Chapter 323: The Madwoman from the Estate
Chu Yi genuinely felt his son had matured.
Since marrying Yun Chu, Yu Ge'er had become increasingly diligent in his studies, Changsheng's health had improved significantly, and he himself found each day more fulfilling.
He hardly dared imagine what a stagnant pool the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor would have become without Yun Chu.
While the family was conversing, a figure suddenly rushed toward them.
Qiutong, standing behind Yun Chu, swiftly stepped forward and pressed her hand against the figure's back. Restrained, the person emitted guttural sounds.
"Let go... let me go!"
The voice belonged to a woman.
Yun Chu shielded the children and looked up.
The woman was dressed in filthy clothes, disheveled and grimy, appearing utterly wretched.
After being restrained, the woman struggled violently, tearing at her own hair in agitation, seeming somewhat deranged.
"Greetings, Prince Pingxi and Princess Consort! This woman is the madwoman from our estate!" A large group of matrons hurried over, apologizing to Chu Yi and Yun Chu. "We were careless and let her escape, disturbing Your Highnesses. We sincerely apologize. Coincidentally, we've caught many fish at our estate and will send some over for you to enjoy fresh."
The matrons led the madwoman away.
The estate manager of Chu Yi's property arrived belatedly, sweating profusely as he explained, "The estate behind the mountain belongs to the Duke's household. A madwoman has lived there for years but never escaped before, so this old servant was negligent and nearly harmed the masters. I beg Your Highness to punish me!"
"The Duke's household?" Yun Chu pondered thoughtfully.
She had reviewed the Duke's household records: all the illegitimate sons had met with misfortune, but the illegitimate daughters had married well through alliances. Who could this madwoman be?
The many matrons who came searching appeared tense and clearly concerned about the madwoman, yet she was filthy and seemingly unattended in daily life—a contradiction.
She asked the estate manager to elaborate.
"About twenty or thirty years ago, the madwoman was sent to the estate to recuperate," the manager said, knowing little more. "Her exact identity remains unclear to this old servant, but I once saw Guogong Furen personally bring imperial physicians to treat her."
Chu Yi rubbed his fingers. "Send someone to investigate that estate thoroughly."
The manager nodded and went to arrange it.
"What are your thoughts, Chu'er?" Chu Yi turned to ask.
Yun Chu looked up. "She might be someone important to Guogong Furen. Perhaps she could be a breakthrough."
With the current emperor protecting Guogong Furen, she acted without restraint. Yun Chu refused to remain passive.
Sometimes, one must take the initiative.
She said calmly, "Under cover of night, take the madwoman away and observe the Duke's household's reaction."
Chu Yi agreed and summoned Cheng Xu.
That night, torches flared suddenly outside—matrons from the estate had come to search their property.
Yun Chu grew more certain that the madwoman's identity was significant.
Otherwise, how would lowly servants dare request entry to Prince Pingxi's estate so late at night?
Yun Chu responded with utmost gentleness, smiling at the lead matron. "The night is dark; she couldn't have gone far. I'll send people to help you search."
"Thank you, Princess Consort! Thank you!"
The matrons expressed profuse gratitude.
After they left, Yun Chu and Chu Yi descended to the estate's underground chamber, where the madwoman sat bound to a chair.
A cloth gagged her mouth, muffling her frantic cries."Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." Yun Chu spoke gently, "Let me help remove the cloth from your mouth. Please don't scream, alright?"
The madwoman seemed not to understand, still struggling in terror.
Yun Chu had someone light calming incense and sat with the madwoman until she gradually calmed down. Only then did she reach out to remove the cloth gag.
"Let me go..."
These were the first words the madwoman uttered.
Yun Chu asked softly, "Where were you trying to go when you escaped from the estate? I can have someone take you there."
Confusion instantly surfaced in the madwoman's eyes: "Where to... where, find Second Young Master, yes, where is Second Young Master? Take me to find Second Young Master!"
"Second Young Master?" Yun Chu maintained her smile, "What's Second Young Master's name?"
"It's Second Young Master, my Second Young Master!" the madwoman screamed, "I want to find Second Young Master, let me go..."
She began struggling violently again.
Yun Chu tentatively spoke: "Li Jingshu?"
The madwoman abruptly froze, her large eyes fixed on Yun Chu.
Yun Chu narrowed her eyes.
Li Jingshu was the maiden name of Guogong Furen. The madwoman's reaction to this name indicated an extraordinary relationship with Guogong Furen.
Just as she was about to probe further, she saw the madwoman shaking her head in agony, making pained sounds from her throat before screaming and fainting outright.
"Her mind has suffered trauma and needs medical treatment," Chu Yi said. "I'll arrange for an imperial physician."
"No." Yun Chu immediately shook her head. "Imperial physicians are loyal to the Emperor, and the Emperor protects Guogong Furen. No one can know the madwoman is here. I'll write a letter to Wu Yun and have him treat her."
Wu Yun could be considered one of their own and would never reveal this matter to others.
Although there was now a madwoman at the estate, it didn't affect the family's original plans in the slightest.
On the third morning, the family of four boarded a carriage heading south, first visiting Lizhuang. With its beautiful scenery and reputation as a culinary capital, they spent three full days enjoying themselves there.
Then they continued southward, stopping for several days in every city along the way from the capital. They admired landscapes, great mountains and rivers, waterfalls, and sampled all kinds of cuisine - sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. Before they knew it, they had reached the coastal city of Quancheng in the far south.
By this time, it was already autumn, but Quancheng remained in summer.
Leaning against her husband, Yun Chu watched their children playing in the distance and said with a smile, "You know, long ago I wanted to travel throughout the Great Jin with the two children. You weren't in my plans back then."
Chu Yi looked at her: "When did I become part of them then?"
"From the moment I agreed to marry you, you've been in all my future plans." Yun Chu smiled. "So now I have tasks for you to handle."
Last year, her father had come south and stockpiled large quantities of grain. Although grain could be stored for years, it became less palatable over time and needed to be disposed of.
Additionally, the large ships that had set sail in spring were about to dock at Quancheng's port. She planned to sell all the marine goods in Quancheng, then purchase local products to resell back in the capital. This way, they could earn more silver.
All these matters were handled by Chu Yi.
He had the old grain transported to Luochuan, his fiefdom, where it could feed the poor throughout the region.
Of course, it wasn't given away for free - the poor provided labor in exchange, working on projects like repairing and reinforcing city walls and moats, receiving grain as compensation for their efforts.After selling the sea goods on the large ship in Quanzhou, they earned over forty thousand taels of silver. This single trip recovered nearly half of the capital Yun Chu had invested.
The servant Shuangxi came to report, "We encountered some trouble during this voyage."
Shuangxi was a servant promoted by Yun Chu, specifically responsible for maritime affairs—a very clever young man.
Yun Chu motioned for him to continue.
"On the way, we came across an island nation. They were extremely arrogant and tried to take half of our cargo." Shuangxi clenched his fist. "Fortunately, we had gunpowder on board and managed to scare them off."
Yun Chu parted his lips and asked, "Was it the Eastern Tomb Kingdom?"
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