Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 233
Chapter 233 - I Am a Real Man
The workload at the Imperial Academy was quite heavy, and classes only ended each day around the middle of the hour of the Monkey.
Whenever this time arrived, Yun Chu would have the kitchen prepare the pastries Yu'er loved most and lay them out in the reception hall.
The little fellow would eat some snacks and play around with Changsheng, and before long it would be time for dinner.
Yet Yun Chu noticed that today, this boy seemed somewhat unhappy.
She asked softly, "What's wrong? Are the pastries not delicious?"
"They are, they're very delicious." Chu Hongyu let out a long sigh. "Mother, am I very terrible?"
"Why would you ask such a thing?" Yun Chu pulled him into her lap. "In Mother's heart, you are the most amazing, most incredible child. You are not allowed to have such thoughts ever again."
"But they all say I am very terrible."
"Who are 'they'?"
Chu Hongyu spoke with a bitter face, "Sixth Imperial Uncle, Seventh Imperial Uncle, and a whole group of their cronies. They always say I'm the worst student in the Imperial Academy."
Yun Chu's brows knit together slightly.
So far as she knew, some noble children would spend three to five years studying in their clan schools before entering the Imperial Academy—meaning they would only formally enter the academy around eight years old.
Yet Yu'er was not even five years old, having only studied basic texts before this, so naturally he could not keep up with those children who were older than him.
She opened her mouth to say, "The oldest child in the Imperial Academy is your Sixth Imperial Uncle. He is nearly fourteen years old, yet he is studying the exact same things as a little child like you. Tell me, who is actually the more terrible one?"
Chu Hongyu's eyes lit up instantly.
Put that way, he was actually really amazing!
"It is not your fault that you cannot understand some of the lessons at the Imperial Academy right now. How about this: let's stop going to the Imperial Academy for now, and Mother will hire a tutor to come teach you at home for two years." Yun Chu patted his little head. "At home, Changsheng can learn together with you too."
"Sister's health is so fragile, she shouldn't have to work hard studying these things. I will protect Sister when I grow up." Chu Hongyu clenched his little fist. "Besides, since I entered the Imperial Academy, I must never give up halfway! I insist on studying at the Imperial Academy and surpassing Sixth Imperial Uncle and the others, so I can see if they ever dare mock me again!"
Yun Chu saw the fiercely burning competitive spirit in his eyes.
She knew that no matter what else she said, this boy would not give up on the Imperial Academy.
"Mother, a tutor should still be hired." Chu Hongyu blinked his large eyes. "From now on, I'll go to school at the Imperial Academy during the day, and when I come back at night, the tutor can teach me. I refuse to believe I won't catch up!"
Yun Chu's eyes were filled with disapproval.
Although Yu'er's health was slightly better than Changsheng's, it was only slightly better when compared directly to her; a child born prematurely suffered from innate deficiencies that were difficult to make up for later in life.
The most crucial thing for Yu'er was to nurture his body back to health. Studying and reading should not consume all the time of a five-year-old child.
"Yu'er..."
Yun Chu had barely started her sentence.
Her mouth was covered by a tiny hand.
Chu Hongyu spoke earnestly, "I am a real man! I have to protect Sister, and I have to protect Mother, so I must learn many, many things and make myself strong!"
Chu Changsheng came running over from the side, speaking in a soft, sweet voice: "I... I also... with Brother... learn, together."
Chu Hongyu held his sister's hand and said, "Changsheng, you should say it like this: 'I also want to learn together with Brother.' That's a complete sentence."
"I also want to learn together with Brother." Chu Changsheng repeated the words completely like a parrot, pausing for a moment before continuing, "I... I am also a real man."
Chu Hongyu burst into hearty laughter: "You're not a real man! You are a little sister who needs to be protected!"
Just as they were chatting, the sound of servants bowing and greeting someone rang out. Yun Chu looked up and saw a tall figure standing by the doorway.
The man wore an official robe. The deep purple fabric enhanced his formidable presence, his waist embroidered with the python-and-cloud pattern permitted only for imperial princes. A golden belt held several token passes, and his entire demeanor exuded the aura of a high ruler, causing the maidservants in the courtyard to lower their heads one by one and instinctively take a few steps back.
"Miss Yun, I brought some snacks for you and the children."
Chu Yi raised his hand, holding a greasy paper parcel.
Yun Chu knew he had gone to interrogate the bandit king Yang Hedong, never expecting that on his way back, he would actually buy snacks.
She stepped forward to meet him and took the paper parcel. Inside was deep-fried crispy meat, a fresh new snack popular in the capital recently that Ting Feng had mentioned just the other day.
She took a bit and fed a bite to each of the two children; the two little fellows' eyes sparkled as they ate with relish.
Yun Chu only had time to take one piece and taste it in her own mouth before the crispy meat inside the paper parcel hit bottom.
"It tastes quite good." She couldn't help but finish the last piece. "It's just a bit oily; the two children shouldn't eat it too often."
"It's good so long as you like it." Chu Yi fumbled around inside his sleeve and pulled out a small box. "Take a look, do you like this?"
Yun Chu instinctively thought it was some kind of food, but opening it, she saw a gold and jade hairpin with a filigree butterfly.
The butterfly was life-like, trembling gently as if it were about to flap its wings and take flight.
This man had given her many things.
The dagger she carried close to her body every day was a gift from him.
The red jade pendants of matching quality that she and the children wore were made from the unpolished jade he had given.
The small mirror on her dressing table was a gift from him.
The unopened green crystal placed in her room was also a gift from him.
At this moment, a little white dog ran to her feet—it was Snow Wolf, which was also a gift from him.
He had given her so many, many things.
Yun Chu scooped up the dog, feeling a bit embarrassed: "I wonder if Your Highness is lacking anything?"
Chu Yi felt a surge of joy in his heart.
In truth, he had been eyeing the sachet purses on the children's waists for a long time.
The two children's red jade pendants were identical to the one she wore, and he wanted one as well.
Moreover, the son and daughter each had a doll made by her own hands; if only he had one too.
However, one could not be too greedy.
He glanced toward the waists of the two children and spoke, "Would making a sachet purse be too troublesome?"
Yun Chu looked over as well. The sachet purses on the children's waists had quite unique patterns, but they were not crafted by her hands—she was not very skilled at needlework.
Ting Xue had sewn them, drawn the flower patterns, and embroidered the borders, leaving her to just add a few stitches, which the two children loved dearly.
She patted Snow Wolf's head and said, "Ting Xue has several more over there. I'll have her bring one to you."
Chu Yi: "..."
He coughed twice and said thick-skinned, "It would likely be better if Miss Yun made it."
Yun Chu raised her eyes: "Is Your Highness sure?"
Her needlework was truly a bit embarrassing to present.
Chu Yi nodded without hesitation: "I'll have to trouble Miss Yun."
Yun Chu: "..."
Alright then, it was just a sachet purse that could be made in a single day without much hassle.
A smile surfaced on Chu Yi's face.
His cold, hard features softened.
The desolate wind of early winter brushed past him, and he seemed to turn into one of the most ordinary men in this world.
Standing here, gazing at the woman before him and looking at the laughing children...
He thought to himself that life was truly worthwhile.