Chapter 331: Ding Dong Is Requested
The room was warmed by a charcoal fire.
On the table, maids were preparing the antique hot pot, with lamb broth as the base bubbling and gurgling, its aroma filling the air.
They had agreed to eat the antique hot pot together at this time, but Chu Yi had yet to arrive.
Before Yun Chu could even ask, Luwei, standing nearby, said, "Princess Consort, His Highness has been detained in the study by Qinghua Princess."
Luwei was the senior maid Yun Chu had promoted from among the second-tier maids after Ting Xue's marriage. She was steady in temperament and meticulous in her work, having previously been Ting Xue's capable assistant. Now, she was perfectly suited to take Ting Xue's place.
Yun Chu's expression showed no change as she turned and saw the two children staring eagerly at the hot pot, their mouths practically watering.
She couldn't help but laugh. "Your father is running a bit late, so let's start without him."
She instructed the maids to serve each child a small bowl of lamb broth and began blanching vegetables.
Just as the mother and her two children had started eating, the curtain of the Warm Pavilion was lifted, and the sound of maids greeting someone came from the doorway. Immediately after, Chu Yi strode in.
A maid hurriedly served him a bowl of lamb broth.
Yun Chu could tell he seemed to be in high spirits.
Had she been mistaken? Was Qinghua Princess not there to stir up trouble or complain?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chu Yi asked with a smile. "I just asked the physician, and he said pregnant women can eat lamb, but only in moderation."
This wasn't Yun Chu's first pregnancy, so she was naturally aware of such things. Moreover, because of the complications during her first pregnancy, she was being especially careful this time. She knew exactly what she couldn't eat, what she could, and how much. Even if she momentarily forgot, the maids around her would remind her.
The two children soon finished eating and went chattering to the side room.
Yun Chu's appetite was quite good, and she continued eating while Chu Yi kept blanching vegetables and serving them to her.
After she had eaten her fill, she couldn't resist asking, "Why are you so happy?"
"Because I've come to realize once again that you care about me," Chu Yi replied, gently tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Nothing could make me happier."
Yun Chu sighed inwardly.
Last time, when she agreed to let Ding Dong serve in their chambers, he said he was happy.
This time, when she refused to allow Qinghua Princess to send women into the residence, he was even happier.
He always managed to find the positive side of any situation.
Perhaps it was because she was the one involved.
Just as the couple finished their meal, a junior maid from the courtyard came in to report, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, a matron from the princess's household is here with a message."
Chu Yi gestured for the matron to enter.
"This humble servant greets Your Highness and the Princess Consort," the matron said, bowing her head. "The princess returned to the capital in haste and is short on attendants. She would like to request a person from the Princess Consort."
Chu Yi replied indifferently, "If she's short on people, she can buy a few from outside."
He had no intention of indulging his second sister, as it would only lead to trouble.
The matron's expression stiffened. She never expected that the prince would refuse such a simple request for a servant.
She had no choice but to press on. "The princess specifically wants the maid named Ding Dong. She humbly asks Your Highness and the Princess Consort to part with her."
Chu Yi's expression softened slightly.
That maid named Ding Dong was indeed superfluous in the residence.
When Ding Dong had previously come to him asking for ginseng, he had considered finding an excuse to send her to Luochuan to avoid having her around.
If his second sister wanted her, it wouldn't be a problem to give Ding Dong to her.
He turned to Yun Chu, seeking his wife's opinion.Yun Chu took a sip of tea. "Since Second Sister rarely makes such a request, let Ding Dong serve her then."
She wanted to see what Qinghua Princess truly intended.
After her firm refusal and Chu Yi's warning, if Qinghua Princess still insisted on causing trouble, then this relative might as well be cut off.
That same day, Ding Dong packed her belongings and moved to Qinghua Princess's courtyard.
The next morning, Yun Chu slept until chenshi (7-9 am) before rising. Nowadays, she only needed to pay palace respects on the first and fifteenth days of the month. No one came to pay respects to her on ordinary days, and since she had stopped martial arts training, she could sleep as late as she wished.
After dressing properly, she walked to the outer chamber and saw Chu Yi sitting in her usual spot, handling the manor's affairs.
Nanny He stood before Chu Yi with her head bowed, trembling with apprehension. She only relaxed slightly when she saw Yun Chu emerge.
Yun Chu approached with an amused smile. "You're meant for greater things. Let me handle the household matters."
"The classics say: 'If one cannot sweep one's own room, how can one sweep the world?'" Chu Yi looked at her. "Only when domestic affairs are properly managed can court matters be better handled. Sit beside me and watch. If I do anything improperly, Chu'er, you must teach me."
Yun Chu sat on the daybed, occasionally snacking and drinking tea.
Having slept very well through the night, she wasn't tired—just exceptionally bored.
Calculating the time, there was still half a shichen (one hour) until Changsheng finished school. Yu Ge'er wouldn't return until evening. Only when both children came back would she have something to do.
Chu Yi set aside the accounts and looked at Nanny He.
She immediately stiffened, fearing she had made some mistake that would anger the prince.
"Which opera troupes are famous in the capital?"
Nanny He hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, the most renowned is Peach Blossom Garden. All prominent families in the capital invite them to perform during banquets."
"Make arrangements to purchase this troupe. Cost is no object," Chu Yi said calmly. "Preferably, they should be able to perform in the manor the day after tomorrow."
Yun Chu paused, her fingers still. "Why buy an opera troupe?"
"For your entertainment." Chu Yi reached out and ruffled her hair. "I worry you're too bored."
Yun Chu was indeed somewhat bored, but she had no interest in opera. She didn't enjoy it.
She realized that keeping busy was better—otherwise, each day felt interminable.
Just then, Cheng Qi entered from outside.
Cheng Qi was a cousin from Cheng Xu's clan who also served under Chu Yi. Since Cheng Xu had just gotten married and was on leave, Cheng Qi had been handling affairs during this period.
"Your Highness, I arranged for two men to pose as gamblers and infiltrate Gong Xi Prince's sphere of influence. However, they cannot penetrate the core. I beg Your Highness to instruct us on how to proceed!"
Yun Chu immediately straightened up.
She knew that through Xie Shi'an's vigorous efforts, the capital's underworld had become Gong Xi Prince's domain.
The core of this network was naturally Xie Shi'an.
Though young, Xie Shi'an possessed cunning and stratagems beyond ordinary people. Gaining his trust wouldn't be easy.
Moreover, in her previous life, this underworld network hadn't proven particularly valuable—at least before her death, Gong Xi Prince hadn't used it for any major undertakings.
Suddenly, Yun Chu remembered something.In her previous life, there seemed to have been a case of imperial examination fraud in the capital. Xie Jingyu and Xie Shi'an, both Number One Scholars from the same family, were naturally implicated. They were investigated for over half a month before being cleared of any involvement.
She vaguely recalled that many court officials had impeached Gong Xi Prince, firmly believing the case was inextricably linked to him and the Gui family... Not long after, the Court of Judicial Review closed the case, declaring it a fabrication by scholars who had repeatedly failed the Presented Scholar examinations. Thus, the matter was laid to rest.
But was Gong Xi Prince truly uninvolved?
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