Chapter 332: The Aged Yuan Shi
"Chu'er, what have you thought of?"
Chu Yi turned his head and asked.
He knew that Chu'er had once had a dream, a dream related to the future.
Many scenes from that dream had been verified one by one.
He valued every word and every opinion of Yun Chu.
"Investigate the details of the imperial examinations over the years, and see if Gong Xi Prince and the Gui family were involved," she said softly. "If this is confirmed, Gong Xi Prince's lineage will be completely ruined."
Chu Yi immediately said, "Cheng Qi, arrange for someone to investigate immediately. Be discreet and avoid alerting the enemy."
After three to five days of investigation, nothing was found.
"This isn't right," Chu Yi frowned. "Every year, there are some issues with the imperial examinations, yet these records have all disappeared from the archives. This is too suspicious."
Yun Chu nodded.
The cleaner it appeared, the more problematic it was.
She curved her lips into a smile. "Isn't there a hidden blade by Gong Xi Prince's side? Let's test how sharp this blade is."
Just as Chu Yi was about to speak,
Yun Chu stopped him. "I've been so bored at home. Let me handle this matter."
Since becoming pregnant, she had been confined at home every day, not allowed to do anything. Taking this opportunity to go out for a walk would make her feel more comfortable, both physically and mentally.
Chu Yi didn't dare to be careless. He arranged for hidden guards to follow her before agreeing to let her go out.
The capital had just experienced a snowfall. The red eaves were covered with glistening white snow, making the scene exceptionally beautiful.
The streets were bustling with people, all families out shopping for New Year's goods. Everyone's faces were filled with joy. In the blink of an eye, it was almost time for the New Year again.
The carriage slowly made its way through the streets and soon arrived at the entrance of the Xie residence.
Yun Chu lifted the curtain and looked out.
The once prosperous gate of the Xie residence had become dilapidated. The characters "Xie Residence" above were no longer visible, and the two large stone lions were nowhere to be found.
At that moment, the gate of the Xie residence creaked open, sounding like the dull noise from an old person's chest. Then, the gate opened, and an old woman came out with a shovel to clear the snow at the entrance.
This old woman was none other than Yuan Shi.
Yun Chu hadn't seen Yuan Shi for over a year.
In this year, Yuan Shi seemed to have aged ten years. Her hair had turned white, her back was somewhat hunched, and she carried a child in a cloth bundle on her back.
By calculation, Tao Yiniang's child was already one and a half years old. Just like in her previous life, the child still couldn't walk, staring blankly ahead without a trace of a child's liveliness.
Seeing a carriage stopped at the gate, Yuan Shi looked up and saw a face appearing at the carriage window. She was immediately stunned, her voice trembling as she said, "Chu'er..."
At the beginning of the year, when Chu'er got married, she had taken the children to the prince's residence to deliver wedding gifts but hadn't even caught a glimpse of Chu'er.
She never expected that Chu'er, now a Princess Consort, would appear at the gate of their Xie residence.
Afraid that Yun Chu might leave, Yuan Shi threw down the shovel and rushed over. "Chu'er!"
Yun Chu stepped down from the carriage, adjusting her cloak, and said softly, "Madam, why are you personally sweeping snow with the child? Isn't there still a maidservant?"
At this mention, Yuan Shi shed tears. "The household can no longer afford the monthly stipend. She has a family to support too, so I couldn't keep delaying her. I gave her one tael of silver and let her go back.""Ah, why talk about such things? Chu'er, since you're passing by the Xie residence, do come in and sit for a while." Yuan Shi forced a smile. "Jingyu has long been gone. Even if you return to your former husband's family, no one would gossip anymore. Come in quickly, let me pour you a cup of hot tea."
Supported by her maid, Yun Chu stepped inside.
The courtyard, once adorned with various landscapes, now appeared desolate and barren, exuding an air of extreme loneliness.
She noticed Gan Lai perched on a ladder against the wall, sweeping accumulated snow from the eaves.
Yuan Shi emerged with a cup of water, saying, "Thanks to you, Chu'er, for buying Wei Ge'er a servant back then. Without him, who would do these heavy chores?"
Yun Chu held the cup without drinking, smiling as she asked, "Where are the boys?"
"An Ge'er found work as a counselor for a high-ranking official, earning a few hundred copper coins each month. At least our family won't starve," Yuan Shi continued. "As for Wei Ge'er... alas, he's hopeless. He was already lazy, and now that it's cold, he complains his legs hurt and lies on the couch all day. Yun Ge'er has become sensible lately, studying every day and asking An Ge'er when he doesn't understand."
Just then, Xie Shiwei came limping out from the backyard. "Mother... Mother, I've missed you so much!"
"Wei Ge'er, what nonsense are you shouting!" Yuan Shi scowled. "Look carefully—this is the Princess Consort, the Princess Consort of the Pacifying West, not your mother!"
"I..." Xie Shiwei glanced cautiously at Yun Chu, pursing his lips. "On such a cold day, if the Princess Consort is willing to visit the Xie family, she must still care for me as her son. What's wrong with me calling her Mother?"
Yun Chu shook her head. "Showing disrespect to a member of the royal family is a capital offense."
Xie Shiwei shuddered instantly.
"P-Princess Consort..." he stammered, "back when you and the Prince married, I specially prepared a wedding gift. I only have the chance to present it now. I hope you won't blame me."
He pulled a wooden carving from his robe.
Yun Chu was immediately reminded of when she was still a wife in the Xie family—Yu Ge'er had secretly stayed with them and gifted her a similar carving before leaving.
Yu Ge'er's carving had been clumsily endearing, while Xie Shiwei's was more refined and noticeably well-polished from frequent handling.
"My wedding was a year ago. There's no need for gifts now," Yun Chu declined firmly yet politely.
Some children deserved a second chance, like Xie Shiwei—first, because he posed little threat, second, because he was willing to avenge Ting Yu, showing some humanity within, and third, because he still managed to study under such circumstances, which impressed her.
But Xie Shiwei, whether the Xie family prospered or struggled, whether wealthy or poor, remained incorrigible—thoroughly rotten to the core.
As Xie Shiwei opened his mouth to say more, Xie Shiwei walked out.
Hearing voices from the front, he had thought Xie Shi'an had returned and brought his books to seek advice, never expecting to see Yun Chu.
His heart leaped into his throat.
He feared Yun Chu had come to warn him against approaching the Little Commandery Princess again.
But seeing her amiable expression, he grew anxious that she might mention the Little Commandery Princess in front of the Xie family.
He had never told any of the Xies about his interactions with the Little Commandery Princess, fearing that Xie Shi'an and Xie Shiwei might have ill intentions...
"Greetings, Princess Consort."Xie Shiyun bowed with a heart full of complex emotions.
Yun Chu gave a faint nod without saying much.
He quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
After sitting for only a short while, footsteps were heard at the door, along with San Jiu's voice: "Be careful, Young Master. The snow has melted, and the ground is slippery."
Hearing this, Yun Chu set down his cup and immediately stood up: "You must be busy, Madam. I shall take my leave now."
Yuan Shi promptly tried to persuade him to stay: "An Ge'er hasn't seen you in a long time either. He would surely be delighted to see you..."
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