Chapter 026
Chapter 26: Only in this unfortunate ancient time do people marry and have children so young
[It is laughable. Eldest Brother is clearly the victim who was schemed against, yet he must apologize and carry the stain.]
[Father, Mother, Elder Sister, if only you could hear my heart.]
Hearing this, Yun Wan Ye bit his chopsticks so hard they almost snapped. He bristled. Humph. Little Sister called for Father, Mother, and Eldest Sister, but forgot him. Was he air? This little heartless cub. He doted on her for nothing.
[It is a pity Father and Mother cannot hear me. Elder Sister and my brothers will never know their fate either.]
[I have crossed into this world, yet I am too small to speak and too weak to change anything. All I can do is watch them march toward fate.]
The more Yun Wan Ning thought about it, the smaller she felt. Those listening felt their own hearts ache. A baby still on milk, yet she worried for them all day. It was their shame for being so disappointing. Yun Wan Ye repented most of all. She had remembered him. He had blamed her wrongly.
After the meal, Madam Yun fed Little Fourth herself, listening and memorizing every vital thread of the heart voice. Sunlight filtered through the lattice, warm as silk. When the child was full, Madam Yun carried her to bask by the window and frowned, thinking.
Did her husband truly hear Little Fourth’s heart voice?
If she guessed wrong and he could not, how could they fight the plot? No, she could not wait. Just imagining that Su girl ruining Chen’er’s name to break the match made her blood burn. She had to move.
She called a maid to carry Little Fourth to the wet nurse. As Yun Wan Ning lay soaking in sun, she heard the order and her round eyes flew wide. [???]
[What is happening? Why does Mother want Little Tao to take me away? Does she not love me anymore?]
[No. I do not want to leave. It is so nice here. I just want to lie in this sunlight.]
Madam Yun paused, glanced back, and sighed: “Forget it. Little Tao, watch Fourth Young Miss carefully and do not let her slip. I will step out for a moment.”
Yun Wan Ning: […]
[So Mother wants Little Tao to take me because she needs to go out?]
[But why go out now? She is still in confinement. She cannot catch cold.]
Madam Yun smiled and bent to kiss the child’s cheek: “Little Fourth, you may keep basking. Do not wriggle about. Mother will be back soon, all right?”
[I understand, Mother. If you must go out, cover well and keep warm.]
Madam Yun almost answered aloud, then caught herself. She kissed the baby again, patted her soft head, and moved to the wardrobe.
Soon she changed into a bean green gauze dress and a lotus colored cloak. She seemed years younger at once. Yun Wan Ning’s eyes lit up. [Wow, Mother is too beautiful. Only in this unfortunate ancient time do people marry and have children so young. Mother is barely over thirty and already has four children. If she were in modern times, she would be a little fairy.]
[So beautiful. So graceful. The title Empire’s Twin Beauties was not undeserved.]
Madam Yun smiled at the endless praise, drew up her hood, and made sure she was wrapped tight. Then she stepped out.
“Mother, you have not finished your confinement. Why are you outside,” Yun Wan Yao and Yun Wan Ye cried together as they sprang from the corridor rail and hurried over.
“I have something important to discuss with your father,” she said.
“If you need Father, send a servant. Why go yourself,” Yun Wan Ye muttered. In his eyes, if Mother beckoned, Father would come running like a hound to a bone. Why take a single step?
Madam Yun gave the pair a meaningful look. Little Fourth was basking inside. She needed privacy. “I am fine. Do not worry. Go play elsewhere.”
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
Yun Wan Yao: “…”
They watched her back and traded a look, thoughts turning.
Outside the study, Scarlet Plume Guards stood spear straight. When they saw Madam Yun, they started, then bowed at once. “Your Grace.”
“Inform His Grace that I wish to see him,” she said.
Before a word could be sent, the vermilion doors opened. Yun Zheng came out at a quick stride, took her hand as if it were the most natural thing, and drew her inside with a low scold of concern: “If you wished to see me, send someone. How can you walk out yourself. Have you forgotten you are still in confinement?”
“I know my limits. I am fine,” she said softly.
“Alright. As long as Madam truly knows,” he murmured. “If you harmed yourself, my heart would hurt.”
He shut the door. The room darkened at once. Madam Yun glanced around the stark, solemn study, then withdrew her gaze. Her husband carried heavy burdens. Who knew what secrets this room held. In eighteen years she had entered only a handful of times and never looked too long or touched anything.
Yun Zheng caught the small movement and smiled. His Madam was truly innocent. Did she think the empire’s deepest secrets lay scattered on his desk?
“Madam is charmingly innocent,” he said.
“Yun Zheng, I have something serious to say,” she answered.
At her grave look, his smile faded. “Please speak.”
“I want to ask you first. Do you already know what I am going to say,” she asked, eyes fixed on his.
He nodded, stroked her cheek, and sighed: “Madam, you are too innocent. You have never been able to hide your feelings. Even if I did not wish to know, how could I not.”
“You, you, you,” she burst, her bright eyes sparking with anger as she glared at him. “Good for you, Yun Zheng. So you really can, and yet you have been deceiving me all this time.”