Because the ice shop business was too hot, and there were still several months of heat ahead, after consulting with Uncle Chen, she established a daily sales quota.

Basically by noon, the ice shop’s supply would be sold out.

Therefore, wealthy households had no choice but to send people to line up early.

Many people on the street were discussing the cooling shelter.

“I always wondered before—isn’t ice just made from water? Why is it sold so expensively? It wasn’t until I went to the cooling shelter opened by Madam Yun that I understood why in this scorching summer, ice is more valuable than gold.”

“Don’t even mention it—having lived so many years, this is the first time I’ve experienced the refreshment of using ice in summer. I truly must thank Madam Yun.”

“Eh? What place is this cooling shelter you’re talking about?”

“How do you not know about such a big thing? It’s in Guihua Alley in the west of the city. Walk all the way to the end—that courtyard opens for an hour or two every afternoon. Anyone can go in to cool off. Who knows how much ice is placed in that courtyard, but the moment you walk in, it’s like arriving in winter. So cool!”

“Heavens, filling an entire courtyard with ice blocks—that must cost so much silver. Is the Yun family really that wealthy?”

“The Yun family has produced three great generals. They’re a true noble family clan. How could they not have the silver to buy ice blocks? Speaking of which, there are so many noble family clans in the capital, countless wealthy people, yet only the Yun family takes their silver to do charitable deeds for the common people. Madam Yun is truly a living Bodhisattva.”

“General Yun protects the nation at the front lines, Madam Yun pays silver to provide cooling for the common people. The Yun family loves and cherishes the people—they should be a model for all officials.”

“I heard General Yun is about to return to the court in triumph. Our people’s great general is coming back!”

“Wonderful, wonderful!”

“…”

The common people raised their hands in celebration.

Yun Chu felt somewhat emotional.

She had merely placed some crushed ice in a courtyard, freely available for people to rest—the actual expense wasn’t that much, yet she received such great praise from the common people.

Simple, honest common people were like this. As long as you gave just a little bit, they would remember it in their hearts.

They would risk everything for you when you were in the greatest danger.

Only, the power of common people was too insignificant. In her previous life, tens of thousands of common people had petitioned, yet it still couldn’t shake His Majesty’s punishment of the Yun family.

The carriage soon stopped at the Yun manor gates.

As soon as she stepped down from the carriage, Tingshuang became nervous.

Walking in, she immediately saw a young man standing in Madam Lin’s courtyard.

Seeing her enter, that young man turned his head slightly, only daring to steal a glance before quickly withdrawing his gaze.

“That matter I just instructed you about, do it that way. You may withdraw first.” Madam Lin spoke, dismissing the young man, then looked toward Yun Chu. “That was Nanny Yu’s younger son. Currently he’s training under a deputy general in your father’s command. What do you think?”

Yun Chu looked toward Tingshuang.

Tingshuang lowered her head, just thinking about how to refuse.

Then she heard Madam Lin say, “Tingshuang, you and Chu’er grew up together since childhood. I regard your marriage as importantly as Chu’er’s. If you’re not satisfied, just shake your head. You don’t need to wrong yourself under any pressure. If you’re not satisfied with this one, I’ll find you another. There are many fine young men in the Yun family army—we can take our time looking.”

Tingshuang: “…”

That meant if she refused this one, there would be countless more waiting afterward.

She couldn’t refuse one after another—wouldn’t that disappoint Madam Yun’s sincere heart…

“This servant…” Tingshuang’s lips tasted bitter. “This servant doesn’t know.”

“True, having you make a decision after just one meeting is indeed too hasty.” Madam Lin said with a smile. “Chu’er, when you return to the Xie family later, take Yu Ke back with you. Let him and Tingshuang get more familiar with each other, then make the decision.”

Yun Chu nodded. “I’m indeed short of hands. Yu Ke can help me handle some matters in the outer courtyard, and also make things easier for Uncle Chen.”

The matter was settled just like that.

During the meal, Yun Chu brought up the cooling shelter matter. “…The Yun family’s cooling shelter benefits many poor common people. Now the common people hold the Yun family in too high regard. I don’t know if this is a blessing or a curse—we need to find a way to deflect it.”

She truly hadn’t expected that a small cooling shelter would provoke such a strong reaction from the common people. When anything goes too far, it produces the opposite effect.

Liu Qianqian put down her chopsticks. “Although the Yun family is doing this to benefit the people, those with ulterior motives might think it’s to win popular support. Right now the Yun family has essentially reached the highest point. One careless step and…”

Madam Lin shook her head. “You two are overthinking. My Yun family has been loyal for generations. His Majesty’s trust in the Yun family is like surging river water—it’s impossible he would move against the Yun family.”

She knew His Majesty was somewhat wary of the Yun family. Therefore, in matters of children’s marriages, the Yun family married down and took lower-ranking spouses, not associating with any noble families. The Yun family’s eldest son no longer pursued military service and deliberately performed poorly in the imperial examinations. His Majesty’s wariness should be slowly dissipating.

Yun Chu smiled bitterly.

She had once thought the same.

Facts proved that a military family that threatened imperial power was destined to have only one ending.

“This summer is too hot. Without the cooling shelter, who knows how many people would die from the heat.” Madam Lin said. “His Majesty’s suspicions are illusory, but common people dying from heat are real. Should we just watch so many common people die because of something that hasn’t happened yet?”

Yun Chu knew that even if she hadn’t proactively proposed opening the cooling shelter, her mother would unconditionally provide relief to those common people dying from heatstroke.

“I have an idea.” She spoke. “We only need to tell His Majesty that the Yun family’s action is not to win popular support.”

Liu Qianqian pressed, “How do we tell him? Have your elder brother submit a memorial? Wouldn’t that be trying to cover up by denying it?”

Yun Chu shook her head. “Open another shop inside the cooling shelter. Every afternoon when people come and go, the shop will have some business. Let His Majesty think the Yun family is using the cooling shelter to earn some silver. Sister-in-law, Mother, what do you think?”

Madam Lin’s eyes lit up. “That is indeed a good idea.”

Liu Qianqian nodded in agreement. “Then I’ll handle this matter.”

Having her, a woman, do these money and business matters, His Majesty would have even less to say.

Yun Chu was one hundred and twenty percent confident in this sister-in-law.

Sister-in-law was the legitimate eldest daughter of the fourth-rank Liu family. The Liu family was truly a scholarly family. Sister-in-law possessed the integrity of a scholarly house. After the Yun family met with disaster, she tore up the divorce letter Elder Brother gave her, vowing to live or die together with the Yun family…

After finishing lunch at the Yun family, Yun Chu prepared to return home.

When they came, it was three people—master and servants. When leaving, there was one more—a young man called Yu Ke.

Yun Chu, Tingshuang, and Tingfeng sat inside the carriage. Outside was the coachman with Yu Ke sitting beside him. From time to time they could hear the coachman and Yu Ke talking.

Tingshuang’s expression was bland, but in her heart she was calculating that after about ten days or half a month, she would ask Madam to decline this matter. Her unwillingness to marry was her own business—she couldn’t delay someone else from starting a family.

The carriage was traveling along the road when Tingfeng suddenly spoke. “Madam, this servant seems to see the Young Lord from Prince Pingxi’s manor.”

Yun Chu immediately raised her eyes to look.

Sure enough, she saw a small child surrounded by several servants, walking along the street.