Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 77: The Fish Took the Bait

In the afternoon, the Yun family's carriage stopped at the palace gates.

Yun Chu alighted from the carriage with Lin Shi, presented their palace entry tokens, and a young eunuch led them through the side gate of the imperial city.

After walking through the long palace corridors, they reached the inner palace. They needed to pay respects to the Empress first before proceeding to Consort Yun's residence.

Arriving at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, they saw numerous palace maids and eunuchs coming and going within the majestic palace walls. After standing briefly at the entrance, a matron emerged and escorted the mother and daughter inside.

"This humble wife and my daughter pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

Lin Shi led Yun Chu in a graceful curtsy.

The Empress, nearly fifty years old but exceptionally well-preserved, appeared kind and benevolent. She bid them rise and granted them seats.

"With nothing particular happening in the palace recently, it's been some time since I last saw Lady Yun," the Empress said with a smile. "You should visit the Palace of Earthly Tranquility more often."

Lin Shi hurriedly replied, "This humble wife feared frequent visits might trouble Your Majesty. However, I do have a matter to seek Your Majesty's assistance. Since my daughter Chu'er's premature birth four years ago, her health has never been robust, and she hasn't been able to conceive all these years. I heard there's a divine physician treating Your Majesty. Might we request this physician to examine my daughter's pulse?"

The Empress had heard about this matter. Her gaze fell compassionately on Yun Chu: "Heaven have mercy, she's still so young. Without children, how will she endure the long years ahead? Rest assured, Lady Yun, I shall keep this matter in mind and arrange it promptly."

Lin Shi was overjoyed: "Many thanks to Your Majesty."

Knowing their main purpose was to visit Consort Yun, the Empress chatted briefly before allowing them to proceed to Consort Yun's residence.

As one of the four principal consorts and mother of the Eighth Prince, Consort Yun's residence was naturally quite grand, with numerous servants in attendance.

"We pay respects to Consort Yun."

Lin Shi and Yun Chu bowed in unison to Consort Yun.

Understanding this was proper etiquette, Consort Yun didn't stop them. Only after dismissing all attendants did she help them rise.

"Sister-in-law, Chu girl, please sit." Consort Yun sighed. "These past few days, His Majesty wishes to take a new consort, and the Empress has been admonishing him, causing unrest throughout the inner palace."

Lin Shi asked in surprise, "Is it that favored palace maid?"

Yun Chu wasn't the least bit surprised.

In the year she died, the Emperor was already over sixty yet continued to fill his harem with new women.

The Emperor's preoccupation with harem matters had led to increasing chaos in the imperial court. She never learned who ultimately ascended the throne.

"The Crown Prince sits firmly in the Eastern Palace, the Second Prince Gong Xi is brilliantly talented, the Third Prince Pingxi holds military power, and the Fourth Prince received his title early," Lin Shi remarked. "The Fifth and Sixth Princes are gradually coming of age too. Factional struggles within the palace are emerging. Father's opinion is that the Eighth Prince should maintain the middle path and absolutely avoid involvement in matters he shouldn't."

Consort Yun nodded: "I'm aware of all this."

Yun Chu spoke softly: "Aunt, if the Eighth Prince receives a title in the future, it would be better for him to be stationed away from the capital in his fiefdom. That would truly mean complete non-involvement."

In her previous life, her aunt and the Eighth Prince never participated in the succession struggle. Yet ultimately, the Eighth Prince was somehow schemed against and died during a hunt, while her aunt fell victim to Xie Ping...

As long as the Eighth Prince bore the surname Chu, he could never escape this vortex.

Since they couldn't win in the struggle, it was better to go far away and never return to the capital—at least that could preserve their lives.Consort Yun couldn't help but laugh. "Our Chu Jie'er has grown up and knows how to give her aunt suggestions now. However, the fiefs granted by His Majesty are all in the northwest and Southern border region—too far away. I can't bear to let my eighth son suffer there. Keeping him by my side offers some protection."

Yun Chu said nothing more.

Being young, her words carried little weight, so naturally her aunt wouldn't listen to her.

There was still plenty of time anyway. With gradual persuasion, she believed her aunt would eventually come around.

Yun Chu had stayed in the palace with Lin Shi for less than an hour before taking her leave. Sitting in the carriage, she looked up at the high palace walls and sighed.

Her aunt had been confined here her entire life—entering the palace at fourteen and never leaving since.

Consort Yun had gifted Yun Chu some beautiful palace flowers to take back. Upon returning to the Xie residence, Yun Chu distributed them among the two young ladies, Xie Ping and Xie Xian.

"Madam, Concubine Yu just caused a scene," Ting Xue reported. "She learned that the third young master had been sent to Concubine He to raise and simply couldn't accept it. She rushed to Concubine He's quarters to snatch him back, and the two made such a commotion that the third young master was frightened into wailing. With you away from home, the matter was brought before Old Madam."

Yun Chu sneered.

Even when Xie Shiyun was sent to her, Ting Yu had been somewhat unwilling.

Given that He Shi had previously nearly caused Concubine Tao to miscarry, how could Ting Yu allow her own child to fall into He Shi's hands? It was inevitable she'd make several scenes.

As for whether He Shi would intentionally mistreat Yun Ge'er—that was beyond Yun Chu's concern.

"Old Madam knew this was the joint decision of the master and you, Madam, so she scolded Concubine Yu and didn't pursue it further," Ting Xue continued. "Concubine Yu came by Sheng Residence earlier but was driven away by Ting Feng. Would you like to see Concubine Yu, Madam?"

Yun Chu curled her lip. "She brought this upon herself. She must bear the bitter consequences."

The next morning, Xie Ping came to discuss Yuan Shi's birthday arrangements with Yun Chu. The Xie family wasn't large—just two banquet tables were needed. After the meal, a tea gathering was planned for the family to sit, drink tea, play cards, and chat.

Yun Chu glanced at the plans and said, "You've scheduled the tea gathering in the back garden of the Xie residence. Sitting in the courtyard drinking tea in this weather will leave everyone drenched in sweat."

Xie Ping replied, "I'll have people buy more ice."

"Eldest Young Lady, I'm afraid that won't be possible," Ting Shuang interjected. "We've only allocated two hundred taels for the Madam's birthday celebration. If we purchase ice, we'll exceed the budget."

"I don't know why ice prices are so expensive this year," Xie Ping sighed. "Two taels per jin of ice, and Old Madam's room alone requires two jin per day."

And this was only May, with summer just beginning. As time went on, ice consumption would only increase.

Meanwhile, the household funds were dwindling.

She said, "Mother, I'll see where else we can save some money."

Yun Chu shook her head. "No matter how much we save, we won't save enough for ice. Go to Old Madam and have her send someone to the estate to ask your grandfather for some funds. Otherwise, we won't get through this summer."

In previous years, she had used her dowry to buy ice. This year, either the Xie family would provide the money themselves, or everyone would have to endure the heat—it was no longer her concern.

Xie Ping bowed her head in acknowledgment.

Yun Chu looked at her and said, "Many unfortunate events have occurred in our Xie family recently. I originally planned to take you to Qing'an Temple to pray for blessings and smooth sailing for our household. However, when I entered the palace yesterday, I learned that the Fourth Prince has gone to stay at Qing'an Temple temporarily. After careful consideration, I think we should postpone our visit for now."Xie Ping's head snapped up. "The Fourth Prince is at Qing'an Temple?"

Heaven knew how many dreams she'd had since seeing the Fourth Prince at the Princess's residence that day.

She once dreamed of becoming the Fourth Prince's princess consort, but gradually came to understand that someone of her status wasn't even worthy of being a Side Princess Consort to a prince.

Just getting to see the Fourth Prince once was so difficult, as challenging as climbing to heaven...

Upon hearing that the Fourth Prince was at Qing'an Temple, she could no longer restrain herself and hurriedly said, "Ordinary people wouldn't know the Fourth Prince is at the temple, so we should go as usual. Since Mother plans to pray at Qing'an Temple, let's go. We'll just be careful not to offend the Fourth Prince."

Yun Chu smiled meaningfully.

She had only cast out a small bait, and the fish was already biting.

How could such a foolish Ping Jie'er have harmed her aunt so terribly in their previous life...