Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 19
Chapter 19: The Grand Princess's Banquet
Yun Chu had the carriage circle the streets a couple of times before finally returning to the Xie residence.
Aside from her eye rims being slightly tinged with red, there was utterly no sign that she had just broken down in a flood of tears moments ago.
As soon as she re-entered the courtyard, Tingfeng walked up to report, "Mistress, after you returned to the General's Manor, the Elder Miss quietly made a trip to the dilapidated shrine and delivered a great many items to Madam He..."
The Mistress treated the Elder Miss as if she were her own flesh and blood, and Tingfeng simply could not fathom why the Elder Miss would treat a domestic servant who had framed the Mistress with such kindness...
Seated upon the daybed, Yun Chu gave her instructions: "Have Ping-ge'er come over here."
Ever since taking over a portion of the household affairs, Xie Ping had grown exceedingly busy, constantly either reviewing account books or summoning old maids from the outer yards to report on matters.
In the midst of her busy schedule, she received word that Tingsue had come to invite her over.
Normally, she was the one who had to actively seek out her mother; her mother had never once sent a maid to summon her personally.
Xie Ping set down her ledger, feeling a flutter of nervousness in her chest.
Could it be that her mother had discovered she sent items to Madam He and was now summoning her for questioning?
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have let a moment of foolish soft-heartedness drive her to visit Madam He. How on earth was she supposed to explain this to her mother now?
All along the way, Xie Ping's mind raced with a flurry of various thoughts.
Upon entering Yusheng Residence, however, she found Yun Chu looking at her with a warm smile. "Ping-ge'er, take a seat."
Xie Ping sat down and took a sip of tea.
"Tomorrow is the Grand Princess's flower-viewing banquet. Do you have time to accompany me?" Yun Chu asked with a gentle smile. "If you don't wish to go, it's quite all right."
Hardly daring to believe her ears, Xie Ping suppressed her surging excitement and asked, "The Grand Princess invited Mother?"
Yun Chu shook her head. "The Grand Princess invited the Yun family, and your maternal grandmother has invited me to join them. If you wish to go, adding one more person won't hurt, and it will be a good opportunity for you to see the world and broaden your horizons."
Xie Ping nodded vigorously. "I am willing to go."
Her father was a fifth-rank official, and the young ladies and maidens she normally interacted with were primarily daughters of fifth and sixth-rank officials. At the Grand Princess's flower-viewing banquet, however, the attendees would predominantly be female relatives of officials holding the third rank and above.
By tagging along with her mother, she would undoubtedly make the acquaintance of many high-ranking noble matrons.
If she behaved with proper obedience and decorum, those wealthy noblewomen might just take a fancy to her as a prospective daughter-in-law...
At this thought, Xie Ping grew restless with anticipation. She stood up abruptly and said, "Mother, I shall return to my quarters to finish my work first."
Watching the figure of the young girl walking out, Yun Chu's lips curled into a cold, chilling smile.
In her past life, at the spring banquet hosted by the Yun family, Xie Ping had laid eyes on the Fourth Prince for the very first time and fallen head over heels in love with him on the spot.
As the daughter of a mere fifth-rank official, she had zero possibility of ever being matched with the reigning Fourth Prince; she wasn't even qualified to become a secondary consort. Driven by desperation, Xie Ping hatched a reckless, foolish plot—she actually seized an opportunity when the Fourth Prince wasn't paying attention to slip drugs into his drink, attempting to force a fait accompli... It was Yun Chu who accidentally uncovered Xie Ping's scheme and intervened in advance to nip the farce in the bud.
Not long after that incident, the Fourth Prince met with his downfall...
Yun Chu had originally arranged a respectable, promising match for Xie Ping.
Although the prospective husband was only a seventh-rank minor official, his family background was upright and his future prospects were bright. Yet Xie Ping looked down upon him entirely. Just as the marriage was about to be officially finalized under betrothal rites, Xie Ping used the pretext of entering the imperial palace to pay respects to her paternal great-aunt, managed to catch the Emperor's eye, and subsequently... became a new attendant by the Emperor's side.
The aforementioned great-aunt was none other than Yun Chu's own paternal aunt, who had entered the palace through the imperial selection years prior, risen to become one of the Four Imperial Consorts, and given birth to the Eighth Prince for the Emperor.
Xie Ping had literally stepped upon the back of Yun Chu's own blood aunt to climb into favor as the Emperor's pampered imperial concubine.
In her previous life, her aunt had fallen victim to Xie Ping's machinations, enduring countless forms of inhumane torment and suffering...
Recalling the events of her past life, Yun Chu's expression turned desolate and fierce.
Given a second chance at life, she would never grant Xie Ping the opportunity to enter the palace, nor would she ever allow her aunt to be threatened by Xie Ping again...
Since Xie Ping was so fond of the Fourth Prince, she would simply pave the way for her to become the Fourth Princess Consort. As for just how glorious the identity of a princess consort was, it would prove to be precisely as fleeting...
The night passed in silent stillness.
As soon as the sky grew bright and she finished washing and dressing, Xie Shi'an was already waiting outside to pay his morning greetings.
"The provincial metropolitan examinations are fast approaching, so you may dispense with these morning greetings for the time being," Yun Chu said warmly. "Focus on your studies and strive to bring honor and glory to the Xie family."
Xie Shi'an cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "Paying morning greetings is an essential part of filial duty, and the rules of propriety cannot be discarded. Mother, rest assured—I am exceptionally confident regarding the upcoming exams, and securing the top spot as a xiucai will be no difficult feat."
Yun Chu knew he was not speaking boastfully.
Not only did he pass the xiucai examinations, but he secured the supreme position of the leading scorer, the juren top rank. The following year, during the provincial autumn examinations, he once again claimed the top rank as the jieyuan. Two years later at the metropolitan palace examinations, he captured the premier spot yet again, ascending to the ultimate pinnacle as the palace zhuangyuan.
He was the sole sanyuan champion in the history of the current dynasty—winning first place across all three tiers of examinations—and the youngest zhuangyuan to ever grace the court...
With Xie Shi'an successfully climbing into the inner cabinet, Xie Ping serving as a favored imperial consort in the palace, and Xie Shiwei entering the military camps, the future momentum of the Xie family was simply an unstoppable force...
After Xie Shi'an departed, the inner courtyard concubines came forth to offer their morning respects.
Yun Chu's gaze landed upon Xie Ping, and she spoke in a cool, level tone, "Go back and change this outfit. Tingshuang, accompany her to redo her hair and cosmetics."
Xie Ping looked somewhat at a loss. "Mother, is—is there something wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Elder Miss, your outfit is far too flashy and vibrant," Tingshuang said softly. Having served in the General's Manor for so many years, she naturally understood these social nuances. She continued, "The Grand Princess is hosting a flower-viewing banquet with the intention of appreciating blossoms, not for young maidens and aristocratic daughters to compete in ostentatious displays..."
Yun Chu chimed in, "It is entirely normal that Ping-ge'er doesn't understand these things, as this is her first time attending such a gathering with me. Go back and change into something more appropriate before coming out."
Tingshuang followed Xie Ping back to her quarters, where she personally selected a pale pink springtime gown suited for a young maiden, tied up her hair into a simple, elegant bun, and adorned it with only a single slanting jade hair-pin and a pair of delicate, rice-grain-sized pearl earrings.
Xie Ping bit her lip in hesitation. "Isn't this a bit too plain and drab?"
Tingshuang kept her hands respectfully folded before her as she replied, "The Mistress is attending the Grand Princess's estate under the banner of the Yun family, so maintaining a low profile is naturally expected. Only this style of dressing is truly fitting."
Discontent flickered within Xie Ping's heart.
Dressed in such a drab and understated manner, no one would ever spare her a second glance in a crowd. How on earth was she supposed to make connections with the matrons and daughters of high-ranking noble houses?
Yet since her mother had explicitly given the command, if she stubbornly insisted on having her own way, she would likely be barred from attending the Grand Princess's banquet altogether.
Yun Chu took Xie Ping with her in a carriage to the Yun residence first, where they rendezvoused with the Yun family members before heading collectively toward the Grand Princess's estate.
The Grand Princess was the reigning Emperor's own sister born of the same mother, holding a peerless, preeminent status within the circle of high-society noble matrons in the capital. Her banquets were invariably packed to absolute overflowing.
The carriage came to a halt right before the grand entrance.
Yun Chu stepped down, steadying Madam Lin by the arm.
Following closely behind them were two unmarried young maidens: Yun Ran, the Second Miss of the General's Manor, and Xie Ping, the Elder Miss of the Xie household.
As the group of four walked inward, there was no need to present any invitation tokens; the moment Madam Lin stepped into view, the gatekeeper at the entrance holstered his stance and sang out in a loud voice, "The General's Wife has arrived!"
Immediately afterward, a senior matron hurried out to welcome them, leading Yun Chu and her party further into the estate grounds.
It was Xie Ping's very first time visiting such a magnificent, high-ranking noble manor, and her eyes darted left and right, unable to take in enough of the sights.
Madam Lin frowned slightly and issued a low-toned reprimand, "Why is Ping-ge'er behaving with such a lack of proper deportment? Later on, I shall have Nanny Qi sent over to the Xie household to properly school you in the rules."
Yun Chu smiled as she replied, "There is no need to trouble Mother over such trivial matters."
If someone was going to embarrass themselves, it would be the Xie family losing face; she had no obligation to safeguard their reputation.
However, given that Xie Ping had accompanied the Yun family here today, it was still necessary to offer a bit of guidance to prevent the Yun family from becoming a laughingstock.
Yun Chu cast a subtle look toward Tingshuang.
Tingshuang took a half-step backward, moved close to Xie Ping's side, and whispered a few words of caution.