Yun Chu handed Luo Zhan over to Madam Luo.

She quickly boarded the carriage and had the driver race toward Prince Pingxi’s manor at the fastest speed.

Before the carriage had even stopped, she jumped down. Only when both feet touched the ground did her wildly thumping heart gradually return to its proper place.

It was also at this moment that she slowly calmed down enough to think things through.

On the night Xie Jingyu died, before the mourning period had even been announced, Prince Pingxi already knew Xie Jingyu was dead. From this, one could tell that Prince Pingxi had been watching the Xie family all along.

Was he watching the Xie family, or was he watching her?

That burning gaze from that night had made her realize that Prince Pingxi harbored other intentions toward her.

She had thought those intentions arose suddenly.

It turned out that so many years ago, Prince Pingxi had already…

Yun Chu’s lips pressed tightly together.

She didn’t know what emotions she should use to face such a truth.

She had always thought Prince Pingxi was different from others, which was why, regarding the matter of Marquis Xuanwu, she had gone to seek his help late at night.

It turned out he was no different from the likes of Xie Jingyu and Qin Mingheng…

Should she use the same methods she used against Marquis Xuanwu to deal with Prince Pingxi?

Even if she had the ability, she had no way to do such a thing.

Because—

He had raised the two children.

If he hadn’t accepted the two children of disreputable origins, if he hadn’t searched far and wide for divine physicians for the children, could those two premature babies have grown this big?

From any perspective, that man was a qualified father.

And she was a failed mother.

Across two lifetimes combined, she was unworthy of being a mother…

She sincerely thanked him for raising the children…

“Madam Xie!”

Chengxu had just stepped out when he saw Yun Chu standing dazed at the main gate. He hurried over at a trot.

“Does Madam Xie have some matter requiring an audience with our prince? I’ll go report it right away.”

Yun Chu quickly spoke: “A new restaurant opened on the street with braised eight-treasure duck that Changsheng loves most. I wonder if it would be convenient for the Young Lord and the Princess to accompany me out for a trip?”

Chengxu’s face filled with smiles: “Convenient, of course it’s convenient. Please come in with me, Madam Xie.”

Yun Chu stood without moving: “I’ll just wait here.”

Once through that gate, she would certainly encounter Prince Pingxi, and she still didn’t know what mindset to use in facing him.

Right now, she didn’t want to ponder this matter either.

She only wanted to see the two children.

Chengxu bowed: “Then please wait a moment, Madam Xie.”

Yun Chu didn’t wait long at the manor gate before she heard bright, cheerful voices.

“Auntie Yun!”

She turned around to see the two children leaving their servants far behind as they rushed toward her at full speed. She quickly crouched down and caught the son and daughter in her arms.

She looked at the two children, her throat constricting, her eyes suddenly reddening.

“Auntie Yun, why are you crying?”

Chu Hongyu was so frightened he immediately wiped her tears.

“Did someone bully Auntie Yun?”

Yun Chu grasped his small hand and shook her head.

She was too happy—so happy she couldn’t control it. When she was happy, she wanted to cry.

She touched the two children’s bones, from the top of their heads to their knees, wishing she could even touch their little feet.

How wonderful—every inch of the children’s skin and bones was perfectly fine… She must be the luckiest person under heaven.

“Mother…”

Chu Changsheng called out softly.

Chu Hongyu quickly covered his sister’s mouth: “Changsheng, there are so many people here. You can’t call out carelessly.”

A whole group of nannies, maids, and guards had followed them out and were surrounding them from behind. If they were overheard, it would bring trouble to Mother.

Yun Chu took the two children’s hands, straightened her body, and looked at the head nanny: “Nanny Zheng, I’ll take the Young Lord and Young Princess with me first. You need not follow.”

Nanny Zheng immediately became anxious: “The Young Lord is one thing, but the Young Princess is weak and must have this old servant attending to her…”

The Young Lord was a boy with a stronger constitution, and he often snuck out. He could manage a day without attendants.

The Young Princess was different—without attendants, problems could easily arise…

“With me looking after my sister, it’ll be fine…” Chu Hongyu patted his small chest, assuming an adult manner. “Everyone go back. Don’t follow.”

Nanny Zheng still wasn’t reassured. Chengxu stepped forward: “The prince said to just have Ah Mao follow along. Later, the prince will personally come to collect the Young Lord and Young Princess.”

Yun Chu nodded and led the two children onto the carriage.

Once aboard and away from people, Chu Hongyu sweetly embraced Yun Chu: “Mother.”

The corners of Yun Chu’s lips curved upward: “Call me that again.”

Chu Hongyu’s eyes brightened. Every time he called her this in the past, Mother never seemed very pleased, but today seemed somewhat different.

“Mother!”

He called out loudly.

Yun Chu’s smile became even more radiant: “Yes—my dear Yu’er, such a good boy. Call me that again!”

Yu’er had called her Mother when he knew nothing at all.

She should have realized it long ago.

“Mother!”

“Mother!”

“Mother!!”

The two children surrounded her, calling out together.

Yun Chu held the son and daughter tightly in her embrace. No matter how many times they called her Mother, it wouldn’t be too much. The four-plus years she had missed, she would make up for.

But the children’s father was the current Prince Pingxi. To transform the Young Lord and Princess of Prince Pingxi’s manor into her children—this path, without even thinking, she knew would be very difficult to walk.

However, even if this matter was more difficult than ascending to heaven, she would still do it.

The other party held high power and position, so she would proceed gradually and methodically.

There would always be a way.

Chu Hongyu keenly sensed Yun Chu’s emotions and asked while hugging her neck: “Mother, did something happen?”

Yun Chu said gently: “Mother bought a new courtyard. Would you like to go see if you like it?”

Chu Hongyu clapped: “Like it! Of course we like it.”

“You haven’t even seen it yet and you’re already saying you like it.” Yun Chu scraped his little nose. “The carriage has stopped. We’ve arrived.”

The carriage had stopped right at the entrance of the new three-courtyard residence Yun Chu had purchased.

Yun Chu led the two children inside by the hand. The courtyard had been renovated and looked almost like a new residence.

“Wow, this is a persimmon tree!” Chu Hongyu recognized it at once. “The persimmons on it are almost red. Can we eat them now?”

This was a fruit-bearing persimmon tree that Yun Chu had spent a large sum to transplant. Each fruit hung heavily on the branches, very pleasing to the eye.

Ah Mao beside them leaped up, plucked a persimmon from the branch, casually wiped it on his clothes, and handed it to Chu Hongyu.

The little fellow opened his mouth to bite.

Yun Chu finally understood why Nanny Zheng had been so worried.

She quickly reached out and snatched the persimmon away, having a servant wash it clean before bringing it back.

Chu Hongyu took a bite and immediately spat it out in disgust: “Not good! Not sweet at all!”

Yun Chu said with a smile: “The persimmons will only be sweet in late autumn. Don’t be impatient.”

She pointed to a small courtyard beside them: “Changsheng, Mother had people raise quite a few cats and rabbits in this courtyard. Do you want to go see?”

Chu Hongyu immediately said: “Mother, Changsheng can’t touch cats—she’ll get a rash.”

“Just look, don’t touch.” Yun Chu led the two children toward that courtyard. “Look and see if you like it.”

Chu Changsheng jumped up and down happily and, without anyone teaching her, opened her mouth: “Cat… kitty…”

Chu Hongyu squeezed through the fence to go inside, picked up a docile cat, and brought it closer to his sister. One teased the cat while the other watched—the siblings were both very happy.

Yun Chu’s chest was filled, and the once empty world was filled as well.

Life had never been so complete.