Chapter 044
Chapter 44: Almost Cried from My Own Foolishness
[Is someone reborn, or did another reader transmigrate into this book.]
[Aiya, I hope they are not aiming at our family.]
[Right now they trouble only the heroine, which makes them seem like an ally, but who knows when they will turn around and strike us.]
[It is already hard to face both the female lead and the male lead. If a reborn soul or a transmigrator also targets us, we will have no room left to breathe.]
Hearing Little Fourth’s worried voice, Madam Yun almost told her the truth. In the end she swallowed it. If a child learned that every secret thought sounded in other people’s ears, she would feel anxious and ashamed and frightened. Little Fourth was too young. If she hid in fear, what then.
That afternoon, Madam Yun checked accounts at her desk. Yun Wan Ning lay on the beauty couch by the window while a young maid shook a fine string of bells to amuse her. The maid smiled as she coaxed softly: “Fourth Young Miss, is the sound not lovely. This is a bell. When you shake it gently, the sound rings out. Do you know why bells sing. Because…”
[…]
Yun Wan Ning rolled her eyes inside and kept her good manners.
[Gold touching gold makes a pretty sound. Of course it is lovely.]
[Elder Sister Little Tao, you do not know I carry memories from a former life, so you treat me like an ordinary baby, but you are making me feel like a little fool.]
[Also, the bell is pleasant for a while, but too long and the head aches. Elder Sister Little Tao, rest a breath. Your hand must be tired.]
Madam Yun: “…”
Little Fourth’s heart grew more and more amusing each day.
A soft clatter of wooden wheels drew near. Through the open door, Cang Yan pushed Yun Wan Chen inside.
Under bright sun, the young man’s brows were drawn like ink and his features were carved fine as jade. His white robe was pure as snow.
A gentleman like a bright moon.
[Oh, Big Brother is here.]
[Big Brother, hug me.]
Her eager voice rang clear. She waved tiny arms without a care whether he saw her. Yun Wan Chen heard and let the corner of his mouth lift, yet he still feigned ignorance as he asked: “Mother, where is Little Sister.”
Heavens, one actor after another. Madam Yun sighed inside and, half proud and half helpless, lifted Yun Wan Ning and set her in Yun Wan Chen’s arms.
[Big Brother, you finally came to see me and Mother. I have waited all day, you know.]
She gazed up with shining eyes and readied herself to steal his pulse. Then she paused.
[Wait. Is it not normal for a little sister to hold her brother’s wrist. Why am I sneaking.]
[No matter how clever Big Brother is, he will not suspect that a one-month-old baby can take a pulse. Why hide.]
[Even if I take it openly, he will never guess.]
[Ah, I almost cried from my own foolishness.]
She placed her tiny palm boldly on his wrist.
Madam Yun and Yun Wan Chen both hid smiles. Madam Yun’s lips curved.
Silly Little Fourth. Your brother will not imagine a month-old child checking pulses. But he does not need to imagine. You already pour out every secret like beans from a jar. What is there to guess.
[So last time was no illusion. Big Brother’s pulse is neither floating nor sinking, neither weak nor too strong. It is steady, gentle, full, balanced, and smooth. The organs are well, Yin and Yang in harmony, Qi and blood abundant, spirit calm. This is a healthy pulse.]
[It is even better than last time.]
[Unbelievable. He has not been home long, yet he recovered so fast. It is like he took a miracle elixir.]
[With this pulse, Big Brother could stand for the time of one stick of incense each day. Add proper massage, and he will move freely within a month.]
[Aaah. Big Brother, did you awaken a healing talent. Or did you secretly eat a legendary ginseng fruit.]
Madam Yun grew dazed, then her eyes filled. She looked at her son and almost wept for joy. Chen’er could move freely within a month. Wonderful.
[Wait. I sense traces of Free and Easy Nine Channels in Big Brother’s body. Does this world also have Free and Easy Nine Channels.]
She checked again. Yun Wan Chen held still, almost losing his calm.
He had not thought Little Sister would sense even the thread of the inner art he practiced.
[No wonder he healed so fast. The Free and Easy Nine Channels repaired his meridians and cleared the blocks. But how does he know this art. It is the exclusive secret of my Medicine King Sect.]
[Could it be the shameless author stole my sect’s secret.]
[Aaah. This grows more and more fantastical.]
[No, no. Why am I angry. It is good that Big Brother practices it. He will stand again, and his martial skill will rise. Our Yun family will be stronger.]
[It is a pity he only reached the first level. Once I can speak, I will pass him the rest.]
[Oh, right. Father, Seventh Uncle, and Second Brother must learn too. When all reach the ninth level, our chance to live rises a great deal. Then I will have fewer weak points.]
[…]
Yun Wan Chen finally breathed easy. Little Sister did not mind. She even planned to teach him the full art. Otherwise, even if he reached the peak, shame would shadow him. Of course, shame or not, he would still cultivate. With such a heavenly method, who could bear to leave it alone.
A servant entered and bowed: “Heir Apparent, Young Master Gu has come to pay a visit. He waits in the front court.”
“I see. Receive him well. I will come shortly,” Yun Wan Chen said.
After the servant left, he turned to take his leave.
[Young Master Gu. Why is that name familiar.]
[Ah, I remember. It is Big Brother’s close friend, Gu Heng.]
[Gu Heng, the young master of the Gu clan of imperial merchants, and an important supporting male. He is one of the heroine’s most devoted admirers.]
[At first he cherished Big Brother as a dear friend. When he learned Big Brother’s name was ruined by the heroine’s schemes and the engagement was broken, he raged for Big Brother.]
[But at the winter banquet, after watching the heroine overshadow the foremost prodigy maidens, he was bewitched by her talent.]
[From then on he sang her praises to Big Brother’s face and urged him to be generous to a woman.]
[Shameless. Easy to say when he is not the one humiliated.]
[Later Big Brother saw how deep Gu Heng’s infatuation ran and slowly drew away. Yet that traitor used Big Brother’s trust and stabbed him twice, dragging him into ruin.]
[Today Gu Heng is not here only to visit. He is here to ask a favor.]
[His cousin passed the exams as a third-tier scholar and has failed to gain a post, left with an empty title.]
[Knowing Gu Heng is close to Big Brother, the Gu clan pushed him to beg for help to secure a decent office.]
[And foolishly, Big Brother agreed. He even asked Seventh Uncle to arrange an Attendant Gentleman post.]
[Yet that cousin despised the post as menial, resented Big Brother for not striving harder, and grew bitter.]
[When the Ning Duke’s house fell, when Big Brother lost rank and legs, that ungrateful cousin showed his true face and humiliated Big Brother cruelly.]
[Ah, Big Brother, please be cautious this time. Do not think you must help just because a friend asks.]
[You would give your life, and he would repay you with knives.]
[Some favors can be given. Some must never be given, or you will reap only bitterness.]
She grabbed his sleeve and babbled, but only bubbles came. She could not force out a word. She fretted until her chest hurt.
Gu Heng would turn against Chen’er. Madam Yun’s hands curled. She looked at her eldest with pity. She knew he cherished that friendship. This truth would wound him. Yet she could not step in. He had grown. Some roads must be walked alone. Choices and the cost were his.
“Little Sister, Big Brother has matters to handle. I will visit again tomorrow, so be good,” Yun Wan Chen said with a gentle smile as he stroked her small head. His eyes were clear and cold like winter stars.