Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 67
Chapter 67 - Keep My Secret
The sky had already grown dim.
Yunchu's gaze fell upon Xie Shiyun: "Yun-ge'er, Mother asks you: whose shoe do you think that was in my courtyard?"
Her voice was calm and without a trace of fluctuation, yet Tingyu could sense a latent anger carried within it.
She hurried to speak: "Madam, Yun-ge'er, he..."
"I am asking Yun-ge'er. Concubine Yu, step aside for the moment." Yunchu's voice was very faint. "Yun-ge'er, you know that Mother dislikes children who tell lies the most."
Tingyu was worried to the point of desperation.
Yet Tingshuang stood right beside her, staring at her coldly, leaving her utterly without the daring to make any move.
Xie Shiyun stood before Yunchu with his head lowered.
A month ago, every single time he came to Yusheng Residence, he would be pulled onto Mother's lap. Back then, as long as Mother was amused and happy, she would bestow many wonderful things upon him.
Ever since that period of time, however, Mother had grown increasingly indifferent toward him.
Clearly, he had done nothing wrong at all; why had he lost Mother's affection?
He felt wronged—truly, deeply wronged.
At this thought, two lines of tears welled up on Xie Shiyun's face, golden beans dropping incessantly. He raised his head and cried out, "Mother, did you raise some other child, and that's why you don't want Yun-ge'er anymore?"
Yunchu steadied her mind and spoke, "What do you mean by raising some other child? What are you talking about?"
"Mother, don't lie to me anymore, I saw it all." Xie Shiyun wept bitterly. "I saw a boy about my age in Mother's courtyard. Mother held him and smiled at him. Is he going to be Mother's son from now on, and Mother will never dote on me again..."
Yunchu's fingers tightened.
Sure enough, she had guessed that Yun-ge'er must know something; otherwise, given Yun-ge'er's timid nature, he would never have brought up the shoe in front of the Prince of Pingxi.
She turned her gaze to Tingyu: "Did Concubine Yu see it as well?"
Tingyu's fingers twisted tightly together.
Biting the tip of her tongue, she replied, "Reporting to Madam, this concubine saw nothing at all. Yun-ge'er must have seen wrong as well. This concubine will properly discipline Yun-ge'er and ensure he does not babble nonsense before the Old Madam and My Lord."
Yunchu lowered her gaze.
Her courtyard was no longer safe either; she must never let those two children come to the Xie estate again.
Taking a sip of tea, she sighed and said, "Yun-ge'er did not see wrong. There is indeed a child sent by the Yun family in my courtyard, prepared to be adopted under my name as my legitimate son. It's simply that I have always felt it went against proper principles, which is why I haven't mentioned this matter to the Old Madam and My Lord. Concubine Yu, before I have made my final decision, you must keep this secret for me."
Tingyu could scarcely believe it.
The truth really was just as she had speculated—Madam was actually going to adopt a child carrying the Yun family's bloodline.
This indeed went against proper principles and violated ritual laws!
However, as long as the Yun family made a decision, the Xie estate had no room for refusal. No matter how much this matter defied ritual laws, it would still become an established fact.
She clutched her handkerchief tightly: "This concubine shall forever remain Madam's person and will surely guard this secret with her life for Madam."
Yunchu watched her quietly.
She had given her the opportunity; whether Tingyu treasured this chance depended entirely on herself.
Later in the evening, word came from outside reporting that the Prince of Pingxi had entered the imperial palace with the Little Marquis. Yunchu knew that this affair was now completely over.
The next morning, the moment she woke up, Yunchu felt the oppressive summer heat.
The people of the estate came to offer their morning greetings as usual; the absence of Xie Shiwei seemed to have changed nothing at all.
Yunchu delegated the various tasks of the Xie estate and continued studying the layout and facilities of the hot spring estate. After the hour of Chen, Xie Jingyu returned to the estate after attending the morning court session. She changed her garments and walked to the outer courtyard.
Xie Jingyu had already changed out of his court robes, holding a penalizing gift box in his hands: "This is an inkstone of the highest grade. Does Madam think this will do?"
Yunchu remarked, "The Marquis of Wu's Mansion is not lacking for such trifles; what he wants is an attitude."
Xie Jingyu concurred with this assessment.
The husband and wife boarded the carriage, sitting opposite and very close to one another.
Yunchu tilted her head slightly, lifting the carriage curtain just a fraction to gaze out at the bustling streets outside.
Xie Jingyu looked at her delicate, porcelain-white profile. For some reason, he felt as though Yunchu was growing further and further away from him, like clouds at the edge of the sky—visible to the eye, yet impossible to touch.
If she still held even a shred of expectation toward him, he would be willing to try forgetting the night she lost her chastity.
Yet there was no longer any light within the eyes she turned toward him; the affection between them as husband and wife had, from some unknown moment, grown thinner than paper.
He knew what price he would have to pay by bringing her to the Marquis of Wu's Mansion, yet he had brought her anyway.
"Madam."
Xie Jingyu's throat felt tight.
He couldn't help calling out.
Yunchu dropped the carriage curtain and turned her head back: "Husband?"
"Over all these years, have you ever blamed me?"
Hearing this question, Yunchu almost laughed aloud.
Her past self had, of course, blamed, resented, and hated—yet so what?
In the face of familial blood feuds, what did these things amount to?
"What kind of words is Husband saying?" Yunchu spoke in a gentle tone. "I am a wife of the Xie family; the honor and disgrace of the Xie family are more important than my own life. Going to the Marquis of Wu's Mansion to plead guilty is my bounden duty—how could I possibly blame Husband?"
Xie Jingyu said with a dry voice, "Madam, you know I wasn't asking about that."
Yunchu lowered her gaze: "Continuing the family line for the Xie estate is likewise my bounden duty. Since I lack this capability, it is only natural that Husband does not come to my quarters; I shall not harbor any feelings of resentment."
"I want to make amends for my fault." Xie Jingyu looked at her eyelids. "Tonight I will go to Yusheng Residence..."
Yunchu's fingers tightened, and without even raising her head, she said, "Husband, I am somewhat indisposed tonight."
The expression on Xie Jingyu's face gradually faded away.
Whether she was truly indisposed or feigning it, he could tell that she harbored zero anticipation for him to visit Yusheng Residence.
That being the case, bringing her to the Marquis of Wu's Mansion left him with nothing to reproach himself for either.
The carriage traveled smoothly all the way to the gates of the Marquis of Wu's Mansion.
After alighting, Xie Jingyu presented their calling card, and the guards at the entrance took it inside to report.
Qin Mingheng was teasing a dog in the courtyard. As he tossed his flying disc out, the dog leaped into the air to catch it, then trotted back wagging its tail.
"Lord Qin, Lord Xie requests an audience."
Qin Mingheng glanced over the calling card and sneered, "Make him wait outside."
The reason he attended the Old Madam of Xie's birthday banquet was because he heard Yunchu was gravely ill, and thus took the opportunity to catch a glimpse of her.
This time Xie Shian passed the xiucai examination precisely because Yunchu had invited him; naturally, he would grant her that courtesy.
He had always looked down upon Xie Jingyu as a person, finding him far too despicable and shameless.
Qin Mingheng continued teasing his dog.
At that moment, he overheard two minor servants whispering not far away: "Lord Xie has offended our Marquis; he won't have an easy life from now on."
"The eldest young miss of the Yun family was once famed throughout the capital. I truly don't know why she condescended to marry Lord Xie. A former legitimate daughter of the first rank now actually has to accompany him to the Marquis's mansion to lower her head and plead guilty—truly pitiable and lamentable."
Qin Mingheng's movements came to an abrupt halt, and he inquired, "Madam Xie has come as well? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
On such a hot day, if she stood outside baking in the sun for so long, how could her delicate, porcelain-like skin ever endure such exposure?
He immediately spoke up: "Let them in."
The servant hurriedly scurried toward the estate gates.