Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 148
Chapter 148 - The Yun Family's Backup Plan
Aside from Xie Shian entering the Imperial Academy, there was another major event in the Xie household: Xie Ping's marriage.
More than two months prior, the Emperor had issued an imperial decree bestowing a marriage between the Prince of Anjing and Xie Ping. The wedding was set for September, and the grand wedding day was now fast approaching.
With so many unfortunate events plaguing the Xie household over this past period, everyone was pinning all their hopes of staging a comeback and regaining their prestige on this grand wedding, causing both Xie Zhongcheng and Madam Yuan to attach extraordinary importance to it.
While Yun Chu was busy with her own affairs, the manservant serving Xie Zhongcheng delivered a guest invitation list personally drafted by Xie Zhongcheng to Shengju.
Yun Chu took it, glanced over it, and immediately furrowed her brow.
Not only had Xie Zhongcheng written her father's name on the list, but a dozen of her father's subordinate military generals holding second, third, and fourth-rank military titles were also prominently featured.
Taking up her brush, she crossed out every single one of those names.
The manservant paused awkwardly, not daring to utter a word, and took the list back. Before long, Xie Zhongcheng and Madam Yuan arrived together.
"Chu'er," Madam Yuan got straight to the point. "Why did you cross out all of those guest names?"
Yun Chu raised her gaze. "These individuals have no social dealings with the Xie family. How did Mother and Father-in-law ever think to invite such people to partake in the wedding banquet?"
Xie Zhongcheng wore an expression of absolute reason and rightness. "These military generals are all friends of your father, General Yun. When your father comes to the Xie family to attend the wedding, these men coming along as well can also keep your father company over a few drinks, preventing him from feeling bored while staying at the Xie residence."
Yun Chu curved her lips in a cold smile.
This father-in-law of hers truly knew how to rack his brains trying to salvage face and put up a front for the Xie family.
She spoke in a cool, flat tone. "My father is leaving the capital tomorrow and will not be coming to attend the wedding banquet, so Father-in-law need not trouble yourself with this."
"Leaving tomorrow?" Xie Zhongcheng wore a look of utter astonishment. "In just a few days, it will be Ping-jie'er's grand wedding. As her maternal grandfather, why can't he stay a few more days to drink a cup of wedding wine for his granddaughter before departing?"
Hearing this, Madam Yuan gave her husband a heavy yank by the sleeve.
Ping-jie'er wasn't Chu'er's biological daughter to begin with, and she shared not the slightest bit of blood relation with the Yun family. Why on earth should General Yun linger in the capital for a few extra days on account of a granddaughter with whom he shared no blood ties?
Back when they didn't know Ping-jie'er was born to Concubineè´º (He), it was fine for Yun Chu to pour her genuine heart into raising her.
But now...
All three children born by the He woman—
As for Weige'er, the things he did were known throughout the entire capital.
An-ge'er... actually went so far as to place a flower meant to cut off the family line inside his own biological father's bedchamber.
And Ping-jie'er... goodness knows what kind of deeds she might commit in the future.
Every single one of the He woman's children was more terrifying than the last. If she were in Yun Chu's shoes, she wouldn't dare continue raising these children either.
"Chu'er, what your father-in-law means is that since your father has finally made a rare trip back to the capital, we hope the Xie and Yun families can interact and visit more often," Madam Yuan smiled, attempting to smooth things over. "Your father's departure from the capital is surely for official business, and we never know when he will set off, so I'll let Jingyu accompany you to send him off."
Yun Chu replied, "My husband is in poor health, so he'd best not go. It's fine for me to send him off alone; my father won't mind."
Madam Yuan had no choice but to sigh. "Very well, then."
Upon leaving Yun Chu's courtyard, Xie Zhongcheng flicked his sleeves and stalked off, while Madam Yuan, continuing to sigh, made her way over to Xie Ping's courtyard.
Xie Ping's wedding robes had already been embroidered, and she was currently working on the red bridal veil. Having grown up following the He woman, she had also picked up a few of the He woman's skills, and the red veil was embroidered with exceptional beauty.
Seeing Madam Yuan step through the door, she rose to her feet and asked, "Why has Grandmother come?"
"I've prepared a bit of private money for you." Madam Yuan fished several silver banknotes from her sleeve. "Once you cross into the Prince of Anjing's Estate, there will be no end of places where you'll need money. Here are two thousand taels of silver—it's not much, but it can help you tide over an urgent crisis. Keep them safely tucked away."
Xie Ping pressed her lips together; a mere two thousand taels of silver was genuinely a bit meager.
Yet, for her, it could also be considered a colossal fortune, seeing as she only possessed a little over three hundred taels to her name.
She would likely go down in history as the poorest Princess Consort of the current dynasty.
"The Prince of Anjing's Estate is nothing like our Xie family; the rules are strict. After you marry over, you must exercise caution in everything you do," Madam Yuan instructed earnestly. "You are the primary consort, the mistress in charge of the household. You must act as a virtuous helper, untangling troubles and resolving difficulties for the Prince, and on no account should you do those sorts of..."
"I know!" impatience tinged Xie Ping's features. "The palace matrons have already taught me all of this."
Madam Yuan spoke with deeply felt earnestness. "You know what Weige'er did, and what An-ge'er did in your father's room... We won't dwell on those. As your grandmother, I don't ask you to elevate or promote the Xie family; I only ask that you conduct yourself properly and securely, and that everything goes well for you."
Xie Ping pressed her lips into a tight line. "I remember."
In just a few short days, she would be married off into the Prince of Anjing's Estate. Initially, she had constantly looked forward to this day, but now that this day was truly on the verge of arriving, an indescribable sense of bewilderment and panic filled her heart.
If she were the only princess consort, everything would be easily managed, but entering the doors alongside her would also be a secondary consort.
Thinking of this, Xie Ping could not help letting out a quiet sigh.
The following morning, before the lingering darkness had even fully dissipated, Yun Chu arose, boarded a carriage, and headed out of the city gates. Her father was leading three hundred personal guards to secretly set out for Nanyue.
The three hundred personal guards had already departed in advance, and Yun Silin was bidding farewell to his family at the long pavilion outside the city.
The Yun family members were all present: Yun Chu's mother, Lady Lin, her eldest brother Yun Ze, her eldest sister-in-law Liu Qianqian, and her nephew Yun Zhenjiang.
"This trip of mine to Nanyue will likely keep me away for nearly two years without being able to return," Yun Silin looked toward the gathered members of the Yun family and spoke. "After I leave, should any major matters arise within the Yun family, all of you must consult more closely with Chu'er."
Yun Ze nodded. "Father, rest assured, I understand everything."
Neither Lady Lin nor Liu Qianqian questioned why matters concerning the Yun family ought to be discussed with a daughter married out of the household; both nodded earnestly in agreement.
"Chu'er..." Yun Silin looked toward his daughter. "Marrying you off to Xie Jingyu back then was the optimal choice under unavoidable circumstances, but time has proven that this choice was erroneous. Your mother and I have discussed it; when a suitable opportunity presents itself, we will invite the clan elders forward to arrange a formal separation and divorce for you. Your eldest brother and sister-in-law both concur with this course of action. Once separated, you will move back to live with the Yun family, and our Yun family will support and care for you for the rest of your days."
Warmth surged through Yun Chu's chest. "Father, I already have my own well-laid plans regarding the matter of separation. While you are traveling outside, please don't fret over these trivial matters of mine."
"A child's affairs are forever the greatest matters of all." Yun Silin raised a hand to gently ruffle her hair. "You truly have grown up, unwilling to confide in your parents about anything and accustomed to resolving everything entirely on your own. Father is gladdened that you've grown up, yet my heart aches that you've grown up... Chu'er, set your mind at ease. Father guarantees you that the events from your dreams will never come to pass."
Yun Chu's eye sockets stung with acid, and she nodded vigorously. "Alright, I will learn to consult and resolve things alongside Eldest Brother."
Fearing that if she spoke any further she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears, she turned, retrieved a bank certificate of deposit from the maid Tingsue standing behind her, and handed it over. "Father, stored within this is fifty thousand taels of silver, earnings from selling ice during the summer. Father, take these funds down south, purchase land, and hire people to farm—grow food grains, the more the better."
Yun Silin grasped Yun Chu's meaning with a brief moment of thought.
If things genuinely reached that ultimate stage, possessing grain meant the Yun family possessed a secure fallback option.
Just as he was about to speak, Yun Ze suddenly chimed in, "The Prince of Pingxi has arrived."
Yun Silin immediately tucked the certificate of deposit for fifty thousand taels securely inside his waistband and raised his gaze toward the side, where Chu Yi, the Prince of Pingxi, came riding up on horseback.