Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 21: Just Wanted to See Her

After Xie Ping's figure disappeared.

Yun Chu stood with Ting Shuang at the intersection admiring the flowers.

If anyone came, she would know immediately, so no one would see Xie Ping attempting to cozy up to the prince.

She had gone to such lengths, hoping Xie Ping wouldn't disappoint her.

The crabapple blossoms were brilliantly colored. While Yun Chu was admiring them, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her ankle. Looking down, she saw a small stone rolling away.

Ting Shuang glanced in the direction the stone came from: "Who's hiding there?"

The broad green leaves rustled, and a short little figure emerged from behind them.

Yun Chu's face showed disbelief.

It was actually the Young Son of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor.

The little fellow held a slingshot in one hand and clutched a handful of round little stones in the other.

He straightened up, loaded a small stone into the slingshot, and aimed it at Yun Chu's face.

Ting Shuang quickly stepped in front of Yun Chu to shield her.

"Hmph!" the little guy said fiercely, "You promised to compensate me with a cricket. Where is it?"

Yun Chu: "..."

Why was this cricket matter never-ending?

"You woman, you don't keep your word!" The little guy released the slingshot.

A small stone whizzed toward Yun Chu but didn't hit her, landing instead in the grass by the roadside.

"Young Son." Yun Chu took two steps forward, crouched down in front of him, and said calmly, "I've sent three crickets to the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor, but you weren't satisfied with any of them. Why don't you tell me directly what kind of cricket you want?"

Chu Hongyu pressed his lips tightly together.

He didn't really want a cricket; he just wanted to see this woman.

He had schemed to follow his father to the flower-viewing banquet, originally planning to sneak away while his father wasn't paying attention to find this woman.

Unexpectedly, this woman was also at his imperial aunt's residence.

His luck was really good.

Seeing the little guy remain silent, Yun Chu thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll give you a one-of-a-kind cricket."

She walked to the roadside, plucked two slender leaves, and quickly folded them back and forth. In no time, a green cricket appeared in her palm.

She held it out to the little guy: "Do you like it?"

Chu Hongyu's dark, bright eyes widened: "How are you so skilled? Can you teach me?"

"It's very simple." Yun Chu said patiently, "Place the two leaves overlapping like this, then fold them over, then like this, next..."

In just a few words, a second cricket was folded.

Chu Hongyu followed Yun Chu step by step, but what he ended up with wasn't a cricket—it looked more like a dog...

She couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't laugh!"

The little guy got annoyed, picked two more leaves, and continued learning, determined not to give up until he mastered it.

Just then.

An old matron hurried over from the path: "Young Son, this old servant has finally found you."

Chu Hongyu looked displeased: "I told you not to follow me. Why are you looking for me? Go away."

The old matron approached with a bowed back, saying respectfully, "This old servant must ask—was it you, Young Son, who killed the koi in the Clear Flower Pond?"

The little guy's face suddenly changed. He snorted and continued fiddling with the leaves in his hands.His attitude made the old matron understand everything. She bowed even lower: "These Koi were brought from the south at great expense by the Grand Princess. If they die just like this, the Grand Princess will surely hold someone accountable... Please come with this old servant, Young Son, and explain the matter clearly to the Grand Princess."

Chu Hongyu sat down on the ground: "I won't go. I refuse to go."

The matron was nearly in tears. The death of two Koi would not only bring trouble to the maids who fed them but also punishment for her, the matron responsible for looking after the Young Son...

"What is valuable is not the absence of faults, but the ability to correct them," Yun Chu's voice carried warmth. "Do you know what this means, Young Son?"

Chu Hongyu shook his head blankly. Although his father had hired a tutor to teach him reading and writing, he often slept during lessons and hadn't learned much.

"It means that being faultless isn't the best quality; what's most precious is the courage to correct one's mistakes," Yun Chu looked at him steadily. "If the death of the Grand Princess's Koi is related to you, Young Son, and you bravely admit your mistake, I believe the Grand Princess won't blame you."

Chu Hongyu pressed his lips together.

Of course his imperial aunt wouldn't blame him—the problem was, his father was there too...

He looked up and met Yun Chu's gaze. Under such gentle eyes, he felt somewhat ashamed of himself.

He stood up: "Let's go, Matron."

The matron looked at Yun Chu with immense gratitude: "Thank you, Madam."

Yun Chu glanced toward the end of the path and saw Xie Ping emerging from the depths of the grove, her face flushed with the look of a maiden in love.

"Did Ping Jie'er find her earring?"

Xie Ping felt a pang of guilt and quickly lowered her head to conceal the spring-like glow in her eyes: "Yes, Mother, I found it."

"Then let's return to the banquet." Yun Chu turned and walked ahead.

Xie Ping glanced behind her, then quickly followed Yun Chu's steps.

As soon as they arrived at the banquet, Yun Chu saw the little fellow snuggled in the Grand Princess's arms, acting spoiled: "Imperial Aunt, I've done something wrong. Can you forgive me?"

The Grand Princess's heart melted. Initially, she hadn't liked this child whose birth mother was unknown, but the boy was sweet-tongued and knew how to please. Over time, she had naturally grown fond of him.

She pinched the little one's cheek: "What did our Yu Ge'er do wrong?"

"When I was playing with my Slingshot, I accidentally... killed two Koi in the pond..." Chu Hongyu hung his head, fiddling with his fingers. "Imperial Aunt, I was wrong."

Before the Grand Princess could speak,

Prince Pingxi, sitting nearby, glared coldly and reached out to grab Chu Hongyu by the back of his collar.

"Third Brother, what are you doing?" The Grand Princess shielded the child in her arms. "They're just two fish. It's not worth making a fuss over."

Prince Pingxi said coldly: "If he can kill two fish today, he might kill two people tomorrow. Indulging him blindly will only make him more lawless."

"If the child is untaught, it's the father's fault. In the end, this is all your doing," the Grand Princess snorted. "If you have no time to discipline the child, you should marry a Princess Consort to manage him in your stead, rather than resorting to scolding and beating. Look how frightened the child has become."

At these words, the married ladies seated below all averted their gazes.

Only a legitimate daughter was worthy of Prince Pingxi, but none were willing to let their daughters become stepmothers. Each feared catching the Grand Princess's attention.

The Grand Princess scanned the entire banquet, her gaze finally settling on Yun Chu.She smiled and said, "I've heard that Huaide Academy has a student who is highly favored by the instructors—the eldest son of the Xie family. If nothing unexpected happens, he is likely to become this year's top candidate in the academy examinations. Such an outstanding child is undoubtedly the result of his mother's excellent upbringing. So, Third Brother, when you marry, you should bring home a woman like Sister Chu."

Yun Chu quickly rose to her feet. "Your Highness praises me too highly. I dare not accept such commendation."

Prince Pingxi lifted his gaze, his hawk-like eyes turning toward Yun Chu.