Chapter 062

Chapter 62: Does Mother Truly Trust Father This Much?

Heavens above…

Such filth and treachery could exist within the royal manor?

Yun Wan Yao’s heart trembled violently. She turned a gaze filled with sorrow toward the small child at Yun Wan Ning’s side.

That Prince Jing—if it were only a secret mistress, it might still be tolerated. But to elevate a concubine and a bastard child, and to go so far as to poison the princess consort? Truly ruthless, lower than beasts, a monster in human skin. No trace of decency remained in him.

To think that the woman who loved him with all her heart would one day be brought to utter ruin by his hand. Yun Wan Yao pursed her lips, her chest tightening painfully, the air nearly choking in her lungs.

Why were the men of this world always so heartless?

Why did they wound the very women who bore their children, managed their households, and served their elders, all without hesitation?

“Yao’er, are you feeling unwell? Why do you look so pale?”

As the birthday banquet drew to a close, Madam Yun emerged from the inner chambers after her conversation with Princess Consort Jing, only to find Yun Wan Yao deathly pale, her complexion drained of all color.

Madam Yun frowned, her voice filled with concern.

“I’m fine, Mother, don’t worry. Just a bit tired. I probably didn’t sleep well last night.” Yun Wan Yao quickly composed herself, forcing a smile and shaking her head. But her eyes drifted toward Princess Consort Jing, holding back words on the tip of her tongue.

Noticing her unusual look, Mo Yun Han narrowed his eyes faintly.

But neither Madam Yun nor Princess Consort Jing caught her unease.

Seeing her recover, Madam Yun felt reassured and nodded gently. “If you’re alright, then bear with it a little longer. The banquet’s nearly over. Once we’re in the carriage, you can rest.”

“Alright.”

The banquet concluded in the early afternoon.

Aside from a few whispers among the madams at the beginning, the rest of the gathering passed peacefully. In the end, none of the precautions Yun Zheng had prepared were needed.

At the gates of the royal manor, Prince Jing and Princess Consort Jing personally escorted their guests.

“Madam Yun, you promised that we would grow even closer from now on. You mustn’t go back on your word,” Princess Consort Jing said with a smile.

Even though the marriage alliance hadn’t succeeded, she still kept the Yun family in her heart.

A daughter from the Yun family—now that was a rare gem. She was determined to win one for her Han’er, to seize the advantage while others were still idle.

After all, true affection grew best from a young age.

Fortunately, Yun Wan Ning had dozed off and didn’t hear this, or who knows what wild thoughts she’d have spun by now.

“Of course not. As long as Your Highness doesn’t mind, you’re welcome anytime,” Madam Yun replied with grace.

“Then I’ll hold you to that.”

“It’s getting late. We’ll take our leave now. The royal manor has just hosted a birthday banquet, so there must be much to attend to. Your Highness should return and rest as well.”

“Very well. Safe travels.”

“Yes, thank you.”

By the time the Yun family returned home, the sky had already dimmed.

Yun Wan Ning had slept the entire way. Even when Yun Zheng carried her into the room, she didn’t stir.

“Mother, I need to speak with you,” Yun Wan Yao said softly, glancing at her sleeping little sister as she tugged gently on Madam Yun’s sleeve. Her expression was heavy with thought.

Madam Yun pulled the blanket over Yun Wan Ning, then turned to face her eldest daughter with serious eyes.

“It’s about the princess consort, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Yun Wan Yao wasn’t surprised by the guess. She gave a quiet nod.

“Let’s step outside, then.”

Casting another glance at Yun Wan Ning and tucking the corners of the blanket around her, Madam Yun walked to the outer room, and Yun Wan Yao quickly followed.

Once all the servants were dismissed, Madam Yun asked in a low voice, “You were with Little Fourth the whole time. Did she mention something about the princess consort’s future?”

“She did.”

Yun Wan Yao nodded heavily, then recounted every word of Yun Wan Ning’s heart voice: how Prince Jing kept a mistress and had a bastard child, how he plotted to elevate the mistress by ruining the princess consort, how he forced her to the point of suicide. She left nothing out.

When she finished, Madam Yun’s fury exploded.

“That Prince Jing! He always appeared courteous and humble, yet he’s no more than a beast in robes. To think he could do something so vile and inhuman! And to such a noble, virtuous wife who honored her role as a proper lady…”

“Yao’er, go fetch your father.”

But Yun Wan Yao didn’t move right away. After a moment of hesitation, she asked carefully, “Mother… Everyone says Prince Jing and the princess consort are like two strings in harmony, deeply in love. But now we see that faces can deceive. Do you really trust Father that much? Aren’t you afraid he might…”

She didn’t finish, but the meaning hung clear in the air.

Madam Yun was briefly stunned, then gave a soft, helpless laugh.

“Of course I trust your father. But even if he did treat me that way, I wouldn’t bear resentment.”

“If not for him, I’d have died long ago during the exile. There would be no you, no Wan Ning, no family left at all.”

“My life belongs to him. If he truly wanted it, I would give it to him willingly.”

Years ago, when her own father committed a crime and the entire family was punished with exile, the Lin family broke off the engagement. On the road to banishment, surrounded by bandits and starvation, she endured the darkest, most despairing days of her life.

It was he who pulled her from the depths of that hell.

With her face, in that situation, without him shielding her at every step, she would have died a hundred times over.

Yun Wan Yao fell silent.

Alright, maybe she shouldn’t have questioned Mother’s trust in Father.

“I understand, Mother. I’ll go call him now.”

“I’m already here.”

Just as she finished speaking, the door creaked open.

A tall, broad-shouldered figure stepped into the room.

Yun Zheng entered with large, steady strides.

Yun Wan Yao’s heart jumped nervously. Judging by his arrival, Father must have been outside for a while. How much had he heard?

Would he think she was deliberately trying to sow discord?

The more she thought, the more uncertain she became. She lowered her head and muttered guiltily, “Father…”

“It’s late. You should go rest now.”

Yun Zheng gave her a glance, his tone calm and unreadable.

“Oh… alright. Goodnight, Father, Mother.”

As though receiving a pardon, Yun Wan Yao fled the room, quickly pulling the door closed behind her.

“You came in without knocking? Just stood outside listening in? Look how much you frightened Yao’er.”

Madam Yun looked up and chided with displeasure.

Yun Zheng merely let out a low, cold snort. “Hmph. And who told her to gossip about her own father behind his back all day? Go ask around—what other daughter says such things to her mother?”

“She’s lucky I didn’t give her a beating.”

Had it been one of the boys, he would’ve kicked their behinds until they couldn’t sit for a week.

Madam Yun: “……”

“Well? Did you hear what Little Fourth said about the princess consort?”

“What does that have to do with me?” Yun Zheng’s tone turned cool. “I’m more curious about something else: Madam, when you agreed to marry me back then, was it out of love—or because you wished to repay a debt?”

“Do you truly trust me now? Or is it just as Madam once said—because I saved your life, you believe everything else no longer matters?”

Madam Yun was silent.

She looked at the man before her, his spirit sunken low as though carrying the weight of some immense grievance. In her heart, she could only feel speechless.

[You’ve fathered four children already—how can you still ask something like that?]

Even so, silence alone wouldn’t do. She still needed to soothe him, or else he really might grow sick from his own wild imaginings.

Taking a step forward, Madam Yun gently leaned into his arms, her hands circling his neck. She softened her voice into a sweet whisper as she spoke:

“My lord husband, when I first married you, it was both love and gratitude.”

“You gave so much for me along the way, protecting me in every little thing. Even in that bitter, frozen land, I never once suffered hardship.”

“I am not some cold-hearted creature who forgets kindness. How could I not see your goodness? How could I not remember your care?”

“Gratitude and love do not conflict.”

“When my lord husband was a young man, how radiant and full of spirit you were. There’s a saying—‘He who rides three thousand miles through battle, and blocks a million troops with one sword.’”

“You were always the hero in my heart, brave and striking. What woman wouldn’t fall for such a man? Of course I love you.”

These words landed deep in Yun Zheng’s heart. The gloom clouding him vanished at once, and he pulled her waist tightly into his embrace. Yet his mouth refused to concede, and he huffed,

“Hmph, but I remember you once said that even if all the men in the world were dead, you’d still never like a scoundrel like me. You told me to give up early and stop dreaming.”

Madam Yun: “……”

[That was so long ago, and he still remembers it so clearly?]

“I was wrong, husband. If I had known how much I would grow to love you, I’d never have said such things. In fact, the moment we met, I would’ve thrown myself into your arms without hesitation.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“Then it’s not too late now. Madam can still throw herself into my arms.”

Madam Yun: “……”

A night of passionate love followed.

By the time Madam Yun finally woke the next afternoon, her whole body felt like it had fallen to pieces.

Yun Wan Ning had been carried off to the nanny’s room the night before. After waking, eating her fill, and having her diaper changed, she waited and waited, yet no one came to take her back to the Peace-Keeping Courtyard. That alone was enough for her to guess just how “fierce” the battle had been last night.

[Judging by the sun, it must be nearly noon already. Is Mother still not awake?]

[Well, seeing how affectionate Father and Mother are, I suppose I should be happy.]

[But indulging too much isn’t good for the body. They should really practice some restraint.]

[Also, when I checked Mother’s pulse the other day, she hadn’t taken any contraceptive medicine. Could it be… she’s thinking of giving me a little brother or sister?]

[If she really wants to, then of course I support it. But she only just gave birth to me, and her strength hasn’t fully recovered. If she gets pregnant again now, it might be harmful to her body.]

[…]

Yun Wan Yao had just stepped into the room when she heard this, and her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.

She hadn’t even come of age yet, still a proper, unmarried maiden. Hearing such thoughts out of the blue made her want to crawl into a hole from sheer embarrassment.

[No, no, I must stop little sister’s thoughts here and now. Who knows what else she’ll think of next.]

“Little sister, elder sister came to see you,” she said, schooling her face into a calm smile as she walked over with steady steps.

“Yee~”

[Big Sister’s here.]

[Good afternoon, Big Sister.]

Yun Wan Ning tilted her little head and looked up at her with bright eyes, stretching out her arms with joy.

To her, no one understood her better than Mother and Elder Sister. Not even Nanny or Sister Little Tao could compare. They could chat with her, listen to her heart, and help pass the dull, boring hours.

‘Good afternoon~’ Yun Wan Yao nearly blurted in reply, but caught herself just in time and swallowed the words back down.

She walked straight to the bed and picked Yun Wan Ning up.

“Elder sister had nothing to do today, so I came to keep little sister company. Have you eaten yet, little one?”

[Yes, I have. Since morning, Nanny has nursed me three times. She’s so gentle and kind. When she leaves, I’ll probably be able to talk already.]

[When that day comes, I want to give her the thickest gold bracelet as a parting gift.]

Yun Wan Yao: “……”

[A little gold-hoarder like you actually willing to give away your bracelet? You must really love her.]

“Do you like going outside, little sister? In just a few days, it’ll be time for the Winter Banquet. It’ll be lively, with all the noble young masters and young ladies from the capital in attendance.”

“It was originally held by the late Grand Empress Dowager, once a year, and it’s been going on for over two decades. Though she has passed, the tradition lives on…”

Yun Wan Yao continued to speak, patiently and warmly telling her little sister all about the Winter Banquet—its origins, the customs, and everything in between.

When she spoke of the event itself, she added a few amusing anecdotes that made Yun Wan Ning listen with rapt attention.

“You still remember Sister A’Tang, don’t you? She’s known as Great Wu’s foremost prodigy maiden—that title was won during the Winter Banquet.”

“That year, her poem ‘Ode to the Rivers and Mountains’ shocked everyone present. Even the late emperor praised her personally and granted her the title.”

“She won that title by defeating many of the capital’s noble young ladies. The most unforgettable among them was the Grand Commandant’s legitimate daughter, Su Qian Xue.”

“Su Qian Xue refused to accept defeat. She declared that true talent was not just about poetry but should also include music, calligraphy, painting, and more. She challenged Sister A’Tang to a zither duel.”

“But her so-called masterpiece turned out to be a complete mess. To the audience, it was nothing but screeching noise, grating to the ears and devoid of any rhythm or grace.”

“From then on, Su Qian Xue was mocked as Great Wu’s number one useless noble heiress…”

As she listened, Yun Wan Ning’s mind filled with scenes from the original plot.

[Yes, the story did mention this. Madam Su doted on her too much and raised her daughter without any discipline. Su Qian Xue didn’t know the first thing about poetry or music.]

[But Madam Su insisted she was wonderful. Even if Su Qian Xue played something awful, she’d still heap praise on her.]

[Over time, Su Qian Xue really believed she was some kind of unmatched prodigy.]

[So during the Winter Banquet, she foolishly challenged Jiang Zi Tang to a zither duel… only to expose her utter incompetence and disgrace the Grand Commandant manor completely.]

[After that, words like ‘fool’ and ‘useless’ clung to her like maggots to a bone. They became her curse, and everyone used them to humiliate her.]

[Once the heroine transmigrated into her body, she couldn’t stand this reputation. So she made a vow to slap those mockers in the face at the next Winter Banquet.]

[She would show all of Great Wu what a real talented lady looked like.]

[She dressed beautifully that day, dazzling everyone with her looks—and then…]