Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Staying With You for the Night 

"My Lord."

The maidservants of the Sheng Residence all curtsied and paid their respects.

Xie Jingyu was radiating exhaustion from head to toe.

During the morning court session today, he had been impeached by a censor, and the promotion to the upper fifth rank that had once seemed within his grasp was now completely out of the question.

If the rumors running rampant through the streets and alleys grew even worse, he feared he might even be demoted...

Previously, he had relied on the matrimonial tie with the Yun family to quietly serve as his backing, but this time the Yun family gave the Xie family not an ounce of face, leaving him with zero supporters in the imperial court.

He had stepped down from court in dejection and once again made a trip to the Yu estate, but this time Lord Yu refused to even let him through the gates. He stood outside the Yu residence for several hours before finally accepting that Lord Yu had completely abandoned him, forcing him to return to the Xie estate like a stray dog.

Standing at the entrance of the Sheng Residence, he looked toward Tingshuang and asked, "Has your Madam's illness improved at all?"

Lowering her gaze, Tingshuang replied, "The Madam looks as though she has recovered, but in reality, it is a sickness of the heart. She lacks the spirit for anything she does."

Xie Jingyu removed his official hat.

How could he not know that Yunchu's ailment was rooted in her heart?

Yet the child had already passed away and been properly buried; what was done was done, so why dwell on it endlessly and refuse to let go?

Her falling ill had thrown the entire Xie household into turmoil.

He had never imagined that the mistress of the house could exert such a massive influence over a family.

He spoke up, "Has the Madam gone to sleep?"

"The Madam went to bed an hour ago," Tingshuang answered. "If My Lord has any matters to discuss, you may come earlier tomorrow."

Xie Jingyu said nothing more; he turned around and walked away.

As he stepped out of the Sheng Residence, he spotted Xie Shian walking along the pathway.

Xie Shian was clearly waiting for him. Cupping his hands in salute, he said, "Father, the rumors in the city have reached the academy, and they must have reached the imperial court by now. Were you impeached by malicious actors during court today, Father?"

Xie Jingyu looked at his eldest son with a face full of admiration.

This son spent all his time traveling strictly between home and the Xie family academy, yet he could accurately deduce the political climate of the imperial court—truly a talent born of heaven.

He prompted, "What are your thoughts on this?"

"Outside discussion centers mainly on two points. First is the burial matter of the twins from the Xie estate four years ago. That matter is already settled, and the Xie estate can only maintain its silence," Xie Shian said slowly. "Second is the rumors regarding Mother's illness, which are growing increasingly absurd. The Old Madam's birthday banquet is approaching very soon; if Mother attends the banquet, the whispers about the Xie family's inner household being in disorder will collapse on their own."

Xie Jingyu nodded. "Then do you believe your mother will attend the banquet?"

Xie Shian fell silent.

Mother had just endured a devastating blow; would she cooperate with the Xie family to clear away the external rumors? He could not be certain.

Xie Jingyu sighed and said, "Uncertain or not, we must try anyway."

Father and son conversed as they gradually walked into the distance.

Only after the sound of their voices had completely faded away did Yunchu finally let out a breath of relief.

She looked down at the child burrowed inside the quilt and said, "Let's go. I'll escort you out of the estate first."

"I'm not leaving!"

Chu Hongyu suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, pressing his head against her chest in a stubborn display of defiance.

Yunchu tried to persuade him, "Little Heir, if you aren't at home in the middle of the night, you'll be discovered in no time. Can you really bear the wrath of the Prince of Pingxi?"

She expected the child to be frightened, but instead, the little fellow raised his eyebrows triumphantly. "This evening, my father was ordered by imperial decree to suppress bandits, and he won't be back in the capital for the next few days. I even found another child my exact age to impersonate me and stay behind in the Prince's Estate. Don't worry, nobody will notice I'm gone."

Yunchu: "..."

She was completely at a loss for words.

At that moment, a soft tapping sound came from the window.

Before Yunchu could get up to investigate the situation, a sharp cry echoed from outside the window.

"Where did this thief come from, daring to skulk around outside our Madam's window!"

It was Qiutong's voice.

Yunchu glanced at the little fellow on the bed, only to see the boy frantically scrambling down to try and push the window open.

She hauled the child back up in one swift motion, tossed him straight behind the bed curtains, and called out loudly, "Qiutong, tie the thief outside up and send him to the magistrate's office!"

"No, you can't do that!" Chu Hongyu broke out in a cold sweat of panic. "He's not a thief; he's my bodyguard! His name is Ah Mao, please don't send him to the officials!"

Yunchu put on a stern expression and said, "The thief at the southeast gate of the Xie estate earlier tonight—that was your bodyguard too, wasn't it?"

The little fellow's face drooped into a pout. "There were patrols walking back and forth near the Xie family's gates all evening. I had no other choice, so I had Ah Mao fake being a thief to lure those people away. Ah Mao really didn't do anything bad!"

Seeing him make such an expression, Yunchu's heart instantly softened.

Looking toward the window, she instructed, "Qiutong, bring the person in."

She stepped out of bed, slipped on her shoes and an outer robe, and led the little boy out of the inner chamber together.

Qiutong and Tingshuang escorted the guard inside, and upon discovering that a child had suddenly materialized in the room, both of their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

Qiutong, in particular, was utterly astonished; skilled in martial arts as she was, she had completely failed to notice an extra person inside the Madam's bedroom.

Yunchu made a hand gesture, and Tingshuang hastily rushed over to close the door tightly.

"Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!"

With his mouth gagged with a piece of cloth, the guard kept emitting muffled noises.

Chu Hongyu scrambled forward in a rush, pulling the rag out of the man's mouth. "Ah Mao, are you alright?"

"This subordinate is fine." Ah Mao looked his young master up and down, asking with lingering fear, "Little Heir, are you alright?"

Qiutong was struck dumb with shock. "Madam, what on earth is going on here?"

Tingshuang, however, had already recognized the child and was equally shaken to her core. "Why is the Prince of Pingxi's Little Heir inside the Madam's bedroom?"

"While it's still dark and the estate is in chaos, Qiutong, escort these two out," Yunchu ordered. "Make sure no one notices."

If Xie Jingyu were to find out that the Prince of Pingxi's Little Heir had sneaked into the Xie residence, he would likely rack his brains to exploit the child as a stepping stone to get close to the Prince. She refused to let any child become a tool for Xie Jingyu's political advancement.

"I said I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving!" Using all four limbs, Chu Hongyu scrambled back up onto Yunchu. "I'm staying right here! I won't go, I refuse to go!"

Qiutong stepped forward, grabbed the back of the child's collar, and hoisted him up into the air. "Little Heir, even though you are a child, you are still considered a male outsider. Staying in our Madam's quarters violates propriety. This servant will escort you back to the Prince's Estate."

"Wuwuwu, I'm not going!" The little fellow kicked his legs wildly in midair. "It took me so much effort to find a chance to slip out of the Prince's Estate, and so much effort just to sneak into the Xie residence—how can you chase me away like this? I'll never like you again! You're mean, wuwuwu..."

Ah Mao chimed in to plead his case, "A few days ago, when the Little Heir heard that Madam Xie had fallen ill, he stopped eating well and sleeping properly, losing several pounds. Now that the Prince has finally left the estate, the Little Heir managed to seize an opportunity to sneak out. Our Little Heir has never had a mother's affection since he was little; could Madam Xie please take pity on our Little Heir..."

Yunchu felt a sudden tightening in her chest.

She reached out and pulled the kicking, flailing child back into her arms.

She knew the Prince of Pingxi's Little Heir was four years old, but compared to Xie Shiyun of the exact same age, his frame was far too lean, making him look more like a three-year-old.

She spoke in a gentle voice, "Alright, I'll allow you to stay here for one night. But the moment dawn breaks, you must leave. Agreed?"

The little fellow instantly broke into a smile through his tears and buried himself deep into her embrace.