Tingshuang relayed the idle gossip she had heard from outside to Yun Chu.

“Last night, the Xie family’s affairs spread throughout the capital. Everyone is saying that Vice Minister of Revenue Lord Xie is lustful, and actually engaged in lewd daytime acts with a concubine at his grandmother’s birthday banquet… They also say that concubine is old and ugly, that Lord Xie’s tastes are uniquely unusual… In any case, people outside are all discussing the Xie family. The master’s reputation is completely ruined. Of course, the eldest young lady’s reputation for poor household management has also spread far and wide…”

Yun Chu inquired, “What was the Old Madam’s reaction?”

“I heard that early this morning she smashed everything in her room. Everyone attending her is silent as a cicada in winter.” Tingshuang said softly. “This morning she even summoned a physician. They said the Old Madam has stagnant liver qi and prescribed many remedies.”

“With everyone outside discussing the Xie family, won’t the Old Madam’s illness only grow worse?” Tingxue said worriedly. “When the time comes, won’t our madam have to go attend to her illness?”

Tingshuang shook her head. “Last night, Prince Pingxi brought seventy or eighty bandits into the capital in bonds. The capital’s people’s attention has all been drawn to this matter. The capital has curious events daily. In less than ten days, everyone will have forgotten about this Xie family affair, and the Old Madam’s illness will naturally improve.”

As they were speaking, Tingfeng led Chen Defu into the side hall.

“Paying respects to the madam.” After saluting, Chen Defu said, “Last night, this old servant went to the dilapidated temple outside the city as the madam instructed. Sure enough, I saw He Xu there. His buttocks were beaten to a pulp. His clothes had been stripped clean by the beggars in the temple. He lay outside completely naked. If no one had cared for him, he probably wouldn’t have survived three days. This old servant brought him into the city, found an inn, summoned a physician to apply medicine. He woke up this morning.”

Yun Chu closed her tea lid and spoke up. “Chen Bo, continue taking good care of He Xu. Find an appropriate opportunity to let him enter a gambling house.”

He Xu was addicted to gambling, constantly setting up small gambling operations in the residence to have a group of young servants play with him. She didn’t believe He Xu could resist the enormous temptation of a gambling house.

She continued speaking. “The name He Lingying—investigate it thoroughly. Report any trace of information you find.”

Chen Defu lowered his head and accepted the order. “Yes, Madam.”

After Chen Defu left, Tingshuang said softly, “Does the madam suspect there’s something wrong with Concubine He’s identity?”

Yun Chu did not hide it from her and spoke up. “Concubine He may be the daughter of a criminal official. However, among the families in the capital who have been raided and exiled in the past fifty years, there is no He clan. I don’t know if I’ve guessed wrong.”

Tingshuang’s eyes suddenly widened in shock.

If Concubine He was from a criminal official’s family, according to the law, she must serve as a prostitute for generations. Yet the Xie family had taken Concubine He as a concubine.

The consequences—she didn’t even dare to imagine them.

And the reason Concubine He could become a Xie family concubine was because the madam had orchestrated it all.

The madam was making herself an enemy of the entire Xie family.

Tingshuang broke out in a cold sweat. “Ma-Madam, shouldn’t you return to the Yun family and discuss this with the eldest young master?”

Yun Chu asked her, “Discuss what?”

“You, you’re standing in opposition to the entire Xie family…” Tingshuang’s voice dropped to its lowest. “Why, why?”

She had always thought the madam made He Shi become a concubine in order to better control her. She had never imagined the reality was a hundred times more terrifying than she had imagined.

Yun Chu spoke up. “Xie Jingyu is not a good match. I’ve endured him for four years. I can’t endure it any longer.”

Tingshuang’s tears fell. “Then return to the Yun family and ask the old general to intervene. Let the madam and the master divorce.”

“No, I will not divorce.” Yun Chu smiled slightly. “I will not leave the Xie family.”

She would not give the Xie family any opportunity to rise. She wanted to personally watch the Xie family perish bit by bit.

At this moment, matrons from the residence who had come to report matters walked in. Seeing Tingshuang crying torrentially, they were all startled.

The matrons originally didn’t dare to act presumptuously before the legitimate wife in charge. Seeing that even the madam’s most authoritative chief maid had been scolded to tears, how would they dare to cause trouble? One by one, they properly recounted everything that had happened in the residence during the time since Yun Chu had been ill.

Yun Chu calmly gave instructions for all the matters.

She sat in the main seat with an air of calm ease, yet this gave these matrons particular peace of mind. With the madam present, even if some mishap occurred, there would be a solution. This was unlike when the eldest young lady managed the household—a pile of matters were assigned without any order, leaving them completely uncertain what to attend to first…

After the matrons withdrew, Yun Chu had someone prepare the carriage to go to the Yun family.

Yesterday, such a major incident had occurred at the Xie family. Last night, her family members surely hadn’t slept well. She must personally make a trip back.

Just as she arrived at the Yun residence gate, the guards hurriedly went in to report. Immediately after, Lin Shi and Yun Ze rushed out to greet her.

“Mother, Elder Brother.” Yun Chu said with a relaxed expression, “I heard Prince Pingxi returned to the capital after suppressing bandits. Why didn’t Elder Brother go to the Prince Pingxi residence to offer congratulations?”

Yun Ze’s expression was very displeased. “Such a major incident happened to you. How could your brother have the heart to go to the Prince Pingxi residence? Do you know Mother worried the entire night?”

“It’s just Xie Jingyu taking another concubine. Such a trivial matter—Mother needn’t worry.” Yun Chu took Lin Shi’s arm and said with a smile, “For me, one more concubine or one less concubine makes no difference whatsoever.”

Lin Shi’s heart ached as if being cut by knives. “Chu’er, this marriage was one Mother selected for you from thousands of choices. I never imagined I would select such a heartless wolf. He’s a son from a humble family who rose from seventh rank to proper fifth rank in just five years, all relying on our Yun family. How dare he treat you with such contempt? Your elder brother and I have discussed it. Have you divorce Xie Jingyu. You’re still young…”

“Mother, please don’t mention divorce again.” Yun Chu said seriously. “I can still live with Xie Jingyu, and I’m willing to continue living with him.”

Her gaze was firm, without any hesitation or conflict.

Lin Shi sighed.

Yun Ze also said no more.

Although he was currently only a seventh-rank official, because his surname was Yun, he was destined to have a different status from ordinary seventh-rank officials.

He would do something to let Xie Jingyu experience whether the Xie family could still establish itself in the capital after losing the Yun family.

Daring to treat his sister with contempt meant he must bear the consequences.

“Alright, let’s not speak of this anymore.” Yun Ze smiled warmly. “Your sister-in-law personally stewed a nourishing soup. You must drink more later.”

Lin Shi led her toward the flower hall. “In a while longer, your father will return to the capital. When the time comes, have your father invite Xie Jingyu for a drink.”

Yun Chu’s face burst into delighted surprise. “Father is returning to the capital?”

In her previous life, after the Yun family’s incident, her father had been arrested from the front lines by people sent by the court and thrown directly into the dungeon. Despite her best efforts, she had been unable to see her father one last time.

Counting the time, she and her father hadn’t seen each other for at least ten years.

“Look how happy you are.” Lin Shi also smiled. “Your father dotes on you most. If he knew of these grievances you’ve suffered in the Xie family, it would be enough to make the Xie family suffer.”

Yun Chu ate lunch at home in a pleasant mood before preparing to return to the Xie residence.

Yun Ze personally escorted her out and urged, “Chu’er, I am your full brother from the same mother. Don’t hide anything from me, no matter what.”

“I know, Elder Brother.” Yun Chu smiled as unrestrainedly as when she was young. “Elder Brother, just don’t find me annoying when the time comes. It’s getting late. I should go.”

She was about to board the carriage when suddenly, a carriage drove in from the intersection, blocking her departure route.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a man dressed in black brocade jumped down from the vehicle.

Yun Ze and Yun Chu hastily saluted. “Greetings to Marquis Xuanwu.”

The person who had arrived was none other than Marquis Xuanwu, Qin Mingheng.