After finishing the tour of the courtyard.

Yun Chu took the two children to a restaurant for a meal.

She asked Chu Hongyu softly: “Besides not being able to eat mushrooms, what else can’t your sister eat?”

“She can’t eat spicy food.” The little fellow thought seriously for a moment. “She also can’t eat large pieces of food. Sister’s throat isn’t good—she chokes easily.”

Yun Chu’s heart ached.

She had heard from Nanny Zheng before that when Changsheng was first born, she couldn’t even drink milk properly. She would choke on a single mouthful and could only be fed drop by drop.

The child hadn’t developed properly in her belly and lagged behind in many aspects. In the four-plus years since coming into this world, every single day had been suffering.

However, as long as she was still alive, that was good. As long as she was still alive, everything would get better.

“Egg…”

The little girl pointed at the steamed egg custard on the table and said softly.

Yun Chu taught her: “This is steamed egg custard. You should say, ‘Mother, I want to eat steamed egg custard.'”

“Steam… steamed egg!” The little girl struggled to learn. “Eat… eat egg…”

Yun Chu mixed the steamed egg custard with a bit of white rice, tore the eight-treasure duck into small pieces and mixed it in, then placed it in front of her.

In the past, Nanny Zheng had always fed her. Today, with Nanny Zheng absent, Yun Chu held the spoon and fed her slowly.

When she was small, starting around age two, her parents had made her learn to eat by herself and wouldn’t allow servants to attend to her.

In her heart, a child over four years old should indeed be eating by herself.

But when facing her little daughter, all her principles and educational philosophies could be cast aside. She wished she could hold Changsheng on her lap.

The future was still so far away, the days of eating by herself would be so long, but these early days when she needed to be fed were already so few.

“Come, Changsheng, open wide—”

Yun Chu’s voice was so gentle it could almost drip with sweetness.

The little girl obediently opened her mouth wide and ate the food from the spoon.

Chu Hongyu became a bit jealous: “Mother, Mother, I want to be fed too.”

“All right.”

Yun Chu fed Changsheng one bite, then fed Yu’er one bite, busily enjoying herself.

How wonderful it would be if she could eat with the two children every day. She truly wanted to make up for everything that had been lacking over the past four years.

Every day in the future was worth cherishing.

But not every day belonged to the three of them—mother and children.

“Mother, you haven’t taken a single bite yet.” Chu Hongyu picked up his chopsticks and selected a lion’s head meatball. “Mother, ah—open your mouth.”

Yun Chu smiled, parted her lips, and ate the meatball. It was truly the most delicious meatball she had ever eaten.

The little girl was not to be outdone. She scooped up some chicken soup with her spoon and brought it to Yun Chu’s lips.

This was also the most delicious chicken soup she had ever drunk.

Just as the mother and two children were dining, Chu Yi appeared at the entrance to the private dining room.

He saw Yun Chu sitting in the middle with the two children on either side. The three of them wore the same smiles on their faces, creating a momentary illusion for him.

It was as if the three people before him were a biological mother and her two children…

He stepped inside.

From the corner of her eye, Yun Chu saw him enter and immediately whispered: “Your father has arrived. Remember what I just told you.”

Chu Hongyu nodded vigorously and whispered in her ear: “Yes, we absolutely can’t call you Mother in front of Father. Sister, do you remember?”

The little girl blinked her large eyes and nodded.

Only then did Yun Chu stand up: “Your Highness.”

“The two children are at their most mischievous age. Thank you for your trouble, Miss Yun.” Chu Yi spoke. “A few days ago, my subordinates presented me with a novel item. I’m a man with no use for it, so it’s perfect to give to Miss Yun.”

He took out a palm-sized small object from his sleeve.

Yun Chu lowered her eyes, her long lashes concealing the emotions in their depths.

She was thinking—when Prince Pingxi acted so amiable before her, was it because she was the mother of the two children, or because of that night when he had wronged her and now wanted to make amends?

If she could, how she wanted to ask for the two children back.

But she knew Prince Pingxi would not agree.

He had made Yu’er the heir apparent, which showed he truly cared about the two children and would absolutely never hand them over.

And if she wanted to spend more time with the two children, she couldn’t antagonize the man before her.

Since he could conceal things so well.

Why couldn’t she?

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Yun Chu revealed a charming smile.

She accepted the small object.

She opened it in front of the man and saw it was a small, round mirror—an imported item that would only become popular in the palace a dozen years later.

At this current time, such things were extremely rare. In all of the capital, there were probably no more than three. He must have gone through considerable effort to obtain it, yet he had given it to her.

If she didn’t know the truth about that night five years ago, perhaps she would have felt it was too precious, would have been afraid to accept it.

Moreover, as a widow, she shouldn’t accept things from a man.

But now, she had no such scruples.

Any resource she could utilize, she could bring out without hesitation, including her own appearance.

“This mirror is truly clear. I like it very much.” Yun Chu’s smile blossomed, then she sighed. “I have a presumptuous request, but I don’t know how to voice it…”

Her smile caused Chu Yi to lose focus instantly.

The towering tree in his heart had long since surged to his chest. This smile provided nourishment, causing the tree’s branches to grow again, thunderously breaking through the top of his head.

His throat couldn’t help but roll as he raised his arm.

Involuntarily, he wanted to place his hand on her face, using the closest distance possible to touch her smile.

But the moment his hand lifted, he heard her sigh.

Rationality immediately returned. His hand quietly lowered as he spoke: “Whatever request Miss Yun has, just say it. As long as I’m able to do it.”

“I want…” Yun Chu’s eyes gazed at him brilliantly. “I want to have Yu’er and Changsheng join me for dinner every evening… Your Highness, I don’t mean anything else by it. I just hope to talk more with Changsheng, hoping she can gradually become as lively a child as Yu’er.”

Chu Hongyu immediately chimed in: “Father, you don’t know—Changsheng said so many words today. She was especially amazing.”

“I… I also…” The little girl walked over, grasped Chu Yi’s sleeve and shook it, her voice soft and sweet. “Want… want with Auntie… dinner.”

“Changsheng, you want to eat dinner together with Auntie Yun.” Chu Hongyu corrected his sister, then looked at Chu Yi proudly. “Father, see? Changsheng’s progress is really huge. It’s all thanks to Auntie Yun.”

Chu Yi actually felt somewhat uneasy about the three of them dining alone outside every day.

However, one adult and two small children—three people with three pairs of eyes, six eyes total—looked at him expectantly.

He couldn’t utter words of refusal at all.

“Your Highness, rest assured, we won’t dine at restaurants every day.” Yun Chu spoke. “I have another quiet courtyard. I plan to hire four cooks who specialize in children’s food. After dinner ends each day, I’ll personally escort Yu’er and Changsheng back to the manor. If Your Highness is still worried, you can arrange for people…”

Chu Yi agreed directly: “With Miss Yun looking after them, I have nothing to worry about.”

Yun Chu smiled. This time it was a genuine smile: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

At least they could see each other every day now. At least they could have dinner together every day. No need to rush—step by step, taking it slowly.