The carriage soon arrived at the entrance to the Xie residence.

Stepping down from the carriage, Yun Chu raised her head to look at the name plaque of the Xie residence. These were two characters written personally by Xie Jingyu’s hand, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.

She thought of her previous life. After Xie Shi’an had been selected as the top scholar, the Xie Family had changed residences. In the capital where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, in an alley not far from the Yun Family home, they had acquired a large manor with five courtyards. At that time, Xie Shi’an had personally taken up the brush and written the two characters “Xie Residence,” and countless people came to offer congratulations.

The Xie Family’s flourishing prosperity seemed still before her eyes.

However, in this lifetime, everything was completely different…

Yun Chu crossed the threshold and walked in. Just as she returned to the courtyard, a servant woman came to report: “Madam, the Mistress requests that you come.”

Yun Chu unhurriedly changed into fresh clothes, drank a cup of tea, and only then went to Yuan Shi’s courtyard.

Entering the courtyard, she saw that her father-in-law Xie Zhongcheng was also there.

Xie Zhongcheng’s expression was somewhat displeased.

Yesterday he had sent someone to Sheng Residence to request this daughter-in-law come over. The people at Sheng Residence first said the madam wasn’t in, and finally informed them that the madam wouldn’t be returning that night.

Having lived to such an advanced age, this was the first time he had seen a married woman spend the night away from home.

Had the Yun Family never taught their daughter what wifely virtue meant?

But these criticisms he didn’t dare voice, and could only suppress them in his heart. Naturally, his expression didn’t look good.

“Chu’er has returned.” Yuan Shi said warmly. “How did the estate matters go? Did everything proceed smoothly?”

Yun Chu nodded. “Mother, is there something you need?”

Yuan Shi’s face showed a hint of embarrassment. She glanced at her husband before saying, “September is almost here, and An will soon enter the Imperial Academy. Our Xie Family is of humble origins. When An enters the Imperial Academy, he definitely won’t receive the teachers’ attention. Your father-in-law and I have been considering sending some gifts to the Imperial Academy teachers. What do you think, Chu’er?”

Yun Chu’s expression was bland. “Mother can handle such a small matter as she sees fit.”

Yuan Shi pushed Xie Zhongcheng.

Xie Zhongcheng clasped his hands behind his back and said coldly, “There are several teachers at the Imperial Academy. Sending gifts will cost quite a bit of silver. As An’s mother, this sum of money should come from you.”

Although the Xie Family was of humble origins, they weren’t actually particularly poor. Because the Xie Family was extremely renowned in their hometown of Jizhou, many wealthy people registered their land holdings under the Xie Family name. Each year they could collect several thousand taels of silver while lying down, and over these many years, they had saved up several tens of thousands of taels.

But when the old lady passed away, countless people in the capital criticized them. For the sake of face, the Xie Family held a grand funeral, and the silver saved over so many years was spent completely clean.

Now the Xie Family was in troubled times, having become a laughingstock for capital residents over tea and after meals. Only if An got ahead could the Xie Family escape from all this…

An’s future prospects absolutely could not be delayed.

Xie Zhongcheng continued, “Each teacher needs a gift of approximately two thousand taels of silver before these teachers will pay attention to An.”

The corners of Yun Chu’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

The Xie Family having reached this state could indeed only place all their hopes on Xie Shi’an.

Unfortunately, Xie Shi’an…

Seeing her remain silent, Xie Zhongcheng’s expression darkened. “What, you’re unwilling?”

“It’s not that I’m unwilling.” Yun Chu sighed. “I only have five or six thousand taels of silver on hand, which I was keeping to hire an imperial physician to treat my husband’s illness. Since Father-in-law has spoken thus, hiring the imperial physician can wait. Let’s first prepare gifts for An’s teachers.”

With these words, Xie Zhongcheng fell silent.

These past few days he had gone many times to Xie Jingyu’s residence. Watching this son’s body grow weaker and weaker, with so much medicine consumed yet not a bit of use, he wished he could suffer in his place.

Imperial physicians were certainly much better than those quacks on the street, but the Xie Family couldn’t invite an imperial physician.

If this daughter-in-law was willing to step forward, that was naturally ideal.

“Chu’er, can you really invite an imperial physician to come to the Xie residence to examine pulses?” Yuan Shi was overjoyed. “An’s matter can be temporarily set aside. Let’s first cure Jingyu’s illness before discussing anything else.”

Yun Chu spoke, “Naturally I cannot move the imperial physicians from the palace, but I know a retired old imperial physician. Many first-rank households seek out this old imperial physician when they’re ill, though it will cost some silver.”

Yuan Shi immediately turned to retrieve her box, pulled out a money pouch and handed it to Yun Chu. “Chu’er, Jingyu is still young. We must cure his illness, or else our Xie Family will collapse.”

Yun Chu accepted the silver. “Mother, rest assured. My husband will be fine.”

After she left, Yuan Shi spoke, “Once Jingyu’s illness is cured, Jingyu will surely have a way to pave the road for An. We needn’t worry about this.”

Xie Zhongcheng sighed.

For now, this was all they could do.

Yun Chu gave the money pouch to Tingfeng and had Tingfeng make the trip. By evening, Tingfeng brought an elderly man into the Xie residence.

Xie Jingyu lay on the daybed. Concubine Jiang was attending to him, feeding him medicine. He felt like he was eating medicine from dawn to dusk every day, yet his body showed not half a bit of improvement.

Watching his body gradually lose control, how could anyone not be afraid?

He was already ill to this degree, yet his lawful wife spent the night away from home, not returning for an entire night.

Just now Concubine Jiang had said she returned to the manor, but she hadn’t even come to see him once.

He had been wrong to conceal matters concerning He Shi, but was she not wrong to disregard her husband’s illness?

“Crash!”

Xie Jingyu raised his hand and knocked over the medicine bowl.

Concubine Jiang hurriedly crouched down to pick up the fragments. “This medicine must be consumed for the illness to improve. Master, this concubine will go fetch you another bowl.”

Xie Jingyu said in a heavy voice, “This medicine need not be brought again!”

Medicine that couldn’t cure illness was better not consumed at all!

Concubine Jiang wanted to persuade him further.

But then she heard a gentle voice: “My husband speaks correctly. This medicine need not be brewed again.”

Xie Jingyu raised his head to see Yun Chu walking in from the doorway. He looked at her beautiful, radiant face, and countless emotions surged in his heart.

He was about to open his mouth to question her.

But then he saw an elderly man walk in behind her.

“Husband, this is the old imperial physician who specialized in checking the Empress’s pulses for peace and health in the palace.” Yun Chu sat down on a chair several steps away from the daybed. “Let the old imperial physician examine your pulse to see exactly how to treat this.”

Xie Jingyu’s face filled with disbelief.

Previously when he had asked Yun Chu to invite an imperial physician to treat his illness, she had shown such an indifferent appearance. He had thought she simply hadn’t taken his words to heart at all.

But it turned out she still cared about him, and had even invited for him the imperial physician who specialized in treating the Empress’s illnesses…

“Wife, thank you…”

The thousand words in Xie Jingyu’s heart transformed into this brief sentence.

Five years of marriage—he had wronged her too much. After recovering from this illness, he would never again let down the person who shared his pillow.

He extended his hand. The old imperial physician placed his fingers on his pulse.

The old imperial physician’s expression suddenly changed. “Master Xie’s pulse—something is wrong… How does it seem like… you’re suffering from the condition of having no essence?”

Xie Jingyu’s eyes flew wide open. “Impossible!”

He had fathered so many children one after another—how could he possibly suffer from the condition of having no essence…

“Let this old man examine more carefully.” The old imperial physician closed his eyes and carefully felt the pulse.