Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 197
Chapter 197 - Call Me Uncle Yun
Yun Chu and the three members of the Ding family relocated to a different spot to talk.
"...Judging from your physiognomy, you bear the portent of clouds and winds obscuring the moon. You possess great intellect and stratagem, and there is an exalted master who intends to take you under his tutelage," Yun Chu said with an utterly solemn expression, leaving no trace of the fact that she was entirely making it up. "I wonder if you have any inclination toward this?"
Ding Yiyuan wore a blank look. "Which exalted master, and whose tutelage?"
"Master Shanjing, of the Buddhist Gate," Yun Chu stated. "Entering this sect allows one to penetrate past and present, know the future, and understand life and death..."
Yun Ze: "..."
He couldn't blame Ding Yiyuan; if he were in his shoes, he would have suspected Chu'er's words as well.
"Master Shanjing foresaw that you would refuse, so he cast a divination," Yun Chu said unhurriedly, pulling a slip of paper from her sleeve and handing it over. "If you change your mind, within three days, deliver a message to the Yatang Teahouse."
With that, she and Yun Ze rose and took their leave.
Ding Yiyuan unfolded the letter paper. When he laid eyes on the contents written upon it, he looked as though he had just read some absurd joke.
The letter actually claimed that within three days, in the very ruined temple where he was currently taking shelter, a refugee just like him would suddenly leap to become a noble personage of the capital.
Everyone staying in the ruined temple was a homeless vagrant in utterly wretched straits. Could any of them possibly become a noble personage within three days?
"Chu'er, how is it that even such matters exist within your dreams?" Yun Ze asked with a look of pure astonishment.
Yun Chu coughed lightly.
She had only vaguely recalled it a few days ago while pondering the matter of the shelter: the legitimate son of a prominent capital household had gone missing for over a decade, and was later found living in a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the capital—an affair that had once caused quite a stir among the common folk.
The family reunion ought to have happened next year. She had previously arranged for people to investigate the ruined temple and confirmed that the missing legitimate son was indeed currently residing there as a beggar.
She had originally intended to send word to that family, but now she could conveniently use the situation to make Ding Yiyuan convinced.
"It is a dream, and perhaps it is not; perhaps it is simply an experience from my previous life," Yun Chu smiled. "Let us set that aside. Doesn't Big Brother wish to see the two children? The hour is getting late; let us go pick up Yu'er and Changsheng."
Yun Ze had long wished to see his two nephews, but meeting them for the first time in his capacity as their uncle required proper preparation of welcome gifts, which was why he had waited until today.
The two of them drove their carriage to the Prince of Pingxi's estate.
The moment the carriage came to a steady halt, the voices of the two children rang out.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
Yun Chu glanced past the two children, but caught no sight of Chu Yi.
Chu Hongyu explained with thoughtful consideration, "Father made Imperial Grandfather angry, so he took twenty cane strikes from Imperial Grandfather and is still being detained in the palace."
Yun Chu: "..."
Why did this little rascal's voice sound so gleeful? That was his biological father, after all.
It seemed the Emperor had cleared the area of all attendants when administering the cane strikes in order to maintain the Prince of Pingxi's dignity, which was why the news had not leaked out.
Yun Chu scooped up the two children and boarded the carriage.
Lifting the curtain, Chu Hongyu spotted Yun Ze sitting inside. He immediately straightened his posture and greeted him with formal propriety, "Lord Yun."
Chu Changsheng appeared somewhat timid, burying herself deeply within Yun Chu's embrace.
Yun Ze had laid eyes on these two children numerous times before, but on every previous occasion, he had merely glanced at them briefly—they were other people's children, after all, nothing special to look at.
Yet now, knowing they were Yun Chu's own flesh and blood, he found them adorable no matter how he looked at them.
He beckoned with a broad hand. "Yu'er, come here. Sit by my side."
Chu Hongyu was somewhat reluctant; he wanted to sit next to Mother. With Father absent, he could slowly snuggle up against Mother—just the thought of it filled him with bliss.
Regardless of his willingness, Yun Ze could no longer contain himself and pulled the little fellow onto his lap.
He had also intended to pull the little girl onto his lap as well, but Chu Changsheng was somewhat frightened by his enthusiasm and clung tightly to Yun Chu's neck.
"Yu'er, see if you like this?" Yun Ze fished a novel gadget out from under his seat. "I prepared this welcome gift specially for you."
Chu Hongyu instinctively wanted to refuse, but upon seeing clearly what the item was, his face lit up with awe. "It's a nine-linked ring! I've seen one inside the military camp, but Father said I was too clumsy to figure it out and flatly refused to give it to me... Lord Yun, you understand me so well! Thank you for the welcome gift, Lord Yun!"
Yun Ze corrected him, "You call Chu'er your mother, so by the same token, when we are alone with no one else around, you may call me Uncle Yun."
Chu Hongyu grinned brightly. "Uncle Yun!"
"Ah!" Yun Ze responded with hearty satisfaction before turning his gaze toward Chu Changsheng.
He rummaged beneath the seat once more and produced a toy doll. "Changsheng, look at this. Do you like it?"
Chu Changsheng shook her head.
The doll Mother had given her was far prettier than this one.
Yun Ze set the doll aside, continued searching under the seat, and pulled out a kaleidoscope. "How about this one?"
The little girl didn't dare reach out her hand, so Yun Chu took it for her and held it up to her eyes. After taking a single look, the little girl's lips broke into a smile, and she began playing with it, unable to put it down.
Yun Ze let out a breath of relief and opened his mouth to speak.
At that moment, Chu Hongyu slid down from his lap, crawled entirely underneath the seat, and began rummaging around with a rustling sound. "Here is a Huarong Dao puzzle, here is a treasure chest, there's a small mirror, a rattle-drum, and a clay- pellet rolling drum... Uncle Yun, you're too amazing! You bought so many things for me and my sister—thank you so much!"
Relishing that title of "Uncle Yun," Yun Ze smiled and said, "I bought plenty more and left them back at the Yun residence. I'll bring them over for you and your sister next time we meet."
Chu Hongyu tilted his head. "Why is Uncle Yun so good to me and my sister?"
Yun Ze patted his hair. "You'll understand in the future."
The carriage rolled into Yulin Lane, and the group of four stepped down. The brother and sister joined hands and dashed inside to tease the cats and rabbits.
Yun Ze spoke softly, "Let's keep this matter hidden from Mother for now. I'm afraid that once she finds out, she won't be able to resist going to the Prince of Pingxi's estate every single day to see Yu'er and Changsheng."
Yun Chu shared the exact same sentiment.
Her mother lacked emotional restraint; whatever she felt inside was easily plastered across her face, so for certain matters, keeping things hidden was far better than making a clean confession.
The servants brought out a sumptuous evening meal, and the four of them seated themselves around the table.
Yun Ze only had a son of his own, and upon seeing little Changsheng, he was utterly captivated, crowding close to squeeze in beside her. "Changsheng, would you like Uncle to feed you?"
"N-No!"
The little girl tossed her head away, though the wariness and rejection in her eyes were already far weaker than they had been at first.
Pressing his advantage, Yun Ze worked hard to display his benevolence until, finally, the little girl consented to take a bite of the food he offered.
At that fleeting instant, Yun Ze felt a peak of supreme happiness.
He finally understood why Chu'er had harbored so many reservations regarding the children.
Calculated too little, and she feared she would never reclaim her children.
Calculated too much, and she feared harming two such heart-meltingly precious little souls.
He asked softly, "Yu'er, Changsheng, your father spends all year suppressing bandits. Have you two ever worried about him?"
Chu Hongyu shook his head. "Father is super formidable; there's nothing to worry about."
"Then what if..." Yun Ze paused. "What if your father were to die by a bandit's blade? What would you do?"
The moment those words left his lips, his mouth was covered by a soft, tiny hand.
He looked over and saw that Chu Changsheng's large eyes were brimming with oversized tears.
His heart softened completely.
The path of getting rid of the Prince of Pingxi simply would not work.