A lion's roar, demanding such a sum? Tens of thousands of taels, just like that?
The two guards at the gate were stunned.
Yun Ying tilted her head, asserting her value at tens of thousands of taels!
Yun Changfeng's cold eyes narrowed.
Seeing that Yun Changfeng seemed angry, Yun Ying boldly continued, "Father, don't you owe me compensation? You've neglected me all these years, and now you're disowning me. Don't you want me to marry well in the future?"
"If Father doesn't give me tens of thousands of taels, can your conscience be clear? It's bad enough you wronged my mother, but you've wronged me too," Yun Ying said through gritted teeth, full of resentment.
She was going all out today!
Yun Changfeng's face was frigid.
He looked at Yun Ying without any expression.
Even without a word, Yun Ying felt a pang of guilt under Yun Changfeng's gaze and dared not meet his eyes, her gaze flickering as she continued, "Father, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Take this and see your mother. If you dare to disturb Shu'er and me again, you'll face the consequences!" Yun Changfeng threw a letter at Yun Ying's feet.
Yun Ying was confused. A letter? For her mother?
That was it?
He wasn't going to give her money?
What was this letter about?
She tried to chase after him, but the door closed.
The servants looked at her with eyes that clearly indicated she wouldn't be allowed in.
Yun Ying was furious, gritted her teeth, and turned to leave.
...
Inside the General's mansion, Yun Changfeng hadn't slept all night, but he was worried about Yun Shu. Upon seeing Yun Ying leave earlier and hearing that some young ladies from the Li family had come to cause trouble for Shu'er, he couldn't help but worry and went to check on her.
Before he reached Yun Shu's courtyard, he saw her strolling.
"Father, you're back?"
Yun Changfeng smiled and nodded, "Yes, I'm back."
Yun Shu subtly observed Yun Changfeng, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. Had he not slept at all in the palace?
"Father didn't return yesterday after going into the palace. Is something wrong in the palace?" Yun Shu asked, feigning casualness.
Yun Changfeng paused for a moment. After some hesitation, he decided to tell her. His Shu'er was very intelligent now, and there were indeed some things he should inform her of.
"Yes, the Emperor has fallen gravely ill again. This time, almost all the imperial physicians were in the palace and managed to save the Emperor. I had to stay in the palace to prevent any unforeseen circumstances."
Gravely ill again?
That shouldn't be.
Yun Shu was a little surprised. She had intervened to save him once in the palace, which should have given the young emperor at least half a month of stable health. It had only been a day or two, and he was gravely ill again?
There was something strange about this.
"The current Emperor is frail. I must guard against certain matters, but I can handle them. Shu'er need not worry," Yun Changfeng said, his brows gentle, reassuring her tenderly.
After all, she was a girl and would surely be scared of such things.
It wasn't just Shu'er; anyone else would be scared.
Yun Shu curved her lips and shook her head dismissively, "I'm not worried, just curious if the Emperor's health is truly that poor? When I saw him in the palace, he seemed to have a good complexion. It's unlikely he would suddenly be critically ill, right?"
Yun Changfeng's eyes narrowed, realizing something.
After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, "Some matters are very complicated, and the Emperor's illness is not something that happened overnight."
Yun Shu didn't press further. Her father understood everything. It seemed he had already made all the necessary arrangements, so there was no need for her to waste her energy here.
Having such a capable father made things so easy.
...
Yun Ying, clutching the letter, thought about opening it on the way but lacked the courage.
She returned to the Yun mansion and went to the courtyard where she and her mother lived.
Upon arriving, she noticed this residence was not as grand as the General's mansion, and the courtyard where she and her mother lived was very small, not even as large as the courtyard she had previously occupied.
Though she felt dissatisfied, she was powerless to change it.
Her paternal aunt would never pay them any mind!
"Mother, this is a letter from Father. He said you would know what it means." Yun Ying handed the letter to Concubine Xiao.
Concubine Xiao, with a puzzled expression, looked down at the letter in her hand.
As she read, her face turned ashen.
"Are you sure your father gave you this?"
Yun Ying was bewildered, "Yes. I originally wanted to see Father to ask for money. Since Yun Shu could produce so much money, it means there's more. I wanted Father to give it to me. But he gave me nothing, just this letter, telling me to bring it back and ask Mother."
Concubine Xiao trembled with shock, "Why did you go back? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I... I went out to buy things and suddenly thought of it. I didn't think too much! Besides, asking Father for money was for both Mother and me! We are living under someone else's roof now and need money for everything. Aunt and Grandmother don't give us anything, and we'll eventually run out of savings," Yun Ying bit her lip, feeling she hadn't done anything wrong.
Concubine Xiao was disappointed, "You! I told you, as long as we wait for Yun Yueyin to return and arrange a good marriage for you, nothing else matters! I told you to be more settled, did you just let it go in one ear and out the other? Did you not remember anything?"
"Mother! I'm very wronged right now. Mother shouldn't scold me! Mother should be angry with Father just like I am!" Yun Ying was furious.
Concubine Xiao gasped, looking at Yun Ying in disbelief.
"Ying'er! You! Have you forgotten everything I taught you before?!"
Yun Ying knitted her brows tightly, "Mother told me not to care too much if Father likes me or not, and that I just need to please Grandmother and Aunt. I remembered all of that! But why? I am also Father's daughter. Why does Yun Shu get Father's affection, and I don't?"
"That's because..." Concubine Xiao took a deep breath.
Yun Ying stared at Concubine Xiao, "Because why? Mother, tell me!"
Concubine Xiao went to the door, glanced outside to make sure no one was there, and then closed the door tightly.
Yun Changfeng knew everything!
But he hadn't announced it to the world yet, which meant he didn't intend to be ruthless towards her.
Then...
"You are not your father's biological daughter, and your father already knows! Ying'er, from now on, you cannot see your father anymore, and you must do your best to please Yun Yueyin. Only Yun Yueyin can ensure your future wealth and status, do you understand?"
Yun Ying took several steps back, horrified!
...
Night King's Mansion.
In the quiet night, under the twinkling stars.
Yun Xiao Jing couldn't sleep.
He missed his mother, but he couldn't go to her now. He wanted to go see his mother with his brother.
But his brother was ignoring him.
This path, how should one put it?
It was long and arduous!
He put on his clothes and pushed open the door.
His brother slept in the courtyard next door.
He wanted to go there!
Just as he was about to run over, he suddenly stepped on something!
Soft and slippery!
He looked down and saw a small snake.
Yun Xiao Jing frowned. How audacious!
"Don't move! Xiao Jing, stay right there and don't move!"
A hurried exclamation.
Yun Xiao Jing looked up and saw Qiu Lu looking at the snake beneath his feet with anxiety.
"Don't be afraid, Xiao Jing!"
He blinked his beautiful large eyes.