Chapter 119
Chapter 119: It’s Probably Connected to Him
“Madam, the young miss has met with an accident!”
The maid who had been sent away earlier returned in haste. She was panting, her hair slightly disheveled, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead as she looked anxiously at Madam Yun.
Hearing her words, Madam Yun felt her head spin. She almost lost her breath and fainted on the spot. Her voice trembled as she asked urgently: “What happened? Speak quickly!”
“Madam, this servant is not entirely sure. I went to find the steward to deliver your instructions, and happened to see Young Master Pei bringing the young miss back. The young miss was unconscious, and there seemed to be an injury on her forehead.”
All the strength in Madam Yun’s body seemed to drain away. She began to tremble uncontrollably, darkness swimming before her eyes.
Taking a deep breath to force herself calm, she gently laid the sleeping Yun Wan Ning on the bed. “Stay here and watch over Fourth Miss. I will go take a look.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Leaving the room, Madam Yun hurried toward the front courtyard. Halfway there, she encountered the steward leading a group of people. In their midst, Pei Yu carried the unconscious Yun Wan Yao, following the steward toward Dreamweaver Pavilion.
Their steps were brisk and faces strained, so much so that none of them noticed Madam Yun not far away. Pressing a hand to her chest, she quickened her pace to catch up.
At Dreamweaver Pavilion, the commotion drew Hua Wu out in haste. She froze for a heartbeat at the sight before quickly stepping down and hurrying over to Pei Yu, her face taut with anxiety.
“Uncle Liu, Young Master Pei, what happened? What’s wrong with the young miss?”
“It’s a long story. Please step aside and let Young Master Pei take the young miss to her room,” the steward said with a sigh.
Hua Wu moved aside, still looking uncertainly at the steward as he led Pei Yu inside. She wanted to protest that an outsider should not step into a young lady’s boudoir, but given the circumstances, it hardly seemed improper.
While she hesitated, the steward’s urgent voice sounded: “Quickly, Young Master Pei, take her inside. I have already sent for the physician—he will arrive shortly.”
Pei Yu pressed his lips together, gave a faint nod in response, and strode into Yun Wan Yao’s room.
The physician arrived soon after, with a flustered Madam Yun following close behind. Everyone greeted Madam Yun, and even Pei Yu called her “Aunt.” She merely nodded distractedly, ignoring formalities, and turned to urge the physician to begin his examination.
The physician placed his fingers over a handkerchief at Yun Wan Yao’s wrist, focusing intently as he took her pulse.
“Doctor Tian, how is Yao’er?”
“Madam, the young miss’s injuries are not serious, but she has suffered quite a fright. She will need a period of good rest. I will prescribe some calming medicine for her to take for several days, and she should recover well.”
At this, Madam Yun let out a deep breath of relief.
Once the steward left with the physician to prepare the medicine and the other servants had been dismissed, Madam Yun turned toward the tall, handsome man nearby. The memory of that dream—later confirmed by Yun Wan Chen—rose unbidden to her mind, and her heart filled with nothing but loathing. Yet the time was not ripe to act.
Suppressing her distaste, she asked gently: “Nephew, what exactly happened to Yao’er? How did she come to be unconscious? And why was it you who brought her back? Where is the coachman?”
Besides the coachman, there were also two hidden guards who should have been with her. Madam Yun could not understand what could have happened to render her daughter unconscious and all escorts missing.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Pei Yu replied respectfully. “I was out shopping when I saw a runaway carriage. Thinking only of saving whoever was inside, I managed to calm the panicked horse and found that it was Yao’er’s carriage. Before I could speak to her, she fainted. The coachman was gone, so I do not know what caused the horse to bolt.”
Madam Yun listened with furrowed brows, unease prickling at her. A well-trained horse would not spook without reason—someone must have tampered with it. And the coachman’s skills were excellent; even if the horse had bolted, he should have regained control. The hidden guards would not have stood idle either. Clearly, there was more to this.
And how could such a coincidence occur? For Yao’er’s carriage to meet with trouble precisely when Pei Yu was there?
If not for that dream, she might have believed him. But having seen it and found it confirmed, she now doubted his every word. This matter was likely tied to him.
Still, with no evidence and the appearance of him having “rescued” her daughter, she could not show her true feelings.
Forcing a smile, she said warmly: “Thank you for saving Yao’er and bringing her back. I will remember this favor, and repay you when I can.”
“Aunt is too kind,” Pei Yu answered seriously. “Yao’er and I grew up together. This was a small matter, nothing worth mentioning. I am only grateful that I happened to be there to save her; otherwise, if something had happened to her, I would be inconsolable.”
Madam Yun pressed her lips together, finding his words unpleasant, though she conceded he might truly mean them at this stage of his infatuation with Yao’er. She was thinking of how to send him away when he spoke again:
“Aunt, though the physician says she is fine, I still worry. May I stay in the manor until she wakes?”
“This…” Madam Yun put on a troubled expression. “I know you care for Yao’er, and you did save her, so I ought not refuse. But you are both of age. If word spreads that you stayed here for her sake, it could harm your reputations. And if Prince Qi were to hear of it, it would not be good.”
Pei Yu’s heart clenched, followed by a surge of anger. After what happened at the tea house with Su Qian Xue, he had no reputation left to lose. Surely Madam Yun knew this, yet she spoke as though she feared for “their” good name—when she was truly concerned only for Yao’er’s.
Still, with her words laid out so plainly, he could only suppress his temper and step down. “Aunt is right. I did not think it through.”
Once Pei Yu was gone, members of the Yun family began returning. Hearing from the steward that Yun Wan Yao had fainted, they all came to the small courtyard.
“Mother, what happened to Yao’er?” Yun Wan Ye demanded grimly. He had watched her leave Princess Manor in good health, with guards shadowing her.
Madam Yun shook her head. “I don’t know. We must wait until she wakes to learn the truth.” Then she looked to Yun Zheng. “Husband, the coachman and guards have not returned. Something must have happened. Send people along the road to Princess Manor to find them.”
“I understand,” Yun Zheng replied, his voice softening despite the darkness in his eyes. Leaving the room, he summoned a trusted aide and ordered a thorough investigation.
Given Yao’er’s discreet habits—using a simple carriage with no maid in attendance and guards following in secret—it should have been hard for anyone to target her. Unless, of course, someone had set their sights on her deliberately.
First Little Fourth was kidnapped, and now Yao’er had met with an “accident.” Whoever was behind this was growing bolder.
That night, Madam Yun stayed by Yun Wan Yao’s side without rest.
Suddenly, a maid rushed in. “Madam, Fourth Miss has woken and is crying. The Lord asks you to come at once.”
Madam Yun realized Yun Wan Ning had not nursed since nightfall. “Very well, I’m coming.” She instructed Hua Wu and Little Tao: “Stay here with Yao’er. Do not leave her side, and report to me immediately if anything happens.”
At Peace Keeping Courtyard, Yun Wan Ning had awoken from hunger to find only one maid in the room.
[Mother? Where did you go? Don’t tell me you forgot I need to nurse at night? I’ll wait five minutes—if you don’t come back, I’ll cry until Little Tao has to fetch you.]
When five minutes passed with no sign of Madam Yun, she opened her mouth and wailed.
[No choice—crying loudly is the only way to bring her back. A hungry child must cry for milk!]
Her cries woke the dozing maid, who tried in vain to soothe her.
[Don’t comfort me, Little Tao. Go get Mother. You don’t have milk—comforting me is useless.]
At that moment, Yun Zheng entered. “Give her to me.”
Holding her close, he explained gently: “Little Fourth, your sister had an accident, and your mother was frightened. She went to be with her, but she’ll be back soon.”
[What? Sister had an accident? What happened?]