[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming":3,"chapter-the-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming-the-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming-chapter-287":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1563209,2027,"Chapter 287: Returning Home","the-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming-chapter-287",287,"\u003Cp>The mountain peaks were steep, half-hidden by the surrounding woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White mountain mist drifted halfway up the slopes, and the forest had already been tinged with the colors of autumn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Chutang carried Xiao Wu as she stepped out of the carriage and gazed silently ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time she had come to this place in three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had imagined this day many times before, but now that the moment had truly arrived, her heart was surprisingly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wu silently tightened her grip on her sister’s hand, her eyes pure and innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no memory of their father and mother, and her impression of their older brother was limited to what her sister occasionally mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she knew they were her sister’s closest family, and thus, her own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Chutang ascended the mountain path, her steps light yet firm. Xiao Wu followed closely behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At one point, Ye Chutang offered to carry her up, but Xiao Wu refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woods were shady and the mountain breeze was refreshing. The occasional chirp of a bird only enhanced the tranquility of the place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Ye Chutang stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wu followed her gaze and saw three graves ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Names were carved upon the tombstones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could read the characters, and the name of the person who had erected the stones at the end was particularly jarring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The funeral arrangements back then had been handled by Ye Heng. To this day, traces of him remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed no one had visited in a long time. Weeds grew thick around the graves, lending them an air of desolation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, Mother, Brother, I’m back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Chutang spoke softly, the depths of her clear, dark eyes like a still lake with a hidden undercurrent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every word was a solitary utterance, destined to remain forever unanswered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile touched Ye Chutang’s lips. \"Xiao Wu came too. She’s grown so much. If you could see her now, you’d find her absolutely adorable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Wu hugged her arm, pressing her soft little cheek against the back of her hand and rubbing it gently. But her eyes remained fixed on the three graves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t scared at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Chutang lowered her gaze and stroked the little girl’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yan and A Feng are still at the Imperial College for their classes. I’ll bring them with me when they get their ten-day break in a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yan has always been sensible; he doesn’t give me much to worry about. A Feng, though, is rebellious. He’s started having a growth spurt recently. I wonder how many days he’ll manage to stay out of trouble at the Imperial College this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke of ordinary things, as if they were merely catching up by a window after years apart, reminiscing about old times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much had happened in three years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, she only spoke of trivial matters. As for the twists and turns, the clashes of steel—she didn’t mention a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...In the end, I came back too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Ye Chutang fell silent for a long while before breaking into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But Father and Mother certainly wouldn’t blame me. As for Brother—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He’d probably give me a harsh scolding.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’In her brother’s eyes, she was too frail to take care of herself. Even something as simple as walking a few extra steps outside after a heavy snow, catching a chill, and getting a headache was considered a grave mistake. If he caught her, she’d be in for a good lecture.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother. I’m not afraid of the cold anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice trailed off, eventually fading into the forest, leaving only the RUSTLING of the wind as it swept through the trees, stirring the heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unknown amount of time passed, and the sky began to darken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ye Chutang gazed silently ahead. Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable conviction:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, Father. Ye Heng is not dead yet. I’m keeping him alive. Once I find the mastermind and the truth is revealed, I will make them repay everything we suffered a hundredfold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Letting only Ye Heng die would be letting them off too easily.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that said, she kowtowed, and Xiao Wu, standing beside her, did the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pressing her forehead to the cold ground, Ye Chutang closed her eyes and vowed, word by word:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just a little while longer, and I, Awang, will bring you all home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",743,"2026-06-06T07:54:32.966Z",1,"novelbin.me","c3c5a46125bbb196866ef533bf2f4979f4e3d9c641750eda0eda3888298a9589","the-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming-chapter-288","the-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming-chapter-286",302,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-duke-s-pampered-darling-is-so-scheming-cover.jpg"]