Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 93
Chapter 93 - Yet He Is Crying
A soft and delicate body fell into his arms, leaving Chu Yi completely frozen in place.
He had never been this close to any woman, save for that single night...
He hurried to steady her and help her stand straight.
In that split second, he caught a whiff of another unique, feminine scent, lingering beneath the fragrance left by her bath.
It seemed familiar, as if he had smelled it somewhere before...
"Many thanks, Your Highness."
Yun Chu took two large steps backward, putting a wide distance between herself and the man before her.
Chu Yi watched her. Compared to the ripples of emotion churning inside him, she was far too calm and unperturbed.
It was as though, no matter what happened, she would always maintain that exact same composed expression.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he noticed Yun Chu's expression turn somewhat displeased as she cast a sideways glance at Chu Hongyu, who was standing nearby.
"Little Heir, don't you have something to say?"
The reason she had suddenly pitched forward a moment ago was because she had been forcefully shoved from behind by this very little fellow.
Chu Hongyu lowered his head, twisting his little fingers together. "I'm sorry, I—I didn't mean to... I just..."
He had simply wanted to help foster some affection between his mother and his father, to make his mother fond of his father, and to make his father willing to take his mother in as the Princess Consort.
If his mother could marry someone as terrible as Xie Jingyu, why couldn't she marry his father?
How could Yun Chu possibly fail to understand what was going on in his mind?
She crouched down and spoke, "Yu Ge'er, you've done three things wrong today. First, you framed Second Miss Tan; second, you ran off instead of admitting your mistake, almost causing a disaster; and third, you intentionally pushed someone... Although I've said that knowing one's errors and reforming makes a good child, repeatedly apologizing only to repeat the offense over and over again is not called virtue—it is called... being incorrigible."
If she hadn't happened to pass by along that road, there was no telling how massive a scapegoat Second Miss Tan would have been forced to bear.
If she hadn't known how to swim, the little fellow in front of her would likely have drowned in the lake.
If she hadn't lived through an extra dozen years of life, she probably would have died of mortification and rage after being embraced by another man.
Chu Hongyu widened his eyes in shock.
This was the first time his mother had ever spoken to him in such a stern tone, even telling him that he was incorrigible.
"I hope you grow up to be a child of upright character," Yun Chu said, gently stroking his head. "Alright, I must be going."
She stood up and curtsied toward Chu Yi. "Your Highness, this subject's wife has overstepped."
"Madam Xie speaks very well," Chu Yi replied. "It is this prince who has failed to discipline his son properly, bringing a great deal of trouble to Madam Xie. In the future, this prince will certainly devote more care and effort to guiding the boy."
Yun Chu said nothing further.
She walked out of the estate, stepped up onto the carriage, and looked back to see the little fellow gazing at her with tear-filled eyes.
She could not help letting out a soft sigh.
Ever since her rebirth, she had used every means at her disposal to deal with the Xie family; in truth, what qualification did she have to demand that Yu Ge'er conduct himself with upright morals?
Yet she truly hoped he would grow into a good child—one who reads ten thousand books and travels ten thousand miles, blossoming into an upright youth possessing the moral fortitude of a green pine and a heart compassionate toward all living beings... As for a despicable person like herself, she deserved to slowly rot away in the vast expanse of the passing years. How could she ever be worthy of his affection?
Yet, he was crying.
Yun Chu's heart softened into an absolute mess.
With no other choice, she forced a smile.
Chu Hongyu instantly broke into a tearful grin, gesturing and dancing about excitedly. "Father, Mother smiled at me! She must have forgiven me..."
"Since she has forgiven you, you mustn't let down her expectations," Chu Yi said. "For a person of upright character, the most important thing is to read widely. Once we return, apply yourself to your studies with your tutor, and this autumn, I will send you into the Imperial Academy."
Chu Hongyu sniffled and nodded in agreement.
The carriage advanced slowly toward the capital. Once they entered the city gates, the heavy flow of pedestrians forced the carriage to slow down significantly.
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out from outside.
"Is that Madam Xie inside the carriage?"
Yu Ke, who was driving the carriage from the front, spoke up, "Madam, it is the Marquis of Xuanwu."
Even before Yu Ke spoke, Yun Chu had already recognized the Marquis of Xuanwu's voice.
The words that man had spoken to her back at the Marquis of Xuanwu's estate still seemed to echo right beside her ears, and she had rewarded him with a slap across the face.
Tingshuang anxiously pressed a hand onto Yun Chu's arm, lowering her voice. "Madam, let this servant step down and handle him."
Yun Chu shook her head. So many days had passed; the Marquis's anger should have subsided by now.
If she avoided him here, this man would definitely find a way to compel her to visit the Marquis's estate, which would only make things much harder to deal with.
They were currently out on a public street surrounded by bustling crowds on all sides; surely the Marquis wouldn't dare pull anything untoward.
Besides, she always felt as though the Marquis of Xuanwu seemed to know something she was completely in the dark about...
She lifted the carriage curtain, took Tingshuang's supporting hand to step down, and lowered her gaze. "Greetings, My Lord. Does the Marquis require something?"
Qin Hengzhi was mounted atop a blood-sweating steed. Having unexpectedly caught sight of the Xie family carriage, he had tested the waters with a shout, never truly expecting to cross paths with her.
He pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek; that single slap from days ago had been enough to keep him from attending court for a full five days.
He vaulted down from his horse, took two steps forward, and instantly caught a distinct, extraordinary fragrance drifting into his nostrils.
Greedily, he inhaled the scent.
A wave of goosebumps broke out all over Yun Chu's skin. This man was even more sickening than she had imagined.
Tingfeng and Tingshuang moved to her left and right respectively, shielding Yun Chu behind them and blocking Qin Hengzhi's intrusive gaze.
"Does Madam Xie still remember what this Marquis told you the other day?" Qin Hengzhi smiled faintly. "Those two corpses you reburied in the earth—are they truly your own flesh and blood?"
Yun Chu's fingers tightened.
It was here; this was precisely that same feeling, as though the Marquis of Xuanwu was privy to countless secrets.
She knew she shouldn't fall into the trap of the psychological maze he was deliberately spinning, but when it concerned her two children, absolute calm was utterly beyond her reach.
She gave a subtle signal with her eyes, causing Tingshuang and Tingfeng to step back to either side. Raising her head, she locked her gaze onto the man before her. "The Marquis knows he already said that once, and now he is saying it a second time. Everything in this world abides by the rule of not pressing past three—what does the Marquis think?"
"Take a few steps closer." Qin Hengzhi gazed at her infatuatedly. "Step closer, and I will tell you exactly what is going on."
Yun Chu looked at him coldly.
It seemed she would have to find a way to pry this man's mouth open.
"If the Marquis has nothing else to say, I will take my leave."
She turned as if to walk away.
"Wait." Qin Hengzhi proactively took two steps forward. "Yun Chu, I will only tell you this much: those two corpses buried by the Yun family are not your biological children at all. If you wish to know more, come to the Marquis of Xuanwu's estate of your own accord, and I will tell you everything."
Yun Chu's pupils constricted violently.
She was unwilling to place any trust in the man before her, yet the harsh reality told her that Xie Jingyu was entirely capable of pulling off a switch like substituting a civet cat for a prince.
Moreover, back when she went searching for the children's remains, she had been consumed by overwhelming grief; looking back on it now, there were indeed countless suspicious oversights.
Yun Chu lowered her eyelids, concealing the turbulent emotions churning within her gaze.
When she lifted her head once more, her expression was already as still and wave-less as before. "I must ask the Marquis to refrain from using my deceased children to make sport..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a figure suddenly materialized beside her. In the next instant, her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled backward behind someone's broad frame. Without even needing to look, she knew it was Xie Jingyu.