Night fell and the lanterns were first lit.

Only then did Yun Chu and Xie Ping return to the Xie family residence.

That day, Xie Ping had made the acquaintance of many people at the Yun family home whom she couldn’t even speak with before. She became increasingly convinced that the choice she made at Qing’an Temple back then was absolutely correct.

Although there was no dowry, it didn’t matter. After becoming Princess An’jing, everything she should have would come to her.

The next morning, Xie Shi’an was still the first to come pay his respects.

He had a scar on his head—a mark left from when Xie Shiwei smashed it open last time. If one didn’t look carefully, it wasn’t noticeable.

“Huaide Academy will be on break in a few days, won’t it?” Yun Chu looked at him and said. “In September you’ll be going to study at the Imperial Academy. When your father recovers from his illness, have him find a way to take you to meet the teachers at the Imperial Academy first.”

Xie Shi’an had originally wanted to say that he should have Grandfather take him to meet the Director of the Imperial Academy, but since Mother had already said this, he didn’t feel it was appropriate to make requests.

He cupped his hands in salute and walked out of the flower hall.

Before long, everyone else who came to pay respects had arrived.

Many things had happened in the Xie family during this time, and the mindsets of the Xie family members had all undergone subtle changes.

Tingyu led Xie Shiyun to stand quietly. Apart from a few words of greeting, she said nothing more.

Concubine Tao brought Xie Shikang every day. This was a premature child, harder to care for than ordinary children. Even with a wet nurse helping, her young body could barely hold up anymore.

Concubine Jiang was attending to the ailing Xie Jingyu, also staying up day and night, and looked quite unwell.

“If there’s nothing else, you may all withdraw.” Yun Chu waved her hand, and several concubines lowered their heads and retreated.

She returned to the inner chamber, changed into a practical outfit, took some trinkets that children would like, and prepared to set off for the hot spring manor in the outskirts of the capital.

Just as she walked out of the courtyard of Sheng Residence, Concubine Jiang returned and said: “Madam, the master says he has important matters to discuss with Madam and requests that Madam go see him.”

Yun Chu frowned: “Tell him I don’t have time.”

“Yesterday afternoon, the master already had this concubine come to Sheng Residence many times, but Madam hadn’t returned yet, so he gave up.” Concubine Jiang said in a low voice. “Madam should still make the trip.”

Yun Chu estimated she could return around noon.

She pulled at the corner of her lips and followed Concubine Jiang toward the courtyard of Xie Jingyu’s study.

As soon as she entered, she smelled the pungent odor of medicinal herbs permeating the entire courtyard.

“Master, Madam has arrived.”

Concubine Jiang announced at the door. After Yun Chu entered, she turned to attend to the medicine stove in the courtyard.

Yun Chu stepped inside: “What matter did you have Concubine Jiang seek me out to discuss?”

Xie Jingyu’s gaze fell on her clothes—an outfit different from usual. He spoke: “Is Madam going out?”

“Yes, to check on the manor outside the city.” Yun Chu answered casually. “It’s getting late. If there’s something to say, say it quickly.”

As she spoke, she noticed that Xie Jingyu’s face was frighteningly pale. His skin was already fair to begin with, but after falling ill, it had turned ghastly white.

She also saw that on the windowsill beside the sickbed, there was a potted flower that hadn’t been there before.

She approached and examined it carefully, couldn’t help but curve her lips in a smile. She recognized this flower.

Some time ago, when she was searching for a contraceptive formula for men for Xie Jingyu, she had seen this flower in a book. It could make men permanently sterile and had many side effects.

She spoke: “Who sent this flower?”

“An’ge’er sent it a few days ago.” Xie Jingyu didn’t want to discuss this matter. He paused and said, “Has Father-in-law been busy lately? Could you have Father-in-law take An’ge’er to meet the Director of the Imperial Academy?”

Yun Chu smiled.

Xie Shi’an was truly ruthless—he could be so vicious even to his own biological father.

She spoke: “My father will be leaving the capital in the next few days and probably won’t have time to meet the Director of the Imperial Academy. An’ge’er is so outstanding, I imagine he won’t need my father’s introduction to catch the Director of the Imperial Academy’s eye. Husband, focus on recovering from your illness and don’t worry about this matter.”

After saying this, she stepped out.

Yun Chu brought Tingxue to the outskirts of the capital. She dozed off for a while in the carriage and soon arrived at the manor’s entrance.

This was her third time coming here. The scenery she saw was vastly different from the previous two visits. The manor entrance looked brand new, showing no signs of being abandoned for over twenty years. Walking inside, it was spacious and grand with lush trees, ornamental rocks and flowing water, carved beams and painted rafters—everything had a beautiful sense of layers.

“Greetings to Madam Xie!”

Manor Head Cheng led the manor’s servants to pay respects to Yun Chu.

Apart from the manor head and a managing nanny who were from Prince Pingxi’s household, the rest were basically people arranged by Chen Bo. Among them, Tingshuang and Jiu’er could be considered Yun Chu’s confidants.

“We’re still short a few accountants.” Manor Head Cheng said respectfully. “The prince’s intention is for the accountants to be arranged by Madam Xie.”

Accountants were the people who managed money. Under normal circumstances, both sides of a partnership would desperately try to place their own people in accounting positions to secure more benefits for themselves.

Whether Prince Pingxi’s gesture meant he truly didn’t care or was testing her, she didn’t know.

Naturally, Yun Chu wouldn’t actually agree to it all. She spoke: “I can only arrange three people here. For the other two still needed, I’ll have to trouble Manor Head Cheng to select a few trustworthy people.”

Manor Head Cheng lowered his head in acknowledgment.

Just as they finished speaking, a carriage stopped at the manor entrance. Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, a little dumpling rushed in through the main gate.

“Auntie Yun, I missed you so much!”

Chu Hongyu climbed up onto Yun Chu with a patter of little steps.

Yesterday, with that fellow Yun Zhenjiang watching, he hadn’t been able to properly embrace his dear auntie.

Just as Yun Chu picked up the little fellow, Chu Changsheng also rushed in. Yun Chu scooped her up with one hand, holding one child on each side.

Fortunately, she had specifically chosen a practical outfit, otherwise it wouldn’t be convenient to hold two children. Also fortunate was that these two children were too thin and too light, otherwise she couldn’t have held them either. However, she hoped they would be heavier, a bit fatter…

Seeing this scene, Manor Head Cheng was completely stunned.

When had Madam Xie developed such a good relationship with the prince’s two young masters?

He raised his head to see the prince walking in with a composed expression, his gaze falling on Madam Xie, the corners of his lips carrying a trace of a faint smile.

He was shocked again.

He was an old retainer of the Yin family and had always worked for the prince, often dealing with him. It could be said he had hardly ever seen the prince smile.

More accurately, he had only seen the prince smile coldly. A gentle smile like this—he had never seen it before.

“Yu’ge’er, get down.” Chu Yi spoke calmly. “You’re a boy. What does it look like for Madam Xie to be holding you?”

The woman before him was holding two children, her waist bent, clearly struggling somewhat.

Chu Hongyu clung on and refused to let go.

Chu Yi’s eyes turned cold, his gaze clearly carrying a threat.

The little fellow knew that if he didn’t obediently comply, next time Father wouldn’t bring him out.

He could only pitifully climb down from Yun Chu.

Yun Chu held the quiet little girl and performed a courtesy toward Chu Yi: “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Chu Yi waved his hand: “You and I are jointly managing this manor. If Madam Xie still performs courtesies when seeing me, that would be too formal.”

Yun Chu increasingly felt that this Prince Pingxi, whom everyone feared, was actually quite approachable…