Volume One, Chapter Five: Why Does He Seem Different Today?

“That’s exactly it. Both the rice cake and pea crisp are hard to digest, and on top of that, she ate ice cream, which is cold in nature. Even if a child insists on eating these, it should only be in small amounts.

She ate so much that it caused indigestion and stagnation, damaging her spleen and stomach, which led to her fainting.”

“Indigestion?! Fainting?” Cheng Jinxi could hardly believe her ears. “Indigestion can cause fainting? Is Yue’er going to die?”

“It’s just fainting, not death. I prescribed a few medicines; with proper care, she’ll recover soon.”

The maid saw off the old physician.

Cheng Jinxi still looked at Chu Yao with resentment and anger.

“Chu Yao, this is your fault. Yue’er was in your courtyard—how could you not watch over her and let her eat so many hard-to-digest things?”

“Cousin, can you really blame me? Yue’er wasn’t invited by me, and she had your maid to look after her. I stayed in my own room. How would I know what she ate or how much? If anyone is to blame, it’s your maid’s negligence.”

“You!” Cheng Jinxi was about to retort, but Cheng Wenyuan stopped her.

“Enough of the quarrel. Let’s send Yue’er back to rest first.”

As Cheng Wenyuan followed Cheng Jinxi out, he glanced discreetly at Chu Yao with a look of doubt.

Why did she seem so different today? Although he had never looked at her properly before, every time he saw her previously, she was obedient and cautious, speaking softly and gently. She appeared delicate and dull.

He had even once doubted his grandmother’s words—that anyone raised in the General’s Mansion must be a fiery character.

Today, he realized he was wrong.

She was calm and composed, confident and articulate, not at all yielding.

She carried an air of boldness and decisiveness.

Back in his own Autumn Evening courtyard, Cheng Jinxi watched the servant administer Yue’er’s medicine and gave a few instructions before entering the inner chamber with Cheng Wenyuan.

As soon as the door closed, she threw herself into his arms, voice full of grievance.

“Wenyuan, Chu Yao dislikes our Yue’er and refuses to acknowledge her as family…”

“Jinxi, this matter is not urgent. Let grandmother speak in a few days. She just hasn’t come to understand yet. Yue’er is so sweet and charming—who wouldn’t like her? It’s only a matter of time before she accepts Yue’er.”

“Wenyuan, I only wanted them to interact more so she would see how lovable Yue’er is. That’s why I often sent Yue’er to the Yao Guang Pavilion. But today, she was made to suffer so much. Watching Yue’er in pain breaks my heart as her mother.

It’s all my fault for not openly recognizing her, for not giving her a complete family. Now, even making her stay in the Marquis’s mansion with proper status is so difficult…”

“Jinxi, I know everything. It’s my fault for dragging you and Yue’er into this. I will do my best to make it right in the future. But today, you shouldn’t have made a scene at the Yao Guang Pavilion without understanding the situation.”

“Wenyuan, are you blaming me? Could it be that you’ve developed feelings for her over time?”

“Not at all. Jinxi, I married her only to silence grandmother and to protect you. You know that. She’s been in the Marquis’s mansion for half a year, have I ever touched her? Everything I do is for you.”

“Wenyuan, you’re the kind one. If only we weren’t cousins, we wouldn’t have to be so secretive.”

Cheng Jinxi’s pitiful words tightened Cheng Wenyuan’s heart. He held her closer with tenderness.

That day, Chu Yao was summoned to the Pine Crane Hall.

Soon after, Cheng Jinxi entered, holding Yue’er’s hand.

The moment they entered, Yue’er obediently knelt before Madame Li.

“Yue’er pays respects to the Old Madam. Wishing you health and happiness.”

Her childish voice and charming demeanor were endearing, especially in her bright pink dress, making her look like a lovely figure from a New Year painting.

Madame Li’s face lit up with joy.

“Yue’er was ill a few days ago, but today she looks much better. From now on, she mustn’t eat so many sweets and ice cream.”

“Yes, Old Madam. Yue’er will remember your teachings.”

The little girl glanced at Cheng Jinxi. Seeing her nod, she hurried to pick up a cup of tea from the table and carefully presented it to Chu Yao.

“Madam is busy with household affairs and works hard. Yue’er offers tea to Madam.”

Chu Yao knew well that a four-year-old wouldn’t understand such formalities—it was all taught by Cheng Jinxi.

In the previous life, after Chu Yao adopted Yue’er, Cheng Jinxi grew very close to both of them and often brought Yue’er to play in her Autumn Evening courtyard.

At that time, she pitied her widowed cousin’s loneliness and was glad to see someone caring for Yue’er.

Chu Yao treated Yue’er like her own daughter and was stricter with her, while Cheng Jinxi tended to indulge her mischief.

As a result, Yue’er grew increasingly close to Cheng Jinxi.

This time, having learned her lesson, Chu Yao saw clearly through Cheng Jinxi’s manipulation and schemes.

Without Cheng Jinxi’s instigation, she didn’t believe the child she raised would twice try to harm the baby in her womb.

Moreover, when Chu Yao’s first child was miscarried, Yue’er was not yet ten years old. How could she have the means or motive to obtain abortion medicine?

In the end, Yue’er was nothing more than a knife in Cheng Jinxi’s hand.

“Yao’er, Yue’er offered you tea, why didn’t you accept it?”

Hearing Madame Li’s words, Chu Yao came back to herself.

She took the cup, sipped perfunctorily at the rim, and handed it to a maid.

“Yue’er is truly a well-behaved and sensible child, so lovable! If only I had such a great great-granddaughter, I’d be blessed. I wake up laughing every day.”

“Old Madam, you already have sons and daughters, many grandchildren, all talented and understanding. You are already very blessed with descendants.”

“I want Yue’er to be my great great-granddaughter.”

Chu Yao understood that the Old Madam still wanted her to adopt Yue’er.

“Old Madam, you have five biological grandsons and surely will have many great-grandchildren. As for a child from outside, whose background is unknown, I think it’s better to forget it. What if she turns out ungrateful and becomes a disaster?”

“Yao’er, what nonsense are you talking about? Ungrateful? I have good judgment. Yue’er is not ungrateful at all. She is excellent. Yao’er, do you really not cherish Yue’er?”

“Why would I?” Chu Yao said, then glanced at Cheng Jinxi standing nearby.

Her face was icy.

Seeing Chu Yao look over, Cheng Jinxi quickly composed herself and lowered her head, pretending to watch Yue’er.

“Old Madam, I believe cousin truly likes Yue’er. How about letting her adopt Yue’er? That way, Yue’er will also be your great-granddaughter.”

“No!” Before Madame Li could reply, Cheng Jinxi blurted out.

Immediately regretting her impatience, she hastily added, “As a widow, how could I possibly adopt Yue’er?”

“Cousin, precisely because you are widowed, you should adopt a child. Having a child’s company will keep you from being lonely and give you support in old age.”

“That’s not appropriate either. I cannot adopt Yue’er. If Yue’er follows me, what future would she have?”

Cheng Jinxi spoke sincerely.

She had lost her father young, and her mother remarried...