Chapter 44: What Should I Do
As the head of the Xie family, Xie Jingyu was the most suitable person to open the ancestral hall and bring out the family register.
The entire process was quite simple—writing He Shi's name into the family register, followed by offering incense and kowtowing. From that moment on, He Shi officially became a member of the Xie family.
Yun Chu wore a smile on her face. "Concubine He shall reside in Bihe Garden."
He Shi was somewhat surprised.
Bihe Garden was located right beside the Xie family garden—a courtyard in an exceptionally prime location, typically reserved for distinguished guests. She never expected the mistress to assign it to her.
Xie Jingyu's expression was deeply complicated.
He recalled four years ago, when she was pregnant, how he and Ting Yu had ended up in bed together. He still remembered the look on her face that morning.
Disappointment, heartache, pain, disbelief... Back then, he had clearly sensed that Yun Chu cared deeply for him.
But now, from beginning to end, she wore a faint smile, showing no disappointment toward him, nor any hostility toward He Shi...
It seemed as though she no longer cared about him at all.
An indescribable emotion surged in Xie Jingyu's chest.
"I suppose you and Concubine He still have matters to discuss. I shall attend to other affairs."
Yun Chu bowed slightly and turned to leave the ancestral hall.
After her figure disappeared beyond the doorway, He Shi opened her mouth to speak, only to be met with a sharp slap from Xie Jingyu.
The loud crack left He Shi utterly stunned.
Clutching her cheek, she hurriedly pleaded, "It wasn't me, truly it wasn't me! I know my place—how would I dare to aspire to become a member of the Xie family..."
"I know it wasn't you, but if not for you, my reputation wouldn't be in ruins." Xie Jingyu could easily imagine the scornful looks he would receive at court the next day. He took a deep breath. "You gave the Yuan family the opportunity to scheme against me. You hindered my official career..."
He Shi's tears fell in rapid succession.
She could hardly believe that the man she loved most had struck her. Her heart ached terribly.
But she knew that if this matter wasn't clarified, the day she became a concubine would mark the collapse of their relationship.
"Sir, are you truly certain it was the Yuan family?" He Shi sobbed. "Why haven't you considered that the mistress orchestrated all of this? As the head wife, the entire Xie household is under her control. It would be all too easy for her to arrange everything. Otherwise, how do you explain why she lifted my confinement and suddenly brought so many people to that small courtyard?"
A cold smile flickered across Xie Jingyu's face. "Are you suggesting that Yun Chu devised all this just to make you a concubine?"
No woman, no matter how indifferent she might be toward her husband, would ever orchestrate her husband's public indiscretion with another woman.
"Yun Chu has generously accepted you, yet you cast suspicion upon her." Xie Jingyu waved his hand dismissively. "If you cause any more trouble in the future, the Xie family will not tolerate you."
With that, he turned and left.
He Shi collapsed weakly to the floor, covering her face as she wept softly.
Yun Chu slowly made her way back to her own courtyard. No sooner had she stepped inside than a figure threw themselves to their knees before her.
It was Xie Ping.
Her face was full of terror as she clutched the hem of Yun Chu's skirt. "Mother, what should I do? My reputation is completely ruined! What am I to do?"
She had bungled the Xie family banquet. Whenever outsiders mentioned this event in the future, they would inevitably recall her, the eldest daughter of the Xie family. What respectable family would dare take her as their head wife now?She had once dreamed of becoming the Fourth Prince's Princess Consort, but now all her hopes were shattered.
"Mother, please help me..."
Xie Ping was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.
Yun Chu helped her up: "Ping Jie'er, didn't I tell you? You're still young. Making mistakes doesn't matter as long as you properly correct them."
Xie Ping sobbed: "Mother, teach me how to change."
"At the latest, you can make a brilliant comeback at Old Madam's birthday banquet next year, but that requires waiting a year." Yun Chu smiled at her. "Think carefully - what upcoming banquets might our Xie family host?"
Xie Ping stopped crying and began thinking seriously.
With Old Madam still alive, her grandparents couldn't host birthday banquets, and flower appreciation banquets were out of the question. What about a tea party?
But with the Xie family's modest status and such a major scandal having occurred, no one would attend a tea party.
"An Ge'er will soon take the academy examination." Yun Chu spoke up. "If he can pass and become a Cultivated Talent, wouldn't the Xie family have reason to host a banquet?"
Xie Ping looked hesitant. Generally, families only hosted banquets when someone passed the provincial examination - wouldn't hosting one for a mere Cultivated Talent invite ridicule?
"Cultivated Talents are indeed common, but the top candidate isn't." Yun Chu smiled. "If any family in the capital had a child who topped the academy examination, who wouldn't host grand celebrations?"
Xie Ping's eyes widened: "Mother, I understand."
For the Xie family's reputation, and for her own reputation, Xie Shi'an must become the top candidate in the academy examination. There was no other choice.
Yun Chu recalled her previous life, when Xie Shi'an had topped the examination just as Xie Jingyu was promoted to the fifth rank upper. Father and son had toasted guests at the banquet, looking utterly triumphant.
After a long, exhausting day, darkness had completely fallen.
With nothing else to do, the image of that child surfaced again in Yun Chu's mind.
She hurried back to her inner chamber, where an ugly wooden carving sat on the table by the window. Clutching it in her hand, she finally felt somewhat at peace.
That night, Yun Chu slept soundly.
Waking in the morning to bright sunshine, she noticed spring gradually fading, with early summer's presence already making itself felt.
Xie Shi'an was the first to come pay his respects, appearing completely normal as if yesterday's events hadn't affected him at all.
After paying respects, he left for school. Soon after, the concubines arrived with the younger children.
This was He Shi's first time paying respects since officially becoming Xie Jingyu's concubine.
"Concubine He looks quite radiant." Tao Yiniang sat in her seat, clearly picking a fight. "It seems Bihе Garden has good feng shui."
Ting Yu felt bitter inside. Back when the wife had arranged her courtyard, it didn't even have a proper name. Why did Concubine He get to live in Bihе Garden while she and Yun Ge'er lived in the most remote part of the estate?
Despite her inner turmoil, she smiled and said: "It seems His Lordship quite favors Concubine He."
No matter what the concubines said, He Shi remained silent, keeping her head bowed and standing properly to the side.
Yun Chu spoke up: "It happens that the estate needs to make summer clothes. Later I'll send two matrons to take Concubine He's measurements - four sets each for spring, summer, autumn, and winter."
He Shi only needed to look up to see the three other concubines' unfriendly gazes. Not daring to accept, she quickly declined.
But Yun Chu said: "You're also half a mistress of the Xie estate. Dressing so shabbily would embarrass His Lordship. Take what you deserve - all this refusal seems rather petty."
He Shi had no choice but to say: "Thank you, Madam."After the conversation had mostly concluded, Yun Chu waved her hand to dismiss them.
As they were leaving, Ting Yu glanced around but saw no trace of a child's presence. She guessed that Yun Ge'er must have been mistaken.
Standing nearby, Ting Feng said indignantly, "Madam, that He Shi deliberately seduced the master. Why are you still treating her so kindly?"
"From now on, you must not call her He Shi. She is now Concubine He," Ting Shuang corrected. "Madam has her own plans. As a maid, you shouldn't ask too many questions. Go to the front courtyard and see if Chen Bo has arrived."
She certainly knew why Madam was treating Concubine He so well—the higher Madam elevated Concubine He, the more difficult Concubine He's life in the mansion would become...
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