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Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 214

Chapter 214 - The Palace Chrysanthemum Banquet


The collateral branches of the Yun family gathered for more than an hour before dispersing.

However, one person stayed behind—Yun Qin, the first woman among the Yun family's collateral branches to divorce her husband.

In these times, life was difficult for a divorced woman, and even more so for one who had brothers in her birth family.

Only after the others had left did Yun Qin step forward and ask, "Chu'er, are you managing that shelter with full authority?"

Yun Chu nodded: "Does Cousin Sister Qin have something on her mind?"

Yun Qin smoothed her hair in slight embarrassment: "I'm just idling at home with nothing to do, so I thought I'd look for some work. Are you short of hands over there?"

When she was at her husband's home, she had to handle household affairs every day. After her divorce, her elder sister-in-law took charge of the family. Her monthly allowance was two taels of silver, and every time she went to receive it, she had to endure her sister-in-law's cold looks and scowls.

In truth, she did not need these two taels of silver, but if she refused to take them, her sister-in-law would think she looked down on the small amount of money.

Whatever she did was wrong.

She might as well find an excuse to move out.

"Cousin Sister Qin, that shelter is indeed short of people, but..." Yun Chu spoke sincerely, "because it is for charitable work, the wages offered are not high."

"I know, I know," Yun Qin hurriedly said. "It is precisely because of this that I dared to make this request."

A smile broke across Yun Chu's face: "Alright, I will have Uncle Chen make the arrangements."

Yun Qin let out a sigh of relief: "Then I shall await the news."

Having said her piece, she did not linger and took her leave.

Only then did Yun Chu have time to sip her tea.

She looked toward Lady Lin and Liu Qianqian, saying, "Currently, the Yun family's businesses are being managed by Mother and Sister-in-law, with the majority in Sister-in-law's hands. Thinking it over, I suspect that Sister-in-law's miscarriage in my dream was connected to these businesses."

The women of the Yun family had their own dowries, and the clan also had industries that sustained it, all managed by the mistress of the house.

When Liu Qianqian married into the Yun family, Lady Lin gradually handed those industries over to her daughter-in-law.

Lady Lin immediately spoke up: "Currently, it's the Yun family's official standing that has been impacted in court, while the businesses are still operating as usual. This indeed makes it easy to invite envy. Qianqian, you are currently pregnant, so it is the perfect time to hand over the businesses for me to manage. I'd like to see who has eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to dare plot and snatch away our Yun family's businesses!"

"Mother, I think we had better forget it..." Yun Ze pressed his hand to his lips and coughed lightly. "You haven't bothered with business matters for too long, so it's easy for others to find loopholes."

In truth, his mother was too simple and naive; he worried that before Qianqian could be spared from danger, his mother might end up being harmed instead.

If that truly happened, Qianqian would never find peace of mind for the rest of her life.

"If Sister-in-law does not mind, how about I temporarily manage these businesses of the Yun family?" Yun Chu looked at Liu Qianqian. "Sister-in-law, rest assured, these businesses are merely passing through my hands for a short while, I..."

"Chu'er, explaining like this is treating us too much like strangers," Liu Qianqian took Yun Chu's hand. "You are willing to step in front of me as a shield, and I admire such courage deeply. I am too grateful to even express it, so how could I ever doubt you?"

If she were not pregnant, she would never let Yun Chu charge ahead on the front line.

However, the child in her belly moved about inside her every day, making her genuinely terrified that the scene in Chu'er's dream would come true.

"We are one family, so let us not speak like outsiders," Lady Lin was delighted to see such harmony between her daughter and daughter-in-law. "Yun Ze, pay more attention to business matters as well, and don't leave your younger sister to bear everything alone."

Yun Ze immediately replied: "Mother, rest assured, I understand."

Lady Lin held Yun Chu's hand and kept her for a meal.

At this moment, an old maidservant walked in from outside to report: "Madam, an invitation has arrived from the palace."

The invitation was presented—it was for the annual Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet hosted by the Empress, scheduled for tomorrow. Every year at this time, the Yun family would receive an invitation to the banquet.

"Now that the Yun family is no longer the First-Rank General's Estate, logically speaking, this invitation shouldn't have been sent," Liu Qianqian spoke up. "Mother, it might be better if you don't attend this banquet."

Lady Lin nodded: "With trouble striking the Yun family, falling ill is only within the realm of reason for me, so there's no need to rack our brains for an excuse."

Holding the invitation, Yun Chu spoke up: "I shall go on behalf of the Yun family."

Ever since the two little ones entered the palace, there had been no news of them. Although it had only been a few days, her longing could no longer be suppressed.

She deeply felt the truth of the saying that a single day apart felt like three long years.

Furthermore, she needed to exchange information with her aunt so her aunt wouldn't spend every day consumed by worry.

Yun Ze knew her thoughts and spoke up before Lady Lin could object: "Someone from the Yun family indeed needs to go, or else it will invite gossip from others. It is fitting for Chu'er to go."

Yun Chu returned to her courtyard and began her preparations.

An outfit suitable for attending a palace banquet, a set of jewelry that was neither flashy nor shabby, and without applying any makeup, her natural beauty was already captivating.

The Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet was scheduled for the afternoon.

After finishing her meal, Yun Chu set off for the palace accompanied by her maidservant.

The carriage pulled up and stopped at the palace gate; from there, one had to walk to the garden where the chrysanthemums were being admired.

Stepping down from the carriage and walking to the palace gates, she presented her invitation, and a young eunuch led her toward the Imperial Garden in the inner palace.

Just as she took her first step, a voice sounded behind her.

"Miss Yun."

Without turning around, Yun Chu knew it was Chu Yi, the Prince of Pingxi.

She turned around and said with a smile: "Your Highness."

"Is Miss Yun going to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to view the chrysanthemums?" Chu Yi walked toward her. "I happen to be heading to the Imperial Study, so let us walk together."

The Empress's Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet only invited female guests, so as a prince, it was naturally unsuitable for him to attend, but that did not stop him from walking her there.

Yun Chu had only visited the palace frequently when she was still an unmarried maiden, but even then, she had only been to a few halls and truly did not know which direction the Imperial Study was in.

However, the young eunuch leading the way knew that the Imperial Study lay along the central axis, whereas the Hundred Flowers Pavilion was over by the West Gate. They were only traveling in the same direction for a short stretch ahead, after which their paths diverged completely.

Reaching the fork in the path, the young eunuch thought the two would part ways here; however, he saw the Prince of Pingxi turn the corner alongside Miss Yun with complete naturalness.

The young eunuch hurriedly reminded him: "Your Highness, the Imperial Study should be in that direction."

Chu Yi: "..."

Having grown up in the palace since childhood and running to the palace every single day, could he possibly not know where the Imperial Study was?

This young eunuch was truly being meddlesome.

Yet there was no need for him to explain to the young eunuch.

Meeting Yun Chu's slightly puzzled gaze, he spoke with serene composure: "Her Majesty the Empress is holding a flower viewing banquet, so I presume Royal Father would also like to appreciate the autumn chrysanthemum colors. I shall pick a flower along the way and present it to the Imperial Study."

Yun Chu nodded: "That is as it should be."

The two continued walking toward the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

"Your Highness!" The young eunuch spoke up once more. "Just now, while I was waiting for Miss Yun at the palace gates, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review inquired about Your Highness's whereabouts. There must be an urgent matter he needs to discuss with Your Highness."

Chu Yi knitted his brows.

The Yun family's case had been handed over to the Court of Judicial Review for a thorough investigation; they must have uncovered something.

He paused in his tracks: "Royal Father's autumn chrysanthemum will have to wait until next time. Miss Yun, I shall attend to business first."

Yun Chu nodded: "Your Highness must not delay important matters, so please go ahead."

Chu Yi turned around and walked toward the Imperial Study; the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review had likely gone there as well.

After rounding the palace wall and nearly reaching the main entrance of the Imperial Study, Chu Yi's footsteps suddenly came to a halt: "Something's not right."

Cheng Xu behind him came to a stop as well: "Your Highness, what is it?"

Chu Yi turned around swiftly: "There is something wrong with that young eunuch."

Using his qinggong, he dashed rapidly in that direction to give chase.

Cheng Xu was left completely bewildered.

Where was the issue with that young eunuch? How come he hadn't noticed it at all?

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