Chapter 306: Liu Qianqian Gives Birth
Er Momo thus left the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor without causing any disturbance.
After learning from Granny Guo for a month, Mother He and three other elderly women were now fully capable of handling all matters in the manor, so Granny Guo returned to the palace.
Yun Chu took over Chu Yi's businesses and had gradually organized most of them.
In the blink of an eye, it was already May, and the Yun family had a joyous event—Yun Chu's elder sister-in-law, Liu Qianqian, gave birth to a fair and chubby baby girl.
Yun Silin should have returned to the Western Frontier long ago for his duties, but he stayed in the capital until May just to await the birth of this child. He planned to leave only after the full-month celebration.
"Let's name her Zhi," Liu Qianqian said gently. "Yun Zhi—'thorough understanding of the heart is wisdom, and thorough wisdom is virtue.'"
Yun Chu nodded. "It's a good name."
This child, who hadn't survived in her previous life, had now been given a fresh start in this one. Nothing could be better than that.
She had someone craft a gold and jade Peace Lock and placed it around Yun Zhi's neck, saying softly, "Your aunt wishes you peace, joy, and a smooth-sailing life."
The room was filled with warmth, while outside, two children were quarreling.
Yun Zhenjiang stood with his arms akimbo. "I have a little sister now, hmph!"
"Your sister is so ugly!" Chu Hongyu stuck out his tongue. "No one is as cute and pretty as my sister!"
"My mother said all newborns look like this. They'll become prettier as they grow up!" Yun Zhenjiang retorted angrily. "If we're talking about who's ugly, you're the ugliest! Your whole family is ugly!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Changsheng blinked her large eyes, looking wronged. "Brother Jiang, am I very ugly...?"
"N-no, I didn't mean you," Yun Zhenjiang panicked and quickly wiped her tears. "I meant Chu Hongyu is ugly! He's the ugliest!"
"You're the ugliest!" Chu Hongyu fumed. "You have small eyes, a small nose, and a small mouth—no one is uglier than you!"
The two continued bickering loudly.
Chu Changsheng covered her ears. Boys were really too noisy; she still preferred Xie Xian.
Thinking of Xie Xian, the little girl remembered something. She hurriedly ran into the inner room, climbed onto Yun Chu's lap, and said, "I have something to discuss with you, Mother."
Yun Chu stroked her daughter's head.
Since starting school, Changsheng had been talking daily with her teacher, Xie Xian. The barriers in communication had gradually diminished, and she was visibly becoming more lively.
Smiling, she asked, "What is it?"
"Xian said that since she eats at our manor every day, she'd like to invite me... to her house for a meal," Chu Changsheng said, tilting her head up. "Mother, may I go?"
Yun Chu nodded. "Of course, but may I accompany you?"
Chu Changsheng beamed with joy. "Yes, yes!"
She jumped off Yun Chu's lap and hurried off to share the good news with her brother.
Lying on the couch, Liu Qianqian spoke up. "No matter what, Xie Xian is Xie Jingyu's child. Is it really appropriate for you to let Changsheng become friends with your former husband's child?"
Yun Chu shook her head. "When judging a person, it's not just about their background—their character matters more. Xie Xian's character is beyond reproach, so she is worth befriending."
Liu Qianqian still seemed concerned. "But what if the Prince..."
"Of course, he won't object," Yun Chu said with a smile. "He respects every decision I make."Moreover, it turned out that Changsheng got along very well with Xie Xian and was gradually growing herself, beginning to develop her own social life and slowly becoming a normal person.
She didn't need Changsheng to be exceptionally outstanding—being an ordinary, normal person was enough.
The academy had one day off every six days, and it was on this day that Xie Xian invited Changsheng to her home. Chu Hongyu insisted on going along.
Yun Chu took the two children by carriage out of the capital, arriving at the gate of Concubine Jiang's small courtyard.
"Greetings, Princess Consort! Greetings, Young Son and Little Commandery Princess!"
Concubine Jiang stood at the entrance with Xie Xian and Xu Ti to welcome the guests, performing a proper and respectful bow.
"Please, no need for such formality."
Yun Chu helped Concubine Jiang to her feet.
As the group entered the courtyard, they were immediately greeted by the aroma of various foods.
Concubine Jiang said apologetically, "We don't have anything valuable to offer at home. I hope the Princess Consort won't mind."
Yun Chu saw that the tables were laden with all kinds of snacks and dishes. It was clear that Concubine Jiang had gotten up before dawn to prepare them, a testament to her sincerity.
Without needing to be told, Xu Ti poured tea and served it to Yun Chu and the others.
After taking a sip of tea, Yun Chu smiled and asked, "How are Ti Ge'er's studies coming along?"
Xu Ti replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "The tutor has started teaching the Hundred Family Surnames. It's not too difficult."
The courtyard was small, and Yun Chu noticed several pieces of calligraphy on a nearby table. She walked over, picked one up, and glanced at it. She had to admit, the handwriting was quite impressive.
Xu Ti was the same age as Yu Ge'er. Even though Yu Ge'er received personal instruction from great scholars at the Imperial College, his handwriting wasn't much better than Xu Ti's.
Xu Ti was naturally gifted when it came to studying.
After the children went off to play, Yun Chu remarked, "Ordinary private schools teach too slowly. I'm afraid Ti Ge'er won't learn much there."
Concubine Jiang replied, "Ti Ge'er spends his time after school practicing calligraphy. He says that if he can write well, he can earn some money by writing for others to help support the family. He's such a good child—it's my fortune as a lowly concubine to have adopted him."
"If you have some extra money, you could consider hiring a private tutor for Ti Ge'er," Yun Chu suggested. "If he can succeed in his studies, Xian Jie'er will have someone to rely on in the future."
Concubine Jiang immediately nodded. "Yes, this lowly concubine will definitely find a good tutor for Ti Ge'er."
As they were speaking, the children returned from outside, picked up some of the food from the tables, and ran out again.
Concubine Jiang hurried over. "Ti Ge'er, what are you doing?"
Xu Ti explained, "There's a little beggar in the alley behind the back gate. The Little Commandery Princess, out of kindness, wants to give him some food."
If Xie Xian had done this, he would have stopped her, as the food at home was hard-earned through his mother's sewing and mending, and he couldn't bear to give it away. But since it was the Little Commandery Princess doing it—and Xie Xian ate at the prince's residence every day, enjoying countless delicacies—he had no reason to stop her from giving their food to the beggar.
Concubine Jiang was soft-hearted. She picked up a basket, filled it with the remaining food, and asked Xu Ti to take it to the little beggar.
Xu Ti walked to the back gate and saw Xie Xian and the two young masters from the prince's residence approaching the little beggar.
Ting Xue, who was accompanying the children, looked at the beggar and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. She reached out and stopped the children.
The child in tattered clothes slowly lifted his head. His hair was messy, his face covered in grime, and his clothes were filthy."Xie Shiyun?"
Xie Xian was the first to recognize him, covering her mouth in fright.
She feared every member of the Xie family, including Xie Shiyun who was only a few months older than her.
Chu Changsheng tilted her head: "Who is Xie Shiyun?"
Chu Hongyu frowned and suddenly remembered: "He's from the Xie family. Mother used to be his mother."
Xu Ti immediately said: "Everyone, go back inside!"
Last time Xie Shi'an came to their home, he used Xie Xian as a hostage and took one hundred taels of silver from them. The money was a small matter, but it had frightened Xie Xian so much that she couldn't sleep peacefully for a long time.
OpenNovel