Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 217
Chapter 217 - Master Ding is Highly Efficacious
Having changed into a fresh set of clothes and neatly styled her hair and makeup, Yun Chu was personally escorted to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion by Chu Yi.
By this time, almost all the invited guests had arrived.
With an untroubled expression, Yun Chu followed a senior palace maid inside, her eyes immediately catching sight of the two children chasing each other around the pavilion.
With just that single glance, the longing she had accumulated over the past several days washed away.
She stepped forward first to pay her respects to the Empress.
"Chu'er has arrived," the Empress spoke with a serene, kindly countenance. "I heard the Old General has fallen ill. How is his condition? Does the palace need to arrange an imperial physician to go and examine him?"
Yun Chu curtsied and replied, "Grandfather's illness is a chronic condition of many years. Resting for a while will restore him. Thank you for Your Majesty's gracious concern."
"That is good then," the Empress smiled and said. "Go sit by your aunt."
Consort Yun was seated not far below.
Yun Chu walked over and took a seat beside Consort Yun: "Aunt seems to have grown a bit gaunt."
Consort Yun let out a soft sigh.
Ever since trouble befell the Yun family, she had been unable to eat or sleep well, so naturally she had grown gaunt.
Deep within the inner palace, there was very little she could do.
"Aunt, rest assured, Grandfather's health is quite fine," Yun Chu whispered softly. "Have faith—the Yun family will not come to harm."
Consort Yun's eyes lit up instantly.
Chu'er must have dreamed that the Yun family would walk out of their current predicament.
Other people's dreams were merely dreams, but Chu'er's dreams were actual events that would come to pass in the future.
These words brought Consort Yun a great deal of peace of mind.
When the time was ripe, the Empress announced the official start of the Chrysanthemum Viewing Banquet.
Surrounding the pavilion were various species of chrysanthemums competing in full bloom, arrayed in a dazzling spectrum of colors and vibrant beauty.
For some reason, Yun Chu found herself thinking of the chrysanthemums in that palace where Prince Zhuang had been moments ago—those wild-growing chrysanthemums bloomed with far greater brilliance than every single flower here that had been meticulously tended to.
There had long been rumors in the streets and alleys that the former Crown Prince lacked the virtue to match his elevated position, leading to his early demise.
Meanwhile, the former Crown Prince's only direct son, Prince Zhuang, was said to be a soul that should never have been born; by defying the laws of Heaven, he suffered from congenital deficiencies and had been a sickly invalid since birth.
Supposedly, extending his life required the heart's blood of a young maiden.
She had always assumed this was merely a terrifying horror story fabricated by the common people.
Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that it would happen to her in such stark reality.
Yun Chu refrained from dwelling further on the matter, as her ears caught several noble ladies nearby starting to converse about Ding Yiyuan.
"Have you heard? The Marquis of Pingjin's Manor invited a fortune-teller into their residence. Whatever he predicts turns out to be astoundingly accurate, though a single reading costs a thousand taels of silver!"
"Could it be that Master Ding who used to sell copper coins on the street? Back then, it seemed he was the one who foretold the disappearance of the Pillar of State General."
"Is that Master Ding's fortune-telling truly so accurate? He couldn't be a fraud, could he?"
"The Marchioness of Pingjin asked him to calculate when the Heir to the Marquisate would marry and bear children. Guess what happened? Master Ding said the Heir already had a child! Sure enough, the Marchioness investigated outside and discovered the Heir had actually been keeping a mistress, and the illegitimate son was already over a year old!"
"The Marquis of Pingjin asked Master Ding in which generation the marquisate's noble rank would come to an end. Master Ding said the next generation! Hearing that, the Marquis immediately entered the palace to petition for an imperial decree and replaced the Heir to the Marquisate on the spot!"
"..."
"I want to invite Master Ding to perform a reading for me as well."
"Who wouldn't? It's just that this Master Ding's asking price has grown even higher. It's said that a single reading now costs two thousand taels of silver."
"Isn't that highway robbery? No one's money falls from the sky like free rain."
"Exactly, exactly! Shouldn't a master of his stature remain indifferent to fame and fortune? What does he need so much money for!"
"The Marchioness of Pingjin said this Master Ding only calculates fortunes for those with whom he shares a fated bond. Money alone won't necessarily buy his services."
"..."
Yun Chu lowered her head and took a sip of chrysanthemum tea.
That Ding Yiyuan's fame could spread so rapidly among the prominent families was thanks to the Marquis of Pingjin's Manor sparing no effort to praise him.
From the top down, everyone in the Great Jin Dynasty held deep belief in these destinies and omens. Presumably, Ding Yiyuan's reputation would reach the Emperor's ears very soon.
"Sister Consort Yun, your tea has splashed onto my dress."
A discordant voice suddenly rang out.
Yun Chu turned her head to see Consort Yuan, seated on the other side of Consort Yun, putting on an intentionally provocative display.
"This dress of mine was crafted from the Cloud-and-Water Heavenly Brocade bestowed by His Majesty. Staining it with tea dregs is sheer disrespect toward His Majesty! Can Sister Consort Yun truly bear the weight of such an offense?"
Consort Yun's expression remained exceedingly calm: "Sister is certainly adept at directing and acting out her own play."
What annoyed Consort Yuan the most was precisely Consort Yun's composure, as if no matter what monumental disaster occurred, nothing could ever cause the woman before her to lose her cool.
Consort Yun was five or six years older than her, yet now while she herself was showing signs of fading youth, Consort Yun looked as radiant as ever. Every month or two, His Majesty would visit Consort Yun's palace.
How could this not drive someone mad with jealousy?
Now that trouble had befallen the Yun family, Consort Yun would naturally fall out of favor, so Consort Yuan naturally had to step forward and kick her while she was down.
"Does Sister mean to say I am framing you?" Consort Yuan put on an aggrieved, wronged expression as she looked toward the Empress. "I pray Her Majesty the Empress will grant justice for this concubine!"
The Empress pressed her temples.
These women of the inner palace frequently created countless conflicts over clothing, jewelry, or monthly allowances... every single incident was a headache.
At every turn, they invoked disrespect toward His Majesty. His Majesty was occupied with a myriad of state affairs daily—how could he possibly remember every item he had bestowed? Where did any disrespect even come into play?
Yet as the mistress of the inner palace, she could only patiently handle each matter one by one.
Just as the Empress opened her mouth to speak,
she suddenly saw a small figure sweep in like a whirlwind.
Immediately after, before anyone could process what was happening, Consort Yuan, who was standing in front of the Empress, was abruptly knocked over by that small figure.
There happened to be a side table right there bearing freshly steamed crabs straight out of the pot along with seasonings, as well as various chrysanthemum teas and chrysanthemum wines. The table was completely overturned by Consort Yuan's fall.
An entire table's worth of food, tea, and spirits splashed thoroughly across Consort Yuan's body.
A wisp of seasoning liquid mixed with soy sauce, vinegar, and the aroma of chrysanthemum dripped from her hair down onto the precious Cloud-and-Water Heavenly Brocade.
Consort Yuan was nearly driven insane. Suppressing her surging rage, she looked up to see the young Heir to the Prince of Pingxi's Manor.
Among the youngest generation of the imperial family, the one favored most by the Emperor was precisely this little Heir. Consort Yuan simply did not possess the courage to cause trouble for the young Heir.
Most crucially of all, her appearance right now was entirely disheveled and miserable. Being gawked at by so many people, she would undoubtedly become the biggest laughingstock both inside and outside the palace.
She wished she could sink into the earth and die!
"I'm sorry, Your Highness Consort Yuan..." Chu Hongyu lowered his head, speaking with a flustered, helpless demeanor. "I saw a bug on Your Highness Consort Yuan's body, which was why I dashed over to help catch the bug. I'm sorry, I was wrong..."
"Now, whether there was a tea stain or not can no longer be seen," the Empress spoke up. "No matter how expensive this garment is, it cannot compare to a child's sincere apology, so let the matter pass."
Concubine Yin stepped forward and said, "Hong'er was far too rash. It is all because this concubine failed to keep a close watch on the child. In a moment, I shall have a senior maidservant deliver a bolt of Cloud-and-Water Heavenly Brocade to Consort Yuan's palace, so I ask Consort Yuan not to hold it against the child."
Consort Yuan felt her world go dark.
She had only managed to obtain a few feet of Cloud-and-Water Heavenly Brocade to make into a dress, wearing it out specifically to show off.
In stark contrast, Concubine Yin could casually offer an entire bolt of Cloud-and-Water Heavenly Brocade. Comparing oneself to others truly brought nothing but endless rage.
Consort Yuan did not dare linger any longer. Drenched in complete disarray, she leaned on her palace maid's arm and departed in a hurry.
Chu Hongyu raised his head, looking in Yun Chu's direction with a triumphant grin.
Yun Chu shook her head lightly.
The little fellow was using his own method to protect her family.
However, this method was not to be encouraged.
First, she made a hand gesture of thanks, then mouthed silently: "Not to be repeated."