Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 107 Such a Coincidence

Xie Jingyu rose from the couch.

"My head aches slightly, perhaps I've caught a chill. It's nothing serious, no need to summon a physician."

Yun Chu spoke up: "If the pain worsens, you should still call for one. Don't delay your court attendance."

Xie Jingyu nodded in agreement.

He could sense that Yun Chu still held some concern for him, so she likely hadn't come seeking divorce.

Yun Chu turned and took a packet of medicine from her maid Ting Shuang: "Husband, this is medicinal cuisine prescribed by Divine Doctor Si for us as a couple. After taking it for half a year before intimacy, we can conceive a son in one attempt."

Xie Jingyu's heart skipped a beat.

After all that had happened, did she still want to have children with him?

"An Ge'er and Ping Jie'er have deceived me for so many years. I can no longer regard them as my own children." Yun Chu adopted a sorrowful expression. "I'm eager to have my own child. You understand, don't you, husband?"

Xie Jingyu looked deeply moved: "I've wronged you, madam. This is all my fault. Rest assured, I'll cooperate fully in recuperating so we can have a legitimate heir carrying both our bloodlines."

He instinctively wanted to take Yun Chu's hand.

But remembering how she had repeatedly washed her hands that day, he restrained the impulse.

He ordered servants to brew the medicine.

"This medicine should be taken every other day. I'll have someone deliver it regularly." Having said this, Yun Chu prepared to leave.

"Madam!"

Xie Jingyu stopped her.

Whenever he closed his eyes, the image of He Shi dying with unresolved grievances would surface in his mind. He needed someone to talk with.

Yun Chu paused: "Is there something else, husband?"

"I..." Xie Jingyu racked his brains, pressing his temples as he said, "The fourth child still needs a name. Do you have any suggestions, madam?"

Yun Chu's expression remained indifferent.

"The fourth child was born premature. The physician said he's physically weak, so perhaps—" Xie Jingyu thought for a moment before continuing, "we should name him Xie Shikang, Kang Ge'er."

Yun Chu's fingers stilled.

In her previous life, the fourth child had also been named Xie Shikang—by her.

Though many things were different in this life, the child still bore the same name. What a terrifying fate.

"I'll go inform Old Madam." Yun Chu said, "Then we can discuss when to register Kang Ge'er in the family genealogy."

Not wishing to linger, she turned and left.

Walking out of the inner chamber, she saw two maids brewing medicine outside. Her expression darkened as she pressed her lips together and continued onward.

Arriving at Anshou Hall, she detected the pungent odor of medicine before even entering.

This incident had truly broken Old Madam's health. Having vomited blood several times last night, she now lay pale-faced on her couch drinking medicine.

Yuan Shi sat attending her, sighing: "Old Madam, your condition must have been caused by Concubine He. To think she practiced such witchcraft in our Xie household—I wonder how you plan to deal with her?"

"Mother, Concubine He has taken her own life out of guilt." Yun Chu stepped inside. "Considering her service to my husband, I took the liberty of arranging a simple coffin for her."

"Wh-what!" Yuan Shi dropped her medicine bowl. "Concubine He committed suicide? How could this happen?"

Though practicing witchcraft was a serious offense, it didn't warrant death. How could she have killed herself?

Someone who was alive and well yesterday had died today...

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" Old Madam's violent coughing interrupted Yuan Shi's thoughts. "Fetch another bowl of medicine."Yuan Shi quickly rose and went outside to take a bowl of medicine from a maid, carefully feeding it to Old Madam: "The physician said your illness was caused by pent-up worries. Our Xie family has faced too many troubles lately—even I feel uneasy, let alone you. But with Chu'er here, things will be fine. Think about it: before Chu'er married into our family, I was bedridden for over a decade. The moment she entered our household, my illness vanished on its own. Chu'er is our Xie family’s lucky star, Old Madam. Your recovery will come soon."

Yun Chu narrowed her eyes.

Last time she accompanied Xie Jingyu to Marquis Xuanwu’s residence, she remembered the Marquis saying—

"Five years ago, Official Xie came pleading, asking me to provide an extremely rare miraculous medicine…"

Could it be—

A terrifying suspicion surfaced in Yun Chu’s heart.

After Old Madam finished the medicine and fell asleep, Yun Chu and Yuan Shi, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, stepped outside.

"Mother, may I ask you something?" she began with a smile. "Five years ago, did your illness improve only after you took the miraculous medicine that my husband sought for you?"

Yuan Shi replied, "I was ill for over a decade. Jingyu sought countless miracle cures—most were useless, so I’d lost hope. But the day after you married into our family, Jingyu brought me a pill. Gradually, I recovered. It must be your inherent fortune—how else could my illness suddenly vanish?"

Yes, how could such a coincidence exist?

Why did Xie Jingyu obtain the miraculous medicine precisely the day after she entered the household?

She couldn’t believe it had nothing to do with her.

She’d never pondered this before, but now, recalling the past, chilling details emerged everywhere.

Xie Jingyu, oh Xie Jingyu—this weak, hypocritical man, this scum unworthy of being human—just how many secrets was he still hiding from her?

Yun Chu returned to her courtyard.

Ting Shuang came to report: "The eldest young lady has also fallen ill and had a physician prescribe medicine… The eldest young master is fine, still attending Huaide Academy as usual."

Yun Chu felt this illegitimate son had reached a terrifying level of cold-blooded selfishness.

Having forced his own birth mother to her death the previous night, he could pretend nothing happened and go to school the next day.

A mere twelve-year-old child, yet possessing such composure…

She instructed, "Send a reliable person to inquire about Marquis Xuanwu’s recent activities and whereabouts."

What a pity about He Shi. She’d thought He Shi was privy to the truth and had set such an elaborate trap, yet failed to uncover what she sought.

Now, she had no choice but to venture into the tiger’s den and seek answers directly from Marquis Xuanwu.

There were some servants and stewards in the front courtyard loyal to Yun Chu, but they weren’t specially trained—trustworthy yet inexperienced. Ting Shuang felt uneasy delegating the task.

Entering the front courtyard, her eyes landed on Yu Ke feeding the horses.

Yu Ke had come to the Xie household because of her. Madam hadn’t assigned him specific duties, so he often idled in the front courtyard.

She recalled that day by the lake, when he draped his cloak over her shoulders.

Everyone’s attention had been on Madam, including her own—only this man had noticed she was equally drenched…

"Ting Shuang?"

Seeing her in the front courtyard, Yu Ke’s face lit with a smile before he approached her with slight unease."The madam has a matter that needs attending to," Ting Shuang said with a businesslike expression. "If you're not busy..."

"I'm free, completely idle," Yu Ke replied with a simple, honest smile. "Just give the order."

After explaining the matter, Ting Shuang left.

Yu Ke scratched the back of his head.

The madam had said he would only stay at the Xie family for half a month. If he couldn't satisfy Ting Shuang within that time, she would find someone else for Ting Shuang.

With each passing day and no progress in sight, it was truly agonizing...