Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 269: Which One Do You Like

During the New Year period, the two children went to the palace to pay New Year's respects on the first day, visited the Yin family on the second day, and spent the following days with Yun Chu.

Chu Yi also cleared his schedule to stay at home, saying he wanted to take her and the children to the outskirts of the capital to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms.

Yun Chu quickly shook her head and refused, mainly because it was too cold. Going out in such weather could easily lead to frostbite. Staying home to read and chat was perfectly fine.

"Then, Chu'er, can you answer a few questions for me?"

"Which do you prefer, crystal or jade?"

"Which do you like, Water Cloud Satin or Heavenly Cloud Brocade?"

"And..."

Yun Chu: "..."

She seemed to understand why he was asking these questions.

Answering felt awkward.

Not answering felt equally awkward.

Chu Hongyu lifted his little head and said, "Crystal is beautiful, and jade is beautiful too. Can't we like both? Water Cloud Satin is cool, and Heavenly Cloud Brocade is warm. I like both as well."

Chu Yi's smile deepened at the corners of his lips. "Good, we'll like both."

It seemed he hadn't yet grasped the simplicity of life as well as a child.

As they were chatting, Cheng Xu's voice suddenly came from outside: "Your Highness, the military camp in the outskirts reports that the notorious flower thief from Jinzhou has appeared near the capital. The Chief of the Court of Judicial Review has already taken men to apprehend him and has sent someone to request Your Highness's support."

Chu Yi stood up. "Chu'er, I'll go see what's happening."

Yun Chu nodded.

She had heard of this flower thief. Every month, he would violate a young, unmarried girl. Over a dozen girls in Jinzhou had been defiled, causing widespread panic.

Only by capturing him quickly could the public's unease be soothed.

Chu Yi leaned down and kissed Yun Chu on the forehead.

"Me too, me too!"

Chu Hongyu pushed Chu Yi aside and kissed Yun Chu on the cheek.

Chu Yi's face darkened.

Fortunately, Yun Chu had already agreed to let the boy have his own courtyard. Once spring arrived, he could go as far away as he liked.

He shot his son a cold glare, lifted the curtain of the Warm Pavilion, and walked out.

Yun Chu thought to herself that it was just a lecherous maniac. Given Chu Yi's abilities, it shouldn't be too difficult to handle.

However, by evening, Cheng Zongguan came to deliver a message: "Miss Yun, the flower thief actually escaped during the siege. His Highness has taken troops to pursue him to Pingliang Prefecture and likely won't return for three days."

Yun Chu grew worried. "How many troops did he take with him?"

"He took three hundred men, which is more than enough," Cheng Zongguan replied. "Consort Yin has sent a nursemaid to take the two young masters to the palace to stay for a few days."

The children loved spending time with Yun Chu, but they also enjoyed staying in the palace with their grandmother, Consort Yin. Yun Chu watched as Cheng Zongguan carried the little ones away.

The room suddenly felt empty.

Yun Chu's heart seemed to hollow out as well.

That night, Yun Chu was too worried about Chu Yi to sleep.

She woke up naturally in the morning, practiced martial arts for a while, bathed, changed clothes, and then busied herself with work.

"Chu'er, how can you still focus on managing the account books?" Lin Shi walked in directly. "I've inquired, and the Emperor is likely to formally bestow the marriage around the eighth day of the New Year. Prince Pingxi is no longer young, so the wedding date is probably within six months. The matter of embroidering the wedding dress needs to be scheduled soon."

Yun Chu was stunned.

She knew the wedding would be soon, but only when the wedding dress was mentioned did she truly feel that she was about to get married."I've found eight embroiderers for you," Lin Shi said with a smile. "Six will specifically work on your wedding dress and bridal quilt, while the others will embroider your clothes and shoes. There are also the embroidered gifts you'll present to the elders after you marry into the family—they'll handle all the embroidery work. You just need to add a few final stitches yourself. Six months is more than enough time."

Yun Chu recalled five years ago, when she first married, her mother had made similar arrangements for her then too.

She couldn't help but nestle into Lin Shi's embrace. "Mother, you're so good to me..."

"Silly child, I carried you for ten months before you were born. Who else should I be good to if not you? It's the same reason you're so devoted to Yu Ge'er and Changsheng." Lin Shi gently tapped her nose. "Although this is your second marriage, we won't skip any of the proper rituals. I'll prepare everything for you."

These past few days, Lin Shi had been inquiring everywhere about the detailed customs for second marriages among noble families in the capital.

While it was common for men to take second wives, it was extremely rare for women to remarry—especially among prominent families, where such cases were virtually unheard of.

When women from minor families remarried, they typically moved away to distant places to avoid gossip.

Consequently, Lin Shi hadn't been able to gather any useful information.

She would have to figure things out on her own.

Lin Shi had the eight embroiderers come in to discuss with Yun Chu the preferred style for the wedding dress and other specific details.

After about half an hour of discussion, Yun Chu grew restless—mainly because she truly didn't understand these matters. She stood up and said, "I'll leave these arrangements to you, Mother. I'm fine with whatever. I've made plans to meet Du Ling later, so I'll be heading out now."

Without waiting for Lin Shi's response, she lifted the curtain and left.

"This child..." Lin Shi shook her head helplessly.

It was true that Yun Chu had business to discuss with Du Ling—she hadn't been lying.

Young Master Wu had arrived in the capital that morning and was staying at a separate residence. Yun Chu was acting as an intermediary to arrange for Young Master Wu to treat Du Ying's fiancé.

It was the sixth day of the first lunar month, still during the Spring Festival period. The streets were bustling with activity. The carriage passed through an alley and stopped at the gate of the residence.

This was a quiet, elegant courtyard specially arranged by the Du family, complete with servants—a clear demonstration of their sincerity.

As soon as Yun Chu stepped down from the carriage, she spotted a familiar figure.

"Is that... Qinghua Princess?" Qiutong also recognized her and whispered, "What is Her Highness doing here?"

Hearing the commotion, Qinghua Princess turned around and saw Yun Chu. "What brings you here?"

"Greetings, Your Highness." Yun Chu performed a slight curtsy. "This humble woman is here to meet someone."

Qinghua Princess retorted, "To see Wu Yun, the physician?"

Yun Chu didn't conceal the truth and nodded.

"Although the Yun family has declined, I must admit you still have some connections," Qinghua Princess said with a light laugh. "However, Divine Doctor Si's closed-door disciple has the same terrible temper as his master—he refuses to see anyone. I advise you not to waste your time."

Upon learning that Divine Doctor Si's disciple had come to the capital, she had rushed over immediately to request an audience.

Over the past year, she had been sleeping poorly and aging rapidly. She hoped to obtain a miraculous medicine that could preserve a woman's youth forever.

But this Physician Wu had refused to see her.

Even when she invoked her authority as a princess, Physician Wu still wouldn't appear—exactly like Divine Doctor Si.

She still remembered how, when she was young, her imperial father had tried to force Divine Doctor Si to remain in the capital as an imperial physician through an imperial decree. Divine Doctor Si had directly defied the decree and fled, disappearing without a trace.Later, it was the Empress who sought people everywhere and wrote letter after letter to persuade the renowned doctor to reconcile. Finally, the doctor agreed to return to the capital once every three years to diagnose and treat members of the royal family.

Because of this concern, she did not dare to force her way in.

Seeing that Yun Chu still hadn't left, Qinghua Princess spoke up: "This princess happens to have a few words to say to you. Let's walk together."

Regarding this woman's marriage arrangement with Yi'er, she still couldn't accept it even now...

Yun Chu said calmly: "This titled lady has important matters to discuss with Doctor Wu. After finishing this matter, I'll chat with Your Highness."

She knew all too well what this princess wanted to say to her - nothing more than mocking her for being unworthy of Chu Yi. Although she didn't care about these words, that didn't mean she was willing to listen to them.

After saying this, she stepped up the stairs.