Chapter 157: Yin Pin's Probing
On Mount Yan, steeds galloped across the land.
The Emperor had embarked on the first hunting expedition with the Empress, princes, nobles, and young masters. Some noblewomen and ladies interested in hunting also joined the chase on horseback, leaving only a few palace consorts and weary women like Yun Chu remaining in the camp.
Yun Chu sat beneath a tree, watching from a distance as two children enjoyed pastries under the care of palace maids.
Just then, a matron approached her.
"Lady Xie, Consort Yin Pin requests your presence for tea."
Yun Chu's fingers stilled momentarily.
She could roughly guess why Yin Pin sought her out. Given her collaboration with Prince Pingxi to establish the hot spring manor, it was reasonable for Yin Pin to have some questions.
She followed the matron toward the imperial tents.
Through the rapid efforts of hundreds of palace maids and eunuchs, dozens of imperial tents had been erected. The scale was such that it could almost be considered a temporary palace.
Several older palace consorts who hadn't joined the hunt were resting in their respective tents.
When Yun Chu entered Yin Pin's tent, she saw the consort conversing with a girl of about sixteen or seventeen.
The girl possessed delicate features and a full-moon face that was quite charming. Whatever they were discussing had flushed the girl's cheeks crimson.
"Miss Fang, come here." Yin Pin smiled as she removed a bracelet from her wrist. "This is my gift to you as we meet. Keep it well."
Miss Fang appeared somewhat apprehensive and hesitated to accept it.
Yin Pin directly fastened it around the girl's wrist.
Last time, she had selected a Miss Tan for her third son, but unfortunately, that boy Yu Ge'er had ruined it.
This time, before the Emperor arranged any marriage, she would never allow another young maiden to come into contact with those two children again...
After expressing her gratitude, Miss Fang withdrew from the tent.
Yun Chu stepped forward and curtsied. "Your humble subject pays respects to Consort Yin Pin."
"Lady Xie, please sit." Yin Pin smiled. "This counts as our first formal meeting, I believe."
Yun Chu sat down, occupying only the front third of the seat, and replied with bowed head, "Indeed."
"I heard from my third son that the hot spring manor at Chuyun Mountain is under your name." Yin Pin took a sip of tea, speaking casually. "I had someone investigate and learned that you acquired the manor from a merchant for several thousand taels. How about this—I'll offer twenty thousand taels, and you transfer the manor to my third son's name."
Yun Chu was taken aback. She truly hadn't expected Yin Pin to want to purchase her manor.
While she had actively sought Prince Pingxi as a partner, that didn't mean he was her only option.
After only a moment's hesitation, she smiled and said, "Thanks to Her Majesty the Empress's invitation, I am fortunate to participate in the Mount Yan hunt. I've been contemplating what gift to prepare for Her Majesty as thanks. Might Consort Yin Pin offer some guidance?"
Yin Pin's previously confident expression faltered, and she nearly dropped her teacup upon hearing Yun Chu's words.
She understood Lady Xie's implication—if she insisted on purchasing the manor, this woman wouldn't hesitate to collaborate with the Empress and Crown Prince instead.
If matters reached that point, then whatever rapport existed between her third son and the Yun family would be lost.
"Her Majesty the Empress enjoys fragrances." Yin Pin smoothly transitioned to a new topic. "I've heard that your mother, Lady Yun, excels at blending scents, particularly orchid fragrance which the Empress favors greatly."
Yun Chu smiled. "Thank you for your guidance, Consort."As the two were speaking, the tent flap was lifted, and before anyone could be seen, a voice rang out: "Imperial Grandmother!"
Immediately after, Chu Hongyu shot in like a cannonball and crashed into Yin Pin's embrace.
"Oh, my dear little one!" Yin Pin gazed lovingly at the child in her arms. "I had someone prepare a small pony for you. Would you like to try hunting?"
Chu Hongyu's eyes lit up: "Really? Can I?"
Yin Pin nodded: "You can go, but Changsheng cannot. Don't wear her out."
Even if she hadn't said it, Chu Hongyu knew he couldn't take his sister riding.
The little one's eyes shifted and landed on Yun Chu: "Madam Xie is the eldest daughter of the Yun family. General Yun is so majestic in battle, surely Madam Xie is no less capable. How about I compete with Madam Xie?"
Yun Chu: "..."
This kid really knows how to put on a show.
It was gratifying that the boy knew to conceal their overly close relationship in front of others.
She stood up: "Since the Young Son has invited me, how could I refuse? Please."
Chu Hongyu puffed out his little chest and swaggered forward. Yun Chu bowed to Yin Pin and took her leave before stepping out of the tent.
The smile on Yin Pin's face gradually faded.
Outside, Chu Hongyu was overjoyed to see the white pony a guard was leading and quickly had someone help him mount.
His father was a military man, and he had loved such things since he was young. By three, he could already ride a horse, and now, at just over four, he rode quite well.
He said to the guards nearby: "None of you follow me. Madam Xie, I'll go ahead."
Yun Chu hadn't planned to hunt and hadn't brought a horse, so she had to borrow one from someone else. She mounted and followed the little pony ahead.
Chu Hongyu rode faster and faster, but the horse under him was too small, so even at its fastest, it was slow. Soon, Yun Chu caught up, along with a group of guards.
He said angrily, "I told you not to follow me! All of you, stay away!"
Yun Chu spoke up: "With me here, the Young Son will be fine. You may step back a bit; it's alright."
The guards exchanged glances and then slowed their pace, following from a distance.
Once sure the guards couldn't hear, the little one sweetly called out, "Mother!"
Yun Chu deliberately put on a stern face: "Don't call me that."
"When no one's around, I will," Chu Hongyu said with a grin. "My goal is to catch two foxes and make two scarves—one for Mother and one for Changsheng."
Hearing this, Yun Chu couldn't help but laugh.
This kid had just learned to ride; advanced skills like mounted archery were beyond him, yet he boasted so boldly.
She said, "I don't need a scarf. Look over there—so many flowers. Let's go pick some and make a flower crown for Changsheng."
The two dismounted and walked hand in hand to the sea of flowers.
They were wildflowers of unknown names, in red, purple, white, and blue—all sorts of colors.
The little one happily picked flowers while Yun Chu carefully wove a flower crown. Just then, voices suddenly reached their ears.
"Young Master Xie, you're only riding and not shooting. Don't tell me you don't know how to shoot arrows, haha!"
The Sixth Prince sat on his horse, looking back at Xie Shi'an with a mocking expression.
With him leading, a group of idlers joined in the ridicule."How can Young Master Xie be so brilliant in his studies yet not know how to shoot an arrow? How utterly foolish."
"Tsk tsk, what's the point of coming to the hunting grounds if you can't even shoot? What a disgrace."
"If you don't know how to hunt, then don't even bother riding a horse. Get down, get down!"
Back when they were studying at the Imperial College, these people would still show some restraint with the teachers and masters present. But now, with no one else around, they all let loose, surrounding Xie Shi'an and mocking him incessantly.
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