Chapter 225: Madam Zou's Body Odor
The carriage moved smoothly and soon arrived at the hot spring manor.
As winter gradually set in and the weather grew colder, more and more wealthy families came to soak in the hot springs. Many carriages and horses were parked at the manor's entrance.
Yun Chu led the two children down from the carriage, with Chu Yi following behind the three of them, maintaining some distance.
Just as they were about to step through the manor gates, Cheng Xu suddenly galloped over on horseback: "Your Highness, the bandit king who escaped half a month ago has appeared in the outskirts of the capital..."
Chu Yi's hawk-like eyes were filled with cold intensity: "Just when we need him, he appears."
After taking command of the Yun Family Army, he had handed over eight thousand elite bandit-suppression troops. Those eight thousand soldiers were coveted by many, and it was time to reclaim them.
Since he had decided to contend for the highest position.
"This prince will personally meet this bandit king."
Chu Yi made a gesture to Yun Chu.
Yun Chu knew that whenever bandits appeared, common people would suffer, and not a moment could be wasted.
She gave him a reassuring look.
Chu Yi mounted his horse: "Where in the outskirts of the capital? Take me there immediately!"
Cheng Xu was shocked: "Your Highness, that bandit king is accompanied by eighteen fierce generals. We should return to the capital and request the Emperor's permission for Your Highness to lead troops..."
"The two of us are enough."
Chu Yi's horse galloped ahead.
Cheng Xu had no choice but to follow.
His heart trembled slightly.
This was the notorious fierce bandit Yang Hedong. Once, a thousand-strong peasant army had been annihilated by Yang Hedong and his eighteen fierce generals alone, leaving rivers of blood.
With just him and the prince, weren't they just delivering themselves to their deaths?
If only the prince's manor still had manor soldiers. Unfortunately, after the prince moved out, he had sent all the manor soldiers to the palace.
Why hadn't the prince sent him away too...
Cheng Xu mentally scorned himself. Between the prince and his own life, he had actually chosen his life - how shameful!
"Your Highness, wait for me!"
Cheng Xu kicked his horse's belly hard and quickly caught up.
Yun Chu watched as Chu Yi sat on his blood-sweating horse, his figure erect as a mountain on horseback. The clip-clop of hooves echoed across the sky as he sped away like the wind, soon disappearing from sight in the bleak early winter breeze.
Chu Hongyu clenched his fists and said: "When I grow up, I want to be as powerful as Father!"
Yun Chu smiled softly: "Then you must study well and practice martial arts diligently now. Only then can you protect the common people like your father in the future."
Mother and children walked hand in hand into the hot spring manor.
At the entrance, Ting Shuang and Jiu'er came out to greet them.
Ting Shuang now dressed as a proper married woman, her speech and actions becoming increasingly steady, fully deserving of her position as the head stewardess of this large manor.
The Jiu'er beside her was also quite different from before. The once thin and weak young girl had filled out her cheeks, looking much more cheerful now.
"Greetings, Miss."
Ting Shuang and Jiu'er bowed in unison.
"Miss, the hot spring is all prepared. Bi Langzhong has just arrived too, so there's no hurry."
Yun Chu led the two children inside.
As they passed by a small courtyard entrance, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Isn't this Madam Xie?"
"Why still call her Madam Xie? She's long been widowed, then driven out by the Xie family. Now she's just a discarded woman, right?"
"Even after being driven out by the Xie family, why is she still bringing along those Xie family concubine-born children?"
Several richly dressed women approached.
Their eyes scrutinized Yun Chu, then swept over the two children beside her.Chu Changsheng was afraid of crowds and buried herself in Yun Chu's embrace.
Chu Hongyu frowned at the sudden appearance of these women, his little face tense and ready for confrontation.
Yun Chu took Chu Hongyu's hand and shielded the little one behind her.
When they had set out today, Chu Yi had initially accompanied them, so they hadn't brought any nursemaids or guards. The only attendant with the two children was A Mao.
It was no surprise these women didn't recognize the children's status.
"With the Yun family in such a state, Miss Yun still has the leisure to bring children to enjoy the hot spring?" The leading woman covered her lips with a handkerchief as she laughed. "I must say, Miss Yun is truly a devoted mother—no wonder everyone calls her the model of noble ladies."
The speaker was somewhat acquainted with Yun Chu.
Back then, Yun Chu was the young lady of a first-rank general's household, while she was merely the daughter of a fourth-rank official. She had repeatedly tried to curry favor with Yun Chu, only to be ignored.
Later, Yun Chu married into the humble Xie family, while she became the wife of the third-rank Zou household. She had laughed about it at home for three days and nights.
Now, the Yun family was accused of treason and collusion with the enemy, their great mansion on the verge of collapse.
Yun Chu had no support left.
Finally, she could stand tall in front of Yun Chu.
Yun Chu's lips curved into a smile. "I almost didn't recognize you—it's Zou Furen. After all these years, have you still not seen a doctor about your condition?"
Zou Furen frowned. "What condition?"
"Zou Furen, when you speak, your breath carries an odor. Has no one informed you of this?" Yun Chu sighed. "This ailment shouldn't be neglected. You should see a doctor soon."
With that, she took both children by the hand and walked away.
It took Zou Furen a moment to process the insult. "She—she actually said I have bad breath…"
When she looked around, she noticed several women she considered friends were subtly pressing their handkerchiefs to their noses, expressions of distaste on their faces.
Zou Furen was so furious she felt her lungs might burst.
Yun Chu brought the children to their private courtyard before giving instructions. "Ting Shuang, from now on, do not receive any visitors on the first and fifteenth days of each month."
She had been careless today, allowing the children to witness such an unpleasant encounter.
Fortunately, Changsheng had recovered. After changing into a gauzy outfit, she played in the Hot Spring Pool with Yu Ge'er.
But the moment Bi Langzhong appeared, the little girl's face turned pale. She turned and threw herself into Yun Chu's arms, trembling slightly.
Bi Langzhong smiled wryly. "Little Commandery Princess, this old man is no ferocious beast. Just five or six more acupuncture sessions, and your condition will be nearly cured. Don't be afraid…"
Yun Chu gently coaxed, "Changsheng, be good. Mother will stay with you the whole time. Don't be scared."
Chu Hongyu held his sister's hand and said, "Big brother will stay with you too. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid…"
The little girl gradually stopped trembling. She pulled away from Yun Chu's embrace, took a deep breath, and slowly spoke: "Mother… Brother… I… I can… do it myself!"
It took her a long time to finally complete the sentence.
She walked to a fixed spot in the pool and sat down obediently by herself.
When Yun Chu moved to join her, the little girl firmly shook her head.
Watching the small, soft figure sitting alone in the vast Hot Spring Pool, Yun Chu felt as if a large hand were gripping her heart, causing her pain.
"Changsheng, you're amazing." Chu Hongyu gave a thumbs-up. "Big brother believes you can do it all by yourself."Yun Chu really wanted to accompany her, but it was rare for the little girl to show such resilience, and she didn’t want to shatter that. Forcing a smile, she said, “Changsheng, Mother will stay right here with you. Don’t be afraid.”
Bi Langzhong glanced at Yun Chu.
Last time during the acupuncture, the Young Son had called her Aunt Yun.
This time, it had become Mother.
It seemed a happy event was approaching in the prince’s household.
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