Chapter 005
Chapter 5: Madam Was Chosen by Her Husband Himself
Yun Zheng’s jaw tightened as he stared at the bundle. That wicked woman had exchanged letters with Lin Wei’an under Madam Yun’s name, ruining her reputation on purpose. Even a hundred deaths would not be enough to atone for such malice.
Thankfully, those letters had been discovered today by chance and delivered straight into his hands by Nanny Wang. If they had fallen into someone else’s possession, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
As for Lin Wei’an, what garbage. So many years had passed, and he was still obsessed with Madam Yun. One forged letter with her name on it, and he lost his mind like a fool. He had grown up with her, childhood companions once inseparable, yet he could not even recognize her handwriting. Yang Xin’er’s script was coarse and clumsy, worlds apart from Madam Yun’s elegant hand.
He had not wanted to show the letters to Madam Yun at all, worried they might upset her. But when she insisted, he sighed and handed them over with a warning in a low, gentle tone: “Madam, you may read them, but do not let such nonsense trouble your heart.”
Madam Yun took the letters and scanned them quickly. Her expression shifted as tears welled in her eyes. Soon she was quietly weeping into her handkerchief. Part of it was an act, but not all. Any woman who saw such letters forged in her name would feel the sting. At last she saw clearly, her cousin’s heart was rotten through and through. All the kindness she had offered had only nurtured poison. How pitiful.
Seeing her weep like pear blossoms in the rain, Yun Zheng’s heart ached. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered: “Do not cry, Madam. You have just given birth, too much weeping will harm your eyes. That vile woman will pay. I promise I will deal with her thoroughly. You do not need to lower yourself to her level.”
Madam Yun lifted tearful eyes and asked in a voice that trembled: “Husband, do you truly not suspect that these letters might actually be mine?”
Yun Zheng gave a soft laugh, and with his thumb he brushed away her tears: “I believe in you. Madam, you were chosen by me personally. If I were to doubt you, would I not be doubting my own judgment?”
His tone held calm confidence. Only useless men spent their days fretting over whether their wives would betray them. He was not one of them.
“You,” Madam Yun breathed as warmth bloomed in her chest. She nudged him lightly in playful complaint, but laughter shone through her lashes.
The next morning, just after sunrise, the second child of the Yun family, Yun Wan Ye, and the third sibling, Yun Wan Yao, both returned home after requesting leave.
These two were twins. Their features were nearly identical, sharp and exquisite, but where Yun Wan Ye’s aura was lively and wild, Yun Wan Yao’s bore a gentle and elegant charm.
A cheerful voice rang out even before they reached the courtyard as footsteps thudded in: “Mother, I am back. I heard you gave birth to a little sister. Where is she? I want to hold her.”
Before the words had finished echoing, two bright figures darted through the doors. The youth was tall and handsome, and the maiden fair as spring flowers. Even the legendary cultivators of the Daoist sects would have paled beside them.
Yun Zheng’s brow twitched. He raised his hand and aimed a slap toward Yun Wan Ye’s head without a word.
“Father,” Yun Wan Ye yelped as he dodged swiftly, “Why are you hitting me the moment I come home? You beat me at the military camp, fine, but here too? Mother, look, he is bullying me again.”
Yun Zheng’s face darkened. He raised his foot and kicked at his son: “Your mother is still in confinement. She needs peace and quiet. And look at your younger sister shouting so loudly, did you try to stop her? No? Then who else should I beat but you?”
Yun Wan Ye nearly exploded: “But you just said it was my sister shouting. Why am I the one getting hit?”
From the side, Yun Wan Yao covered her mouth, laughing softly. Yun Wan Ye shot her a glare sharp enough to kill.
“You are the elder brother,” Yun Zheng barked, “If your younger sister is loud, you hush her.”
Yun Wan Ye took a deep breath and argued with a bitter face: “So you are saying it is my responsibility either way. Father, since when have you ever been reasonable?”
“Waaah.”
[What is going on? Who dares disturb this baby’s sleep? So noisy.]
Yun Wan Ning had been resting soundly when the clamor jarred her awake. Drowsy and irritated, she meant to protest, but what escaped her lips was a piercing babyish wail.
Yun Wan Ye and Yun Wan Yao froze. Their little sister could speak. Wait, no. That could not be. A newborn could not talk. They glanced around. Their parents looked calm, the baby still small and soft in her mother’s arms. They must have misheard. They exchanged a look and kept quiet. Their twin minds had always been in sync.
“Honestly, the two of you,” Madam Yun sighed as she rocked the fussing baby: “You woke Little Fourth. Little one, do not cry. Mother is here.”
Hearing the milk bun’s cries, Yun Zheng rubbed his nose and lowered his voice with a glare at Yun Wan Ye: “Look what you have done. You woke Little Fourth. I will deal with you later.”
Yun Wan Ye muttered: “How come I am the only one getting blamed. It was partly Father and Yun Wan Yao’s fault too. Does your conscience hurt?”
With a newborn sister in the house, Yun Wan Yao had already stolen all their parents’ affection. Yun Wan Ye did not even bother calling her younger sister anymore. He was clearly feeling wronged.
[Eh, Yun Wan Yao. Is that not the original female lead whose fate was stolen? That is my elder sister. Elder Sister is home already. Quick, I want to take a good look. I have lived two lives but never seen a living female lead before.]
[Oh right, I almost forgot this is a transmigration novel. Once the new heroine appears, the original female lead, meaning Elder Sister Yun Wan Yao, becomes a supporting role.]
The moment she heard the name, Yun Wan Ning’s mind cleared. She was wide awake now.
This time, both Yun Wan Ye and Yun Wan Yao clearly heard it. No mistake. That sweet little voice had called Yun Wan Yao elder sister and even muttered something about transmigration and stolen fate.
How could she already speak? Why did their parents seem unbothered? The twins were clever and cautious. They did not ask. They exchanged another subtle glance and kept observing in silence.
Still, the words lingered. What did it mean that Yun Wan Yao was the original heroine? That her fate had been stolen? What was a transmigration novel? Why would the heroine’s arrival turn Yun Wan Yao into a side character?
Even Yun Zheng and Madam Yun wore puzzled expressions, as if trying to unravel a puzzle with no answer. Who could imagine their entire world was a story.
Madam Yun recovered first and smiled as she raised the child’s tiny hand: “Since Little Fourth is awake, greet your elder brother and elder sister. They have not met you yet.”