The street was bustling with people coming and going.
Chu Hongyu’s little mouth was pouting—clearly he was very unhappy.
Ah Mao bent over and said in a low voice, “Young Lord, at least browse around a bit more. Otherwise when the prince asks, you won’t have an excuse for not liking her, right?”
Chu Hongyu raised his head to look at the woman standing beside him.
This was the future princess consort that many people in the household had found for Father Prince together—his and Changsheng’s future mother consort, Second Miss Tan.
He and Changsheng truly had always wanted a mother, but not this woman before them.
This woman was very gentle, her behavior and speech beyond reproach. Everyone in the household, including Father Prince, was especially pleased with her.
Only after everyone felt satisfied did they come to ask him—could he accept this woman as his mother consort?
“Yu’er, do you like this sugar figurine?”
Second Miss Tan picked up a cute tiger sugar figurine from the stall and handed it to Chu Hongyu.
Her face wore a gentle smile as she bent down, trying her best to close the distance with the child before her.
“Don’t like it—it’s ugly as hell!”
Chu Hongyu coldly threw down these words and strode forward.
Second Miss Tan was somewhat at a loss.
She had already racked her brains trying to please the Young Lord, but the Young Lord kept a stiff face, looking very much like he didn’t like her.
Whether her marriage with Prince Pingxi could be settled depended entirely on whether this Young Lord liked her or not.
She was only seventeen years old and didn’t actually want to be someone’s stepmother, but Father needed Prince Pingxi’s support to be promoted one rank.
For Father’s sake, for the family’s sake, she could only steel herself.
“Yu’er, then what do you like?” Second Miss Tan put on her gentle smile again. “I heard you like crickets. How about I take you to watch cricket fighting?”
Chu Hongyu was somewhat tempted, then immediately despised himself in his heart.
Since he didn’t like this woman, he shouldn’t give her any hope, nor let Father Prince think he was willing to have this woman as his mother consort.
He said coldly, “Miss Tan, you’re wasting your effort. No matter what you do, I will never agree to let you marry my father prince!”
The smile on Second Miss Tan’s face froze. She took a deep breath, squatted down, and grasped Chu Hongyu’s little hand. “Yu’er, I know you’re somewhat resistant to me right now, but please believe me—I will treat you as my own child. I will cherish you and Changsheng and let you know how different it is to have a mother… Your father prince will marry a princess consort someday. Marrying anyone might be about the same, but only I can promise you that your father prince and I won’t have more children. Prince Pingxi’s manor will only have you and Changsheng as children…”
Chu Hongyu bit his lower lip.
He discovered his heart was actually somewhat swayed.
Even he was persuaded by this woman—Father Prince would certainly be even less able to resist.
If she couldn’t find any fault, Imperial Grandfather would definitely bestow the marriage immediately, and this woman would truly become his mother consort.
Thinking of this, tremendous resistance arose in Chu Hongyu’s heart.
“Yu’er, can we try?”
Second Miss Tan held the little one’s hand, her eyes completely clear.
Just then, Chu Hongyu suddenly let out a piercing scream, then violently shook off Second Miss Tan.
“She pinched me!” The little one hid in the arms of the governess behind him with tearful eyes. “She just pinched my hand, threatening me to agree to let her be my mother consort! Waaaah!”
As he spoke, he began crying loudly.
Second Miss Tan’s eyes widened. She had only gently held the Young Lord’s hand, not even daring to use force—how could she possibly pinch a child?
But before she could explain, the governess holding Chu Hongyu angrily said, “Second Miss Tan, you have such audacity to dare treat our Young Lord this way! Not yet entered the household and already threatening the Young Lord—who knows how you’ll torment the children once you become the princess consort! This old servant will certainly report this matter truthfully to the prince!”
Second Miss Tan’s face went pale. “Governess, I didn’t! How would I dare lay hands on the Young Lord? I truly didn’t… Yu’er, quickly explain clearly to the governess—I really didn’t lay hands on you!”
Chu Hongyu cried, “My hand is all red—you pinched it! You’re a bad person! I hate you!”
The governess looked—sure enough, the Young Lord’s tender white hand was bright red.
For the first time, Second Miss Tan felt what it meant to be unable to clear oneself even by jumping into the Yellow River. But even if it was difficult to explain, she still had to make things clear…
Just as she was about to speak, a figure appeared in her line of sight.
She raised her head to look and recognized her—the legitimate daughter of the General’s manor, the Yun family’s eldest daughter, now Madam Xie.
Yun Chu had not wanted to get off the carriage, but sitting in the carriage, she had seen everything between Yu’er and Second Miss Tan clearly.
If it were some other child, no matter how unruly and dishonest, she wouldn’t interfere.
But the child lying and falsely accusing someone was Yu’er.
The child who had secretly snuck into the Xie family just to see her once, the child who earnestly carved wood sculptures for her, the child whose every thought was of her… She had no way to just watch him make a mistake and remain indifferent.
“Governess Zheng.” Yun Chu greeted Chu Hongyu’s governess, her gaze falling on the child nestled in the governess’s arms. “Young Lord, was your hand truly pinched red by Second Miss Tan?”
The instant Yun Chu appeared, an enormous light floated up in Chu Hongyu’s eyes. His instinct was to throw himself into her embrace.
But then he discovered Yun Chu’s expression was very somber. Children are all very perceptive—he sensitively realized that Yun Chu’s mood was probably related to him.
He clutched at the governess’s collar, avoiding Yun Chu’s line of sight, pressing his lips together without answering.
“What does Madam Xie mean by this?” Governess Zheng frowned. “Could it be that our Young Lord falsely accused Second Miss Tan?”
“Young Lord.” Yun Chu stared at the child. “Didn’t I tell you that making a mistake doesn’t matter—what’s most important is to admit your error?”
Second Miss Tan let out a huge sigh of relief.
She truly hadn’t expected that this Madam Xie would risk offending the Young Lord to stand up for her.
If it were someone else, even if they saw the Young Lord falsely accuse her, they definitely wouldn’t choose to stand on her side…
Chu Hongyu bit his lower lip.
He knew he shouldn’t falsely accuse Second Miss Tan, but if he didn’t do this, this woman would become his mother consort.
He didn’t want this woman as his mother.
He looked toward Yun Chu. How he wanted Mother to marry Father Prince, but why had Mother married so early…
Yun Chu softened her voice. “Young Lord, if you know you were wrong, then apologize. I think Second Miss Tan would be willing to forgive you.”
“No, I wasn’t wrong.” Chu Hongyu shouted with red eyes. “She bullied me, and you’re bullying me together with her! I hate you all!”
He jumped down from the governess and plunged headlong into the crowd.
“Oh my, my little ancestor, don’t run around! Don’t get lost!” Governess Zheng was scared out of her wits. “What are you all standing there for? Go chase him!”
The servants of Prince Pingxi’s manor rushed toward the direction where Chu Hongyu had disappeared.
Yun Chu didn’t need to think at all—she lifted her skirt and gave chase.
Second Miss Tan’s head was about to explode. She had been the one to proactively suggest taking the Young Lord out for a stroll. If the Young Lord got lost, their Tan family would be finished.