Chapter 252: Chu Yi's Confession
Chu Yi made a round through the prince's mansion.
He found several items women would like from the treasury, wrapped them up, and brought them along as he returned to Jade Forest Lane.
Only after he entered the gates of the new residence did the tail behind him disappear.
He walked straight to the rear courtyard, approaching the arched doorway. Before he got close, he could already hear the cheerful laughter of his son and daughter.
"Father is back!"
Chu Hongyu shouted happily, then pulled Chu Yi over from the other side of the arched doorway.
"Father, come quick and see!"
The little fellow tugged Chu Yi into the warm flower hall.
Yun Chu's face turned green: "Yu Ge'er, can't you keep a secret for your mother?"
But the boy blinked his big eyes and said: "But it's really too funny. I just wanted to know if Father, who particularly dislikes laughing, would also find it funny."
Yun Chu: "..."
But she didn't find it funny at all.
Chu Yi's curiosity was completely piqued: "Yu Ge'er, what exactly is so funny?"
Chu Hongyu kicked off his shoes, climbed onto the warm heated platform, took out the basket Yun Chu had hidden behind her back, and pulled out a sachet: "Hahaha, Father look, this is the auspicious cloud sachet Mother embroidered. This doesn't look like auspicious clouds at all - it looks more like two big steamed buns."
Chu Changsheng chimed in: "Buns, big meat buns..."
Chu Hongyu saw the corners of Chu Yi's lips curl up in a smile.
He immediately cried out: "Changsheng, look! Father is smiling too, hahaha, Father also thinks it's very funny."
Yun Chu: "..."
She had no face left to show anyone.
It was truly too embarrassing.
She snatched the sachet back and picked up scissors, preparing to cut it to pieces.
A hand reached over and took the sachet before she could cut it, saying: "The reason I smiled just now was because I thought this sachet was beautifully embroidered, not because it looks like buns."
It was because he guessed that this was a sachet Yun Chu had prepared to give him.
Although the shape of the auspicious clouds was somewhat peculiar, since she had embroidered it herself, it was the best sachet in the world.
"Father, you're just saying that to comfort Mother, right?" Chu Hongyu suddenly felt he had been too mischievous and quickly hugged Yun Chu. "Sorry Mother, actually... actually if you look closely at this sachet, it's still quite pretty."
Yun Chu hurriedly hid the sachet away and changed the subject: "The kitchen has prepared dinner. Has Your Highness eaten? Would you like to stay and join us?"
Chu Yi naturally couldn't ask for more.
The servants brought up the steaming hot dishes.
The flower hall was already warmed by charcoal fires, and with the hot food, it became extremely cozy.
Ting Xue even brought up the fruit wine Yun Chu had previously brewed for fun, placing it before the two adults.
"This wine is quite good." Chu Yi picked up the cup and smelled it. "If it were left to age a few more days, the aroma would become even richer."
Yun Chu said with a smile: "This is my first time brewing wine, so the flavor is indeed lacking. Your Highness should drink less. When spring comes, I'll brew some peach blossom wine for you to try."
The little girl suddenly grabbed the wine cup: "I... I want to drink."
"Children can't drink alcohol." Yun Chu quickly took the cup back. "This osmanthus-scented goat milk is good, you drink this."
The little girl wasn't particularly stubborn by nature and immediately started drinking the goat milk.
With four people at the table - two children drinking goat milk and two adults drinking fruit wine - the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
"It's snowing!" Chu Hongyu exclaimed excitedly as he looked outside. "Father, Mother, can my sister and I go play in the snow?"Chu Changsheng's eyes also held anticipation.
Cheng Xu immediately said, "Your Highness, Miss Yun, rest assured. With Ting Xue and me watching, the two young masters won't catch a chill."
Chu Hongyu slipped on his shoes and dashed outside, the little girl quickly following her brother's footsteps.
Cheng Xu exchanged a glance with Ting Xue, and the two followed closely behind.
In the flower hall, only Yun Chu and Chu Yi remained.
Chu Yi held a cup of fruit wine, tilting his head back. He didn't know if it was his fifth or sixth cup—he only knew his mind was growing dizzy.
He looked at the woman seated across from him. She wore loose, comfortable home attire, her jet-black hair casually tied up. Leaning lazily against the chair, her relaxed demeanor stirred a dangerously intense thought within him.
Having drunk some wine, her lips were stained a rosy hue by the fruit wine. His Adam's apple bobbed heavily.
Sensing the man's fervent gaze, Yun Chu felt uneasy all over.
She realized she had gradually overlooked the boundaries between men and women. Although loyal servants filled the courtyard inside and out, she couldn't afford to be too unrestrained.
She adjusted her clothing and stood up. "Your Highness, please enjoy your drink. I'll go check on the children."
"Yun Chu."
Chu Yi called her name.
Having just drunk, his voice carried a hoarse quality, imbued with a strange intensity.
It made Yun Chu's heart suddenly tighten.
Her steps faltered, and she turned to look at the man seated at the dining table.
His dark eyes were like a bottomless abyss, pulling her in with an immense force.
She couldn't look away.
Chu Yi stood up as well and walked to her side.
As he drew near, Yun Chu caught the strong scent of fruit wine.
She was somewhat astonished—how much had this man drunk to carry such a heavy aroma of alcohol?
Chu Yi himself wasn't sure how much he had consumed.
It was just fruit wine, similar to water, yet he felt as though he were drunk.
Otherwise, how could he be so bold?
Otherwise, how could he dare stand so close to her?
Otherwise, how could he dare utter such boundary-crossing words...
"Yun Chu, I want to tell you—I wish to marry you."
The man's voice struck her eardrums, reaching the deepest recesses of her heart.
Yun Chu's fingers tingled with numbness.
She knew what was coming next, yet she felt as if nailed to the spot, utterly unable to move.
"I want to marry you, not because you are the birth mother of my two children, but because I love you."
The words "I love you" seemed to possess a magical power, making her heart pound violently, as if it might leap out of her throat.
She felt unsteady on her feet and reached out to support herself against the table.
Chu Yi took the opportunity to grasp her wrist, while his other hand picked up the wine jug from the table. He tilted his head back and drank more than half of it...
Setting down the jug, his courage seemed to grow even bolder.
Then, he firmly grasped Yun Chu's shoulders.
His other hand cupped the back of her head, and he leaned his entire body downward.
Yun Chu was utterly stunned.
She had already guessed what he intended to do.
She should have pushed him away fiercely.
But for some reason, her limbs had lost their strength.
Her entire body felt soft and weak.
The face before her drew closer and closer.
When they were mere inches apart, the man finally stopped.
"Sorry, I... I..."
It was as if Chu Yi had suddenly sobered up. He abruptly released Yun Chu.
But he forgot that she was almost entirely supported by him. The moment he let go, Yun Chu tumbled straight to the ground.He quickly wrapped his arms around Yun Chu's waist and carried her to sit on the couch.
"I... I should go now."
Chu Yi dared not stay any longer, afraid that he might lose control.
He turned and fled in haste.
Sitting on the couch, Yun Chu picked up a cup of cold tea and took a sip, her turbulent emotions gradually calming down.
When she first interacted with this man, she had considered marrying him—for the child's sake, willing to become a wife once more.
But at this moment, she realized it might not have been entirely for the child.
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