Chapter 015
Chapter 15: Ye’er Actually Likes Someone?
Yun Wan Ye tapped his nose, cast a sidelong glance at the nearby Blood Sweating Horse, then turned toward the middle-aged man and chuckled lazily: “All right, all right, little brother will leave at once. I would not dare steal big brother’s girl. Big brother, do not be angry.”
He waved and sauntered off, laughter trailing down the street.
But as he turned the corner, his mind sharpened.
He had finally seen it. Mother was thorough in her schemes.
Take today. She had sent Uncle Zhong Li to intercept him at the exact moment, given him a human-skin mask, altered his voice, and used padded shoes and shoulder guards to change his build.
All to keep Ye’er from spotting anything amiss.
Clearly, she feared he also heard Little Sister’s thoughts, and that if he recognized Uncle Zhong Li, he would grow suspicious.
Luckily, he had been born with a frightening gift. His powers of observation were almost monstrous. Otherwise even he would have believed the situation had turned by chance.
Forget it. This was for the best.
Now that Mother had stepped in herself, he could relax and let her handle the plot sabotage.
Behind him, Zhong Li finally exhaled. Thank heavens for the Blood Sweating Horse. Had he been a moment later, the Second Young Master would have jumped first, and Zhong Li would have had to improvise a full romantic drama.
Why Madam did not want the Second Young Master to save a drowning girl, Zhong Li did not know. But her intentions were always deliberate.
He laid the unconscious woman beside a hidden patch of reeds. His task was done.
Whether she lived or died now would be fate.
Back at Duke’s Manor.
After alternating between eating and sleeping, a full day slid by in peaceful blur.
The next morning, gold sunlight streamed through the windows. Once again, Yun Wan Ning was carried out to bask in its warmth.
She lay lazily in Madam Yun’s arms, blinking drowsily, her little head still knotted over Second Brother’s possible doom.
[Aiya, I did not stop Second Brother yesterday. He must have rescued that woman.]
[In a few days her family will come wailing at our gates with banners. How are we going to handle that?]
Hearing her daughter still fretting, Madam Yun’s heart softened. The corners of her lips lifted in a gentle smile.
Little Fourth was so tiny, yet her thoughts always circled the family—first Father and Mother, then Yao’er, now Ye’er.
Truly, this child worked harder than anyone to hold the house together.
[Even if Second Brother ignored me and went out drinking with those scoundrels, I still cannot bear for him to be forced to marry that woman.]
[He has secretly liked someone since childhood. If he cannot marry her, would that not be too pitiful?]
[Most important, Mother is so kind. If Second Brother resents her for this and turns against her, will Mother not be heartbroken? Sigh.]
Madam Yun: “…”
What?
Ye’er liked someone?
Madam Yun’s eyes widened the faintest bit, surprise flashing before interest took root.
She had not known.
Which family’s daughter had caught her son’s eye?
She stroked Yun Wan Ning’s tiny hand and said to a maid: “Go see if the Second Young Master has returned. If he has, bring him here.”
The maid obeyed and slipped away.
Yun Wan Ning blinked and toyed with her mother’s fingers.
Before long, Yun Wan Ye pushed open the door with a bright grin, holding a handmade cloth tiger. He said: “Mother, you called for me?”
He went to the crib and waved the cloth tiger before his sister: “Little Sister, look. Second Brother brought you a gift. Do you like it?”
[No. I do not like it. Take it away.]
[I may be small, but I am not mentally five. I am a full grown adult inside, and you are waving baby toys at me? Honestly.]
Her cheeks puffed with faint irritation. She had not forgiven him for abandoning her yesterday while she cried her heart out.
Now he wanted to bribe her?
Too late.
“Hahaha, look at Little Sister. Clearly she is thrilled,” Yun Wan Ye said sheepishly at her blank stare. His pride took a hit, and he scratched the back of his head.
Pretending not to see her disdain, he tossed the cloth tiger aside and bent to scoop her up: “Come, let Elder Brother hold you. Yesterday I was wrong, all right? I sincerely apologize.”
[Jerk Second Brother. Do not touch me. It is too late to apologize. You left me like a poor abandoned milk bun.]
Yun Wan Ning flailed her tiny arms, baring her gums in a fierce, still adorable protest.
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
She really held grudges.
Still pretending to be deaf, he hugged her tight and rubbed his cheek against hers.
[Ugh. He reeks of alcohol.]
[Stinky Second Brother. Stay away.]
Her nose wrinkled in despair. In her past life and this one, Yun Wan Ning’s sense of smell was unnaturally sharp. As a former Medicine King, she had relied on it.
Though he had bathed and changed, she still caught the faint thread of wine clinging to him.
She squirmed with clear discomfort.
Madam Yun did not need the inner voice to know the child was fed up. She reached out and took the baby back, casting a cold glare at her son: “Little Fourth does not want you holding her. Give her here.”
Yun Wan Ning burrowed into her mother’s embrace, snuggling contentedly.
[Ah, Mother’s arms are the best. So soft, so warm, so fragrant. I love it here.]
“Mother, what did you want to ask me?” Yun Wan Ye cleared his throat and rubbed his nose. Had he erred again?
He ran a quick check. Aside from a little drinking, he had done nothing else. Right?
“The servants said you returned quite late last night,” Madam Yun said with lifted brows. “Did anything unusual happen?”
“Absolutely not,” Yun Wan Ye replied at once. “I was drinking with friends at Prosperous Gathering Restaurant. That is all. Nothing strange happened.”
Besides Mother sending Uncle Zhong Li to play a mysterious hero and wreck the plot…
Yun Wan Ye almost rolled his eyes. Did she think he would not notice? She probably knew his every step yesterday.
“Really?” Madam Yun smiled sweetly, though her eyes were not warm. “You are certain?”
“…Actually,” Yun Wan Ye said with a sheepish laugh, “your son now remembers something.”
He rubbed the back of his head and began slowly: “Yesterday, while passing Bright Emerald Lake on White Tiger Avenue, I saw a young woman jump into the water…”
Yun Wan Ning’s eyes flew wide. She turned her tiny head toward Second Brother, her cheeks flushed with interest.
Finally. The moment of truth.
“Go on,” Madam Yun said, her voice gentle as her gaze honed like a blade.
Yun Wan Ye exhaled. All right, Mother. Let us see how you plan to interrogate me this time.