Chapter 033
Chapter 33: Yun Wan Ning Gossips Online, Madam Yun Is Forced to Eat Melon
Yun Wan Yao pulled Mo Zhao Zhao along and hurried toward the back courtyard reserved for the female guests. Once they passed through the moon gate, the cold, penetrating gaze finally disappeared. Yun Wan Yao felt her tense nerves relax and drew several deep breaths. Mo Zhao Zhao rolled her eyes and whispered teasingly: “A’Yao, I do not recall my imperial elder brother ever doing anything to you. Why do you fear him so?”
Yun Wan Yao stared at her helplessly and replied in a small voice: “Is it not normal to be afraid of him?”
After all, he was the Emperor. Under heaven, aside from Prince Qi and Zhao Zhao herself, who else dared not fear him. Mo Zhao Zhao fell silent. Did this girl forget she would soon marry into the royal family? How would she cope if she was this afraid of her imperial elder brother?
A low, pleasant voice came from behind: “Yao’er, royal sister.” The two turned and saw Mo Yuan Hao in a profound black python robe, approaching with measured steps. Two guards followed, carrying ceremonial gifts.
Mo Zhao Zhao waved, delighted to see him just as she had been thinking of him, and called with a bright smile: “Royal brother.”
Mo Yuan Hao paused before them, first giving Yun Wan Yao a deep glance, then looking to Mo Zhao Zhao and asking mildly: “You are quite early today. I heard Imperial Elder Brother has also arrived?”
Mo Zhao Zhao nodded and said with a grin: “Yes, just a bit earlier than you. I was about to leave when Imperial Elder Brother suddenly came to Princess Manor, saying he wished to accompany me to the celebration for A’Yao’s little sister. Right now, he is sitting with the gentlemen over there.”
“I see,” Mo Yuan Hao said as his brows twitched slightly. He turned back to Yun Wan Yao and spoke softly: “Yao’er, then this prince will go greet them first. I will come find you later.”
“Alright,” Yun Wan Yao answered, watching his figure vanish through the gate. Mo Zhao Zhao tilted her head, gaze lingering on Yun Wan Yao’s face, and said thoughtfully: “A’Yao, why do I feel you are acting differently toward royal brother lately?”
Yun Wan Yao forced a smile, startled inside, and said: “Not at all. You must be mistaken.” [Have I really acted differently? Surely not?] She was unhappy about him becoming the male lead and still could not accept it fully, but she had not tried to change her behavior toward him.
Mo Zhao Zhao laughed, linked arms with her, and said in high spirits: “Yes, then it must be my imagination. Come, let us hurry. I have yet to meet your younger sister. You said she is incredibly adorable, and I have longed to see her for ages. Unfortunately, my nanny forbade it before she reached her full month, saying it is not good for her to meet strangers. I could only wait until today.”
“Alright, let us go,” Yun Wan Yao replied.
In the garden, Madam Yun, beautifully dressed and elegantly adorned, carried Yun Wan Ning in her arms. With a joyful expression, she mingled among the visiting madams and young misses. Seeing Madam Yun’s fair, radiant complexion and her bright mood, the guests understood her confinement month had been blissful.
The Duke Ning household was unusually harmonious. Aside from Madam Yun, they had never heard of even a single concubine or illegitimate child all these years. No wonder Madam Yun appeared so youthful and radiant. A woman cherished and loved shone differently. Thinking of their own messy backyards, the madams felt envy and jealousy mix like sour wine.
They secretly wondered what charm Madam Yun possessed to tame a formidable man like Yun Zheng. He had unmatched martial skill, robust health, and striking good looks, yet remained entirely devoted to one wife. Meanwhile, their own husbands, of similar age, were bloated, balding, prematurely aged, or simply inept, not to mention burdened with concubines.
[Hmph, I know you are jealous of my parents’ loving bond, but it is something you will never have.]
Chewing her tiny fingers, Yun Wan Ning inwardly gloated, eyes sparkling as she began to gossip with lively zeal: [Oh, is that Madam Zhang there? Your husband favors men and secretly keeps a handsome male entertainer. While you work hard managing the household, he indulges himself day and night. The outside world mocks you as a barren hen, but how could they know you have been married ten years without ever being touched by your husband. You are still a virgin, how could you possibly bear a child. Your husband cannot perform with women. He married you to silence gossip and to get a free servant to run his house. He lets his mother shame you for being childless and pretends kindness by adopting a son for you. That child is one he had with a widow, though he claimed he picked the boy up outside. You foolishly believe him. Later, when the son grows up and finds his birth mother, he will cast you out and welcome her home. Pitiful you, spending a life laboring for a heartless man and raising another woman’s child, then being driven out and starving to death on the streets. Truly tragic.]
Hearing this, Madam Yun’s eyes widened, and she glanced at Madam Zhang. This Madam Zhang was younger than herself yet already had faint lines at the eyes, always looking exhausted. Madam Yun had thought her weak in health, never imagining such cruel secrets hid behind her state. Everyone in Haojing City labeled her barren. Her husband had treated her atrociously and tricked her into raising another woman’s son. What cruelty. Madam Yun despised injustice and silently resolved to investigate Lord Zhang’s deeds and deliver the truth to Madam Zhang. What Madam Zhang chose to do afterward would be up to her.
Yun Wan Ning’s inner voice rolled on, now landing on a quiet, gentle-looking madam: [Oh, and you, are you not Lord Wang’s Madam? Among all the madams here, you are the most impressive. Your husband favors his concubine and mistreats you, often humiliating you. On the surface, you endure, but secretly you have long been involved with a guard. Even your three sons are actually his children. In another month, Lord Wang will suffer a sudden stroke, losing speech and movement, forever bedridden. Then your chance for revenge will arrive. You will beat the concubine who tormented you until she is paralyzed, right in front of his eyes. Then you will reveal to him that none of his three sons are truly his, and you will deliberately be intimate with the guard before him, nearly scaring Lord Wang’s soul from his body. But you will not let him die easily. You want him alive to taste this. He will suffer for three long years and then die from sheer anger, unable to find peace.]
Madam Yun felt a fierce satisfaction and looked at Madam Wang with deep admiration. She had heard Madam Wang praised for virtue and grace. To build such a faultless reputation required skill. With that sterling name, even if someone exposed her secrets, no one would believe it. As for Lord Wang, he deserved his fate. Favoring concubines over a wife was punishable even by decree, yet he persisted.
Yun Wan Ning skimmed on with wicked glee: [Oh, are you Lord Cao’s wife? Your husband is involved with your eldest sister-in-law, your younger sister-in-law is entangled with your father-in-law, your son with his paternal cousin, your illegitimate daughter with her little uncle, and you yourself share intimacy with your cousin. In the entirety of Great Wu, your household is the most spectacular. A dozen people managing to stage over three hundred scenes, wonderful, truly wonderful. And you must be Lord Dou’s madam. Years ago your lord husband was caught in an affair and beaten by the betrayed husband, and unfortunately he was rendered infertile…]
At first, the inner voice spoke of domestic secrets, and Madam Yun remained composed. Slowly, it turned to bedroom matters, with strange phrases like one dragon two phoenixes and instant-endurance men. Madam Yun grew redder, feeling both shy and helpless.
[Her Little Fourth… how could she know so much, even these odd techniques?] Madam Yun could only think this with hot cheeks. What would become of her in the future? She would have to be cautious even when sharing intimacy with her lord husband. After all, everyone in the family could hear Little Fourth’s heart-voice. If she teased her at such a time, Madam Yun would want to vanish into the ground.
This torment mixed with delight lasted until Yun Wan Yao arrived, accompanied by the Princess. All the gathered ladies and young misses greeted Princess Hua Yang with respectful bows. Mo Zhao Zhao raised her jade-like hand and excused everyone from formalities, then approached Madam Yun and said with a sweet smile: “Auntie Ye, let me have a look at Little Sister.”
Madam Yun smiled and shifted so the Princess could see Yun Wan Ning clearly. Mo Zhao Zhao’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the soft little bundle and asked with earnest eagerness: “Ah, Little Sister is indeed adorable. May I hold her?”
[The Princess is also very lovely,] Yun Wan Ning thought with a gentle smile, beginning a polite exchange of praise in her heart.
Madam Yun hesitated for a breath, then carefully handed over the little milk bun and taught Mo Zhao Zhao how to hold her properly. The Princess promised with care in her voice: “Do not worry, Auntie Ye, I will be very careful and will not let Little Sister fall.”
While Mo Zhao Zhao delightedly held Yun Wan Ning, unwilling to let go, Yun Wan Yao’s gaze darted around, secretly searching for Su Qian Xue. Many guests had arrived, and she had been busy greeting them. Only now did she remember to look. She searched carefully, found no one, and wondered: [Little Sister said Su Qian Xue would definitely come, but where is she?]
She could not spot Su Qian Xue or Madam Su. Could Little Sister’s heart-voice be wrong? [No, impossible. Little Sister’s heart-voice would not be wrong. Something must be off.]
As the thought crossed her mind, several figures appeared at the archway. A servant led three women toward the gathering. The woman in front wore luxurious attire and held herself with stiff dignity. It was Madam Su. Yun Wan Yao’s doubts vanished. [Of course Little Sister’s predictions were not wrong. The Su family deliberately arrived late.]
Her father had visited earlier, boldly withdrawing the marriage proposal and shaming them. Clearly, the Su family meant to make the Yuns lose face by arriving late to Little Sister’s celebration.
Madam Su said with a stiff smile that did not reach her eyes: “Madam Yun, I felt rather unwell today and arrived somewhat late. I hope you will not blame me.”
Others came in joy, yet she claimed illness. Was this not bringing bad luck. Mo Zhao Zhao, holding Yun Wan Ning, returned the false smile and said at once, voice crisp as a bell: “Oh, Madam Su, your face is pale and your forehead is dark. It truly seems you are unwell. Is it from anger caused by your young miss’s recent scandals?”
She had always disliked Su Qian Xue and had not found a chance to vent her anger. Now Madam Su stepped right into her path. How could the Princess be polite.
[Wow. As expected of the second vicious supporting character, our Princess is sharp-tongued. Excellent, well done. Madam Su looks ready to faint from anger, hahaha.]
Yun Wan Ning laughed happily in her heart, though no one could tell if she meant praise or mockery. [But Princess, it is best to hold back. A few pointed words are fine. Do not do anything more. Otherwise, you will end up sacrificing yourself, becoming a stepping stone to launch the heroine to the top.]