Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 5: You Owe Me a Cricket

The streets of the capital were bustling with activity.

Yun Chu didn't take a carriage, choosing instead to walk through the streets. Watching the lively crowds, she once again confirmed that her rebirth wasn't just a dream.

Chen Defu had taken her around her dowry shops.

There were tea shops, silk fabric shops, rice shops, blacksmith shops... eleven shops in total, both large and small.

Chen Defu managed these shops very well, earning over ten thousand taels of silver annually. Yet, it still wasn't enough.

The Emperor was wary of the Yun family. Even without Xie Shi'an pushing things along, the Yun family would eventually face trouble.

She had to earn enough silver before disaster struck the Yun family...

"Madam, it's raining and getting chilly," Ting Feng said, draping a cloak over Yun Chu's shoulders. "Let's rest in the teahouse for a while."

Yun Chu looked up at the sky.

If she remembered correctly, this year would have a cold spring, with temperatures only rising in May before becoming unbearably hot until October.

When it came to profitable businesses, hoarding and selling ice was naturally the most lucrative.

Having formed a plan, Yun Chu felt more at ease. She stepped into the teahouse and took a seat by the window on the second floor, enjoying the rain while sipping tea and chatting.

"What? Madam, you want to go into the ice business?" Chen Defu stood behind her, looking astonished. "The nobles and powerful families have their own ice houses, and other prominent families start purchasing ice around this time. But with such a cold spring this year, summer probably won't be too hot. Many families have only bought one-third or even one-fifth of what they usually do. I'm afraid this business won't be very profitable."

Yun Chu smiled confidently. "Just listen to me, Chen Bo. Buy up all the ice available on the market."

Seeing her so self-assured, Chen Defu knew it was pointless to argue.

He went along with her plan and asked, "How much silver does Madam intend to use for purchasing ice?"

Yun Chu replied, "Use all the available funds from the accounts to buy ice. I'll give you more silver later."

Chen Defu was shocked. "But Madam, didn't you say earlier that the money in the accounts was reserved for important use?"

Yun Chu sneered coldly.

The so-called important use was because Xie Jingyu would soon attend his superior's birthday banquet, and the money was meant to buy a birthday gift for that superior.

She would never spend another coin on the Xie family again.

As they were talking, an extravagant carriage stopped at the entrance of the teahouse.

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, the curtain was flung open, and a delicate, jade-like toddler leaped out swiftly.

The maids and nannies behind the child couldn't keep up with the little master, shouting, "Young Son, slow down! Be careful not to fall!"

Yun Chu's gaze fell on the child.

The boy was thin and small, probably just over three years old, but he ran exceptionally fast, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

She withdrew her gaze and continued discussing matters with Chen Defu.

As they spoke, she suddenly felt something drop onto her hair.

"Madam, don't be afraid!" Ting Feng exclaimed, startled. "A cricket jumped onto your head! Let me get it down for you!"

Yun Chu stiffened in fear.

As the eldest daughter of a general's household, she had been bold since childhood, fearing nothing in heaven or earth—except for insects like crickets.

Her scalp tingled with terror, and she didn't dare move a muscle.

"Don't touch my Jumpy!"

A soft, childish voice rang out, followed by a small cannonball crashing into Yun Chu.

She looked up in surprise and saw the Young Son from downstairs charging toward her.

In the blink of an eye, he had climbed onto her lap.Then, he struck his hands toward the top of her head.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Yun Chu was caught off guard, her body falling backward.

Instinctively protecting the little dumpling in her arms, she fell to the ground while holding the child.

"Madam!"

Ting Feng was extremely frustrated. Not only had she failed to stop this inexplicable child, but she had also let her mistress fall in front of a crowd.

She hurriedly helped Yun Chu to her feet and quickly adjusted her hair accessories and clothing.

"Waaah—!"

The little dumpling, dressed in luxurious clothes, suddenly lay on the ground, crying loudly.

For some reason, Yun Chu’s heart suddenly ached.

Lifting the hem of her skirt, she crouched down and asked gently, "Where does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you?"

"You’re bad, you’re a bad person!" The little one, with tear-filled eyes, glared at her accusingly. "You crushed Jump Jump to death, waaah... I hate you..."

Yun Chu looked over.

A cricket lay crushed on the ground. Ignoring the sticky fluid on its body, the child picked it up with both hands and held it in his palms.

Yun Chu recoiled in fright.

"You have to pay me back for Jump Jump!" The child cried, glaring at her. "You must give me another cricket exactly like it!"

Yun Chu: "..."

Had she forgotten to check the almanac before leaving home today? How could she have run into such a mess?

"Young Son, why are you crying?"

"Oh, my little ancestor, I told you to be careful! Did you get hurt?"

A large group of attendants finally rushed upstairs at this moment, surrounding the little ancestor with anxious concern.

The little dumpling cried even louder: "She... she crushed my Jump Jump to death!"

The nanny, who had just been soothing the young master gently, immediately changed her expression upon hearing this. She glared fiercely at Yun Chu and said, "Where did this blind fool come from? How dare you crush our Young Son’s beloved treasure? You—"

Before she could finish, the little Young Son, who had been crying bitterly moments before, suddenly stopped.

His round, dark eyes fixed on her, his face full of displeasure as he said, "Who gave you permission to scold her? Apologize!"

The nanny was stunned.

This woman had crushed the master’s favorite cricket. Wasn’t she scolding her to vent the master’s anger? Why was the master now demanding an apology?

But under the displeased gaze of her young master, she had no choice but to step forward and say, "Madam, I was rude just now. Please do not take it to heart."

Yun Chu’s expression remained indifferent. "It’s fine."

Although she was the legitimate eldest daughter of a first-rank general’s household, after marriage, "Madam Xie" had become her primary identity.

Even if she was not at fault, as the wife of a minor fifth-rank official, she had no choice but to lower her head in the presence of any noble or influential figure.

She continued, "I will find another cricket exactly like it to compensate the Young Son. May I ask where your residence is?"

"I live in the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor," the child said, lifting his chin. "Remember, the Prince of Pacifying the West Manor. Bring the cricket as soon as you find it!"

Yun Chu was taken aback.

This child was actually Prince Pingxi’s son?

Prince Pingxi was the current Third Prince, who had once led troops to repel the enemy forces invading the Western River region, earning him his title.

Four years ago, Prince Pingxi suddenly had a pair of children. Despite the censure from civil and military officials, he insisted on conferring the title of Young Son on his son, whose birth mother remained unknown, causing quite a stir in the capital...

"Little Ancestor, it’s time to return to the manor," the nanny whispered. "If the Prince returns and doesn’t see the Young Son..."

Fear flashed across the child’s face. "Let’s go, let’s go! Hurry back!"The nanny scooped up the little dumpling in her arms, and a large crowd escorted them downstairs, into the carriage, which then sped away.

"Madam, leave this matter to this old servant," Chen Defu said. "Tomorrow morning, I will bring the crickets for your inspection."

Yun Chu nodded.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the estate, she recalled events from her past life.

Prince Pingxi had gone to the battlefield at the age of fifteen and was a close friend of her father despite their age difference. After the Yun family was convicted, Prince Pingxi had also worked tirelessly to help.

However, before any progress could be made in the Yun family's case, Prince Pingxi was accused of secretly hoarding weapons with the intent to rebel...

What happened to Prince Pingxi afterward, she did not know, because by then she had already died from a cup of poisoned wine...