Chapter 214: Palace Chrysanthemum Banquet
The Yun family branch dispersed after gathering for over an hour.
However, one person remained - Yun Qin, the first woman from the Yun family branch to obtain a divorce.
In these times, divorced women had difficult lives, especially those with brothers at home, whose circumstances were even more challenging.
After everyone else had left, Yun Qin stepped forward and asked, "Chu'er, are you fully managing that shelter?"
Yun Chu nodded. "Does Cousin Qin have something in mind?"
Yun Qin awkwardly smoothed her hair. "I'm just idling at home with nothing to do, so I thought about finding some work. Are you short-handed there?"
When she was with her husband's family, she had to handle various affairs daily. After the divorce, her sister-in-law managed the household, giving her a monthly stipend of two taels of silver. Every time she went to collect it, she had to endure her sister-in-law's disapproving looks.
She didn't actually need the two taels, but if she refused, her sister-in-law would think she looked down on the amount.
No matter what she did, it was wrong.
It would be better to find an excuse to move out.
"Cousin Qin, the shelter is indeed short-handed, but," Yun Chu said sincerely, "since it's charitable work, the wages aren't high."
"I know, I understand," Yun Qin said hurriedly. "That's precisely why I dared to make this request."
Yun Chu smiled. "Alright, I'll have Chen Bo make arrangements."
Yun Qin breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I'll wait for your message."
After saying this, she didn't linger and left.
Only then did Yun Chu have time to drink some tea.
She turned to Lin Shi and Liu Qianqian. "Currently, the Yun family's businesses are managed by Mother and Sister-in-law, with most in Sister-in-law's hands. After much thought, I suspect the miscarriage Sister-in-law had in my dream must be related to these businesses."
The women of the Yun family had their own dowries, and the family also had supporting businesses, all managed by the matriarch.
After Liu Qianqian married into the Yun family, Lin Shi gradually handed those businesses over to her daughter-in-law.
Lin Shi immediately spoke up. "The Yun family is currently affected in official circles, but the businesses continue operating as usual. It's indeed enough to make people envious. Qianqian, since you're pregnant now, you can hand the businesses over to me to manage. Let me see who has the audacity to scheme and seize our Yun family's businesses!"
"Mother, I think we should forget it..." Yun Ze coughed lightly. "You haven't been involved in business matters for too long - it would be easy for people to find loopholes."
In reality, his mother was too naive. He feared that before anything happened to Qianqian, his mother might be harmed instead.
If that really happened, Qianqian would never be at peace for the rest of her life.
"If Sister-in-law doesn't mind, how about I temporarily manage the Yun family businesses?" Yun Chu looked at Liu Qianqian. "Sister-in-law, rest assured, these businesses would just pass through my hands, I..."
"Chu'er, explaining like this is too formal," Liu Qianqian said, taking Yun Chu's hand. "I admire your courage in being willing to stand in front of me. I'm too grateful to question you."
If she weren't pregnant, she would never let Yun Chu take the lead.
But with the baby moving around inside her every day, she was truly afraid that the scene from Chu'er's dream would come true.
"Let's not speak as two separate families when we're one," Lin Shi said, pleased to see the sisters-in-law getting along harmoniously. "Yun Ze, you should also pay more attention to business matters. Don't let your sister bear everything alone."
Yun Ze immediately responded, "Don't worry, Mother. I understand."Lin Shi pulled Yun Chu to stay for a meal.
At that moment, an elderly maid entered to report: "Madam, an invitation has arrived from the palace."
The invitation presented was for the Empress's annual chrysanthemum appreciation banquet scheduled for the next day. Every year at this time, the Yun family would receive such banquet invitations.
"Now that the Yun family is no longer a first-grade general's household, this invitation shouldn't have been sent," Liu Qianqian remarked. "Mother might as well not attend this banquet."
Lin Shi nodded: "With the Yun family's troubles, my illness would be reasonable enough. No need to rack our brains for excuses."
Yun Chu held the invitation and said: "I'll go on behalf of the Yun family."
Since the two little ones entered the palace, there had been no news. Though only a few days had passed, the longing had become unbearable.
She deeply understood the meaning of "a day apart feels like three years."
Additionally, she needed to inform her aunt to prevent her from worrying incessantly.
Yun Ze understood her thoughts and spoke before Lin Shi could object: "The Yun family indeed needs someone to attend, otherwise it might invite gossip. Chu'er going would be perfect."
Yun Chu returned to her courtyard to prepare.
She chose attire suitable for a palace banquet and jewelry that was neither ostentatious nor shabby. Without any makeup, her natural beauty was already captivating.
The chrysanthemum appreciation banquet was scheduled for the afternoon.
After finishing her meal, Yun Chu brought her maid to the palace.
The carriage stopped at the palace gates, requiring them to walk to the chrysanthemum garden.
After alighting and presenting the invitation at the gate, a young eunuch guided her toward the imperial garden in the rear palace.
Just as she took her first step, a voice sounded behind her.
"Miss Yun."
Without turning around, Yun Chu knew it was Prince Pingxi, Chu Yi.
She turned and smiled: "Your Highness."
"Are you heading to Hundred Flowers Pavilion for the chrysanthemum viewing?" Chu Yi approached her. "I happen to be going to the Imperial Study. We can walk together."
The Empress's chrysanthemum banquet only invited female guests, making it inappropriate for a prince to attend, but nothing prevented him from accompanying her there.
Yun Chu had visited the palace frequently only before marriage, but had been to few palaces and genuinely didn't know the Imperial Study's location.
The guiding eunuch, however, knew that the Imperial Study was along the central axis while Hundred Flowers Pavilion was near the west gate. They were only briefly on the same path before diverging completely.
Reaching the fork in the path, the eunuch expected them to separate, but instead saw Prince Pingxi naturally turn with Miss Yun.
The eunuch hurriedly reminded: "Your Highness, the Imperial Study should be that way."
Chu Yi: "..."
Having grown up in the palace and visiting constantly, how could he not know where the Imperial Study was?
This eunuch was truly meddlesome.
He saw no need to explain himself to a eunuch.
Meeting Yun Chu's slightly puzzled gaze, he calmly stated: "With Her Majesty hosting the flower banquet, His Majesty might wish to appreciate the autumn chrysanthemums too. I'll pick one to bring to the Imperial Study along the way."
Yun Chu nodded: "That seems appropriate."
They continued toward Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
"Your Highness!" the eunuch spoke again. "While waiting for Miss Yun at the gate, the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review inquired about Your Highness's whereabouts, likely regarding urgent matters requiring discussion."
Chu Yi frowned.
The Yun family case was currently under thorough investigation by the Court of Judicial Review - they must have uncovered something.
He halted: "His Majesty's chrysanthemum will have to wait. Miss Yun, I must attend to this matter first."Yun Chu nodded: "Your Highness, don't delay your important matters. Please go ahead."
Chu Yi turned and headed toward the Imperial Study. The Chief of the Court of Judicial Review must have gone to the Imperial Study.
As he rounded the palace wall and approached the main entrance of the Imperial Study, Chu Yi suddenly halted his steps: "Something's wrong."
Cheng Xu behind him stopped as well: "Your Highness, what is it?"
Chu Yi quickly turned around: "That young eunuch is suspicious."
He immediately used qinggong and swiftly chased in that direction.
Cheng Xu was completely baffled.
What was wrong with that young eunuch? He hadn't noticed anything unusual.
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