Chapter 007
Chapter 7: Just How Wicked Is Xu Qing Qing?
“Mother,” Yun Wan Ye dragged out his voice as if he were boneless, reluctant to leave: “I am not hungry, and I still have not held my little sister.”
He was also growing confused. If Elder Sister’s fate was so cruel, what had he been doing at the time.
Yun Zheng’s shadow fell over him as a hand grabbed his collar. He said with a dark face: “Did you not hear your mother’s instructions. Go to the kitchen.”
“Aiya, Father, I will go, I will go. Let me walk myself, please,” Yun Wan Ye flailed like a captured chick and surrendered. Fine. He would eat first. As soon as he finished, he would rush back. He was determined to hold his sister today.
Yun Zheng snorted and turned to Yun Wan Yao. The hard edge melted into gentle warmth: “Yao’er, let us go.”
“Alright,” Yun Wan Yao replied softly.
As they left the courtyard, Yun Zheng kept one hand hidden behind his back, fingers clenched into a fist. His Yao’er, his cherished daughter, he would never allow her to suffer such a fate. It did not matter if it was the heroine or a destined plot. If anyone dared harm her, even if it was Heaven, he would strike it down with his own hands. A chilling gleam flashed through his eyes.
[Ah, I must say, Mother understands me best. Everything she does lines up with my wishes. I love her so much.]
[Mother, since you treat me so well, I promise I will grow up healthy and strong. I hope you will stay safe and live a long life too. When I grow up, I will repay your kindness.]
After the others left, Yun Wan Ning looked up at Madam Yun with glittering eyes full of tender affection. Though the manor had wet nurses and many maids, Madam Yun oversaw most of her care herself. She changed the cloth diapers, wiped her clean, held her through the night, and let her sleep at her side. Since Yun Wan Ning needed to be fed every half-hour, Madam Yun barely rested. She rose again and again to feed her.
Yun Wan Ning saw it all. For the first time, she truly understood the weight and warmth of a mother’s love. Madam Yun had still been worrying over Yao’er’s fate, but her mood lightened when she heard the little milk bun’s heartfelt promise. Such a thoughtful, gentle child. She resolved to love Little Fourth even more.
After feeding and cleaning her, Madam Yun carried Yun Wan Ning to the window. Sunlight spilled in, and mother and daughter basked in it, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
A sharp voice split the quiet from outside the screen: “Cousin Young Miss, Madam has just given birth and needs rest. Please do not disturb her.”
“Move aside,” a girl snapped without shame: “I have urgent matters to discuss with my aunt. You are just a servant. How dare you block my path. If you delay something important, can you bear the consequences.”
The clamor startled Yun Wan Ning. “Ahya,” she babbled in frustration as her brow creased.
[Who is making such a racket outside Mother’s room. I just ate and was about to nap. What if this delays my growth. I am trying so hard to grow fast and save Elder Sister.]
Madam Yun chuckled softly. The more she listened, the more adorable her daughter was. But her smile faded as the noise swelled and a familiar distaste stirred in her chest. She said with a cool edge: “That Xu Qing Qing has no sense of propriety anymore.”
[What, that screeching voice was Xu Qing Qing. Yang Xin’er’s daughter. Oh no, how could I forget about her. That one is a nightmare.]
Madam Yun’s brow arched. Her ears perked. The little voice held such strong disgust. Why. What had Xu Qing Qing done.
Silence followed. The milk bun fell still. Not a stray thought drifted out.
Madam Yun sat frozen. Why had she gone quiet at the most critical moment. Just how awful was Xu Qing Qing.
She beckoned her maid at once: “Let the cousin young miss enter.”
Since Little Fourth refused to think further, she would bring Xu Qing Qing in and force the thoughts out.
[I am sorry, baby. Mother is using you a little. But after hearing your heart voice, I know now our family’s future is dangerous.]
[I have to understand the threats clearly. Only then can I protect you and Yao’er. I must change our fate.]
Madam Yun sighed inwardly. She had no choice. But she knew Little Fourth would understand her.
[Mother, it is fine if you talk to her, but do not give her anything. Do not be kind to her. She hates you so much. You treat her like your own niece, but she wants to steal your place.]
[She is the one who encouraged her mother to go after Father, and she is jealous of Elder Sister. The more you love her, the more she hates you. She is twisted.]
Madam Yun’s calm began to crack. So not only had Yang Xin’er schemed, Xu Qing Qing had fanned the flames. And she hated Yao’er too. How had she never noticed.
A slender figure hurried into the room and dropped a fast curtsy: “Aunt, my mother is missing.”
“She never came back last night. We searched the entire manor and could not find her. Aunt, do you know where she went?”
She did not mention that all the valuables from their rooms had disappeared too. Everything they had hoarded over three years in Duke Ning’s manor was gone. Could her mother have taken everything and fled. No. Impossible. Her mother dreamed of becoming the Duchess. Under Xu Qing Qing’s coaxing, she had clung to that dream. How could she give it all up and vanish without telling her.
Xu Qing Qing had no idea that her mother had been detained. Yesterday, while pretending to be Yun Wan Yao and attending a poetry gathering at the Grand Tutor’s estate, she had been unaware of the chaos at home.
[So this is Xu Qing Qing, the thankless little wolf. Hmph. She does not even look smart. No wonder she acts so heartless.]