Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 137
Chapter 137 - Xie Shian Sends Flowers
Night fell, and the brilliant lanterns began to glow.
Yun Chu and Xie Ping only returned to the Xie residence at this hour.
Today, Xie Ping had made the acquaintance of many people at the Yun residence whom she previously wouldn't even have had the chance to speak with. She grew increasingly certain that her choice back at Qing'an Temple had been incomparably correct.
Though there was no dowry, it didn't matter; once she became the Princess of Anjing, whatever should be hers would naturally follow.
The next morning, Xie Shian was still the first to arrive to pay his respects.
There was a scar on his head, the mark left behind after Xie Shiwei had smashed it open last time. If one didn't look closely, it wasn't easy to notice.
"Haidé Academy will be going on break in just a few days," Yun Chu said, looking at him. "When September arrives, you'll be going to study at the Imperial Academy. Once your father's illness improves, have him figure out a way to take you to pay a visit to the Imperial Academy's instructors first."
Xie Shian had originally wanted to mention having his maternal grandfather take him to see the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, but since his mother had put it this way, it wasn't appropriate for him to make further demands.
He cupped his hands in a salute and walked out of the reception hall.
Before long, the rest of the people coming to pay their respects had all arrived.
A great many things had happened in the Xie family during this period, and the mindset of every member of the Xie family had undergone subtle changes.
Tingyu held Xie Shenyun's hand as they stood quietly. Aside from a few polite phrases of greeting, she uttered no more words.
Concubine Tao brought Xie Shekang with her every day. He was a premature child and far more difficult to raise than ordinary babies; even with a wet nurse to help out, her young body was already nearing its breaking point.
As for Concubine Jiang, she was tending to Xie Jingyu who remained bedridden with illness, also burning the candle at both ends day and night, leaving her complexion looking very poor.
"If there's nothing else, you may all withdraw," Yun Chu waved a hand, and the concubines retreated with lowered heads.
She returned to her inner chambers, changed into a crisp and nimble outfit, gathered some toys that young children liked, and prepared to set off for the hot spring estate in the capital's outskirts.
Just as she stepped out of Shengju Residence's courtyard, Concubine Jiang returned in a hurry. "Madam, the Master says he has an urgent matter to discuss with Madam and requests that Madam make a trip over."
Yun Chu frowned. "Just tell him I have no time."
"Yesterday afternoon, the Master already had this concubine run over to Shengju Residence many times, but Madam hadn't returned yet, so it was dropped," Concubine Jiang said in a low voice. "Madam should still go take a look."
Yun Chu estimated that she would probably be able to return around noon.
She twitched the corner of her lips and followed Concubine Jiang toward the courtyard of Xie Jingyu's study.
The moment she stepped inside, she caught the suffocating, pungent scent of medicinal herbs permeating the entire courtyard.
"Master, Madam has arrived."
Concubine Jiang announced from the doorway, and after Yun Chu went inside, she turned and headed to the courtyard to watch over the medicine stove.
Yun Chu stepped inside. "Did you have Concubine Jiang summon me over to discuss some matter?"
Xie Jingyu's gaze landed on her attire—dressed differently than usual—and he spoke up, "Is Madam heading out?"
"Mm, going to check on the estate outside the city," Yun Chu answered casually. "The hour is getting late; if you have something to say, speak quickly."
While speaking, she noticed that Xie Jingyu's face was frighteningly pale. His skin was already fair to begin with, but after falling ill, it had turned a ghastly white.
She also noticed that on the windowsill beside the bed, a pot of flowers had appeared at some point.
She walked closer, inspected it carefully, and couldn't help curving her lips into a smile. She recognized these flowers.
A while back, when she was rummaging through books to find a herbal contraceptive formula for men to use on Xie Jingyu, she had come across this exact plant—one that could render a man completely sterile, along with numerous other side effects.
She spoke up, "Who sent these flowers over?"
"A'an sent them a few days ago." Not wishing to dwell on the matter, Xie Jingyu paused and said, "Has Father-in-law been busy lately? Could you ask Father-in-law to bring A'an along to meet the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy?"
Yun Chu smiled.
Xie Shian was truly ruthless; he could inflict such a vicious hand even upon his own biological father.
She spoke, "My father will be leaving the capital in these next few days, so I'm afraid he won't have the spare time to see the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. Since A'an is so exceptional, I imagine he doesn't need my father's recommendation to catch the Chancellor's eye. Husband should focus on properly recovering from your illness and stop worrying about this."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out.
Yun Chu brought Tingshuque along toward the capital's outskirts. Dozing off in the carriage for a short while, they soon arrived at the estate's entrance.
This was her third time coming here, and the scenery before her eyes was vastly different from the first two visits. The estate entrance had taken on a completely new look; not a shred of its appearance as a wasteland abandoned for over twenty years remained. Walking inside, it felt spacious, grand, and atmospheric, adorned with flourishing trees, rockery and flowing streams, and beautifully carved beams and painted pillars—possessing a remarkable sense of layered aesthetic beauty.
"Greetings, Madam Xie!"
Manager Cheng led the estate servants in paying their respects to Yun Chu.
Aside from Manager Cheng himself and a steward mother who were people from the Pingxi Prince's Manor, virtually everyone else consisted of personnel arranged by Uncle Chen, among whom Tingshuang and Jiuer counted as Yun Chu's trusted aides.
"We are currently still lacking a few accountants," Manager Cheng said respectfully. "The Prince's meaning is that Madam Xie should arrange the accountants."
Accountants were the ones who managed money. Under normal circumstances, cooperating parties would desperately cram their own people into the accounting positions to plot greater benefits for themselves.
Regarding this move by the Pingxi Prince, it was hard to tell whether he truly didn't care or if he harbored intentions of testing her.
Naturally, Yun Chu wouldn't simply agree to take full charge of it either. She stated, "I can only arrange three positions here; as for the remaining two lacking accountants, we will have to trouble Manager Cheng to select a few trustworthy ones."
Manager Cheng lowered his head and agreed.
Just as they finished speaking, a carriage pulled up right at the estate entrance. Before it had even fully stopped, a little milk-dumpling of a child charged in through the main gates.
"Aunt Yun, I've missed you so much!"
With rapid pattering steps, Chu Hongyu scrambled up onto Yun Chu.
Yesterday, with that fellow Yun Zhenjiang watching him, he hadn't even gotten to have a proper hug with Mother.
The moment Yun Chu picked the little fellow up, Chu Changsheng charged in as well. Catching her with her free hand, Yun Chu ended up holding one in each arm.
Fortunately, she had specially chosen a crisp, nimble outfit today; otherwise, holding two children wouldn't have been convenient at all. Fortunately, too, these two children were far too thin and light, or else she wouldn't have been able to carry them either—though she secretly hoped they would grow a bit heavier and plumper...
Witnessing this scene, Manager Cheng was utterly dumbfounded.
Since when had Madam Xie grown on such wonderfully familiar terms with the two little young masters of the Prince's Manor?
Raising his gaze, he saw the Prince walking in with his usual expression, his eyes resting upon Madam Xie with a trace of a faint smile lingering at the corners of his lips.
He was struck by astonishment once more.
He was an old-timer of the Yin family who had always handled affairs for the Prince and frequently interacted with him. To put it bluntly, he had practically never seen the Prince smile.
Or rather, the only smiles he had ever witnessed from the Prince were cold smirks; a peaceful, gentle smile like the one before him was something he had never beheld in his life.
"Yu Ge'er, get down," Chu Yi said in a calm, flat tone. "You are a male; what does it look like to have Madam Xie carrying you?"
The woman before him was holding two children, and her waist was bent under the strain—evidently finding it somewhat strenuous.
Chu Hongyu clung stubbornly, refusing to budge.
Chu Yi's gaze turned frosty, carrying an unmistakable undertone of threat.
The little fellow knew that if he didn't behave obediently, next time his Prince Father wouldn't take him out anymore.
With a pitiful expression, he had no choice but to climb down from Yun Chu's arms.
Holding the quiet little girl, Yun Chu bowed to Chu Yi in greeting. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Chu Yi waved a hand. "You and I are jointly operating the estate; it's far too overly formal for Madam Xie to bow upon seeing me."
Yun Chu increasingly felt that this Pingxi Prince, whom everyone feared, was actually quite approachable…