Chapter 172: The Yun Family Daughter Requests an Audience
Yuan Shi immediately fell silent.
How could she not have approached Yun Chu? But Yun Chu had refused—what more could she do...
She couldn’t possibly force Yun Chu to hand over her dowry. If word got out, how could the Xie family hold their heads high?
Moreover, although she was the mother-in-law, she was somewhat intimidated by Yun Chu, this daughter-in-law. Whenever Yun Chu’s expression turned cold, Yuan Shi found herself too afraid to speak.
“Yun Chu will naturally be approached,” Xie Zhongcheng said coldly. “Right now, the priority is for all of you to contribute silver—as much as you can. Once the Xie family overcomes this crisis, you will not be treated unfairly in the future.”
Ting Yu bit her lip.
Over the years, she had managed to save some private funds—only seven or eight hundred taels of silver. After saving for so many years, she couldn’t bring herself to part with it all at once.
After a pause, she spoke up: “When Old Madam passed away, weren’t there many valuable items left in the storeroom? They could be used now to resolve this urgent situation.”
At the mention of Old Madam’s belongings, Jiang Yiniang’s expression tightened.
She feared that the Xie family might discover some of Old Madam’s possessions were missing, and that they would mistakenly assume the Madam had taken them...
While she was lost in thought, a sudden commotion arose from outside.
“It’s terrible, Master, Madam! Something awful has happened! It’s terrible!”
Xie Zhongcheng’s face darkened. “Which blind maid is this? What’s so terrible? We are perfectly fine! The Xie family is perfectly fine and will surely recover!”
Ting Yu recognized the voice immediately and said, “It’s Ting Feng, from the Madam’s side.”
Before Xie Zhongcheng could order her to enter, Ting Feng stumbled in, disheveled.
His expression grew even more grim. This daughter-in-law was becoming increasingly disrespectful toward him, her father-in-law—even her maid had no sense of propriety!
“The Master—the Master has had an accident!”
Yuan Shi hurriedly steadied Ting Feng. “Speak slowly. What happened to the Master? What’s wrong?”
“He—he’s not breathing.” Ting Feng burst into loud sobs. “The Master isn’t breathing! Hurry, Master, Madam, please go see!”
Yuan Shi felt dizzy, nearly collapsing on the spot.
The concubines in the room were horrified, disbelief written across their faces.
The group quickly rose and rushed toward Xie Jingyu’s courtyard.
As they approached the entrance to Xie Jingyu’s courtyard, the strong scent of alcohol filled the air. Stepping inside, they saw wine jars scattered haphazardly all around the doorway.
Yun Chu stood on the steps of the main room, her face as pale as paper.
Xie Zhongcheng didn’t even glance at her as he strode into the room and looked toward the figure lying on the bed.
“Jingyu! Jingyu!”
Xie Zhongcheng didn’t dare approach, shouting twice, but the person on the bed showed no response.
Yuan Shi threw herself beside the bed, grasping Xie Jingyu’s hand. Tears immediately streamed down her face uncontrollably.
“Jingyu, your mother is here, I’m right beside you…” Yuan Shi sobbed, unable to form coherent words. “Open your eyes, look at me, please… Don’t leave us like this…”
The concubines rushed over as well.
Jiang Yiniang’s face was full of disbelief. “Master, wake up! How could you leave us like this…”
Tao Yiniang wailed loudly. “Master, what will become of Kang Ge’er without you? He was counting on you, his father, to find a divine physician to cure him…”
Ting Yu’s voice was choked with tears. “Master, the physician said your illness meant you shouldn’t drink. How could you…”
Xie Zhongcheng spun around sharply, glaring at Yun Chu standing outside. “What exactly happened here?!”"My husband... he couldn't bear the current situation, so he sought solace in wine." Yun Chu closed her eyes. "Wine may drown sorrows, but it can also claim lives."
"As his wife, why didn't you try to stop him?" Xie Zhongcheng roared in fury, then staggered against the doorframe. "With Jingyu gone, our Xie family is finished... Why, why must heaven treat our Xie family this way..."
As long as one lives, there remains a glimmer of hope.
But death extinguishes everything...
The Xie family truly faced ruin.
Yun Chu stepped down from the stairs.
"Stop!" Xie Zhongcheng called after her. "Your husband just died—where do you think you're going now?"
"With heavy guards stationed at the Xie residence's entrance, how do you propose we hold a funeral?" Yun Chu's voice was icy. "Or do you believe your son, having embezzled official silver from the Ministry of Revenue and committed grave errors, doesn't deserve a proper burial?"
Xie Zhongcheng's aged face twisted in shame. "Death erases all wrongs. Whatever mistakes were made are forgiven in the eyes of heaven. Of course he should be buried according to proper rites."
Yun Chu offered no further reply, striding toward the main gate of the Xie residence.
After Qin Mingheng had been taken away by officers, she had changed into a dark cloak, preparing to leave the estate, only to be delayed by Xie Jingyu's affairs.
This night seemed exceptionally long, and it was only just past midnight.
Reaching the main gate, she instructed her attendant Duo Xi to open it. The moment the doors parted, two crossed spears blocked the entrance.
Guards flanking the doorway stared coldly. "By imperial decree, no one from the Xie household may pass through this gate!"
Duo Xi scurried forward, bowing obsequiously with an ingratiating smile. "Officers, please show some mercy. Our mistress has urgent matters to attend to—we beg your indulgence. She'll return before dawn..."
As he spoke, he stealthily slipped two heavy money pouches into the guards' hands.
Just as the guards were about to weigh the silver, they suddenly registered the term "mistress" and swiftly looked up at Yun Chu's face.
Though it was night, and though the woman wore a black hood, they could vaguely discern her peerless beauty.
Exchanging a glance, the guards hastily threw the money pouches back into Duo Xi's arms. "So it's Lady Xie. You may pass!"
Their superiors had given clear orders: while no Xie family member was permitted to come or go, Lady Xie was the sole exception.
Yun Chu surmised these were likely guards under her father's deputy commander, hence their willingness to accommodate her.
She nodded in thanks and stepped through the Xie estate gates.
After curfew, carriage traffic was forbidden on the capital's streets. Yun Chu walked on foot for nearly half an hour before reaching the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor.
Had her father still been in the capital, matters concerning Marquis Xuanwu Qin Mingheng could have been handled through him.
But with circumstances urgent, she had no choice but to seek aid from this prince.
She could only hope their slight acquaintance would persuade him to grant her request.
As Yun Chu ascended the manor steps, the two guards at the entrance had already been watching her. When she approached, their spears immediately pointed toward her.
"Yun Chu, eldest daughter of the Yun family, seeks an audience with Prince Pingxi on urgent matters at this late hour. I humbly request you inform him."
Marquis Xuanwu Qin Mingheng had escaped during his exile journey. Now recaptured, he would undoubtedly face severe torture. She feared he might not withstand the eighteen great torments.
She worried Qin Mingheng wouldn't live to see tomorrow's sun—feared she might never learn the truth of what happened that night...
That was why she had come seeking help at this highly inappropriate hour, barely past midnight.The two guards glanced at her and recognized her as the eldest daughter of the Yun family and the wife of the Xie family.
They all knew that the prince and General Yun shared a deep friendship. For a woman of the Yun family to seek an audience in the middle of the night, it must be for an important matter.
However, at this hour, the prince had long since retired for the night. If they were to rashly enter and report the matter, disturbing the prince’s sleep, and if the prince were to become enraged, the consequences would be more than they could bear.
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