Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 30: Madam Xie Falls Ill

Yun Chu fell ill shortly after returning to the Xie residence.

The illness struck like a collapsing mountain - her entire body ached intensely, making it impossible to rest peacefully even in sleep.

In the morning, those coming to pay their respects waited in the side hall. Ting Shuang emerged and said softly, "The Madam is unwell. There's no need to come pay respects during this period."

Everyone knew that this time, the Madam was truly ill. Several physicians had been summoned, and the scent of medicine permeated every corner of the courtyard.

Concubine Jiang said with a worried expression, "Sheng Residence is in such disarray. Perhaps I should stay and care for the Madam."

Ting Shuang shook her head. "We servants can attend to the Madam here. There's no need to trouble Concubine Jiang. Please, everyone may return."

Xie Ping stood up and said, "With Mother ill, I shouldn't bother her with trivial matters, but I truly don't know what to do. Could Sister Ting Shuang help me decide?"

"Young Miss must be referring to Old Madam's birthday celebration," Ting Shuang replied. "The Madam has instructed that if Young Miss truly cannot decide, you may consult the Lady and Old Madam."

Xie Ping pressed her lips together.

She simply couldn't understand - they were just two children who had died four years ago. Why had Mother suddenly become so concerned about them?

For those two deceased children, she had not only slapped Father but was now claiming illness and neglecting household affairs. Was she truly determined to become completely estranged from Father?

Did Mother not fear losing the actual authority of the household matriarch?

After leaving Sheng Residence, Xie Ping took the account books and lists to Anshou Hall.

Old Madam and Yuan Shi were conversing.

"Although those two children died young, they were still blood of our Xie family. How could they be buried near the Yun family ancestral grounds?" Old Madam said through gritted teeth. "Yun Chu is no longer a daughter of the Yun family but the matriarch of our Xie clan. How could she bring such disgrace upon our Xie family?"

Yuan Shi sighed. "When you examine this matter carefully, the Xie family is indeed at fault."

The children's remains should have been brought back to the Xie ancestral home in Jizhou and buried near the Xie family ancestral shrine, but...

Ultimately, it was because Jingyu had paid too little attention to these two deceased children. The Yun family's strong reaction was understandable.

"Jingyu was supposed to be promoted to upper fifth rank, but because of this matter, he has become the target of censure in court." Old Madam was furious. "If Yun Chu hadn't suddenly taken it into her head to rebury the children, how would the Xie family have gotten involved in this mess? She claims illness and avoids all responsibilities - how comfortable for her! Meanwhile, Jingyu suffers, finding it difficult to make progress at court..."

Yuan Shi didn't know what to say.

At that moment, Xie Ping entered, first paying respects to the two elders before saying, "Old Madam, your birthday celebration is approaching soon. There are two matters I haven't finalized yet. I originally intended to seek Mother's advice, but she's too ill to rise, so I can only trouble Old Madam and Grandmother."

Old Madam's expression darkened.

The Xie residence kept growing larger, with increasingly numerous trivial matters. Yun Chu wouldn't even handle something as important as the birthday celebration, leaving everything to Ping Jie'er, an unmarried girl!

Was she certain that the Xie residence couldn't function without its matriarch, deliberately retaliating for the Xie family's failure to properly bury the children four years ago?

Last time, she shouldn't have provided twenty thousand taels of silver to allow Yun Chu to continue managing the household. It had made Yun Chu think she could control the entire Xie family.

A cold smile appeared on Old Madam's face as she said, "Ping Jie'er, what are the two matters you haven't finalized? Tell us, and we'll discuss them together."

Xie Ping replied, "One is the guest list for the invitations, and the other is the menu for the banquet. This is what I was thinking..."She carefully explained her thoughts.

She still wanted to invite some high-ranking officials and nobles. Whether they would come was their decision, but they still needed to extend the invitations—what if some were willing to show their support?

Old Madam shook her head: "Because of yesterday's incident, the Xie family has become the laughingstock of the capital. Who would be willing to come and offer birthday congratulations?"

Xie Ping didn't dare say anything more and had to move on to the second topic: "I want Old Madam's birthday banquet to be lavish, but with over a dozen tables, it will cost at least two thousand taels of silver. The family account doesn't have that much money..."

Old Madam nodded without hesitation. She only celebrated her birthday once a year, so it naturally should be done properly.

In the past three years, the birthday banquets had been exceptionally grand, likely because Yun Chu had supplemented them with some of her dowry money.

This year, Yun Chu claimed illness and wasn't handling these matters. If the birthday banquet turned out poorly, the first to mock the Xie family would undoubtedly be the Yun family.

She turned to Mama Zhou beside her: "Take three thousand taels of silver and give them to Ping Jie'er."

A smile appeared on Xie Ping's face: "Thank you, Old Madam. I will definitely host a splendid and glorious birthday banquet for you."

If this birthday banquet went well, her reputation for being skilled in household management would surely spread, and then suitors for the Xie family would surely crowd their doorstep.

With the silver in hand, Xie Ping's work proceeded more smoothly. She poured all her energy into preparing the birthday banquet.

After resting for three days, Yun Chu gradually recovered her health, though her spirits remained somewhat low. She spent her days sitting by the window reading, which worried Ting Shuang and the other maids.

"Madam," Qiutong mustered her courage to enter, bowing her head as she said, "After three days of rest, your illness has improved. We can no longer delay your martial arts training."

Yun Chu closed her book: "Look at me, I actually forgot such an important matter. Let's go, time for training."

She changed into more practical clothing and followed Qiutong to the courtyard to practice horse stance.

Although it was spring, the air held a chill, but after holding the stance for over half an hour in the courtyard, fine beads of sweat soon covered her body from the exertion.

Qiutong spoke up: "Madam, time's up."

Yun Chu remained motionless: "I can persist a while longer."

Having neglected her training for three or four days, she needed to make up for the lost time.

At first, she could maintain her posture steadily, but gradually her physical strength began to wane, and her body occasionally swayed.

Ting Shuang tried to persuade her several times, but she refused each time, insisting on holding the horse stance for a full two hours.

It was past noon when Yun Chu finally stopped. Ting Shuang helped her bathe and change clothes, and only then did she regain some of her vitality.

"Madam, Old Madam's birthday banquet is just a few days away," Ting Shuang said while drying her hair. "This year's banquet is entirely managed by the Eldest Young Lady. From what I've heard, there seem to be many problems. You should still offer some guidance to the Eldest Young Lady, otherwise there might be mishaps on the day of the banquet."

Yun Chu looked at her reflection in the mirror: "Spread the word that Madam Xie has fallen ill—so ill she can't leave her bed."

Ting Shuang quickly responded: "Madam, you shouldn't curse yourself like that."

"If saying something could make it come true, wouldn't that throw everything into chaos?" A faint smile appeared on Yun Chu's face. "If I'm ill, then no matter what goes wrong at this birthday banquet, it has nothing to do with me. Understand?"

Ting Shuang's eyes lit up: "This servant understands."

After drying Yun Chu's hair, she hurried out to the rear courtyard, summoned Chen Defu, and gave him a few instructions.The news of the illness of the eldest legitimate daughter of the General's Manor and wife of the Ministry of Revenue official, Madam Xie, instantly spread throughout the capital.

"Did you all hear that Madam Xie recently reburied her prematurely deceased child, dragging two coffins from the southern part of the city to the western part?"

"Those Xie family members are truly despicable. Although the child died young, it was still their own flesh and blood. How could they just bury it on some random hill? Aren't they afraid of divine retribution?"

"The legitimate eldest daughter of the General's Manor actually married Xie Jingyu, who was only a seventh-rank official at the time. Who would have thought the Yun family would choose such a marriage alliance!"

"..."

"I heard from the manager of Shande Hall Pharmacy that the Xie family's inner quarters are unstable, with concubines poisoning each other to cause miscarriages. It's quite possible that Madam Xie's child who died young was also a victim of foul play."

"According to people from the Xie residence, Madam Xie is seriously ill and can't even manage Old Madam's birthday banquet. It seems she can't even get out of bed. Could she have been poisoned by the concubines in the inner quarters too?"

"The legitimate wife can't bear children, while all those concubines have given birth to sons. They've probably developed delusions, thinking that if the legitimate wife dies, one of them might be elevated to that position."

"If Lord Xie can't even manage the women in his inner quarters, how can we expect him to be a good official..."