Chapter 313: I Have a New Friend
As late spring turned to early summer, the weather gradually grew warmer.
Yun Chu's life as the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West was gradually settling into a routine.
Prince Pingxi had never hosted a banquet in the dozen or so years since establishing his residence.
She wondered if it was time to hold one.
But organizing such an event was truly troublesome—all that effort and commotion might not even yield favorable results.
After much deliberation, Yun Chu ultimately decided against it.
It wasn't yet the time to expand her social connections; she could still enjoy a period of carefree leisure.
"Mother." Chu Changsheng climbed onto her lap, wrapping her arms around Yun Chu's neck. "I've made another friend."
Yun Chu smiled. "Our Changsheng is already making friends! Now you have two friends. What's his name?"
Usually, Changsheng spent most of her time with Xie Xian and occasionally went to the Yun residence for half a day at Lin Shi's invitation. Yun Chu assumed Changsheng had befriended a child from the Yun family.
"Mother, promise you won't be angry if I tell you?" The little girl shrank her neck slightly. "I'll tell you if you promise not to be angry."
Yun Chu's smile remained unchanged. "Of course, Mother won't be angry."
"His... his name is Xie Shiyun."
As soon as the words left the little girl's mouth, Yun Chu's smile froze on her face.
She took several deep breaths, suppressing her emotions, and asked in a gentle voice, "Changsheng, you're in the prince's residence every day. How did you become friends with Xie Shiyun?"
"The dog hole." Chu Changsheng took Yun Chu's hand and ran to a wall in the backyard. Pushing aside the overgrown grass, she revealed a hole about knee-high. "Big Brother had A Mao dig this before. I was curious and asked Xian to crawl out with me to play."
Yun Chu stared at the dog hole in disbelief.
Back when she was still the mistress of the Xie residence, Yu Ge'er often came to visit her.
At the time, she had wondered how such a young child could sneak out of the prince's residence alone.
So this was how—through this dog hole.
"I met Yun outside the dog hole." The little girl blinked her large eyes. "He's so pitiful."
Yun Chu crouched down. "Did you befriend him because you feel sorry for him?"
Chu Changsheng tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "I don't know."
"Alright, Mother understands." Yun Chu stroked her hair. "Go play with your brother now."
She gazed at the dog hole, noticing how the weeds outside the wall perfectly concealed the exit.
It reminded her of her own childhood.
The Yun residence also had such a dog hole—not one her eldest brother Yun Ze had created, but one she had ordered the servants to dig. She often sneaked out through it to play.
If not for Xie Shiyun, she might have kept the dog hole.
She could never forget how, in her previous life, Xie Shiyun had forced her to drink poisoned wine...
How could she feel at ease letting Changsheng befriend Xie Shiyun?
This matter troubled Yun Chu deeply.
That night, when Chu Yi returned, she was still awake.
After washing up, Chu Yi lay down on the bed, pulling her into his arms. "Why are you frowning? Did something happen?"
"I've told you about the Xie family matters before." Yun Chu sighed. "Changsheng has become friends with Xie Shiyun. It makes me uneasy.""Those born into the imperial family are always surrounded by various kinds of people—some sincere, some scheming, some calculating... Even adults sometimes struggle to distinguish friend from foe, let alone a child," Chu Yi remarked. "Changsheng will eventually have to face these situations alone and learn to discern right from wrong. If Xie Shiyun proves trustworthy, Changsheng gains a friend. If he has ulterior motives, it will serve as a lesson for her not to bestow her kindness too freely."
Hearing this, Yun Chu felt considerably more at ease.
After a pause, she said, "Did you know there's a dog hole in the rear courtyard of the residence?"
Chu Yi was genuinely unaware: "Did Yu Ge'er do that?"
Leaning against the man's chest, Yun Chu replied, "After careful consideration, I think we should block that dog hole. Not just to prevent the children from sneaking out, but more importantly, to avoid anyone with ill intentions exploiting it to cause trouble."
Chu Yi nodded. "As you wish, Chu'er."
He had been busy familiarizing himself with his duties at the Ministry of Works these days, returning late every night when Yun Chu was already asleep. He would always tread lightly to avoid waking her.
Tonight, with Yun Chu still awake, he didn't need to restrain his emotions anymore.
He rolled over and pinned her beneath him.
The early summer night was brief—Yun Chu felt like she had just closed her eyes when dawn broke.
She and Chu Yi rose together to practice martial arts in the courtyard. Soon, Yu Ge'er joined them from his own yard, and the three trained for half an hour before finishing.
Perhaps due to the training, Yun Chu noticed Yu Ge'er had grown taller over the past six months, his frame becoming sturdier.
After father and son departed, Yun Chu went to wake her younger daughter. While dressing Changsheng, she said with a smile, "You told me yesterday you made a friend. How about inviting them over sometime?"
The little girl's eyes immediately sparkled. "Really?"
Yun Chu nodded. "I've had people seal that dog hole you mentioned. It's not that I don't want you to be friends with Xie Shiyun—I want you to be friends openly. You can invite him to the residence anytime from now on."
"Mother, you're the best!" Chu Changsheng exclaimed, jumping with joy. "I'll send for Yun right away!"
That afternoon, after Chu Changsheng and Xie Xian finished their morning lessons, Xie Shiyun was invited to the residence.
Just a few months younger than Chu Changsheng and her brother, he was also a five-year-old child. The small boy followed a servant through the main gate, past the second gate, through the moon gate, finally arriving at the main rear courtyard where he was led before Yun Chu.
"Yu Ge'er, it's been a while," Yun Chu said with a smile. "Have a seat."
Xie Shiyun didn't dare sit, standing with his head bowed, fingers tightly intertwined.
He was afraid—afraid the Princess Consort would forbid his friendship with the Little Commandery Princess, afraid she would scold him severely before sending him away.
Yet he still clung to a sliver of hope.
If even Xie Xian could be friends with the Little Commandery Princess, why couldn't he, also a member of the Xie family?
"Mo—Princess Consort!" Xie Shiyun produced a plain silver hairpin from his sleeve and raised it overhead. "This was meant as a wedding gift for Your Highness on your wedding day, but I never had the chance to present it. I hope you won't find it unworthy."
Ting Xue accepted the hairpin and handed it to Yun Chu.
Yun Chu took it. "Thank you for your thoughtful gift, Yu Ge'er. Changsheng and Xian Jie'er are waiting for you in the pavilion. You may join them."Xie Shiyun heaved a deep sigh of relief.
He didn't dare stay with Yun Chu any longer and quickly left the flower hall, heading towards the pavilion ahead.
"Yun, you're here." Chu Changsheng smiled with innocent delight. "I told you my mother is wonderful, didn't I?"
Xie Shiyun nodded.
He had always known his mother was wonderful.
It was the Xie family that wasn't.
It was Xie Shi'an who wasn't.
He could no longer bear staying with the Xie family. How he wished his mother would take him in.
He would definitely be filial to his mother for life, and would surely treat the Little Commandery Princess twice as well. All he wanted was a place to belong...
When he grew up, he would avenge his Concubine mother!
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