“She had no family whatsoever.”

Qin Mingheng lowered his head, his face full of malice.

“She was a lowly maid the Qin family purchased—no father, no mother. Your Highness needn’t think about it anymore.”

Having said this, he bowed with cupped hands, retreated several steps, turned toward Yun Ze, and followed him through the main gate of the Yun family.

Chu Yi pressed his thin lips tightly together.

Five years ago, he had followed the Pillar General back to the capital to report on their mission. That very day happened to be the wedding day of the general’s eldest daughter, Yun Chu.

General Yun was in high spirits and kept pulling him to drink continuously. He drank a great deal of daughter’s wine along with him, but was drugged with that kind of substance by a third-rank official’s concubine-born daughter who took advantage of his relaxed state.

That concubine-born daughter had pulled him into a side room at the Yun residence and he had immediately severed her restless hand on the spot.

After leaving the Yun residence, the drug’s effects took hold, growing stronger and stronger. Later, he lost consciousness… When he awoke, his subordinates told him he had fainted at the back gate of Marquis Xuanwu’s residence. His subordinates had no choice but to bring him into the marquis’s residence and randomly find a clean maid to relieve his drug-induced state…

He wasn’t an irresponsible person. He had his subordinates bring that maid back to the prince’s residence—he would give her the position of secondary consort.

But Marquis Xuanwu said that maid couldn’t endure the humiliation and had fled the marquis’s residence, her whereabouts lost.

It wasn’t until about seven months later, on the road back to the capital, that he saw two children in the snow.

The two children were only as large as his palm, their entire bodies bluish-purple, as if they weren’t even breathing. Placing his hand on their hearts, he could only feel faint beating. He immediately had people fetch the imperial physician to treat the children.

During the treatment, the nanny who had attended him since childhood muttered that the boy looked exactly like him as a child—even had a mole on the sole of his foot…

He had someone fetch a basin of clear water and performed the blood recognition ritual.

Sure enough, these two children were his offspring!

He immediately went to find Marquis Xuanwu and learned that after that night, the woman had become pregnant. Because they were twins, it led to premature and difficult birth with unstoppable bleeding, and she died a fragrant death.

Those two children had been born two months early. They barely knew how to breathe, let alone drink milk…

Even now, recalling it, he didn’t know how he had managed to raise the two children to this age. Yet he still hadn’t raised them well—Yu’er was willful and unruly, and Changsheng was physically weak, often ill, and unable to speak…

“Father?”

Chu Hongyu poked his head out from the carriage and called out.

Chu Yi pulled his thoughts back from his memories and boarded the carriage.

Perhaps because he had just been thinking about what the children looked like when they were born, and then thinking of that dangerous scene last night, he felt somewhat frightened after the fact. He spoke, “Yu’er, that you were kidnapped by bandits was entirely your father’s fault. I apologize to you here.”

Chu Hongyu raised his bright eyes. “I am the Young Lord of Prince Pingxi’s residence. Everything I eat, use, and live in comes from Father. Having enjoyed these things, I should naturally bear the dangers that come with this identity. So Father, you need not apologize.”

Chu Yi touched his head.

Although his son was unruly, he understood all the important principles he should understand. This was already gratifying.

By the third day, Yun Chu’s body had improved considerably.

Although the injured area still hurt a bit, at least she was no longer drowsy and confused.

The Yun family’s womenfolk all sat in her room keeping her company and chatting to relieve boredom—her mother Lin Shi, eldest sister-in-law Liu Qianqian, and concubine-born younger sister Yun Ran.

Yun Chu’s father Yun Silin only had one concubine, and that concubine had only given birth to one concubine-born daughter. In this generation, there were only the three siblings: Yun Ze, Yun Chu, and Yun Ran.

Yun Ze and Liu Qianqian had known each other since youth. The couple was harmonious with no concubines or secondary consorts. Over these years, they had only had one legitimate son, Jiang’er.

Yun Chu sighed. Because the Yun family was small with simple relationships and no scheming intrigues, her mother became more and more naive as she lived, always only looking at the surface when thinking about matters. That’s why in her past life, both her and Yun Ran’s marriages had major problems…

“Child, why are you sighing?” Lin Shi smiled. “Today happens to be exactly three months—I have good news to share.”

Yun Chu suppressed her thoughts and cooperated enthusiastically. “What good news?”

“Your eldest sister-in-law is with child.” Lin Shi’s face was full of smiles. “The baby should arrive around next spring.”

“Congratulations, Elder Brother and Sister-in-law!” Yun Ran also became excited. “Jiang’er will finally have a younger brother or sister.”

Yun Chu’s fingers suddenly stiffened.

No wonder she hadn’t remembered that her sister-in-law was pregnant—because this pregnancy wouldn’t be carried to term at all.

Although their branch of the Yun family had simple relationships, as a century-old aristocratic family, the collateral branches were countless. The child in her sister-in-law’s belly would be harmed by the collateral branches… However, at that time she hadn’t been in the capital at all, so she wasn’t very clear about what specifically happened.

“Chu’er…”

Liu Qianqian keenly sensed Yun Chu’s expression and secretly tugged at Lin Shi’s clothing.

Chu’er had difficulty conceiving, yet she had unexpectedly become pregnant. She feared Chu’er would feel uncomfortable in her heart, so she had never dared to speak of it.

She hadn’t expected her mother-in-law to so carelessly tell Chu’er.

Although Chu’er would find out sooner or later, she had thought to hide it as long as she could…

“Congratulations, Sister-in-law!” Yun Chu pulled out a smile and reached out to touch Liu Qianqian’s belly. “This child will definitely be born smoothly and safely.”

Liu Qianqian changed the subject. “Chu’er, that idea you mentioned last time about opening a shop at the summer retreat was absolutely brilliant. The shop has only been open for half a month and has already earned four or five hundred taels of silver—and that’s without putting much effort into it.”

Yun Chu had heard from Chen Defu that a small general store had opened at the summer retreat, selling daily necessities that common people needed—things like pots, bowls, ladles, basins, salt, iron implements, and so on. The purpose of opening the shop wasn’t to make money, so the prices weren’t expensive either, maintained at market level. But because the common people came here every afternoon to escape the heat, with people coming and going, when there were many people, there would always be a few who would take out copper coins to buy things. Buying here was the same as buying anywhere.

Lin Shi spoke. “Your sister-in-law’s meaning is to expand the shop a bit more. Since it can make money, let’s manage it properly.”

Yun Chu nodded. “Since the common people are supporting it, then let’s sell more things the common people need.”

The group discussed some details, and Liu Qianqian noted everything down, having servants begin to handle it.

“Chu’er, stay at the Yun family home for a few more days.” Lin Shi said. “In a few more days, the Dai family will present betrothal gifts. After you see the excitement, then you can return.”

At the mention of the Dai family, Yun Ran’s face flushed completely red, her hands uncomfortable no matter where she placed them.

Yun Chu naturally agreed.

While the group was talking, a maid reported at the doorway. “Madam, Prince Pingxi has arrived. The eldest young master is currently keeping him company with tea. The Young Lord and the princess wish to come see the eldest miss.”

Lin Shi had met Chu Hongyu yesterday and was extremely fond of him. Hearing this, she said, “Quickly bring the Young Lord and the princess over.”

The two children immediately popped out from behind the maid.

“Madam Yun, Auntie Yun, Auntie Liu, I’ve brought my sister!”

Chu Hongyu held Chu Changsheng’s hand and hopped and skipped into the room.

He had asked Amao what one called one’s mother’s mother. Amao said it was maternal grandmother. He feared that calling her maternal grandmother would make Madam Yun feel repulsed, so he could only call her Madam Yun.

“The Young Lord is so well-behaved.” Lin Shi pulled the two children over, her gaze falling on Chu Changsheng’s face. “Heaven have mercy, the young princess is too thin—nothing but bones…”

As she spoke, she suddenly paused.

If the young princess’s face had a bit more flesh on it, she would look just like Chu’er in her childhood. They looked far too alike!