"This..." Su Qing's eyes flickered, a hint of difficulty in his gaze.
He did have some money on hand, but he'd heard this brat, much like his own son, had become addicted to gambling, throwing borrowed money into casinos.
Su Chenghai's eyes shifted, "Speaking of which, Fourth Brother is truly unlike your biological son. You are the most carefree, viewing wealth as extraneous, yet he values profit over affection."
Hearing this, a touch of pride appeared on Su Qing's face, "Naturally. I have lived my life upright and honorable, always loyal and righteous."
He admitted that Su Qingtian had indeed inherited none of his good qualities. It wasn't surprising people said what they did.
"Indeed, when my father was alive, he always said Third Uncle was the true pillar of the Su family. Any matter brought before you would be handled without fail," Su Chenghai continued his effusive praise.
Flattered beyond measure, Su Qing's reservations vanished completely. "Rest assured, your father entrusted you to me when he passed. Now that your family faces difficulties, I naturally must help."
They were family, after all. How could he not help?
He would give the money first. Even if something truly happened later, Fourth would bear the brunt of it.
He was his father, after all. If his fourth son wouldn't care for his elder cousin from the second branch, could he possibly ignore his own father?
"Then I thank you, Third Uncle," Su Chenghai said, cupping his hands with unconcealed joy. "And the money…?"
"Come with me, I'll get it for you right now," Su Qing said, walking out with his chest puffed out and hands behind his back.
Su Chenghai followed beside him, bowing slightly and continuing his praise.
The two left the old residence, one after the other.
Zhou Wanyou watched from a distance, her brow furrowed with unease.
"You'er? What are you doing? Grandmother is calling you for dinner," Su Qingtian approached from the side, reaching out to take her hand.
Zhou Wanyou glanced towards the mansion gate, where the figures of the two were no longer visible. She shook her head, "It's nothing. Let's go."
Perhaps she was overthinking.
Her father-in-law, though unreliable, was known to be tight-fisted with his money. He shouldn't be easily swindled with just a few words.
The couple entered the hall.
Inside, several children were gathered around Madam Qian, who was often tickled into hearty laughter.
Su Siyuan was the most boisterous, with endless amusing stories to tell.
Madam Qian asked each child about their recent lives, and if they had made any new friends.
Su Siyuan then nudged Su Yunmo forward, "Grandmother, Grandmother, Mo'er recently made a friend who is a princess. When Mo'er was sick last time, the princess even came to visit."
"Oh? Which princess is it?" Madam Qian asked curiously.
Su Yunmo thought that her grandmother, having been a noble lady in her youth and involved in some palace affairs, might know something.
"She is the only daughter of Prince Yunyi, named Ye Ningyuan. Do you know her, Grandmother?"
Madam Qian fell into thought, "I do know of Prince Yunyi. Although the late Emperor had many offspring, Prince Yunyi is one of the few brothers who maintained a good relationship with His Majesty."
"The Prince's daughter… I did see her once when she was little."
Madam Qian patted the little dumpling's head, chuckling, "But I am old now, and my memory is not what it used to be."
"The imperial family does not have many descendants, and princesses and county princesses are few. The late Emperor had two princesses, and in His Majesty's generation, there is only one princess. Among the other princes, Prince Yunyi has a daughter. Besides her, there is also Prince Yunzun…"
She paused, then seemed to recall something and swallowed the rest of her words.
Su Yunmo's heart skipped a beat.
Prince Yunzun? She had never heard of him. When she was close with Ye Jingcheng, she had met most of the imperial family, except for Prince Yunyi who was often stationed at the border.
But she had never heard anyone mention such a prince.
"Grandmother, who is Prince Yunzun?"
"Mo'er, children shouldn't ask about things they shouldn't. Who gave you permission to inquire about royal matters?" Su Qingtian interrupted, his face stern.
Su Yunmo rarely saw him wear such an expression.
"Grandmother~ Daddy is so fierce~" the little dumpling leaned towards Madam Qian with a wronged look.
Not allowed to ask? There must be something unusual!
"There, there, don't be afraid," Madam Qian patted her back to comfort her, then looked up with displeasure.
"Children don't understand these things. Why are you scolding her? I brought it up first. Are you going to be angry with me?"
Su Qingtian cupped his hands in helplessness, "How would your grandson dare?"
"Hmph." Madam Qian picked up the little dumpling, coaxing her, "Don't mind your cold-faced father. Tell Grandmother what you want to eat, and Grandmother will serve you."
"Okay~" The little dumpling smiled, wiggled her little body, and cast the previous topic aside, "Mo'er wants chicken legs, and fish."
Su Siyuan also brought his bowl over, "Grandmother, Grandmother, your grandson wants to eat too~"
"Yes, yes, yes, everyone will have some," Madam Qian took her chopsticks and placed meat into their bowls, not neglecting anyone.
Seeing the grandmother and grandchildren in harmony, Su Qingtian breathed a slight sigh of relief.
The banquet continued into the evening.
The children, having played all day, went to watch the fish by the lake after dinner.
When the servants found them, they were all asleep side by side in the pavilion.
From left to right, starting with Su Sizhuo, then Su Siqi, down to the youngest, Su Yunmo, they were all curled up due to the cold, like glutinous rice balls ready to be cooked.
Zhou Wanyou had to stay at the old residence to handle the aftermath.
Su Qingtian sent people to escort the little ones home to sleep.
Su Yunmo slept soundly, being transferred from the old residence to the carriage, and then from the carriage to the bed without waking. She slept until dawn.
In the morning, Linlang had already prepared the washing supplies, waiting for her to wake.
Su Yunmo woke up when the sun was high in the sky. Upon waking, she began to clamor for food.
Linlang had served this young mistress once before and knew she had a bit of a temper when waking up, especially in the morning, becoming even more childlike.
She coaxed Su Yunmo gently, first getting her to wash her face and put on her clothes, then carrying her to the table.
The little dumpling, her eyes still closed, opened her mouth demanding food.
Linlang held her and fed her a few bites, after which she fully woke up.
After breakfast, a message arrived from Prince Yunyi's mansion, stating that Ye Ningyuan's condition was very serious and asking Su Yunmo to come and see her.
Linlang then prepared a carriage and personally drove Su Yunmo to Prince Yunyi's mansion.
Prince Yunyi's mansion was solemn and imposing.
Ye Ningyuan lived in a separate courtyard.
Upon reaching the inner courtyard, Linlang was stopped by a servant.
"Miss Su, the County Princess has instructed that only you may enter."
Linlang frowned, casting a worried glance at her mistress.
Su Yunmo yawned, "Oh, then you can wait outside."
"Yes." Linlang hesitated, then handed over the medicine box.
The servant took the medicine box and led Su Yunmo the way.
Su Yunmo followed all the way to the inner room.
Before she could even step across the threshold, she heard screams from inside.
Ye Ningyuan lay on the bed, clutching her stomach, her forehead covered in sweat, her lips pale. "It hurts, it hurts so much! Someone, quickly, someone!"
The maids were all kneeling on the ground, trembling.
There were also two doctors in the room. They whispered to each other, their expressions grave.
One of the doctors wrote out a prescription. Before it could even be prepared,
Ye Ningyuan grabbed a pillow and threw it, "What kind of cursed prescription is this? You're all quacks! Get out, all of you, get out!"