Chapter 212: Giving Simply Because I Wanted To
Chu Yi strode over from the other side.
He walked up to Yun Chu and suddenly raised his hand, offering her what he held. "I passed by the pastry shop in the western part of the city earlier and saw many people lining up to buy this snack. I thought you might like it too, Miss Yun, so I bought a portion on my way. Please try it."
Yun Chu took it and opened it to find it was the most famous glutinous rice roll from that pastry shop in the western part of the city.
She did indeed enjoy eating this. Back when she was still unmarried and living in her family home, she often sent her maids to queue up and buy it for her.
After she married, she lived quite far from that pastry shop, and the lines were always very long, so she gradually stopped eating it.
She took a bite—it was just as she remembered. Unable to resist, she took a second bite.
Chu Yi breathed a sigh of relief. He had heard General Yun mention a long time ago that Yun Chu liked glutinous rice rolls.
In the past, he hadn’t had any excuse to give her such treats.
Now, it seemed there weren’t as many reservations.
He bought it simply because he wanted to, and gave it simply because he wanted to.
Seeing her enjoy it made him happier than if he had slain ten bandits.
"The Prince's residence has hired a chef from Chuancheng who makes exceptional hot pot," Chu Yi said. "When Yu Ge'er and Changsheng return from the palace and we officially move in, allow me to host you for a hot pot meal, Miss Yun. What do you say?"
Yun Chu’s eyes lit up. Chuancheng was the birthplace of hot pot, far more authentic than any restaurant in the capital.
She never would have guessed that Prince Pingxi was a food enthusiast.
She smiled. "Then I’ll gladly accept your kind offer."
Chu Yi was overjoyed.
The Director of the Ministry of Works had told him that most women in the world, freed from managing daily affairs, would truly begin to enjoy life—buying jewelry, applying makeup, savoring delicacies, admiring beautiful scenery... No woman disliked these things.
Some time ago, the Western Regions had offered a rare piece of green crystal, a once-in-a-century treasure. He needed to find a way to get it from his father, the Emperor...
He suppressed his thoughts.
After Yun Chu had almost finished eating, he finally said, "Is that shelter in the suburbs run by you, Miss Yun?"
Yun Chu nodded. "I’m just doing what little I can for those homeless children."
Chu Yi took out a banknote he had prepared earlier from his sleeve. "This is thirty thousand taels. Please use it on my behalf to do something for the children."
From their first meeting, he had known that within her resided a kind and tender soul.
Yu Ge'er and Changsheng had endured so much suffering to survive this long. Grateful to heaven, she was willing to save more children because of it.
He, too, was grateful to heaven.
For turning the mistake and absurdity of that night five years ago into something beautiful.
"Then I’ll thank you on behalf of the children, Your Highness."
Yun Chu accepted the thirty thousand taels.
She was accumulating merit for her two children, and Chu Yi was doing the same for his son and daughter. Yu Ge'er and Changsheng would surely remain safe, healthy, and happy forever.
The next morning, Yun Chu appeared on the streets again to make more people aware of the shelter’s existence.
To avoid a repeat of the previous day’s incident, she deliberately brought more guards from the Yun residence.
By noon, at least four or five pregnant women had secretly approached her to ask whether, if they gave birth to daughters, they could send them to the shelter."Any child not accepted by their parents and family can be sent to the shelter. If you ever regret it and the child is willing to return, you can take them back," Yun Chu said gently. "But if the child gets adopted by someone else before you change your mind, the shelter has the right to keep the child's whereabouts confidential."
Most of the women inquiring were from poor families who had already given birth to three or four daughters and simply couldn't afford to raise more girls. They wanted sons to continue their husband's family line, so they kept having child after child...
Yun Chu didn't look down on these women.
Because in her previous life, she had been the same - unable to bear children, feeling guilty, and thus accepting so many of Xie Jingyu's illegitimate children.
Women in this world each had their own hardships.
Just then, a middle-aged man approached leading a three or four-year-old child. Looking at Yun Chu, he cried, "My wife died in childbirth, leaving only this child behind... I've raised him for three years, that's already more than enough... Because of him, I can't even find a new wife. I really have no choice... Now, I'm leaving him at the shelter. I hope you'll take good care of him."
Tears streamed down the middle-aged man's face, making him seem like a good father.
Yet he quickly shoved the child into the shelter shed, wiped his face, and turned to leave.
Yun Chu sighed.
Looking at the child's disbelieving face, she said, "Your father will have a better life, and you'll have a better future too. Don't be sad."
She patted the child's head and instructed Ting Xue, "Take the child to Chen Bo."
The shelter would be completed soon, but for now, the children were temporarily housed at her estate outside the city, which was at least a stable place to stay.
Suddenly, a carriage passed by on the street.
She looked up and saw palace guards and eunuchs - apparently going to deliver an imperial decree, though she didn't know to which family.
But she soon found out, as the whole city was talking about it.
"Those people just went to deliver the decree to the Fang family - that Right Censor-in-Chief Fang's household."
"The imperial decree says the Fang family's fourth young lady is to become the Crown Prince's Side Princess Consort."
"You don't know yet? A few days ago, Miss Fang tried to kill herself but was saved by the imperial physicians. Do you know why she tried to kill herself?"
"How would we common folks know about noble families' affairs? Stop keeping us in suspense and tell us."
"Earlier, the Emperor issued a decree arranging marriage between Prince Pingxi and Miss Fang, but Prince Pingxi refused the imperial order. That's why Miss Fang hanged herself. They say the whole palace was shaken. If my uncle's nephew didn't serve in the palace, we wouldn't know about this."
"So the Emperor is compensating the Fang family by making Miss Fang the Crown Prince's Side Princess Consort?"
"A Side Princess Consort still isn't as good as the main Princess Consort."
"You don't understand - when the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the Side Princess Consort will definitely become one of the Four Consorts of the inner palace. The Princess Consort would have to pay respects to this Side Princess Consort then."
"It seems the Fang family came out ahead."
"..."
Yun Chu pondered slightly.
In her previous life, Miss Fang never married the Crown Prince as his Side Princess Consort.
Because of her rebirth, the course of many events had changed. Even matters completely unrelated to her were different from the previous life.
While Yun Chu was still watching the excitement, soon the excitement came to her.
"I heard that during this morning's court session, letters proving collusion between the Pillar of the Nation Great General and the King of Southern Yue were presented."
"Does that mean the Pillar of the Nation Great General really committed treason by collaborating with the enemy?""Impossible, absolutely impossible! All the female members of the Yun family are in the capital. How could the general possibly rebel!"
"It's a false accusation by vile people!"
"..."
Yun Chu packed her belongings and returned to the Yun residence by carriage.
As expected, the moment she stepped through the gate, she could feel the oppressive atmosphere. All the collateral branches of the Yun family had gathered, each person hanging their heads in despair as if mourning their own parents' death.
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