Chapter 164: He Xu Shows Up
Ting Yu was completely stunned.
How had the Xie family suddenly fallen to such a state?
No wonder the allowances for her and Yun Ge'er had been getting worse recently. It wasn't that the Madam was deliberately withholding them—the household was genuinely short on money.
"Most of the Xie family's silver was spent on Old Madam's funeral arrangements," Yun Chu explained. "Kang Ge'er is frail, the Master is ill, and gifts for An Ge'er's tutor were all scraped together from whatever could be spared. The Xie family has long been drained dry. If we use the remaining thousand or so taels to hire a physician for the Master, we'll have to dismiss all the servants in the household."
Ting Yu twisted the handkerchief in her hands tightly. "Surely... surely the Madam still has some silver of her own?"
She had once been the Madam's personal maid and knew exactly how much dowry the Madam had brought. Even if some had been used to support the Xie family, there must still be plenty left.
Hearing this, Yun Chu smiled. "From what I know, Concubine Yu has also saved up quite a bit of private savings over the years. Why not contribute to hire Physician Qin for a consultation?"
"This humble one has none..." Ting Yu shook her head hurriedly. "The Master needs someone to attend to him. I must take my leave now."
Yun Chu paid no mind to how Ting Yu might try to sow discord in front of Xie Jingyu.
She turned to Ting Feng, who had just entered. "Is everything arranged?"
Ting Feng nodded. "Rest assured, Madam. There will be quite a show to see tomorrow morning."
"Send more people to follow along," Yun Chu said, her long eyelashes casting shadows, her voice cold. "After the incident, take advantage of the chaos to seize He Xu. We won't need him anymore after this."
In her past life, Ting Feng and Ting Xue had suffered humiliation at He Xu's hands. In truth, this man should have died long ago.
However, there was one final task for He Xu to complete. Once it was over, he could proceed to his next life.
Ting Feng turned and left to relay the orders.
Ting Xue entered holding a deed. "Madam, it's done. The three-courtyard house in Yulin Lane is now officially under your name."
Yun Chu looked at the deed with satisfaction and stored it carefully.
Yulin Lane was located behind the Yun residence, not far from the bustling streets. It offered tranquility within and convenience without.
A three-courtyard house was rather spacious for her alone. The front courtyard could serve as a reception area, the rear courtyard as living quarters, and the middle section could be modified slightly.
She had someone prepare ink, brush, paper, and inkstone and began sketching the layout of the house in earnest.
Since she would be the only one living there, there was no need to consult anyone else. She could design it however she pleased. She liked peaches, so she would plant some peach trees—she could enjoy the blossoms in spring.
She also liked green bamboo. Planting a semicircle of bamboo along the lake would be lovely.
She vaguely remembered Yu Ge'er saying he liked persimmons, so she would have more persimmon trees planted along the courtyard walls.
Changsheng loved lychees, but the soil and climate in the capital couldn't sustain lychee trees.
Changsheng also adored small animals like cats and rabbits. Perhaps she could build a small garden specifically for these little creatures...
As she sketched, the sky gradually darkened.
While Yun Chu was enjoying herself in her own world, every member of the Xie household found it difficult to sleep.
Xie Jingyu was too ill to sleep.
Xie Zhongcheng and Yuan Shi lay awake, worrying about the Xie family's future.
As for Xie Shi'an, every time he closed his eyes, several faces appeared before him: his birth mother, He Lingying; Old Madam; and his elder sister, Xie Ping.
He couldn't sleep. He simply couldn't.
In the past, all he had to do was focus on his studies. Everything else in the Xie household, both internal and external, would naturally be taken care of by others.But now, for some reason, all the responsibilities and pressures seemed to have fallen squarely on his shoulders.
His birthday fell in early winter, and by the time winter arrived, he would only be a thirteen-year-old boy. Why should he bear the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of his entire family?
Xie Shi'an struggled with a tumult of emotions until dawn arrived without him noticing.
The sky had just begun to lighten. He got up, changed his clothes, finished washing, picked up his books, and headed to the Imperial College.
No matter what happened at home, no matter what he might face, he could not give up his opportunity at the Imperial College. He had to step over everyone there to reach the Emperor, to climb to the highest position.
When a person is strong enough, when they stand high and firm enough, no storm can destroy them.
The court officials attended morning court earlier than the Imperial College’s schedule. It would soon be time for court to adjourn, so he encountered few people along the way.
Xie Shi'an rode in a carriage to the palace gate, where he finally met a few classmates also on their way to the Imperial College.
As soon as he heard their voices, he knew they were the spoiled followers of the Sixth Prince, who often joined the prince in making things difficult for him.
He stepped down from the carriage, quickened his pace, and hurried toward the palace gate.
"Stop."
A rude voice called out from behind him.
He knew it was the heir of Marquis Pingjin, the Sixth Prince’s top follower.
"I thought Young Master Xie had stopped coming to the Imperial College," the heir of Marquis Pingjin said as he approached Xie Shi'an, clicking his tongue. "Back when you were the Anjing Prince’s brother-in-law, you put on airs in front of us every day. Now that the Anjing Prince has been executed for treason, who are you putting on this reckless act for?"
As he spoke, he reached out and patted Xie Shi'an’s face.
Having stayed up all night, Xie Shi'an had no energy to engage with him. He took a step back and said, "Are you finished, Heir? If so, I’ll go in."
"Did I say you could leave?" The heir of Marquis Pingjin suddenly raised his foot and kicked Xie Shi'an in the abdomen.
Xie Shi'an fell to the ground from the blow.
He clenched his fists but did not struggle to get up.
As long as he waited for these people to tire of their torment, they would eventually let him go.
His strength was insufficient now; besides enduring, he had no other choice.
The heir of Marquis Pingjin hurled a few more mocking, cutting remarks and delivered a few more kicks. By then, many students had arrived, and he was about ready to enter the Imperial College for his studies.
Just then, a familiar voice drew near.
"Xie Shi'an, my dear nephew! Your own uncle has finally found you!"
At the sound of that familiar voice, Xie Shi'an’s head snapped up. He looked and saw a figure he hadn’t seen in a long time striding quickly toward him.
His pupils widened in shock.
After accidentally spotting He Xu returning to the capital last time, he had paid some people to keep an eye on He Xu’s movements, intending to deal with him.
But after so many days, those people couldn’t even catch a glimpse of He Xu. He had started to believe he’d been mistaken, or perhaps He Xu had fled the capital again to escape debt collectors from the gambling den...
He never expected to see He Xu here.
Seeing the malicious smile on He Xu’s face, Xie Shi'an’s heart sank, knowing trouble was afoot.
He Xu stepped closer, taking in Xie Shi'an’s brocade robes and jade crown—clear signs of a life of luxury and privilege.While indulging in immense wealth himself, he had driven every one of his relatives to ruin... He was Xie Shi'an's own maternal uncle! In this world, aside from one's parents, an uncle is the closest kin. Yet this very nephew had repeatedly sent assassins to kill him.
If not for the loyal servant Chen Bo, who protected him, found him shelter, and arranged for attendants to serve and guard him, he would never have survived until now.
Why should he live like a rat while this nephew strutted down a path of glory?
If he couldn't have peace, then no one would—not even his own nephew!
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