Chapter 004
Chapter 4: That Woman Is Truly Full of Wicked Schemes
A steady voice sounded at the door as Nanny Wang entered with two young maids in tow: “Madam, this old servant has returned to report.”
They carried a red-lacquered wooden chest. Seeing Yun Zheng in the room, all three bowed respectfully. Yun Zheng handed the soft little milk bun back into Madam Yun’s arms and motioned for the servants to rise. His brows drew together as his gaze swept toward the heavy chest: “What is this?”
Madam Yun met his eyes gently and said in a quiet tone: “Husband, there is something I have not had time to tell you.” She recounted the incident from beginning to end, how she had caught Yang Xin’er sneaking in her room and stealing a bellyband embroidered with her maiden name, leaving out only one detail, that the warning had come from their daughter’s inner voice.
She concluded with a cool breath: “My maternal cousin acted suspiciously. She deliberately chose the bellyband with my maiden name embroidered on it. I feared she had ulterior motives and had her detained. Since she refused to tell the truth, I sent Nanny Wang to search her room, to see if she had taken anything else of value.”
[Mother did the right thing.]
“Madam did the right thing,” Yun Zheng said at the same time before he could stop himself.
Both voices, soft and earnest, landed together. Madam Yun paused mid-sentence and glanced first at Yun Zheng, then down at the little milk bun. Truly father and daughter, they even spoke the same words.
[Oh, Father said exactly what I was thinking. Such a perfect match, he really is my father.]
Warmth rippled through Yun Zheng’s chest as the child’s joy brushed against his mind. He steadied his expression and said calmly: “This Yang Xin’er is full of wicked schemes. You were right to be cautious.”
He paused and added in a tone that turned colder by the breath: “Madam, hand her over to me. I will make sure her mouth opens.”
Like a pillow falling from the sky just as he needed to rest, Yang Xin’er had thrown herself into his hands. There was no need to hesitate. He would use this chance to rid them of future trouble.
[Yes, yes, Father is absolutely right. That woman is full of wicked schemes.]
Yun Wan Ning echoed her father’s thought with bright approval.
“There is no rush,” Madam Yun said with a soft smile as she gently patted the baby’s back: “She has been detained. She will not escape.”
At that, she gave Nanny Wang a look, signaling for the report. Nanny Wang stepped forward, opened the red chest with practiced care, and lifted the lid.
Gold, silver, jade, and precious stones glittered within, filling over half the chest. The shine almost lit the room.
Nanny Wang bowed and spoke clearly: “This old servant followed Madam’s command and searched Madam Yang’s and the young cousin’s rooms. These were all found there. Please inspect them, Your Grace and Madam.”
Even Madam Yun widened her eyes. That mother-daughter pair had always claimed they were poor and sighed over their hardships. Out of sympathy, she had gifted them jewelry and silver from time to time, but never in such quantity. She had never imagined Yang Xin’er would hoard so much under her own roof like a leech feeding fat on kindness.
Even Yun Zheng, who had seen much in the battlefield camps, was taken aback.
[Wow, look at all that shiny money. Just seeing it makes me happy. If only it were mine. I want it all.]
Little Yun Wan Ning tilted her tiny head, eyes glued to the treasure chest, practically drooling over the glittering riches. The couple glanced at their daughter, then at each other, and burst into helpless laughter under their breath. Who would have guessed their milk bun loved shiny things so much.
Yun Zheng cleared his throat and said with mock solemnity: “I have not prepared a proper first gift for Little Fourth yet. How about this. Send all the gold and silver to the goldsmith. Have them craft jewelry and longevity locks for her. Store the rest for now.”
[Little Fourth is me. Father is giving me all the gold and silver. He really gets me. I love you so much, Father. You are the best.]
Her thoughts surged with love and excitement. Yun Zheng’s smile deepened, his heart blooming with delight.
But Madam Yun gave him a playful look. This man truly knew how to win a daughter’s heart. He had even echoed her exact thoughts earlier. Was it really a coincidence, or did father and daughter share some unseen thread.
She chuckled and said warmly: “Give the rest to Little Fourth as well. Look at that little face, she clearly loves those treasures. Isn’t that right, Little Fourth?”
She tapped her daughter’s soft cheeks, watching her giggle and squirm. Yun Wan Ning wanted to nod, but her tiny body refused to obey. She flapped her arms in frustration and gurgled a proud little “Yi ya.”
She blew bubbles as she reached out and caught Madam Yun’s slender finger with her chubby hand.
[Yes, yes, yes. I love them. Give it all to me. Mother, you are amazing, the best mother in the world. I love you most of all.]
Madam Yun laughed aloud: “Look at her, grabbing my finger and smiling like that. Our Little Fourth is truly a lucky baby, she already knows how to be sweet this early.”
Watching from the side, Yun Zheng suddenly grew envious. He wanted to offer his finger too. But seeing how even his wife’s slender fingers were barely manageable for the child, he looked down at his hand, thick and calloused from years of sword training, and sighed.
Forget it. Her skin was too tender. His hand would be too rough.
Nanny Wang stepped forward once more and presented a bundle with both hands: “Your Grace, Madam, this old servant also discovered these in Madam Yang’s room.”
Yun Zheng’s eyes narrowed. He took the letters and flipped through them. His face turned white. These were not just any letters. One was signed with Madam Yun’s name. The rest were replies, each one penned by Lin Wei’an, dripping with flirtation and shameless affection.
[Wow, Nanny Wang really knows her stuff. She even found the letters Yang Xin’er forged in Mother’s name and exchanged with Lin Wei’an. She did not let me down.]
[Now Father has evidence. He will handle this perfectly.]
[Ugh, suddenly I am hungry again. Where is that wet nurse. She is so unreliable. Should I cry a little to remind Mother?]
Just as that thought faded, the door opened again. The wet nurse entered with a gentle smile and said: “It is time for the young miss to be fed.”
Yun Wan Ning’s little eyes lit up.
[Ah, the wet nurse is right on time. I take back everything I said. She is so professional. It was I who misjudged her.]
Her change of attitude was so swift and sincere that Madam Yun nearly laughed out loud. Shaking her head fondly, she passed the baby into the wet nurse’s arms and instructed gently: “Feed her slowly. Use the spoon.”
Yun Wan Ning beamed.
[Mother really knows me best. She always understands. I will love her forever.]
Yun Zheng pressed his lips together as he folded the letters.
“Husband,” Madam Yun said as her gaze drifted toward his hand, “What are those? Let me see.”
With the milk bun carried away for feeding, her curiosity returned. She reached for the letters, voice calm though her eyes held interest. She wanted to see how far her cousin had dared to go.
Yun Zheng stiffened and tucked the letters aside at once: “These letters are full of disgraceful nonsense. There is no need for you to see them. They will only dirty your eyes.”