Yun Chu played and frolicked with the two children in the inner chamber.
Since her rebirth, her heart had never felt so full—like a teacup filled with clear water, its fragrant aroma overflowing, never enough to savor.
She kept thinking, if those two children from back then hadn’t died young, would they be this big now…
Tingshuang stood outside. Hearing the cheerful laughter from within the room, the corners of her mouth also curved into a smile. How she hoped Madam could always be this joyful.
Before long, Tingfeng came from outside: “Second Young Master is about to leave for the estate. Should we request Madam to come see him off?”
Tingshuang hesitated for a moment, then shook her head: “Just say Madam has a headache and isn’t feeling well.”
If the young lord and young princess hadn’t appeared, Madam would certainly have gone to see him off, leaving no room for anyone to find fault.
But Madam had said she would only allow the young lord and young princess to stay at the Xie family for two days—counting it out, that was only twenty-four hours. Time was so fleeting—how could it be wasted on Second Young Master?
Yun Chu’s entire heart and mind were occupied by the two children before her. She hadn’t thought at all about Xie Shiwei who was about to be sent away.
“Changsheng, your eyes are truly beautiful, and your smile is lovely too.” She looked at the two children before her. “Yu’er, you and Changsheng sit together—Mother will paint your portrait.”
Chu Hongyu embraced Chu Changsheng. The two children sat obediently on the couch, their round dark eyes wide open, just like two blessing dolls from a New Year painting—except both children were rather thin.
Yun Chu thought to herself, if only the children could be raised by her side. She would surely raise both children to be plump and chubby.
While talking with the children, she painted. Though she’d never been serious about martial arts training since childhood, she’d never missed a single lesson in studies. Her painting and calligraphy often earned her tutor’s praise.
In less than half an hour, two lifelike children appeared on the paper.
“Wow, it’s so beautiful.” Chu Hongyu tilted his head. “But the painting is still missing one person.”
Yun Chu asked: “Who’s missing?”
“Mother is missing.” Chu Hongyu pulled Chu Changsheng up. “Changsheng, you paint Mother. Paint the three of us together.”
Sister couldn’t speak and didn’t like being with people. Whenever she was alone, she loved to paint on paper. Father Prince had hired tutors specifically to teach Sister painting—dozens of them. In the end, only one female tutor could barely communicate with Sister. Sister learned very quickly and painted everything particularly well…
Chu Changsheng picked up the brush and began painting very swiftly.
With just a few strokes, she sketched a woman’s form beside the little girl figure.
Chu Hongyu pouted. Sister was too much—she actually painted Mother beside herself, when clearly he had found Mother first…
Chu Changsheng continued painting. After finishing the woman’s form, she began painting the dress. With just a few dabs of ink, plum blossoms bloomed. The dress was quickly completed, then she carefully painted the hair bun. Finally, when everything was done, only a face remained—a blank face without features.
Chu Hongyu said in a low voice: “The person Sister loves painting most is Mother, but we’ve never seen our real mother, so every time Sister paints Mother, she doesn’t paint the face…”
Yun Chu’s heart constricted.
Never having seen their birth mother, yet persistently painting this person—the two children’s longing for their mother was self-evident.
She spoke gently: “Yu’er, may I presume to ask—why isn’t your mother by your side?”
“Father Prince said Mother died from difficult childbirth when giving birth to us.” Chu Hongyu hung his head low. “When Changsheng and I were just born, we were only as small as an adult’s palm, very light, very light, and almost died too. Father Prince took Changsheng and me to find a divine physician to extend our lives—that’s how we survived. I recovered when I was about one year old. Sister underwent treatment until she was three, and only this past year has she slowly improved…”
“It’s all in the past now, all past.” Yun Chu embraced both children. “Having suffered before means all the days ahead will be sweet.”
“Yes, yes!” Chu Hongyu raised his head, his eyes bright and shining. “We’ve met Mother—you’ll love us just like our birth mother would, won’t you?”
Yun Chu nodded firmly.
Chu Changsheng struggled out of her embrace, picked up the brush, and began painting the woman’s features, stroke by stroke, with utmost seriousness.
While painting, the little girl glanced at Yun Chu from time to time. When finished, Chu Hongyu couldn’t help exclaiming: “Wow, Changsheng, you painted it exactly like Mother!”
Yun Chu looked—indeed it was! The features and contours, every expression—even someone unfamiliar with her would recognize it was her.
Just as she was about to pick up the painting to admire it properly, the little girl wouldn’t let her, picking up the brush to continue painting.
Three strokes down, a tall male figure stood at her side. A few more strokes and the man’s features emerged. Yun Chu recognized at a glance—this was Prince Pingxi, Chu Yi.
“Changsheng, why did you paint Father Prince in?” Chu Hongyu’s little face wrinkled like a bitter melon. “I hate Father Prince the most. It would be best if he never came back.”
Yun Chu covered his mouth: “Nonsense! If your Father Prince never came back, it would mean he died at the hands of bandits, which would also mean countless common people would suffer, and furthermore, you and Changsheng would no longer have Father Prince to protect you.”
While she spoke with Chu Hongyu, the little girl had already painted the man’s complete form.
The man was heroic and spirited.
The woman was graceful and gentle.
The boy was full of vigor.
The girl was exquisitely carved like jade.
The four people on the paper were lifelike, just like a complete family.
As the three—one adult and two children—were admiring the painting, Tingshuang’s voice sounded outside the door: “Madam, just now the servant went out to gather information and learned that Prince Pingxi has returned—he’s already back at Prince Pingxi’s residence.”
Her words had barely fallen when Tingfeng came running from the outer courtyard: “Madam, Ah Mao says Prince Pingxi discovered the young lord and young princess are missing and is leading people to search the entire city.”
Yun Chu sat bolt upright with a start.
If Prince Pingxi discovered the two children were here with her, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t wash her clean.
She hurriedly said: “Yu’er, Changsheng, you two quickly get dressed properly. I’ll have Qiutong take you out. Tingfeng, have Ah Mao meet them at the Xie residence’s south side gate.”
Chu Hongyu was so frightened his face turned white. When Father Prince got angry, he was done for, and the people serving him would also be finished.
This time he’d even implicated Changsheng.
He quickly jumped down from the couch, straightened his clothes, and followed behind Qiutong together with Chu Changsheng.
Yun Chu and Tingshuang walked ahead. Just as they were about to leave the courtyard, a matron’s voice greeting came from the courtyard entrance: “Greetings to Concubine Yu, greetings to Third Young Master.”
Immediately after, Tingyu and Xie Shiyun entered Sheng Residence.
Qiutong and Tingshuang moved together, subtly blocking the children behind them.
“Just now I heard Madam has a headache. This concubine has specially come to bring Madam some soup.” Tingyu held a tray in her hands. “Since Madam isn’t feeling well, why not rest properly? If there’s anything that needs doing, you can instruct this concubine to do it.”
“There is indeed something I need to ask you about.” Yun Chu spoke. “Come inside with me.”
Tingyu’s heart leaped with joy. After giving her the cold shoulder for so long, Madam was finally willing to give her a chance. She immediately led Xie Shiyun by the hand, happily following Yun Chu inside.
Qiutong and Tingshuang slowly turned to the side. After Tingyu and Xie Shiyun went in, the two of them immediately picked up the children at their sides and walked out of Sheng Residence.