Chapter 208: The Best Father
Chu Yi had little patience to spare.
He gave Cheng Xu a look, and Cheng Xu promptly picked up a bucket of water and poured it over the woman.
The water on a late autumn, early winter night was bone-chillingly cold. While men might endure it, a delicate, pampered woman simply couldn't withstand it.
The woman let out a sharp cry and was about to speak when a second bucket was already raised above her head.
"What do you want from me..." she sobbed. "I'll talk, I'll tell you everything."
Cheng Xu said coldly, "The man before you is the Third Prince, Prince Pingxi. Answer whatever he asks truthfully!"
The woman, prostrate on the ground, trembled as she replied, "This humble woman pays respects to Your Highness. I will hold nothing back and speak all I know!"
"Five years ago, on the twentieth day of the fifth month—where were you that day?"
"Please allow me to think..." After pondering for a long while, she finally said, "That day, I carried a basket of eggs to sell at Marquis Xuanwu's residence. But the accountant who handled payments wasn't there, so the servants invited me inside to wait..."
Before she could finish, Cheng Xu seized her wrist.
He spread her five fingers open: "If you're a farm girl, working in the fields all day, why are there no calluses? It seems you've grown tired of living, spouting nothing but lies!"
With that, he drew his long blade, pressed her hand to the ground, and swung the blade down.
The woman's eyes widened in terror, and she leaped up in fright: "I'll talk, I'll tell you everything... I'm a bonded maidservant of the Qin family in Marquis Xuanwu's household. Five years ago, the Marquis sent me to a mountain village to pose as a farm girl. He told me to wait quietly, saying that if Prince Pingxi ever came looking, it would be my chance to change my fate..."
"I only ask you this," Chu Yi interjected. "That night five years ago—do you know what happened at Marquis Xuanwu's residence?"
The woman's gaze grew evasive.
"Splash!"
Another bucket of icy water was dumped over her head.
She understood clearly: Prince Pingxi was interrogating her like a criminal because he had already uncovered the whole story.
No matter what she said now, she wouldn't receive an ounce of mercy.
It would be better to confess honestly.
Perhaps then, she might have a sliver of hope.
"I—I know!" Her teeth chattered. "I was the Marquis's personal maidservant. Many tasks were carried out by me on his behalf... That night, it was I who bathed Lady Xie and helped her change clothes... But I beg Your Highness to investigate thoroughly—our Marquis truly did nothing, he didn't even touch Lady Xie, not even once..."
Chu Yi's eyes turned icy: "Aside from you, who else was involved in this matter?"
"There was also a servant from the Xie family!" the woman said quickly. "He should have been Xie Jingyu's page."
A murderous intent surfaced in Chu Yi's eyes: "Take her away and lock her up."
Two guards entered from outside, gagged the woman, and dragged her out.
"Xie Jingyu never had a page," Cheng Xu said with a cold laugh. "It seems that person was either silenced by Xie Jingyu or fled early, fearing he would be killed."
"Find him. Dig three feet underground if you must, but bring him to me."
Chu Yi's cold, stern face was tightly drawn, a killing aura slowly spreading from him.
Cheng Xu immediately prioritized the matter.
He paused, then ventured boldly, "Your Highness visited Miss Yun late at night—may I ask what her response was?"As a prince, Chu Yi had many siblings but was not particularly close to any of them. Cheng Xu, who had grown up with him, was the only one with whom he could share heartfelt conversations.
He began, "I offered to take responsibility for that night, but she refused."
"Your Highness, how could you..." Cheng Xu was deeply distressed. "Your willingness to take responsibility indeed shows you are a man of honor, but from Miss Yun's perspective, it would seem you are marrying her merely out of obligation. Having been married before, Miss Yun knows well the difficulties of being a wife, so her refusal is understandable."
Chu Yi nodded in agreement.
He should not have said those words.
Humbly, he sought advice, "Then what do you think I should have said?"
Cheng Xu scratched the back of his head.
He was a bachelor himself, having never been close to a woman—how would he know such things?
But since the prince was condescending to ask, he felt compelled to offer a decent suggestion.
"Your Highness could start with the two young masters," Cheng Xu elaborated. "It's said that a mother's heart is connected to her children. Even before Miss Yun knew about that night, she poured her heart out for the two young masters. Now that they are reunited, she must be eager to spend every moment with them. If you propose marriage in the children's name, I believe Miss Yun would agree immediately."
Chu Yi frowned.
Was that really the case?
Something felt off about it.
Chu Yi did not sleep all night.
Yet he remained full of energy. He sat in the children's courtyard for nearly an hour before they woke up.
While Nanny Zheng was still dressing Chu Changsheng, Chu Hongyu had already gotten dressed and come out, ready to go to the Imperial College with his page.
"There's no need to go to school today," Chu Yi said. "I will take you somewhere."
Chu Hongyu shook his head. "Teacher Wang said my foundation is too weak and asked me to go half an hour early to study."
"Very well," Chu Yi replied. "Then I will take Changsheng to Yulin Lane."
Yulin Lane was where Yun Chu currently lived.
At the mention of those words, Chu Hongyu could no longer remain calm. He exclaimed joyfully, "Aren't we supposed to go there only in the evenings? Why are we going so early in the morning?"
"Your imperial grandmother's birthday is approaching, and she will be staying in the palace for a few days. It will be difficult to visit Yulin Lane then," Chu Yi explained. "So, for the next few days, you and your sister will stay there and not return to the prince's residence."
"Father? Are you really my father?" Chu Hongyu gleefully climbed onto Chu Yi's lap. "When did you become so good to us? I'm so happy!"
After the children were ready, they packed some changes of clothes and daily necessities. Taking only the guard A Mao, they set off for Yulin Lane.
Yun Chu had nothing pressing to do and had slept a little later than usual.
Just after washing up and stepping out of her room, she saw the two children running toward her and throwing themselves into her arms.
Ting Xue said, "His Highness brought the Young Son and Little Commandery Princess half an hour ago. He did not want to disturb your rest, so he did not have me announce them."
"Mother!"
"Mommy!"
The children whispered the most intimate terms of endearment in her ear.
Yun Chu's smile was exceedingly tender as she looked at her son and daughter before her. She said, "Starting today, you may call me that even in your father's presence."
Chu Hongyu turned to look at the man behind him.
Chu Yi nodded."Wow, this is amazing!" Chu Hongyu jumped three feet high. "Father is truly the best father in the world! I hereby declare that Father has become the fourth person I like the most!"
Chu Yi was very satisfied.
Previously, this little rascal always said he was the person he disliked the most. Now he had finally become someone he liked. Although he only ranked fourth, it was still satisfying.
Yun Chu asked, "Then who are the first, second, and third?"
"Mother, you mustn't get angry when I tell you," Chu Hongyu said, scratching his chin. "My sister and I grew up together, so the person I like the most is my sister, the second is Mother..."
Yun Chu patted his head. "Silly child, of course Mother won't be angry. It brings your father and me great joy to see you and Changsheng putting each other first."
Chu Hongyu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "The third person I like the most is Imperial Grandmother. Imperial Grandmother's birthday is coming soon, so I need to prepare a birthday gift for her."
Yun Chu knew that "Imperial Grandmother" referred to Yin Pin, while "Imperial Grandmother Empress" was the Empress.
For the little one to rank her third showed that Yin Pin usually paid great attention to the two children. Yun Chu would remember those who treated her children well.
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