Chapter 115: Too Similar in Appearance
"She has no family to speak of."
Qin Mingheng lowered his head, his expression dark and sinister.
"She's just a lowly maid bought by the Qin family - no father, no mother. Your Highness need not concern yourself with her."
After speaking, he cupped his hands and retreated several steps before turning to follow Yun Ze through the gates of the Yun residence.
Chu Yi pressed his thin lips tightly together.
Five years ago, when he returned to the capital with the Pillar of the Nation Great General to report on their mission, it happened to be the wedding day of the general's eldest daughter, Yun Chu.
General Yun was overjoyed and kept urging him to drink. He drank many cups of daughter's wine, only to have a concubine's daughter from a third-rank official's family take advantage of his relaxed state to slip him that kind of drug.
That concubine's daughter tried to pull him into a side room of the Yun residence, but he immediately severed her unrestrained hand.
After leaving the Yun residence, the drug's effects intensified until he eventually lost consciousness... When he woke up, his subordinate informed him that he had collapsed near the back gate of Marquis Xuanwu's residence. Having no other choice, the subordinate had taken him into the marquis' residence and found a clean maid to help relieve the drug's effects...
He was not an irresponsible man. He instructed his subordinate to bring the maid back to his manor, intending to grant her the position of Side Princess Consort.
However, Marquis Xuanwu claimed the maid couldn't bear the humiliation and had fled the residence, disappearing without a trace.
Until about seven months later, on his way back to the capital, he spotted two infants in the snow.
The two children were only as big as his palm, their entire bodies purplish-blue, seemingly without even breath. Placing his hand over their hearts, he could only detect faint heartbeats. He immediately ordered someone to fetch the imperial physician to treat the children.
During the treatment, the nanny who had raised him since childhood murmured that the boy looked exactly like he had as a child, even having a mole on the sole of his foot...
He had someone bring a basin of clean water for a blood recognition test.
Indeed, these two children were his own flesh and blood!
He immediately went to find Marquis Xuanwu, only to learn that after that night, the woman had become pregnant. Being pregnant with twins led to premature and difficult labor, with unstoppable bleeding that claimed her young life.
The two children were born two months early, barely able to breathe, let alone nurse...
Looking back now, he didn't know how he managed to raise the two children to this age, yet he still hadn't done well enough - Yu Ge'er was willful and mischievous, while Changsheng was frail, sickly, and unable to speak...
"Father?"
Chu Hongyu poked his head out from the carriage and called out.
Chu Yi pulled himself from his memories and boarded the carriage.
Perhaps because he had just recalled the children's condition at birth, combined with last night's dangerous incident, he felt a wave of belated fear. He said, "Yu Ge'er, your kidnapping by bandits was entirely my fault. I want to apologize to you here."
Chu Hongyu raised his sparkling eyes: "I am the Young Son of Prince of Pacifying the West Manor. Everything I eat, use, and where I live comes from you, Father. Since I enjoy these privileges, I should naturally bear the dangers that come with this status. So Father, there's no need to apologize."
Chu Yi patted his head.
Although his son was mischievous, he understood the important principles - this was already comforting.
By the third day, Yun Chu's condition had improved significantly.
Though her injured areas still ached somewhat, at least she was no longer drowsy and confused.
The women of the Yun family were all sitting in her room, keeping her company and chatting to relieve her boredom - her mother Lin Shi, her elder sister-in-law Liu Qianqian, and her half-sister Yun Ran.
Yun Chu's father, Yun Silin, had only one concubine, who bore only one daughter. This generation consisted of only three siblings: Yun Ze, Yun Chu, and Yun Ran.Yun Ze and Liu Qianqian had known each other since their youth. The couple lived in harmony with no concubines, and over the years had only given birth to one legitimate son, Jiang Ge'er.
Yun Chu sighed. Because the Yun family had few members and simple relationships without much scheming, her mother had grown increasingly naive over time, always judging matters by their surface appearance. Thus, in her previous life, both her and Yun Ran's marriages had encountered serious problems...
"Why are you sighing, child?" Lin Shi said with a laugh. "Today marks exactly three months—I have good news to share."
Suppressing her thoughts, Yun Chu played along: "What good news?"
"Your elder sister-in-law is with child," Lin Shi said, beaming. "She's due around next spring."
"Congratulations, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law!" Yun Ran joined in the celebration. "Jiang Ge'er will finally have a younger sibling."
Yun Chu's fingers suddenly stiffened.
No wonder she hadn't immediately recalled her sister-in-law's pregnancy—this child ultimately wasn't meant to be.
Although their branch of the Yun family maintained simple relationships, as a centuries-old aristocratic clan, the collateral branches were too numerous to count. The child in her sister-in-law's womb was lost due to interference from a collateral branch... However, she hadn't been in the capital at that time and wasn't clear about the specific details.
"Chu'er..."
Liu Qianqian keenly noticed Yun Chu's expression and subtly tugged at Lin Shi's sleeve.
Since Yun Chu had difficulty conceiving while she herself had unexpectedly become pregnant, Liu Qianqian had been hesitant to share the news, fearing it might upset Yun Chu.
She never expected her mother-in-law to blurt it out so casually.
Though Yun Chu would have found out eventually, Liu Qianqian had hoped to delay the revelation as long as possible...
"Congratulations, Sister-in-law!" Yun Chu forced a smile and reached out to touch Liu Qianqian's abdomen. "This child will definitely be born safely and smoothly."
Liu Qianqian changed the subject: "Chu'er, your idea of opening a shop in the Summer Retreat Courtyard was truly brilliant. The shop has only been open for half a month but has already earned four to five hundred taels of silver—and that's without much effort."
Yun Chu had heard from Chen Defu that the Summer Retreat Courtyard had opened a small general store selling daily necessities for commoners, such as pots, bowls, utensils, salt, and ironware. The purpose wasn't primarily profit, so prices were kept reasonable, matching market rates. However, since commoners came to escape the heat every afternoon, the constant flow of people meant some would inevitably spend coppers on purchases—after all, one place to shop was as good as another.
Lin Shi interjected: "Your sister-in-law suggests expanding the shop. Since it can generate income, we should manage it properly."
Yun Chu nodded: "Since the commoners are supporting us, we should sell more of what they need."
After discussing some details, Liu Qianqian noted them down and instructed servants to handle the matter.
"Chu'er, stay with the Yun family a while longer," Lin Shi said. "In a few days, the Dai family will deliver betrothal gifts. You can watch the excitement before returning home."
At the mention of the Dai family, Yun Ran's face flushed crimson, and she fidgeted uncomfortably.
Yun Chu naturally agreed.
While they were talking, a maid reported at the doorway: "Madam, Prince Pingxi has arrived. The young master is accompanying him for tea. The Young Son and the young mistress wish to visit the eldest young lady."
Having met Chu Hongyu yesterday and taken an immediate liking to him, Lin Shi said: "Bring the Young Son and young mistress here at once."
The two children immediately emerged from behind the maid.
"Madam Yun, Aunt Yun, Aunt Liu! I've brought my little sister to see you!"Chu Hongyu, holding Chu Changsheng's hand, bounced in cheerfully.
He had asked A Mao what to call his mother's mother, and A Mao said "maternal grandmother." Worried that addressing Madam Yun as such might displease her, he settled on calling her Madam Yun.
"What a good Young Son." Lin Shi drew the two children closer, her gaze resting on Chu Changsheng's face. "Heaven have mercy, the Little Commandery Princess is so thin—nothing but skin and bones..."
She paused mid-sentence.
If the Little Commandery Princess had a bit more flesh on her face, she would look just like Chu'er in her childhood—the resemblance was uncanny!
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