Chapter 301: Unable to Achieve Great Things
The docks were always a gathering place for people of all walks of life.
Xie Shi'an was chatting cheerfully with four or five burly men.
After officially becoming a counselor for the Gongxi Royal Mansion, his first proposal was to win over these lower-class individuals to accomplish great deeds.
Prince Gongxi dismissed his suggestion with indifference.
He would achieve results to prove that this path was not wrong.
After finishing his conversation with the burly men, Xie Shi'an looked up and saw a familiar figure standing on the large ship docked at the pier.
His lips involuntarily tightened.
He had long known that this ship was his mother's property, but seeing her standing on the deck with his own eyes still stirred complex emotions within him.
If back then, his mother had given that silver to the Xie family, his father might not have died, he wouldn't have lost an eye, and the Xie family wouldn't have fallen into ruin...
Xie Shi'an stood at the edge of the dock, quietly waiting. Only when Yun Chu finished her work and disembarked did he step forward and say softly, "Mo—Princess Consort of the Pacifying West."
Yun Chu curved her lips into a smile and said, "Since I left the Xie family, you have finally stopped calling me mother. Does this mean you have taken a new stance?"
Xie Shi'an lowered his head. "I have become a counselor for the Gongxi Royal Mansion, just a means to make a living."
"Then congratulations," Yun Chu said calmly. "My words remain the same: I hope you can become an unyielding person. No matter which path you take, you should have your own integrity."
Xie Shi'an raised his head, his lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Who wouldn't want to be a noble gentleman? But if I chose to be one, the Xie family would never rise again. Mother is right—I am indeed a selfish person, willing to bow for a meager livelihood. If you need me, I am ready to switch sides and serve the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor at any time."
Yun Chu shook her head. "The Prince of Pacifying the West Manor has no intention of competing for power, and I don't need you to go that far for me. As mother and son for a time, I only wish you well."
She paused before continuing, "But if the day comes when we stand on opposing sides, neither of us should hold back."
Xie Shi'an lowered his gaze, his eyes shadowed with gloom.
From the moment his mother married the Prince of Pacifying the West, they were destined to walk completely opposite paths.
One day, they would stand on opposing sides—he holding a long blade, his mother wielding a short sword—until they eventually crossed weapons.
He did not wish for that day to come.
Yet, he also hoped for it.
At the very least, it would mean he was worthy of being his mother's enemy, wouldn't it?
As Yun Chu boarded the carriage, she glanced sideways and saw Xie Shi'an still standing on the dock, gazing into the distance.
"Although he is a strategist for the Gongxi Royal Mansion, he has lost an eye and cannot pursue an official career. Naturally, he won't achieve great things," Qiutong remarked. "Moreover, I've heard that he is ostracized and suppressed by the other counselors in the Gongxi Royal Mansion. It seems he won't last long there."
Yun Chu let the carriage curtain fall and said nothing.
The carriage moved forward slowly, leaving the capital and arriving at the entrance of a small courtyard in the suburbs.
Concubine Jiang was sweeping the ground at the main gate when she looked up and saw a modest yet luxurious carriage stopping before her.
Recognizing Qiutong seated outside the carriage, she immediately understood and hurriedly dropped her broom to step forward and bow. "This lowly concubine pays respects to the Princess Consort."
Yun Chu alighted from the carriage and said with a smile, "Concubine Jiang, you are too polite. Won't you invite me in for a visit?"
Concubine Jiang was momentarily stunned, then quickly stepped aside to invite Yun Chu inside.Back when she and Yun Chu lived under the same roof, she never dared to place herself on equal footing with Yun Chu. Now that she had left the Xie family and Yun Chu had become the Princess Consort, the gap between them was as vast as the distance between mud on the ground and clouds in the sky, growing ever wider. She didn't even dare to lift her head and look Yun Chu in the eye.
It was easy to imagine how much courage she had mustered the last time she went to the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor to request an audience with Yun Chu.
Concubine Jiang hurried to pour tea and carefully presented it to Yun Chu.
After taking a sip, Yun Chu finally spoke: "How have things been these past few days?"
"Thanks to the Princess Consort's protection, Xie Shi'an hasn't come again," Concubine Jiang replied. "Ti Ge'er officially started school today, and Xian Jie'er is just playing around at home."
Yun Chu nodded: "Do you plan to send Xian Jie'er to school?"
Concubine Jiang shook her head: "She'll just learn embroidery at home."
She lived in a narrow alley in the outskirts of the capital, where the most ordinary common folk resided. Girls from regular families typically didn't attend school.
When Xian Jie'er was still a daughter of the Xie family - a scholarly family - learning to read and write was nothing special. But now... there was no need for such studies anymore.
"Does Xian Jie'er herself want to study?" Yun Chu asked.
Concubine Jiang keenly sensed something behind these words and looked up: "What does the Princess Consort mean?"
"Changsheng, that is, the Little Commandery Princess of the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor, is preparing to begin her education," Yun Chu said with a smile. "Changsheng wants Xian Jie'er to be her study companion. What does Concubine Jiang think of this?"
Concubine Jiang's face showed utter disbelief.
A study companion for the Commandery Princess should typically be the daughter of a high-ranking official - how could such an opportunity fall to Xian Jie'er?
"Prin- Princess Consort, this won't do," she quickly waved her hands. "This lowly concubine knows the Princess Consort looks after our mother and daughter, but there's really no need..."
Even when Xian Jie'er was still a young lady of the Xie family, her status wouldn't have been presentable, let alone now.
She worried that if Xian Jie'er entered the prince's manor, she might cause trouble for the Princess Consort.
"This is Changsheng's wish," Yun Chu said gently. "If Xian Jie'er is also willing, I don't think it would be a bad thing."
She knew what Concubine Jiang was worried about.
Mainly it was Xie Xian's status as the illegitimate daughter of her former husband, which could easily become material for gossip.
If Chu Yi were someone who nitpicked over every detail, she might indeed hesitate.
But she knew Chu Yi wouldn't mind.
Most importantly, Changsheng liked Xian Jie'er, and despite growing up in the Xie family, Xian Jie'er had remarkably not been corrupted - she was a good child.
Seeing that Yun Chu had made up her mind, Concubine Jiang brought Xie Xian, who had been embroidering in the room.
Xie Xian curtsied: "Greetings to the Princess Consort."
Yun Chu smiled and said: "Your mother must have told you already. Are you willing to enter the prince's manor to accompany Changsheng in her studies?"
Xie Xian hesitated for a moment before asking: "Will I still be able to come home?"
She was afraid that if she entered the prince's manor, she might never see her mother again - in which case she'd rather not go.
"Of course you can," Yun Chu took her hand. "You can come home every day, or every few days - it's up to you."
A light appeared in Xie Xian's eyes: "Then I'm willing to accompany Changsheng in her studies."
Concubine Jiang quickly pulled her daughter aside and whispered: "You should address her as Commandery Princess..."
Just as Xie Xian was about to correct herself,
Yun Chu said: "Changsheng doesn't just need a study companion - she needs a friend. However Xian Jie'er interacted with Changsheng before, she should continue to do so."
Xie Xian nodded vigorously.Yun Chu and Jiang Yiniang agreed that once the female teacher was found, someone would be arranged to pick up Xie Xian.
After concluding their business, Yun Chu rose and departed.
Jiang Yiniang actually wished very much to invite Yun Chu to stay for a meal, but didn't dare voice the request. Instead, she walked to the end of the lane and watched Yun Chu's carriage disappear down the main road.
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