Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 208

Chapter 208 - The Best Royal Father

Chu Yi did not have that much patience.

He cast a glance at Cheng Xu, who immediately lifted a bucket of water and doused the woman with it.

In the late autumn and early winter nights, the water was bone-chillingly cold. While a grown man might bear it, a delicate, pampered woman simply could not endure it.

The woman let out a shriek and was just about to speak when a second bucket of water was already raised above her head.

"What on earth do you people want?!" the woman cried out. "I'll speak! I'll tell you everything!"

Cheng Xu said in a cold voice, "The one before you is His Highness, the Third Prince, the Prince of Pingxi. Whatever he asks, you must confess truthfully!"

Prostrating herself on the ground, the woman trembled as she spoke, "This humble woman pays respects to Your Highness. I shall hold nothing back and answer everything I know!"

"Five years ago, on the twentieth day of the fifth month—where were you on that day?!"

"Please allow this humble woman a moment to think..." The woman pondered for a long while before speaking, "On that day, I was carrying a basket of eggs on my back to sell at the Xuanwu Marquis Estate. However, the accountant who handles payments was not present, so the estate servants invited me inside to wait..."

Before her words were finished, Cheng Xu grabbed her wrist.

He forced her five fingers open: "If you were truly a peasant girl doing farm work every day, why is there not a single callus on your hands? I see you find your life too long and your mouth is full of lies!"

Saying so, he drew his long blade, pinned her hand to the ground, and swung the blade down.

The woman's eyes widened in sheer terror, and she jumped up in fright: "I'll speak, I'll speak everything! I am a bondservant of the Qin family of the Xuanwu Marquis Estate! Five years ago, the Marquis sent me to a mountain village to pose as a peasant girl. He told me to wait quietly, saying that if the Prince of Pingxi ever came looking for me, it would be my chance to change my fate..."

"This Prince only asks you this," Chu Yi opened his mouth to speak. "Do you know what transpired at the Xuanwu Marquis Estate on that night five years ago?"

The woman's gaze turned evasive and shifting.

Splash!

Another bucket of ice-cold water was poured right over her head.

She understood very well that the Prince of Pingxi was interrogating her like a prisoner because he had already investigated the entire matter thoroughly.

No matter what she said now, she would never gain a single shred of sympathy or mercy.

It was better to confess everything truthfully.

Perhaps she might still have a slim chance of survival.

"I... I know!" The woman's teeth chattered. "I was the Marquis's personal maidservant, and I handled many affairs on his behalf... That night, I was the one who bathed Madam Xie and changed her clothes... But I ask Your Highness to investigate clearly, our Marquis really did nothing! He didn't even touch Madam Xie once..."

Chu Yi's eyes turned dark and icy: "Besides you, who else was involved in this matter?"

"There was also a servant from the Xie family!" the woman said hurriedly. "He should be the page boy by Xie Jingyu's side."

A murderous aura surfaced in Chu Yi's eyes: "Take her down and lock her up."

Two guards stepped in from outside, gagged the woman's mouth, and dragged her out.

"Xie Jingyu did not have a page boy by his side," Cheng Xu sneered. "It seems that person was either silenced by Xie Jingyu or fled early out of fear of being killed."

"Search. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find him."

Chu Yi's rigid face was tightly set as a murderous aura gradually spread out from him.

Cheng Xu immediately prioritized this task above all else.

He paused for a moment and boldly asked, "Your Highness went to see Miss Yun late at night. May I ask what Miss Yun's stance is?"

As a prince, although Chu Yi had many brothers and sisters, he was not particularly close to any of them. Having grown up together with him since childhood, Cheng Xu could speak to him intimately.

Chu Yi spoke, "I offered to take responsibility for that night, but she refused."

"Your Highness, how could you..." Cheng Xu said with deep regret, "Your Highness's willingness to take responsibility for that night indeed makes you an honorable gentleman. However, in Miss Yun's eyes, you are merely marrying her for the sake of responsibility. Miss Yun was once married and knows full well the hardships of being a wife; her refusal is only natural."

Chu Yi nodded; indeed, that was the case.

He should not have said those words.

He humbly asked for advice, "Then how do you think I should have put it?"

Cheng Xu scratched the back of his head.

He was a bachelor himself who had never been close to a woman, so how could he know such things?

However, since His Highness had lowered himself to ask, he had to offer a proper suggestion no matter what.

"Your Highness can start with the two young masters," Cheng Xu spoke eloquently. "They say a mother's heart is linked to her children. Even when Miss Yun did not know what happened that night, she poured her heart out to the two young masters. Now that mother and children are reunited, Miss Yun must be desperate to spend day and night with them. If Your Highness proposes marriage in the name of the children, I believe Miss Yun will definitely nod and agree immediately."

Chu Yi furrowed his brows.

Was that really so?

He felt something was not quite right.

Chu Yi did not sleep a wink all night.

Yet he was still full of energy. After sitting in the children's courtyard for half an hour, the two children woke up.

Nanny Zheng was still dressing Chu Changsheng, while Chu Hongyu had already put on his clothes and stepped out, accompanied by his page boy as he prepared to head to the Imperial Academy to study.

"There is no need to go to school today," Chu Yi spoke up. "Father will take you to a place."

Chu Hongyu shook his head: "Master Wang said my foundation is too poor and told me to go half an hour early to study."

"That works too," Chu Yi said. "Then I will take Changsheng to Yulin Lane."

Yulin Lane was the courtyard where Yun Chu currently resided.

Upon hearing these three words, how could Chu Hongyu remain calm? He said in pleasant surprise, "Don't we only go there every evening? Why are we going so early in the morning?"

"Your Royal Imperial Grandmother is about to celebrate her birthday. She will be staying in the palace for a few days then, making it difficult to visit Yulin Lane," Chu Yi spoke. "Therefore, for these few days, you two siblings shall live over there and do not need to return to the prince's estate."

"Royal Father? Are you truly my Royal Father?" Chu Hongyu happily scrambled onto Chu Yi's lap. "When did Royal Father become so good to us? I am so happy!"

After the children freshened up, they packed some spare clothing and daily necessities. Taking only A'Mao as a guard, they headed toward Yulin Lane.

Yun Chu had nothing pressing to attend to, so she woke up a little later than usual.

Having just washed up and walked out of the room, she was met by the two children running over with pitter-patter steps and throwing themselves into her arms.

Tingxue said, "His Highness arrived with the young heir and the little princess half an hour ago. Fearing to disturb Miss's rest, he did not allow me to report to you."

"Mother!"

"Mother!"

The two children softly whispered the most intimate form of address in her ear.

Yun Chu's smile was tender to the extreme. Looking at her son and daughter before her, she spoke, "From today onward, you may call me that even in front of your Royal Father."

Chu Hongyu turned his head to look at the man behind them.

Chu Yi nodded.

"Wow, that's awesome!" Chu Hongyu jumped three feet high. "Royal Father is truly the best Royal Father in the world! I declare that Royal Father has become my fourth favorite person!"

Chu Yi was very satisfied.

In the past, this kid always said the person he hated most was him. Now, he had finally become someone he liked. Although he was only ranked fourth, he was already content.

Yun Chu asked, "Then who are the first, second, and third?"

"Then if I say it, Mother mustn't be angry," Chu Hongyu said while scratching his chin. "My sister and I grew up together, so my number one favorite person is my sister, and the second is Mother..."

Yun Chu stroked his head: "Silly child, of course Mother won't be angry. That you and Changsheng put each other first is something both your father and I are glad to see."

Chu Hongyu breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "My third favorite is Royal Imperial Grandmother. Her birthday is coming up soon, so I have to prepare a birthday gift for her."

Yun Chu knew that "Royal Imperial Grandmother" referred to Concubine Yin, while the "Empress Grandmother" was the Empress.

To be ranked third by the little guy meant that Concubine Yin usually took great care of the two children. Yun Chu would keep anyone who treated her children well in her heart.