“Wife, on our wedding day, Marquis Xuanwu also came to drink the celebratory wine. He got drunk that day.”

Xie Jingyu slowly approached Yun Chu.

“I personally helped Marquis Xuanwu to a side room to rest. He kept talking in his drunken state. I listened carefully and realized he was calling out the two characters ‘Yun Chu.’ That was when I learned that Marquis Xuanwu’s love for you runs deep.”

“After our marriage, he constantly made trouble for me in secret. Fortunately, with the Yun family as my in-laws, he didn’t dare truly do anything to me—until Wei’er injured the Marquis Xuanwu’s heir. Then he had a legitimate reason and recklessly created problems for me… Because I took He Shi as a concubine, the Yun family stopped coming to my defense. I know this is my own doing… During that time, I found every step difficult in the official world, so I had no choice but to bring you to apologize.”

“But I swear to heaven, I truly didn’t drug your tea. How could any man in this world willingly put a green hat on himself? At least, I’m not that kind of person!” Xie Jingyu pressed down on Yun Chu’s shoulders. “Wife, that person covets you and can’t stand to see our marital relationship harmonious, so he sows discord before you. You absolutely must not believe his words—don’t believe a single word.”

Yun Chu looked into his eyes.

What sincere eyes—the disguise was truly excellent. No wonder in her previous life, it took living to over thirty years old before she saw this person’s true face.

She had already determined that she definitely couldn’t get anything out of this mouth. Besides sophistry, what else would he say?

The things she wanted to know, she could only investigate herself.

Her face showed timely astonishment: “Marquis Xuanwu and the Marquis’s wife have a deeply loving relationship. He doesn’t have a single woman in his rear court. How could his love for me possibly run deep? Husband must be mistaken.”

“Not taking concubines in the rear court doesn’t mean deeply loving one’s wife,” Xie Jingyu said. “Although the Xie family’s rear courtyard has several concubines, in my heart, you, wife, will always be first.”

He suddenly embraced Yun Chu.

“Wife, since our wedding, I haven’t come to your room. I’ve wronged you. Today I’ll make it up to you.”

Without giving her a choice, he pulled Yun Chu toward the bed.

He just wanted to know whether or not she had done those shameful things with Marquis Xuanwu behind his back.

During this time, Yun Chu had been learning martial arts with Qiutong. Previously she might not have been a match for Xie Jingyu, but after learning martial arts, not only had her skills improved, her strength had also increased considerably. She lifted her foot and kicked. Xie Jingyu fell backward out of control. Fortunately, there was a chair behind him, so he didn’t fall to the ground.

“Husband, haven’t I told you that intimacy is not allowed during the period of body conditioning!”

Yun Chu’s voice was extremely cold.

Xie Jingyu pressed his lips tightly together.

She was so resistant—was it truly for conditioning her body, or was it because she feared he would discover something amiss…

“Husband, this afternoon I went to Qing’an Temple outside the city,” Yun Chu changed to another topic. “The master performing rituals for the children said the children’s remains seem to have some problems…”

Xie Jingyu immediately cast aside his previous emotions and asked nervously: “What problems?”

“The master said that before the children are reincarnated, they would return once to their home in this life. But no matter how the master tried to guide them, the two children never returned to the Xie family.” Yun Chu stared intently at Xie Jingyu. “Husband, why do you think that is?”

Xie Jingyu’s scalp immediately tingled.

He had always felt that masters performing rituals, ghosts being reincarnated—all of it was lies fabricated by common people.

But now, he absolutely didn’t dare think that way anymore.

No wonder Qing’an Temple’s incense offerings were so abundant—it turned out the masters there had real abilities.

“Perhaps—perhaps it’s because this isn’t the Xie family’s main residence,” Xie Jingyu racked his brains searching for reasons. “The children might have returned to the Xie family’s ancestral home in Jizhou.”

Yun Chu nodded: “It should be that.”

“It’s getting late. Wife, rest early. I still have matters to attend to.”

Xie Jingyu straightened up, pulled open the door, and walked out. That retreating figure looked every bit like a panicked escape.

Yun Chu collapsed weakly into the chair.

She could now be absolutely certain that Marquis Xuanwu’s words were true. Those two corpses truly were not her children!

Otherwise, Xie Jingyu wouldn’t have shown that expression.

Otherwise, Xie Jingyu absolutely wouldn’t have left like that.

Living a second life, yet still being toyed with in Xie Jingyu’s palm—she was truly the world’s greatest fool!

What she wanted to know even more was why Xie Jingyu would deceive her again and again about the children’s whereabouts. Those were his flesh and blood—what reason could he possibly have for doing this!

“Tingshuang!” Yun Chu raised her voice. “Investigate—that day when I pressed He Shi to demand where the children were buried, find out where everyone in the Xie family was!”

Tingshuang nodded: “Yes, Madam!”

She knew this matter couldn’t be made public and only called the personal maids to inquire and investigate together.

That night, Yun Chu thought she would dream of the two children, but she didn’t dream at all. When she opened her eyes in the morning, the sky was still pitch black.

She put on her martial arts practice clothes and practiced with Qiutong in the courtyard for over half a shichen before the sky fully brightened.

After finishing practice, she bathed and washed up. When she emerged, the people coming to pay respects had all arrived.

She raised her eyes to look at Xie Ping standing to the side. Compared to previous days, under Nanny Fu’s instruction, Xie Ping had made considerable progress.

Standing there the same way, Xie Ping’s posture showed at a glance that effort had been put into teaching her. She had developed some grace and refinement.

After saying the routine words, Yun Chu prepared to dismiss everyone. She truly didn’t have the energy to deal with these people.

“Madam!” Tingyu suddenly stepped forward, her face covered in tear tracks. “Please allow this concubine to see Yun’er. This concubine hasn’t seen Yun’er for many days…”

“Madam, this concubine has something to say.” He Shi stepped forward. “Madam entrusted Yun’er to this concubine’s care, and this concubine has always been devoted and diligent. It’s just that when Yun’er first came to this concubine’s courtyard, he was somewhat unaccustomed and cried and fussed every day. Just when this concubine had finally soothed him, Concubine Yu secretly ran to Bihe Garden, and this concubine’s efforts were all for nothing. Therefore, this concubine wouldn’t allow Concubine Yu to see Yun’er. I hope Madam understands.”

“Madam, Yun’er hasn’t gone to the study hall for six or seven days. It seems he’s fallen ill,” Tingyu accused. “Concubine He has never given birth to children and simply doesn’t know how to care for Yun’er. Please, Madam, let Yun’er return to this concubine’s side…”

Yun Chu’s voice was flat: “He’s fallen ill?”

He Shi lowered her head to respond: “A few days ago he indulged in eating ice to cool off and caught a chill. A physician has already been summoned to prescribe medicine. He’ll be well in a few days. Concubine Yu need not worry.”

Tingyu was nearly driven mad. When Yun’er was by her side, he basically never fell ill. How was it that as soon as he arrived at Bihe Garden, he became so sick he couldn’t even attend the study hall!

He Shi had once drugged the child in Concubine Tao’s belly. She truly feared He Shi would be crazed enough to harm Yun’er as well!

Yun’er was her lifeline. She didn’t dare imagine what would happen if she lost Yun’er!

“Madam, this concubine truly knows she was wrong!” Tingyu deeply regretted having made that complaint before Xie Jingyu. She cried until she couldn’t catch her breath. “Please take pity on Yun’er and let him return to this concubine, his birth mother…”