Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 49: The Rules of the Gambling Den

He Shi was not one to resign herself to fate.

Hadn't she managed to climb back up and return to the capital when her entire family had hit rock bottom?

Twenty years ago, her mother had supported the whole family with her embroidery skills. Likewise, she could use this craft to establish her footing in the Xie residence.

He Shi found a way to purchase some silk threads and began embroidering handkerchiefs with extremely intricate techniques...

Yun Chu instructed her subordinate: "Buy some of He Shi's handkerchiefs. Keep those with unique stitching techniques—they will be of great use to me."

Ting Shuang nodded and arranged for someone to purchase the handkerchiefs.

He Shi hadn't expected the handkerchiefs to sell so easily. She then contemplated embroidering more valuable larger pieces, such as screens.

One day, Chen Defu hurried in to report: "Madam, that He Xu has fled the capital after accumulating ten thousand taels of debt in gambling. This old servant has already dispatched four men to follow him. What should we do next?"

A cold smile curled on Yun Chu's lips: "Next, we naturally ensure he can never function as a man again."

Chen Defu hesitated: "But if we hand him over to those people, I fear he might not survive..."

"Send some men to handle it," Yun Chu's expression turned icy. "He took the silver, now he must pay the price. Isn't that the rule of gambling dens?"

When they lent money to He Xu, they had signed a mortgage document. Severing that part of him complied with the laws of this dynasty.

Though she was determined to seek revenge, she would not cross legal boundaries.

Her grandfather had maintained the Yun family's integrity and reputation until his dying breath. She would not bring shame upon the Yun family either.

The next afternoon, Chen Defu returned: "Madam, it is done. We administered medicine to help him survive the procedure. He's continuing his journey, heading towards Jizhou."

Yun Chu nodded: "Have you found any information about the name He Lingyan?"

Chen Defu shook his head: "There aren't many with the surname He in the capital, and no one goes by that name."

"Then send people to make inquiries in Jizhou," Yun Chu stood up and retrieved a large box from the table. "Chen Bo, you've worked hard for me recently. This is some tea—please accept it."

Chen Bo had previously focused solely on managing the shops. Though busy, he was mentally at ease.

Now, while he appeared to have less formal work, he actually bore tremendous psychological pressure.

Chen Defu dared not accept it and quickly waved his hands in refusal.

As a Household Servant of the Yun family who owed them gratitude, serving the madam was his duty. How could he accept such valuable tea?

"There are still many matters ahead that will require your assistance, Chen Bo. If you don't accept this, how could I possibly assign you more tasks? I would have no choice but to let you retire."

Hearing this, Chen Bo could only accept the tea.

Yun Chu then discussed ice-selling matters with him. Initially, Chen Defu had massively purchased ice under the guise of a southern merchant without revealing the Yun family's involvement. Next, they would similarly arrange for a southerner to open an ice merchant shop in the capital, scheduled to officially open for business by late May.

Chen Defu delegated these tasks to his subordinates to avoid exposing their identities.

"The estates from my dowry sold for good prices," Yun Chu remarked. "Combined with other funds, we just have enough to purchase a large estate.""

Those estates under her name had been yielding diminishing returns year after year. Selling them now while they still held value was wise—they would only depreciate further with time.

Chen Defu looked up: "This old servant knows of several large estates in the capital suburbs whose owners wish to sell. Should this old servant go negotiate?"Yun Chu shook her head. "I want the estate of the Wu family in the northern part of the city."

Upon hearing this, Chen Defu was greatly astonished.

Over twenty years ago, the Wu family was a rising prominent clan in the capital. The head of the family served as an official in the court, and their business ventures were thriving. However, the family later fell victim to a strange illness, affecting everyone from the elders to the younger generation. In an effort to seek treatment, they sold off countless assets, and the once-great family vanished almost overnight, leaving only the estate outside the city.

The estate was not particularly large, but it included a mountain, a lake, and a small forest—everything one could need. The last surviving member of the Wu family sold the estate to the Zou family for twenty thousand taels of silver.

Shortly after the Zou family took over, rumors of hauntings began to circulate, and their luck took a turn for the worse. They hastily sold the estate at a bargain price.

A merchant, skeptical of the rumors, purchased the estate. Similarly, as soon as he took possession, he contacted a slave trader, hoping to sell it off as quickly as possible at a loss.

However, by then, everyone in the market had heard of the strange occurrences, and no one dared to take it on. As a result, the estate remained stuck with the merchant and has yet to be sold to this day.

"By my count, that estate has been abandoned for over twenty years," Chen Defu lamented. "The land there is fertile, ideal for crops, and the harvests used to be exceptionally abundant. It’s a mystery how the rumors of hauntings started, ruining such a fine estate. Madam, perhaps you should consider other estates—there are many better options available."

Yun Chu recalled her previous life. Around the time she turned thirty, a fire broke out at the Wu family estate, burning away the overgrown weeds. It was only then that people discovered a massive hot spring hidden within the estate. In the end, the hot spring was acquired by a consort in the palace, who profited handsomely from it year after year.

As for the earlier rumors of hauntings, they had long been forgotten in the passage of time.

With her foresight, she had no intention of letting the estate remain vacant and wasted for so many years again.

She stood up. "Let’s go. We’ll take a walk to the estate."

Chen Defu was alarmed. "Madam, do you truly intend to buy that estate? Please reconsider."

"The Zou family bought the estate for twenty thousand taels and sold it to the merchant for around fifteen thousand. How much do you think I can acquire it for?" Yun Chu smiled. "Price isn’t an issue. Let’s first investigate what this haunting is all about."

Although she was reborn, she still didn’t believe in such superstitions. In her view, it was likely the work of human hands.

Chen Defu frowned deeply. "Madam, it’s getting late. Why not wait until tomorrow? This old servant can arrange for a few Taoist priests to accompany us then."

"Ghosts only come out at night," Yun Chu said as she headed out. "But you’re right, we should bring more people. Gather all the strong men and matrons from the estate."

Not only Chen Defu but Ting Shuang was also stunned.

She knew her mistress had grown bolder lately, but she never expected her to be this daring.

No one in the entire capital dared to take on the haunted estate, fearing it would affect their family’s luck. Yet her mistress was deliberately going against the grain.

Then again, since her mistress was already at odds with the Xie family, perhaps this move wasn’t entirely unreasonable?

Ting Shuang went out to gather the sturdy matrons, telling them they were going to the mistress’s dowry estate to retrieve some leftover belongings. She didn’t dare mention the haunted estate, afraid no one would agree to go.

As the sun set in the west, Yun Chu led her party out of the city.Upon hearing this news, the Old Madam could hardly believe it: "I'm gravely ill, and she doesn't even come to see me, choosing instead to leave the city at such a time?"

Mama Zhou lowered her head and replied, "Madam sent someone with ginseng this morning as a gesture of goodwill."

The Old Madam knew Yun Chu had done all that was expected, and though she had once been fond of this granddaughter-in-law, she now found fault with her at every turn.

After drinking her medicine and leaning against the bed, she asked, "Does this mean she has sold all her manors?"

Mama Zhou said, "Perhaps Madam is short on silver."

"Hah, she took over twenty thousand taels from me earlier. She's the wealthiest in the entire family, yet she's selling off her manors. Most women wouldn't touch their dowry unless absolutely necessary." The Old Madam narrowed her eyes. "Why does she suddenly need so much silver?"

"This servant suspects..." Mama Zhou lowered her voice, "The divine physician treating the Empress has arrived in the capital. I think Madam is raising funds for her own treatment. What woman doesn't want a child of her own?"

The Old Madam had also heard of that physician. His medical skills were so exceptional that countless people sought his treatment, driving his consultation fee to an astronomical price. It was said he charged five thousand taels just to take one's pulse, and treating an illness could cost tens of thousands of taels in the blink of an eye...

Yun Chu's actions seemed somewhat understandable. After all, if she recovered and bore a child, it would still be a child of the Xie family. Let her do as she pleases.