Chapter 189: An Absurd Idea
Yun Chu lingered at the Yun residence for quite some time before setting off for the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor.
Just as her carriage stopped at the manor's entrance, she saw the father and his two children walking out from the main gate. Like yesterday, the two children rushed toward her one after another.
After hugging the children, Yun Chu looked up at the man before her: "Has the manor's chef recovered from his illness today?"
Cheng Xu: "..."
The head chef was perfectly fine, healthier than an old ox.
Chu Yi replied without changing his expression: "We might have to trouble Miss Yun for this entire month."
Yun Chu really wanted to ask him where he had eaten lunch.
She also wanted to ask if the manor only had one chef—did everyone have to go hungry just because the chef was sick?
But in the end, she didn't voice these questions.
She took the children's hands and boarded the carriage.
Chu Yi's horse followed alongside the carriage as they traveled together to Jade Forest Lane.
As soon as they alighted from the carriage, Chu Hongyu wanted to take his younger sister to see the cats and rabbits, but the moment he took a step, he felt his father's cold glare piercing through the top of his head.
He suddenly remembered what his father had told him in the carriage yesterday.
If he weren't so young—if he didn't have to wait at least ten more years before he could marry—he definitely wouldn't help his father marry his mother.
Ah, what could he do? He was still just a child.
"Auntie Yun, my tummy is so hungry," the little boy said, patting his stomach. "Will there be fish to eat today?"
Yun Chu gently tapped his nose: "You said you wanted fish yesterday, so I had someone prepare the freshest fish steamed just for you. I'll pick out the bones for you later."
"Picking out bones is too much work—let's leave that task to Father," the little boy immediately suggested. "Father, will you join us for the meal and be responsible for picking out the fish bones for me and Changsheng?"
A look of approval appeared on Chu Yi's face as he nodded: "Alright."
Just then, Ting Xue came to report that dinner was ready. The four of them walked toward the flower hall together as servants brought out the dishes one by one.
Changsheng pulled Yun Chu to sit down, nestling in her embrace.
Chu Hongyu looked at Chu Yi and said: "Father, why are you standing? Sit down. You're not going back on your word and refusing to pick out fish bones for me and Changsheng, are you?"
Chu Yi spoke up: "Miss Yun, would you please have someone bring another table?"
Yun Chu glanced around. The flower hall wasn't very large—one table was just right, and adding another would make it too crowded.
She looked up: "If Your Highness doesn't mind, we can share this table."
These words perfectly aligned with Chu Yi's intentions.
If there were outsiders present, he would have been concerned about Yun Chu's reputation.
But at this moment, the flower hall was filled with her loyal servants, and outside were his own attendants—all trustworthy people who naturally wouldn't spread word of this improper arrangement.
Chu Yi sat down in the seat farthest from Yun Chu.
He lowered his head and began carefully picking out fish bones.
Although he didn't say a word, Yun Chu couldn't help feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
This man's presence was too overwhelming, making it impossible for her to ignore his existence.
She tried to focus all her attention on the two children: "Changsheng, no picky eating. Pumpkin is delicious—eat more so you can grow healthy and strong."
The little girl made a bitter face, pouting and refusing to eat.
There were some things Yun Chu had no bottom line about—like holding the child while feeding her, or unconditionally coaxing and pampering her—but when it came to picky eating, she was quite firm.
The child was simply too thin. Though she was already over four years old, what difference was there between her and a three-year-old?In the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor, with lavish feasts of fish and meat every day, even eating little could lead to indigestion, causing Changsheng's spleen and stomach to become very weak. She needed careful nurturing to gradually recover...
"Be good, Changsheng. If you finish this bowl of pumpkin porridge, I'll give you a little gift."
Chu Changsheng still didn't want to eat it.
She hated pumpkin the most and would rather forgo the gift.
"Aunt Yun, I'll eat it! Let me have it!" Chu Hongyu snatched the small bowl. "Changsheng, your brother is going to eat it now. Don't come crying to me for the gift later."
Yun Chu smiled warmly. "It's a clay figurine I made with my own hands, Changsheng. Are you sure you don't want it?"
She took the clay figurine from Ting Xue—a little girl in a pink dress, exquisitely crafted.
With just one glance, Changsheng fell in love with it.
She hurriedly tried to grab the pumpkin porridge from Chu Hongyu's hands. "I... I'll eat it..."
"Not giving it to you," Chu Hongyu teased her deliberately. "This clay figurine is mine now."
He pretended to start eating.
The little girl grew anxious at once and rushed to snatch it back.
Chu Hongyu feigned defeat and surrendered the pumpkin porridge to his sister.
Afraid her brother might take it again, the little girl didn't wait for Yun Chu to feed her. She picked up the spoon and fed herself, finishing the porridge quickly. Then, she stretched out her hand, asking Yun Chu for the gift.
Yun Chu placed the clay figurine in her palm.
Chu Yi watched as a smile spread across his daughter's face, her eyes sparkling brighter than the stars in the night sky.
He had never seen Changsheng so full of life before.
What was Changsheng like in the past? At first, she couldn't even drink milk properly. Later, when she learned to drink milk, she often appeared dazed.
Even when Yu Ge'er started speaking, she remained silent. Before meeting Yun Chu, he never knew his daughter's voice could be so delightful.
He noticed that Changsheng and Yun Chu looked remarkably alike.
Wait—
He remembered Cheng Xu investigating the Xie family matter and telling him that Yun Chu had once given birth to twins, but they died shortly after birth.
The Xie family had hastily disposed of the twins, and later, the Yun family made a big scene when they reburied the two children.
Yun Chu's children were born on that snowy night over four years ago...
And Yu Ge'er and Changsheng also appeared on the snowy night along the road when he was returning to the capital...
Could it be?
When this thought surfaced in Chu Yi's mind, he felt he was going mad.
To justify Yun Chu marrying him, he had conjured up such an absurd idea.
Such an unbelievable thing simply couldn't happen.
He shook his head, driving the ridiculous notion from his mind.
Dinner ended quickly, and the happiest part of the day was over. Yun Chu watched as the two children boarded the carriage and left Yulin Alley.
After finalizing the next day's menu with the chef, Yun Chu set off back to the Xie residence.
This courtyard was close to both the Yun family and the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor but quite far from the Xie residence, requiring her to pass through the busiest streets.
Ting Xue suddenly spoke up, "Madam, I see the Eldest Young Master."
Yun Chu peered through the carriage curtain and saw Xie Shi'an in the middle of the road as dusk began to fall, surrounded by a large crowd.
She recognized a few in the group—the Young Son of the Boyuan Marquis Manor, the grandson of the Grand Academician... in short, all were privileged scions who could attend the Imperial College.
"Well, if it isn't our Eldest Young Master Xie?""Xie the Eldest Young Master, born of a criminal official's lineage, deceived the emperor and murdered his own mother—yet he managed to survive the death row. Tsk tsk, quite the skill, isn't it?"
"Hahaha! Xie the Eldest Young Master has become a one-eyed dragon! Come, let me see if that eye is really gone!"
Several young ruffians stepped forward, snatched the gauze from his right eye, and revealed a dark, empty socket.
Seeing Xie Shi'an in such a wretched state, the group laughed even more heartily.
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