Chapter 90: I Don't Like Her
The streets were bustling with people.
Chu Hongyu's little mouth was pouted, clearly showing his unhappiness.
A Mao bent over and whispered, "Young Son, you should at least stroll around a bit more. Otherwise, when the Prince asks, you won't even have an excuse for not liking her, right?"
Chu Hongyu looked up at the woman standing beside him.
This was the future Princess Consort that many in the household had found for his father - Tan Er Xiaojie, who would become he and Changsheng's future mother.
He and Changsheng had indeed always wanted a mother, but not this woman before them.
This woman was very gentle, her words and actions beyond reproach. Everyone in the household, including his father, was particularly pleased with her.
Only after everyone else was satisfied did they come to ask him whether this woman could become his mother.
"Yu Ge'er, do you like this sugar figurine?"
Tan Er Xiaojie picked up a cute tiger-shaped sugar figurine from the stall and handed it to Chu Hongyu.
Her face wore a gentle smile as she bent down, trying her best to close the distance with the child before her.
"I don't like it! It's hideous!"
Chu Hongyu coldly threw down these words and strode forward.
Tan Er Xiaojie was at a loss.
She had exhausted all means to please the Young Son, but the Young Son had maintained a stern expression throughout, clearly disliking her.
Whether her marriage with Prince Pingxi could be finalized depended entirely on whether this Young Son liked her or not.
She was only seventeen and actually unwilling to become someone's stepmother, but her father needed Prince Pingxi's support to get promoted.
For her father, for her family, she had no choice but to go all out.
"Yu Ge'er, then what do you like?" Tan Er Xiaojie put on her gentle smile again. "I heard you like crickets. Why don't I take you to watch cricket fights?"
Chu Hongyu felt somewhat tempted, but immediately despised himself for it.
Since he didn't like this woman, he shouldn't give her any hope, nor should he let his father think he was willing to let this woman become his mother.
He said coldly, "Miss Tan, don't waste your efforts. No matter what you do, I won't agree to let you marry my father!"
The smile on Tan Er Xiaojie's face froze. She took a deep breath, crouched down, and took Chu Hongyu's small hand: "Yu Ge'er, I know you're somewhat resistant to me now, but please believe me, I will treat you as my own child, cherish you and Changsheng, and let you know how different it is to have a mother... Your father will marry a Princess Consort someday, and it might be similar no matter who he chooses. But only I can promise you that your father and I won't have any more children. The Prince of Pacifying the West Manor will only have you and Changsheng as its children..."
Chu Hongyu bit his lower lip.
He found his heart actually softening somewhat.
Even he was being persuaded by this woman - his father would certainly be even less able to resist.
If no faults could be found with her, the Emperor would surely issue the marriage edict immediately, and this woman would truly become his mother.
Thinking of this, Chu Hongyu felt immense resistance well up inside him.
"Yu Ge'er, shall we give it a try?"
Tan Er Xiaojie held the little fellow's hand, her eyes completely sincere.
Just then, Chu Hongyu suddenly let out a piercing scream and violently shook off Tan Er Xiaojie's hand.
"She pinched me!" The little fellow hid tearfully in the arms of the nanny behind him. "She just pinched my hand, threatening me to agree to let her become my mother, waa waa!"
As he spoke, he began crying loudly.Tan Er Xiaojie widened her eyes in disbelief. She had only gently held the Young Son's hand, not daring to use any force at all—how could she possibly have pinched a child?
But before she could explain, the nanny holding Chu Hongyu angrily exclaimed, "Tan Er Xiaojie, how dare you! How dare you treat our Young Son like this! Threatening the Young Son even before entering the household—who knows how you might torment the child once you become the Princess Consort! This matter, I will report truthfully to His Highness the Prince!"
Tan Er Xiaojie’s face turned pale. "Nanny, I didn’t—how could I dare lay a hand on the Young Son? I truly didn’t… Yu Ge’er, please explain to Nanny quickly—I really didn’t do anything to you!"
Chu Hongyu cried out, "My hand is all red—you pinched me! You’re a bad person, I hate you!"
The nanny looked and indeed—the Young Son’s fair, tender hand was flushed red.
For the first time, Tan Er Xiaojie felt what it meant to be unable to wash oneself clean even by jumping into the Yellow River. But even if it was hard to explain, she had to make things clear...
Just as she was about to speak, she noticed a figure appear in her line of sight.
She looked up and recognized her—the eldest daughter of the Yun family, the legitimate daughter of the General’s household, now Madame Xie.
Yun Chu had not intended to step out of the carriage, but while sitting inside, she had witnessed the entire incident between Yu Ge’er and Tan Er Xiaojie clearly.
If it were any other child, no matter how mischievous or deceitful, she wouldn’t have interfered.
But the child who was lying and falsely accusing others was Yu Ge’er.
He was the child who had secretly sneaked into the Xie residence just to see her, the child who had earnestly carved wooden sculptures for her, the child whose heart was always filled with thoughts of her… She couldn’t stand by and watch him make a mistake without doing anything.
"Nanny Zheng," Yun Chu greeted Chu Hongyu’s nanny, then turned her gaze to the child nestled in the nanny’s arms. "Young Son, did Tan Er Xiaojie really pinch your hand until it turned red?"
The moment Yun Chu appeared, a brilliant light shone in Chu Hongyu’s eyes, and he instinctively wanted to rush into her arms.
But he noticed Yun Chu’s expression was stern. Children are perceptive, and he keenly sensed that her mood was likely related to him.
He clutched the nanny’s collar, avoiding Yun Chu’s gaze, pursed his lips, and refused to answer.
"What does Madame Xie mean by that?" Nanny Zheng frowned. "Are you suggesting our Young Son is falsely accusing Tan Er Xiaojie?"
"Young Son," Yun Chu said, fixing her eyes on the child, "didn’t I tell you that making a mistake isn’t a big deal—what matters most is admitting it?"
Tan Er Xiaojie breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
She truly hadn’t expected that Madame Xie would risk offending the Young Son to stand up for her.
If it were anyone else, even if they had seen the Young Son falsely accusing her, they certainly wouldn’t have chosen to take her side…
Chu Hongyu bit his lower lip.
He knew he shouldn’t have falsely accused Tan Er Xiaojie, but if he hadn’t done so, this woman would become his mother.
He didn’t want this woman to be his mother.
He looked at Yun Chu, wishing so much that she could marry his father. But why had she married so early…
Yun Chu softened her voice. "Young Son, if you know you’ve made a mistake, apologize. I believe Tan Er Xiaojie is willing to forgive you."
"No, I didn’t do anything wrong!" Chu Hongyu shouted, his eyes reddening. "She bullied me, and now you’re bullying me with her! I hate you both!"
He jumped down from the nanny’s arms and dashed headlong into the crowd."Oh dear, my little ancestor, don't run around like that, don't get lost!" Nanny Zheng was terrified. "What are you all standing there for? Go after him quickly!"
The servants of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor rushed in the direction where Chu Hongyu had disappeared.
Yun Chu didn't need to think twice—she immediately lifted her skirt and chased after him.
Tan Er Xiaojie's head was about to explode. It was she who had suggested taking the Young Son out for a stroll. If the Young Son were to get lost, their Tan family would be finished.
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