No, no, no, that canât be right. The Little Prince wouldnât be possessed by an outside spirit. Otherwise, why wouldnât Xiao Si have ever mentioned him?
Lady Yun took a deep breath, suppressing all sorts of wild thoughts and forcibly calming herself.
"Ah, who knows."
Princess Jing sighed, her face full of sorrow. After a moment, she glanced at Yun Wanqing, who was looking all around, brimming with curiosity, with an expression full of envy.
"Letâs not talk about him anymore. Lady Yun, I can see that your fourth miss has lively eyes and a vivacious nature. She has the look of someone destined for great fortune and high rank."
[I dare not accept that Iâm destined for great fortune; Iâm just a little cannon fodder.]
[But itâs true that Iâm vivacious. Baby, Iâm very cheerful and outgoing.]
Hearing Princess Jing talk about her, Yun Wanqing turned her head to look over, making Lady Yun unable to hold back a smile.
"Oh, itâs like the young miss knows Iâm talking about her." Princess Jing exclaimed in surprise, looking at Yun Wanqing more and more oddly.
"Those eyes seem to be responding to me."
[Thatâs right, you guessed correctly, I do know youâre talking about me.]
Yun Wanqing proudly smiled at Princess Jing.
This smile left Princess Jing stunned, murmuring, "Did I see it wrong? I actually saw the young miss smiling at me..."
Lady Yun: "..."
Yun Wanyao: "..."
This little one is counting on others not knowing her little thoughts or guessing her origin; thatâs why she boldly behaves so differently from other babies.
At the banquet.
The noblewomen and young ladies sat in two neat rows, whispering to each other, creating a lively buzz.
"Miss Yun is almost coming of age, isnât she? I wonder if the wedding date with King Qi has been set? When do they plan to marry?"
Suddenly, a noblewoman glanced over with a kindly smile, pushing Yun Wanyao into the spotlight with one sentence; immediately, all gazes gathered with a gossip-filled air.
Feeling so many eyes on her, Yun Wanyao was momentarily stunned, not knowing how to respond.
[This annoying woman is Lord Zhongshuâs wife, right?]
[Always bringing up sensitive issues, itâd be better if you focused more on your son than worrying about my sisterâs wedding. Do you even know your son slept with his stepmother?]
[The son born to your concubine is actually your sonâs child.]
[Counting that, itâs your grandson, but sadly, that child not even one year old will soon die by his own grandmotherâs hand, such a sin.]
Yun Wanyao: ???
Lady Yun: ???
What?
The young master of Lord Zhongshuâs family actually did something with Lord Zhongshuâs concubine?
And even had a child?
From Xiao Siâs words, that child wonât last long before Madam Zhongshu harms him?
Both mother and daughter seemed to have heard the most inconceivable thing, both widening their eyes to look at Madam Zhongshu.
Seeing their stares, Madam Zhongshu felt inexplicably uncomfortable all over, furrowing her brow tightly.
"Our Yaoâer is still young. Itâs not too late to arrange the wedding after she comes of age."
Realizing her lapse, Lady Yun quickly regained her composure, smiling gently and speaking softly.
Among the crowd, some couldnât stand her demeanor, and after hearing her words, snorted with half-mocking, half-sarcastic laughter.
"Madam Yao, have you forgotten that Seventh Master Yun and Young Master Yunâs weddings are still undecided? Iâm afraid Miss Yunâs wedding date wonât be settled any time soon."
"Thatâs true, isnât Seventh Master Yun almost twenty this year? Why hasnât he started looking for a match? Is he planning to never marry?"
"Well, Seventh Master Yun hasnât split from the family yet; the elder brother is like a father. Iâm afraid he canât make decisions about his marriage himself."
"Lady Yun, you and Duke Ning, as his elder sister-in-law and brother, how can you not pay more attention to Seventh Master Yunâs marriage? Youâve raised him, and with that kind of grace, even if he marries, he wonât compete with you for the family wealth. Why be so cruel as to delay him like this?"
"..."
A few women chattered away, taking turns ridiculing the Yun Family couple for their cruelty, deliberately not arranging a match for Yun Zhan.
Some even mocked Yun Wanchen for being crippled yet having the audacity to reject the Su Familyâs engagement, saying he probably wouldnât find a good match in the future either.
Lady Yun was accustomed to hearing such comments and, aside from finding them piercing, didnât have too many feelings. But Yun Wanyao and Yun Wanqing were furious.
[Wow, today I really witnessed the power of gossiping women.]
[Useless in doing anything, but number one in spreading rumors.]
[Their own family is in shambles, yet they have the time to worry about my Seventh Uncleâs affairs. My Seventh Uncle is fine with Sister Yin Shuang; no need for them to worry.]
[My big brotherâs legs are almost healed too. Might I remind you? Have you all forgotten how the unmarried young ladies in each of your families threw themselves at him before his legs were injured?]