Chapter 135
Chapter 135: Just How Badly Was She Deceived
[Ah…]
The words “aunt” were like a key, swiftly unlocking some dusty memories in Yun Wan Ning’s mind.
Hearing her heart voice, Madam Yun and Yun Wan Yao exchanged a stunned glance.
What did the little dumpling just say?
Love misplaced?
Schemed against and met a tragic end?
Was she talking about Yun Chu Chu?
But what on earth was going on?
The mother and daughter were dying of curiosity over the “dog-blood story” in her heart voice, but the little dumpling kept sighing and refused to think any further.
This left Yun Wan Yao feeling as if a cat were scratching at her heart—restless and unbearably itchy.
Little sister, could you not stall at the crucial part? I want to hear the rest~
Yun Wan Yao sniffed, looking pitifully at the Yun Wan Ning in her arms. Seeing her expression, Yun Wan Ning blinked, her thoughts snapping back.
[Eh, what’s wrong with sister?]
[Why is she looking at me like that?]
[And her face has that bit of grievance, as if I’ve bullied her. I haven’t though—she’s so beautiful, how could I bear to bully her?]
Yun Wan Yao: “…”
No, you haven’t bullied me, but not telling me Aunt’s melodramatic story feels even worse than if you had.
She bit back her urge to ask directly, forcing herself to hold it in. After a long moment, she finally suppressed it, then her eyes shifted and a faint smile curved her lips.
“By the way, little sister, did you know we have an aunt?”
[…]
[I know. Aunt’s name is Yun Chu Chu, twenty-three years old. She married far away to Nanzhou prefecture eight years ago.]
[Speaking of which, our grandfather, whom we’ve never met, was pretty good at naming people.]
[Father’s name speaks of unyielding integrity, Seventh Uncle’s of clear, lofty skies, and Aunt’s—of a beauty delicate and charming.]
Thinking of the names of Yun Zheng and his brothers, Yun Wan Ning’s little face showed a trace of admiration, which Yun Wan Yao found amusing.
She chuckled and went on: “When Mother was pregnant with you, she wrote a letter to Aunt. We thought she’d come for your full-month banquet, but she didn’t. I wonder why she’s writing now.”
Hearing this, Yun Wan Ning blinked and tried hard to recall the plot.
[I remember—around this time in the story, Aunt wrote too.]
[She wanted to tell Father she was coming back.]
[Yes, yes, she’s already on the road now. She should arrive in Haojing in about eight or nine days.]
[As for why she didn’t come for my full-month banquet, it was because she wasn’t well. And her husband, along with his concubine, were afraid she’d lose control of the household if she came back, afraid their shameful deeds would be exposed, so they kept blocking her return.]
These words left Yun Wan Yao completely lost. Her gaze drifted to the letter on the table.
What shameful things had Aunt’s husband done?
And if they didn’t want her to come back, what was the situation now?
That afternoon, Yun Zheng finished his work and came to see the three.
Madam Yun handed him the letter from Yun Chu Chu.
“Dear, my younger sister has written to you.”
Seeing that the envelope was still sealed, Yun Zheng didn’t take it immediately. He raised a brow: “Since it’s from Chu Chu, why don’t you open it and read it?”
Madam Yun smiled. “Wasn’t it written to you?”
“What’s the point of separating yours and mine? You’re her eldest sister-in-law, and an elder like a mother. She wrote to you as much as to me. You can just read it directly, no need to wait for me.”
“Oh, I see. Then hurry and read it, tell us what she says.”
Yun Zheng: “…”
He reached out, took the envelope, tore it open, and handed the letter to Madam Yun. Then he lifted his robe and sat casually in the chair.
“Wife, read it for me.”
Madam Yun glanced at the letter in her hand, then at the man sipping tea, and quietly lowered her head to read. Her eyes skimmed quickly over the lines.
Yun Wan Ning was right: Yun Chu Chu was indeed coming back. She’d written this before setting out, entrusting a courier to bring it swiftly. By the timing, if all went well, she’d arrive in about eight or nine days.
When the letter was done, Yun Zheng set down his teacup, his face less than pleasant.
“She’s coming back with only the child? What about Shang Yu?”
Shang Yu was Yun Chu Chu’s merchant husband, the head of a wealthy Nanzhou family.
Madam Yun tucked the letter into his hand. “She didn’t say. She didn’t mention her husband at all.”
[That dog of a man is busy with his business. Something’s gone wrong with it.]
[If he weren’t tied up, Aunt wouldn’t even be able to come back.]
From the bed, where Yun Wan Yao held her, Yun Wan Ning spoke right on cue.
Yun Zheng: “???”
What was going on?
Why was Little Fourth calling Shang Yu a dog?
And saying that if he weren’t busy, Chu Chu wouldn’t be able to return?
Could it be… that dog dared to confine her?
Yun Zheng was baffled, but that didn’t stop his temper from flaring every time Shang Yu came to mind.
He’d never thought that man was any good, and had been firmly against Chu Chu marrying him. But she’d been utterly bewitched, insisting on him no matter what—so much so she’d defy him repeatedly, even threatening to sever ties if he forbade it.
He had only one sister, and couldn’t bear to estrange her. So he’d gritted his teeth and agreed.
Yun Chu Chu had gotten her wish, marrying the man. For eight years, apart from exchanging letters, she had never returned once. He’d been too busy to visit her either, and thus they hadn’t seen each other in all that time.
Now, suddenly, she was coming back. His feelings were complicated.
Soon, the whole Yun family knew of her return. At supper, Yun Zhan came over, and for once the family was all together.
“Seventh Brother, if you’re free the next few days, take some men to fetch Chu Chu. It’s a long journey, and she’s a woman—don’t let anything happen to her.”
Yun Zheng passed him a dish as he assigned the task.
Yun Zhan nodded. “Alright.”
“Good. That’s settled.”
Then Yun Zheng turned to Madam Yun: “Tomorrow, have the steward prepare Agarwood Court. When Chu Chu comes, she’ll stay there. Check what’s lacking and get it ready in advance.”
“Alright.” Madam Yun agreed.
[Oh, Aunt’s almost here. I have to see just how foolish she is, to be deceived so badly.]
Everyone: “???”
As for Aunt’s foolishness—well, everyone could agree on that.
But just how badly had she been deceived?
This was the first time they’d ever heard the little dumpling’s heart voice used to insult someone.