"But, Mother believes he can reform, and I will surely make him turn over a new leaf! Please, forgive us, won't you? For my sake, let us slowly atone for past grievances in the future, alright?" Old Madam Yun spoke tearfully to Yun Changfeng, seemingly oblivious to Yun Dezhi's disbelief.
Every word and cry from her filled the air.
Madam Yang watched this scene unfold, astonished.
The Old Madam Yun, who had once doted on Yun Dezhi like her own heart, had actually struck her most precious son!
"Mother is kneeling before you, just forgive Mother, won't you? Allow Mother a chance to compensate you, to compensate Shu'er, alright?" Old Madam Yun began to kneel, tears streaming down her face.
Her posture was utterly pitiable.
Yun Changfeng's eyes reddened slightly. He thought of Shu'er's experiences, his lips tightly pursed, unable to utter a single word.
Seeing this, Old Madam Yun paused her kneeling. She hadn't expected Changfeng to not help her up.
Stuck in this stalemate, she could only grit her teeth and kneel.
But Yun Changfeng stepped aside, refusing to face Old Madam Yun directly.
Old Madam Yun raised her hand and repeatedly slapped her wrinkled face hard. On the last slap, Yun Changfeng caught her hand.
"Old Madam Yun, what is the need for this!" Yun Changfeng said sternly.
"As long as it can make you vent your anger, and give Mother a chance to make amends, what does it matter if Mother slaps herself a few times?" Old Madam Yun replied, tears flowing, her body trembling.
After being exposed to the cold wind for an extended period, even with her strong constitution, the days in prison had weakened Old Madam Yun considerably.
Madam Yang and Yun Dezhi remained silent.
They knew that only Old Madam Yun could persuade Yun Changfeng to agree to their return.
Yun Changfeng's expression was grim, his silence unbroken.
Just then.
The door behind them opened.
Yun Shu walked out from within.
The moment they saw Yun Shu, Old Madam Yun and the others froze. Especially Old Madam Yun, whose eyes had held a glimmer of hope, which suddenly vanished.
The one who hated her the most wasn't Changfeng, it was Yun Shu!
This time, having finally gained some ground with Changfeng, she had to seize the opportunity!
Immediately, in front of Yun Shu, she raised her other hand and struck her own face again.
The sound was even louder than before.
If it were daytime, Yun Old Madam's face would have been flushed red. She wept profusely, "Shu'er, Grandmother was wrong before! I did so many things to wrong you, it's only right that you hate Grandmother. Please, give Grandmother a chance to make amends, won't you?"
She spoke with great humility.
All traces of her former arrogance were gone.
There was no sign of her former loftiness.
She had even prepared herself, if Yun Shu shook her head, she would remove her hairpin and stab herself in the heart. She didn't believe that Changfeng, who had always been filial, would stand by and watch her die!
Yun Shu gazed deeply at Old Madam Yun.
It was as if, through Old Madam Yun's tear-filled eyes, she could see into Old Madam Yun's innermost being.
Old Madam Yun could only lower her head and wipe away her tears.
"Shu'er, leave this matter to your father to handle," Yun Changfeng couldn't bear to see Yun Shu continue to face these people.
Yun Shu shifted her gaze from Old Madam Yun to Yun Changfeng. Seeing his slightly reddened eyes, she smiled, "Father, let Old Madam Yun stay with us for a few days first."
A few days would be enough.
Yun Changfeng was stunned and bewildered, "Shu'er? You!"
Old Madam Yun was about to pull out her hairpin when she heard Yun Shu's words. She was so shocked her jaw nearly dropped.
Had she misheard?
Astonished, she looked at Yun Shu, "Shu'er, you really are letting Grandmother return? Shu'er, don't worry, Grandmother will surely dote on you from now on! The things that happened before are like slaps to Grandmother's face. Grandmother knows how terribly wrong she was, and from now on, Grandmother will treat you well, alright?"
Despite her shock, Old Madam Yun still put on a benevolent grandmotherly demeanor.
Yun Shu merely curved her lips into a smile.
"It should have been this way long ago! We are your elders, after all. We did make some mistakes in the past, but they were not major issues. Why dwell on them? Let's live well as a family from now on, and not let outsiders laugh at us, wouldn't that be best?" Yun Dezhi rubbed his aching face.
He suddenly felt the slap was worth it.
They would soon be able to return to the General's Mansion, a place he dreamt of returning to!
Madam Yang's heart was filled with excitement. They were finally returning to the General's Mansion!
This time, no matter what, they would never leave again!
If they had to leave, it should be Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng who left. The Feng Shui of this General's Mansion was too good. As long as they lived here, they would enjoy endless wealth and prosperity for the rest of their lives!
Yun Shu raised an eyebrow and said in a flat tone, "You came from where you came from, and go back there. Only Old Madam Yun can stay in the General's Mansion for a few days."
"What? You little brat, do you know what you're saying? You're actually barring us from entering? The General's Mansion isn't yours, it's your father's! Your father wants us back, and you refuse?" Yun Dezhi was furious, wanting nothing more than to beat this brat to death.
Madam Yang frowned, "Shu'er, be merciful where mercy is due. I heard you are about to marry the Prince of Ye. If you are so malicious, when the Prince of Ye finds out, he will surely develop a rift in his heart."
No, they had to enter the General's Mansion today!
"Shu'er, no matter what, they are still your uncle and aunt, and our relatives. If they are left to wander outside, it would be bad for both your reputation and the General's Mansion's," Old Madam Yun said, feigning concern for Yun Shu.
Yun Shu remained silent.
Yun Changfeng said coldly, "These two have no further connection to the General's Mansion. Since Shu'er has spoken, then Old Madam Yun may stay in the General's Mansion for a few days."
At this moment, Yun Changfeng felt a slight softening, but more than that, he felt suspicion.
Taking this opportunity, he also wanted to see if his mother had truly repented.
Old Madam Yun was utterly astonished.
She hadn't expected this outcome.
She could tell that Changfeng had made up his mind and would not concede further.
"Second Brother!" Yun Dezhi was enraged, glaring with wide eyes at Yun Changfeng, unwilling.
Madam Yang was even more anxious, "Shu'er, Second Brother, this... this is not right! We came back with Mother, and we could have taken good care of Mother. Without us..."
"Guards, escort them back to the Yun Manor outside the city," Yun Changfeng instructed the gatekeepers nearby.
"Wait! I agree," Old Madam Yun gritted her teeth. She could not go back to the Yun Manor!
The Yun Manor was deserted. If she returned now, she would be subjected to various pleas, and furthermore, she still had some matters to attend to.
Yun Dezhi and Madam Yang were dumbfounded.