After Yun Chu changed into fresh clothes and groomed herself properly, Chu Yi personally escorted her to the Baihua Pavilion.

By now, the invited guests had mostly all arrived.

Yun Chu’s complexion was normal as she followed the nanny inside. With one glance, she spotted two children chasing each other around the pavilion.

Just this one look eased the longing she’d felt for many days.

She first went to pay her respects to the Empress.

“Chu’er has arrived.” The Empress’s expression was very kind. “I heard the old general fell ill. How is the situation? Does this palace need to arrange for an imperial physician to visit him?”

Yun Chu curtsied. “Grandfather’s is a chronic illness from many years. He’ll be fine after resting for a while. Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

“That’s good then.” The Empress smiled. “Go sit with your aunt.”

Consort Yun was seated not far down the row.

Yun Chu walked over and sat beside Consort Yun. “Aunt seems haggard.”

Consort Yun sighed.

Since the Yun Family’s troubles began, she couldn’t eat or sleep well, so naturally she had become haggard.

Deep within the inner palace, there wasn’t much she could do.

“Don’t worry, Aunt. Grandfather’s health is fine.” Yun Chu said quietly. “Rest assured, the Yun Family won’t come to harm.”

Consort Yun’s eyes brightened.

Chu’er must have dreamed that the Yun Family would emerge from their current predicament.

Other people’s dreams were just dreams, but Chu’er’s dreams were things that would truly happen in the future.

These words put Consort Yun much at ease.

When the time was about right, the Empress announced the official start of the chrysanthemum-viewing banquet.

Around the pavilion were various varieties of chrysanthemums blooming in competition, in all different colors, very beautiful.

Somehow, Yun Chu thought of the chrysanthemums at the palace where Prince Zhuang had been. Those wild chrysanthemums bloomed more brilliantly than any of the carefully tended flowers here.

There had once been rumors among the people that the former Crown Prince didn’t deserve his position, and therefore died young.

And the former Crown Prince’s only legitimate son, Prince Zhuang, shouldn’t have been born. Because he violated the Heavenly Way, he was born with congenital deficiencies, a sickly child from birth.

It was said that only the heart’s blood of young maidens could extend his life.

She had always thought this was just a horror story fabricated by the common people.

She never imagined it would happen to her so vividly and truly.

Yun Chu didn’t dwell on this matter further, because she actually heard several noble ladies nearby discussing Ding Yiyuan.

“Have you heard? The Marquis of Pingjiang’s household invited a fortune-telling master into their manor. Everything he calculates is accurate, but one reading costs a thousand taels of silver.”

“Is it that Master Ding who used to sell copper coins on the street? It seems he was the one who calculated that the Pillar General had gone missing.”

“Is that Master Ding’s fortune-telling really so accurate? Could he be a fraud?”

“The Marchioness of Pingjiang had him calculate when the Heir of Pingjiang would marry and have children. Guess what? Master Ding said the Heir of Pingjiang already had a child. Sure enough, when the Marchioness investigated outside, she discovered that the Heir of Pingjiang was actually keeping a mistress, and his illegitimate child was already over a year old.”

“The Marquis of Pingjiang asked Master Ding which generation would see the end of the marquis title. Master Ding said the next generation. The Marquis of Pingjiang immediately entered the palace to request an imperial decree and changed the heir of the marquis household.”

“…”

“I also want to invite Master Ding to read my fortune.”

“Who doesn’t? But this Master Ding’s prices have gone even higher. I heard it’s two thousand taels of silver for one reading now.”

“Isn’t this just robbery? Nobody’s money comes from the wind.”

“Exactly! Shouldn’t such an enlightened person be indifferent to fame and fortune? What does he need so much money for!”

“The Marchioness of Pingjiang said this Master Ding only reads fortunes for those with whom he has affinity. It’s not something you can hire him for just because you have money.”

“…”

Yun Chu lowered her head and took a sip of chrysanthemum tea.

That Ding Yiyuan’s reputation could spread so quickly among the aristocratic families was thanks to the Marquis of Pingjiang’s household sparing no effort in promoting him.

From top to bottom, the Great Jin Dynasty believed in such matters of fate. It seemed Ding Yiyuan’s reputation would soon reach the Emperor’s ears.

“Sister Consort Yun, your tea splashed onto my clothes.”

A discordant voice suddenly rang out.

Yun Chu turned her head and saw Consort Yuan sitting on the other side of Consort Yun, with a provocative look.

“This dress of mine was made from the Cloud-Water Heavenly Brocade bestowed by the Emperor. If it’s stained with tea, that would be great disrespect to the Emperor. Can Sister Consort Yun bear such responsibility?”

Consort Yun’s expression was very calm. “Sister is quite good at staging her own drama.”

What Consort Yuan hated most was this demeanor of Consort Yun’s—as if no matter what earth-shattering event occurred, nothing could make this woman’s expression change dramatically.

Consort Yun was even five or six years older than her. Now she had grown old and lost her beauty, yet Consort Yun still seemed to have the same appearance as before, and the Emperor would visit Consort Yun’s palace every month or so.

How could this not make one jealous?

Now that the Yun Family was in trouble, Consort Yun would naturally fall out of favor. Of course she had to step forward and stomp on her a few times.

“Does Sister think I’m falsely accusing you?” Consort Yuan put on a pitiful appearance and looked toward the Empress. “Please, Your Majesty the Empress, render justice for this consort!”

The Empress pressed her temples.

These women of the inner palace often created numerous conflicts over clothes, over jewelry, over monthly allowances… Each one gave her a headache.

At the drop of a hat, they’d mention being disrespectful to the Emperor. The Emperor handled ten thousand affairs daily—how could he remember every item he’d bestowed? What disrespect was there to speak of?

But she was the mistress of the inner palace and could only patiently deal with each matter one by one.

The Empress was about to speak.

Suddenly, she saw a small figure sweeping in like a whirlwind.

Immediately after, before everyone could react, Consort Yuan, who had been standing before the Empress, was suddenly knocked over by that small figure.

There happened to be a table there, on which were placed freshly cooked crabs and condiments, as well as various chrysanthemum teas and chrysanthemum wines. This table was knocked over by Consort Yuan.

A whole table of food and drink was entirely spilled onto Consort Yuan’s body.

A stream of sauce and vinegar seasoning liquid mixed with the scent of chrysanthemums dripped from her hair onto the precious Cloud-Water Heavenly Brocade.

Consort Yuan nearly went mad. Suppressing her rage, she looked over and saw the Young Lord of the Prince Pingxi’s manor.

Among the youngest generation of the imperial family, the one the Emperor liked most was this Young Lord. Consort Yuan didn’t have the guts to make trouble for the Young Lord.

Most critically, she was in such a wretched state right now. Being watched by so many people, she would surely become the biggest laughingstock inside and outside the palace.

She wanted to die!

“I’m sorry, Consort Yuan…” Chu Hongyu lowered his head, speaking helplessly. “I saw an insect on Consort Yuan’s body, so I rushed over to help catch the insect. I’m sorry, I was wrong…”

“Now, whether there’s a tea stain or not can’t be seen anymore.” The Empress spoke. “No matter how expensive this dress is, it’s not as valuable as a child’s sincere apology. Let’s let this matter pass.”

Consort Yin stepped forward. “Hongyu was too reckless. It’s all because this consort didn’t watch the child properly. Later, this consort will have the nanny send a bolt of Cloud-Water Heavenly Brocade to Consort Yuan’s palace. Please, Consort Yuan, don’t hold it against a child.”

Consort Yuan’s eyes darkened.

She had only received a few feet of Cloud-Water Heavenly Brocade, so she’d made it into a dress and worn it out to show off.

In contrast, Consort Yin could casually produce an entire bolt of Cloud-Water Heavenly Brocade. Comparing people truly made one die of anger.

Consort Yuan didn’t dare stay any longer. In her wretched state, she supported herself on a palace maid’s hand and hurried away.

Chu Hongyu raised his head, looked in Yun Chu’s direction, and revealed a proud smile.

Yun Chu shook her head.

The little one was using his own method to protect her family.

However, this method was not advisable.

She first made a gesture of thanks, then mouthed the words: “Don’t do it again.”