Chapter 153: The Hunting Invitation
Yun Chu sat in the flower hall and looked up as Xie Ping entered through the doorway.
After marriage, there was a three-day homecoming tradition, but Xie Ping hadn't returned. With just a little thought, Yun Chu knew it must be because the Anjing Prince refused to accompany her. Afraid of being gossiped about for lacking her husband's favor if she returned alone, Xie Ping had found an excuse not to come back.
Now, more than half a month after her marriage, Xie Ping appeared much more composed than before her wedding.
"Greetings, Princess Consort."
Yun Chu stood up and performed a courtesy.
"Mother, please rise quickly." Xie Ping hurried forward several steps to help Yun Chu up. "I could become the Princess Consort entirely because of you. If you still pay respects to me, how should I face myself?"
Though she said this, a secret satisfaction filled her heart.
Look—the legitimate eldest daughter of a first-rank general's household, her own stepmother, now had to bow to her. This sufficiently demonstrated how noble her status was.
She might appear somewhat disheveled before Consort De and the Anjing Prince, but the Empress still showed her respect. As for others, they were too busy flattering her to deliberately embarrass her.
Yun Chu naturally sensed this hidden emotion.
"Ping'er, your complexion looks excellent. It seems you're doing well in the prince's residence." Yun Chu wore a faint smile. "Consort Shi is slightly older than you, so it's normal for the prince to summon her. Remember, you must not compete for favor out of jealousy."
She had rescued Du Ling's sister, Du Ying, from the Anjing Prince's residence but hadn't expected the eldest daughter of the Shi family to become the Side Princess Consort instead.
In her previous life, this eldest Miss Shi had been married by the Shi family's matriarch to a sixty-year-old man as his fourth consecutive wife. Only three months after the marriage, the old man passed away, and his numerous children immediately drove Miss Shi out.
The Shi family, ashamed of this daughter, severed ties with her outright.
Any other delicate young lady would have found the humiliation unbearable and likely ended her life.
But Miss Shi sold the pitifully small dowry the Shi family had thrown at her—reportedly for only three taels of silver—rented a dilapidated house, and began doing odd jobs to survive...
Later, Miss Shi opened a teahouse and managed to build a thriving life... Yun Chu, who enjoyed tea, specifically had Ting Xue buy tea from Miss Shi's shop every few days, which was how she heard some stories about Miss Shi.
If, in this life, her scheming led to Miss Shi's death because of involvement with the Anjing Prince, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
The only possible solution was—after the Anjing Prince's downfall, more than ten concubines in his rear courtyard were released, as most were respectable women who had been forcibly taken. If Consort Shi could be demoted to a concubine, she might have a chance to survive.
Thinking of this, Yun Chu continued, "The Anjing Prince is at an age but still has no heirs. Consort De will surely pressure Consort Shi to conceive soon. Consort De isn't targeting you specifically, so don't hold any resentment in your heart. Remember that."
Xie Ping pressed her lips together tightly.
Her mother was truly too clever—without even meeting Consort De, she knew exactly what Consort De was planning.
In the days leading up to the wedding, Consort De had palace matrons deliver various medicines to Consort Shi daily, claiming they would ensure a male child with one attempt.
She was the legitimate Princess Anjing and absolutely could not allow anyone to bear the prince's child before her.
Lowering her eyelids, she said, "Mother, you might not know yet, but Consort Shi has already been demoted to a concubine. She wrote words disrespecting Consort De in her room, which displeased the prince..."Yun Chu’s fingers paused.
She had intended to provoke Xie Ping into making a move, but she hadn’t expected Xie Ping to be so impatient. Barely any time had passed since the grand wedding, and Consort Shi had already fallen victim to a scheme.
In that case, there was no need for her to waste words.
Seeing Yun Chu remain silent, Xie Ping grew uneasy and hurriedly changed the subject: “Mother, I’ve returned this time to share good news. Every autumn, the Emperor arranges a hunting expedition, and this year it’s scheduled for the twenty-first of September. The Prince’s household is allowed three attendees, and I’ve specially brought the extra invitation for you.”
Yun Chu took the invitation and glanced at it—it was indeed the palace’s annual hunting event.
In her previous life, the Fourth Prince, Anjing Prince, had met with misfortune during this very hunt, leading to the downfall of the Anjing Prince’s household.
She had thought Xie Ping would enjoy being Princess Consort for a while, but the hunt had arrived so swiftly. The title of Princess Anjing proved even more fleeting than she had imagined…
She smiled faintly and said, “I won’t be attending the hunt. You may give this invitation to An Ge’er instead.”
Just then, Xie Shi’an entered through the doorway and interjected, “Mother, the Emperor has specifically ordered all students of the Imperial College to accompany the hunting party. I don’t need an invitation.”
In the past, he had always relied on his mother’s introductions to enter elite circles.
But now, he was different—he could integrate into the circles of noble scions on his own merit. So what if they looked down on him? He had earned the favor of his Imperial College instructors, who provided him with private lessons after classes each day. In the upcoming provincial examinations, he was determined to secure the top rank and make those who scorned him reconsider their opinions.
He paused before continuing, “Households of first and second-rank officials are permitted to bring one female family member. Grandmother will likely attend, and since Elder Sister has an invitation, why don’t you take it and accompany Grandmother for a chat?”
Yun Chu’s lips twitched.
She frequently returned to the Yun family these days and could see her mother anytime—why would she need to go to the hunting grounds just for a conversation?
She understood perfectly well that these two siblings merely wanted to show her that their status had changed—that they could now lead her into circles she couldn’t otherwise access…
Just as she was about to respond, Ting Feng hurried in: “Madam, someone from the palace has arrived. Her Majesty the Empress has brought an Imperial Decree for you.”
Xie Shi’an and Xie Ping exchanged glances before following Yun Chu to the front courtyard.
The messenger was a young eunuch, who addressed Yun Chu respectfully: “Madam Xie, by the Imperial Decree of Her Majesty the Empress, you are requested to join the imperial procession on the morning of September twenty-first for the hunt at Mount Yan. Please make the necessary preparations.”
Yun Chu was taken aback.
Because the Yun family had a consort in the palace, they maintained no familiarity with other imperial consorts—including the Empress. Why would the Empress specifically invite her to the hunt?
Nevertheless, an Imperial Decree from the Empress could not be refused. No matter how many questions she had, she could only accept the order respectfully.
Xie Shi’an’s fingers tightened.
He had assumed his mother would be ineligible to attend the hunt and would need to rely on his elder sister’s invitation to gain entry.
Never had he imagined that the Empress would send an Imperial Decree, personally summoning his mother to attend. What an extraordinary honor.
Xie Ping’s heart churned with even greater bitterness.
She had become Princess Consort through her mother’s influence and had hoped her mother could now attend the hunt through her.
But her mother had no need for it at all.She lowered her head to look at the invitation in her hand, finding it utterly ridiculous no matter how she viewed it, and directly tossed it into Xie Shi'an's arms: "Take it and use it to curry favor with whichever classmate you wish."
If her father's health weren't so poor, she could have asked him to attend—now this advantage would simply go to an outsider.
Xie Shi'an nodded. During his time at Huaide Academy, he had met many people, including some young masters from official families. This was a perfect opportunity to win them over—wouldn't they become valuable connections for his future career in the imperial court?
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