Returning to Yusheng Residence, the sky had already turned completely dark.

Lamps were lit inside the house. Just as she stepped in, she saw a man sitting in the side hall drinking tea.

This was the twenty-eight-year-old Xie Jingyu.

Back when her mother was searching for a marriage match for her, she had secretly seen Xie Jingyu—an elegant top scholar without any apparent flaws.

But if she had known that Xie Jingyu already had children, she would never have married into the Xie family.

She looked toward the woman standing behind Xie Jingyu.

Everyone in the Xie household knew that this woman was the most capable steward at Xie Jingyu’s side. Everyone called her Nanny He.

In her previous life, after the Yun family fell, she had learned that this woman was actually Xie Shi’an’s biological mother.

Four years ago, when Xie Jingyu brought Xie Shi’an and his two siblings back to the Xie family, he had personally told her that the children’s mother had already died.

At that time, her own child had died prematurely, and Xie Shi’an’s siblings had also lost their mother. The three children naturally came to be raised under her name, calling her “Mother.”

To prevent the Yun family from harboring suspicions, to make the children from the outside relationship become legitimate, to make her devote herself wholeheartedly to raising the children—she had been deceived for so many years…

“Husband.”

Yun Chu called out lightly.

After their wedding, Xie Jingyu had never again entered her bedroom.

At first, when she was pregnant, she had been grateful for her husband’s consideration.

Later, night after night, year after year, unable to wait for her husband’s presence, she gradually gave up hope and placed all her thoughts on the children.

If Xie Shi’an had single-handedly caused the Yun family’s destruction, then the tragedy of her life had begun with Xie Jingyu.

“Did husband come for An’geer’s matter?”

Yun Chu inquired with a calm expression.

She sat down by the table and said coldly, “An’geer committed such a treasonous act. Does husband think I shouldn’t have punished him?”

Hearing this, Xie Jingyu was somewhat astonished.

After the child’s premature death, Yun Chu had lost the brilliance of the General’s household’s legitimate daughter and had gradually become silent and compliant.

This was the first time in four years he felt that the past Miss Yun seemed to have come back to life.

“Madam should naturally punish him.” Seeing that Xie Jingyu didn’t speak, Nanny He, standing behind him, spoke up. “It’s just that spring has barely begun, the nights are cold, and the young master has a weak constitution…”

Before she finished speaking, she felt a cold glare.

Yun Chu’s expression was indifferent. “In our Yun family, when the master is speaking, if a servant interrupts, their mouth would be slapped.”

“Nanny He is also concerned about An’geer.” Xie Jingyu spoke. “An’geer did indeed make a mistake. Kneeling in the ancestral hall for two days will surely make him understand the key issue. I came hoping that Madam would not let the Yun family know about this matter.”

He still hoped the Yun family would promote An’geer more, so naturally he couldn’t let An’geer’s mistakes be used against him.

“Husband can rest assured, I understand everything.” Yun Chu took a sip of tea, the corners of her mouth smiling. “Speaking of which, I still don’t know Nanny He’s given name.”

Nanny He lowered her brows and eyes submissively. “This servant is merely a subordinate. My humble name would pollute Madam’s ears and is unfit for Madam to know.”

“Nanny He isn’t even thirty yet, correct? I heard you’re still unmarried?” Yun Chu continued staring at her. “I have a good marriage match here.”

“This servant is terrified!” Nanny He bowed. “This servant has an inauspicious birth chart and will not marry in this lifetime. Moreover, I’m already old and have long abandoned such thoughts. This servant appreciates Madam’s kind intention.”

Xie Jingyu stood up. “There’s still official business to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first. Madam shouldn’t tire herself out either.”

Watching the two of them leave Yusheng Residence one after the other, Yun Chu’s eyes narrowed.

She could sense that He Shi had no thoughts of becoming the mistress of the house.

Any woman who bore children for a man and tried every means to stay by that man’s side would surely want to become the legitimate wife, wouldn’t she?

Why was this He Shi willing to remain a servant without a trace of complaint?

In her previous life, in her final days, she had been constantly running about for the Yun family’s affairs and had never carefully considered He Shi’s identity.

Living again, she couldn’t be so muddle-headed anymore.

That night, Yun Chu repeatedly recalled everything that had happened in her previous life, not falling asleep until dawn.

She actually dreamed of their wedding night.

That night’s tender intimacy had penetrated to her bones.

She also dreamed of herself during pregnancy. She who couldn’t do needlework had learned to embroider many tiger-head shoes during her pregnancy.

The dream suddenly changed.

A large expanse of fresh blood spread, and various sounds filled her ears.

“This is terrible! Madam has bled so much, the child is being born prematurely, quickly get someone!”

“The young master has finally been born… Why isn’t the young master crying? Why does he seem to have no breath?”

“There’s still another child in Madam’s belly, it also seems to have no breath…”

“If Madam sees the stillborn babies she’ll be heartbroken and hemorrhage, quickly take the children away!”

“No! Don’t!”

Yun Chu’s eyes flew open.

When she was pregnant, her belly had been very large. Only at delivery did she learn they were dragon-phoenix twins.

But she, their biological mother, hadn’t even gotten one look at her flesh and blood before the children stopped breathing and were taken away.

Where the children were buried, she didn’t know until her death.

“Madam, what’s wrong?”

Hearing her voice, Tingshuang rushed in. Seeing her drenched in sweat, she quickly fetched water for her to wash up.

Yun Chu soaked in the bath for a long time before finally suppressing the emotions from her dream.

By this time, the sky had already brightened.

After she finished dressing, those who came to pay morning respects had all arrived.

“Madam.”

“Mother.”

Seeing her emerge, everyone stood up and bowed in unison.

Yun Chu’s gaze swept over the crowd.

Xie Jingyu was not an indulgent man. He only had three concubines.

Her gaze fell on one of the concubines—this was Tingyu, the dowry maid she had brought into the Xie household, now Concubine Yu of the Xie family.

Five years ago, when she was pregnant, Tingyu had secretly climbed into Xie Jingyu’s bed behind her back.

Her child had died, while Tingyu successfully gave birth to the Xie family’s third young master. Xie Jingyu had then sent Tingyu’s child to her side.

She had personally given the child his name—Xie Shiyun.

If Xie Shi’an was the eldest son into whom she had poured the most effort, then Xie Shiyun was the beloved treasure of her heart.

This child had healed her pain of losing a child, had led her out of boundless grief and despair, and had given her life purpose.

She had truly treated Xie Shiyun as her own biological son, but later…

“Mother.”

Xie Shiyun threw himself into Yun Chu’s arms, nestling against her coquettishly.

Yun Chu’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Yun’geer is four years old now, he should learn some proper manners.”

Tingyu looked up.

Madam had always doted on Yun’geer the most. As long as Yun’geer acted coquettishly, Madam would hold him in her arms, affectionately pampering and coaxing him.

But now, Madam hadn’t even touched the child once, and there was distance and guardedness in her eyes.

If she hadn’t served Madam since childhood, she wouldn’t have noticed these subtle emotions in Madam.

“Concubine Yu has borne children for the Xie family, yet has never had her own courtyard.” Yun Chu smiled. “The small courtyard on the east side of the Xie household that’s currently empty can be given to Concubine Yu and Yun’geer to live in from now on.”

Tingyu was stunned.

After becoming a concubine, she had always lived in Madam’s courtyard, and Yun’geer also lived here, which was why their relationship with Madam was so close.

If they moved to the east side, it wouldn’t be easy to come to Madam’s place in the future. Would Madam still dote on Yun’geer?