Yun Chu hurriedly stood up and curtsied.

“There’s no need for such formality, Madam Xie.” Chu Yi spoke. “I have a matter I’d like to request Madam Xie’s help with.”

Heaven knows how difficult it was to see Madam Xie.

His residence had no female relatives, giving him no proper excuse to invite her over.

If he called on the Xie residence, the Xie family could never have their lady of the house receive him, an outside man.

He could only have someone keep close watch on the Xie household. Finally, when she stepped out the door, he immediately mounted his horse and followed.

When he entered this teahouse, he spotted her at once—sitting by the window drinking tea, wearing moon-white clothing, her jet-black hair pinned up, revealing her pale neck… Seeing this, he immediately withdrew his gaze.

He stood in place for quite a while before walking over and calling out “Madam Xie.”

Yun Chu had no idea about all these fluctuations in his heart. She was merely somewhat surprised that Prince Pingxi had come specifically to find her, not by chance encounter.

She lowered her head and said, “To serve the Prince is this subject’s wife’s honor. Please instruct me, Your Highness.”

The words “subject’s wife” made Chu Yi furrow his brows slightly.

He ignored this slight discomfort and spoke: “A few days ago, my unworthy son and young daughter mistakenly entered the Xie residence. I hope they didn’t disturb Madam Xie.”

The expression on Yun Chu’s face froze.

She abruptly raised her head, meeting Chu Yi’s pitch-black gaze.

She had thought she’d concealed things well that day, but in truth, this man had already seen through everything.

So, had he come to condemn her?

But it didn’t seem so—his expression was too gentle, not like someone looking to make trouble.

Yun Chu quickly withdrew her gaze and spoke: “This subject’s wife did not intentionally conceal anything. That day, the Young Lord and the young princess—”

“I don’t mean to blame Madam Xie.” Chu Yi sighed. “After my daughter returned to the prince’s residence that day, she was melancholy for several days straight. Every day she painted, all portraits of Madam Xie. She must wish to see Madam Xie. I wonder if Madam Xie would be willing to grant this?”

Hearing that Changsheng was melancholy, Yun Chu’s heart felt as if someone had squeezed it.

Without any need for hesitation or consideration, she directly nodded.

Chu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and said gently, “If Madam Xie visits the prince’s residence, it might attract attention. I’ll have someone bring the children to the Yin family.”

Yun Chu knew that the Yin family was the maternal family of Chu Yi’s mother consort.

Chu Yi’s mother consort had started as merely a low-ranking palace maid who, after being favored by the emperor, was able to conceive. After giving birth to the Third Prince, she became a noble lady, and after Chu Yi distinguished himself in service, she was promoted to consort.

Chu Yi’s mother consort was not one of the four great consorts. The Yin family head, Master Yin—Chu Yi’s maternal uncle—was just an unremarkable sixth-rank minor official. Therefore, even though Chu Yi held military authority and had the emperor’s deep trust, he had not aroused the wariness of the Empress or Crown Prince…

Chu Yi rode his horse in front.

Yun Chu sat in the carriage following far behind.

Tingshuang sat beside her, saying somewhat worriedly, “If Madam is too intimate with the Young Lord and young princess, might it cause Prince Pingxi to misunderstand?”

“Should I not go see Yu’er and Changsheng just because he might misunderstand?” Yun Chu also struggled internally. “Changsheng is only four years old, yet she’s been ill for over three years. If she wants to see me, no matter how difficult, I must go.”

The carriage slowly moved forward, passing through the most prosperous streets, turning into a small alley before finally reaching the Yin residence.

Consort Yin had started as a low-ranking palace maid, so one could imagine the Yin family was no great aristocratic clan. That the Yin family could now enter the court was entirely due to riding Consort Yin’s coattails.

They understood the principle of knowing when to stop—remaining at the sixth rank without advancing another step, peacefully serving as idle minor officials without participating in court disputes.

“Uncle, Aunt.”

Chu Yi dismounted and cupped his hands in greeting.

“Yi’er, today is truly strange.” Madam Yin spoke. “Every other time Yu’er, that little rascal, comes here, doesn’t he chase chickens and catch dogs, tear up roof tiles, causing complete chaos? This time he’s actually sitting obediently in a chair drinking tea—he really has grown up and become sensible. And Changsheng—since she was born, she’s never been willing to see outsiders. How is she willing to come to the Yin residence today?”

Chu Yi was also secretly amazed.

Though Yu’er had an outgoing personality, he wasn’t willing to accept just anyone. For him to like Madam Xie was truly peculiar.

And Changsheng—naturally unwilling to communicate with anyone, even him as her father found it difficult to enter her inner world, yet Madam Xie had easily made Changsheng think of her…

As they were speaking, the Xie family carriage slowly stopped at the Yin residence entrance.

Yun Chu descended from the carriage with Tingshuang’s support and curtsied: “Your Highness, Master Yin, Madam Yin.”

Madam Yin naturally recognized this as the legitimate daughter of the General’s household, now Madam Xie. She was about to return the courtesy when she heard rapid footsteps behind her. Immediately after, she saw two adorable children rush out from the main entrance and, one from each side, simultaneously throw themselves into Yun Chu’s embrace.

“Mother!”

Chu Hongyu clung to Yun Chu’s embrace, but that wasn’t enough—he used all four limbs to climb upward, and before long had his arms around Yun Chu’s neck.

That single call of “Mother” left everyone standing nearby stunned.

Even Chu Yi, who usually showed no emotion, revealed a look of surprise on his face.

Could the words “Mother” be called out carelessly?

The key point was that Madam Xie didn’t seem to find anything wrong at all…

Could it be that when Madam Xie was alone with the children, Yu’er called her “Mother” with every breath?

“Ah, this…” Madam Yin was utterly bewildered. “Isn’t this Madam Xie?”

Had she recognized the wrong person, or what? How could Madam Xie have become the mother of these two children…

Oh, perhaps it wasn’t Madam Xie, but another young lady from the General’s household who resembled Madam Xie?

But the woman before her was dressed as a married woman, clearly already wed. How could Yi’er let a married woman become the children’s mother?

Yun Chu finally noticed the expressions on the faces of those before her.

She suddenly realized that the term “Mother” shouldn’t exist at this moment.

She secretly pinched Yu’er’s bottom.

Chu Hongyu coughed: “I meant, Auntie Yun seems like mine and Changsheng’s mother…”

“That’s what I thought.” Madam Yin breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve met Madam Xie a few times before. I knew I wouldn’t be mistaken. Come, come, please come inside. Someone, serve tea.”

She led the way in front, with Yun Chu following behind.

She held Chu Hongyu in her arms and held Chu Changsheng’s hand.

Once they entered the courtyard and Yun Chu had just sat down, the little girl couldn’t wait to climb onto her lap, forcefully pushing Chu Hongyu down.

“Chu Changsheng, don’t go too far.” Chu Hongyu put his hands on his hips and shouted fiercely. “Moth—ahem, Auntie Yun has two legs and two arms. We each get half. Don’t push me again, hmph!”

Yun Chu: “…”

With two children sitting on her, their limbs wrapped around her neck and waist, she felt as if she were being tied up with ropes.

But she knew this time was fleeting—perhaps in less than an hour, she would have to part from the children.

Only now did Madam Yin realize that Chu Yi had brought the children to the Yin residence to meet with this Madam Xie.