Chapter 197: Call Me Uncle Yun
Yun Chu and the three members of the Ding family moved to a different place to talk.
"...Observing you, I see you possess the aura of wind and clouds obscuring the moon—endowed with wisdom and strategy, a lofty individual wishes to take you under their wing," Yun Chu said with a solemn expression, showing no signs of fabrication. "I wonder if you have any interest in this?"
Ding Yiyuan looked bewildered: "Which lofty individual? Under whose wing?"
"Great Master Shanji, the monastic order," Yun Chu replied. "Entering this path, you will comprehend past and present, know the future, and understand life and death..."
Ding Yiyuan tugged at his beard: "Isn't that just like those roadside fortune-tellers who deceive people? I, Ding Yiyuan, don't believe in such things. I won't join this so-called monastic order."
Yun Ze: "..."
He couldn't blame Ding Yiyuan. If it were him, he would also doubt Yun Chu's words.
"Great Master Shanji already predicted you would refuse and thus performed a divination," Yun Chu said calmly, taking a piece of paper from her sleeve and handing it over. "If you change your mind, within three days, send a message to the Yatang Teahouse."
After saying this, she and Yun Ze stood up and left.
Ding Yiyuan opened the letter. When he saw its contents, he felt as if he were reading some kind of joke.
The letter actually claimed that within three days, a fellow vagrant in the dilapidated temple where he was staying would suddenly rise to become a noble in the capital.
Everyone in the dilapidated temple was homeless, each in a wretched state. How could any of them become nobility within three days?
"Chu'er, how could even such things appear in your dreams?" Yun Ze also looked astonished.
Yun Chu coughed lightly.
It was only when she was thinking about the shelter a few days ago that she vaguely recalled a story about the legitimate son of a prominent capital family who had been missing for over a decade. He was later found in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the capital, and the incident caused quite a stir among the populace.
The reunion was supposed to happen next year. She had sent people to investigate the temple and discovered that the missing legitimate son was currently living there, begging to survive.
She had originally planned to inform that family, but now she could use this matter to convince Ding Yiyuan.
"It's a dream, or perhaps not just a dream. Maybe it's an experience from my previous life," Yun Chu smiled. "Let's not talk about this anymore. Didn't you want to see the two children, Elder Brother? It's getting late, let's go pick up Yu Ge'er and Changsheng."
Yun Ze had long wanted to see his two nephews, but since it was his first time meeting them as their uncle, he needed to prepare some gifts, which is why he had waited until today.
The two of them took a carriage to the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor.
As soon as they stopped, they heard the voices of two children.
"Mother!"
"Mommy!"
Yun Chu glanced behind the children but didn't see Chu Yi.
Chu Hongyu thoughtfully explained: "Father Prince angered Grandfather Emperor. He was given twenty strokes and is being detained in the palace."
Yun Chu: "..."
Why did the boy's voice carry a hint of schadenfreude? That was his own father.
It seemed the Emperor had dismissed everyone when administering the strokes to protect Prince Pingxi's dignity, which is why the news hadn't spread.
Yun Chu carried the two children into the carriage.
Lifting the carriage curtain, Chu Hongyu saw Yun Ze sitting inside and immediately straightened his posture, formally greeting him: "Official Yun."
Chu Changsheng appeared somewhat timid, shrinking into Yun Chu's embrace.
Yun Ze had seen these two children several times before, but each time, he had only glanced briefly—they were just someone else's children, nothing particularly noteworthy.
But now, knowing they were Yun Chu's children, the more he looked at them, the more he liked them.He waved his large hand. "Yu Ge'er, come sit beside me."
Chu Hongyu was a bit displeased. He wanted to sit next to his mother. With Father away, he could slowly snuggle up to her—just thinking about it made him happy.
Regardless of his feelings, Yun Ze couldn't restrain himself and pulled the little boy onto his lap.
He had wanted to put the little girl on his other leg too, but Chu Changsheng was somewhat intimidated by his enthusiasm and clung tightly to Yun Chu's neck.
"Yu Ge'er, see if you like this?" Yun Ze pulled out a novel toy from under the seat. "I specially prepared this as a meeting gift for you."
Chu Hongyu instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he saw what it was, his face lit up with amazement: "It's a nine-linked ring! I saw one in the military camp, but Father said I was too foolish to play with it and firmly refused to give it to me... Lord Yun, you understand me so well! Thank you for the gift!"
Yun Ze corrected him: "Since you call Chu'er 'Mother,' similarly, when we're alone, you may call me Uncle."
Chu Hongyu grinned. "Uncle Yun!"
"Yes!" Yun Ze responded cheerfully, then turned to look at Chu Changsheng.
He rummaged under the seat and pulled out a doll. "Changsheng, look, do you like it?"
Chu Changsheng shook her head.
The doll Mother had given her was much prettier than this one.
Yun Ze set the doll aside and continued digging under the seat, producing a kaleidoscope. "How about this?"
The little girl didn't dare reach for it, so Yun Chu took it for her and held it before her eyes. After one glance, the girl's lips curved into a smile, and she began playing with it, utterly enchanted.
Yun Ze breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak.
Just then, Chu Hongyu slipped off his lap, crawled under the seat, and started rustling around: "Here's a Huarong Dao puzzle, a treasure chest, a small mirror, a pellet drum, a ceramic rattle ball... Uncle Yun, you're too good! You bought so many things for me and my sister—thank you so much!"
Yun Ze basked in the title "Uncle" and said with a smile, "There are many more back at the Yun residence. I'll bring them for you two next time we meet."
Chu Hongyu tilted his head. "Uncle Yun, why are you so good to me and my sister?"
Yun Ze ruffled his hair. "You'll understand in time."
When the carriage arrived at Yulin Lane, the four of them disembarked. The siblings rushed ahead hand in hand to play with the cats and rabbits.
Yun Ze said softly, "Let's keep this matter from Mother for now. I'm afraid if she finds out, she won't be able to resist visiting the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor every day to see Yu Ge'er and Changsheng."
Yun Chu shared the same thought.
Her mother's emotions were too transparent—whatever she felt showed clearly on her face. So sometimes, concealment was better than honesty.
Servants brought out a lavish dinner, and the four of them sat around the table.
Yun Ze, who only had a son, was utterly charmed by the little girl Changsheng and insisted on squeezing in next to her. "Changsheng, how about Uncle feeds you?"
"No, no!"
The little girl shook her head, though the wariness and resistance in her eyes had lessened considerably from before.
Yun Ze persisted, striving to show his kindness, and finally, the little girl accepted a bite of food from him.
In that moment, Yun Ze was overjoyed.
He finally understood why Chu'er had so many reservations regarding the children.
With too little planning, there was fear they wouldn't be able to reclaim the children.After much calculation, he feared hurting two such endearing children.
He spoke softly, "Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, your father is often away suppressing bandits. Have you ever worried about him?"
Chu Hongyu shook his head, "Father is incredibly capable. There's nothing to worry about."
"What if..." Yun Ze paused, "What if your father were to fall under the bandits' blades? What would you do?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a soft little hand pressed against his lips.
He looked down to see Chu Changsheng's large eyes brimming with heavy tears.
His heart softened.
The path to eliminating Prince Pingxi was no longer viable.
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