The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 118: Pipa on the Lake

Han Yao’s face stiffened when he heard the voice.

Someone looked curiously in the direction of the voice. "Han, is someone calling you?"

"How could that be? You must have misheard." Han Yao raised his teacup for a sip, concealing his expression. "The view from the arched bridge in the lake is the best. Shall we have the boatman head that way?"

The words had barely left his lips when the female voice called out again, "Mr. Han!"

Ye Chutang tilted her head to look. A boat was moored not far off, a young woman standing at its prow.

She wore a simple white, fringed gauze skirt, her dark hair pinned up. Her brows were beautifully arched over glistening, almond-shaped eyes. Every glance was naturally enchanting, the very picture of a beauty so captivating one couldn’t help but feel for her.

The woman, holding a pipa, was staring longingly in their direction. Her face lit up the moment she saw Han Yao, but just as her lips began to curve into a smile, she seemed to recall something and her expression turned aggrieved and sorrowful.

"Mr. Han, you haven’t come to see me in so long. Have you grown tired of Pei’er?"

As she spoke, crystal-clear tears streamed down her cheeks.

Anyone who witnessed this scene couldn’t help but let their imagination run wild.

One of the young men recognized her and exclaimed in surprise, "Isn’t that... isn’t that Su Pei’er from Chunfeng Lou?"

These young masters, who loved nothing more than feasting and carousing, were all familiar with that name.

She was the headliner of Chunfeng Lou!

’From the way she’s talking, it sounds like she and Han Yao...’

With all eyes on him, Han Yao had no choice but to brace himself and speak, forcing a smile. "Miss Su, what a coincidence. Are you also enjoying a boat ride on the lake?"

Su Pei’er bit her lip, her tear-filled eyes fixed on him as she lamented softly, "How can it be a coincidence? You’ve been avoiding me for some time, Mr. Han. I had to resort to this desperate measure of waiting here, all for the chance to see you just once."

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Under normal circumstances, being doted on by such a heart-wrenchingly beautiful woman would have made Han Yao incredibly smug. It might have even become a story he’d brag about to his friends. But not today—not when Ye Chutang was right here!

If word got out that he was entangled with a woman from a pleasure house right in front of Ye Chutang, the scandal would be mortifying!

Han Yao feigned surprise. "You were looking for me, Miss Su? For what reason?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Su Pei’er’s eyes were rimmed with red as she looked at him, her gaze a mixture of resentment and blame.

Han Yao gave an awkward laugh and averted his gaze. "Well... I have been quite busy lately, so I haven’t gone to Chunfeng Lou to listen to music. I hope you can forgive me, Miss Su."

He turned to the other young men. "Have any of you heard Miss Su’s pipa performance? It’s truly unparalleled! Since we’ve had the good fortune to run into her today, it’s the perfect chance for all of us to enjoy it. Her music isn’t something just anyone gets to hear, you know."

As he spoke, he untied the purse from his waist and tossed it to a nearby servant.

"If Miss Su plays well, she will, of course, be generously rewarded."

He certainly put on a dashing and generous air.

Su Pei’er stared at him, dumbfounded, as if she were seeing him for the very first time.

Not long ago, he had been showering her with affection and attention, sparing no expense just to see her smile.

His vows of eternal love and sweet nothings still seemed to echo in her ears, yet the man before her now seemed like a complete stranger.

When Han Yao stopped coming to Chunfeng Lou, she first worried she had done something to anger him. But no matter how she tried to contact him, her messages vanished without a trace, like a stone dropped into the sea.

Left with no other choice, she had found out he would be on the lake tonight and had come early to wait for him.

But who could have known that upon seeing her, Han Yao’s eyes would hold not joy, but only panic.

And now, he was even saying such things—telling her to perform for the crowd’s amusement.

Her lips trembled as she asked in a low voice, "What do you take me for, Mr. Han?"

Han Yao acted as if he’d heard a joke. "You play the pipa beautifully, Miss Su. I’m simply inviting my friends to admire your talent. Is there a problem with that? Of course, if you are unwilling, we certainly won’t force you."

Every word was a clear and deliberate stroke, drawing a sharp line between them.

Su Pei’er trembled with such fury she couldn’t speak.

Han Yao, however, seemed to have lost all patience. He withdrew his gaze, ordered the boat to move farther away, and poured a cup of tea for Ye Chutang.

"Miss Ye, this is Junshan Silver Needle tea that I went to great lengths to procure. Please, try it."

Ye Chutang didn’t touch the cup. Instead, she glanced back again. "It looks to me like that Miss Su truly did have something to discuss with you, Mr. Han."

"She’s just a musician. What business could she possibly have with me? It’s nothing more than a ploy to get me to spend more money on her performances," Han Yao said without even looking up, clearly having no desire to discuss it further.

Ye Chutang remained noncommittal.

Ye Shixian, who was sitting nearby, chimed in, "That’s right. Mr. Han is famously generous. When people like that run into him, they naturally try to suck up to him and get on his good side."

Their words painted Su Pei’er as nothing more than an insignificant object to be casually discarded, unworthy of a second thought.

Seeing Ye Chutang’s placid expression, Han Yao assumed she was displeased by Su Pei’er’s appearance and hurriedly explained, "I admit, I used to enjoy a bit of excitement, going to listen to music or watch a play, but those were merely pastimes to ward off boredom. Please rest assured, Miss Ye. From now on, I will settle down and never go to such places again."

But Ye Chutang laughed.

"Mr. Han, there is nothing between us, so why say such things? Where you go and what you do is your own business. There’s no need to involve me."

Han Yao cleared his throat and said in an earnest, cautious tone, "But we’re about to be enga—"

Before he could finish, the sound of a pipa suddenly drifted across the lake, accompanied by a woman’s mournful, weeping song.

The sun was setting, its lingering rays painting the rippling lake. Boats of all sizes drifted on the water, casting deep, overlapping reflections.

The sound of the pipa carried far across the water, drawing the attention of many, who craned their necks to see.

"Who’s that playing the pipa?"

"It sounds like Miss Su from Chunfeng Lou."

"It is her! Her skill with the pipa is unmatched in the entire Capital City! But... why is she suddenly playing here?"

"You don’t know? She’s here for Han Yao! Everyone knows he was her biggest patron for a while. Now he’s probably gotten tired of her, and since Su Pei’er can’t accept it, she’s come after him."

"How can Su Pei’er be so foolish? How many words can you trust from a man in a pleasure house? I heard that Han Yao specially invited the Ye Family’s second daughter, who just returned to the Capital City, and even brought along a host of friends to keep them company. His intentions are as clear as day. Isn’t Su Pei’er just trying to cause trouble for him by showing up now?"

"Exactly! And that Miss Ye is no small figure—she has the Eldest Princess’s backing! For Han Yao to be tangled up with a woman from a pleasure house like this, isn’t he just...?"

Han Yao faintly overheard these discussions, and his annoyance with Su Pei’er grew even stronger.

"Miss Ye, perhaps we should—"

Before he could finish, a frantic scream suddenly erupted from the nearby boat.

"Miss! You’re bleeding!"