Chapter 16: Stop Your Delusions

Page 1/3

Sheng Yukun crouched down and embraced Sheng Yi, who was running towards him. The once formidable gleam in his eyes gradually softened and reddened, his voice trembling as he said, “Yi’er, my Yi’er, you really can walk now?”

“Mm!” Sheng Yi obediently nodded, then turned to point at Yun Qing. “It was that beautiful lady who cured me.”

Sheng Jintang bit her lip fiercely. That Yun Qing—how dare she ruin her good plan in public! If Sheng Yi’s leg ailment was truly healed, how could she maintain her standing in the Marquis’s residence?

Yun Qing watched the tender scene, her eyes filled with emotion. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Sheng Jintang clenching her fists tightly, remaining silent.

Yun Qing stood up and shot her a sharp glare. Her voice was icy. “What’s the matter? You’re unhappy that your younger brother’s leg is healed?”

Sheng Jintang was caught off guard and momentarily at a loss for words.

Madam Bai narrowed her eyes slightly. “Jintang, why do you look so displeased?”

Feeling the suspicious gazes of Sheng Yukun and Madam Bai upon her, sweat broke out on Sheng Jintang’s back. She bit her lip and forced a smile. “Of course I’m happy that my brother can walk. It’s just that Yun Qing bumped into me just now, and my arm hurts a bit...”

Yun Qing picked up the scattered medicinal pills from the ground and sniffed them at her nose. Thankfully, they were truly harmless tonic pills; otherwise, she might have taken matters into her own hands against this scheming woman.

Seeing Sheng Jintang being "bullied," Sheng Yukun glanced down at his youngest son and frowned at Yun Qing, though his tone was much calmer. “Miss Yun Qing, I am deeply grateful that you healed Yi’er’s leg. The reward will be generous. But please do not continue to have conflicts with Jintang. That girl has been sensible since childhood. If there have been any clashes between you, it must be a misunderstanding.”

“Hmph.” Yun Qing snorted coldly, her gaze toward Sheng Jintang laced with derision. “It must have been hard for you all these years.”

“You shameless Sheng Yukun! How dare you speak to my daughter that way!” Sheng Yuting nearly exploded with anger upon hearing Sheng Yukun’s words. “Just wait—I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Yun Qing raised an eyebrow. What was Daddy up to now?

Just then, Sheng Yukun felt an itch at the back of his neck. He frowned in discomfort. Madam Bai suddenly screamed, “Master! There’s a caterpillar on your neck!”

“Quick! Get it off!” Sheng Yukun shouted, itching uncontrollably.

As Madam Bai called for the servants to catch the insect, the caterpillar crawled up his collar and toward his back.

Watching Sheng Yukun scratching and hopping around awkwardly, Sheng Yuting, who was wearing a jade hairpin, let out a mischievous laugh.

Yun Qing looked on helplessly. The old man was becoming more childish by the day.

Night Jinchen, observing the usually composed and stern Sheng Yukun in this pitiful state, smiled playfully and whispered beside Yun Qing, “Was this your doing?”

Page 2/3

Yun Qing’s smile deepened ambiguously. “What? You want to try it too?”

The thought of such a refined prince being as embarrassed as Sheng Yukun now made her laugh.

Night Jinchen gritted his teeth. “Yun Qing! Stop your fantasies!”

Yun Qing raised her hand, fingers teasingly tracing his back, smiling with even more abandon.

Night Jinchen stiffened, his ears visibly reddening. Frowning, he glared at her. “Don’t touch me!”

Yun Qing bit her lip softly but didn’t stop her mischievous fingers.

Night Jinchen turned sideways, swiftly grabbed her fingers, and glared. “Believe it or not, I’ll chop off your hand!”

Yun Qing tried to pull away but couldn’t match his strength. She could only grin slyly. “Just a little joke.”

Sheng Jintang watched the two laughing and teasing each other, her anger rising. She bit her teeth silently, struggling to steady her breathing.

This woman not only wanted to steal her position in the Marquis’s residence but even her fiancé!

After some time, Sheng Yukun finally caught the pesky caterpillar and panted in anger.

Sheng Yi mischievously covered his mouth to hide a smile, then tugged at Sheng Yukun’s sleeve. “Daddy, Mommy, Sheng Yi wants to play with the pretty lady.”

Sheng Yukun looked at Sheng Yi with fond affection and smiled, nodding. “Alright, go have fun.”

Night Jinchen exhaled softly and walked toward the hexagonal pavilion. Sheng Yukun followed closely, calling to the servants, “Prepare tea!”

Madam Bai glanced once at Sheng Jintang and then left. Sheng Jintang, accustomed to reading people’s expressions, saw Madam Bai’s displeased face and quickly followed.

Behind the rockery, she watched Sheng Yi now happily running around and her expression darkened.

All these years, Sheng Jintang claimed to have cured Sheng Yi, yet he had never truly recovered like this before. It made her suspicious.

Before she could confront anyone, she bowed her head, sobbing softly. “Aunt, Jintang is wronged.”

Madam Bai was irritated by her crying and snapped coldly, “Don’t throw baseless accusations at me. What have I wronged you for?”

Page 3/3

Sheng Jintang wiped her tears and said, “Aunt, Yun Qing can’t be trusted. For all these years, Jintang searched day and night for medicine to treat Yi’er, and only now is he truly improving. Now that Yi’er can walk, you want to erase all my efforts?”

“She just happened to be here once. She didn’t do anything. She only touched his leg, and he got better? Aunt, do you believe that?”

Madam Bai rolled her eyes and frowned skeptically. “Are you saying that Yun Qing is a charlatan?”

Sheng Jintang nodded. “I consulted the doctor. Yi’er’s leg should have been able to bear weight by now. I didn’t fully believe it, fearing you and uncle would be disappointed, so I didn’t say anything. Yi’er walking now doesn’t mean it’s her doing.”

Madam Bai was persuaded by Sheng Jintang’s words and found some truth in them. She nodded. “In that case, she isn’t a good person.” She snorted lightly. “Fine. For Yi’er’s sake, I won’t make a fuss, but I will drive her out today. She won’t be allowed back into our Marquis’s residence. *cough cough*...”

As she spoke with enthusiasm, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and began coughing. The pure white cloth quickly stained with bright red blood.

Sheng Jintang took a pill from her sleeve and pressed it to Madam Bai’s lips, watching her swallow before gently rubbing her to ease her breath. “Aunt, do you feel better now?”

Madam Bai exhaled lightly and calmed down.

At first, she had been somewhat pleased that Yun Qing had healed Sheng Yi; perhaps she could help with her own illness. But hearing Sheng Jintang’s words, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

Madam Bai looked at her. “You’ve done a lot over the years. I will keep your secret safe.”

Sheng Jintang smiled gracefully. “You’re like a true aunt to me. No need for such formality.”

After speaking, she glanced toward Yun Qing in the distance, her hand hidden in her sleeve clenching tightly.

The backyard garden was fragrant and pleasant. Sheng Yukun sipped tea in the pavilion while Yun Qing and Sheng Yi ran about the garden.

She lifted Sheng Yi onto a swing beneath a tree and pushed him gently, her clear, melodious voice singing a nursery rhyme:

“Little sheep, little sheep, jump over the flower wall,

The wall crumbles, the donkey grinds the mill,

The pig carries firewood, the dog plays with fire,

The kitten climbs the kang and pinches steamed buns.”

Sheng Yukun’s breath caught. He recalled the three-year-old child who once ran about the Marquis’s residence holding a pinwheel, singing that very same rhyme.