Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 98
Chapter 98 - Concubine Tao Goes Into Premature Labor
Yun Chu left the study just a moment prior.
Shortly afterward, Xie Jingyu headed over to the courtyard where Madam He resided in Jade Lotus Garden.
Madam He was currently busy with embroidery work. Seeing Xie Jingyu arrive, she stood up with a look of utter disbelief. "Why has the master come here?"
Ever since she became a concubine of the Xie estate, the master had never once set foot in her courtyard, nor did she ever dare to harbor any extravagant hopes.
Having never harbored expectations, she naturally felt a pleasant surprise.
She hurriedly fetched a cup of tea and respectfully handed it into Xie Jingyu's hands.
Xie Jingyu took the tea, took a sip, and fixed his gaze entirely upon Madam He.
The year he met Madam He, he was only fourteen years old; back then, she still bore the surname He.
Now he was twenty-eight, and she was of the exact same age. However, over these past years, giving birth to children, rearing them, and subsequently entering the Xie estate as a humble maid to toil day and night—coupled with the fact that she intentionally wore garments of aged, drab colors to make herself appear at least thirty-five—had deeply weathered her appearance.
If she were to change into dresses of light pink or goose-yellow, don a few hair ornaments, shape her eyebrows, and paint her lips, Ping Jie'er would look truly identical to her.
Such intense scrutiny left Madam He somewhat jittery and uneasy. "Master?"
Xie Jingyu spoke up, "Have you noticed that Ping Jie'er is looking more and more like you?"
Madam He's fingers stiffened. "Master, this concubine has already done everything in her power to conceal it."
She wore the most unsightly clothing, never applied cosmetics or adorned herself, and aside from a single plain silver hairpin, she never wore any other ornaments.
Even when she was given the cold shoulder by the master, she never dared to dress up in all her splendor to vie for his favor... She did it purely out of fear that others might realize she was Ping Jie'er's biological mother.
"From now on, aside from the daily morning greetings, you are to stay within your courtyard and not step outside," Xie Jingyu said as he stood up. "They mentioned that Yu Ge'er fell ill. Where is he?"
Madam He's expression froze.
Was the master coming to her quarters purely to check on Yu Ge'er?
Suppressing a bitter smile, she led Xie Jingyu into the side chamber and softly pushed open the door to reveal Xie Shiyun sleeping soundly upon the couch.
The moment he heard movement, Xie Shiyun snapped awake. Catching sight of Xie Jingyu walking in, he threw aside all hesitation, tumbled down from the couch, clutched the hem of Xie Jingyu's sleeve, and sobbed, "Father, I want to return to Auntie Yu's side..."
Xie Jingyu helped him up. "Your auntie made a mistake. Once she corrects her wrongdoing, I will let her come and fetch you."
Madam He let out a silent sigh of relief.
With Yu Ge'er being raised under her care, all of his monthly provisions and stipends were likewise delivered to Jade Lotus Garden. Her own finances were already tight, and Yu Ge'er's monthly allowance could resolve a great deal of trouble.
"Yu Ge'er, stop crying," Madam He stepped forward to soothe him. "Once you feel better, I will take you to see Auntie Yu."
Xie Shiyun burst into loud, heartbroken wails. If Father refused to consent, whom else could he possibly turn to for help?
He had already been running a fever, and crying incessantly soon exhausted him back into a deep sleep.
"Master, Yu Ge'er merely caught a chill, which is why he's acting a bit fussy. He'll be fine," Madam He offered gently. "It's nearly dinnertime—would the master care to stay and have a meal here in Jade Lotus Garden?"
Xie Jingyu's expression remained cold. "There is no need."
With that, he strode right out of Jade Lotus Garden.
A short while later, the young maidservant stationed at the entrance hurried back to report, "Auntie, the master went over to Auntie Yu's courtyard!"
Clenching her fingers tightly together, Madam He produced a piece of broken silver and tossed it to the maidservant. "Keep watching. Come back and report the moment the master leaves."
Catching the silver, the young maidservant happily scampered off to tend to her task.
"It seems I truly underestimated you."
Madam He's face darkened into a grim mask.
She had assumed the master was simply too busy to stay and dine in her courtyard, never expecting that he would turn right around and head straight to that little vixen Tingyu's quarters.
Glancing back toward the side chamber where Xie Shiyun resided, and recalling Concubine Tao's remarks behind her back about her resembling Ping Jie'er, a dangerous thought quietly took root in her heart.
Tingyu's courtyard was exceptionally small and remote, its sole advantage being a private little kitchen of its own.
Having prepared a selection of delectable and delicate dishes, she deliberately dispatched a maidservant to invite Xie Jingyu over—never imagining that a single invitation would actually bring him right to her door.
Over the years, feeling a profound sense of guilt toward Madam, she had never dared to leverage her culinary skills to vie for favor. Yet today, for the sake of Yu Ge'er, she had no choice but to pull out all the stops.
"Master, please try these sweet and sour radishes."
Tingyu stood attentively beside the dining table, serving Xie Jingyu his meal.
Xie Jingyu was not a man driven by excessive desires; whether regarding carnal urges or the pleasures of the palate, he kept everything strictly within a reasonable boundary.
However, the recent summer heat had completely sapped everyone's appetite, and knowing Tingyu excelled at cooking, he had casually followed the little maidservant over. True to expectation, the spread of exquisite delicacies instantly stimulated his hunger, causing him to polish off a full bowl of rice in one go.
By the time they finished the meal, the sky had already grown dark, and Tingyu rested her hands gently upon Xie Jingyu's shoulders. "The master has toiled all day; please let this concubine properly pamper and serve you."
With an indifferent expression, Xie Jingyu replied, "I am well aware of what you are scheming in your heart."
Wasn't she simply trying to beg him to relent and allow Yu Ge'er to return?
Tingyu's expression stiffened. Lowering her gaze, she whispered, "Master, this concubine merely wishes to lay eyes on Yu Ge'er more often. I beg the master to grant me this chance."
Considering himself a reasonably competent father, Xie Jingyu actually felt a pang of softness after seeing Xie Shiyun earlier.
How could a mere three-year-old child bear to be parted from his birth mother?
He finally spoke, "Provided you keep to your proper place and behave, sooner or later, Yu Ge'er will naturally return to your courtyard."
At these words, Tingyu was overcome with ecstasy, serving Xie Jingyu with even greater devotion and attentiveness.
While Xie Jingyu was basking in prosperity and success out in the world by day, his nights were spent in triumphant contentment tended to by his concubine, leaving him wishing he could sigh aloud that this mortal life was truly worth living.
That night, Tingyu's heart was similarly filled with absolute fulfillment and warmth.
At an ungodly hour of the night, furious pounding suddenly rattled against the door outside.
Tingyu snapped her eyes open and glanced toward the window. The sky outside remained pitch-black.
Hastily draping a outer garment over her shoulders, she strode out and snapped in a low voice, "Don't you see the master is still resting? What on earth are you banging for? Have you completely lost all sense of tact?"
The master was finally enjoying a day off from official duties, and she desperately wanted him to get more rest so that the moment he woke up, he could directly enjoy the five-grain stomach-warming porridge she had been simmering for him.
"Auntie, it's terrible—something has gone wrong!" The young maidservant sounded on the verge of tears. "Concubine Tao is going into labor!"
Tingyu's brows knitted tightly together.
Logically speaking, Concubine Tao still had another month to go before her due date; how could she possibly be going into labor so soon?
Most likely, it was simply due to Concubine Tao's foul mouth and lack of accumulated virtue, which had triggered a premature delivery—she utterly deserved it.
She said indifferently, "If Concubine Tao is going into labor, go inform Madam. Madam will make all the necessary arrangements; the master is a man, and going there won't help matters anyway."
The maidservant blurted out frantically, "Concubine Tao went into premature labor because the Third Young Master pushed her down and caused her to fall—she's bleeding everywhere!"
"What did you say?" Tingyu's face instantly collapsed in horror. "Yu Ge'er is just a little child, how could he possibly push Concubine Tao down and cause her to fall?! Who on earth is framing a three-year-old toddler to take the fall for this?! No, I have to go see for myself!"
Inside the inner chamber, Xie Jingyu had already been jolted awake by the commotion, calling out, "What is going on out there?"
Tingyu hurriedly pivoted back inside. "Master, the maid says that Concubine Tao was pushed down by Yu Ge'er, triggering a premature labor. Yu Ge'er lives all the way over in Jade Lotus Garden—so far away from Concubine Tao's quarters—and on top of that, Yu Ge'er is running a fever and is sick in bed. How could he possibly commit such a scandalous act? Master, please hurry over and see for yourself to uphold justice for Yu Ge'er!"
Xie Jingyu bolted upright without a second thought.
A concubine going into premature labor was by no means a trivial matter.
He still vividly remembered how Yun Chu had likewise suffered a fall and gone into premature labor back then, bleeding an immense, terrifying amount…