Ye Jingyan turned a page. "Of course she can."

"It was ours to begin with."

「 」

After listening to Ye Chutang, Ye Heng’s brows gradually furrowed.

He clasped his hands behind his back, paced back and forth a few steps, and finally let out a long sigh.

"Chutang, you don’t understand. Those shops never really made much money, and the harvests from the farmland were poor, so they didn’t bring in much either. How about this: just tell me how much you need, and Second Uncle will get it for you!"

Ye Chutang’s eyebrow arched. She almost wanted to applaud.

’How generous of him.’

Seeing Ye Chutang’s silence, Ye Heng added, "But don’t you worry, those things are still yours. Second Uncle is just looking after them for now! Yan and A Feng are still young, and you’re a girl. It would be too much trouble for you to manage all of this. In a few years, when they’re older, I’ll naturally return everything to them!"

He said with a smile, "When the time comes, we can pick some of it to be your dowry, and Second Uncle will add a little something extra. I’ll make sure you marry in style!"

Ye Chutang’s eyebrow arched. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Dowry?"

’I’ve only just returned, and he’s already plotting to marry me off?’