Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 173
Chapter 173 - You Are Far Too Distant
The two guards exchanged glances, both unsure of how to proceed.
Right at that moment, a voice sounded: "What is the matter?"
As if grasping at a life-saving straw, the two men hastily cupped their fists: "Lord Cheng, the eldest daughter of the Yun family requests an audience with the Prince."
Cheng Xu was a first-class guard of the third rank and also a vanguard commander in the bandit-suppression forces; the subordinates below all addressed him as "Lord."
Cheng Xu stepped out from within the manor and caught sight of the woman dressed in a black cloak. Naturally recognizing her as Madam Xie, he said at once, "Madam Xie, please step inside quickly."
This Madam Xie was extraordinary; not only did the two young masters treat her with immense closeness and affection, but even the Prince treated Madam Xie with remarkable distinction. Naturally, she could not be neglected.
Yun Chu nodded: "Thank you."
She followed Cheng Xu into the Prince of Pingxi's Manor. The night had deepened, and dim yellow lanterns lit the courtyard, illuminating the path ahead.
"Madam Xie, please sit in the side hall for a moment. I shall go report to the Prince immediately."
Cheng Xu instructed the maidservants on duty to serve tea and bring out several pastries before heading toward Chu Yi's residence.
Just as he reached the entrance of the inner courtyard, an elderly matron barred his way: "Lord Cheng, the Prince only blew out the candles and retired to rest half an hour ago. Over this recent period, it has been truly rare for him to enjoy a single night of sound sleep. Whatever business you have, could you wait until the Prince sleeps for just a short while before bringing it up?"
The matron was Chu Yi's nurturing nanny, who had followed him ever since he was small; naturally, her heart ached for her master.
Cheng Xu knew that the Prince had indeed been exhausted lately: affairs of the imperial court, the suppression of bandits, unexpected crises—one matter after another, each and every one was handled by the Prince personally.
To enjoy a peaceful sleep was truly no easy feat for the Prince.
Yet Madam Xie...
Cheng Xu rubbed his head.
"Nanny, I will simply keep watch here in the courtyard. Whenever the Prince awakes, that is when I will report."
Seeing his utterly conflicted expression, the nanny surmised it was likely a matter of great importance, so she lowered her arm and allowed him to enter.
Cheng Xu paced back and forth outside the door of the room where Chu Yi slept.
He knew how much the Prince cared about Madam Xie, so he dared not delay her affairs.
Yet the Prince desperately needed rest, so he dared not wake him either.
He could only pace back and forth to soothe his own anxiety...
After pacing for nearly half an hour, he heard a low, composed voice call out from within the room: "Cheng Xu, speak if you have business."
"Forgive me, Your Highness!" Cheng Xu gave a start and said hastily, "Approximately half an hour ago, Madam Xie sought an audience, stating that there is an affair of utmost importance..."
Before he could even finish his sentence...
The two door leaves before him were pulled open.
Chu Yi strode out of the room, pulling on his outer robe as he walked, only pulling up his boots properly once he reached the courtyard.
He walked briskly outward, speaking at the same time: "In the future, regarding any matter concerning Madam Xie, no matter what this prince is doing—whether sleeping or in council—it must be reported at the very first moment."
"Understood!"
Cheng Xu let out a breath of relief, leading Chu Yi toward the side hall.
Having waited for roughly half an hour, Yun Chu saw Chu Yi stride inside with broad steps.
She rose immediately to her feet: "Disturbing you so late in the night, I must beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
Chu Yi made a gentle gesture to steady her: "Madam Xie visiting at such an hour indicates that this matter is of great consequence. Please, speak."
He was somewhat anxious about what might have happened to her.
At the same time, in a hidden corner of his heart, there was a flutter of quiet joy.
Because when facing trouble, she was willing to come to him for help.
Moreover, coming to his door in the dead of night was proof enough that, in her eyes, their relationship could be considered that of friends.
Yun Chu spoke: "I wonder if Your Highness is aware of the matter regarding the Marquis of Xuanwu, Qin Mingheng, escaping back to the capital?"
Chu Yi inclined his head.
Ever since the Xie family had been surrounded, he had kept people assigned to monitor the situation at the Xie Manor.
He also knew that Qin Mingheng had barged into the Xie family after returning to the capital.
It was only after his subordinates reported at the earliest moment that the woman before him was unharmed that he had finally retired to sleep.
"I do not know which lord has been tasked with interrogating Qin Mingheng," Yun Chu said in a measured voice. "Can Your Highness intervene in this case?"
Chu Yi rubbed his fingers together slightly: "Do you mean you hope for me to take over?"
Yun Chu lowered her eyelids: "I must trouble Your Highness. I know this request is quite unreasonable, which is why I have brought the land deed to the hot spring manor; please accept it, Your Highness."
Previously, when Imperial Concubine Yin wished to purchase this manor, Yun Chu had been unwilling to sell.
Now, asking someone for assistance required the proper attitude of a petitioner; she was willing to present the manor with both hands.
"Madam Xie..." Chu Yi began, then let the words turn on his tongue, openly changing the form of address, "Miss Yun, you are far too distant."
He pushed the land deed back, then gave a few quiet instructions to Cheng Xu, who swiftly departed the Prince's Manor.
Yun Chu knew he had gone to handle the matter of Qin Mingheng.
Just as she was about to speak...
She saw a pageboy hurry in through the entrance, leaning close to Chu Yi's ear to whisper a few words.
Chu Yi's expression changed abruptly, and he gazed at Yun Chu in sheer disbelief: "Your husband, Xie Jingyu, is dead?"
Yun Chu froze for a moment.
Xie Jingyu's death had not been announced for mourning; currently, only the members of the Xie family knew of it, and even the guards stationed at the entrance of the Xie Manor might not be aware.
How had the man before her obtained the news so quickly?
Could it be that he had been having people keep watch over the Xie family all along?
Seeing Yun Chu fall silent, Chu Yi's heart sank slightly: "Did your husband die at the hands of Qin Mingheng?"
Was that why she had come to beg him to take over Qin Mingheng's case, wishing to avenge Xie Jingyu?
Was that it?
"No."
Yun Chu denied it directly.
She pressed her lips together and said, "Because of the disaster that befell the Xie family, he sought to drown his sorrows in wine. His health was already poor, and having consumed too much wine, disaster struck... It had nothing to do with anyone else."
Chu Yi's gaze turned somewhat obscure.
Xie Jingyu's mourning period had lasted a year; it was for Chu Yi's own private motives that he had arranged for Xie Jingyu to return to court and assigned him the most lucrative post in the Ministry of Revenue.
He had intentionally instructed people to manipulate the account books, deliberately placing fraudulent accounts before Xie Jingyu's eyes.
He had thought that if Xie Jingyu could resist such tremendous temptation, it would prove him to be an upright gentleman, and Chu Yi would have given up on his own hopes entirely.
Yet, on the very first day Xie Jingyu discovered the discrepancy in the ledgers, he embezzled several thousand taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue.
He rejoiced that Xie Jingyu was a vile scoundrel.
His heart ached that Yun Chu had married such a man.
What he had not anticipated was that Xie Jingyu would actually drink himself to death before the imperial court could even conclude the investigation.
"I was the one who arranged that post for Xie Jingyu," he parted his lips with difficulty. "Had it not been for me, perhaps this would not have happened..."
"When all is said and done, the fault lies in his own character," Yun Chu said in a tranquil tone. "Heaven watches what men do; this was the end he deserved."
From her calm voice, Chu Yi discerned complex emotions.
He thought that even if her husband was a hypocrite who embezzled silver, and even if her husband had committed so many wrongs against her, Xie Jingyu still held a place in her heart.
As they spoke, Cheng Xu returned.
"Your Highness, when this subordinate arrived at the Court of Judicial Review, the Marquis of Xuanwu was undergoing flogging, and the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was preparing to execute him at sunrise," he reported. "This subordinate informed him that the Marquis of Xuanwu is tied to another case, so the Minister spared his life."
Yun Chu let out a breath of relief.
For a criminal fleeing from the path of exile, the supervising officers held the authority to execute them on the spot.
The moment Qin Mingheng was apprehended, she had guessed he likely would not live to see the next day's sunrise, which was why she had sought help in the dead of night.
Fortunately, it was not too late.