Yun Chu laughed.

“Filial? Genuine hearts?” She said mockingly. “Brother An’s Imperial Academy quota came from the Yun family. Sister Ping’s position as princess consort was earned by me. Your Xie family’s dignity is maintained by my dowry… All the things you, Xie Jingyu, cannot accomplish are achieved by me. They should naturally be filial to me! But the truth is, I’ve painstakingly paved the way for them, while they joined you in deceiving me for four years. If you want such filial piety and genuine hearts, you can have them. Why can’t I find them disagreeable?”

“You, you!”

Xie Jingyu suddenly felt a pain in his chest.

Immediately after, his brain seemed to explode like fireworks. His vision went black, and he collapsed heavily onto the carriage floor.

When he woke again, he was on his own bed. He instinctively tried to prop himself up, but discovered his left hand had no strength at all.

A sense of panic swept through his entire body.

He raised his head and saw Yun Chu sitting beside his bed.

For some reason, looking at her calm, unruffled face, an inexplicable fear arose in his heart.

“The physician said you drank quite a bit of wine, suffered from emotional distress attacking your heart, and blood stagnation blocking your qi. Your left hand is temporarily unusable.” Yun Chu picked up a bowl of medicine and handed it over. “Rest at home for the next few days. I’ve already had someone request leave on your behalf.”

Xie Jingyu forced himself to try to lift his left hand, but even using all his strength, he couldn’t raise it even a fraction.

Yun Chu had the maid beside her help him sit up and handed the medicine bowl to him: “The physician said you must not become angry and your emotions shouldn’t fluctuate greatly.”

Maintain emotional calm, and he could live a bit longer.

If he continued to be angered unconscious like today, his body probably couldn’t withstand it.

Xie Jingyu wanted to speak, but his throat hurt terribly and he couldn’t make a sound. He could only watch helplessly as Yun Chu left.

Walking outside, Yun Chu lowered her voice: “There’s no need to send medicine over anymore.”

She wanted to let Xie Jingyu slowly die from illness, not suddenly from poisoning…

Tingshuang nodded to acknowledge the order.

Walking to the doorway, she saw the Old Madam hobbling over with her cane, and Yuan Shi also followed, grabbing her and asking: “How is Jingyu? What did the physician say?”

“The physician said it’s an illness caused by drinking too much wine. He just took his medicine and has gone to sleep.” Yun Chu said. “Old Madam and Mother, please don’t go in and disturb his rest.”

“How did he suddenly fall ill? His health has always been robust—he’s never been sick before.” The Old Madam was extremely anxious. “If I had known, I would have told him not to go to the Yun family.”

Yuan Shi spoke: “General Yun is returning to the capital after five years. As his son-in-law, how could he not go? He can only blame himself for being greedy with wine.”

“The physician said it’s nothing serious.” Yun Chu spoke. “I’d like to find a time to have the children formally pay their respects to their maternal grandfather.”

The Old Madam had heard from Xie Shi’an earlier that Yun Chu had not brought them to meet their maternal grandfather. When she learned of this, she had actually minded quite a bit, but because Jingyu suddenly fell ill, she hadn’t pursued the matter.

Now that Yun Chu was proactively bringing it up, her heart felt somewhat more comfortable: “That’s proper. When is it convenient for your father?”

“My father said he wants to meet each and every child registered under my name, one by one.” Yun Chu raised her eyes. “Including Wei’er.”

“That, that’s not quite appropriate.” The Old Madam’s fingers tightened. “With Wei’er’s condition, your father would probably be displeased to see him. Let’s just forget it.”

“Since he’s a child registered under my name, then he’s my father’s grandson. My father also wants to find a good place for Wei’er.” Yun Chu smiled. “Wei’er has been reflecting on the estate for so long—he should be much more sensible now. I’ll arrange for someone to bring him back.”

Yuan Shi immediately nodded: “Yes, yes, yes. Wei’er can’t just be ruined like this. Since your father is willing to intervene, let’s take him to see.”

The Old Madam felt an ominous premonition in her heart.

But when she tried to think carefully about where this premonition came from, she couldn’t figure it out, and could only conclude she was overthinking.

Yun Chu returned to her courtyard.

She had someone bring out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and on the paper began listing the things that would soon happen to the Yun family. Because they weren’t major events, she sometimes got the order wrong.

But it didn’t matter. As long as these things happened soon, that was fine. Her main purpose was to make her family believe in that dream.

As for why she didn’t say she was reborn, it was simply too incredible. Even she herself had taken several days to accept this fact.

Just as she was writing, Tingshuang came in to report: “Madam, the servant sent to investigate Marquis Xuanwu has returned.”

Yun Chu’s brush tip paused. She folded the paper and put it away: “Let him in.”

The servant walked into the hall with a bowed back and said respectfully: “This humble one greets Madam. Madam arranged for this humble one to investigate Marquis Xuanwu, and this humble one really did discover some things.”

Yun Chu indicated he should continue.

Ever since learning that the person from her wedding night was Marquis Xuanwu, she had begun arranging for people to watch that despicable person.

Taking away her chastity and still wanting to escape unscathed—he must be dreaming!

“This humble one followed Marquis Xuanwu for over ten days and finally discovered that he actually has another courtyard in Tofu Alley in the west part of the city—a medium-sized two-section courtyard. This humble one gave quite a few benefits to a nearby auntie and only then learned that two women are living inside, and both women call Marquis Xuanwu their husband!” The servant lowered his voice. “This humble one suspects these two women don’t know Marquis Xuanwu’s identity at all. The two of them should be living in the courtyard as Marquis Xuanwu’s equal wives. I heard that one of them is even pregnant, about five or six months along.”

Yun Chu sneered coldly.

The outside world all said that Marquis Xuanwu deeply loved his wife, his rear courtyard was completely clean without a single concubine—which woman in the entire capital didn’t envy Madam Xuanwu?

This type of man who constantly keeps “loving his wife” on his lips is the most disgusting, on par with Xie Jingyu’s disgustingness.

No wonder Marquis Xuanwu acted this way—because the Luo family not only held high official positions but was also very wealthy. Relying on the Luo family’s money, he could maintain the declining marquis household’s reputation.

If one asked what Marquis Xuanwu cared about most, first would naturally be the Qin family’s most precious thing—the hereditary title that could be passed down.

Second should be his children.

He risked offending Prince Pingxi to protect his own child. In this respect, he was somewhat better than Xie Jingyu.

It was just unknown whether he cared more about his heir or his outside sons…

Yun Chu’s fingers tapped on the tabletop. She spoke: “Find an opportunity. When Marquis Xuanwu goes to the small courtyard, lead Madam Luo to that courtyard.”

As she spoke, she tossed over a money pouch.

The servant’s face lit up with joy: “Madam, rest assured. This humble one will take care of this matter.”

After the servant withdrew, Yun Chu spoke: “He seems quite clever and handles matters reliably. Raise his monthly allowance a bit.”

Tingshuang noted this matter down.

“Oh, right.” A slight smile appeared on Yun Chu’s face. “This morning at the Yun family, Yu Ke’s parents came to see me about proposing a match. Tingshuang, what do you think?”

Tingshuang had originally been pondering how much to increase that servant’s allowance when she suddenly heard these words. Her fair face instantly flushed red.

She thought of when Madam was staying at the Yun family recently and she had remained by Madam’s side to serve her—that man came to find her every day, either bringing rouge or bringing hairpins.

She could afford to buy rouge and hairpins herself. What moved her heart was that day by the lake when he had draped his cloak over her shoulders…

But if she married, she could no longer remain by Madam’s side to serve her. If she had to choose between the two, she would rather not marry.

“If you and Yu Ke marry, you’ll manage the hot spring estate for me.” How could Yun Chu not see her inner conflict? She spoke: “Prince Pingxi and I are jointly operating it. I need someone reliable to live at the estate. Tingshuang, you’re the most suitable candidate.”

Tingshuang’s eyes immediately brightened.

After marrying, although she could no longer stay by Madam’s side, once she became a married woman, she could manage external affairs and should be able to help Madam even more.

So it turned out that she could have both fish and bear’s paw.

Her face reddening slightly, she nodded.