Chapter 314: I Don't Like Candy
The three children were playing in the courtyard.
Yun Chu sat watching from afar.
She was thinking: in her previous life, Xie Shiyun had turned against her largely because of Ting Yu. Now that Ting Yu was dead, would Xie Shiyun still betray her as he did before?
The children played happily until mealtime arrived.
Yun Chu let Changsheng entertain her two friends herself, with several servants attending nearby.
She sat in the adjacent Warm Pavilion, occasionally hearing Changsheng's voice. The once silent little girl was becoming increasingly lively and cheerful around her two timid friends.
Whatever intentions Xie Shiyun might harbor, at least for now, Changsheng was improving—wasn't that what mattered?
After the children finished their meal, Yun Chu entered the flower hall.
The moment she stepped in, Xie Xian, who had been speaking, immediately fell silent. Xie Shiyun sprang to his feet, bowing his head as he addressed her: "Princess Consort."
"It's getting late. I'll have someone escort you back," Yun Chu said with a smile, taking two money pouches from a maid. "Xian Jie'er, Yun Ge'er, take these."
Xie Shiyun instinctively wanted to accept it.
He was desperately short of money—having given his only silver hairpin to his mother, he now possessed nothing.
Just as he reached out,
he heard Xie Xian say, "N-no, Princess Consort, I can't accept this."
Xie Shiyun immediately withdrew his hand: "Princess Consort, I cannot accept it either."
Yun Chu took both children's hands and placed the pouches in their palms: "It's not much—use it to buy some candy."
After a moment's thought, Xie Xian replied, "Then tomorrow I'll bring some mung bean cakes my mother made for you to try, Princess Consort."
Only then did she accept the money pouch.
Xie Shiyun's lips pressed into a tight line.
He lowered his head: "I'd rather not accept it. I don't like candy. Thank you, Princess Consort."
"If you don't like candy, then buy some pastries instead," Chu Changsheng said with an innocent smile. "Yun, please take it."
She took the money pouch and firmly stuffed it into Xie Shiyun's arms.
"Thank you..."
Xie Shiyun's voice came out hoarse.
How could he not like candy? He feared its sweetness would only make his bitterness more pronounced.
Yun Chu arranged for a carriage to take the two children home.
Xie Xian made this daily commute and saw nothing unusual about it.
But Xie Shiyun fidgeted uneasily in the carriage. The moment they left the prince's residence lane, he immediately asked the coachman to stop, jumping out to walk the rest of the way himself.
He feared Xie Shi'an might see the carriage and interrogate him about where he'd been.
By the time he reached his doorstep, darkness had fully fallen. The Xie family's main gate, once illuminated by lanterns, now stood in complete blackness.
Pushing the door open, he found the front courtyard empty and everywhere dark. Guided by moonlight, he returned to his room and opened the money pouch. Inside were several silver beans—slightly heavier than the plain silver hairpin he'd given Yun Chu. His visit to the prince's residence hadn't left him at a loss.
He recalled how during the day, Xie Xian and the Little Commandery Princess had been discussing studies.
He had attended school before, but only for a few months. Then his family's circumstances changed, and the little he'd learned had long been forgotten.
To maintain his friendship with the Little Commandery Princess, he needed to resume his studies.
Then he remembered: in his revenge against Xie Shi'an, he had set his father's study ablaze.
Now, when he wanted to study again, he couldn't even find a single book.After hiding the silver, Xie Shiyun walked out of the room and headed forward, encountering Yuan Shi who was comforting Xie Shikang.
"Yun Ge'er, where have you been all day?" Yuan Shi nagged. "Look how thin you've gotten these days. Hurry and apologize to your eldest brother, and your grandmother will immediately make you noodles..."
Xie Shiyun bit his lip: "Eldest Brother is your biological grandson, and so am I. Why does Grandmother ignore me just because of Eldest Brother's words? Does Grandmother know how I've been living these days?"
Feeling guilty, Yuan Shi wiped her tears: "Your eldest brother is supporting the family now. He gives me money for groceries. If I don't listen to him, how will the whole family survive? Yun Ge'er, your concubine mother has already passed away. There's no need to hold a grudge against your eldest brother over someone who's gone. Swallow your pride and apologize - we still have to keep living, don't we?"
Xie Shiyun shook off Yuan Shi's hand: "I'm going to find Eldest Brother."
Yuan Shi smiled: "That's a good boy. Go quickly."
Xie Shiyun arrived at Green Pine Pavilion, where San Jiu was sweeping the courtyard. Seeing him approach, San Jiu said: "The young master hasn't returned yet."
"I'd like to borrow some books from Eldest Brother's study," Xie Shiyun said. "I'll just be a moment."
San Jiu hesitated. He was well aware of the young master's recent attitude toward the third young master. If he let the third young master in without permission, the young master would surely punish him.
Just then, footsteps sounded - Xie Shi'an had returned.
Xie Shiyun looked up. By the light of candles and moonlight, he saw Xie Shi'an dressed in fine silk, his presence so commanding that it made people overlook the fact that he was blind in one eye.
He clenched his fists, unable to bring himself to call out "Eldest Brother."
Xie Shi'an was carrying many items - all rewards from Gong Xi Prince, simply because he had a good sister who had become a low-ranking imperial concubine in the Eastern Palace.
Though he had received many rewards, Xie Shi'an felt no joy.
Because Gong Xi Prince would soon use this matter as leverage in negotiations with the Empress. Once the Empress found out, Xie Ping would have only one path - death.
Emotionally speaking, he and Xie Ping were biological siblings who had grown up together. He couldn't bear to see Xie Ping die like this.
From a rational perspective, if Xie Ping remained alive and well in the Eastern Palace, she would always be his informant, giving him a voice before Gong Xi Prince.
But this matter was beyond his control.
Xie Shi'an handed the rewards to San Jiu and coldly looked at Xie Shiyun before him: "Have you come to your senses?"
"Yes, I've come to my senses," Xie Shiyun lowered his head. "Eldest Brother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have opposed you."
Knowing he had learned his lesson, Xie Shi'an said calmly: "Then have Grandmother make you something to eat. Don't cause any more trouble from now on."
"Eldest Brother!" Xie Shiyun raised his eyes. "I want to resume my studies. May I borrow some books from you?"
Xie Shi'an was somewhat surprised.
Ever since Xie Shiwei returned to the residence, he had repeatedly tried to get him to study and learn arithmetic, hoping he could at least learn something that might be useful later. But Xie Shiwei simply refused to learn.
Xie Shiwei was hopeless, but Xie Shiyun was willing to learn.
Though they weren't full brothers sharing the same mother, they still shared half their bloodline. Perhaps Xie Shiyun could help secure his rear flank.
He nodded: "In my study, I have the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic, each page with my personal annotations. If there's anything you don't understand, you may come and ask me."
Xie Shiyun agreed.Xie Shi'an walked a few steps before turning back and saying, "Shiyun, let me tell you once more—your concubine mother's death truly had nothing to do with me. Your resentment should be directed at the Hu family, not me."
"I know, elder brother."
Xie Shiyun clenched his fingers until they turned white.
Of course he resented the Hu family, but he resented Xie Shi'an even more—because without Xie Shi'an, none of this would have happened...
But now was not the time to confront Xie Shi'an. He needed to study, to read extensively, to grow strong—only then could he avenge his concubine mother.
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