Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 118: An Additional Side Princess Consort

Xie Ping walked away in a daze.

Ting Xue entered and reported, "Madam, the master has been taking medicine for the past half month. The dregs from the medicine pot were personally handled by this servant..."

Yun Chu nodded.

If it weren't for murder being against the law, and if she weren't afraid of the scandal of a Yun family woman killing her husband spreading, she would truly like to end Xie Jingyu's life with one stroke of the knife.

But there was still time. She would take it slow, gradually destroying Xie Jingyu's spirit and body bit by bit, making him pay for the lives of her two children who died tragically.

Not long after, Chen Defu followed Ting Shuang into the side hall. Bowing, he reported, "The matter Madam instructed has been handled. After the Second Young Master heard about it, he caused a huge scene at the manor and only calmed down after being whipped by the master."

Yun Chu smiled.

She had someone tell Xie Shiwei about how He Shi was forced to death by her own son and daughter joining hands.

She also casually informed Xie Shiwei that his leg injury could actually have been treated initially, but because Xie Shi'an intervened, the Xie family had let it be.

Xie Shiwei was someone who would seek revenge for the smallest grievance. After learning these two things, he was bound to make a scene.

She only needed to find an opportunity to bring Xie Shiwei back.

"And regarding He Xu, he hasn't been up to much in Jizhou," Chen Defu inquired. "Should we continue having someone keep an eye on him?"

Yun Chu nodded. "This person still has great use."

Since He Lingying was dead, He Xu had become the most crucial figure. Of course, he needed to be kept around.

Chen Defu made note of it, then promptly handed the Ice Shop's account books from the past half month to Yun Chu.

Yun Chu flipped through them and was surprised herself—the net profit had actually reached over a hundred thousand taels. With this sum of money, anything could be accomplished conveniently.

The Hot Spring Manor would be completed in about a month. It could open to guests by late autumn, but before that, she still needed to find an ally.

In her previous life, this manor had ended up in the hands of Consort Hui, one of the four consorts of the inner palace. Consort Hui was the birth mother of the Second Prince... The Second Prince was known for his virtue and had an excellent reputation among the common people. If she hadn't learned before her death that Xie Shi'an was aligned with the Second Prince, she would have truly believed the Second Prince was someone who avoided conflict...

When Xie Shi'an failed to win the Yun family over for the Second Prince, he resorted to the most extreme measure.

Xie Shi'an was the blade in the Second Prince's hand; the true executioner who caused the deaths of so many in the Yun family was actually the Second Prince.

Fortunately, her father would soon return to the capital. She would explain all these matters to him in detail...

The matter of finding an ally for the Hot Spring Manor still required careful consideration. Those capable of opposing Consort Hui and the Second Prince were few...

The night passed quietly.

Early the next morning, after everyone had paid their respects, Yun Chu was about to call for a tailor to make some new clothes when Ting Feng hurried in. "Madam, someone from the palace has arrived!"

Yun Chu set aside her tasks and went to the front courtyard.

It turned out to be an old acquaintance—Granny Fu from Consort De's side. She had stayed at the Xie residence for half a month previously to teach Xie Ping etiquette. After Xie Ping had learned most of it, she returned to the palace.

Now, she brought a message from Consort De: "Consort De invites Madam Xie and Miss Xie to the palace for tea. Please come."

Xie Ping nervously clutched her handkerchief, her fear evident.

The events of her last visit to the palace were still vivid in her mind. She was afraid this time would be...

However, this time Consort De had also invited her mother. Her mother was the eldest daughter of the Yun family—surely Consort De would not refuse to give her mother face.

Thinking this, she finally felt somewhat at ease.Yun Chu and Xie Ping arrived at the palace gate by carriage, following Granny Fu all the way to the entrance of Consort De's Evergreen Palace.

"Madam Xie and Miss Xie, please wait a moment."

Granny Fu left the two at the palace entrance and strode into the main hall.

Xie Ping nervously twisted her fingers, but fortunately, she didn't have to wait long this time. Granny Fu soon emerged and invited Yun Chu and Xie Ping inside.

"Greetings to Consort De. I pay my respects to Your Highness."

Yun Chu gracefully performed a standard court curtsy.

"Madam Xie, there's no need for formalities. Please be seated." Consort De smiled warmly as she offered them seats.

Xie Ping didn't dare sit, standing instead by Yun Chu's side with lowered eyes and submissive posture, carefully maintaining perfect decorum.

Yun Chu appeared completely at ease, showing no sign of restraint.

Before her marriage, she had often accompanied her mother to palace banquets and could conduct herself with ease even before the Emperor, let alone imperial consorts.

"Madam Xie truly lives up to being a general's daughter," Consort De said with a smile. "I've asked you to come to the palace to inform you about a certain matter."

Yun Chu set down her teacup. "Please speak, Your Highness."

"As Miss Xie's wedding date with the Fourth Prince approaches, I find myself growing increasingly anxious too," Consort De said in a conversational tone. "Recently, the Emperor mentioned to me that the Fourth Prince's residence seems rather empty, so he asked me to select a young lady to enter the Anjing Prince's residence as Side Princess Consort on the same day as Miss Xie's wedding. This way, they can look after each other."

Xie Ping's face instantly turned pale.

She never expected to hear such news upon entering the palace - this was even harder to bear than being slapped in the face.

"What's that expression on your face, Miss Xie?" Consort De glanced at her sideways. "Do you have objections?"

"This humble subject wouldn't dare," Xie Ping replied with bowed head, suppressing the emotion in her voice as she spoke cautiously. "I was merely curious about who the other sister might be."

"It's the eldest daughter of the Shi family," Consort De said with a smile. "She's two years older than you, but you're the Princess Consort. No matter how young you are, she'll have to address you as elder sister."

Xie Ping's heart sank to the depths.

The Shi family held third-rank nobility status. The eldest Miss Shi was the daughter of the former Madame Shi. Although not favored by her stepmother, she was still the legitimate eldest daughter. A third-rank legitimate eldest daughter as Side Princess Consort, while she, the illegitimate daughter of a fifth-rank official, became the principal Princess Consort... Both marrying into the prince's residence on the same day - she didn't dare imagine what awaited her.

Clenching her palms tightly, she spoke against her true feelings: "It would be this humble subject's honor to serve His Highness together with Miss Shi."

"It's good that you have such understanding." Consort De picked up her teacup. "After becoming Princess Anjing, as the principal wife, you must be generous and tolerant. Don't let me hear any jokes about jealousy and pettiness."

Xie Ping kept her head very low. "Yes, this humble subject will remember."

After leaving the Evergreen Palace, Xie Ping could no longer control herself, tears streaming down her face. "Mother, what should I do? How will I manage in the future..."

Without her husband's favor, and with a Side Princess Consort of much higher status and background than herself, she truly didn't know how to cope.

"Wipe your tears. If people see you like this, they'll think you suffered grievances in Consort De's palace, and you'll face even greater hardships later," Yun Chu said. "As a prince's consort, there won't be just one Side Princess Consort. After you enter the residence, Consort De will soon arrange for a second one. If you only know how to cry, will you be able to cry through everything? Remember, you are the Princess Consort. Your status is established here - no one can do anything to you."Xie Ping forcibly held back her tears.

Indeed, as the principal consort, she would hold a mother-like position in the Anjing Prince's residence. Just as her mother could do anything she wanted in the Xie family without anyone daring to object, once she entered the prince's residence, even that Miss Shi would have to follow her commands. What was there to fear?

Yun Chu and Xie Ping walked to the palace gate, then turned to thank the young eunuch who had escorted them out, giving him a monetary reward.

At that moment, a carriage slowly came to a stop at the palace entrance.

Yun Chu looked up and saw Prince Pingxi, Chu Yi.