Nanny Er left Prince Pingxi’s manor just like that, without causing any disturbance.

Nanny He and the other four matrons had spent a month learning from Nanny Guo, and they could now handle both major and minor affairs of the prince’s manor without any issues. Nanny Guo then returned to the palace.

After Yun Chu took over Chu Yi’s business dealings, she gradually got everything organized and sorted out.

In the blink of an eye, it was already May. The Yun Family had a joyous occasion—Yun Chu’s eldest sister-in-law, Liu Qianqian, gave birth to a plump and fair baby girl.

Yun Silin should have returned to the Western Border for garrison duty long ago, but he had stayed in the capital until May just to wait for this child’s birth. He planned to leave only after the full-month celebration was complete.

“Let’s call her Sister Zhi,” Liu Qianqian said with a tender expression on her face. “Yun Zhi—a heart that is thorough becomes knowledge, and knowledge that is thorough becomes virtue.”

Yun Chu nodded. “That’s a good name.”

This child who hadn’t survived in her previous life had restarted her life in this lifetime. There was nothing better than this.

She had a gold and jade safety lock crafted and placed it around Yun Zhi’s neck, saying softly, “Your aunt hopes you’ll have peace and joy, and a smooth life.”

While the room was filled with warmth, two children were arguing outside.

Yun Zhenjiang stood with his hands on his hips. “I have a little sister now too, hmph!”

“Your sister is too ugly!” Chu Hongyu stuck out his tongue. “She’s nowhere near as adorable and good-looking as my sister!”

“My mother said all babies look like this when they’re born, and they’ll be pretty when they grow up!” Yun Zhenjiang said huffily. “If we’re talking about who’s ugly, you’re the ugliest one, your whole family is ugly!”

As soon as those words fell, Chu Changsheng blinked her big eyes pitifully. “Brother Jiang, am I ugly…?”

“No—I wasn’t talking about you.” Yun Zhenjiang immediately panicked and hurriedly wiped her tears. “I was saying Chu Hongyu is ugly, he’s the ugliest!”

“You’re the ugliest!” Chu Hongyu was furious. “With your small eyes, small nose, and small mouth, there’s no one uglier than you!”

The two of them bickered noisily.

Chu Changsheng covered her ears. Boys were really too rowdy. She still preferred Xie Xian.

Thinking of Xie Xian, the little girl remembered something and quickly ran into the inner chamber, climbing onto Yun Chu’s lap. “I have something I want to discuss with Mother.”

Yun Chu stroked her daughter’s head.

Since starting school, Changsheng needed to speak with her teacher, Xie Xian, every day. Her communication skills had improved tremendously, and she was visibly becoming more lively.

She smiled and asked, “What is it?”

“Xian said that since she eats at the prince’s manor every day, she also wants to invite me—invite me to eat at her house.” Chu Changsheng tilted her neck back. “Mother, may I go?”

Yun Chu nodded. “Of course you may. But can Mother accompany you?”

Chu Changsheng became happy. “Yes, yes!”

She jumped down from Yun Chu’s lap and hurried to share this good news with her brother.

Liu Qianqian, lying on the daybed, spoke up. “No matter what, Xie Xian is still Xie Jingyu’s child. Is it really appropriate for you to let Changsheng become friends with your former husband’s child?”

Yun Chu shook her head. “When looking at a person, you don’t just look at their birth, but more importantly at their character. Xie Xian’s character has no problems whatsoever, so she’s worth befriending.”

Liu Qianqian was still somewhat worried. “Won’t the Prince…?”

“Of course he won’t.” Yun Chu’s face bore a smile. “He respects every decision I make.”

Moreover, the facts proved that Changsheng got along very well with Xie Xian. She was gradually growing, beginning to have her own social circle, and slowly becoming a normal person.

She didn’t need Changsheng to be exceptionally outstanding. Being a normal, ordinary person was enough.

The school had one rest day every six days. It was on this day that Xie Xian invited Changsheng to visit her home. Chu Hongyu made a fuss about going together.

Yun Chu took the two children in a carriage out of the capital to the entrance of Concubine Jiang’s small courtyard.

“Greetings to the Princess Consort, greetings to the Young Lord and Young Princess!”

Concubine Jiang stood at the entrance with Xie Xian and Xu Ti to welcome the guests, performing proper bows.

“No need to be so formal.”

Yun Chu helped Concubine Jiang to her feet.

As the group walked into the courtyard, they immediately smelled the fragrance of various foods.

Concubine Jiang said embarrassedly, “There’s nothing valuable in the house to entertain you with. I hope the Princess Consort won’t find it beneath her.”

Yun Chu saw that the tables were filled with all kinds of food. It was obvious that Concubine Jiang had risen before dawn to prepare everything, which was proof enough of her sincerity.

Without needing anyone’s instruction, Xu Ti poured tea and placed it before Yun Chu and the others.

Yun Chu took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, “How are your studies progressing, Brother Ti?”

Xu Ti replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, “The teacher has taught us up to the Hundred Family Surnames. It’s not too difficult.”

The courtyard was small. Yun Chu noticed several pieces of calligraphy on a table not far away. She walked over and picked them up to look. She had to admit, the writing was quite excellent.

Xu Ti and Brother Yu were the same age. Brother Yu had great scholars from the Imperial Academy personally instructing him, yet his calligraphy wasn’t much better than Xu Ti’s.

This child Xu Ti was naturally suited for scholarly pursuits.

After the children went off to play, Yun Chu spoke up. “The teaching at ordinary private schools is too slow. Brother Ti probably won’t learn much there.”

Concubine Jiang said, “Brother Ti practices calligraphy every day when he comes home. He says once his writing improves, he can earn money by writing for others to supplement the household. He’s truly a good child. Being able to adopt him is this humble concubine’s blessing.”

“If you have spare funds, you could find a private tutor specifically for Brother Ti,” Yun Chu suggested. “If he can succeed in his studies, Sister Xian will have protection in the future.”

Concubine Jiang immediately nodded. “Yes, this humble concubine will definitely search carefully for a good tutor for Brother Ti.”

The two were talking.

Then they saw the children return from outside, picking up many food items from the table, then running back out.

Concubine Jiang quickly walked over. “Brother Ti, what are you doing?”

Xu Ti spoke up. “There’s a little beggar in the alley behind the back door. The Young Princess is kindhearted and wants to give food to that child.”

If Xie Xian were doing such a thing, he would definitely stop her, because the food at home didn’t come easily—it was all earned through their mother’s sewing and mending. He couldn’t bear to give it to others.

But it was the Young Princess doing this. Xie Xian ate at the prince’s manor every day, consuming countless delicacies. He had no reason to stop the Young Princess from taking food from their house to give to a beggar child.

Concubine Jiang was a softhearted person. She picked up a basket, loaded the remaining food into it, and had Xu Ti take it out to give to the little beggar.

Xu Ti walked to the back door and saw Xie Xian and the two young masters from the prince’s manor walking toward the little beggar.

Tingxue followed beside the children. Looking at the beggar child, she found him somewhat familiar. She reached out and stopped the children.

The child dressed in tattered clothes slowly raised his head. His hair was disheveled, his face covered in dirt, and his clothes filthy.

“Xie Shiyun?”

Xie Xian was the first to recognize him, so frightened she covered her lips.

She feared everyone from the Xie Family, including Xie Shiyun, who was only a few months older than her.

Chu Changsheng tilted her head. “Who is Xie Shiyun?”

Chu Hongyu’s brows furrowed, then he suddenly remembered. “He’s from the Xie Family. Mother used to be his mother.”

Xu Ti immediately said, “Everyone go back inside!”

Last time, Xie Shi’an had come to their house and used Xie Xian as a hostage to extort one hundred taels of silver from them. The money was a small matter, but it had frightened Xie Xian so badly she couldn’t sleep peacefully for a long time.