Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 183
Chapter 183 - The Four Missing Years
After the tour of the courtyard concluded, Yun Chu took the two children to dine at a restaurant.
She gently asked Chu Hongyu, "Aside from not being able to eat mushrooms, what else can Changsheng not eat?"
"She cannot eat spicy food," the little fellow said after thinking seriously for a moment. "She also cannot eat large chunks of food. Changsheng has a weak throat and easily chokes on her food."
A sour, aching sensation gripped Yun Chu's heart.
She had previously heard Nanny Zheng mention that when Changsheng was first born, she could not even swallow milk; a single sip would cause her to choke, and it could only be fed to her one single drop at a time.
The child had not developed fully inside her womb and lagged far behind in every aspect. For the four-plus years since she came into this world, she had suffered every single day.
However, as long as she was still alive, everything would get better.
"Egg..."
The little girl pointed at the steamed egg on the table and said in a soft, sweet voice.
Yun Chu taught her, "This is steamed egg. You should say, 'Mother, I want to eat steamed egg.'"
"Steamed, steamed egg!" the little girl struggled to imitate. "Eat, eat egg..."
Yun Chu mixed a bit of white rice with the steamed egg, shredded the eight-treasure duck to mix into it as well, and placed the bowl before her.
In the past, Nanny Zheng always fed her, but today Nanny Zheng was not around, so Yun Chu picked up the spoon and fed her mouthful by mouthful.
Back when she was little—around the age of two—her parents had made her learn to eat by herself, forbidding the servants from waiting on her hand and foot.
In her mind, a child of over four years old truly ought to feed herself.
However, when faced with her younger daughter, she could cast aside all her principles and educational philosophies; she wished she could pull Changsheng into her lap and hold her tight.
The future was still so far away, and the days of feeding herself would stretch on for a very long time, whereas the brief period when she was this small and needed to be fed was rapidly slipping away.
"Here, Changsheng, open wide—"
Yun Chu's voice was so tender it almost seemed capable of dripping water.
The little girl obediently opened her mouth wide and swallowed the rice from the spoon.
Chu Hongyu felt a bit envious. "Mother, Mother, I want to be fed too."
"Alright."
Yun Chu fed Changsheng a bite, then fed Yu'er a bite, keeping herself busy and thoroughly enjoying every moment of it.
How wonderful it would be if she could share meals with her two children every single day. She truly wished she could make up for all the missing years of the past four.
Every single day of the future was worth cherishing.
Yet not every day belonged exclusively to this mother and her two children.
"Mother, you haven't taken a single bite yourself yet." Chu Hongyu picked up his chopsticks and transferred a lion's head meatball into her bowl. "Mother, say ah—open your mouth."
Yun Chu smiled, parted her lips, and ate the meatball. It was truly the most delicious lion's head she had ever tasted.
The little girl was not to be outdone either; she scooped up some chicken broth with her spoon and brought it right to Yun Chu's lips.
This was also the most delicious chicken broth she had ever drunk.
Just as the mother and her two children were enjoying their meal, Chu Yi appeared at the doorway of the private dining room.
He saw Yun Chu sitting right in the middle, with the two children flanking her on either side. The three of them shared identical smiles on their faces, giving him a momentary sense of trance.
It was as if the three people before him were a naturally born family of a mother and her children...
He stepped inside.
Out of the corner of her eye, Yun Chu caught sight of him entering and immediately lowered her voice to say, "Your Prince father has arrived. Remember what I just told you."
Chu Hongyu nodded vigorously and whispered conspiratorially, "Mm, we must absolutely not call you 'Mother' in front of Father. Sister, did you remember?"
The little girl blinked her large eyes and nodded.
Only then did Yun Chu stand up. "Your Highness."
"The two children are at an age where they love to play and stir up trouble. You've had your hands full, Miss Yun," Chu Yi said. "A couple of days ago, my subordinates brought up a novel trinket. Since it's of no use to a man like me, I might as well gift it to Miss Yun."
He withdrew a small, palm-sized item from his sleeve.
Yun Chu lowered her gaze, her long, feathered eyelashes concealing the emotions swirling deep within her eyes.
She wondered: with the Prince of Pingxi being so amiable and gentle before her, was it purely because she was the mother of his two children, or because he felt deep guilt toward her on account of that night and thus wished to make amends?
If she could, how she longed to demand the return of her two children.
Yet she knew the Prince of Pingxi would never agree.
He had made Yu'er the Young Heir, which meant he genuinely cared for the two children and would never willingly hand them over to anyone else.
If she wanted to spend more time with her two children, she could not afford to fall out with the man standing right before her.
Since he could conceal his intentions so flawlessly.
Why couldn't she do the same?
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Yun Chu revealed a dazzling smile.
She accepted the small item from his hand.
Uncovering it right in front of the man, she saw a small, round mirror—a maritime import that would only become popular in the imperial palace more than a decade later.
At the present time, such an item was exceptionally rare; there were likely no more than three such mirrors in the entire capital. He must have gone through a considerable amount of effort to get his hands on it, only to gift it straight to her.
Had she not known the truth of that night five years ago, she might have found it a hot potato in her hands and dared not accept it.
Furthermore, as a widow, she ought not to accept gifts from men.
Yet now, she no longer had so many scruples.
Any usable resource was fair game for her to take without hesitation, including her own appearance.
"This mirror is exceptionally clear. I like it very much." Yun Chu's smile blossomed fully, and she immediately sighed. "I have a somewhat presumptuous request, though I hardly know how to bring it up..."
Her smile instantly caused Chu Yi to lose himself.
The towering tree of emotions rooted deep within his heart had long since surged all the way to his chest. This smile provided the nourishment that made the tree's branches grow ever larger, violently bursting through the crown of his head.
His throat involuntarily bobbed as he swallowed, and his arm lifted.
He felt an irrepressible urge to place his hand upon her face, to touch her smile from the absolute closest distance possible.
Yet the very instant his hand rose, he heard her sigh.
Reason immediately rushed back. He quietly lowered his hand and spoke, "If Miss Yun has any request, just speak your mind. As long as it is within my power to grant, I will do it."
"I would like..." Yun Chu gazed at him with limpid, brimming eyes. "I would like to pick up Yu'er and Changsheng every evening to dine together... Your Highness, I mean no other offense; I simply hope to spend more time talking with Changsheng, in the hope that she can gradually become a lively child just like Yu'er."
Chu Hongyu immediately chimed in, "Father, you don't know this, but Changsheng said so many, many words today. She was exceptionally amazing!"
"I, I too..." The little girl walked over, tugged gently on Chu Yi's sleeve, and shook it while speaking in a sweet, soft voice. "Want, want to have meal-meals with Auntie."
"Changsheng means she wants to eat meals together with Auntie Yun," Chu Hongyu corrected his younger sister before casting a triumphant look at Chu Yi. "Father, look! Changsheng has really improved so much, and it's all thanks to Auntie Yun."
Truth be told, Chu Yi felt somewhat uneasy about the three of them dining alone outside every single day.
However, one adult and two little ones—a total of three pairs of eyes and six gazes—were staring at him full of anticipation.
Words of refusal simply could not pass his lips.
"Your Highness need not worry; we won't be dining at the restaurant every single day," Yun Chu explained. "I happen to own another quiet, elegant courtyard, and I plan to hire four culinary maids who specialize in preparing food for children. After every mealtime concludes, I will personally escort Yu'er and Changsheng back to the Prince's estate. If Your Highness is still concerned, you may arrange for people to—"
Chu Yi agreed on the spot. "With Miss Yun looking after them, I have nothing to worry about."
Yun Chu smiled—this time, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "Thank you, Your Highness."
At least they would be able to see each other every day, and at least they would be able to share dinner together every day. There was no need to rush; she would take it one step at a time and slowly make it happen.