Yun Chu’s pupils constricted sharply, her breathing coming to a halt.

“Madam, what’s wrong?”

Seeing her unusual expression, Xie Jingyu felt somewhat uneasy.

Yun Chu withdrew her gaze and steadied her voice: “An’er’s words are not without merit. As for how specifically to handle Hui’er’s situation, husband and the old madam can discuss it further. I have a bit of a headache, so I’ll return first.”

Having spoken, she turned and walked outside.

Upon reaching the outdoors, she saw Jiu’er kneeling in the courtyard, looking ready to await judgment at any moment.

“This has nothing to do with you.” Yun Chu looked at her. “Second Young Master was injured and his temper is volatile. You’d best not approach him for now. My courtyard lacks a maid to sweep the floors—help me out for a couple days first.”

Without waiting for Jiu’er to say anything, Yun Chu hurried toward the back.

This was the side courtyard nearest to the date tree grove, situated at the very rear of the Xie residence. Outside this courtyard wall was a small alley in the capital.

After the guests had all dispersed, the Xie residence servants had all gone to the front courtyard to clean up the aftermath. Not a single person could be seen here.

“Huh, didn’t they say the Xie family was holding a banquet today?” Chu Hongyu lay atop the wall, looking left and right. “Why isn’t there a single person?”

“Young—Young Lord!” Ah Mao’s voice came from below. “You and the young princess hold steady on the wall—this subordinate is about to let go.”

Chu Hongyu quickly climbed onto the wall top, pulling his sister’s hand: “Changsheng, grab this brick and push up with your legs—you’ll make it up.”

The little girl’s tender pink fingers grasped the wall brick, climbing upward with effort. Her small face flushed red, yet she simply couldn’t get up.

“Changsheng, if you can’t make it up, we won’t be able to see Mother.” Chu Hongyu reached out to help her, calling to the person below. “Ah Mao, lift higher, a bit higher.”

Ah Mao wore a pained expression. Who told him to be so short? No matter how much he stood on tiptoe, he couldn’t get any higher.

Fortunately, with the little girl’s efforts, she finally climbed onto the wall top.

Ah Mao breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He blew air onto his palms, then planted his feet against the wall and leaped onto the wall top as if walking on walls. Seeing no one inside the courtyard wall, he jumped down, then raised his head and spread his arms: “Young Princess, jump down. Don’t be afraid—this subordinate will catch you.”

This was Chu Changsheng’s first time doing such a thing.

She stood up tremblingly, looked down, and immediately felt dizzy and extremely frightened.

But as soon as she thought about Mother living here and that she could see Mother very soon, courage filled her heart.

Her long feather-like lashes fluttered, then she closed them, spread her arms and jumped down, falling into Ah Mao’s embrace. Ah Mao carefully set her on the ground, then looked up: “Young Lord, come down quickly. This subordinate seems to hear voices talking.”

Chu Hongyu nodded. Just as he stood up, he saw two people appear at the corner. He was about to hide when he discovered the person walking in front was Yun Chu.

He was so delighted he could barely contain himself, opening his mouth to call out “Mother.”

Yun Chu quickly raised her hand, placing her index finger on her lips in a gesture for silence.

The Xie family members were all in this vicinity. If the young lord made any sound that alerted the Xie family, it would become a tool for the Xie family to curry favor with Prince Pingxi’s residence.

“Shh!”

Chu Hongyu also made the gesture.

Perhaps too excited, he failed to stand steady and toppled downward.

Yun Chu was so frightened her heart stopped.

Fortunately, Ah Mao stood right below the courtyard wall and caught him in time.

“Yu’er, didn’t I tell you last time not to secretly come to the Xie family anymore?” Yun Chu deliberately put on a stern face looking at him. “Coming yourself wasn’t enough—you actually brought the young princess to climb walls together. What if you fell?”

Chu Hongyu pointed at his fingers: “Sister dreams of Mother every day. Father Prince happened to be away, so I brought Sister to see Mother. Mother, look quickly—this is my sister. Her name is Chu Changsheng.”

Before he finished speaking, he saw his usually timid and shy sister roll into Yun Chu’s embrace like a snowball.

Yun Chu’s face filled with tenderness as she picked her up: “Changsheng, after so many days apart, I’ve missed you too.”

Chu Hongyu stared wide-eyed in disbelief with his round dark eyes: “Mother, when did you meet Changsheng? How come I didn’t know?”

“A few days ago, Changsheng left the residence in the middle of the night and I happened to encounter her.” Yun Chu held Chu Hongyu’s hand with her other hand. “This isn’t a place to talk. Let’s return to my courtyard first.”

Tingshuang had already cleared away all the servants along this path. Walking back, they didn’t encounter anyone.

Upon reaching the familiar courtyard, Chu Hongyu became even more at ease. He said with a grin: “Mother, my Father Prince received an imperial decree to handle affairs in Jizhou. He won’t return for half a month. During this half month, Sister and I will stay here with you.”

Yun Chu frowned: “Half a month is too long—I’m afraid that won’t work.”

“Then how long can we stay?” Chu Hongyu hugged her neck. “However many days Mother says, we’ll stay that many days. We’ll listen to Mother’s words.”

The little girl also climbed onto her knee, hugging her neck from the other side. Though the two little ones were small, their strength was considerable. As if competing, they each insisted her neck face their side. She felt her neck being twisted back and forth until it nearly cramped.

Chu Hongyu felt somewhat angry. He was sharing Mother with his sister, yet Sister insisted on monopolizing her. He should have known not to bring Sister along.

However, seeing the pitch-black eyes of his sister gain some brightness, he felt this trip was very worthwhile.

Sister had been in poor health since childhood. Though clearly four years old, she was even thinner and shorter than other three-year-olds, and at this age still couldn’t speak.

The imperial physicians said Sister’s throat was fine—it was another condition caused by years of chronic illness. She was unwilling to communicate with people, her eyes couldn’t see others. In her tiny world, it seemed only he, her elder brother, existed. Occasionally she could also see Father Prince, but only when Father Prince’s certain words happened to touch Sister’s heartstrings.

This was the first time he’d seen Sister accept another person so readily.

He liked Mother so much—he knew Sister would definitely like Mother just as much as he did.

“Stay for two days first.” Yun Chu also liked these two little ones. She hugged one with each arm. “Staying at the Xie family means you can only remain in my courtyard—no going out randomly. Can you do that?”

Chu Hongyu’s voice rang out loudly: “Yes!”

The little girl blinked her large eyes and nodded.

Yun Chu tapped each of their noses: “You two just climbed the wall and turned into little mud monkeys. Bathe first.”

She was truly impressed. These two little ones had secretly snuck in, even having Ah Mao carry a bundle containing changes of clothing.

She had Tingshuang and Tingxue bathe Yu’er while she personally bathed the little girl. After removing the little girl’s dress, her heart was instantly seized as if by a large hand.

She knew the little girl was thin, but hadn’t expected her to be this emaciated. Her entire body was all bones with not a bit of flesh—the only flesh was probably on her face, which made her so endearing.

Looking carefully, she could see the little girl’s entire body was covered with needle marks.

These needle marks were very obvious, not like someone had deliberately abused her, but rather like traces left from years of acupuncture.

“Changsheng, Changsheng…”

As she called this name, she vaguely seemed to understand why Prince Pingxi had given the young princess such a name.

With complicated emotions, she bathed the little girl. While still busy, Tingshuang’s voice sounded outside the door: “The master has come over, saying there’s an urgent matter to discuss with Madam.”

Yun Chu lifted the little girl from the bathtub, dried the water droplets on her body, dressed her in a gown, and said with a smile: “I’ll go out for a moment.”

The little girl clutched at her hem, eyes wide as she looked at her, seemingly afraid that once she left, she wouldn’t return.

“Be good, I’ll be right back.”

Only then did those tender pink little hands release her.