The flower hall on the manor truly lived up to its name.

All around were flowers of various colors—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple—giving one the ultimate physical and mental enjoyment.

Some unknown incense was burning in the hall, probably to repel mosquitoes, as not a single mosquito could be seen.

“Madam Xie.” Chu Yi made a gesture of invitation. “I still have some matters to handle, so I can only trouble Madam Xie to accompany the two children for their meal first.”

Manor Head Cheng silently lowered his eyes.

Before the prince came to the manor, he had already postponed all matters. There was really nothing to handle now.

For the sake of Madam Xie’s reputation, the prince had actually thought up such an excuse.

Their prince was not a person of delicate sensibilities, yet now he could even think of such a small point of propriety—it was truly not easy.

He felt that it wasn’t just the young lord and young princess who were special toward Madam Xie. In the prince’s heart, he also seemed particularly different toward Madam Xie.

Chu Yi turned and walked out of the flower hall.

Once he left, Yun Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

Boys and girls shouldn’t dine together after age seven—not necessarily at exactly seven years old, but rather after reaching the age of understanding, women should try to avoid dining at the same table with outside men.

Her upbringing from childhood told her to maintain distance from men. Because of these two children, she and Prince Pingxi had been getting far too close, but their ordinary interactions barely stayed within the bounds of propriety.

Although she had agreed to Yu’ge’er’s request to stay at the manor for the meal, she had just been thinking she would simply stand to the side and chat with Yu’ge’er and Changsheng…

Now that Prince Pingxi had left, she didn’t need to worry about those proprieties.

She sat down at the dining table.

Both children had specialized chefs preparing their food, with a nanny and maidservant standing behind each of them. There was basically nothing for her to do.

“Madam Xie, this entire table of dishes is made from common items found on the manor.” Manor Head Cheng said respectfully. “These are wild vegetables—the name doesn’t sound nice, but the taste is fresh, sweet, and delicious. This is a wild chicken from the manor—the meat is especially tender and flavorful. This fish was also caught from the manor’s lake. The physician says that because this fish is affected by the hot spring water, eating it benefits the body…”

This was Yun Chu’s first time eating such wild delicacies. They were indeed as the manor head said—sweet and delicious, and she ate with particular enjoyment.

While eating, she suddenly felt an itch arise on her arm. She put down her chopsticks and rolled up her sleeve, only to see her arm covered in dense tiny red dots.

Before she had time to think much about it, she instantly lost consciousness and fell straight down from her chair.

Fortunately, Tingshuang and Tingfeng were standing right behind her and quickly caught her.

“Auntie Yun!”

Chu Hongyu screamed in fright and rushed over.

“Madam!” Tingfeng was also badly frightened and shouted repeatedly, “Madam, what’s wrong, Madam!”

In that instant, Yun Chu’s neck and face quickly broke out in countless small red bumps.

Tingshuang’s expression changed: “Manor Head Cheng, were there mushrooms in the dishes?”

Manor Head Cheng hurriedly said: “There are many wild mushrooms on the manor’s low hills. The chef specially used wild mushrooms to make oil for cooking the vegetable dishes. Can Madam Xie not eat mushrooms?”

Tingshuang recalled that over ten years ago, when Madam was about four or five years old, she had also eaten wild mushrooms and broken out in red bumps all over her body.

Not just on her skin—they were also in her mouth, blocking her throat, and she nearly died of suffocation…

“Quickly go fetch Physician Bi!” Chu Yi had appeared at some point. He ordered coldly, “You must be quick!”

Physician Bi was the prince’s household’s dedicated doctor who had always been caring for the two children’s health.

He clearly remembered that when Changsheng was just over a year old, one day she suddenly broke out in rashes all over and fell unconscious. It was Physician Bi who saved her.

Later they learned that the wet nurse had eaten mushrooms that day, and when Changsheng drank the wet nurse’s milk, her whole body broke out in mushroom rash.

He didn’t know if Madam Xie’s situation was the same, but could only have Physician Bi summoned first.

He saw Yun Chu slumped in the arms of the two maidservants Tingshuang and Tingfeng. Without thinking, he walked over and bent down, preparing to scoop her up horizontally.

Drawing near, he clearly smelled the fragrance that belonged uniquely to her.

His fingers paused. He stepped back several paces and calmly ordered: “You two, help support Madam Xie to the inner chamber.”

The nannies who specially attended the two children quickly walked over to help Tingshuang and Tingfeng, supporting Yun Chu as they walked from the flower hall to the courtyard and placed her on the bed.

“Your Highness, this servant deserves ten thousand deaths!”

Manor Head Cheng fell to his knees with a thud and raised his hand to slap himself twice.

Having followed Chu Yi for many years, how could he not understand that this Madam Xie was special in the prince’s heart? Yet he had caused Madam Xie to fall unconscious.

If anything happened to Madam Xie, his life couldn’t possibly compensate for it.

His behavior frightened Chu Hongyu into wailing loudly: “Father, is Auntie Yun going to die? No, I don’t want her to…”

Chu Changsheng’s two large eyes welled up with mist. Large tears fell as she cried silently.

Chu Yi, who had originally wanted to fly into a rage, suppressed his anger and said coldly: “If this prince sees wild mushrooms on the manor again, you can forget about keeping your head.”

Manor Head Cheng wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Yes, Your Highness!”

Chu Yi picked up his daughter: “Changsheng, be good. Don’t cry. Father will take you to see Auntie Yun.”

Chu Hongyu followed behind him, sniffling. The father and his three children walked together into the courtyard where Yun Chu was. Jiu’er stood guard at the courtyard gate, while Tingfeng and Tingshuang attended inside.

Chu Hongyu wiped his tears and asked in a small, choked voice: “Sister Jiu’er, how is Auntie Yun?”

He was somewhat afraid to go in. He feared he wouldn’t be able to hold back his sobbing, afraid of frightening his sister into crying along with him.

Jiu’er shook her head: “Young lord, Madam is still unconscious.”

Just then, Tingshuang’s joyful voice came from the inner chamber: “Madam, you’re awake!”

Yun Chu slowly opened her eyes.

She felt her throat was blocked by something. Speaking was somewhat difficult. Though uncomfortable, there was no feeling of suffocation.

She vaguely remembered that at four or five years old, she had also eaten wild mushrooms and then slept for three full days and nights. It must be that now that she was older, her body’s resistance to wild mushrooms had also strengthened somewhat, otherwise she wouldn’t have awakened so quickly.

“Auntie Yun, it’s so good that you’re all right!”

Chu Hongyu rushed in recklessly, grabbed Yun Chu’s hand, and still couldn’t help secretly crying.

He had finally found a mother figure he liked, and they hadn’t even had a chance to live together. He couldn’t bear to lose his dear auntie…

Chu Changsheng struggled free from Chu Yi and stepped inside, but didn’t notice the threshold and nearly fell flat on all fours.

Chu Yi simply scooped up his daughter and carried her inside, but he only stood at the doorway and didn’t walk further in. The little girl went around the screen and threw herself onto Yun Chu, not minding the red rashes on her face at all, clinging to her affectionately.

Through the screen, Chu Yi could vaguely see the two children leaning against Yun Chu.

At this moment, he thought—if she hadn’t married, would he be able to pass through the screen and go in?

It seemed that wouldn’t work either. Unmarried women were even more particular about the separation between men and women than married women. He probably wouldn’t even be able to see her face.

Whether she was married or unmarried, he had no right to stand before her bed.

Unless he was her husband.

Once this thought emerged, it spread wildly like weeds, growing and spreading across his heart.