Chapter 236: Threatening with Life
The children, having eaten their fill, were playing boisterously in the open field.
A few four or five-year-old girls mustered their courage and approached Chu Changsheng to speak with her. The little girl pursed her lips nervously, but Ting Xue guided the children to play together.
Standing in the early winter breeze, her thoughts were in turmoil.
She had established the Orphanage, feeling as though she had performed a great act of charity and accumulated merit. To her, this was an act of benevolence toward the impoverished.
Yet, she still placed herself in a position of superiority.
Indeed, she was born as the eldest daughter of the Yun family, and Changsheng was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, a royal princess. Throughout their lives, they could hardly comprehend the struggles and hardships of the lowest classes.
She could actually do more.
Yun Chu turned to Yun Qin and said, "Cousin, let’s build a school in this open space—for literature, martial arts, and schools suitable for girls, such as the Needlework Academy, the Culinary Academy, and so on."
Yun Qin nodded. "I’m afraid that will cost a lot of silver."
"As the saying goes, 'Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' Providing them with food, clothing, and shelter is not as good as teaching each of them a skill," Yun Chu said with a smile. "When they grow up and can stand on their own, that will truly be helping them."
"Alright, I will arrange it as soon as possible." Yun Qin paused and added, "I just noticed that many of the children are sick, complaining of aches and itches here and there. I was thinking of hiring a physician to stay here permanently. What do you think?"
Yun Chu fully agreed. "That’s perfect. The physician could also open a Medicine and Herbology Academy to teach the children medical texts and how to identify herbs."
As they were speaking, a helper rushed over, sweating profusely, and said, "Miss, there are many children over there who have heard about the Orphanage and have come seeking refuge."
Yun Chu and Yun Qin stopped their conversation and stepped out of the Orphanage. Rounding a corner, they saw over thirty children on the main road.
Aside from the children, there were four or five emaciated women holding infants about three or four months old in their arms. The babies were crying hungrily.
The women spotted Yun Chu.
Dressed like a noblewoman, she must be the person in charge here.
The women knelt with a thud before Yun Chu and Yun Qin, and the children followed suit, kneeling on the ground.
"My child hasn’t had milk for two days and can’t take it anymore. Please, take the child in and save its life..."
Yun Chu hurriedly helped them up. "There’s no need to kneel. Please rise. Come with me. The Orphanage has a wet nurse. Feeding the child is the most important thing right now."
One of the women hesitated and asked, "Does this place only take in children? Does that mean we’ll have to be separated from our children?"
Yun Chu replied gently, "The Orphanage does indeed only take in children, but we are currently short-handed and hiring. If you are patient with children and willing to care for every child here as if they were your own, you can come work at the Orphanage."
The women wept with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you..."
Yun Qin led the group inside.
In the distance, Yun Chu saw Changsheng picking flowers with three or four little girls.
The wildflowers blooming in the cold early winter wind were tenacious. The girls had gathered a large bouquet and presented it to Yun Chu.
"Thank you, I love them."
Yun Chu patted each of the girls on the head.Changsheng, who had been completely relaxed moments before, suddenly hunched her shoulders and buried herself in Yun Chu's embrace.
Several other girls also looked warily toward the roadside.
A carriage had appeared by the road—wider and larger than ordinary carriages, clearly belonging to nobility.
"Changsheng, don't be afraid. It's just a carriage," Yun Chu said, picking up her daughter while holding the hands of the other children. "Come, let's go inside."
The carriage gradually slowed its pace.
A curtain was lifted by a pale, slender hand that appeared frail and sickly.
"Your Highness, we'll reach the capital in less than half an hour," a servant kneeling at his feet reported respectfully.
The man didn't respond, his gaze fixed in Yun Chu's direction with a dazed expression.
Even from just her profile, he recognized her—the eldest daughter of the Yun family, Yun Chu.
That day in the palace, she had nearly become his medicinal sacrifice.
Now she held a little girl in her arms, surrounded by four or five other young girls, laughing and chattering as they entered an estate.
He clearly saw the plaque above the gate: Orphanage.
Softly, he asked, "What is this place?"
The servant didn't know either and shook his head. "Your Highness, this place didn't seem to be here when we left the capital."
Chu Rui wanted to say more but was seized by a violent coughing fit.
The servant quickly stood, lowered the carriage curtain, and gently patted his back before offering a bowl of medicine.
Chu Rui didn't take it.
With such an ailing body, he should have died long ago.
Last time, he had finally resolved to die, but Yun Chu saved him.
That woman named Yun Chu resembled his elder sister so much—not just in appearance, but also in her gentle way of speaking.
His elder sister would surely want him to live well.
So he had survived.
He requested the Emperor to revoke his title as Prince Zhuang and fled the capital recklessly.
Yet—
The Empress Dowager sent a letter, pulling him back like a pitiful kite.
He couldn't escape.
He would never escape.
Pathetic.
He truly was a tragedy.
The carriage entered the capital and proceeded to the imperial city, where eunuchs arrived with a sedan chair. The servant helped Chu Rui into it, and they carried him toward the Imperial Study.
The Emperor wasn't surprised to see Chu Rui's return.
With the Empress Dowager threatening suicide daily, Chu Rui couldn't possibly stay away if he had any conscience left.
"Rui'er, I've kept your title and fiefdom for you," the Emperor said, twisting his fingers. "Since you've returned, I'll restore them to you."
Chu Rui coughed violently. "Uncle, there's no need. Rui'er's fate is too fragile to bear the identity of a prince. I've lived more freely since losing the title."
A hint of sincerity appeared on the Emperor's face. "Then I respect your choice. The Empress Dowager has been waiting for you. Go."
Chu Rui bowed slightly, leaning on his servant as he walked out. He took the sedan to the Empress Dowager's Kunning Palace.
The moment he entered, a gust of wind met him, followed immediately by a slap across his face.
He fell to the ground, caught off guard.
"This is the legitimate grandson I raised with everything I had! How dare you think of running away! What right do you have to escape!" the Empress Dowager raged. "Your father died under mysterious circumstances, and our great empire fell into others' hands. You are your father's only bloodline—you should be the ruler of this land! How could you just leave! Rui'er, if you dare leave again, I'll die right before your eyes!"Chu Rui collapsed on the floor, a bitter smile spilling from the corners of his lips.
Having finally mustered the resolve to leave, the Empress Dowager sent a letter stating that if he did not return to the capital within seven days, she would take her own life.
He had no other choice.
How carefree his departure had been.
How agonizing his return would be.
In the end, he had to face it all.
"The Crown Prince is only four years older than you, yet he already has children and is soon taking the Fang family's daughter as his Side Princess Consort. Your marriage can no longer be delayed," the Empress Dowager said sternly. "I have chosen the eldest daughter of the Yu family as your principal wife. You—"
Before she could finish,
Chu Rui abruptly drew a sword from a guard's waist: "If Grandmother forces me to marry, I will resist with my life."
"You!"
The Empress Dowager was furious.
Chu Rui smiled faintly: "This move was taught to me by you, wasn't it, Imperial Grandmother?"
The Empress Dowager's chest heaved violently.
She had taught him so much—why had he only remembered to use his own life to threaten those closest to him?
OpenNovel