Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 220
Chapter 220 - Would You Be Willing to Marry Me?
Yun Chu took Lady Lin's hands in hers.
Hiding it from her mother previously was because she feared her mother might reveal something in front of Prince Pingxi.
Now that the misunderstanding between her and Prince Pingxi had been resolved, there was no harm in letting her mother know these things.
"It was my fault..." Yun Chu said softly. "I should have told Mother earlier. In truth, those two children of mine are still alive—living very well, in fact. They are already over four years old, almost turning five."
"What did you say?" Lady Lin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Chu'er, you aren't talking in your sleep, are you?"
"It is true, Mother," Yun Chu gave a soft, radiant smile. "The children are truly still alive. Just wait a few more days, and I will be able to take Mother to see them."
Overwhelmed with immense joy, Lady Lin exclaimed, "Wonderful! That's wonderful! The children are still alive! All these years, your father has been filled with self-blame; he protected thousands upon thousands of commoners, yet failed to protect you—it was the single greatest regret of his life. Now that they are alive, your father can finally lay his worries to rest! Chu'er, tell me quickly, where are the children? Why aren't they living here with you?"
"The children..." Yun Chu paused briefly before continuing, "Their father is Prince Pingxi."
Lady Lin covered her mouth in shock: "Which means... Hong'er and Changsheng are the bloodline of our Yun family! Heavens above, no wonder I felt such an instant, intense affection the moment I saw those two children, and no wonder Changsheng looks identical to you... The children are alive—there could be no better news than this! Chu'er, now that you have children, what do you need a man for? Living on your own in the future is plenty fine, perfectly fine just as it is! We won't go see that Marchioness of Zhounan anymore!"
Yun Chu chuckled: "Hong'er and Changsheng are in the palace accompanying Concubine Yin. They will be back in a couple of days, so Mother needn't be in such a rush."
"I have to go back and share this wonderful news with your grandfather!" Lady Lin stood up in a flurry. "Chu'er, hold down the fort here for now, and our whole family will carefully discuss how to win the children back!"
With those words, she departed in a hurry.
Only after she had stepped out the door did Chu Yi walk out from the inner chamber.
This was his first time entering a lady's boudoir. The scent belonging uniquely to Yun Chu lingered at the tip of his nose; while his nose drank in the fragrance freely, his eyes did not dare wander around too much.
He had finally managed to endure until Lady Lin left.
"I have wronged Your Highness."
Yun Chu looked at him with a face full of apology.
Originally, matters between her and Prince Pingxi were entirely clean and innocent, yet being hidden away like this by her made it seem as though there were something going on.
It was inexplicably somewhat awkward.
"Yun Chu," Chu Yi spoke up, addressing her directly by her name. "If... I mean if His Majesty allows me to marry you as my Princess Consort, would you agree?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Yun Chu shook her head: "I am sorry, Your Highness. I have never entertained the thought of marrying ever again."
This answer was within Chu Yi's expectations. After losing himself for a brief moment, he continued, "Not even for the sake of the children?"
"If it is for the sake of the children..." Yun Chu paused, "for the sake of the children, I am willing to do anything."
Chu Yi looked at her deeply: "Very well, I understand."
He had fallen in love.
Yet she had no such intentions.
Even if he truly married her, it would merely be for the sake of the children to her.
He would not force her into marriage.
A day would come when she would marry him willingly.
Rather than for any other reason.
"It is getting late, so I shall take my leave now."
Carrying the osmanthus cakes that had already grown cold, Chu Yi stepped over the threshold.
By this time, night had fallen completely.
Chu Yi rode his horse to the palace gates, proceeding on foot straight to the Imperial Study.
"You unfilial wretch, you still dare to come!"
The Emperor was so enraged that his beard bristled and his eyes glared, glaring at Chu Yi as if spitting fire.
Flipping his robes, Chu Yi knelt straight and firm on the ground: "Your servant has committed an outrageous and rebellious act. I pray Imperial Father will bestow punishment!"
"So you actually know it was an outrageous and rebellious act!" The Emperor smashed his teacup onto the floor. "Her Empress Dowager is advanced in years, yet she was angered into a severe illness by you! What crime do you deserve?!"
The Crown Prince spoke up: "Third Brother, hurry and explain clearly to Imperial Father why you slaughtered seven trusted servants at Imperial Grandmother's side, why you chopped off Nanny Qin's arms, and why you caused the young master of the Feng family to fall to his death from his horse! So long as you make it clear, Imperial Father surely will not punish you."
The Second Prince, Prince Gongxi, let a subtle glint flash through his eyes: "I heard that Miss Yun, the eldest daughter of the Pillar of State General, was also present. Is this true?"
"It is indeed true," Chu Yi did not dodge the question, raising his head as he spoke. "That young eunuch was instigating by the Empress Dowager to lead Miss Yun to Jinying Hall, intending to harvest Miss Yun's heart's blood to cure Prince Zhuang's illness! Had Miss Yun died inside the palace, the Yun Family Army would have undoubtedly rioted! Everyone in the entire Great Jin Dynasty knows that the Yun Family Army can fight one against ten, and a mere hundred-man troop could breach an enemy camp to take the head of their commander-in-chief! What would happen if such a brave and battle-hardened army fought to seek justice for Miss Yun?"
"Presumptuous!" Prince Gongxi, Chu Mo, said coldly. "A mere Yun Family Army—could it be they actually think they can break through the city gates and storm into the Imperial City?!"
"Second Imperial Brother is mistaken," Chu Yi's voice remained cold and unyielding. "The focus of this matter is not the Yun Family Army, but the Empress Dowager! The Empress Dowager intended to provoke conflict between the Yun family and the imperial court. As for her intentions, Second Imperial Brother may not understand, but I believe Crown Prince Imperial Brother should be able to see through them."
The Crown Prince said in a cold voice: "Imperial Grandmother is not that kind of person."
The Emperor swept a glance over his eldest son, shaking his head imperceptibly.
The Crown Prince he had established was his first son and born of the Empress, thus becoming the master of the Eastern Palace right at birth.
In truth, the Crown Prince relied entirely on the Empress for support.
Regarding such a simple situation in the imperial court, even the younger Seventh and Eighth Princes would likely understand it clearly, yet the Crown Prince actually still believed in the Empress Dowager.
Chu Yi continued to speak: "I heard with my own ears Nanny Qin at the Empress Dowager's side conspiring grand matters with those seven palace servants. Aside from harvesting Miss Yun's heart's blood, there were also the heart's blood of the Right Censor-in-Chief's daughter, the Minister of War's daughter, and the Grand Tutor's daughter... all to provoke disputes between the imperial court's heavyweights and Imperial Father! Had it been Crown Prince Imperial Brother or Second Imperial Brother in my position, I believe both of you would equally be unable to tolerate such a group plotting against Imperial Father right under your noses! Leaving Nanny Qin alive was to inform the Empress Dowager that whoever dares to scheme against Imperial Father—even an elder—I shall absolutely show no mercy!"
Prince Gongxi gritted his teeth, utterly unable to utter a word of denial.
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected this dog of a Third Brother to be so adept at sophistry. He had clearly committed a major blunder that angered the Empress Dowager into illness, an offense that should have drawn severe punishment.
Yet framed in this manner, Imperial Father would be far too moved to care, so how could he bear to punish him?
"Good!" The Emperor clapped his hands and sighed, before his expression darkened. "Even so, Yi'er, you should not have drawn your blade to slash people! As for the Empress Dowager, you must go in person to seek forgiveness!"
The Crown Prince stared in shock with wide eyes.
A moment ago, Imperial Father had been calling him an unfilial wretch with every breath, yet how did it turn into "Yi'er" in the blink of an eye? What on earth had happened?
Prince Gongxi looked at the Crown Prince with cold eyes.
Look, the foolishness in Crown Prince Imperial Brother's eyes was so transparent and clear. How could such a person be worthy of sitting on the Dragon Throne...?
Chu Yi departed from the Imperial Study and headed toward Kangning Palace.
Arriving at the gates of Kangning Palace, a senior maidservant at the Empress Dowager's side went inside to report, then emerged and said, "Her Empress Dowager is currently resting. We ask Your Highness to wait for a while."
"Now that the sky has grown pitch dark, Imperial Grandmother had better rest well. Yi'er shall take his leave."
Chu Yi turned around and walked away directly.
The Empress Dowager, who had originally intended to make Chu Yi stand obediently outside for the entire night, was so enraged that she smashed her medicine bowl to pieces.