Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 117: Who Lacks Propriety

The carriage stopped at the Xie family's entrance.

Having been away from the Xie residence for half a month, Yun Chu naturally went to pay respects to Old Madam upon her return.

Old Madam had previously fallen ill but had recovered considerably after some recuperation. She sat reclining on the couch, and no ice blocks were placed in the room.

It wasn't that they couldn't afford it—the Xie family might practice frugality, but never at Old Madam's expense. Rather, having been ill, she had become somewhat sensitive to cold and preferred to endure the heat.

"Staying at her maternal home for half a month—truly unprecedented in this dynasty!" Old Madam's gaze was gloomy. "Outsiders would think our Xie family had mistreated her. Jingyu's official career has also been affected. She's nothing but a jinx!"

Mama Zhou stood nearby, not daring to respond.

Recently, Old Madam had grown increasingly critical of the mistress, frequently cursing her. If Mama Zhou tried to intervene, Old Madam would only curse more fiercely.

In Mama Zhou's opinion, since the mistress returned to the Yun family, the Xie household had been managed by the eldest young lady, and mistakes had occurred everywhere. Even she, at her age, had to assist the young lady with managing domestic affairs...

"The Yun family has been an established lineage for centuries—how could they be so lacking in propriety?" Old Madam continued. "Allowing a married woman to stay at her maternal home for so long—even the imperial family wouldn't permit it. Madam Yun is clearly determined to humiliate our Xie family..."

"Old Madam, you are mistaken!"

Yun Chu walked in from the main entrance and stood before Old Madam.

Old Madam was startled. Over the past half month, Jingyu had gone to the Yun family every few days to fetch Yun Chu, but she had consistently refused to return.

Old Madam had assumed this trip would also be in vain.

To think she had been caught cursing in her own room—were the maids and matrons at the door all dead?

"No matter how lacking in propriety my mother may be, she would never secretly bring illegitimate children into the household behind my elder sister-in-law's back." Yun Chu paused. "Oh, I misspoke. No matter what, my elder brother would never keep a mistress hidden from his wife, let alone have children with one."

"You! You!"

Old Madam's blood rushed to her head.

This was rebellion! A junior actually daring to speak to an elder in such a tone—was she trying to defy heaven itself!

He Shi was already dead—dead for half a month, her body cold. Why bring up something that was over and done with? What was the point?

"Old Madam, don't be angry." Yun Chu smiled faintly. "Half a month ago, I was injured and happened to be near the Yun residence, so I stayed there. Surely you wouldn't have wanted an injured person to jolt back in a carriage? If my condition had worsened, wouldn't you have been distressed?"

Her tone softened, and Old Madam had no choice but to suppress her rage.

What else could she do? At her age, bicker with a granddaughter-in-law?

Moreover, the Xie family was indeed at fault—they had deceived Yun Chu and driven He Shi to her death...

"Since you've returned, rest well." Old Madam waved a hand. "There are many matters awaiting your attention, but don't overexert yourself."

Leaving Anshou Hall, Yun Chu returned to Sheng Residence.

She had once considered this place her home, but after spending half a month at the Yun residence, she realized her true home would always be Yun Manor.

No sooner had she sat down than everyone from the rear courtyard came to pay their respects—even Tao Yiniang, who had not yet completed her month of postpartum confinement, arrived.

Tao Yiniang was still young and had nearly returned to her pre-pregnancy state within twenty days of childbirth. However, her premature infant was frail, and worry clouded her brow."I heard Madam was injured, and I was truly frantic with worry," Ting Yu began. "I originally wished to attend to Madam, but given my current status, it's difficult for me to enter the Yun family's gates again. I beg Madam's forgiveness."

Concubine Jiang looked at Yun Chu and said, "Madam has grown thinner. If Madam doesn't mind, I can prepare nourishing soups for Madam every day over the next half month and have them delivered."

Yun Chu smiled and agreed.

"Madam..." Concubine Tao hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I heard Madam previously consulted Divine Doctor Si. I wonder if you could request the divine doctor to examine Kang Ge'er's pulse as well?"

Yun Chu replied indifferently, "Divine Doctor Si has already left the capital. Even members of the royal family cannot summon him, let alone someone like me."

In her previous life, Xie Shikang was born weak. After Concubine Tao raised him for several months, the child's health deteriorated further, so he was sent to her care.

To save the child, she traveled with Kang Ge'er for over two months, journeying to Qingzhou in the south to seek the divine doctor...

It was during her absence from the capital that something happened in the Yun family. Her elder sister-in-law lost the child in her womb, and when she later asked her mother, she couldn't get any answers.

"Madam, what should I do about Kang Ge'er?" Concubine Tao began to cry. "He vomits whenever he nurses, can't keep anything down, isn't gaining weight, and grows thinner and smaller. I can't keep Kang Ge'er alive..."

She hated He Shi to the core. If it weren't for that wretched woman, she wouldn't have given birth prematurely, and Kang Ge'er wouldn't be suffering like this.

He Shi died just like that, but Kang Ge'er still has to endure such hardship.

"Concubine Tao, you are Kang Ge'er's birth mother. If you can't keep him alive, others have even less chance," Yun Chu said. "The child is still small, so be more patient. From now on, you don't need to come for morning greetings. Spend more time taking good care of Kang Ge'er."

Concubine Tao sobbed.

If even Madam wouldn't help, and the master couldn't do anything either, her Kang Ge'er was truly suffering too much.

Yun Chu lowered her head to drink tea.

In her previous life, Xie Shikang only became a normal child because she sought out famous doctors everywhere. But what did the child she saved with her own hands end up doing?

Never mind. Things that won't happen in this lifetime aren't worth mentioning.

Yun Chu waved her hand, dismissing everyone in the room. Xie Ping remained to report in detail about the household affairs over the past half month.

Yun Chu listened absentmindedly, then said, "Ping Jie'er has improved greatly. Well done."

A smile appeared on Xie Ping's face.

Mama Zhou kept saying she lacked method in handling affairs and always criticized her, making her think she was truly incompetent.

Fortunately, Mother encouraged her. She must learn more about managing household affairs so she can establish herself firmly in the Anjing Prince's residence after she goes there.

Thinking of the Anjing Prince's residence, Xie Ping's smile immediately vanished. She clenched her fingers and said, "Mother, the dowry Father previously prepared for me was all recorded on the list, but these past few days everything has been taken away. My dowry list now only contains ten wedding quilts..."

Yun Chu looked at her. "And then?"

"I... I am the future Princess Anjing after all," Xie Ping said, nearly in tears. "As a Princess Consort, with so little dowry, won't people look down on me? It doesn't matter if they look down on me, but I'm afraid outsiders will look down on our Xie family..."

Yun Chu smiled faintly. "Ping Jie'er means you want me to prepare a dowry for you?"

Xie Ping didn't dare meet her gaze and lowered her head."Isn't it only natural for a mother to prepare a dowry for her daughter?" Yet when her mother countered with this question, she was left speechless, unsure of how to respond.

"Your father's career has been facing difficulties lately," Yun Chu said calmly. "The Xie family comes from humble origins—how could we possibly afford a lavish dowry for our daughter? If the dowry were too extravagant, it would surely draw the attention of the Censorate. You wouldn't want your father to be impeached, would you?"

Xie Ping's lips trembled slightly.

No matter how humble their background, it was impossible that they couldn't even prepare a decent dowry.

Even a family selling tofu on the streets could manage sixteen chests of dowry when their daughter married, yet she...

Her mother wasn't truly afraid of the Censorate impeaching her father—she simply didn't want to spend money on her. Because her mother knew she was born of Concubine He...

Her mother had once treated her with utmost sincerity, teaching her everything. But now, everything had suddenly changed.

It was all He Shi's fault. Why did she give birth to her if she couldn't secure a good future for her? Why didn't she just die cleanly before the truth came to light...