Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 73: Utter Foolishness

As the last traces of sunset faded, Yun Chu returned to the Xie residence.

The maidservants brought dinner course by course. By the time the meal ended, night had completely fallen.

After changing into a short jacket, she followed Qiutong to practice some basic martial arts moves in the courtyard. Half an hour later, she was drenched in sweat.

Ting Xue had the servants bring hot water for Yun Chu's bath, scattering some dried flower petals into the wooden tub.

Just as Yun Chu was undressing, Ting Feng reported from outside the door: "Madam, the Master and the Eldest Young Master are here."

Her brows furrowed slightly. What could these two want at such a late hour?

Yet recalling Prince Pingxi's words, she could guess it was likely related to the Imperial College quota.

She responded unhurriedly: "Tell them I'm bathing. Whatever matter it is can wait until tomorrow."

Ting Feng nodded and withdrew.

Leaning back in the bathtub, Yun Chu picked up a book to read. Only when the water had nearly cooled did she rise.

Ting Shuang stood behind her, drying her hair. Once her hair was mostly dry, she draped an outer garment over her shoulders and reclined on the daybed to continue reading.

Her sleep had been poor lately, only managing to drift off around Hai hour (9-11 PM). Before sleeping, she would read various books she hadn't encountered before.

"Madam, the Master and Eldest Young Master are still waiting," Ting Feng entered to whisper. "Will you see them?"

Yun Chu smiled coldly.

Coming to find her the moment trouble arises - they truly treated her as a lifeline.

A twenty-eight-year-old man running to his wife whenever something happened - she looked down upon Xie Jingyu from the bottom of her heart.

Setting aside her book and donning her outer garment, she rose and walked to the adjacent reception room: "Husband, An Ge'er, what matter brings you here so late?"

The moment she entered, Xie Jingyu caught the distinctive fragrance that always surrounded her. Suppressing improper thoughts, he said: "My apologies for disturbing your rest, but this matter is truly urgent."

Xie Shi'an continued: "I was supposed to enter the Imperial College, but due to Marquis Xuanwu's interference, Father learned that the Imperial College Chancellor has removed my name from the list."

"Such a thing happened?" Yun Chu displayed appropriate indignation. "How dare Marquis Xuanwu bully people like this! He's already ruined Wei Ge'er, and now he wants to destroy An Ge'er too? His heir only suffered a minor scratch, yet he makes our Xie family pay such a heavy price. Husband, submit a memorial to the Emperor - I refuse to believe His Majesty will ignore this!"

Xie Jingyu sighed: "The Emperor has recently taken a new palace maid as his favorite. He likely has no mind for such matters."

The current Emperor wasn't exactly incompetent, but his greatest flaw was his lustfulness. Any woman who caught his eye would monopolize his attention for days on end.

If he submitted a memorial about the Xie family's minor troubles, even if the Imperial Study presented it to the Emperor, His Majesty probably wouldn't give it more than a glance.

"Then what should we do?" Yun Chu feigned anxiety. "An Ge'er can't be ruined like this!"

"Father, Mother, please don't worry about me," Xie Shi'an lifted his head. "Not all the Number One Scholars and Presented Scholars of previous years came from the Imperial College. While teachers' guidance is important, I believe personal diligence matters more. As long as I study hard with dedication, whether I'm in the Imperial College or not, I will certainly pass the examinations and distinguish myself."

Yun Chu was filled with silent mockery.If Xie Shi'an truly didn't care about the Imperial College quota, he wouldn't have waited for her here late at night.

His words were clearly a strategic retreat, meant to make her, as the legal mother, willingly pave the way for him.

She looked up at Xie Shi'an: "An Ge'er, it's rare to see you so principled. As you wish, we won't pursue that Imperial College matter. I'll have your father find you a renowned tutor."

"No renowned tutor can compare to the Imperial College," Xie Jingyu said with a complicated expression. "Madam, the Yun family holds a first-rank general's residence. Could An Ge'er use the Yun family's quota to enter the Imperial College?"

Yun Chu lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea.

Xie Jingyu had said the exact same words in her previous life, except back then it was a request for the Yun family to send the third young master Xie Shiyun to the Imperial College.

In this life, with Xie Shi'an's incident, he was making the Yun family use this quota ten years earlier.

She still remembered how Xie Shi'an had entered the palace for studies as the top candidate, and she had taken the initiative to visit her paternal aunt Consort Yun in the palace, requesting that Xie Shi'an become the Eighth Prince's study companion.

Although both involved studying at the Imperial College, becoming a prince's study companion meant access to completely different resources.

Looking back, she had racked her brains to scheme for Xie Shi'an's benefit. Recalling it now, she wished she could slap her past self - how utterly foolish she had been.

"Madam, I know the Yun family wishes to avoid involvement in imperial power struggles, hence the decision not to send any children to study at the Imperial College," Xie Jingyu continued, seeing her remain silent. "If An Ge'er weren't gifted in studies, I would never make such an excessive request. But as you've seen, Madam, An Ge'er will only surpass my achievements. When he succeeds in the future, wouldn't he become a great asset to the Yun family as well?"

Yun Chu looked up: "Husband speaks wisely. However, I still need to consult my elder brother's opinion."

The Yun family's military achievements were gradually becoming too prominent, making the emperor wary. Naturally, they wouldn't send children to the Imperial College to become entangled with imperial power - that would only hasten their downfall.

But why should they give something the Yun family didn't want to the Xie family?

The next day, when Xie Jingyu returned from court, he came to Sheng Residence, his words throughout urging Yun Chu to visit the Yun family soon to settle this matter.

Yun Chu delayed until the following day before returning to the Yun family.

Passing through the bustling market, she noticed a second ice shop had opened on the capital's streets.

She had to admit Chen Defu worked quickly - what she had ordered just the day before yesterday was already accomplished today.

The new ice shop was selling ice at two taels and two mace per pound, significantly more expensive than the previous shop. Consequently, business at the original shop had suddenly improved.

Many people on the street were discussing it.

"Such unscrupulous merchants! Ice is just water, yet they dare sell it so expensive - it's no different from robbery."

"It's expensive every year, usually around one tael per pound. But this year there's less ice, so the price has risen to over two taels."

"Anyway, it has nothing to do with us common folks. We couldn't afford it even at one tael, so why care how expensive it is?"

"..."

Ting Feng muttered: "Even if they sold it at cost price, these common people still couldn't afford it. What right do they have to call merchants unscrupulous?"

Ting Shuang sighed: "Common folks only manage to save three or four taels a year..."

The ice bought by wealthy families represented a common family's entire year of food and necessities.

Yun Chu gazed thoughtfully out the carriage window.

The bustling crowds were mostly comprised of the most ordinary lower-class citizens.In her previous life, after the Yun family encountered misfortune, it was these common people who knelt before the imperial city, pleading with the emperor to reinvestigate the Yun family's case.

Though the emperor paid no heed to the commoners' petitions, she never forgot the kindness they had shown the Yun family...

"Ting Shuang, please inform Chen Bo later," Yun Chu said softly, "that once we enter the sweltering sixth month, we shall set up a cooling shelter in the Yun family's name. Each afternoon for two hours, we will place ice blocks there to create a refuge from the heat for the people." She paused before continuing, "Additionally, the price of ice shall increase every half month, with no upper limit."

She knew that any kindness shown to the common people would be remembered and repaid when needed.

Though uncertain whether the Yun family would face the same fate in this life as in the last, she would make thorough preparations to confront any challenge, determined never to let such tragedy recur.