Have You Heard the Dogs Barking?
Upon returning to her courtyard, Yun Nian found Chun Chan waiting at the gate.
“Lady, you’re back. Did the Old Madam give you a hard time?”
Yun Nian shook her head.
“She wanted to, but Chun Chan, I am no longer the same Yun Nian as before. Thank you for saving Da Bao and Xiao Bao. From now on, follow me, and no one will dare to bully you again.”
Chun Chan was taken aback for a moment, then nodded like a pecking chicken.
“I understand.”
She glanced behind Yun Nian and asked, “Lady, what about Qiu Xiang?”
“Um… I forgot.”
I wonder if she managed to retrieve the handkerchief?
Yun Nian smirked.
“Never mind her. Are my son and daughter awake?”
Chun Chan shook her head, and Yun Nian grew worried.
She wondered if the two little ones were feeling better after taking their medicine.
Upon entering the room, Yun Nian saw the two little ones still sleeping, and that sense of contentment returned to her heart.
Yun Nian gently touched their foreheads and noticed that they were no longer as feverish.
This brought her some relief.
But soon, her worries resurfaced.
Chun Chan brought some food, and upon seeing Yun Nian sighing while sitting at the bedside, she asked, “Lady, what troubles you?”
“Chun Chan, imagine this: I am not pregnant, but someone insists on spreading rumors about my pregnancy. What should I do?”
The problem is, this person might be difficult to deal with, as they are the main antagonist in this crazy novel.
Chun Chan was startled.
“Lady, you… you’re not…”
Yun Nian glanced at her.
“I am not.”
Chun Chan breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Lady had another unwed pregnancy, it would be too terrifying…
However, Yun Nian quickly changed her perspective.
Since it has come to this, she might as well accept it.
What is there to fear?
She will confront Xiao Chengjun and show him that she can’t be defeated!
When Yun Nian saw the food Chun Chan brought, her face fell.
“Chun Chan, is this all you have for me to eat?”
Coarse steamed buns with plain boiled water, accompanied by a dish of pickled vegetables?
Chun Chan’s face immediately turned bitter.
“Lady, the Old Madam sent a message to cut off our food supply and monthly allowance. These steamed buns are what we had left…”
Yun Nian was speechless.
The Old Madam retaliated quite swiftly.
She may be under someone else’s roof, but she won’t bow her head.
Yun Nian looked at the valuable gifts sent by Princess Royal.
“Chun Chan, go and exchange a few of these for some silver, then buy some food to bring back.”
Can a living person really starve to death from holding their urine?
Besides, she can go without food, but the two little ones have weak bodies, and this is the time they need to grow.
They mustn’t go hungry.
Not only should they eat, but they should eat well.
She wants to raise these little ones plump and healthy, not as thin as little soybeans!
“These… are…”
Chun Chan hesitated.
The Lady went out and brought back so many valuable things.
Could it be that the Old Madam gave them to her?
Yun Nian had no intention of explaining further.
“The little ones will wake up soon. Hurry and go.”
Chun Chan responded and picked two pieces of jade ware to exchange for silver before leaving.
Yun Nian sat by the bed and saw the two little ones fluttering their eyelashes.
She smiled.
“Still pretending to sleep?”
My son opened his eyes, his gaze complex as he looked at her without saying a word.
The more Yun Nian looked at his son’s eyes, the more familiar they seemed, especially the cold and indifferent gaze within those dark eyes.
It felt strangely familiar.
Then she realized, these two little rascals were her own children, so naturally, they would resemble her!
“Mother…”
Yun Xian timidly called out, his big, innocent eyes melting Yun Nian’s heart.
Yun Nian patted his hand.
“Come here, Yun Xian. Mother will hold you.”
Yun Xian quickly crawled into Yun Nian’s arms, his soft voice murmuring, “Good mother is still here, bad mother hasn’t come back!”
Yun Nian couldn’t help but laugh and cry.
She understood what Yun Xian meant, and her heart ached.
She held her little treasure even tighter.
“From now on, there will only be a good mother. There won’t be a bad mother anymore. Mother promises you.”
Her son lowered his gaze, hoping that it would be true, or else he would never forgive her…
“Mother, I’m hungry.”
Yun Xian’s round eyes looked at her.
Chun Chan had just gone out to exchange silver for food and hadn’t returned yet.
Yun Nian put down her little treasure.
“Mother will perform a magic trick for you.”
She turned around and took out two glucose potions from her spatial storage.
“Yun Lu, Yun Xian, have a sip of this first. When Chun Chan comes back, Mother will make you something to eat, alright?”
Yun Xian wasn’t suspicious, but Yun Lu stopped her.
“What is this?”
“It’s a sweet drink to replenish your energy.”
Yun Lu still didn’t fully trust her, so Yun Nian took a sip herself, testing it for poison.
“Can you trust Mother now?”
Yun Xian smiled brightly.
“I trust Mother!”
He happily drank the glucose potion and urged Yun Lu, “Brother, drink it quickly. It’s so sweet, even sweeter than candy!”
Yun Lu glanced at him.
“You talk as if you’ve eaten candy before!”
Yun Xian pouted.
“It’s just really sweet!”
Yun Nian felt warmth in her heart.
This little one was trying to ease her worries.
After Chun Chan returned, Yun Nian immediately went into the small kitchen to prepare a meal for the two little treasures.
They were still recovering from their illness, so she made a light vegetable and lean meat porridge with spring pancakes.
As she walked out of the kitchen, she almost bumped into someone.
“Yun Nian!”
Yun Nian looked up and saw the man in front of her, a hint of annoyance flickering in her eyes. Behind the man, Qiu Xiang followed, completely drenched.
Qiu Xiang’s eyes were filled with fear as she instinctively hid behind the man.
Yun Nian smiled, “You’re back? Did you retrieve the handkerchief?”
Qiu Xiang glanced at the impatient Second Young Lord, gritted her teeth, and knelt before Yun Nian, “Lady, you know I can’t swim, so I couldn’t retrieve the handkerchief.”
Hearing Qiu Xiang’s words, Yun Che furrowed his brow.
“You didn’t retrieve it? Then why did you come back?”
Yun Nian smiled ambiguously, her tone carrying a hint of coldness.
“Enough!”
Yun Che’s face darkened, “You know Qiu Xiang can’t swim, so why did you force her into the water? Just for a handkerchief, you would risk her life?”
“Yun Nian, you are usually selfish and hypocritical. Qiu Xiang has been faithfully serving you, yet you treat her life as a joke. How can your heart be so malicious? As sisters, look at Fifth Sister and then look at yourself. You are unworthy of being the legitimate daughter of the Yun family!”
Yun Che reprimanded coldly.
Upon hearing this, Yun Nian raised an eyebrow, her smile faint, “Chun Chan, did you hear a dog barking?”
Chun Chan was taken aback, “No, I didn’t.”
“Why do I hear a dog barking then?”
Yun Nian tapped her ear, “The porridge will be cold soon. Let’s go.”
Unexpectedly, Yun Che reached out and stopped her, “I’m talking to you, why are you pretending to be deaf?”
Did he just insult him by calling him a dog?
Yun Che glanced at the porridge and cakes she had made, swept his sleeve and knocked them over, expressing his annoyance, “Instead of focusing on being a decent person, you’re always engrossed in pleasing others with food.”