Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 150
Chapter 150 - The Prince of Pingxi Makes His Move
With guests arriving in an endless stream at the entrance of the Xie estate, Yun Chu could not be bothered to continue greeting visitors; she instructed Madam Yuan to handle the arrangements and then headed toward the inner courtyards accompanied by the two children.
The two little ones were exceedingly happy, trailing after Yun Chu and calling out "Mother" without stop.
Meanwhile, Xie Jingyu took his seat in the banquet hall alongside Chu Yi, and the servants served the finest tea available.
Chu Yi spoke with an air of nonchalance, "I heard some time ago that the Old Mistress of the Xie family had passed away and that Master Xie had fallen gravely ill from excessive grief. From what this Prince can observe, however, Master Xie seems to be doing rather well."
Xie Jingyu replied deferentially, "I was previously so bedridden that I could not even rise, but my humble wife graciously invited a retired imperial physician to diagnose my condition and prescribe a remedy. After taking the medicine, I am feeling vastly improved."
Chu Yi's fingers paused for a fraction of a second.
She... cared this deeply for that man, to the extent that she personally went out to invite an imperial physician for him?
A stifled ache welled up in his chest, and he casually inquired, "Which physician was invited?"
"It is Physician Qin," Xie Jingyu answered. "Physician Qin possesses exceptional medical skills, and I shall likely make a complete recovery before long."
Hearing this, Chu Yi furrowed his brow.
While he might not know every single detail about all civil and military officials in the court, because his two children had been frail in constitution since birth, he was intimately familiar with which imperial physicians served in the Imperial Hospital, what each physician's surname was, and in what specialties they excelled. He likewise held a crystal-clear understanding of every single folk healer, village doctor, and wandering physician across the capital's grand avenues and narrow alleys—to say nothing of retired imperial physicians...
He had never once heard of a retired imperial physician surnamed Qin.
Suppressing his doubts for the moment, he spoke, "Today is the grand wedding day of the Xie family's eldest daughter, yet it would seem the Xie household is missing someone?"
Xie Jingyu's expression stiffened.
The person missing from the Xie family was naturally Xie Shiwei, his unfilial second son.
On such a joyous occasion, he didn't even want to utter a word about that rebellious wretch.
"On such a wonderful and auspicious occasion, how could anyone be missing?" A smile surfaced on Chu Yi's face. "This Prince specifically went out of his way to bring Second Young Master Xie back for Master Xie."
"What?!"
Xie Jingyu's countenance underwent a dramatic shift as he abruptly sprang to his feet.
This sudden movement drew the gaze of several nearby guests, who assumed some unexpected mishap had occurred.
"Why is Master Xie so agitated?" Chu Yi asked with leisurely composure. "This Prince knew the Xie family had been searching for the whereabouts of Second Young Master Xie, and since my men happened to catch sight of him, I thought I would gift Master Xie a generous present."
When he had dispatched his subordinates to investigate the affairs of the Xie family, they discovered that the He Concubine—the very one who had made Xie Jingyu cast aside all decorum and propriety—had inexplicably died.
Following the trail of this He Concubine, his investigation unexpectedly unearthed a heaven-shaking secret.
That He Concubine was actually the biological granddaughter of Lord He, the Minister of Revenue who had been convicted of bribery and corruption over twenty years ago.
Furthermore, the eldest son, eldest daughter, and second son of the Xie family were all exceptionally likely to be descendants of the He family as well. It was simply that he had yet to unearth concrete evidence at the present moment.
"Let us go, Master Xie, and accompany this Prince to welcome Second Young Master Xie back to the estate."
Upon hearing Chu Yi's words, Xie Jingyu's figure swayed violently.
Following the Old Mistress's death, Xie Shiwei had slipped away in secret. Back then, countless people in the capital gossiped about the Xie family, making them feel as despised as rats scurrying across the street.
After so many days had passed, the troubles of the Xie family had finally been pushed to the back of people's minds... Should Weige'er return to the estate at this juncture, he would inevitably be apprehended and brought to justice on the spot, and the circumstances surrounding the Old Mistress's death would be dragged back into the light of day... If Weige'er's crimes were substantiated, the Xie family would be nailed to the pillar of shame for all eternity.
"Ah, right, there is one more matter," Chu Yi said in a deep, chilling tone. "Over twenty years ago, that sensational bribery scandal involving the Ministry of Revenue that shook the entire capital—Master Xie, as a former Bureau Director within the Ministry of Revenue, must surely have caught wind of it?"
Xie Jingyu was still reeling from the shock regarding Xie Shiwei and had yet to gather his wits when this second blow struck, threatening to blow his mind apart.
"Word has it that descendants of the He family recently returned to the capital," Chu Yi stared piercingly at Xie Jingyu. "Has Master Xie happened to cross paths with any members of the He family?"
A wave of dizziness washed over Xie Jingyu, and he nearly tumbled headfirst out of his chair.
"N-No, I have not." He struggled to draw a breath, pausing for a long moment before managing to say, "This humble official has no knowledge of this. What does Your Highness mean?"
"Things have already reached this pass, yet Master Xie is still feigning ignorance before this Prince?" Chu Yi chuckled. "He Concubine—her original surname was He. I wonder if this Prince speaks correctly?"
Xie Jingyu felt a sudden surge of metallic sweetness rise in the back of his throat, immediately followed by a violent fit of coughing. He covered his mouth with his hand, sensing a sudden warmth against his palm; when he glanced down, he saw he had coughed up a mouthful of dark, blackened blood.
Clearly, when he woke up that morning, his body had felt much improved, yet now he felt utterly devoid of strength in every limb, wishing nothing more than to simply pass out.
Yet he knew he could not afford to faint.
"Y-Your Highness!" Xie Jingyu mustered every ounce of lingering strength. "This humble official, this humble official..."
He desperately longed to say something, yet he had no idea what words could possibly save him.
Since the Prince of Pingxi had tracked him down directly, it meant all the evidence was already in hand, and any explanations he offered would prove entirely futile.
Wait!
A sudden flash of inspiration struck him.
The Prince of Pingxi had chosen to bring up this matter right before the Xie family's wedding banquet rather than leading government officials to conduct a raid—which meant there was still room for maneuver in this affair.
As if catching sight of a glimmer of hope, he blurted out without hesitation, "Whatever instructions Your Highness may have, please issue them freely! This humble official is willing to shatter his bones and smash his body to dust in your service!"
Chu Yi rubbed his thumb against his palm, pausing for a long beat before speaking. "Master Xie has been in mourning for some time now; surely the Old Mistress has felt Master Xie's filial devotion by now. This Prince has certain matters that require Master Xie's attention. Make your preparations accordingly."
Xie Jingyu started in abrupt astonishment.
Since antiquity, people have held fast to the principle that of all virtues, filial piety comes first. Mourning for one's parents lasted three full years, while mourning for grandparents lasted one year—a period formally known as "observing mourning rites" or dingyou.
Officials were barred from attending court during their mourning period, and many capable talents had their careers derailed precisely because of this. He had constantly worried that after completing his year of mourning, the imperial court would no longer hold any position for him.
To his utter disbelief, the Prince of Pingxi was instructing him to resume official duties right now.
The Prince of Pingxi was an imperial prince; summoning someone to cut short their mourning and resume official duties was known as "summoning back from mourning out of state necessity" (duoqing). Such a privilege was reserved exclusively for high-ranking officials wielding immense power and enjoying the deepest trust of the Emperor. Who was he to deserve such treatment...
Then again, the Prince of Pingxi held the Xie family's fatal weakness in his grasp. Demanding that he pledge his loyalty and cutting short his mourning was likely done to groom him as a trusted confidant.
He, Xie Jingyu, had after all been the top scholar of his examination year, brimming with boundless talent—he had merely lacked an opportunity to be truly valued and employed.
With the imperial court now subtly cleaved into three distinct factions, what did it matter even if the Crown Party was the most powerful? By aligning himself with the Prince of Pingxi, he would undoubtedly help the Prince ascend to that supreme seat.
"This humble subject is willing to give his all in Your Highness's service, following you unto death!"
Chu Yi nodded, a trace of mockery flickering within his eyes.
He would arrange a lucrative, grease-laden post for Xie Jingyu—a lucrative position within the Ministry of Revenue, specifically dealing with silver, where hundreds of thousands of taels of white silver passed through his hands every single day.
He refused to believe that Xie Jingyu could withstand such immense temptation.
Every single member of the Yun family, from top to bottom, possessed an unyielding integrity. Once they learned that their son-in-law had dirtied his hands with the imperial court's silver, they would recognize with absolute clarity that the two sides were walking entirely different paths, thereby accelerating Yun Chu's resolve to sever ties and divorce Xie Jingyu...
Just as Chu Yi was about to bring up the matter of Xie Shiwei,
Chengbai hurried over, leaning in close to murmur in his ear, "Your Highness, the people from the Yun family have already tracked him down to Pear Blossom Lane."
Pear Blossom Lane was the temporary hiding place where Xie Shiwei was being kept.
His men operated with extreme efficiency, yet the Yun family managed to locate Pear Blossom Lane this swiftly, which could only mean the Yun family had kept someone trailing Xie Shiwei all along.
After Xie Shiwei fled the Xie household, he had lived beneath bridge arches and subsisted on slop water. Since the Yun family had been secretly keeping tabs on him yet steadfastly withheld a helping hand, what did that signify?
It signified that the Yun family no longer regarded the Xie family as kin by marriage whatsoever.
Chu Yi let out a soft chuckle. "Release Xie Shiwei."
He wanted to see precisely what the Yun family was plotting, and he wouldn't mind lending a helpful hand to push things along.