Chapter 232: Changing Chu Yi's Dressing
Countless thoughts flashed through Gong Xi Prince's mind.
The Crown Prince sincerely suggested, "Third Brother, I've heard there's a remarkably accurate fortune-teller named Mr. Ding among the common people. Why don't you consult him about your romantic prospects? If you and your beloved are truly destined, your current behavior might be somewhat justified. But if fate isn't on your side, you should know when to stop before truly angering Father Emperor."
Gong Xi Prince couldn't help asking, "Is he really that accurate?"
"I secretly had Mr. Ding perform a divination for me," the Crown Prince coughed lightly. "I asked him to predict whether the Crown Princess would bear a son or daughter this time."
As everyone knew, the Crown Prince only had three daughters so far and still lacked a eldest son, which was his most pressing concern at present.
The Crown Princess was now over nine months pregnant and could give birth at any moment.
The child born to the Crown Princess would be the legitimate eldest son, so he placed great importance on this pregnancy. He had secretly disguised himself to visit the fortune-teller, spending three thousand taels of silver.
Mr. Ding said this child would be a boy.
He had also consulted the Grand Astrologer, who said celestial secrets couldn't be revealed.
While the Crown Prince was pondering this, a eunuch suddenly rushed in to report: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess is going into labor! Please return to the palace immediately!"
The Crown Prince sprang to his feet: "Continue your discussion, I must go!"
As he strode out, he stumbled over the threshold and nearly fell, fortunately caught by a young eunuch.
Gong Xi Prince didn't stay much longer either. Before leaving, he said, "Every five years in December, foreign envoys come to pay tribute. Father Emperor intends for us brothers to receive them. Focus on recovering your health and don't miss this opportunity."
Chu Yi lightly rubbed his fingers.
He would pass on this opportunity, letting his two elder brothers have more chances to distinguish themselves.
The next morning, Yun Chu heard that the Crown Princess had given birth to a son - the Crown Prince's legitimate eldest son. The Empress was overjoyed and bestowed rewards upon everyone in the palace.
Yun Chu truly hadn't expected that before the Crown Princess gave birth, the Crown Prince would secretly visit Ding Yiyuan for fortune-telling, especially to predict the baby's gender.
While she might not know about births in other households, with the Crown Prince's status, who in the entire kingdom wouldn't know when he finally had his legitimate eldest son?
The Crown Prince had essentially given three thousand taels of silver to Ding Yiyuan for nothing.
However, this child born amid nationwide attention seemed not to survive past five years old, dying in chaotic palace strife...
Palace intrigues truly claimed lives.
Struggles for the throne would claim even more lives.
Yun Chu sighed.
She had no choice, and the Yun family had no choice either - they were destined to be drawn into such conflicts.
Changsheng insisted on going to feed her father his medicine, so Yun Chu could only accompany her.
Naturally, she ended up feeding Chu Yi spoonful by spoonful again.
Chu Yi thoroughly enjoyed such moments.
After finishing the medicine, just as Yun Chu was about to leave, Cheng Zongguan appeared at the perfect moment: "Miss Yun, this old servant happens to have some matters to attend to. I can only trouble you with changing His Highness's dressing."
After speaking, Cheng Zongguan picked up the Little Commandery Princess and walked away immediately.
Yun Chu: "..."
Feeding medicine was one thing.
But asking her to help change dressings - wasn't that going too far?
"No need to trouble Miss Yun," Chu Yi sat up. "I can manage myself."
He appeared extremely frail.
Yun Chu's heart softened.
When she had been poisoned at the bandits' den, this man had promptly sucked out the venom for her, preventing more serious injury.
Now it was just changing a dressing - why was she being so hesitant?Moreover, the reason there were no maidservants attending to Prince Pingxi was because she wished to stay with her children. To avoid prying eyes, the courtyard was seldom visited.
She stepped forward and picked up the medicine bottle. "Your Highness, please lie down."
Chu Yi immediately complied and lay down on the couch.
He watched as Yun Chu slowly leaned over, her slender fingers untied his garments.
His muscles tensed instantly.
An indescribable emotion spread through him.
A tingling sensation coursed through his limbs.
He dared not move a muscle.
Yun Chu undid his clothes and gradually unwound the layers of bandages, revealing the gruesome wound.
Though it had scabbed over and stopped bleeding, it was still a shocking sight.
She sprinkled medicinal powder onto the wound. Perhaps due to the stinging sensation, the muscles in the man’s chest visibly tightened...
"Your Highness!"
Cheng Xu’s voice suddenly rang out from outside.
Yun Chu jolted in surprise.
She quickly grabbed a bandage and covered the wound.
She couldn’t understand why she felt a sense of guilt, as if she had been caught doing something improper.
"It’s been two days already. Why does Your Highness still need help changing the dressing? Your Highness’s health is not what it used to be," Cheng Xu remarked.
At these words, Chu Yi’s face darkened instantly.
Would Yun Chu also think his constitution was too weak, always getting injured?
Cheng Xu continued, "Since Your Highness is so frail, why not leave the interrogation of Yang Hedong to the Court of Judicial Review?"
Chu Yi sat up from the couch. "Interrogating a prisoner is nothing. Prepare my horse."
He put on his shoes and stood up.
After taking a few steps,
he walked into the courtyard.
Cheng Zongguan hurriedly rushed to support him, exclaiming in alarm, "My Prince, you must not treat your body so recklessly..."
Chu Yi continued walking out, his steps steady.
There was no sign that he was still recovering from a severe injury.
Yun Chu: "..."
There was really no need to push himself so hard.
Returning to her own courtyard, Yun Chu busied herself with her own affairs.
The orphanage was now completed and managed entirely by her cousin Yun Qin from a collateral branch of the family. Tomorrow, the orphans would officially move in.
With her cousin in charge, Yun Chu felt reassured. She planned to visit the following day.
While reviewing the account books, Ting Feng entered and reported, "Miss, Gan Lai has just sent a message."
Gan Lai was the clever young servant Yun Chu had placed by Xie Shiwei’s side. He knew very well who his true master was.
"Gan Lai said the eldest young master has been preoccupied with business matters lately, leaving early and returning late. Meanwhile, Ting Yu goes out every evening and doesn’t return until late at night," Ting Feng whispered. "One night, Gan Lai saw Ting Yu return to the residence and go to the eldest young master’s courtyard, where she gave him two hundred-tael silver notes. After following her for several days, Gan Lai discovered that Ting Yu visits a small courtyard every day. That courtyard seems to be a Hu family property. How does Ting Yu manage to earn a hundred taels of silver with just one visit each day? What exactly is she doing there?"
Yun Chu couldn’t help but smile.
She didn’t know which Hu family it was,
but she could guess what Ting Yu was doing.
Back then, Ting Yu had climbed into Xie Jingyu’s bed and knelt at her feet, weeping bitterly, claiming she couldn’t control her feelings for Xie Jingyu...
Yet now, barely any time had passed since Xie Jingyu’s death, and she had already climbed into someone else’s bed.
Xie Shi’an must have had a hand in this.
Every member of the Xie family was likely to be exploited and drained by Xie Shi’an until their very deaths...
She asked, "What has Xie Shiwei been busy with?""The second young master was learning to use the abacus but couldn't grasp it. The eldest young master got angry and told him to stop learning, so the two brothers ended up quarreling," Ting Feng reported the news brought back by Gan Lai.
Yun Chu understood completely.
Xie Shiwei was just like in her previous life—utterly hopeless, only good at fighting and showing off. While fighting might be an advantage in the military camp, in an ordinary family, it was nothing but a source of trouble.
With Xie Shiwei holding him back like a deadweight, how far could Xie Shi'an go, burdened as he was?
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