Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 122
Chapter 122 - I Had a Dream
"A while ago, I had a dream."
Yun Chu slowly began to recount it.
"In the dream, it was roughly a dozen years into the future. Father led the Yun army and utterly crushed the Western Frontier, and the vast expanse of the Western Frontier was incorporated into our territory. The Yun family rendered such monumental service that the entire nation celebrated... Right at that moment, someone suddenly submitted a memorial accusing the Yun family of plotting rebellion, and even dug up letters showing the Yun family colluding with foreign nations. The Emperor ordered a thorough investigation, and the result of that thorough investigation was that the Yun family had indeed colluded with foreign nations in an attempt to elevate the Eighth Prince to the throne. With human witnesses and physical evidence all present, it shook the imperial court and the common populace alike. Over a hundred members of the Yun family, from top to bottom, were all thrown into the Heavenly Prison, and our estate was ransacked!"
"To prove the innocence of the Yun family with his own life, Grandfather used this very blade to cut his own throat!"
Yun Chu looked toward the great saber resting upon the table. This blade, which had lopped off the heads of countless enemies, was the symbol of her grandfather's achievements, yet in the end it...
She continued speaking. "Father performed such immense meritorious service and should have returned to the capital to receive lavish rewards, but the moment he entered the capital, he was dragged into the dungeons... Eldest Brother was the first to be imprisoned, and after just a few days, he was tortured to death. Mother and Eldest Sister-in-law could not endure it inside the prison and died as well... Brother Jiang and everyone else remaining in the Yun family were sent to the execution ground..."
She found herself unable to continue for a moment, lowering her head to conceal the agony welling up in the depths of her eyes.
"Then what about you? What about you?" Yun Silin pressed further. "Chu'er, you are a married-out daughter. Even if disaster struck the Yun family, it wouldn't fall on your head, would it?"
Yun Chu raised her head and smiled bitterly. "I am a married-out daughter, but my surname is Yun. The Xie family feared being implicated, so they forced me to drink poisoned wine."
Behind her, Yun Ze walked in, his entire gaze filled with disbelief. "So, Chu'er, is this the reason why you and Xie Jingyu have been on such bad terms lately?"
No wonder that no matter what happened in the Xie family recently, Chu'er never even mentioned it when returning to the Yun family. He had previously assumed it was because of Aunt He.
Yet, years ago when Tingyu became a concubine, Chu'er had not grown distant from the Xie family. So, in truth, it was this dream that caused Chu'er to develop a rift with the Xie family?
"For you to have such a dream just shows that you worry about disaster striking the Yun family every single day. That's hardly surprising, because the Yun family has indeed risen to far too high a position, leaving no room for the slightest mishap. But—" Yun Ze looked at her. "How could you dream of the Xie family making you drink poisoned wine? Only what you think about by day do you dream of by night. Ordinarily, has the Xie family ever done something excessively cruel to you that makes you worry they would kill you?"
"Eldest Brother, the focal point isn't the Xie family; it's our Yun family," Yun Chu stated. "A dozen years from now, the Yun family might be executed in full. What can we do right now to prevent such an ending?"
"Dreams are always the opposite of reality. Don't scare yourself, Chu'er," Yun Silin said, patting her shoulder. "Tell Dad what grievance that scoundrel Xie Jingyu put you through, and Dad will teach him a lesson on your behalf."
Yun Chu offered a wry smile.
Xie Jingyu's life was already nearing its end; there was simply no need for her father to make a move.
As for the entire Xie family, she could handle them all by herself. However, as a married-out daughter, she could not dictate the path the Yun family took, which was why she could only discuss it with her father and brothers.
Yet, it was abundantly clear that the three people before her did not believe her dream at all, and instead cared more about whether she had suffered any grievances within the Xie family.
"My dream didn't just involve the Yun family; it also contained certain events about to happen in the future," Yun Chu said. "I dreamed that the Crown Prince fell gravely ill, and sure enough, the Crown Prince fell ill. I dreamed that Xie Shi'an would become the top scorer of the provincial examination, and the reality turned out the same. I even dreamed that Father will next receive an imperial decree ordering him to lead men to the Southern Frontier to execute the Cavalry General stationed there..."
Old General Yun's eyes widened in astonishment.
The Crown Prince had indeed fallen ill a short while ago, and to this day he had still not recovered, remaining perpetually bedridden.
Xie Shi'an had indeed become the top scorer of the院试 (yuan shi) examinations, and the Xie family had even hosted a banquet for guests.
But receive a decree to go to the Southern Frontier?
To execute the Cavalry General?
That was hardly likely.
Their Yun family had always guarded the Western Frontier. If they were dispatched to the Southern Frontier, the Western Frontier would be left completely undefended.
Furthermore, the Cavalry General was the Empress Dowager's maternal nephew and an officer highly valued by the Emperor; how could they possibly dispatch someone to execute him?
"I know none of you believe what I am saying," Yun Chu said calmly. "Then let us just wait and see."
Her sincere and earnest expression caused the three generations of men in the Yun family to turn solemn as well.
At that moment, a voice drifted in from the courtyard: "Is General Yun here? The Minister of War has urgent matters to discuss with General Yun."
"Let everything Chu'er said just now be buried deep in your stomachs," Old General Yun instructed. "We will discuss this matter after the Emperor issues the decree. Disperse for now."
Yun Silin walked out and, upon seeing that it was the Prince of Pingxi, Chu Yi, he laughed and delivered a playful punch to Chu Yi's shoulder. "I hear that all the bandits within a hundred miles of the capital have been completely wiped out by you. Impressive, truly impressive."
"No matter how impressive, I cannot compare to General Yun. Those five words—'Pillar of the State's Great General'—strike fear into the hearts of the surrounding small nations and uphold our national prestige," Chu Yi said, taking the punch in stride. "The Minister of War's side is somewhat anxious; General Yun should hurry over."
Yun Silin nodded and strode with brisk paces toward the front courtyard.
Yun Chu walked out of the old general's courtyard and caught sight of Chu Yi, who had not yet departed.
He had probably come straight to the Yun family residence after emerging from the palace. Dressed in official robes, he radiated an imposing aura, exuding a chilly sternness from head to toe.
Yet, when he turned his head around, Yun Chu was surprised to discover that the biting frost within his eyes was slowly receding.
"Madam Xie."
Chu Yi uttered those words.
Though inwardly he repelled those three words, he had no choice but to address her thusly.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Yun Chu said, offering a slight curtsy. "Does Your Highness have matters to attend to?"
Chu Yi had been helping the Minister of War search for someone, which was how he had followed the Yun estate's servants to this spot. Whatever business remained was nothing more than returning to the banquet hall to continue drinking.
He replied, "Nothing of importance."
"I have a matter I wish to discuss with Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness might be interested." A smile bloomed across Yun Chu's face. "This way, Your Highness."
She led Chu Yi to a pavilion within the Yun estate. One guard belonging to Chu Yi, along with her two maidservants, all stood waiting by the perimeter of the pavilion.
Not far away was the estate's main pathway, where many servants shuttled back and forth busily. For the two of them to converse here could hardly be considered contrary to propriety.
Chu Yi sat opposite her. Amidst their breath, he once again caught a whiff of that familiar fragrance, prompting him to ask, "What kind of perfume is Madam Xie using?"
The moment the question left his lips, he abruptly felt it was too abrupt.
Asking such a private question of a married woman was, to a greater or lesser degree, a transgression.
It was the first time he congratulated himself on having a quick mind, as he immediately sought to patch it up. "Changshheng is fond of you, so I figured she would likely appreciate the scent you use as well."
"What I use is a jasmine fragrance concocted by my mother," Yun Chu replied. "Next time, I will have someone bring some over as a gift for Changsheng."
Chu Yi furrowed his brows in a manner imperceptible to the eye.
Jasmine fragrance?
There was a hint of it, yes, but there was more of that other familiar scent—the origin of which he could not quite place—that was extremely faint.
When standing close to her, it could be smelled quite distinctly.
He must have smelled this exact scent somewhere before.
When would that have been?
He could not remember.
"Your Highness," Yun Chu interrupted his train of thought. "I wish to discuss a business venture with Your Highness. I wonder if Your Highness has any interest in it."
Chu Yi had very little interest in business ventures.
Yet, for reasons unknown, he wanted to hear her speak.
He nodded. "Let's hear it."
Yun Chu explained in an orderly fashion, "I purchased an estate in the outskirts of the capital and unexpectedly discovered a hot spring there, one even larger than the imperial hot spring pools. If I hand it over to the royal family, I would naturally feel unwilling; but keeping it for myself carries numerous hidden risks. Therefore, I wish to have Your Highness share in both the risks and the profits. What do you think?"
Chu Yi took a sip of tea and asked, "Why choose me?”