Chapter 95: His Deep-Seated Affection
"Madam, on our wedding day, Marquis Xuanwu also came to drink at our celebration. He got drunk that day."
Xie Jingyu slowly approached Yun Chu.
"I personally escorted Marquis Xuanwu to the side chamber to rest. He kept muttering drunken words, and when I listened carefully, I realized he was calling out 'Yun Chu'. It was then that I discovered Marquis Xuanwu actually harbored deep affection for you, Madam."
"After we married, he constantly created obstacles for me behind the scenes. Fortunately, with the Yun family as our marital relatives, he didn't dare to truly harm me. But when Wei Ge'er injured Marquis Xuanwu's son, he gained a legitimate reason to cause me trouble without restraint... Because I took He Shi as my Concubine, the Yun family no longer stood up for me. I know I brought this upon myself... During that period, I struggled immensely in official circles, which forced me to bring you along to apologize in person."
"But I swear to heaven, I truly never drugged your tea. How could any man willingly cuckold himself? At the very least, I'm not that kind of man!" Xie Jingyu grasped Yun Chu's shoulders. "Madam, that man covets you and can't stand to see our marital harmony. That's why he's sowing discord between us. You mustn't believe his words—not a single one."
Yun Chu looked into his eyes.
What sincere-looking eyes, so well feigned. No wonder it took until her thirties in her previous life to see this man's true nature.
She was certain she wouldn't get any answers from this mouth. What else could he do besides make excuses?
If she wanted to know the truth, she would have to investigate it herself.
She feigned appropriate astonishment: "Marquis Xuanwu and his wife share deep affection—there isn't a single other woman in his household. How could he possibly harbor deep feelings for me? Husband, you must be mistaken."
"Not taking concubines doesn't necessarily mean deep love for one's wife," Xie Jingyu responded. "Although there are several Concubines in the Xie household, in my heart, you will always come first."
He suddenly embraced Yun Chu.
"Madam, I haven't visited your chambers since our wedding. I've wronged you. Let me make it up to you today."
Without waiting for her response, he began leading her toward the bed.
He simply wanted to know whether she had, behind his back, done those unspeakable things with Marquis Xuanwu.
During this period, Yun Chu had been practicing martial arts with Qiutong. While she might not have been a match for Xie Jingyu before, after her training, not only had her skills improved, but her strength had increased significantly. She lifted her foot and kicked, sending Xie Jingyu stumbling backward. Fortunately, there was a chair behind him, preventing him from falling to the ground.
"Husband, have I not told you that intimacy is forbidden during my health recovery period!"
Yun Chu's voice was icy sharp.
Xie Jingyu pressed his lips together.
Was her resistance truly for health reasons, or was she afraid he might discover something...
"Husband, I visited Qing'an Temple outside the city this afternoon," Yun Chu changed the subject. "The master performing rites for the children said there seems to be something unusual about the children's remains..."
Xie Jingyu immediately set aside his previous thoughts and pressed anxiously: "What's wrong?"
"The master said that before reincarnating, children would return to their earthly home one last time. But no matter how the master tried to guide them, the two children never returned to the Xie residence." Yun Chu fixed her gaze on Xie Jingyu. "Husband, why do you think that is?"
Xie Jingyu's scalp instantly prickled.He had always believed that concepts like monks performing rites to release souls from purgatory and spirits being reincarnated were nothing but fabrications devised by ordinary people.
But now, he no longer dared to think that way.
No wonder Qing'an Temple enjoyed such flourishing incense offerings—the masters there truly possessed genuine abilities.
"Perhaps... perhaps it's because this isn't the Xie family's ancestral home," Xie Jingyu racked his brains for explanations. "The children might have returned to the old Xie residence in Jizhou."
Yun Chu nodded. "That should be the case."
"It's getting late. You should rest early, Madam. I still have matters to attend to."
Xie Jingyu straightened up, pulled open the door, and walked out. His retreating figure carried an unmistakable air of fleeing in panic.
Yun Chu collapsed weakly into her chair, utterly drained.
She could now be absolutely certain that Marquis Xuanwu's words were true—those two bodies truly weren't her children!
Otherwise, Xie Jingyu wouldn't have shown such an expression.
Otherwise, Xie Jingyu would never have left just like that.
To think that even after being reborn, she was still being manipulated by Xie Jingyu like a pawn—she was truly the greatest fool in the world!
What she wanted to know even more was why Xie Jingyu kept deceiving her about the children's whereabouts. They were his own flesh and blood—what possible reason could he have for doing this!
"Ting Shuang!" Yun Chu raised her voice. "Investigate where every member of the Xie household was on the day I confronted He Shi about the children's burial place!"
Ting Shuang nodded. "Yes, Madam!"
Knowing this matter couldn't be disclosed, she only summoned the personal maids to help with discreet inquiries.
That night, Yun Chu expected to dream of her two children, but no dreams came. When she opened her eyes in the morning, the sky was still pitch black.
She put on her martial arts practice clothes and trained in the courtyard with Qiutong for over half an hour before the sky gradually brightened.
After practicing, she bathed and freshened up. By the time she emerged, those coming to pay their morning respects had all arrived.
Her gaze fell upon Xie Ping standing to the side. Compared to previous days, under Granny Fu's discipline, Xie Ping had shown significant improvement.
Even just standing there, Xie Ping's posture clearly showed careful instruction, displaying some grace and cultivation.
After exchanging routine pleasantries, Yun Chu prepared to dismiss everyone—she truly lacked the energy to deal with these people.
"Madam!" Ting Yu suddenly stepped forward, her face streaked with tears. "I beg you to let this concubine see Yun Ge'er. It's been many days since I last saw him..."
"Madam, this concubine has something to say." He Shi came forward. "Since Madam entrusted Yun Ge'er to this concubine's care, I've been conscientious and diligent. However, Yun Ge'er is still unaccustomed to my courtyard since his recent arrival—he cries and fusses daily. Just when I finally managed to soothe him, Concubine Yu secretly came to Bihe Garden, undoing all my efforts. Therefore, I had to forbid Concubine Yu from seeing Yun Ge'er. I hope Madam can understand."
"Madam, Yun Ge'er hasn't attended school for six or seven days—it seems he's fallen ill," Ting Yu accused. "Concubine He has never borne children herself and simply doesn't know how to care for Yun Ge'er. I beg you to let Yun Ge'er return to this concubine's side..."
Yun Chu's voice remained calm. "Is he ill?"
He Shi lowered her head as she replied. "A few days ago, he greedily ate ice to cool off and caught a chill. We've already had a physician prescribe medicine—he'll recover in a few days. Concubine Yu needn't worry."
Ting Yu was nearly going mad. When Yun Ge'er had been with her, he'd hardly ever fallen ill. How could he become so sick upon arriving at Bihe Garden that he couldn't even attend school!He Shi had once administered poison to the child in Tao Yiniang’s womb, and she truly feared that He Shi, in her madness, might also harm Yun Ge’er!
Yun Ge’er was the very core of her existence—she dared not imagine what would become of her if she lost him!
“Madam, this humble one truly knows she was wrong!” Ting Yu wept uncontrollably, filled with regret for having lodged that complaint in front of Xie Jingyu. “I beg you, Madam, have pity on Yun Ge’er and allow him to return to his birth mother…”
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