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Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 222

Chapter 222 - Moving In to Become Neighbors


"Imperial Mother says her status is unworthy of me, unworthy of becoming the mistress of the Prince's Manor," Chu Yi said slowly. "Since that is the case, I no longer want this status of imperial prince, nor do I want this Prince's Manor."

Concubine Yin's eyes widened dramatically.

In utter disbelief, she exclaimed, "Yi'er, what did you say?!"

Chu Yi unfastened the jade pendant from his waist—the very pendant signifying his imperial status: "From this day forward, I am no imperial prince, nor am I a prince of the realm; I am merely Chu Yi."

"Have you gone mad, or have I?!" Concubine Yin roared in fury. "To do such a ridiculous thing all for the sake of a peasant girl! If this reaches your Imperial Father's ears, do you know..."

"Then I ask Imperial Mother to pass word of this matter to Imperial Father," Chu Yi said with resolute determination. "Manager Cheng, pack our belongings; we are moving out of the Prince's Manor."

Manager Cheng nodded and led the maidservants and older female servants of the manor into action.

This posture was by no means a act.

Concubine Yin's chest heaved rapidly, and waves of dizziness washed over her head.

She watched helplessly as the servants carried the trunks and luggage outside.

She realized that she had made a misstep.

Originally, no one knew that her third son had foolishly fallen for a peasant girl, but after this scene she had caused, the entire imperial palace would know of it.

Her third son already had two children, with one even established as the Heir to the Prince's Manor. If he now harbored a beloved, which noble lady in the capital would be willing to marry such a man?

"I shall have someone escort Imperial Mother back to the palace."

Chu Yi summoned the manor's guards.

"After you escort Imperial Mother back, remain in the palace; there is no need to return."

These manor guards were standard personnel belonging to a royal prince. Since he no longer wished to be a prince, he naturally had to return them.

Concubine Yin pointed a finger at him, suppressing her surging rage as she said, "You truly are my good son!"

With those words, she flicked her sleeves and departed.

Having arrived in a furious huff, she departed in an equally furious huff.

Cheng Xu had a deeply troubled expression as he said, "I fear Her Highness is going to be driven sick with rage, and if she falls ill, that would be terrible."

Chu Yi picked up the jade pendant that Concubine Yin had left behind: "The current situation in the palace is far from peaceful. Rather than letting her get dragged into those power struggles, it is better for her to direct her focus onto me."

His Imperial Mother was not a schemer and could easily be used as a pawn by the Empress Dowager or the Empress.

Stirring up these waves was done partly for his own private desires, partly to give his Imperial Mother something to keep her occupied, and thirdly to let the Crown Prince's faction and Prince Gongxi's faction watch a good laugh.

"Father, are we moving today?" Chu Hongyu came trotting into the front courtyard, leveraging his momentum to jump onto Chu Yi, resting on his father's shoulder as he whispered, "Does this mean we can be together with Mother every single day from now on?"

Chu Yi patted his little rear: "Pack up your own things; we are preparing to head out."

The little fellow was so thrilled he was practically floating on air, rushing off in high spirits to pack his luggage. His scattered knickknacks alone filled more than half a carriage.

The carriages set out from the gates of Prince Pingxi's Manor, heading toward Yulin Lane.

The onlookers among the common people were unaware of the inner details, completely ignorant of what had transpired, merely watching the spectacle for fun.

However, those belonging to the upper-crust circles of the capital had more or less heard the rumors.

"Do you know why Prince Pingxi moved out of the Prince's Manor?"

"I heard Prince Pingxi has a beloved, but she is merely a peasant girl unworthy of becoming a Princess Consort. To fly off and live together with his beloved, Prince Pingxi actually abandoned his title, his fief, and his Prince's Manor! Concubine Yin was even angered into fainting."

"This Prince Pingxi is far too absurd! Discarding everything for the sake of a woman—has he lost his mind?"

"I originally thought Prince Pingxi could also vie for that position. Ha, a man who places romantic feelings above all else is destined for no great success."

"Just which family's daughter could it be to bewitch Prince Pingxi into such a spell?"

"Let's see how many days he can hold out."

"..."

These rumors spread like wildfire across the capital.

Naturally, they also reached the ears of the Yun family.

"In this world, parents can never win against their children. Sooner or later, Concubine Yin will soften her heart and even help persuade the Emperor to grant a decree bestowing the marriage," Lady Lin sighed. "Once that woman steps through the door, can Hong'er and Changsheng still have good days ahead? Poor children..."

Yun Ze's brow was locked in a dark gloom: "Having a stepmother leads to having a stepfather. No matter how much Prince Pingxi cares for the two children right now, once his beloved bears a child, Hong'er and Changsheng will... we must quickly think of a way to legitimately raise the two children within our Yun family."

While the family was conversing,

a servant hurried in to report: "Madam, Prince Pingxi requests an audience."

Lady Lin immediately stood up: "He just caused such a scene first thing this morning—what is he coming to our Yun family for at a time like this?"

Chu Yi waited in the front courtyard for roughly a quarter-hour before Lady Lin and Yun Ze finally arrived.

Taking an invitation out from his sleeve, he handed it over.

Upon seeing this invitation, Lady Lin was startled; her immediate first thought was that this was a wedding invitation.

Yet upon second thought, for Prince Pingxi to hold a wedding right after falling out with Concubine Yin would be showing far too little respect to the imperial family—he surely wouldn't be so audacious.

A trace of a smile surfaced on Chu Yi's cold, stern face: "The children and I have officially moved to Yulin Lane. Having prepared a modest feast, I would like to invite Madam Yun, Lord Yun, Young Lady Yun, and the young master of the Yun family over to share a cup of plain wine."

Yun Ze was stunned: "Yulin Lane?"

"Precisely the Yulin Lane right behind the Yun Residence," Chu Yi made a gesturing motion. "The carriages have already been prepared. Please."

Lady Lin frowned slightly.

For Prince Pingxi to move out of the Prince's Manor in the morning and hold a housewarming feast in the afternoon—wasn't that a bit too...

Liu Qianqian stepped forward supporting herself on her maidservant's arm, speaking with a smile: "Allow me to be so bold as to ask, Your Highness—which families have been invited to this housewarming feast?"

Knowing she was a clever person, Chu Yi said, "Only the Yun family."

Liu Qianqian smiled: "Mother, Husband, bring Jiang'er along; let us attend the banquet."

Boarding the carriage arranged by Chu Yi, Lady Lin stuffed a pillow behind her daughter-in-law's waist, asking softly, "Why did he invite only our Yun family?"

"Mother, Prince Pingxi toward Chu'er, should be..." Liu Qianqian did not dare make too definitive of an assertion. "In short, Prince Pingxi is likely not as absurd as the rumors say."

Lady Lin's mind was filled with a flurry of thoughts.

One moment she wondered how she should act when she saw the children.

The next moment she wondered what kind of woman Prince Pingxi's beloved actually was.

The next moment she pondered what Chu'er's actual thoughts were regarding this whole matter...

Since the distance was not far to begin with, before she could even reach any conclusion, the carriage had already come to a stop at the courtyard entrance.

Lady Lin spoke in utter disbelief: "Isn't this right next door to Chu'er?"

Manager Cheng had already come out to greet them: "Madam Yun, Lord Yun, Young Lady Yun, Little Master Yun, please come inside quickly."

Stepping inside, Lady Lin caught sight of Yun Chu at a single glance, as well as the two children clustered around Yun Chu's side.

"Mother, Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law," Yun Chu raised her head and smiled. "The hotpot has been prepared, so please come sit down."

Lady Lin looked left and right, yet saw no sign of any other woman here. On the contrary, it was her Chu'er who acted as if she were the lady of the house, managing things for the children...

Chu Yi stood by the table, personally putting ingredients into the pot and serving food into the bowls of his son, daughter, and Jiang'er, without a single shred of airs as Prince Pingxi...

Suppressing her swirling thoughts, Lady Lin looked toward the two children, calling softly, "Hong'er, Changsheng."

Chu Hongyu said with complete poise and candor, "Greetings, Madam Yun. My younger sister is not very good at speaking, so I shall greet Madam Yun on her behalf."

"Ah, what a good child..." Lady Lin brought out her meeting gifts. "Don't address me as Madam Yun like strangers; call me Maternal Grandmother. These are gifts from Maternal Grandmother for you..."

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