Chapter 141: Changsheng Speaks
After soaking in the hot spring for a while, Yun Chu felt her body growing warm. Looking down, she noticed the red rashes had indeed faded significantly.
She rose and sat on a rock by the pool's edge, smiling as she said, "Changsheng, look at all those flowers over there. Auntie would like one red flower, three blue flowers, and five yellow flowers. Can you help pick them for me?"
"I'll do it! I'll do it!" Chu Hongyu eagerly stepped forward.
Yun Chu shook her head at him.
Changsheng wasn't incapable of speech—she simply refused to communicate with the outside world for certain reasons.
Doctors could treat her physical condition but couldn't easily erase her resistance to the world.
Since she had managed to enter Changsheng's world, perhaps she could guide the little girl out of that small realm.
The little girl paused for a moment, glanced at her, took some time to process the request, then walked along the hot spring pool to the opposite side.
Various colored flowers bloomed there. After searching, she found the colors Yun Chu wanted, picked them, counted them, then walked back and handed them to Yun Chu.
"Wow, Changsheng, you're amazing!" Yun Chu lifted her onto her lap. "Auntie loves them so much, thank you, Changsheng!"
The little girl pursed her lips and smiled shyly.
"Changsheng, look, this is a red flower—red—" Yun Chu taught her to open her mouth. "Follow Auntie and say, red..."
The little girl's lips parted, but no sound emerged.
Yun Chu thought perhaps the pronunciation was too difficult. Babies learning to speak usually started with "mom" and "dad."
She changed her approach, patiently saying, "Come, Changsheng, follow Auntie and say, dad—"
"Auntie, let me teach my sister." Chu Hongyu crawled over and pointed at Yun Chu. "Changsheng, look, mom—this is our mom."
Yun Chu was about to correct him.
She had finally gotten Yu Ge'er to call her "Auntie" and didn't want the little girl to be led astray from the start.
Before she could speak, a soft, sweet voice emerged: "Mom..."
The voice was tender and sugary, like honey rolled in milk, melting one's heart.
Yun Chu looked incredulous: "Changsheng, was that you speaking just now?"
"Yes, yes! It was my sister's voice!" Chu Hongyu's face lit up with joy. "Quick, Changsheng, say it again!"
The little girl looked at the two faces full of expectation. Her eyes curved like crescent moons as she clearly spoke again: "Mom."
"Oh my, my sister can really talk!" Chu Hongyu leaped up excitedly and dashed out of the hot spring. "Father! Father! My sister can talk! Come quickly, she really can speak!"
The matrons guarding the entrance were equally astonished—the Little Commandery Princess could actually speak?
Without waiting to verify, they immediately went to fetch Chu Yi.
By the time Chu Yi arrived, Yun Chu had already changed the little girl's clothes. Beaming, she said, "Changsheng, call your father..."
"Dad—"
The little girl called out timidly.
Earlier, Yu Ge'er had taught her to say "mom," and Yun Chu had taught her "dad."
Chu Yi's heart pounded fiercely in his chest, his hands trembling slightly. He stretched out his arms: "Changsheng, come, let Dad hold you."
The little girl clung to Yun Chu's neck, unwilling to let go.Yun Chu said softly, "Changsheng, that's your father, the one who has always cherished and protected you. He loves you more than anyone else in this world."
The little girl looked up, slowly turned her head toward Chu Yi, and then gradually extended her hand.
Chu Yi's face seemed to melt like ice, blooming with a hundred flowers in an instant. He took his daughter into his arms, his voice softening to the extreme: "Changsheng, call me 'Father' one more time, will you?"
Chu Changsheng whispered, "Father."
"Father, look! Sister can really speak now!" Chu Hongyu jumped around joyfully like a monkey. "Sister can not only call you 'Father' but also 'Mother.' Changsheng, quickly call for Father to hear!"
Chu Changsheng obediently turned to Yun Chu and sweetly called out, "Mother!"
One "Father," one "Mother"—when spoken together, it gave Yun Chu a strange feeling.
Standing with the father and sons of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor, that odd sensation became even more pronounced... as if they were a family of four...
She quickly shook off this absurd thought from her mind and said, "Your Highness, it's getting late. I should take my leave now."
"Auntie, don't go!" Chu Hongyu wrapped his arms tightly around her leg. "Changsheng needs acupuncture treatment tomorrow. Each session lasts half an hour. Auntie, won't you stay and keep her company?"
Yun Chu's heart softened.
She realized she simply couldn't resist these two children.
"Changsheng, quickly ask Auntie to stay!" Chu Hongyu hurriedly called on his sister for help.
The day had passed far too quickly. His happiness had only just begun, and now it was about to end.
How he wished he could live carefree on this estate with his mother, his sister, and—reluctantly—his father...
Chu Changsheng slipped down from Chu Yi's arms and tugged at Yun Chu's hand. "Mother... Mother..."
She could only repeat that one word, her large eyes filled with hope—hoping Yun Chu wouldn't leave, hoping Yun Chu would stay with her.
Yun Chu turned her head slightly. "Ting Feng, return to the Xie residence and inform them that there are still matters to attend to at the estate. I won't be returning tonight."
Ting Feng nodded and headed back to the city with the coachman.
By the time they reached the Xie residence, it was dusk. Ting Feng walked to the courtyard where Xie Jingyu resided. A maid was brewing medicine in the yard, while Ting Yu attended to him inside.
Watching Ting Yu diligently feeding Xie Jingyu, a trace of mockery flashed in Ting Feng's eyes, though she lowered her head to conceal her emotions. "Sir," she said, "Madam has not yet finished her tasks at the estate. She will return tomorrow."
Ting Yu paused. "Is Madam's estate work truly that demanding?"
As far as she knew, Madam's dowry was managed by Chen Bo, who simply presented the account books to Madam each quarter. Madam rarely visited the estate personally to handle affairs. How could she be so busy as to not return even at night?
"Concubine Yu, since you do not manage a dowry, you naturally wouldn't understand how busy Madam is," Ting Feng replied, her eyes downcast. "Sir, this servant must return to the estate to attend to Madam. I take my leave."
She bowed her head and left.
Ting Yu fed Xie Jingyu another bite and remarked casually, "With you so gravely ill, Sir, how can Madam still focus on external affairs... Earlier, Ting Feng didn't even inquire about your condition..."
Xie Jingyu's expression darkened.
Indeed, he was so ill he couldn't even leave his bed, needing assistance even to eat. Yet Yun Chu, for the sake of some business, chose not to return home for the night.If the little money she earned was spent on the Xie family, he wouldn't have said anything. But now, she wouldn't even provide for Ping Jie'er's dowry, and she turned a blind eye to all the places in the Xie residence that required funds... What was the point of her earning so much money?
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