Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 20: Going Out for Some Fresh Air

Yun Chu followed Lin Shi into the Princess's residence.

By this time, many guests had already gathered in the courtyard. As soon as they entered, numerous people came forward to exchange greetings.

"Madam Yun, it's been quite some time since we last saw you."

"This must be Miss Chu, hasn't she grown so much in the blink of an eye? Time truly waits for no one."

"And this must be Miss Ran, if I recall correctly, she's sixteen now, and has grown into such an elegant young lady."

The Yun family resided in a first-rank General's mansion. Old General Yun had achieved countless military merits, and the current General Yun was now guarding the frontier. The Yun family's position in the imperial court was unshakable.

Thus, it was no surprise that so many people came forward to greet them.

Those people spoke to Lin Shi with a hint of flattery, but when their gazes fell upon Yun Chu, they carried a trace of sympathy.

The legitimate daughter of a General's mansion had not only married beneath her station into a humble family but had also lost the ability to bear children. Consequently, she had no choice but to adopt and raise the illegitimate children under her name.

One lady's gaze settled on Xie Ping. "And who might this be?"

Lin Shi smiled and replied, "This is my granddaughter."

Xie Ping stepped forward and gave a slight curtsy, acknowledging the others present.

Everyone in attendance showed expressions of surprise.

They only knew that the legitimate daughter of the General's mansion was raising a group of illegitimate children, but they hadn't realized that the illegitimate daughter was already this grown up.

She was only half a head shorter than Yun Chu. If not for the lingering childishness on her face, they could almost pass as sisters of similar age.

The sympathy in their eyes deepened.

Lin Shi felt a knot of frustration in her chest. Back then, marrying her daughter into a humble family was partly to avoid arousing the Emperor's suspicion, and partly because Xie Jingyu had indeed shown promise.

But who could have predicted that Xie Jingyu already had three children before the marriage... If it weren't for the fact that her daughter had lost the ability to become a mother, she would have surely held the Xie family accountable...

Lin Shi offered a faint smile to the crowd and led Yun Chu in another direction.

"Chu'er, do you see those two ladies over there?" Lin Shi began. "One is Madam Zhang. Her husband is a seventh-rank Erudite of the National Academy, and their legitimate eldest son just passed the Cultivated Talent examination last year. I've met the young man—he knows his place and is quite promising. The other is Madam Qian. Her husband is a fourth-rank Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial. Both their legitimate sons are already married, and only one illegitimate son is of marriageable age..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Ping looked up in surprise.

Having listened to Lin Shi and Yun Chu converse along the way, she naturally knew that the main purpose of visiting the Princess's residence was to arrange a marriage for Yun Ran.

After all, Yun Ran was the young lady of a first-rank General's mansion. Yet, listen to the matches Madam Yun was considering—a seventh-rank family's Cultivated Talent, and a fourth-rank family's illegitimate son... In her opinion, even the legitimate son of a fourth-rank family would be unworthy of a young lady from a first-rank General's mansion.

But then, she remembered that even the legitimate daughter of the General's mansion—her own stepmother—had only married into the Xie family. Thinking of it that way, it didn't seem entirely unacceptable.

Yun Chu's gaze rested on Madam Qian's face. In her previous life, this very Madam Qian had been Yun Ran's mother-in-law.

Regardless of what Yun Ran's husband was like, the evils committed by Madam Qian alone were too numerous to recount even in ten days and ten nights.

Her illegitimate younger sister had a gentle and soft nature. Forced to adhere to Madam Qian's strict rules every day, she was tormented beyond recognition.

In the fourth year of her marriage, just after becoming pregnant—though no one knew at the time—she was punished by her mother-in-law to kneel in the cold snow for three hours. Not only did she lose the child, but she also contracted a severe illness. Confined to her bed for three or four years, she eventually passed away..."The Qian family won't do," Yun Chu spoke up. "As for the Zhang residence, we should investigate further before making a decision."

Lin Shi had favored the Qian family most in her heart and couldn't help asking, "Why not?"

Yun Chu shook her head. "Mother, just send someone to inquire about Madam Qian and you'll understand."

Lin Shi had originally planned to take Yun Ran to meet Madam Qian, but upon hearing Yun Chu's words, she immediately abandoned the idea. The four of them took their seats together.

No sooner had they sat down than the Grand Princess arrived.

Accompanying the Grand Princess were two men dressed in luxurious attire - the Third Prince, Prince Pingxi, and the Fourth Prince, Anjing Prince.

Everyone rose in unison to pay their respects.

"Greetings to the Grand Princess! Greetings to Prince Pingxi! Greetings to Anjing Prince!"

The Grand Princess smiled and raised her hand. "There's no need for formalities in my residence. Please, everyone be seated."

All the noblewomen attending the banquet understood clearly that this gathering was primarily for Prince Pingxi and Anjing Prince to seek suitable princess consorts.

Although Prince Pingxi had achieved remarkable military exploits, he wasn't the first choice in everyone's minds because he already had a son and daughter. Thus, everyone's eager gazes turned toward Anjing Prince.

"Third Brother, why did you bring Yu Ge'er along?" The Grand Princess looked somewhat annoyed at Prince Pingxi. "Are you afraid people might not know you have a son? Worried some lady might actually want to marry her daughter to you?"

Prince Pingxi picked up his wine cup and took a small sip. "He insisted on coming along. What could I do?"

The Grand Princess's gaze fell upon the exquisitely beautiful child. If not for the boy's eyes and brows being the exact replica of Third Brother's, she probably wouldn't have felt any fondness for him at all.

"Yu Ge'er," the Grand Princess called out, "are you looking for someone?"

Chu Hongyu quickly withdrew his gaze and revealed an innocent, harmless smile. "Imperial Aunt, I just think it's so lively here. May I go play?"

"Then go play." The Grand Princess pointed to a matron beside her. "Keep close watch over the Young Son. Don't let him bump, knock, or fall."

Having received permission, the little fellow scampered off on his short legs toward the side.

Yun Chu's gaze unconsciously followed the little boy until he disappeared down the path, only then realizing she had been staring at the child for quite some time.

"Prince Pingxi followed your father to the battlefield when he was just fifteen," Lin Shi whispered. "He's always been a steady child. No one knows how he suddenly ended up with a son and daughter. The children's birth mother remains unknown, yet they're enfeoffed as his heirs. Prominent families in the capital likely won't easily marry their daughters to become Princess Consort of the Pacifying West..."

Yun Chu nodded in full agreement.

In her previous life, Prince Pingxi had remained unmarried until her death.

Wealthy families were unwilling to have their daughters become stepmothers, while Prince Pingxi looked down upon daughters from lesser families.

While speaking with Lin Shi, Yun Chu noticed from the corner of her eye that Xie Ping's gaze remained fixed on the Fourth Prince, Anjing Prince, seated at the highest position.

She curled her lips slightly. Just as in her previous life, Xie Ping had fallen in love with the Fourth Prince at first sight.

At that moment, the Fourth Prince suddenly stood up and left his seat.

Yun Chu could sense Xie Ping beginning to grow restless.

Since that was the case, she might as well give her a helping hand.

She set down her chopsticks. "Mother, I feel somewhat stifled here. I'd like to get some fresh air."

Lin Shi asked anxiously, "Are you feeling unwell? Should I inform the Grand Princess that we need to leave early?"

"Some fresh air will help." Yun Chu stood up. "Let Ping Jie'er accompany me for a walk. We'll return shortly, so don't worry, Mother."

Xie Ping's face lit up with delight.Yun Chu led Xie Ping away from the banquet, with Ting Shuang following behind them.

They had just reached a nearby courtyard when Xie Ping exclaimed, "Mother, my earring has fallen off! What should I do?"

Ting Shuang lowered her head and said, "This servant will go back to search for it for the Eldest Young Lady."

"How could I trouble Sister Ting Shuang," Xie Ping replied. "It probably fell among the flowers and shrubs. I can search for it myself."

For this visit to the Eldest Princess's residence, only Lin Shi and Yun Chu had each brought one maidservant. Xie Ping had no one attending to her, so she turned back alone to search.

Ting Shuang felt this was somewhat inappropriate and was about to speak when she saw Yun Chu shake her head. She swallowed the words she had intended to say.