Chapter 242: Someone's Malicious Hand
Fourth-rank officials were as common as dirt in the capital, and the Hu family of fourth-rank status wasn't particularly outstanding among them.
In the backyard of the four-courtyard mansion, Ting Yu knelt on the ground while a matron stood before her, slapping her face.
After twenty slaps, Ting Yu's face had swollen, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, presenting a truly miserable sight.
Seeing Ting Yu in such a state did little to dissipate the fury in Madam Hu's heart.
All the concubines in this household were originally her personal maids. She had believed she had complete control over her husband, never expecting to catch this slut and her husband rolling in bed together last night.
She saw her husband's first instinct was to shield this slut, only offering explanations to her, his lawful wife, afterward.
She knew this slut had some skill in winning over her husband's heart.
If she made a scene, her husband would be pushed further away.
Thus, she had no choice but to take the initiative and make this slut a concubine.
When she learned of this slut's background, she truly wished she could strangle her husband.
A widowed concubine from the Xie family—such a lowly woman, and her husband actually dared to get involved! If this got out, the Hu family's reputation would be completely ruined. This slut even knew how to use this matter to threaten and extort money—she must die!
Fortunately, the indentured contract was already in her hands. Whether to beat her to death or sell her off was entirely up to her.
Madam Hu stood up: "Concubine Yu has overstepped her bounds and offended her mistress. Lock her in the woodshed."
After tormenting her for a few days, disposing of her would be cleaner.
Ting Yu, dizzy and disoriented, was thrown into the woodshed.
She lay on the ground for a long while before slowly regaining her senses.
She couldn't believe she had become a concubine in the Hu household... Although the Hu family was better off than the current Xie family, this wasn't what she wanted.
She only intended to get some silver before making her escape, then live a proper life with Yun Ge'er. How did she end up becoming a concubine in the Hu family?
The look in Madam Hu's eyes seemed like she wanted to devour her—she probably wouldn't last long in the Hu residence.
Huddled in the woodshed, Ting Yu began to carefully ponder her situation.
Naturally, this matter reached Yun Chu's ears.
Yun Chu shook her head.
She had specifically sent someone to inquire about the Hu family. Madam Hu was famously known as the "tigress" of the capital. Once, Master Hu bought a concubine, and Madam Hu found an excuse to have her beaten to death.
Since then, Master Hu hadn't dared to take another concubine.
With Ting Yu falling into Madam Hu's hands, one could imagine what kind of life she would lead.
Heaven's mischief can be withstood.
One's own mischief cannot be survived.
Yun Chu finished her daily chores early and then studied with Changsheng.
She would read one line, and the little girl would repeat it. After a few days, they were almost through the Three Character Classic.
Although Changsheng's speech wasn't particularly fluent, she could recite the entire Three Character Classic intermittently, which was significant progress.
Not long after, Yu Ge'er returned from school. He played with his sister for a while, had dinner, then returned to the neighboring courtyard to continue studying with his tutor.
Yun Chu sighed helplessly. The boy was still angry about the morning martial arts practice—such a temperamental child.
When the tutor finished the lesson, Chu Hongyu looked up to see Yun Chu standing at the classroom door.
He deliberately turned his head away, refusing to look at her.
"Yu Ge'er, look what this is?"
Yun Chu placed a small earthen jar on the desk.
The little fellow resisted his curiosity, refusing to look, and snorted heavily with his arms crossed.Yun Chu lifted the lid of the clay pot and deliberately exaggerated, "What a large cricket! Ah, Yu Ge'er probably won't like it. I'll just take it to Jiang Ge'er instead."
"Who said I don't like it!"
The little fellow immediately turned around and hugged the pot to his chest. His eyes sparkled as he began playing with the cricket inside.
Sitting beside him, Yun Chu said gently, "Yu Ge'er, Mother has been thinking—after you turn six, I'll take you along to practice martial arts. How does that sound?"
"Mother, you have to keep your word!"
Chu Hongyu linked pinkies with Yun Chu, his temper immediately vanishing.
After putting both children to sleep, Ting Xue quietly entered the inner chamber and whispered, "Young Miss, Aunt Guilan suddenly fell ill. She says she won't be able to go to the tea plantation and cloth shop tomorrow."
Aunt Guilan was Yun Qin's birth mother. Just this morning, she had taken over management of the tea plantation and cloth shop from Fourth Aunt Yun.
Now, before the day was even over, she'd fallen ill?
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Yun Chu pressed her lips together. She had only tested the waters slightly, and Fourth Aunt had already taken the bait.
It seemed likely that Fourth Aunt had been involved in her sister-in-law's miscarriage in her previous life.
She instructed, "Go personally to check on Aunt Guilan's condition. Regardless of how serious it is, publicly announce that she merely caught a slight chill and will be fine."
"Yes."
Ting Xue accepted the order and left.
Yun Qin's family lived in a small two-courtyard residence in the west city. Apart from sharing the Yun surname, they appeared no different from ordinary commoners.
Aunt Guilan's husband managed a Yun family estate in the suburbs. She typically stayed home to care for her family, but upon hearing Yun Chu needed help, she immediately volunteered.
Her daughter had only been able to obtain a divorce with the main family's support—otherwise, her Qin'er might still be suffering in her husband's household.
So whenever Yun Chu needed assistance, she would be the first to step forward.
Yet now, having just taken charge of these matters, she had fallen too ill to get out of bed.
When she saw Ting Xue arrive from Yun Chu's household, she forced herself to sit up: "I've failed Young Miss... It's truly my useless body..."
Ting Xue leaned close and whispered a few words.
Aunt Guilan's eyes filled with disbelief.
This matter seemed to exceed her understanding.
News of Aunt Guilan's illness reached Fourth Aunt Yun's ears.
She sneered, "Her constitution is quite robust after all. It seems I didn't use enough."
She would never willingly surrender the cloth shop and tea plantation.
If Guilan dared take them over, she would have to face the consequences.
With Guilan ill, Yun Chu would naturally come begging her to manage these two major operations.
Unless Yun Chu handled the accounts herself—but Yun Chu was so lazy and clearly incompetent, leaving no choice but to seek her help.
Previously, she had slipped something into the tea during the handover with Guilan. Now, it seemed she would have to visit Guilan's home.
Early the next morning, Fourth Aunt Yun went to Aunt Guilan's residence.
Aunt Guilan, dragging her sick body, sat in the parlor reviewing accounts—specifically those from the cloth shop.
Fourth Aunt Yun sneered.
She'd barely gained a bit of authority and already couldn't bear to let go.
She approached with a smile: "Aunt Guilan, if you're ill, you should rest properly. Don't wear yourself out."
Aunt Guilan coughed and said, "Young Miss instructed me to sort out the cloth shop's categorized accounts. I mustn't delay."
"Have some tea first." Fourth Aunt Yun picked up a teacup, shielding it with her hand for a moment before handing it over. "If you ruin your health, you'll have nothing left."
Aunt Guilan accepted the cup.
She stared at the seemingly ordinary tea, unable to believe it could contain anything unusual."What are you standing there for? Drink up!"
Fourth Aunt Yun beamed with a smile.
The more she smiled, the more Aunt Guilan knew something was wrong.
It was just the management rights of the tea shop and cloth shop, merely checking the account books. The accounts weren't even kept in her hands. She couldn't understand why Fourth Aunt Yun would resort to such underhanded tactics over such trivial matters...
"Fourth Aunt, you're here too?"
Yun Chu's voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Fourth Aunt Yun froze completely.
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