Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 236
Chapter 236 - Threatening with His Life
Having eaten their fill, the children were running around and playing in the open courtyard.
A few little girls aged four or five mustered the courage to edge closer and talk to Chu Changsheng. The little girl pursed her lips, feeling a bit frightened, so Ting Xue guided the children to play together.
She stood in the early winter wind, her mind a swirl of tangled thoughts.
By building the Hall of Compassionate Orphans, she had felt as though she was performing a great act of charity and virtue; to her, it was a form of almsgiving to the impoverished.
In truth, she had still consistently placed herself on a higher pedestal.
Indeed, she was born as the eldest young lady of the Yun family, and Changsheng was born with a silver spoon in her mouth as an imperial county princess; for their entire lives, it would be difficult for them to truly fathom the struggles and hardships of the people at the very bottom of society.
She could actually do so much more.
Yun Chu looked toward Yun Qin and said, "Cousin, let's build a academy in this open space for literary studies, martial arts, as well as a needlework school and culinary school suitable for young girls, among other things."
Yun Qin nodded: "I'm afraid this will cost quite a bit of silver."
"As the books say, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' Providing them with food, clothes, and shelter is not as good as having each of them master a trade." Yun Chu spoke with a smile, "When they grow up and can stand on their own two feet, only then will we have truly helped them."
"Alright, I will arrange it as quickly as possible." Yun Qin paused for a moment before continuing, "I took a look just now, and many of the children are sick—either aching here or itching there. I was thinking of hiring a physician to sit in residence year-round. What do you think?"
Yun Chu expressed complete agreement: "That works out perfectly. We can also have the physician open a medical school to teach the children how to read medical texts and recognize herbal medicines."
While the two were talking, a shelter worker ran over drenched in sweat and reported, "Miss, a whole group of children has arrived over there! They all heard about the Hall of Compassionate Orphans and came to seek refuge."
Yun Chu and Yun Qin paused their conversation, walked out of the Hall of Compassionate Orphans, and rounded a bend. They saw at least thirty children on the main road over there.
Besides the children, there were four or five emaciated women, holding infants around three or four months old in their arms; the babies were wailing in hunger.
Those few women caught sight of Yun Chu.
Dressed in noble attire, she was bound to be the person in charge here.
The women fell to their knees with a thud before Yun Chu and Yun Qin, and those children likewise dropped to the ground on their knees one after another.
"The child hasn't had milk for two days and truly can't endure it any longer! We beg you two ladies to take the child in and save a life..."
Yun Chu hurriedly pulled the people up: "There is no need to kneel, all of you get up. Follow me inside; the Hall of Compassionate Orphans has wet nurses. Getting the children fed first is the main priority."
One woman hesitated and asked, "Does this place only take in children? Does that mean we have to be separated from our children?"
Yun Chu said softly, "The Hall of Compassionate Orphans indeed only takes in children, but currently we are short-handed and recruiting workers. If you have patience for the children and are willing to care for every child here with the heart you hold for your own, you can come work at the Hall of Compassionate Orphans."
Those few women wept tears of gratitude: "Thank you, thank you..."
Yun Qin led the group inside.
From a distance, Yun Chu saw Changsheng picking flowers together with three or four little girls.
The wildflowers blooming in the cold wind of early winter possessed a tenacious vitality. The girls picked a large bouquet of flowers and presented them before Yun Chu.
"Thank you, I like them very much."
Yun Chu patted each of the girls' heads one by one.
Changsheng, who had initially looked relaxed, suddenly shrank her shoulders and dove into Yun Chu's arms.
The other girls also looked toward the roadside with guarded expressions.
It turned out a carriage had arrived along the road—wider and larger than ordinary carriages, looking like a carriage belonging to nobility.
"Changsheng, don't be afraid, it's just a carriage." Yun Chu picked up her daughter while holding the hands of the other children with her free hand, "Come, let's go inside."
That carriage gradually slowed its pace.
The carriage curtain was lifted by a vigorous hand, its fingers slender and revealing a sickly pale complexion.
"Master, we will reach the capital in less than half an hour."
A servant knelt at his feet, reporting respectfully.
The man did not respond. He looked in Yun Chu's direction, somewhat dazed.
Even if it was only a side profile, he recognized her—that was the eldest young lady of the Yun family, Yun Chu.
That day in the palace, she had almost been reduced to a medicinal catalyst for him.
She was holding a little girl in her arms, with four or five small girls following beside her, laughing and playing as they walked into a manor.
He clearly saw the plaque on the manor: Hall of Compassionate Orphans.
He asked in a soft voice, "What place is this?"
The servant did not know either and shook his head: "In reply to Master, before we left the capital, this place didn't seem to exist."
Chu Rui was about to say something when he suddenly began to cough violently.
The servant hurriedly stood up, pulled down the carriage curtain, gently patted his back, and then handed over a bowl of medicine.
Chu Rui did not take it.
With such a sickly body, he should have died long ago.
Last time, he had finally steeled his resolve to die, yet he had been saved by Yun Chu.
That woman named Yun Chu resembled his eldest sister so much; her face looked like hers, and the gentleness of her speech was identical as well.
Eldest Sister would surely want him to live well too.
And so he had survived.
He had requested the Emperor to strip him of his title of Prince Zhuang, fleeing the capital at all costs.
However—
A letter sent by the Empress Dowager had yanked him back like a pitiful kite.
He could not escape.
He could not escape for his entire life.
How pathetic.
He was truly a tragedy.
The carriage went all the way into the capital and reached the Imperial City, where young eunuchs arrived carrying a sedan chair. The servant supported Chu Rui into the sedan chair, which carried him all the way toward the Imperial Study.
Seeing Chu Rui return to the capital, the Emperor was not surprised.
The Empress Dowager threatened suicide day in and day out; as long as Chu Rui possessed even a shred of conscience, it was impossible for him to truly walk away for good.
"Rui'er, We have still preserved your noble title and fief for you." The Emperor opened his mouth, twirling his fingers as he spoke, "Now that you have returned, We shall return them to you."
Chu Rui coughed violently: "Imperial Uncle, there is no need. Rui'er has a frail life and cannot bear the status of a prince. Without the noble title, I live somewhat more freely instead."
A bit more sincerity appeared on the Emperor's face: "Then We shall respect your choice. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for you for a long time; go on."
Chu Rui cupped his hands in respect, supported himself on the servant's arm to walk out, took a sedan chair, and arrived at the Empress Dowager's Palace of Tranquil Longevity.
The moment he walked inside, a gust of wind blew directly at him, followed immediately by a slap landing across his face.
Unprepared, he tumbled to the ground.
"Is this the legitimate grandson Our House exhausted everything to raise? To actually want to walk away for good—what right do you have to run away?!" The Empress Dowager was consumed with rage. "Your father died mysteriously back then, and the glorious rivers and mountains fell into the hands of others! You are your father's sole bloodline, you should be the master of this realm! How could you just leave like this! Rui'er, if you dare leave again, Our House will die right in front of you!"
Chu Rui lay slumped on the ground, a bitter smile overflowing the corners of his lips.
He had finally steeled his resolve to leave, only for the Empress Dowager to send a letter saying that if he did not return to the capital within seven days, she would slit her own throat.
He had no second choice.
How carefree he had been when leaving;
and how agonizing it was upon his return.
In the end, he had to face all of this.
" The Crown Prince is only four years older than you, yet now he has both sons and daughters under his knee, and is about to take a daughter of the Fang family as a side consort. Your marriage can no longer be delayed either." The Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "I have chosen the eldest daughter of the Yu family as your primary wife. You..."
Before her words could finish,
Chu Rui abruptly drew a sword from a guard's waist: "If Imperial Grandmother forces me to marry, then I shall resist with this life of mine."
"You!"
The Empress Dowager was furious.
Chu Rui smiled faintly: "This trick... was taught to me by Imperial Grandmother, was it not?"
The Empress Dowager's chest heaved violently.
She had taught him so much—how did he only remember using his own life to threaten his closest kin?