Chu Yi came riding on horseback.

He arrived before them, dismounted from his horse, and said to Yun Silin: “I came specially to see the General off. Fortunately, I’m not late.”

Yun Silin led Chu Yi to the side: “Your Highness has now suppressed countless bandits, deeply earning the Emperor’s trust and the people’s love. Because of this, you’ve aroused the Crown Prince’s wariness. Does Your Highness realize this yourself?”

Chu Yi said: “If I were to hide my abilities and give up military power because the Crown Prince is wary, that would be failing Father Emperor and failing the people. What I should do, I will still do.”

Yun Silin nodded.

This was precisely the kind of character he admired in Prince Pingxi, which was why he was willing to take him to the battlefield for tempering.

Among the grown princes currently in the palace, the Crown Prince was born of the Empress, the Second Prince was exceptionally talented with a reputation for virtue, and the Third Prince, who was Prince Pingxi, favored military arts and had considerable prestige in the hearts of the people… At court, three factions had already vaguely formed.

If the Yun family were to choose a worthy master, they could only choose one from among them.

Prince Pingxi perhaps…

However, they still needed to observe for at least two more years before making a decision.

He said: “With this trip to South Yue, I don’t know how long before I can return. If anything happens to the Yun family, I ask Your Highness to look after them.”

Chu Yi readily agreed.

After they had said nearly all that needed to be said, Yun Silin bid farewell to everyone, mounted his horse, and headed south.

Watching him disappear down the main road, only then did Chu Yi withdraw his gaze. Turning his head, he saw Yun Chu’s profile.

After she left the hot spring estate that day, he had someone investigate the matters in the Xie family’s inner courtyard.

He knew that investigating a woman’s inner residence without permission was truly improper… but the seed that had sprouted in his heart had turned into a towering tree in the blink of an eye, growing countless wildly spreading weeds. He could no longer control those secret emotions. He needed to find an outlet.

He had always considered himself an upright person. He wouldn’t use dirty methods to obtain what he wanted.

However, when his subordinates came to tell him about those Xie family matters, he felt glad she was living so poorly—as if that gave him a reason to do things he had never dared imagine… But more than that, he felt heartache, heartache for her five years in the Xie family… He slowly became determined, not minding using some methods to help her leave the Xie family…

She and her husband, apart from their wedding night, had never shared a bed again.

Her husband had successively taken four concubines and sired a whole bunch of illegitimate sons and daughters.

She was not living well in the Xie family.

Yun Ze was about to speak when he felt that Chu Yi seemed to be constantly staring at Yun Chu.

He looked at Chu Yi and, in those usually cold eyes, saw a trace of emotion similar to heartache.

His heart couldn’t help but jolt. He pretended to cough.

But Chu Yi seemed not to hear, those eyes appearing to be glued to Yun Chu.

“Elder Brother, did you catch a chill?” Yun Chu looked at him and asked with concern.

“Just a dry throat.” Yun Ze said casually. “Let’s go. We should return to the city.”

Lin Shi and Yun Chu helped the pregnant Liu Qianqian into the carriage, while Yun Ze and Chu Yi rode horses at the front of the carriage.

Yun Ze let out a heavy sigh.

Chu Yi asked him: “What troubles Lord Yun? Are you worried about General Yun’s safety?”

“My father is going with three hundred personal guards. There’s nothing to worry about.” Yun Ze thought to himself—Chu’er had even written down everything they might encounter on the road, what people, what dangers… all listed one by one on paper. If Father still had an incident, one could only say the Yun family’s fate was meant to be so.

He paused, then said, “It’s about Chu’er’s matter. These family affairs—I won’t speak of them with Your Highness.”

Hearing this, Chu Yi immediately said: “Your father and I are friends despite our age difference, and you and I can be said to have grown up together. Your troubles—as a friend, I’d like to hear the details and help share your worries.”

Yun Ze’s fingers tightened.

It seemed he hadn’t been overthinking. Prince Pingxi toward Chu’er was indeed…

He spoke slowly: “Five years ago, when my parents were choosing a marriage for Chu’er, after careful selection, they finally chose that year’s top scholar Xie Jingyu. We originally thought it was a good match. Who could have imagined… That Xie Jingyu already had children before marriage. After Chu’er married over, from morning to night she either manages household affairs or teaches and raises children for the Xie family. Thinking about raising children for someone else—it’s unbearable…”

Chu Yi’s eyes suddenly darkened.

He had a son and a daughter. If Yun Chu became his wife, in the Yun family’s eyes, wouldn’t that also be raising children for someone else…

Yun Ze glanced at him.

The meaning of his words was quite clear.

Even if Chu’er divorced, she wouldn’t easily marry again, much less marry a man who already had children.

He hoped Prince Pingxi understood this.

Chu Yi’s eyes only darkened for an instant before regaining their light.

Since Yun Ze could say such things, it meant Yun Ze had probably seen through his thoughts.

Yun Ze didn’t say Yun Chu was already a married woman, but brought up the children instead… Didn’t this indicate that the biggest problem standing between him and Yun Chu was the children, not her status as a married woman?

This being the case, was the Yun family also planning to arrange a divorce for Yun Chu?

“Being parents is the greatest virtue under heaven; being children is the greatest filial piety under heaven. Your sister, as the Xie family’s legitimate mother, is supremely pure and virtuous, but the Xie family children—” Chu Yi shook his head. “Is the Xie family truly worth such devotion from your sister? Lord Yun, for some matters, when it’s time to sever ties, sever them.”

Yun Ze pressed his lips tight.

It seemed Prince Pingxi hadn’t taken his words to heart at all.

“I heard Lord Yun has recently been restoring ancient texts and seems to have encountered some difficulties.” Chu Yi continued. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Yun Ze’s voice was flat: “Such a small matter doesn’t require Your Highness’s concern.”

Having said this, he kicked his horse’s belly and moved ahead.

Chu Yi didn’t mind his attitude at all. Riding his horse, he followed beside the carriage, following all the way to the Yun residence.

When Yun Chu dismounted, he stepped forward and said with cupped hands: “The Xie residence will be holding a celebration in a few days. I wonder if I might presume to ask for an invitation?”

Yun Chu thought of the two children and nodded: “Very well. I’ll have someone deliver it to the prince’s residence.”

In the blink of an eye, the wedding day of Prince An’jing and the Xie family’s eldest daughter quickly arrived.

The entire Xie residence was decorated with lanterns and festoons. The servants were filled with joy. The main hall was extraordinarily lively. Even Xie Jingyu, who had been ill all along, seemed to have recovered.

He was dressed in new clothes, groomed smartly and neatly, standing at the entrance greeting guests. One couldn’t tell at all that he had been sick for over a month.

“Lord Xie, Madam Xie, congratulations, congratulations!”

“I’ve prepared a modest gift. I hope Lord Xie will accept it!”

“Lord Xie, when good fortune comes, one’s spirits rise! We must have a few drinks later!”

Some colleagues from court came to the door. Each brought congratulatory gifts, and flattering words came one after another. The color in Xie Jingyu’s face grew increasingly better.

Before long, a carriage stopped at the Xie residence entrance. Chu Yi, dressed in black brocade robes, first descended from the carriage, then lifted down two children from inside.

The crowd of onlookers were all shocked.

“It’s Prince Pingxi!”

“When did Lord Xie establish connections with Prince Pingxi?”

“Prince Pingxi attending a wedding banquet—shouldn’t he go to Prince An’jing’s residence? Why did he come to the Xie family? This friendship must be quite extraordinary.”

“Perhaps it’s for Madam Xie’s sake. After all, she is the Yun family’s legitimate eldest daughter.”

Chu Yi, holding his daughter, walked directly to Xie Jingyu: “Lord Xie, congratulations.”

Though somewhat surprised, Xie Jingyu still welcomed him in with a face full of smiles.

Prince Pingxi was naturally the person with the highest status and position among all the guests. He stopped greeting guests at the entrance and instead accompanied Chu Yi into the Xie residence.

Chu Yi took two steps inside, then stopped: “I trouble Madam Xie to help look after the two children.”

A smile appeared on Yun Chu’s face as she took the two children’s small hands.