"Madam, this old servant has returned to report."
At this moment, Nanny Wang, who had been dispatched to handle matters, returned, followed by two young lads carrying a chest. Upon seeing Yun Zheng, the three of them hurriedly bowed and greeted him.
Yun Zheng handed the little baby in his arms to his wife, waved away the young lads, and his gaze fell on the redwood chest lying on the ground. He asked suspiciously, "What is this?"
"Husband, there is something I havenât had the chance to tell you."
Lady Yun recounted to Yun Zheng how she had caught Yang Xinâer sneaking her bodice, only concealing the premonition she received from the little babyâs heartfelt voice.
"My cousin was sneaking around, deliberately taking the piece my mother gave me during my coming-of-age ceremony, which was embroidered with my maiden name~"
"So, I suspect she harbors ill intentions and had her confined for questioning."
"And seeing her hands werenât clean, I had Nanny Wang search her room to see if she had taken other important items while I wasnât paying attention."
["Mother did the right thing."]
"Madam did the right thing."
The same words echoed in unison, surprising Lady Yun. She glanced at Yun Zheng, then at the little baby in her arms. Truly, father and daughter said exactly the same thing.
[Huh, Dad totally expressed my inner thoughts; this is such an amazing synergy, truly he is my dad.]
Receiving his daughterâs approval, Yun Zhengâs lips curved slightly, dispelling the heavy gloom in his heart for a moment. He calmly spoke again.
"This Yang Xinâer, Iâve always thought she was full of mischief. She indeed needs a good âinterrogationâ. Why donât you hand her over to me, and I guarantee Iâll make her talk."
Itâs like someone offering a pillow when one is about to doze off. Just when he wanted to deal with this woman, fate had her fall right into his wifeâs hands. Why should he endure any longer?
He might as well take this opportunity to expel that woman from the mansion and prevent future troubles.
[Exactly, exactly, Dad is right, this woman is indeed full of wickedness.]
Yun Wanqing eagerly agreed in her heart.
"No rush, sheâs already been confined and cannot escape."
As father and daughter performed a harmonious act, Lady Yun couldnât help but laugh and, after soothing them with a word, gave Nanny Wang a look to inquire about the findings.
Nanny Wang immediately opened the chest on the ground, revealing a large box of gold, silver, jadeite, and jewelry to those present.
"This is what this old servant, by the madamâs order, gathered from the rooms of Mrs. Yang and the young lady. Please, Duke and madam, have a look."
This much?
Lady Yun opened her lips in astonishment.
That mother and daughter pair always cried poverty before her, and she, out of compassion, often sent them jewelry. But never this much.
This Yang Xinâer actually amassed such wealth from the Duke Ning Mansion right under her nose, truly greedy.
Even Yun Zheng was somewhat astounded.
[Wow, so much money here, just looking at it brings joy. If all of this were mine, that would be even better. Want, want.]
Yun Wanqing tilted her little head, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the box full of gleaming jewels, almost drooling.
The husband and wife, seeing her little behavior, found it especially amusing. They didnât expect this little baby to be such a little miser.
Yun Zheng coughed and said, "I havenât prepared a meeting gift for Xiao Si yet. How about this, pick out all the gold and silver inside and send it to the gold shop to make jewelry and longevity locks for Xiao Si, and keep the rest for now."
[Oh my, Xiao Si is me, ah, wow, Dad wants to give me all the gold and silver? I have to say, Dad, you understand me, love, love, most love to my dad.]
The fact that his daughter said she loved him the most made Yun Zhengâs smile deepen, and his mood instantly soared.
But Lady Yun gave him a resentful look.
This guy manages to precisely please his daughter with just a few words, and earlier he even echoed his daughterâs inner thoughts. Is it really just a father-daughter rapport?
"The rest should also be given to Xiao Si. It seems sheâs quite fond of those things, isnât that right, Xiao Si?"
Lady Yun lightly laughed as she tapped her soft little face, teasing her intentionally. Yun Wanqing couldnât help but want to nod eagerly, but alas, her bones were too soft, and she couldnât manage it.
"Yiya~"
She blew bubbles, trying her best to smile while reaching out her little hand to grasp Lady Yunâs slender, jade-like finger.
[Yes, yes, I like it, give it all to me, Mother is truly the best, number one in the world, most love my beautiful Mother.]
Lady Yun was amused by her.
"Oh, Xiao Si actually grasped my finger and smiled at me. My Xiao Si is truly a blessed baby, knowing how to smile right from birth."
This scene made Yun Zheng quite envious.
He also wanted to stretch out his finger for the little baby to grab, but seeing how delicate Lady Yunâs fingers were, making it challenging enough for the little baby to grab, he looked stealthily at his own fingers, both thick and rough, and sighed resignedly.
Better not, the little babyâs skin is so tender, and his fingers so rough, it would only hurt her.
"Duke, madam, this old servant incidentally discovered these in Mrs. Yangâs room..."
Nanny Wang, looking grave, presented a few letters. Yun Zheng raised an eyebrow, took them, and after a cursory glance, almost fainted on the spot out of anger.
The letters, except for one signed as Lady Yun, were all replies from Lin Weiâan, full of lingering sentiments and veiled flirtations, full of suffering longing.
[Wow, Nannyâs work is truly reliable, she even found the correspondence between Yang Xinâer, under my motherâs name, and Lin Weiâan. Seems she searched thoroughly, surely meeting my expectations.]
[Dad is so wise, seeing these letters, he will surely handle the subsequent hidden dangers properly.]
[Uh, suddenly my stomach is really hungry, my wet nurse is so unprofessional, why hasnât she come to feed me yet? Maybe I should cry a bit to remind Mother?]
Just as her thoughts ended, without time for Lady Yun to react, the wet nurse arrived, saying it was time for the ladyâs feeding.
Yun Wanqing instantly felt overjoyed.
[Oh my, the wet nurse is right on time to feed me, seems I wrongly blamed her, sheâs truly professional, it was my mistake.]
This ability to shift with the wind left Lady Yun amused, she laughed as she handed her over to the wet nurse and instructed her to remember to feed her with a spoon.
Yun Wanqing was even happier.
[Indeed, there is no one like Mother who understands her daughter. Only Mother understands me, always love my Mother.]
Yun Zheng: "..."
The one who understands her most is clearly him, right?
He can hear her innermost thoughts.
"Husband, what are those letters? Let me have a look."
Once Yun Wanqing was taken away, Lady Yunâs gaze fell on the letters in Yun Zhengâs hands, feigning ignorance and full of curiosity.
She wanted to see for herself how her cousin had been communicating with Lin Weiâan under her name.
"Uh, madam, they are some unsightly things, you donât need to look at them, theyâll only dirty your eyes."
Yun Zhengâs expression stiffened and he quickly put the letters away.