“I’m so happy—I have a maternal grandmother now!”

“I also have an uncle and aunt now!”

“Hehe, what a happy day this is!”

Chu Hongyu was so delighted he couldn’t find north, not eating his meal properly but circling around the group of people.

“Can you, you broken child, sit still!” Yun Zhenjiang puffed out his cheeks. “Are you going to eat or not?”

He was truly unhappy inside.

His aunt, his father, his mother, his grandmother—all of them were revolving around these two children.

And constantly pulling out various gifts.

He was being completely ignored.

Unhappy. Just very unhappy.

“Jiang’er, how can you speak to Yu’er that way?” Liu Qianqian touched her son’s head. “You’re going to be their older cousin from now on. Be more sensible.”

“Hehehe, older cousin! I have an older cousin now too!” Chu Hongyu excitedly hugged Yun Zhenjiang, then went to touch Liu Qianqian’s belly. “And soon I’ll have a younger cousin too… Wow, aunt, the baby cousin moved! Moved! She kicked my hand…”

Chu Changsheng curiously leaned over. Although she didn’t speak, her two dark eyes were filled with longing.

Liu Qianqian held the little girl’s hand and placed it on her belly. “Changsheng, you touch the baby cousin more, so when she’s born she’ll be as pretty as you.”

The small, soft hand rested on the pregnant belly, gently touching, then smiled.

Lin Shi also smiled.

The stone that had pressed on her heart for so many years had finally been moved away. What more could she be dissatisfied with?

Chu Yi’s cold brow relaxed.

Every cold, hard edge of his features was written with tenderness.

So when with real family, Changsheng truly would emerge from her small world.

He believed Changsheng would get better and better.

The meal ended amid Chu Hongyu and Yun Zhenjiang’s cheerful roughhousing.

Lin Shi felt this hot pot was simply too delicious. If there was another opportunity in the future, she must come here to eat again.

“Maternal grandmother, let’s go over here to talk privately…” Chu Hongyu pulled Lin Shi’s hand, his big round eyes asking, “Why can Changsheng and I have an uncle, aunt, and maternal grandmother now? Is it because Mother is going to marry my father?”

Lin Shi quickly covered his mouth. “Nonsense.”

The little fellow pried her hand away and said seriously, “Maternal grandmother, I’m not speaking nonsense. My father said he wants to marry Mother as his principal consort. Now that the Yun family has acknowledged Changsheng and me and treats us so well, giving us so many meeting gifts—doesn’t that mean they also approve of this marriage?”

Lin Shi: “…”

Discussing this kind of thing with a little brat not yet five years old—she had no idea how to talk about it.

She couldn’t very well say that his father had a beloved, and even fell out with Consort Yin over her. Even if she said it, the child wouldn’t understand.

“Never mind. Maternal grandmother is old and definitely doesn’t understand these things.” Chu Hongyu sighed. “We’ll definitely have to wait until maternal grandfather returns to the capital before Father and Mother can truly marry.”

Lin Shi: “…”

She didn’t understand?

Yes, yes, yes—she was the one who didn’t understand.

“Maternal grandmother, I also prepared a gift for you.” Chu Hongyu led Lin Shi by the hand toward the back.

Lin Shi followed him through the corridor, entered through a doorway, walked around a long gallery, passed through another gate, and then—

She frowned.

How was this courtyard before her eyes identical to Chu’er’s courtyard?

While she was thinking this, the little fellow led her into a room. Walking inside, even the furnishings were the same, and the teacup on the table had the same pattern.

Pushing aside the beaded curtain to enter the inner chamber, even the scent in the room was identical.

Then Lin Shi saw clothing belonging to Yun Chu.

Her eyes nearly fell out. “Chu—Chu’er’s clothes—how—how could they be in the Prince’s residence…”

“This is Mother’s room. Where else would her clothes be?” Chu Hongyu blinked. “Oh right, I forgot to tell maternal grandmother—Father’s new home and Mother’s new home have the wall between them opened up. From now on, Changsheng and I can go wherever we want!”

“What?!”

Lin Shi was shocked.

She turned and walked out.

She saw that gate opening.

This side was Chu’er’s inner courtyard.

Walking through, it was Prince Pingxi’s residence.

Good heavens!

How was this different from living in the same courtyard?

A lone man and woman… although there were two children, if people found out, it would be hard to explain.

Not to mention, Prince Pingxi had a beloved by his side. If this became known, it would be extremely disadvantageous for Chu’er.

Lin Shi was standing there in a daze when Chu Yi walked to the other side of the gate opening.

“Madam Yun.”

He nodded in greeting, without any princely airs whatsoever.

Lin Shi suppressed her shock, took a breath and said, “Your Highness, this gate opening—whose idea was it?”

“It was my idea.” Chu Yi answered directly. “Miss Yun is the birth mother of the two children. Mother and children have missed four years together, and all sides hope to spend more time together. No matter what excuse is found, there’s no way to have the two children remain openly by Miss Yun’s side at all times, so I resorted to this lower strategy. Madam Yun can rest assured—without Miss Yun’s permission, I will not cross through this gate opening.”

Lin Shi restrained herself again and again, but still couldn’t help asking, “Your Highness can guarantee you won’t pass through the gate opening—can you guarantee your beloved will do the same?”

Chu Yi’s voice was clear. “There is no beloved.”

“Then wasn’t Your Highness’s move for the sake of your beloved?” Lin Shi couldn’t help pressing.

“Let me tell Madam Yun a story.” Chu Yi spoke loudly from across the gate opening. “In ancient times, there was a man who wanted to open a window in his house because the scenery outside was too beautiful. He knew clearly his family wouldn’t agree. So one day when the whole family was present, he proposed tearing down the house and rebuilding it. The family naturally refused. Then he proposed opening a window, and the family agreed without any hesitation.”

He usually spoke little, but facing Madam Yun, he didn’t dare say just a few words. What should be said, he would say.

“I have a beloved, but it’s not the beloved everyone gossips about.” He spoke each word deliberately. “I will use my greatest sincerity to marry Miss Yun as my principal wife.”

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Lin Shi’s head.

She stood there dazed, completely at a loss for how to react.

She was stunned for quite a while before saying, “Is Your Highness doing this for the sake of the two children?”

“No.” Chu Yi looked into the distance. “It’s because of having the two children that I dared to let my feelings see the light.”

Lin Shi’s lips parted but she said nothing more.

Regarding Chu’er’s lifelong happiness, she had been wrong once and had no right to speak. Remaining silent was the greatest respect.

“With Miss Yun caring for the children, I’m very reassured.” Chu Yi spoke again. “Next, I will petition to go to the southern frontier to search for General Yun.”

“That’s not necessary.”

A voice came from behind.

It was Yun Chu walking over.

She had been standing there for a while. She had heard most of what Chu Yi said to her mother.

Would her heart be moved by a man doing this much for her?

Of course there would be some feeling.

Marrying this man for the children’s sake was indeed a good choice.

But it was only for the children.