Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 226
Chapter 226 - Who Gave You the Courage
Yun Chu sat by the edge of the hot spring pool, keeping her company.
After receiving just two needles, the little girl could bear it no longer, her face turning pale.
How could Yun Chu stand to watch this any longer? She stepped directly into the hot spring, gently pulled the child into her arms, and began to sing softly in a soothing voice.
Needle after needle was inserted into the little girl's frail shoulders, and even her head had needles applied. Only after half an hour had passed were the needles finally removed.
By this time, the child was completely drained of strength and had fallen fast asleep in Yun Chu's embrace.
"Thank you for your trouble, Physician Bi."
Yun Chu emerged from the hot spring pool carrying the little girl.
Ting Shuang and Ting Xue immediately stepped forward; one wrapped Yun Chu in a blanket, while the other wrapped the young county princess in another, quickly heading into the inner chamber.
They wiped the child clean from head to toe, changed her into clean, soft clothes, and gently laid her on the bed. The little girl's breathing gradually stabilized, and she slowly drifted into a deep sleep.
Yun Chu, having worked up a sweat, also went to bathe and change her clothes.
By the time she finished and came out, she realized she hadn't seen young Yu'er for quite a while.
Just as she was about to ask, she saw Ah Mao walk in through the door holding a porcelain jar: "Miss Yun, these are butterflies the heir caught to give to the county princess."
Ting Xue said in surprise, "Winter has already set in; how can there still be butterflies?"
"Is that not so?" Ah Mao lifted the lid slightly. "Perhaps it's because the hot springs are so warm that the butterflies all flew into this manor. There are still many butterflies over there. The heir said he must catch the biggest one and bring it back for Miss Yun."
As soon as the lid opened, the butterflies attempted to fly out, so Ah Mao quickly closed the lid again.
Yun Chu stood up. "Where did he go to catch butterflies?"
Ah Mao set down the porcelain jar: "This subordinate will lead Miss Yun there."
Yun Chu followed Ah Mao outside.
They walked to a courtyard filled with all sorts of flowers and plants, where indeed many butterflies were fluttering about.
"Huh? The heir was right here just now. Where is he? Where did he go?"
Ah Mao searched the courtyard in a circle but failed to find anyone, an anxious expression uncontrollably surfacing on his small face.
Yun Chu calmly instructed, "Go find Manor Master Cheng and have him guard the exits first."
As long as Yu'er was still inside the manor, everything would be fine.
She was only afraid that he might have accidentally run outside and fallen into the hands of bandits.
Yun Chu had all the maidservants around her search for him. She knew Yu'er was a sensible child who wouldn't wander off recklessly; perhaps he had simply lost his way.
"What is Miss Yun searching for?"
A person appeared before her—it was precisely Madam Zou, whom she had encountered earlier.
Yun Chu's eyes narrowed slightly. "What does Madam Zou think I am searching for?"
"Miss Yun is well-known in the capital as a virtuous wife and loving mother. Even when coming out to soak in the hot springs, you bring children along. Being all alone right now, could it be that a child has gone missing?" Madam Zou wore a beaming smile. "Does Miss Yun need us to help look for them?"
The group of noble ladies all began to laugh along with her.
The four or five of them usually gathered together to socialize and network—hosting a flower-viewing banquet one day, inviting each other to soak in hot springs the next—living lives as mundane as water.
Seeing someone they used to look up to now in such a disheveled state filled their hearts with a secret, subtle pleasure.
Yun Chu's gaze darkened instantly, and she took a step forward into the courtyard.
"Halt!" Madam Zou said coldly. "I have reserved this courtyard for three days. Without my invitation, I fear it is inappropriate for Miss Yun to enter."
As soon as her words fell, the two maidservants beside her stepped up to block Yun Chu's path.
Qiu Tong stepped forward, grabbed one maidservant in each hand, lifted them up, and tossed them into the flower beds by the side of the path.
Madam Zou immediately shrieked, "Yun Chu, have you lost your mind?! How dare you lay a hand on my people—who gave you the courage?!"
Just as she spoke, Manor Master Cheng arrived hurriedly with his men.
Madam Zou immediately declared, "Manor Master Cheng, I paid a handsome sum to reserve this courtyard. Now someone wants to trespass by force—how do you plan to handle this?"
Manor Master Cheng's face was dark to the absolute extreme: "Madam Zou had best pray that there is nothing inside this courtyard."
With a single glance from him, the guards behind him stepped forward and restrained all the maidservants and older female attendants belonging to these ladies. A path was cleared, and Yun Chu walked inside accompanied by her people.
At a single glance, she spotted a small porcelain jar in the flower bed, identical to the one in Ah Mao's hands.
Taking a few steps forward, she heard a child's voice.
Her heart sank, and she swiftly headed toward the back of the courtyard. In front of a small wooden shed, she heard the child pounding on the door: "Let me out! Open the door, let me out!"
Ah Mao dashed forward with a burst of speed and kicked open the wooden door, the large padlock crashing to the ground along with the door itself.
Chu Hongyu hastily ran out from inside the room.
Following right behind him were seven or eight massive black rats, larger than an adult's hand, making one's scalp tingle with horror.
"Mother, there are so many rats! I was scared to death!"
The little fellow, covered in snot and tears, jumped up and clung onto Yun Chu, clearly shaken to his core.
Yun Chu gently patted his back, saying softly, "It's alright now. Mother is here, nothing bad will happen. Don't be afraid..."
Once the little fellow's emotions settled down, she handed the child over to Ting Xue beside her: "Be good, go back to the courtyard first and take care of your younger sister. Mother will be right back."
Chu Hongyu nodded obediently.
Walking to the front of the courtyard, the faces of those ladies were all somewhat difficult to maintain.
Madam Zou sneered and said, "How should I know why this child was in my courtyard? He came uninvited, yet now it has become my fault instead."
Another lady chimed in to support her, "Miss Yun, no matter how you look at it, you were once this child's legitimate mother. You ought to discipline him properly."
"Manor Master Cheng was somewhat offensive to me today," Madam Zou said, trying her best to regain her footing. "Although my Zou family is only of the third rank, we are still respected by the Prince of Pingxi. How can a mere servant like you humiliate us? However, considering this is your first time, I shall spare you."
She knew this manor was the property of the Prince of Pingxi, and that this manor master was someone trusted by the prince. Therefore, she only dared to utter a harsh word or two; as for going back to lodge a complaint, that was something she would never dare to do...
Yun Chu let out a soft laugh: "Just now, I had someone investigate. It was clearly your maidservant, Madam Zou, who used a colorful butterfly to lure the child into the courtyard. You call this coming uninvited?"
"If she let him enter, he actually entered! A concubine-born child from the ruined Xie family—he should look at what kind of trash he is!" Madam Zou smoothed the hair at her temples. "He truly lacks all upbringing. Entering the courtyard is one thing, but to actually hide in someone else's room without permission and refuse to come out—who knows if he stole anything..."
Before her words could fully settle, Qiu Tong slammed a heavy padlock onto the ground with a resounding thud.
"Was it really the child trespassing on his own, or was he deceived and locked up by you?" Yun Chu's voice turned cold step by step. "Manor Master Cheng, take everyone else outside!"
Manor Master Cheng nodded: "Yes, Miss Yun!"
The guards behind him all stepped forward, advancing toward those ladies.
Those ladies were startled: "W-What are you doing?!"
They thought the guards were going to seize them.
Instead, they saw the guards arrest all the maidservants, older female attendants, and other servants behind them, escorting them all outside.
"Miss Yun, if you need anything, just call out once, and this old servant will come in immediately."
Manor Master Cheng respectfully closed the courtyard gate.
Madam Zou was filled with disbelief.
Why were the Prince of Pingxi's men obeying Yun Chu's orders so submissively?
It was understandable when Yun Chu was still the eldest young lady of the General's Manor, but the General's Manor had already fallen! Why? Just why on earth?!
Before she could figure out the reason, she saw Yun Chu walking toward her.
An eerie chill washed over her heart: "W-What are you trying to do? Let's talk things out properly..."