Yunchu’s Vengeance - Chapter 239
Chapter 239 - Requesting an Imperial Marriage
"What nerve, Gongsun Ning! Who gave you the audacity?!"
The Emperor's expression was exceptionally cold.
Relying on the Empress and the Crown Prince, the Gongsun clan frequently stirred up trouble, and he had already endured it for a long time.
He raised his hand and slammed the table, declaring in severe anger, "Guards!"
"Your Majesty," the Empress spoke up immediately. "Miss Yun was once the number one beauty in the capital, and when she married down into the Xie family back then, the hearts of men across the entire capital were broken for her. Now that Ning'er was presented with an opportunity, he merely wished to get close with Miss Yun, and in truth, he did not commit any act that crossed the line. Why not use this grand, auspicious opportunity to turn a bad thing into a good one, bringing about a lovely story of romance?"
Gongsun Ning was overjoyed beyond measure and hastily kowtowed, "I beg Your Majesty to bestow a marriage!"
Lady Lin's head throbbed with fury.
First, they claimed her Chuchu had seduced Gongsun Ning. Failing to bite back with a false accusation, they now asked for a bestowed marriage instead.
A daughter of her Yun family would absolutely never marry such a piece of scum.
While Lady Lin was still deliberating on how to speak up, an extraordinarily cold and heavy voice rang out in her ear.
Chu Yi's tone sounded as though it had taken a circuit in an ice cellar, chilled to the absolute limit: "If Imperial Father bestows a marriage today, then the men of this world will know that if they set their sights on a woman from any family, all they need to do is molest her a bit, and a bad thing can be turned into a good one. Wouldn't the world be thrown into complete chaos then?"
The Empress's expression darkened, and she hurriedly looked toward the Emperor, explaining in a soft, gentle voice, "Your Majesty, what this concubine meant was..."
"There is no need for you to say more." The Emperor waved his hand in impatience. "Gongsun Ning's humiliation of the Yun family's eldest daughter was witnessed firsthand by both Yi'er and Rui'er. This matter requires no further investigation. Guards, drag Gongsun Ning down and execute thirty strokes of the cane according to the law!"
Two imperial guards stepped forward, holding Gongsun Ning down by his left and right shoulders, and dragged him directly out.
The Empress's face was as dark as storm clouds.
She looked coldly at Chu Yi.
She truly could not understand why Chu Yi opposed her at every turn.
Had she not known that Chu Yi already had someone in his heart, she would have genuinely believed that Chu Yi harbored those kinds of feelings toward Yun Chu as well.
"Imperial Father, generations of Yun family men have fallen on the battlefield to guard the gates of our Great Jin Nation. Currently, General Yun's whereabouts are unknown, leaving the Yun family with only the elderly, the weak, women, and children. Consequently, they suffer humiliation from others. If such a thing happens once, it will happen a second time." Chu Yi cupped his hands in respect and spoke up, "The Yun family's men died for Great Jin, yet their women suffer humiliation at the hands of Great Jin's men. May I ask Imperial Father, is this fair?"
Yun Chu had long been pulled up by Lady Lin, who helped her wipe away her tears.
She looked at Chu Yi with a hint of astonishment.
The matter had already been resolved, so she could not fathom what this man was trying to achieve.
The Emperor's eyes darkened slightly.
In his heart, he trusted Yun Silin enough to believe that the Yun family would never betray Great Jin.
However, so many days had passed, and there was still no trace of Yun Silin. Ten to one, he had perished in the Southern Border.
If Yun Silin were truly dead, with no heir to carry on the line, the Yun family would indeed gradually fade away from the prominent clans...
"The matter of the Yun family's alleged crime has not yet come to light, so that issue shall be set aside for now," an old minister stepped forward and said. "Speaking solely of the Yun family's eldest daughter, it is said that Miss Yun established the Hall of Compassionate Orphans to shelter homeless orphans, providing those children with a haven from the storm. The eldest young lady of the Yun family is charitable and benevolent; she should not suffer such humiliation."
Chu Yi turned his head slightly.
With a single glance from him, several more ministers immediately stepped forward.
"While the Yun family's men were fighting on the front lines, their women also held the common people in their hearts. During the intense summer heat a few months ago, it was the Yun family that opened a summer refuge, saving countless citizens from dying of heatstroke."
"Now, Miss Yun built the Hall of Compassionate Orphans before the bitter winter sets in, ensuring that countless children will not perish on snowy, windy nights. This is an act of monumental virtue."
The Emperor tapped his fingers softly.
The deeds performed by the Yun family women were, in his view, completely beneath mention.
However, the majority of the Yun family men had indeed died on the battlefield, and Yun Silin had gone missing precisely while attempting to rid him of the Empress Dowager's wing, General Cheqi.
The Yun family's civil officials in the imperial court had basically all been dismissed due to Yun Silin's predicament.
It seemed that he truly ought to compensate the Yun family.
Reflecting on this,
the Emperor opened his mouth and said, "Yun Chu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family, is dignified, benevolent, tranquil in nature, and holds the populace in her heart. She is truly a person of genuine kindness, purity, and gentleness. Pass down Our decree: she is hereby granted the noble title of Yiren of the Fifth Rank. Respect this!"
The moment these words were spoken, everyone present was utterly stunned.
In this dynasty, a woman receiving a titled noble rank relied almost entirely on her husband; if her husband rendered meritorious service to the imperial court, he could request a titled rank for his wife.
Yet Yun Chu's husband was long dead.
There were also women who received titles by relying on their maiden families, but the Yun family had already fallen.
For the Emperor to bestow a noble title upon a Yun family woman at a time like this—what did it signify? It signified that the Emperor had not given up on the Yun family.
Yun Chu knelt and bowed her head, "This titled woman Yun Chu thanks Your Majesty for your imperial grace. May My Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!"
She was well aware that Chu Yi's actions this time were meant to secure a protective amulet for her, ensuring that no one would ever dare to harbor such filthy thoughts toward her again.
She was equally aware that the Emperor's move was not due to any summer refuge or Hall of Compassionate Orphans, but rather to soothe the members of the Yun family.
As long as there was no news of her father's whereabouts for a day, the Emperor would not truly abandon the Yun family for a day.
She couldn't help but ponder: How could an Emperor who trusted the Yun family so deeply right now listen to slanderous rumors more than a decade later and execute the entire Yun family line?
The Empress's expression was unsightly in the extreme.
The Emperor ordered the corporal punishment of Gongsun Ning, yet conferred an award upon Yun Chu.
It was equivalent to slapping her directly across the face.
Originally, inviting the Emperor to the banquet for taking a side consort was meant to bolster the Crown Prince's prestige.
Yet the outcome was that the Gongsun clan lost face completely.
A suffocating knot of frustration formed in the Empress's chest.
The banquet for the Crown Prince taking a side consort came to an end just like that.
Many people gathered around to offer their congratulations to the Yun family.
Lady Lin shielded Yun Chu, briefly offering thanks to the crowd before pulling her daughter into the carriage.
"Today's matter was spearheaded by Prince Pingxi," Lady Lin spoke in a slow, gentle voice. "He could not protect you openly, so he requested an award on your behalf."
Yun Chu did not dare to overthink it.
She feared that once she allowed herself to fall into it, she would never be able to pull herself out again.
The carriage arrived at Yulin Lane. Just as Yun Chu reached her own courtyard, two little figures threw themselves at her one after the other.
For a small-scale palace banquet like the Crown Prince taking a side consort, the two children's attendance was optional. Coincidentally, Yu'er had books left to read, so Yun Chu had left the two children at home.
Not having seen them for most of the day, she missed them quite a bit.
Chu Hongyu said with a beaming smile, "Mother, I heard from Uncle Chengxu that Grandfather Emperor granted you the title of Yiren of the Fifth Rank!"
Yun Chu pressed a hand to her forehead.
Did news in the palace travel this fast? For a child so young to receive the news so quickly.
She pinched the little guy's face, "That's right, your mother will be a titled lady from now on."
"The fifth rank is still too low," the little guy rested his chin on his hands. "The most noble woman in this world must be Imperial Grandmother, right?"
Yun Chu nodded, "The mother of a nation is naturally the most noble."
"I also want Mother to become the mother of a nation, receiving the worship of tens of thousands..."
Before the little guy could finish half of his sentence, Yun Chu covered his small mouth with her hand.
She said with a grave expression, "Yu'er, words like these must never be spoken again, even in front of those closest to you."
If overheard by someone with malicious intent, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Chu Hongyu opened his big eyes wide and nodded vigorously.
Yun Chu released him and said softly, "What books did you read today? Read them for Mother and your sister."
The little guy turned around to fetch his book, placed it on the table, and began reading earnestly.
Later in the evening, Chu Yi returned from the palace and even brought back a tutor for the little guy, who would be responsible for teaching the child reading and writing at home from now on.