Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Child Had No Breath Left

Returning to Yusheng Residence, the sky had already grown pitch black.

The lamps in the room had been lit, and the moment she stepped inside, she saw a man sitting in the side hall, drinking tea.

This was the twenty-eight-year-old Xie Jingyu.

Back when her mother was searching for a suitable match for her, she had secretly caught a glimpse of Xie Jingyu—an elegant top scholar in whom no flaws could be found.

Yet had she known that Xie Jingyu already had children, she never would have married into the Xie family.

Her gaze shifted to the woman standing behind Xie Jingyu.

Everyone in the Xie household knew that this woman was Xie Jingyu's most capable steward, whom everyone respectfully addressed as Mammy He.

It was only after the Yun family collapsed in her past life that she discovered this woman was actually Xie Shi'an's biological mother.

Four years ago, when Xie Jingyu brought Xie Shi'an and his two younger siblings back to the Xie household, he had told her personally that the children's mother was already dead.

At that time, her own child had died prematurely, and Xie Shi'an's trio had also lost their mother, so the three children naturally came to be raised under her name, addressing her as mother.

In order to prevent any rift from forming with the Yun family, in order to elevate the son of a concubine into the position of a legitimate heir, and in order to make her pour her heart and soul into raising the children, she had been deceived for so many years...

"Husband."

Yun Chu called out indifferently.

Ever since their wedding night, Xie Jingyu had never stepped foot into her bedchamber again.

Initially, while carrying her pregnancy, she had even felt grateful for her husband's consideration.

Later on, night after night, year after year, as she failed to catch sight of her husband's figure, she gradually resigned herself to despair and poured all her heart and soul into the children.

If Xie Shi'an was the one who single-handedly brought about the destruction of the Yun family, then the tragedy of her life had begun with Xie Jingyu.

"Has Husband come on account of An'er's affair?"

Yun Chu asked with a calm and detached expression.

Seating herself at the table, she said coldly, "An'er committed such a treasonous and outrageous act; does Husband feel I was wrong to punish him?"

Hearing this, Xie Jingyu was somewhat startled.

Ever since her child was born prematurely and died, Yun Chu had lost the brilliant radiance of a general's estate daughter, gradually growing silent and submissive.

This was the first time in four years that he felt as though the proud young miss of the Yun family from the past had come back to life.

"Mistress ought to issue punishments naturally." Seeing that Xie Jingyu remained silent, Mammy He, who stood behind him, spoke up. "It's just that spring has only recently arrived, and the nights are cold. The Eldest Young Master has a delicate constitution..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a piercingly cold glare directed at her.

Yun Chu's expression was icy. "In our Yun family, when a master is speaking, if a servant dares to butt in, they deserve to have their mouth slapped."

"Mammy He was merely concerned for An'er," Xie Jingyu interjected. "An'er indeed committed a fault. Kneeling in the ancestral hall for two days will surely make him comprehend the crux of the matter. I came here simply to hope that Mistress will keep the Yun family from learning of this incident."

He still hoped the Yun family would lend their weight to advancing An'er's prospects, so naturally, he could not allow An'er's misstep to be used against them by outsiders.

"Rest assured, Husband, I am well aware of all this." Yun Chu took a sip of tea, a smile curving the corners of her mouth. "Speaking of which, I still do not know Mammy He's given name."

With lowered eyebrows and a submissive demeanor, Mammy He replied, "This slave is merely a servant; my lowly name would only pollute your ears, Mistress, and is not worth mentioning."

"Mammy He is not yet thirty, is she? I hear you have yet to be betrothed?" Yun Chu continued to fix her gaze on her. "I happen to have a fine match in mind here."

"This slave is terrified!" Mammy He bowed deeply. "This slave was born under an ill-omened star and will never marry in this lifetime. Furthermore, now that I am older, I have long since cast aside such thoughts. I deeply appreciate Mistress's kind intentions, but I must decline."

Xie Jingyu stood up. "I still have official duties to attend to, so I will take my leave. Mistress, do not exhaust yourself too much."

Watching the two of them file out of Yusheng Residence one after the other, Yun Chu narrowed her eyes.

She could sense that Madam He harbored no desire whatsoever to ascend to the position of primary mistress.

Any woman who bore children for a man and went to great lengths to remain by his side would surely desire to become his legal wife.

Why was this Madam He content to remain a mere servant without a shred of resentment?

In her previous life, right up until her dying breath, she had been rushing about for the sake of the Yun family and had never carefully considered Madam He's true identity.

Now that she had been given a second chance, she could no longer remain so muddle-headed.

That night, Yun Chu repeatedly replayed every single event that had occurred in her past life, only drifting off to sleep as the first light of dawn broke.

In her dream, she unexpectedly found herself reliving her wedding night.

The tender intimacy of that night had pierced straight into her marrow.

She also dreamed of herself during her pregnancy; though she had never been skilled in women's needlework, she had forced herself to embroider numerous tiger-head shoes while carrying her child.

Suddenly, the dream shifted abruptly.

Vast expanses of fresh blood spread out before her eyes, accompanied by a cacophony of voices ringing in her ears.

"This is terrible, the Mistress is losing a massive amount of blood! The child is being born prematurely, someone come quickly!"

"The Little Young Master has finally been born... Why isn't the Little Young Master crying? Why does it look like he has no breath left?"

"There is still another child in the Mistress's womb, and it seems to have no breath left either..."

"The Mistress will break down in grief and hemorrhage if she lays eyes on stillborn infants; hurry and take the children away!"

"No! Stop!"

Yun Chu snapped her eyes wide open.

Her belly had been exceptionally large during her pregnancy, and it was only during labor that she discovered she was carrying twins.

Yet, she, their biological mother, hadn't even managed to catch a single glance of her own flesh and blood before the infants stopped breathing and were carried away.

To her dying day, she never knew where those children had been buried.

"Mistress, what is the matter?"

Hearing her cry out, Tingshuang rushed inside anxiously. Noticing that she was drenched in a cold sweat, she hurriedly fetched water for her to wash up.

Yun Chu soaked in the wooden bathing tub for a long while before she finally managed to suppress the overwhelming emotions stirred up by the dream.

By then, day had already broken.

Once she finished dressing and grooming herself, those who came to pay their morning respects had all arrived.

"Mistress."

"Mother."

Seeing her emerge, everyone stood up in unison to offer their greetings.

Yun Chu's gaze swept across the assembled faces.

Xie Jingyu was not a man given to excessive indulgence; he only kept three concubines.

Her gaze landed upon one of the concubines in particular—this was Tingyu, the personal maid she had brought with her as part of her dowry when she entered the Xie household, who was now known as Concubine Yu of the Xie family.

Five years ago, while she was pregnant, Tingyu had gone behind her back to climb into Xie Jingyu's bed.

Her own child had died prematurely, while Tingyu had successfully given birth to the Xie family's Third Young Master, prompting Xie Jingyu to send Tingyu's child straight to her side to be raised.

She had personally bestowed the child's name: Xie Shiyun.

If Xie Shi'an was the eldest son into whom she had poured the most painstaking effort, then Xie Shiyun was the darling of her heart whom she cherished above all else.

This child had healed the trauma of losing her own baby, pulling her out of boundless grief and despair and giving her life a renewed sense of purpose.

She had truly treated Xie Shiyun as her very own biological son, yet later on...

"Mother."

Xie Shiyun flung himself straight into Yun Chu's arms, pressing against her as he acted spoiled.

A smile touched Yun Chu's face, but it did not reach her eyes. "Yun'er is four years old now; it is time for you to understand some manners."

Tingyu raised her head to look over.

The Mistress had always favored Yun'er the most; whenever Yun'er acted coquettishly, the Mistress would pull him into her embrace and lavish him with affectionate pampering and coaxing.

Yet right now, the Mistress hadn't even given the child a single pat, and her eyes still held traces of aloofness and guarded wariness.

Had she not served the Mistress since childhood, she wouldn't even have been able to detect this subtle emotional shift.

"Concubine Yu has extended the family branches for the Xie household, yet she has never had a courtyard of her own," Yun Chu said with a smile. "The small vacant courtyard on the eastern side of the Xie residence shall be given to Concubine Yu and Yun'er to reside in from now on."

Tingyu froze in utter shock.

Ever since becoming a concubine, she had always lived right inside the Mistress's courtyard, and Yun'er lived there as well, which was why her relationship with the Mistress had remained close and deep.

If they were to move all the way to the eastern side, it wouldn't be easy to come over to the Mistress's place anymore in the future—would the Mistress even continue to dote on Yun'er then?