After soaking in the hot spring for a while, Yun Chu felt her body warming up. Looking down, she discovered that the red rashes had indeed faded considerably.

She sat up on the rocks at the edge of the pool, smiling as she said, “Changsheng, look over there—there are so many flowers. Auntie would like one red flower, three blue flowers, and five yellow flowers. Can you help me pick them?”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” Chu Hongyu couldn’t wait to rush over.

Yun Chu shook her head at him.

Changsheng wasn’t unable to speak; rather, for some reason, she refused to communicate with the outside world.

The physician could only treat her physical body, but it would be difficult to eliminate her resistance to this world.

Since she could enter Changsheng’s world, then perhaps she could lead the little girl out from that small world of hers.

The little girl paused in her movements, glanced at her, took some time to comprehend the meaning of these words, then walked along the hot spring pool to the opposite side.

That side was blooming with flowers of various colors. The little girl searched around, found the colors Yun Chu wanted, picked them, counted them, then walked back over and delivered them into Yun Chu’s hands.

“Wow, Changsheng, you’re amazing!” Yun Chu picked her up and placed her on her lap. “Auntie loves them so much, thank you, Changsheng!”

The little girl pressed her lips together and smiled shyly.

“Changsheng, look, this is a red flower, red—” Yun Chu taught her to open her mouth. “Follow Auntie and say it together, red…”

The little girl’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

Yun Chu thought that perhaps this pronunciation was too difficult. Babies just learning to speak generally started with “daddy” and “mommy.”

She changed her approach, patiently saying, “Come, Changsheng, follow Auntie and say it together, daddy—”

“Auntie, let me teach little sister.” Chu Hongyu crawled over, pointing at Yun Chu. “Changsheng, look, mommy—this is our mommy.”

Yun Chu was just about to correct him.

She had finally gotten this boy Yu to change how he addressed her to “Auntie,” and she couldn’t let him mislead the little girl from the very start.

Before she could speak, she heard a soft, sweet voice: “Mommy…”

This voice was soft and sweet, like a candy coated in milk, melting one’s heart completely.

Yun Chu’s face filled with disbelief. “Changsheng, was that you speaking just now?”

“Yes, yes, yes! That was little sister’s voice!” Chu Hongyu’s face was full of delight. “Quick, Changsheng, call out again!”

The little girl looked at the two people before her, both gazing at her with expectant faces. Her eyes smiled like crescent moons, and this time she clearly spoke: “Mommy.”

“Oh my goodness, little sister can really speak now!” Chu Hongyu jumped three feet high and rushed out of the hot spring pool. “Father, Father! Little sister can speak, come quickly! Little sister can really speak!”

The nannies guarding at the door were all incredulous—the Young Miss could actually speak?

They didn’t bother to verify anything, turning their heads to go find Chu Yi.

By the time Chu Yi arrived, Yun Chu had already helped the little girl change into fresh clothes. She was smiling broadly. “Changsheng, call out to your father…”

“Daddy—”

The little girl called out timidly.

Earlier, Yu had taught her to call “mommy,” and Yun Chu had taught her to call “daddy.”

Chu Yi’s heart began pounding violently in his chest, and his hands couldn’t help but tremble slightly. He extended both arms. “Changsheng, come, let Daddy hold you.”

The little girl clutched Yun Chu’s neck and refused to let go.

Yun Chu said gently, “Changsheng, that’s your daddy, the daddy who has always cherished and protected you. He’s the person in this world who loves you most.”

The little girl raised her head, slowly turned to look at Chu Yi, and only then gradually extended her own hand.

Chu Yi’s face seemed like a melting iceberg, with a hundred flowers blooming in an instant. He took his daughter into his arms, his voice incredibly tender. “Changsheng, call me Daddy again, won’t you?”

Chu Changsheng called out softly, “Daddy.”

“Father, look, little sister can really speak!” Chu Hongyu was as happy as a monkey, jumping around. “Little sister can’t just call Daddy—she can also call Mommy. Changsheng, quickly call out for Father to hear!”

Chu Changsheng immediately obediently looked at Yun Chu and sweetly called out, “Mommy!”

One “Daddy,” one “Mommy,” called out together—it gave Yun Chu a strange feeling.

Standing together with this father and two children of Prince Pingxi’s manor, that strange feeling became very obvious… as if they were a family of four…

She quickly swept this absurd thought from her mind and spoke up, “Your Highness, it’s getting late. I should be heading back.”

“Auntie, don’t go!” Chu Hongyu immediately grabbed onto her leg. “Changsheng needs acupuncture treatment tomorrow, and each session takes half a shichen. Auntie, won’t you stay and keep Changsheng company?”

Yun Chu’s heart softened.

She discovered that she simply couldn’t resist these two children.

“Changsheng, quick, ask Auntie to stay!” Chu Hongyu hurriedly called for his sister’s help.

This day had been far too brief. His happiness had only just begun, and everything was about to end.

How he wished he could live here on this estate carefree forever with Mother, with little sister, and reluctantly including Father…

Chu Changsheng slid down from Chu Yi’s arms and tugged on Yun Chu’s hand. “Mommy… Mommy…”

She could only call out this one word repeatedly, her big eyes full of hope, hoping Yun Chu wouldn’t leave, hoping Yun Chu would stay and keep her company.

Yun Chu turned her head slightly. “Tingfeng, go back to the Xie Family and tell them that there are still some matters to handle on the estate, so I won’t be returning tonight.”

Tingfeng nodded and returned to the city with the carriage driver.

When she arrived back at the Xie Family residence, it was just evening. Tingfeng walked to the courtyard where Xie Jingyu resided. A maid was brewing medicine in the courtyard, while Tingyu was serving inside the room.

Seeing Tingyu attentively serving Xie Jingyu his meal, Tingfeng’s eyes revealed mockery, though she kept her head lowered, concealing the emotion in her eyes as she spoke, “Master, Madam’s matters at the estate are not yet finished, so she will return tomorrow.”

Tingyu’s fingers paused. “Are Madam’s estate matters really that demanding?”

As far as she knew, Madam’s dowry was all managed by Chen Bo, who submitted the account books to Madam for review each quarter. Madam rarely personally went to the estate to handle matters. How could she be so busy that she wouldn’t return at night?

“As Concubine Yu doesn’t manage a dowry, naturally you wouldn’t know how busy Madam is.” Tingfeng lowered her eyes. “Master, this servant must return to the estate to serve Madam. I take my leave.”

She walked out with her head bowed.

Tingyu fed Xie Jingyu a bite of food and dishes, seemingly casually remarking, “Master is so ill, yet Madam still has the mind to handle outside matters… Just now, Tingfeng didn’t even ask about Master’s condition…”

Xie Jingyu’s expression was very dark.

Yes, he was so ill he couldn’t get out of bed, and even needed someone to feed him his meals. Yet Yun Chu, for the sake of some business matters, was spending the night away from home.

If the silver she earned was used on the Xie Family, he wouldn’t say anything. But now, she didn’t even care about Elder Sister Ping’s dowry, and she acted as if she couldn’t see all the places inside and outside the Xie manor that needed money… What was the point of her earning all that silver?