Crystal-clear snowflakes drifted down.

Layer upon layer of snow covered the courtyard.

This day was the twenty-third of the twelfth month.

Yun Chu clearly remembered every detail of this night five years ago.

She had been heavily pregnant, walking in the courtyard when it suddenly began to rain. In her haste to return to her room, she had fallen, disturbing the fetus and going into premature labor.

When she was giving birth, the rain had turned to snow. Outside, heavy snow fell while she labored in childbirth, drenched in sweat.

She sheathed her short sword and returned to the room.

She called to wake the two children: “Yu’er, Changsheng, it’s light out. Time to get up.”

Chu Hongyu was the first to crawl out from under the covers. When he saw the bright daylight outside, he was startled: “Oh no, oh no, I’m going to be late for school.”

Yun Chu laughed: “Mother has taken the liberty of requesting a day off for you. You don’t need to go to the Imperial Academy today.”

“Wonderful!” The little one bounced up from the bed, then immediately shivered and shrank back under the covers. “Mother, why the day off? Is there something happening today?”

“Today is your and Changsheng’s fifth birthday.” Yun Chu tapped both children on the nose. “This is Mother’s first time celebrating your birthdays, so of course we must spend the whole day together.”

The little one tilted his head: “But mine and my sister’s birthday seems to be tomorrow.”

“It’s today.”

Yun Chu stroked their heads.

The two children had been abandoned on such a cold snowy day at the entrance to the Marquis Xuanwu’s mansion by Xie Jingyu, then thrown by Qin Mingheng onto Chu Yi’s necessary path.

She didn’t dare imagine how long the children had been frozen in the heavy snow.

Just thinking about it made her heart ache as if sliced by knives.

Fortunately, it had passed. It was all in the past.

Mother and children were reunited.

Having endured the bitterness, all future days would be sweet.

Yun Chu dressed the two children and said with a smile: “This morning we’ll return to the Yun family and celebrate your birthday with your maternal grandmother. In the afternoon we’ll come back and celebrate with your father prince. How does that sound?”

The two little ones naturally nodded eagerly.

Although the two residences were close, the weather was truly too cold. The mother and two children sat in the carriage and soon arrived at the Yun family’s main gate.

She held the little girl in her arms, wrapped tightly in a cloak, while her other hand held her son.

“Quick, Yu’er, let Maternal Grandmother carry you.”

Lin Shi walked out with a face full of affection and picked up Chu Hongyu.

Yun Zhenjiang, following beside them, tugged at the corners of his lips: “A true man, yet still being carried around. Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Bleh bleh bleh…” Chu Hongyu stuck out his tongue and made faces. “Maternal Grandmother just likes carrying me, not you. Hehehehe, mad at you.”

Yun Zhenjiang: “…”

Ever since these two came along, Auntie didn’t like him anymore, Grandmother didn’t dote on him now either, and his parents had prepared so many gifts for these two.

He was truly a bit angry.

Yun Chu placed the little girl on the couch in the warm pavilion and reached out to pull her nephew to her side: “Jiang’er, guess what good thing Auntie brought for you?”

Yun Zhenjiang’s eyes immediately widened: “What is it?”

“Look, a sword.” Yun Chu took the item from Tingxue’s hands. “Auntie knows you like martial arts. In the past, the family wouldn’t let you touch these things, but from now on, it’s fine. You can learn whatever you like.”

Previously, the Yun family had feared their achievements overshadowing their lord, so starting from her eldest brother’s generation, descendants were forbidden from pursuing martial arts.

But now there was no need for that.

Jiang’er could study if he wished to study, learn martial arts if he wished to learn martial arts. A child’s nature shouldn’t be suppressed.

Yun Zhenjiang exclaimed and took the sword, casually making a few gestures with it, happily saying: “Thank you, Auntie! Auntie really does love me most!”

Before long, Yun Ze pushed Old General Yun into the warm pavilion. The pregnant Liu Qianqian also came, and the room became lively.

Servants from the household brought in many trays.

Lin Shi took out two boiled eggs from the first tray, handed one to Old General Yun, and kept one herself.

After peeling the shells, they rolled the eggs over the two children’s bodies.

Old General Yun murmured: “Roll away disasters, roll away disasters, disasters roll away, the boy be clever, the girl be safe, health always present…”

“Next is washing hands.” Liu Qianqian rolled up her sleeves and washed the hands of both children. “First washing, peace and safety with everything you need; second washing…”

After the second ritual ended, next came the ceremonial robing.

Yun Chu personally changed Yu’er and Changsheng into their birthday clothes. These two outfits were personally embroidered by Lin Shi. Though not matching an embroiderer’s skill, they represented the elders’ deep blessings.

Next came hair combing.

Lin Shi had specially studied with a matron for several days, learning how to style boys’ and girls’ hair differently.

Finally, Yun Zhenjiang took peace apples and handed them to his younger brother and sister, saying: “Take a bite of the peace apple, and you’ll have peace and safety, health and wellness for a lifetime!”

“Thank you, Brother Jiang!” Chu Hongyu happily expressed his thanks. “Thank you, Great-Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt, thank you, Mother. This is the first time Changsheng and I have celebrated our birthday like this. We’re so happy.”

Yun Zhenjiang had previously been somewhat jealous that they could receive so much attention and affection.

But upon hearing these words, his heart filled with sympathy.

He celebrated his birthday like this every year, but this was Yu’er and Changsheng’s first time.

He had received so very much love—sharing a little didn’t seem like much.

Chu Hongyu and Chu Changsheng spent an especially happy birthday at the Yun family, and by evening still didn’t want to leave.

If Yun Chu hadn’t repeatedly mentioned that their father prince would give them gifts, the two little ones would have preferred to stay at the Yun family, very much wanting to squeeze into one bed with Brother Jiang at night.

The snow outside had already stopped. The carriage passed through the lane and stopped at the mansion gate.

Just as Yun Chu was about to lift the carriage curtain, Qiutong outside said: “Miss, Young Master Xie has come.”

Yun Chu had the two children sit properly, then descended alone. Sure enough, she saw Xie Shi’an wearing thick cotton clothing standing under the mansion’s eaves.

“Mother.”

Xie Shi’an immediately came forward to bow.

Yun Chu looked at him with distant eyes: “On such a cold day, why didn’t you send word before coming? Be careful not to freeze.”

Xie Shi’an spoke: “Tomorrow my shop opens. I wanted to invite Mother to come and join the excitement.”

“Forget it.” Yun Chu shook her head. “The Yun family case still has no conclusion. I shouldn’t affect your shop’s business.”

This answer was completely within Xie Shi’an’s expectations.

He actually just wanted to come tell his mother that his business was on the right track, that he would get better and better.

He paused and said: “The New Year is approaching. At that time, I’ll bring a few younger brothers to pay New Year respects to Mother.”

Yun Chu spoke: “The Yun family will be busy with ancestral worship at year’s end. You need not come.”

Xie Shi’an pressed his lips tightly: “Then Mother, I’ll take my leave.”

He turned around, his feet stepping on the swept road, his figure slowly disappearing into the north wind.

Yun Chu shook her head, then led the two children down from the carriage and walked into the courtyard. Arriving at the rear courtyard, she immediately saw a man standing alone in the yard.

“You’ve returned.” Chu Yi turned around, his stern face full of smiles. “Yu’er, Changsheng, happy birthday.”