Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 164
Chapter 164 - He Xu Comes Knocking
Tingyu was utterly bewildered.
How had the Xie family suddenly fallen to such a desperate state?
No wonder the allowances and supplies for her and Brother Yun had grown worse and worse lately. It turned out Madam hadn't been intentionally cutting their rations; the manor truly had no money left.
"Most of the Xie family's silver was spent on the Old Madam's funeral arrangements," Yun Chu spoke up. "Brother Kang's delicate health, the Master's illness, and Brother An's gifts to his tutors were all paid for by scraping silver together from here and there. The Xie family was hollowed out long ago. If this remaining one thousand-plus taels is used to hire physicians for the Master, then the servants in this manor will have to be dismissed."
Tingyu clutched the handkerchief in her hand tightly. "Madam... Madam should still have some silver on hand, right?"
She used to be Madam's personal maid, so she knew Madam's dowry like the back of her hand. Even if Madam had subsidized the Xie family with some of it, a great deal must surely remain.
Hearing her words, Yun Chu smiled. "As far as I know, Concubine Yu has also saved quite a bit of private funds over the years. Why don't you bring it out to invite Imperial Physician Qin for a consultation?"
"This concubine has none..." Tingyu shook her head hurriedly. "The Master needs someone to attend to him over there; this concubine will take her leave first."
Yun Chu did not care in the slightest how Tingyu might sow discord before Xie Jingyu.
She looked toward Tingfeng, who was walking inside. "Is everything arranged?"
Tingfeng nodded. "Rest assured, Madam. There will be a good show to watch tomorrow morning."
"Arrange more people to follow along." Yun Chu's long eyelashes cast a faint shadow, her voice chillingly cold. "Once the incident occurs, take advantage of the chaos to take He Xu away. We won't be needing him after that."
In her previous life, Tingfeng and Tingxue had suffered cruel humiliation at He Xu's hands; in truth, this man should have died thoroughly long ago.
However, there was still this one last task waiting for He Xu to carry out. Once the matter was settled, He Xu could go on to his next reincarnation.
Tingfeng turned around and went out to deliver the orders.
Tingxue entered holding a land deed. "Madam, it is done. That three-entry courtyard residence in Yulin Lane has officially been registered under Madam's name."
Yun Chu looked at the deed with satisfaction and put it away securely.
Yulin Lane was an alley right behind the Yun Estate, not far from the bustling streets—a tranquil haven within, yet close to prosperous life outside.
A three-entry courtyard was honestly a bit too spacious for her to live in alone. The front courtyard could receive guests, the rear courtyard would serve as living quarters, and the middle section could be slightly modified.
She had the servants prepare brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, then diligently set about sketching the layout of the courtyard.
Since she would be living there by herself anyway, there was no need to consult anyone; whatever felt most comfortable would suffice. She loved eating peaches, so she would plant some peach trees—in spring, she could even admire the blossoms.
She also liked verdant bamboo; planting half a ring of bamboo along the pond would be quite lovely.
She vaguely recalled Brother Yu saying he loved eating persimmons, so she would have people plant several persimmon trees along the courtyard walls.
Changsheng loved eating lychees, but the soil and climate of the capital could not support lychee trees.
Changsheng also liked small animals like cats and rabbits, so it might be nice to build another small garden specifically to raise those little creatures...
As she drew on, the sky gradually darkened.
While Yun Chu was enjoying her peaceful contentment here, every single member of the Xie family found it difficult to fall asleep.
Xie Jingyu was too ill to sleep.
Xie Zhongcheng and Lady Yuan were tossing and turning in despair over the Xie family's future.
As for Xie Shi'an, the moment he closed his eyes, several faces would surface before him: the face of his biological mother He Lingying, the face of the Old Madam, and the face of his eldest sister Xie Ping.
He could not sleep—he simply could not fall asleep at all.
In the past, he had only needed to focus on studying diligently; all matters inside and outside the Xie family were naturally taken care of by others.
Yet now, for reasons unknown, all the responsibility and pressure seemed to weigh entirely upon his shoulders.
His birthday fell in early winter. Even when winter arrived, he would still be merely a young boy of thirteen. Why did he have to shoulder the rise, fall, honor, and disgrace of the entire clan?
Xie Shi'an struggled amidst all manner of conflicting emotions, and before he realized it, dawn had arrived.
The sky was just beginning to pale with the first light of day. He got up, changed his clothes, washed up, gathered his books, and set out for the Imperial College.
No matter what happened at home, no matter what he might encounter, he could never give up the opportunity at the Imperial College. He had to trample over every single person in the Imperial College to reach the Emperor's presence, to ascend to the very highest pinnacle.
Once a person was sufficiently powerful, once a person stood high and firm enough, no wind or rain could ever tear them down.
The court officials attended morning audience even earlier than the Imperial College began, and court would soon adjourn; along the way, he hardly encountered anyone.
Only when Xie Shi'an's carriage arrived before the palace gates did he run into a few classmates who were likewise heading to classes at the Imperial College.
The moment he heard their voices, he knew they were several of the Sixth Prince's roguish cronies, who often joined the Sixth Prince in making things difficult for him.
He stepped down from the carriage, quickened his pace, and walked briskly toward the palace gates.
"Halt."
A reckless, insolent voice called out behind him.
He knew this was the Heir of Marquess Pingjin, the Sixth Prince's foremost flunky.
"And here I thought the Eldest Young Master Xie wouldn't dare show his face at the Imperial College ever again." The Heir of Pingjin walked up in front of Xie Shi'an, clicking his tongue mockingly. "Previously, when you were Prince Anjing's brother-in-law, you put on airs before us every single day. Now that Prince Anjing has died for his treason, who are you showing this shameless, fearless attitude to?!"
As he spoke, he reached out and patted Xie Shi'an's cheek condescendingly.
Having stayed awake the entire night, Xie Shi'an possessed no energy to tangle with him. He took a step back. "Has the Heir finished speaking? If so, I shall head inside."
"Did I say you could leave?" The Heir of Pingjin suddenly raised his foot and kicked Xie Shi'an hard in the abdomen.
Xie Shi'an was knocked to the ground by the kick.
He clenched his fists tightly, choosing not to struggle to his feet.
As long as these people had their fill of tormenting him, they would naturally let him go.
He lacked sufficient power right now; aside from enduring, he had no other choice.
The Heir of Pingjin tossed out a few more scathing, venomous remarks and threw in a few extra kicks. By then, many students had arrived, so he was about ready to head inside the Imperial College for his studies.
Right at this moment, a familiar voice drifted over from near and far.
"Xie Shi'an, my dear nephew! As your maternal uncle, I've finally found you!"
This familiar voice caused Xie Shi'an to jerk his head up violently. Looking over, he saw a long-unseen figure striding rapidly toward him.
His pupils could not help but dilate to their limits.
After unexpectedly bumping into He Xu back in the capital last time, he had spent money hiring several men to tail He Xu's movements, intending to dispose of him once and for all.
Yet after so many days, those men had failed to find even a trace of He Xu. He had assumed he had truly seen wrong back then, and had also thought that perhaps He Xu had fled the capital once again after being chased by casino debt collectors...
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to see He Xu right here.
Seeing the malicious smirk plastered on He Xu's face, he secretly thought to himself: Disaster!
He Xu drew closer step by step, observing Xie Shi'an dressed in fine brocade with his hair bound in a jade crown—the very picture of someone raised in opulent luxury.
Enjoying boundless wealth and glory all to himself while driving his own kin to utter ruin one by one... He was Xie Shi'an's biological uncle! In this world, aside from one's parents, an uncle was the closest relation, yet this biological nephew had hired men time and again trying to murder him.
Had Madam's loyal servant Uncle Chen not protected him, found him lodging, and arranged people to serve and safeguard him, he wouldn't have survived until now at all.
Why should he have to live like a scurrying rat while this nephew of his strolled down a grand, open boulevard?
If he was having a miserable life, no one else was going to have it easy either—not even his own biological nephew!