Chapter 040
Chapter 40: The Sweetness Between Man and Wife, the Finest Nourishment of Humanity
Yun Wan Yao set down the jade gourd and said with a laugh: “Mother, we have been counting gifts all day. Let us rest and continue later.” Without waiting for an answer, she scooped up Yun Wan Ning and carried her closer: “Little sister, look at these. All of them are gifts from your full month banquet. Father and Mother said they are yours. Are you happy.”
Yun Wan Ning stared at the piles of boxes and the table bright with gold, silver, and jade; her mouth almost watered.
[Wow, there are so many. Are these really all mine.]
[I am happy, very happy. Elder Sister, pick something you like. If there is anything you fancy, just take it. I will give it to you.]
Seeing her little sister, such a cute money-lover, offer her treasures so freely, Yun Wan Yao felt warmth bloom in her chest; she smiled brighter: “Hahaha, little sister’s face is adorable. Are you asking if there is anything I like.”
[Eh.]
[Elder Sister understands me this well.]
[Is my expression that obvious, or does Elder Sister have a mind-reading art. Why can she guess me so easily.]
A prickle of unease ran through Yun Wan Ning. Oh no, did I expose myself. Yun Wan Yao also felt a jolt and coughed to change the topic; she pulled out an embarrassing story from Yun Wan Ye’s childhood and said lightly: “Then let me tell you something funny. When Yun Wan Ye was small, his friends urged him to ride a dog. The dog chased him instead, bit his trousers, and he ran home bare-bottomed.”
[Huh, did that really happen.]
[Elder Sister, tell me more. I want every detail.]
“It went like this,” Yun Wan Yao said as she launched into the tale. After talking for a while, she looked down to see her listener’s reaction and found Yun Wan Ning already asleep, her small arm resting on Yun Wan Yao’s sleeve, breathing soft and sweet.
“Mother, little sister fell asleep,” Yun Wan Yao said as she carried the child over.
Madam Yun took the baby and scolded in a whisper: “You dare tell Ye’er’s shame to Little Fourth. If he learns of it, he will be angry.”
“Oh, Mother, I was nervous and it was all I could think of,” Yun Wan Yao said as she hugged her mother’s arm and acted spoiled: “Mother will not tell, right.”
“Oh, you,” Madam Yun sighed with helpless fondness. She would not tell, but others might.
After settling Yun Wan Ning, Madam Yun went to bathe. It was her first proper bath since giving birth, so she took special care. Petals floated on the water, and nearly two hours passed before she emerged.
The bathing chamber shared a door with the bedchamber. When she stepped out, hair half-wet, she saw Yun Zheng seated by the bed with damp hair as well. He wore a robe the color of frosted herbs. He rose at once and said to the maid: “You may leave. I will tend to it.”
When the servant withdrew, Yun Zheng took a soft cloth and gently dried her hair.
“Where is Little Fourth,” Madam Yun asked as she glanced at the bed and found it empty.
Yun Zheng’s hand paused. Heat flared in his eyes, dark and dangerous. The cloth slipped to the floor. In the next breath she found herself seated on his lap. He looked at her like a starving man who had finally found food and said in a low, rough voice that carried both longing and gentle blame: “Madam, is your heart filled only with Little Fourth. Your husband is in his prime and has held back for too long. I also need my beloved wife’s care.”
From the day her pregnancy was known, he had reined himself in, careful and gentle. After six months he had stopped entirely. Then came confinement. He had endured half a year. Another day would break him.
Madam Yun blushed. More than shame, she felt guilt and tenderness. Other men kept concubines or maidservants to serve them when their wives could not. Her husband had only her. When she could not, he simply endured.
She stroked his face and kissed the bridge of his proud nose, then said softly: “Husband has suffered. But Little Fourth sleeps by my side. I fear she will wake and cry in a strange place.”
Her warmth and softness lit Yun Zheng’s blood. Her gentle kiss shattered the last bit of restraint. He tugged open her robe and buried his face against her as he murmured, voice muffled yet firm: “I already asked the wet nurse to take her. She knows the nurse well. Do not worry.”
He could not keep separating forever, but he also would not do such things before his clever daughter. Thick-skinned as he was, he still had shame as a father.
“Ah,” Madam Yun breathed, then said in a rush: “Husband, wait. I do not want any more children.”
“Rest easy,” Yun Zheng said as he lifted his head, his voice low and certain: “I will not make you suffer again. Four are enough. I have already taken medicine to ensure there will be no more. From now on you will not bear another.”
“You, how could you,” she began.
“Oh. Madam still has strength to speak clearly,” he said with a faint smile. “It seems your husband is not working hard enough.”
When Yun Wan Ning woke later, she sensed something strange. She was in the wet nurse’s room. Where was Mother. Why was she not there.
She opened her eyes and held back her tears. At dawn, the nurse noticed and quickly changed her diaper and fed her. The wet nurse was a clean and gentle girl under twenty. Her own child had died, and she had come to the Yun family to earn silver. She spoon-fed the baby with care and said with a smile: “Young Miss, are you wondering why you are with this maidservant and not Madam. His Grace asked me to bring you here last night. You will likely sleep with me often. Do not worry. I will care for you well.”
Oh dear. Yun Wan Ning’s eyes slid to the side as a thought clicked into place: [Mother’s confinement ended today. Father must have hurried to shower her with love.]
She should have guessed earlier. Her parents were young, Mother thirty-three, Father thirty-seven. Father was a vigorous general with strong blood. [Yes, I overlooked this.]
That day, Madam Yun slept until noon. Yun Zheng’s spirit was high. Even the twins sensed it.
[Truly, the sweetness between a man and a wife is the finest nourishment under heaven.]
[Look at Father and Mother’s faces. They do not look tired from a night’s battle. They look as if they swallowed a miracle pill.]
Madam Yun: “…”
Yun Zheng: “…”
The twins: “…”
Madam Yun’s face turned scarlet. She wished to vanish. The little milk bun’s inner voice could be heard by all. How would she face Yao’er and Ye’er now.
Even Yun Wan Ye and Yun Wan Yao almost lost their composure. Their little sister was too bold. Who would think she would tease even Father and Mother.
[Yawn. Oh right, Elder Sister told me a story last night. I fell asleep halfway. I wonder what happened next. Who knew that Second Brother…]
Oh no, she was about to spill it. Yun Wan Yao’s face changed at once; she rushed to cut in: “Ah, little sister, I just remembered, Big Brother misses you very much. I will take you to him.”
[Big Brother misses me. Really.] Her attention shifted at once: [If he misses me, I will go.]
“Wait,” Yun Wan Ye said as he stepped forward with a chill in his voice and blocked the way: “I will carry Little Sister to Big Brother.”
“No, no need. I have matters to discuss with Big Brother. I will save you the trip,” Yun Wan Yao said as she tightened her hold, afraid to let the child and Yun Wan Ye be alone. What if Little Fourth followed the old thread and sold her out.
“It is no trouble. I also have business with Big Brother,” Yun Wan Ye said as he narrowed his eyes at his twin. [Hmph, this sneaky girl must have spoken ill of me.]
“Oh, you need him too. Then you go first. I will take Little Sister to enjoy the sun,” Yun Wan Yao said as she backed away, while Yun Wan Ning watched with wide, puzzled eyes.
[Elder Sister is strange today, and Second Brother as well.]
[What is happening.]
[Second Brother is looking at Elder Sister in such a scary way. He will not hit her, will he.]
[Did Elder Sister offend him.]
“I will take Little Sister to enjoy the sun. You go to Big Brother,” Yun Wan Ye said as he smoothed his face at once. To Yun Wan Yao, his smile looked even more dangerous, like a wolf baring its teeth.
“Little Sister does not want you to hold her,” Yun Wan Yao said at once.
“You are not her. How do you know what she wants. Hand her over,” he said.
“No. Father, look at him bullying me,” Yun Wan Yao cried as she fled behind Yun Zheng.
“You dare accuse me after talking behind my back. Watch me teach you,” Yun Wan Ye said through his teeth.
“Father, he is threatening me again,” Yun Wan Yao said.
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
“Enough,” Yun Zheng said as he poured tea with calm ease: “Both of you stop. Go call your Seventh Uncle and Chen’er. Your mother has something important.”
“Let Yun Wan Yao go. I will hold Little Sister,” Yun Wan Ye said.
“No way. Let Mother hold her. I will call Big Brother. You summon Seventh Uncle,” Yun Wan Yao said as she returned the baby to Madam Yun and stood guard.
“Cang Xuan, invite Seventh Uncle,” Yun Wan Ye ordered. Cang Xuan vanished at once.
“You are not the only one with a follower. Hua Wu, invite Big Brother,” Yun Wan Yao said with a snort.
Yun Wan Ye stepped toward her and loomed: “Confess. Exactly what did you say about me.”
“I did not say anything,” Yun Wan Yao said as her eyes slid away.
[Eh. Elder Sister was caught badmouthing Second Brother.]
[It does not look like it. If she was caught, Second Brother would not still be asking. It seems Elder Sister is safe.]
[She scared me. I thought the story about riding a dog would be exposed. Surely she is not that unlucky.]
Yun Wan Yao: “…”
[Little Sister, please stop thinking about that.]
Yun Wan Ye’s eyes burned brighter; to him, shameful tales were worse than simple slander: “Yun. Wan. Yao.”
“S-second Brother, I am sorry. It was my fault. I will never do it again,” she said as she grabbed his sleeve.
Madam Yun sighed. She knew it. Even if they said nothing, Ye’er would learn in the end. With Little Fourth’s constant thoughts, nothing stayed hidden.
Unable to speak and bored, the little milk bun thought all day, not knowing everyone heard her. What she knew, they would know sooner or later. Hopefully Yao’er would learn her lesson.
In the end, Yun Wan Yao paid with half her private savings, swore to stop gossip, and agreed to three conditions from Yun Wan Ye. Only then did the matter pass. Crossing Yun Wan Ye never ended well. Even a passing dog would lose a coat of fur.
Soon Yun Zhan and Yun Wan Chen arrived, and the family gathered.
“Mother, you called Seventh Uncle and me. Is there something important,” Yun Wan Chen asked.
“Yes,” Madam Yun said as she rose with gentle grace. “Old Seventh, Chen’er, since we are family, I will speak plainly.”