Chapter 17: A Familiar Nursery Rhyme

That was the only time he saw Yunqing as a child. He held her tenderly and said, “Xiao Jintang’s voice is truly beautiful. Who taught you this nursery rhyme?”

Little Yunqing smiled brightly, like a little sun, her delicate face adorned with two dimples. “Mother did. Mother taught me!”

A trace of emotion flickered in his eyes as he stared at Yunqing, momentarily lost in thought.

The girl’s smile revealed those adorable dimples, something he had never seen on Sheng Jintang’s face...

With a sudden clatter, the teacup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.

Ye Jincheng raised his brow. “What’s wrong?”

Sheng Yukun snapped back to reality, bowing his head in apology. “I merely recalled some past memories and lost my composure for a moment. I beg your pardon, Prince.”

Ye Jincheng set down the glass cup, his obsidian eyes deep with contemplation. Watching Yunqing playing in the garden, a suspicion took root in his heart. “Has the Marquis of Zhenbei ever met Yunqing before?”

Sheng Yukun smiled and replied, “No, never.”

“Yunqing is important to me. If you show any further disrespect toward Sansheng Hall, then the marriage alliance with the Marquisate shall be called off.”

Sheng Yukun wiped his brow, trembling with fear. “I will heed your advice, Prince.”

So, Ye Jincheng was saying that his marriage to Sheng Jintang was still intact?

After respectfully seeing them off, Sheng Yi ran about the mansion, and Sheng Yukun watched with satisfaction. Sheng Yi began singing the nursery rhyme Yunqing had taught him, which brought back memories of the girl’s childhood appearance.

“Miss Yunqing really looks like our eldest young lady. When I first saw her, I thought she was the young lady herself.”

“Yes, not just her face, even her figure is quite similar.”

Two maids working by the pillar whispered secretly, causing Sheng Yukun to frown and step outside with his hands clasped behind his back.

The maids, who had been chatting merrily, fell silent upon seeing Sheng Yukun. They bowed and then lowered their heads, resuming their duties diligently.

Sheng Yukun wanted to ask something but hesitated and remained silent.

“Baah baah baah, jumping over the flower wall...” Sheng Yi sang for a while, then scratched his head and ran to Sheng Yukun, tugging on his sleeve. “Daddy, daddy, the dog plays with fire, the kitten... the kitten does what? Yi’er forgot.”

Sheng Yukun gently ruffled his hair and smiled. “Daddy can’t sing. Go ask your big sister, okay?”

Nodding, Sheng Yi dashed away.

Sheng Yukun’s expression grew grave. That Yunqing was quite mysterious.

As evening fell, Zhixing pushed open Sheng Jintang’s door and sighed in helplessness upon seeing the shattered mess on the floor. Closing the door, she said, “Are you afraid the Marquis might suspect you have something to hide?”

Sheng Jintang curled up in her ornate chair, tear stains dried on her face, her delicate peach blossom eyes filled with panic. “Zhixing, I’m so scared. I can’t kill Yunqing. She’ll expose me! Now that Sheng Yi has recovered and the old madam dislikes me, what use am I in this mansion?”

Zhixing noticed the darkening mark between her brows and feared a blood calamity was imminent. Closing her eyes, she urged, “Miss, you must run away.”

“What?” Sheng Jintang rose quickly, stepping up to her. “Where would I run to? This is my home!”

“To you, the Marquisate is no longer safe.”

Biting her lip, Sheng Jintang asked, “Is there any way to break the curse?”

Zhixing looked at her. “Do you really want to stay here?”

At those words, Sheng Jintang’s eyes brightened. “So, you have a way?”

“I just divined for you. You can stay in the mansion a while longer.”

“Really?”

Zhixing nodded. “You know Bai’s many secrets. Her fate is in your hands, so she will protect you. Besides, didn’t the King of Ye come today and not cancel the engagement? You must seize this chance.”

Sheng Jintang breathed a sigh of relief, secretly delighted. “That’s a relief.”

Zhixing’s eyes darkened. Staying in the mansion was no blessing. Whether she survived was up to fate.

The next day.

Sansheng Hall had reopened. The recent closure was only because Yunqing had been out searching for medicine.

Yunqing’s “resurrection” delighted the townsfolk, and even the proud Sheng Yukun personally came to express his gratitude.

Watching boxes of silver being brought in by servants, Yunqing’s eyes sparkled with joy. Sheng Yukun sat opposite her, a maid presenting exquisite pastries. With a courteous smile, he said, “Miss Yunqing, today I come bearing not only the promised ten thousand taels for medical fees but an additional thousand for repairing Sansheng Hall, along with fine silks, brocades, antiques, and other gifts. Please accept this humble token.”

Such generosity filled the hall with gifts. Even though Yunqing had been upset before, she was now cheered.

After some polite exchanges, she smiled warmly, lifting the lid of the pastry plate and selecting a delicate cake to taste. But after one bite, she frowned, covered her mouth, and spat it out.

Sheng Yukun frowned deeply, his voice low. “Miss Yunqing, what do you mean by this? Are the pastries from the Marquisate not to your taste?”

Yunqing turned to rummage through a wardrobe and retrieved a long-forgotten porcelain bottle. Taking some pills, she exhaled softly and returned to her seat. “Marquis, I mean no offense. It’s just that I have been allergic to almonds since childhood. I cannot eat them.”

Hearing this, Sheng Yukun’s face flushed with embarrassment. “It was thoughtlessness on my part. I apologize sincerely.”

Yunqing smiled faintly to ease the tension. “Usually, you can tell if a pastry contains almonds just by its scent. But your mansion’s pastries are made with such care and have a subtle floral fragrance that masks the small amount of crushed almonds inside. Without biting in, it’s hard to tell.”

“Send them away,” Sheng Yukun ordered the maid behind him in a steady voice.

Mentioning almonds reminded Sheng Yukun of ten years ago when he and his brother Sheng Yuting guarded the northern frontier. They received a family letter that made Sheng Yuting frantic.

“I don’t know which careless maid fed my precious daughter almonds!”

“Almonds? What’s wrong with Jintang?”

“Jintang has been allergic to almonds since childhood. Even a little causes rashes!”

Back then, Sheng Yuting fought fiercely for days on end, annihilated the enemy, and rushed home without rest, eager to see his cherished daughter. He had become a true doting father.

Sheng Yukun’s heart clenched, eyes wide with shock.

Yunqing approached a chest and picked up a heavy ingot of silver. “Marquis, you truly keep your word. With such sincerity, is your visit merely to express thanks?”

“Previously, I caused you offense. This visit is also to apologize to Miss Yunqing.”

Yunqing smiled faintly, secretly pleased. “The Marquis is straightforward. I can put the past behind us.”

Politely, she poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward him.

Seeing Yunqing’s gentle demeanor, Sheng Yukun smiled happily. “Yi’er... he misses you dearly.”

“Oh?” A glint of sarcasm flashed through Yunqing’s peach blossom eyes. “Is the Marquisate truly welcoming me?”