Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 18: How Do You Want to Live

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the general's residence.

"Young Mistress!"

"Young Mistress has returned!"

The two guards stationed at the entrance bowed upon seeing her, then immediately turned to rush inside and report her arrival.

As Yun Chu stepped inside, she saw her mother Lin Shi and her elder sister-in-law Liu Qianqian coming out together to greet her.

Lin Shi grasped her hand, saying happily, "Chu'er, why didn't you send word before returning?"

"Mother has been talking about you these past few days," Liu Qianqian said with a smile. "If your elder brother knew you were coming back today, he would definitely cancel all his outside engagements."

At the mention of her elder brother, Yun Chu's eyes suddenly reddened.

Their Yun family had served as military officers for generations. Her great-grandfather had died on the battlefield, leaving only her grandfather from that generation. Her father now guarded the frontlines while bearing injuries.

Because many Yun men had perished on the battlefield, when it came to her elder brother's generation, he wasn't permitted to study martial arts. Instead, he pursued an official career through scholarly pursuits. Last year, he achieved the third rank in the imperial examinations, becoming a Presented Scholar, and now served as a seventh-rank official in the court.

When the Yun family was falsely accused of treason, her elder brother was the first to know. He immediately submitted a memorial to defend the family, only to be thrown into prison.

The day after her brother was imprisoned, news came from the jail requesting the Yun family to collect his body.

She hadn't even been able to see her elder brother one last time...

"Why are you crying all of a sudden?" Lin Shi asked in alarm. "Chu'er, have the Xie family been mistreating you?"

Only then did Yun Chu realize her face was wet with tears. She hastily wiped it with her sleeve and buried herself in Lin Shi's embrace. "Mother, it's been so long since I last returned. I missed you, I missed home..."

"You silly child, you can come home whenever you want," Lin Shi said, patting her back. "Although married women aren't supposed to frequently return home, the Xie family has no authority over our Yun family. From now on, I'll send someone to fetch you from the Xie residence every few days."

Feeling the comforting presence of her mother, Yun Chu gradually calmed down.

There were still over ten years before the Yun family would be wrongfully accused. This lifetime, such tragedy would definitely not happen again. She didn't need to grieve.

Her voice hoarse, she said, "I'll go see Grandfather."

Her grandfather had fought numerous battles in his youth, his body covered with old wounds. Now advanced in years, he had difficulty moving and spent most of his time confined to his bed.

Originally, her grandfather could have passed away honorably with his military achievements, but in the end, to prove his innocence, he had used the very blade that had slain enemies to cut his own throat.

"Chu'er has returned," Old General Yun said, half-reclining on his couch. When he smiled, the wrinkles on his face obscured his scars. "Come, let your grandfather test how many moves you still remember."

Yun Chu felt somewhat guilty. "Grandfather, please go easy on me."

When she was young, after her grandfather could no longer go to battle due to his injuries, he spent most of his time at home. With her elder brother busy studying, her grandfather had focused on teaching her martial arts.

But she had been a playful child who couldn't sit still. Back then, her grandmother was still alive and often protected her, forbidding her grandfather from teaching her martial arts.

With such sporadic training—practicing for two days then skipping for three—she had barely learned a few techniques, and after marrying, she had forgotten everything.

"People should always have some skills to rely on," Old General Yun said. "If you depend on others, they may leave; if you depend on mountains, they may crumble; money can eventually run out. Only talent and martial arts ingrained in your bones will stay with you for life."

"I'm sorry, Grandfather. I was too immature before," Yun Chu said, lifting her gaze. "Could you arrange for someone to teach me martial arts?"Old General Yun looked at her: "Are those your true feelings, or are you just trying to amuse your grandfather?"

Yun Chu said coquettishly: "Even if it's just to amuse you, I still have to learn seriously. I'll come to spar with you every few days, and you're not allowed to find me annoying."

Old General Yun laughed heartily and promised to find her a suitable person to send to the Xie family within three days.

Yun Chu had a meal with her family, then sat in the flower hall with her mother and sister-in-law chatting about recent trivial matters, feeling quite cheerful.

Lin Shi sighed: "Your younger sister Ran'er fell ill two years ago, and her marriage was delayed. She's already seventeen now - if we don't arrange a match soon, she'll become an old maid."

Liu Qianqian spoke up: "Tomorrow's flower appreciation banquet hosted by the Princess is actually a matchmaking event for noble families in the capital. We can find Ran'er a good match then, mother needn't worry about this."

Yun Chu's fingers paused.

Yun Ran was her half-sister, but her birth mother died in childbirth, so she had been raised by their mother and was as close to Yun Chu as a full sister.

Because her half-sister was frail and fell ill two years ago, her marriage had been affected. Now that she was older, she was somewhat anxious about choosing a marriage partner and might make the wrong decision.

"Mother, could you take me to the flower appreciation banquet?" Yun Chu asked. "Since becoming Madam Xie, I haven't seen my old friends from my maiden days for a long time."

As the wife of a minor fifth-rank official, she was no longer in the same social circle as the daughters of second and third-rank officials.

For example, the Princess's flower appreciation banquet would definitely not invite her.

She could only tag along using the Yun family's invitation.

Lin Shi nodded: "That works perfectly. You can also take a look at the two families I've selected for your half-sister and help choose between them."

As they were speaking, Yun Ze returned.

Yun Ze was the eldest young master of the Yun residence, four years older than Yun Chu. Last year at twenty-three, he had only achieved the third rank in the Presented Scholar examinations, which wasn't particularly outstanding in the capital.

But Yun Chu knew her brother was excellent - he could have become a Presented Scholar at eighteen, and could have at least been the second-ranked scholar. However, fearing the Emperor would become suspicious of the Yun family, he had deliberately waited five years before taking the imperial examinations...

"Your elder brother is back, you siblings chat for a while," Lin Shi stood up. "Qianqian, come with me to the kitchen to check if the pastries are ready."

She knew that if her daughter had come home this time, there must be something important, otherwise she wouldn't have been waiting around like this.

Yun Chu had indeed been waiting for Yun Ze to return.

"Elder brother, there's something I'd like to ask for your help with," she pursed her lips and said. "Could you arrange for someone to go to Jizhou?"

"Jizhou? Isn't that where the Xie family's ancestral home is?" Yun Ze looked at her. "Has something happened?"

Yun Chu lowered her head: "I dreamed of my dead children... they said they were so cold... The children died shortly after birth and couldn't be buried in the Xie family ancestral graves. They were buried casually somewhere in their hometown. I want to ask you to arrange for someone to bring the children's remains back to the capital. I... I want to rebury both children properly..."

Xie Jingyu had other sons and daughters and wouldn't care about two dead children, so for this matter, she could only turn to her elder brother for help.

"Don't tell mother and grandfather," she said quietly. "I don't want them to worry... Elder brother, don't worry about me either. I just want to give the children a proper burial. Please grant me this wish."

Yun Ze sighed.He reached out and ruffled her hair just like when they were children, his voice gentle as he said, "With the floods in Jizhou, the court is about to send someone there. I'll go personally to bring my nephew back and find them a favorable burial ground."

Yun Chu choked up, "Thank you, big brother."

"Chu'er, remember this—the Yun family will always be your strongest support. If the Xie family ever wrongs you, you can always seek divorce," Yun Ze said softly. "Your inability to bear children is not your fault. Don't let this make you feel inferior in the Xie household. You are the eldest daughter of the Yun family, my proudest little sister, the pearl in our parents' palms. Live exactly as you wish to live."

After leaving the Yun residence and settling into the carriage, Yun Chu broke down in uncontrollable sobs.