At this moment, Madam Yun’s only concern was Yun Ziyao.
So even though she knew Yun Zijun was upset, she had no energy to deal with it and simply let her leave in anger.
Curled up in Madam Yun’s embrace, Yun Ziyao waited until the wave of pain subsided before slowly reaching for the bedframe. With Madam Yun’s help, she stiffly sat back down on the bed.
“I’m just an invalid now.”
Yun Ziyao lowered her head, her entire body shrouded in sorrow and dejection.
“Mother manages the household and is busy with countless affairs every day. You should let me return to my own courtyard.”
“Living here would only disturb you, and I would feel uneasy.”
Madam Yun replied gently,
“Rao’er, don’t say that.”
“I am your mother. Taking care of you is only natural.”
“How could it possibly be a disturbance?”
Yun Ziyao lowered her head and remained silent.
For a time, Madam Yun said nothing either.
She knew that Ziyao no longer trusted her.
The three years in the Laundry Bureau had also left her with a profound sense of insecurity.
Madam Yun didn’t know how to comfort her.
The only thing she could do was make up for it little by little in the future.
Besides, too much information had come at her in a single day.
She was struggling to process it all.
At this point, she had already begun to doubt Yun Zijun’s origins.
She remembered how, three years ago, the Chancellor had brought Yun Zijun home and simply declared that the midwife had switched the babies and that Zijun was their real daughter.
He had pointed to the birthmark on Yun Zijun’s foot as proof.
But he had never revealed who the midwife actually was.
Nor had he ever explained where the couple who raised Yun Zijun had gone.
Over the past three years, whenever Madam Yun developed doubts and tried to question her husband, he would frown and say:
“I have already investigated the matter thoroughly.”
“Zijun is indeed our daughter.”
“That couple was not living well. I have already punished them.”
“You need not ask further.”
“Otherwise you’ll only force Jun’er to relive painful memories.”
Madam Yun had once asked him:
“Then what about Ziyao?”
The Chancellor had replied:
“Ziyao has shared your affection for so many years.”
“If you cannot bear to part with her, keep her by your side.”
“No one will interfere.”
However, after Yun Zijun returned, her presence within the household became impossible to ignore.
The Chancellor constantly reminded Madam Yun how difficult Zijun’s fourteen years had been.
He repeatedly described how her foster parents had mistreated her.
Again and again he stirred Madam Yun’s pity and sympathy.
Meanwhile, Yun Zexuan never stopped talking about how Ziyao had occupied Zijun’s rightful place.
Throughout that year, Madam Yun’s feelings swung back and forth endlessly.
At times she hated Ziyao’s biological mother.
She believed the woman had deliberately left her own daughter in the Yun household to enjoy fourteen years of wealth and privilege while forcing Zijun to suffer for fourteen years.
In her mind, since Zijun had returned, it was only natural that Ziyao should step aside.
She should compensate Zijun.
She should atone for her biological mother’s wrongdoing.
Yet every time she saw Ziyao’s sadness…
Every time she witnessed her silent restraint and disappointment…
Madam Yun couldn’t bear it.
And yet, in the end—
When Ziyao finally lost her temper and lashed out, and the Crown Prince insisted on sending her to the Laundry Bureau…
Madam Yun didn’t know what possessed her.
As though bewitched, she agreed.
Now, whenever she thought back on it, a sharp pain pierced her heart.
What madness had overcome her?
How could she have agreed to send Ziyao there?
How could she have believed the Crown Prince’s promises?
Fortunately, Madam Yun did not wallow in self-reproach for long.
The most urgent task now was uncovering the truth.
If someone had deceived her, she would make sure both she and Ziyao received justice.
After calming herself, Madam Yun called Nanny Zhou inside.
“Madam.”
Nanny Zhou entered and bowed.
“You summoned me?”
Madam Yun spoke calmly.
“Nanny Zhou, arrange for two trustworthy people to keep watch over Tingyu Pavilion.”
“The Second Young Lady fell into the water and is unwell.”
“Don’t let her wander around.”
Nanny Zhou immediately understood.
On the surface, it was concern.
In reality, it was surveillance.
Yun Zijun was not to leave her courtyard.
“Yes, Madam.”
Madam Yun continued:
“The Chancellor leaves for court before dawn every day and spends his time assisting His Majesty with countless state affairs.”
“If family matters can be handled without troubling him, then do so.”
“And tell Zexuan the same thing.”
“He is not to run to his father over every little matter.”
So even the eldest young master was now being monitored.
Nanny Zhou nodded.
“This servant understands.”
After a moment of silence, Madam Yun seemed to reach a significant decision.
“Also.”
“The Crown Prince is an outsider.”
“If he comes to visit Zijun again, you must notify me immediately.”
“They are not to meet privately.”
The ladies of the Yun household lived in the inner residence.
The gates to the inner quarters and the entrances to the young ladies’ courtyards were controlled by senior matrons.
Previously, because the Chancellor wished the Crown Prince and Yun Zijun to grow closer, the servants had deliberately looked the other way.
But if Madam Yun issued an order, those matrons would obey only her.
After all—
Men and women were not supposed to meet freely.
That reason alone was sufficient.
Nanny Zhou hesitated.
“What if the eldest young master arranges the meeting?”
“The women of the inner residence should not be appearing outside freely.”
Madam Yun’s tone remained calm.
“Until her health improves, the Second Young Lady is not to leave the residence.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble status.”
“If she passes her illness to him, the Yun family cannot bear that responsibility.”
“I understand.”
At that moment, another important matter suddenly occurred to Madam Yun.
Originally, the Crown Prince had been engaged to Ziyao.
But after Zijun returned, the Chancellor had become desperate to compensate her.
He wanted to transfer the marriage to Zijun.
The reasoning was straightforward:
Zijun was supposedly the true daughter of the Chancellor’s Manor.
Allowing a fake daughter to marry the Crown Prince could be interpreted as disrespecting the imperial family.
Back then, Madam Yun had found the idea difficult to accept.
After all, Ziyao and the Crown Prince had shared deep feelings.
Yet the Chancellor’s concerns were not entirely unreasonable.
The Yun family could not afford the charge of slighting the imperial house.
She had been torn.
Then the Crown Prince made the decision for them.
After Ziyao was sent to the Laundry Bureau, he proposed making Yun Zijun the Crown Princess.
As for Ziyao, he promised that after ascending the throne, he would grant her the rank of Imperial Noble Consort.
At the time, Madam Yun had found the promise absurd.
Two sisters serving the same emperor.
One as Empress.
The other as Imperial Noble Consort.
Such favor would already place the Yun family at the absolute peak of power and prestige.
If Ziyao truly became Imperial Noble Consort as well, would the Yun family not become powerful enough to overshadow the entire court?
Not to mention whether the civil and military officials would ever agree.
Even if it happened, the newly enthroned emperor would likely become the first person to fear and suppress the Yun family.
Looking back on that promise today, it seemed even more ridiculous.
A man who personally sent his own fiancée to the Laundry Bureau—
Could anyone seriously expect him to cherish and protect her in the future?
Madam Yun’s eyes darkened.
Silently, she made a decision.
After gently instructing Ziyao to rest well, she turned and left the room.