Chapter 134: Marquis Xuanwu Divorces His Wife
The auspicious hour arrived, and the Dai family's wedding sedan also reached its destination.
The wedding matron led Yun Ran outside. When they reached the main gate, Yun Ran turned back to look at Lin Shi and couldn't hold back her tears.
Her birth mother had died in childbirth, and she had grown up under her stepmother's care. Her stepmother had treated her as her own, never letting her suffer any grievances.
After marriage, returning for visits wouldn't be so easy anymore.
Lin Shi's eyes also grew moist.
The wedding matron wiped Yun Ran's tears dry, placed the red veil over her head, and led her all the way to the main entrance.
Then firecrackers crackled, and gongs and drums filled the air as the Dai family's wedding procession lifted the sedan chair, carrying it farther and farther from the Yun residence.
Lin Shi forced a smile. "Well, my daughter has left the household. Everyone, please take your seats and begin the banquet. Don't stand on ceremony—make yourselves comfortable."
The Yun family's banquet wasn't segregated by gender. The entire family sat together at one table, gathered in the front courtyard, with men and women, young and old, creating a lively atmosphere.
Yun Chu sat with Xie Ping and the Yun family members. Beside her were Third Aunt Yun and her daughter-in-law, the wife of her cousin Yun Run, whom she addressed as Sister-in-law Run.
Third Aunt Yun casually asked, "Chu'er, how exactly did that Old Madam from your Xie family pass away..."
Before she could finish, Qi Shi tugged at her sleeve. "Mother, weren't you just curious about the affairs of the Marquis Xuanwu's household? Lady Li over there seems to know quite a bit. Why don't you go ask her?"
Third Aunt Yun, who loved hearing such gossip, immediately rose and went to Lady Li's table.
Qi Shi apologized to Yun Chu. "Chu'er, my mother-in-law speaks her mind without filter. Please don't take it to heart."
"Sister-in-law Run, you worry too much," Yun Chu replied with a smile. "Third Aunt was merely inquiring about the facts. There was no ill intent—why would I mind?"
As she spoke, she overheard Lady Li and a group of women discussing the affairs of the Marquis Xuanwu's household and the Luo family.
"Can you believe it? Marquis Xuanwu actually wrote a letter of divorce! He kept a mistress, yet had the audacity to divorce his wife."
"Listen to you—in this world, what man doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? Luo Shi was too domineering, so Marquis Xuanwu had no choice but to seek pleasure elsewhere. Keeping a mistress was his only recourse."
"Marquis Xuanwu made a misstep here. Divorcing his principal wife and taking on two mistresses—what exactly was he hoping to gain?"
"Luo Shi didn't play her cards right either. Her only son lost his position as heir. Such a promising future ruined by his own mother."
"With a Luo family woman being divorced, it'll be difficult for Luo daughters to arrange marriages in the future."
"When it comes down to it, the Luo family's official rank is too low—only third rank. Even a daughter from a collateral branch of the first-rank Yun family managed to secure an amicable divorce, yet the Luo family's principal-line eldest daughter was cast out."
"..."
Yun Chu listened idly.
It was true she wanted revenge against Qin Mingheng, but she had no wish to involve Luo Shi, an innocent victim. Now that Luo Shi had extricated herself, it was time to act.
Just as she prepared to rise, the banquet hall suddenly fell silent. A distinguished guest had arrived.
She looked up and saw her father leading Prince Pingxi, along with the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor's Young Son and Little Commandery Princess, slowly entering.
Her gaze fell upon the two children. After so many days apart, this single glance eased much of her longing.
One more look, and she yearned to sweep them into her arms. She had to withdraw her gaze and suppress the impulse.
Meanwhile, the entire banquet hall was stunned.
For the wedding of a mere Yun family concubine-born daughter, a prince had come personally to offer congratulations.
This demonstrated just how highly the imperial family regarded the Yun family.As soon as Yun Chu came into view, Chu Hongyu could barely contain himself, but he knew he couldn't rush over to her in such a public setting.
He understood these social constraints, but Chu Changsheng didn't. Her eyes sparkling, she shook off her father's hand and began walking toward Yun Chu.
"Changsheng!" Chu Hongyu quickly grabbed his sister's arm. "Not now, there are too many people. If we go over now, we'll cause trouble for Mother. Father also said we shouldn't be too intimate with Mother in public. Have some snacks first, let me think of a way."
The little girl had no choice but to obediently nestle in Chu Yi's arms.
"The Young Son and Little Commandery Princess seem to be watching our direction," Third Aunt Yun said with bright eyes. "Da Ge'er, the Young Son probably wants to play with you. Why don't you go over and play with him?"
Da Ge'er was Third Aunt Yun's grandson, just over six years old and at that mischievous age, though not bold enough to actually approach them.
Yun Zhenjiang was also sitting nearby. With one look at Chu Hongyu, he knew the boy was watching his aunt.
Back when his aunt was recuperating at the Yun residence, this boy had come to their home every day, following his aunt around calling her "Auntie" until it became annoying.
His aunt used to dote on him the most, but since this boy appeared, she hadn't been paying him as much attention. It was truly infuriating.
Yun Zhenjiang snorted and turned away from Chu Hongyu.
After a while, he felt someone tugging at his sleeve. Turning around, he met Chu Hongyu's large eyes and said coldly, "Young Son of Pingxi, why are you hiding here pulling on me?"
Chu Hongyu, concealed in the bushes, pleaded pitifully, "Jiang Ge, I'll call you brother, okay? Come here, I need to talk to you."
Yun Zhenjiang snorted. "I'm busy."
"I brought a flying spinner. Do you want it?"
After all, Yun Zhenjiang was just a six-year-old boy himself, and he loved such toys. Hearing this, he couldn't resist and immediately followed Chu Hongyu into the nearby bushes.
Chu Hongyu pulled a flying spinner from his sleeve - a novel gadget he'd managed to get from the Minister of War after sneaking into the Ministry of Military Affairs.
He hadn't even had much chance to play with it himself, and now he had to give it away.
But there was no other choice.
He had begged his father to bring them to the Yun family, and his father had said they could only take one look at his mother before leaving right after the banquet ended.
So he had to find a way to call his mother away while the banquet was still ongoing, to have a proper conversation with her. Trading a flying spinner for a chance to talk with his mother didn't seem like a bad deal.
"Since you're being so sincere, I'll help you," Yun Zhenjiang said, unable to put down the flying spinner. "But I have to warn you - men and women should maintain proper distance. No climbing all over my aunt, no hugging my aunt, and no..."
"Alright, alright, I remember!" Chu Hongyu said cheerfully. "The banquet is almost over. Hurry and find Aunt Yun, tell her Changsheng and I are waiting for her!"
Yun Zhenjiang pocketed the flying spinner and went to find Yun Chu.
The two children waited in the adjacent courtyard for just a moment before seeing Yun Chu enter.
"Mo... Aunt Yun!"
Noticing Yun Zhenjiang following behind Yun Chu, Chu Hongyu quickly corrected himself.
The little girl swiftly threw herself into Yun Chu's arms, climbing up her with all four limbs. Just as Chu Hongyu was about to do the same, he caught Yun Zhenjiang's warning glare."Yu Ge'er, Changsheng, I've prepared gifts for you." Yun Chu took out two longevity locks from her sleeve that had been prepared earlier. "This one is for Yu Ge'er, and this one is for Changsheng. See if you like them?"
"I love them, I absolutely love them!" Chu Hongyu smugly looked at Yun Zhenjiang. "Jiang Ge, Aunt Yun definitely didn't give you a longevity lock, did she?"
Yun Zhenjiang nodded: "Indeed she didn't."
Chu Hongyu was delighted - it seemed that in his mother's heart, he was more important than Yun Zhenjiang.
"However, when I was born, aunt gave me a jade pendant. On my first birthday, she gave me a set of scholar's treasures. When I was two, she gave me clothes she made herself. When I was three, she gave me... when I was four..."
Chu Hongyu: "..."
He covered his ears.
If he kept listening, he would truly become jealous.
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