Chapter 241: Ting Yu's Whereabouts
The women in the main hall had dispersed.
The resentful gaze of Fourth Aunt Yun as she left still lingered before Yun Chu's eyes.
She had made a slight probe—now it remained to see what choice Fourth Aunt Yun would make.
While lost in thought, Ting Feng hurried over from the front courtyard: "Miss, the eldest young master requests an audience."
Yun Chu didn't react immediately: "Jiang Ge'er?"
"It's the Xie family's eldest young master, Xie Shi'an," Ting Feng replied. "Will you see him, Miss?"
Yun Chu set down her account books: "Bring him in."
Xie Shi'an was led into the courtyard.
Though he walked with his eyes fixed ahead, his peripheral vision continuously assessed the surroundings.
After leaving the Xie residence, his mother hadn't returned to the Yun family but had taken up residence in this three-courtyard compound, similar in size to the Xie family home.
He wasn't permitted to pass through the moon gate into the inner courtyard—he saw Yun Chu in the main hall of the first courtyard.
Of course Yun Chu wouldn't allow Xie Shi'an into the inner quarters.
The rear courtyard was filled with traces of Yu Ge'er and Changsheng's daily lives. Had Xie Shi'an entered, he would certainly have detected something.
She wouldn't create unnecessary trouble for herself.
"I heard Mother has been conferred the title of Fifth Rank Consort, and came specifically to offer congratulations," Xie Shi'an presented a gift with both hands. "I bought a box of rouge—I hope Mother won't find it beneath her."
Yun Chu accepted the gift with a smile: "Your sources are quite well-informed."
"News from the court tends to circulate among commoners," Xie Shi'an said. "The Emperor bestowing honors upon Mother indicates continued trust in the Yun family. Mother need not worry further."
His demeanor appeared filial and devoted.
Yet inwardly, he was filled with utmost regret.
He couldn't comprehend why the Emperor would preserve the Yun family—even granting his mother an official title—when letters accusing the Yuns of treason had been presented before the throne.
Was the trust in the Yun family so absolute?
Could such trust remain unshaken even by evidence?
He realized he had made a completely erroneous decision.
And now it was too late for regrets.
"Thank you for remembering the Yun family," Yun Chu's voice, though gentle, carried obvious detachment. "What have you been occupied with lately?"
Xie Shi'an answered truthfully: "Preparing to open a shop specializing in writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and calligraphy paintings."
Yun Chu nodded: "That seems a stable livelihood."
Having said this, she fell silent, leaving Xie Shi'an at a loss for further conversation.
He could only say: "Then I shall take my leave."
Yun Chu nodded: "Ting Xue, escort Young Master Xie out."
The address "Young Master Xie" made him pause mid-step. The former calls of "An Ge'er" would likely never be heard again.
He had specially come to offer congratulations, yet his mother hadn't even invited him to stay for a meal.
He smiled bitterly.
Could he blame his mother?
The fault lay with himself.
He had forced his mother to sever ties with the Yun family, and she had chosen to leave the Xie household.
When she departed, she had given him a writing brush, hoping he would become an unbending, principled man.
He had indeed striven to be upright.
But he discovered that relying solely on integrity gained him nothing.
Someday, he would stand at the same height as his mother and proudly tell her that even without the Yun family, he could achieve a splendid future.
Xie Shi'an walked from Yulin Lane back to the Xie residence—the journey took nearly two hours.
Only after the Xie family lost their carriage did he realize how vast the capital truly was, and how difficult travel had become.
Returning home, he asked his page: "Has Concubine Yu returned?"San Jiu shook his head: "Should I go out and search for her?"
Xie Shi'an waved his hand dismissively.
He knew exactly where Concubine Yu had gone.
Previously, she had always returned to the Xie residence before dawn, but it was already afternoon now—why hadn't she come back yet?
Could something have happened?
"An Ge'er, do you know where Concubine Yu went?" Yuan Shi asked, holding Xie Shikang as she approached. "I heard from Yun Ge'er that Concubine Yu didn't return all night."
Xie Shiwei suddenly appeared from somewhere: "Grandmother probably doesn't know yet—Concubine Yu hasn't just been gone for one night. For many days recently, she's been leaving at dusk and only returning just before dawn..."
"Shiwei!" Xie Shi'an interrupted him. "Say less."
Xie Shiwei said coldly: "Elder Brother, every day after Concubine Yu returns to the residence, she goes straight to your Qingsong Pavilion. Care to explain what you two are doing?"
Xie Shi'an's face darkened immediately: "You've been watching me?"
"Do I need to deliberately watch? There are only so many people in the Xie family." Xie Shiwei's gaze turned sinister. "What are you two plotting?"
"What are you two brothers arguing about?" Yuan Shi looked confused. "The urgent matter now is to find Concubine Yu quickly. Yun Ge'er is her lifeline—she wouldn't stay away this long unless something happened!"
As they stood talking in the front courtyard of the Xie residence, someone knocked on the door.
San Jiu, the page boy standing behind Xie Shi'an, hurried to answer it.
An elderly maidservant stood at the door: "Excuse me, is this the Xie residence?"
Xie Shi'an, as the head of the household, stepped forward: "This is the Xie residence. May I ask who you are and what business you have?"
"I am the personal attendant of Madame Hu from the Hu family," the maidservant said coldly. "Your residence has a Concubine Yu, correct?"
Xie Shi'an's heart immediately sank to the bottom.
Others didn't know where Ting Yu went at night, but he knew perfectly well—it was he who had given Ting Yu a note, telling her to offer herself.
That Lord Hu was lecherous but feared his wife, so he had Ting Yu scheme to get into his bed, then use the affair as leverage to extort money from Lord Hu.
Ting Yu went to the Hu residence every night to secretly serve Lord Hu, who in turn gave her large sums of money. This arrangement had continued for many days, and he had obtained plenty of silver through it...
But today, Madame Hu's maidservant had come to their door.
He knew the scheme had been exposed.
He hadn't expected to be discovered so soon—he still needed a bit more money to buy the shop... Ting Yu had been far too careless.
Yuan Shi had already stepped forward: "Yes, yes, Concubine Yu is from our residence. What's happened to her? Has something occurred?"
"Hmph!" The maidservant sneered. "Your Concubine Yu is quite fortunate—she's caught our Lord's eye. This morning she served tea to our Madame and is now a concubine of the Hu family. Where is Concubine Yu's Indentured Contract?"
The maidservant pulled a banknote from her sleeve—one hundred taels of silver.
This amount might have been insignificant to the Xie family in the past, but now, when the Xies had to stretch every coin, one hundred taels was truly substantial.
Yuan Shi's eyes widened: "What? What nonsense are you speaking? Concubine Yu is a member of the Xie family—how could she possibly become a concubine in your Hu household..."Before she could finish speaking, Xie Shiwei rushed over, snatched the hundred taels of silver, and said, "Concubine Yu's Indentured Contract is in Grandmother's box. I'll fetch it for you right now."
Yuan Shi was completely bewildered as Ting Yu's Indentured Contract was handed over to the matron.
"Take the silver and keep your mouth shut, or the Hu family will make you regret it," the matron said curtly, turning to leave without another word.
Yuan Shi tugged at Xie Shi'an, pressing him incessantly: "An Ge'er, what on earth is going on? You must know the reason—tell me quickly..."
Xie Shi'an felt slightly dizzy from her shaking.
He pressed his lips together tightly.
Madam Hu was not a magnanimous mistress of the household; otherwise, Lord Hu would not have strayed.
Yet this not-so-magnanimous Madam Hu had accepted Ting Yu's tea, taken her as a concubine, and even spent a hundred taels to buy her Indentured Contract. What did this imply?
Ting Yu was probably...
Xie Shi'an shook his head, dispelling the flicker of pity in his heart, and fixed his gaze on the banknotes in Xie Shiwei's hand.
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