Yun Chu pressed her lips together.

In her previous life, after the Yun family was confiscated, Dongling Nation invaded Great Jin. Because Great Jin no longer had the Pillar State General, there was no one to resist the enemy. The eastern coastal cities fell and became Dongling Nation’s territory. Dongling Nation burned, killed, and plundered along the coast, committing all kinds of evil. The common people of Great Jin suffered unspeakably…

At that time, she had so hoped the Emperor would think of the common people, spare the Yun family, and let her father go to the front lines to drive away Dongling Nation.

But the Emperor would rather the common people suffer, would rather hundreds of thousands of soldiers have no general, than give the Yun family a chance to render meritorious service.

Whether Dongling Nation continued to annex Great Jin’s territory after that, Yun Chu didn’t know, because she had already died from a cup of poisoned wine.

Yun Chu asked carefully about Dongling Nation’s situation.

The current Dongling Nation was not as powerful as it would be over ten years later. Taking down Dongling Nation now was the best choice.

However, Chu Yi was merely a prince. It wasn’t Chu Yi’s place to make such a decision.

The family stayed in Quan City for over half a month, then took a large ship directly back to the capital. When they arrived in the capital, it happened to be the first snow of this winter.

When they left it had been early summer. Now it was already winter.

Yun Chu discovered that happy times were always very short. Half a year had passed in the blink of an eye.

The first thing upon returning to the capital was naturally to pay respects at the palace.

After having someone send Xie Xian home, the carriage didn’t even return to the prince’s residence but went directly to the palace gates. Yun Chu and Chu Yi took the two children off the carriage and, braving the early snow, went to Kunning Palace.

The Emperor happened to be there as well.

Chu Hongyu rushed over: “Imperial Grandfather, Imperial Grandmother, I missed you so much!”

The Emperor’s expression was very cold.

He had merely temporarily stopped Third Son’s duties at the Ministry of Works, yet this boy had directly thrown down his burden and quit.

He left just like that, and was gone for half a year.

When other princes left the capital, they went to handle official business.

But Third Son just went to play.

The Emperor sneered coldly: “So you know to come back!”

Chu Yi cupped his hands: “This son and his wife committed wrongs and feared annoying Imperial Father while in the capital, so we went south, hoping Imperial Father’s anger has subsided.”

What he spoke of was the matter of Crown Prince Fang’s secondary consort’s miscarriage from half a year ago.

At this moment, the Empress gently spoke: “Between father and son, how can there be overnight grudges? The Emperor forgot about that matter long ago, didn’t you, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor pulled at the corners of his mouth: “Tomorrow you can return to your post at the Ministry of Works.”

Chu Yi lowered his head: “This son committed wrongs and still needs to reflect. Please, Imperial Father, withdraw the command.”

The Emperor’s expression turned cold.

He had taken the initiative to ask Third Son to return to court because he understood that Secondary Consort Fang’s miscarriage actually had nothing to do with Yun Chu.

Yet Third Son was unwilling to yield.

What, did this mean he wanted him, the Emperor, to admit fault to Yun Chu, his daughter-in-law?

“Fine, then you continue reflecting for me!”

The Emperor coldly stood up and left with a flick of his sleeves.

The Empress sighed: “Yi’er, these past few months, your Imperial Father has actually long known he wrongly blamed Chu’er. The position at the Ministry of Works has also been kept for you all along. There’s no benefit to you feuding with the Emperor. Chu’er, you should also persuade him.”

Yun Chu lowered her head: “This concubine supports whatever decisions His Highness makes.”

The Empress shook her head. Yun Chu was at least the legitimate daughter of the General’s residence. How was it that after becoming a princess consort, she completely lost the demeanor of a family matriarch?

Over such a small matter at the time, feuding with the Emperor—where did that place Prince Pingxi’s residence’s honor and dignity?

The Empress continued: “Yi’er, I hope you return to court.”

Ever since she had schemed for Chu Mo to kill Beauty Zhou and obtained leverage over him, Chu Mo had turned around and formed a collaboration with the Duke’s wife, Li Jingshu.

Under Li Jingshu and Chu Mo’s machinations, this past half year her days as Empress had been very difficult. Half of her power to manage the inner palace had fallen into the hands of Chu Mo’s mother, Imperial Consort Hui.

If this continued, she feared she would have nowhere left to retreat.

She urgently needed allies to change the current situation.

If Chu Yi returned to court, it would once again become a three-way balance of power, and she and the Crown Prince wouldn’t be so passive.

“The Duke’s wife framed Chu’er once, and there will be a second time.” The Empress said slowly. “If you and I join forces to eliminate the Duke’s wife and sever one of Chu Mo’s arms, it would be nothing but beneficial for both of us.”

The person she was most wary of was Li Jingshu.

As long as she could eliminate Li Jingshu, everything else would be negotiable.

Chu Yi pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands: “This son has just arrived in the capital after a long journey and is physically fatigued. Please allow this son a few days’ rest before giving a reply.”

The Empress smiled broadly: “Good, then I’ll await Yi’er’s good news.”

The family of four then went to pay respects to Imperial Consort Yin.

Imperial Consort Yin said the same thing—for Chu Yi to return to court quickly and not just focus on playing and enjoying himself all day.

Leaving the palace, the family didn’t return to the prince’s residence but went to the Yun family home instead. Lin Shi had long since written a letter saying that upon returning to the capital, they should have their first meal at the Yun residence.

“Maternal Grandmother, Uncle, Aunt!” Chu Hongyu rushed over quickly. “I missed you all so much! I brought you many little trinkets!”

“Oh my, Yu’ge has grown taller.” Lin Shi smiled lovingly. “Changsheng has also grown taller.”

Chu Changsheng tilted her head: “Brother and I are almost six years old. Of course we’ve grown taller.”

Liu Qianqian held a child and smiled: “Changsheng speaks more and more fluently. How wonderful.”

Chu Hongyu had servants bring over boxes and excitedly distributed little trinkets to everyone. The courtyard was lively and bustling.

Lin Shi had people quickly serve the dishes. A large table of delicious food, all things Yun Chu and the children loved to eat. The family sat down around the table in happy harmony.

Chu Yi and Yun Ze chatted about matters in court.

For instance, the Crown Prince had gradually begun supervising the state, with the Grand Tutor and Grand Preceptor assisting. No major problems had occurred.

Prince Gongxi had gradually established a firm foothold in the Ministry of Revenue.

After Sixth Prince’s illness improved, he had become increasingly dissolute…

“Chu’er, this is braised pig’s trotter. Mother made it herself.” Lin Shi placed a pig’s trotter in Yun Chu’s bowl. “I changed the recipe. Try it and see how it compares to before.”

Yun Chu nodded and was just about to take a bite when suddenly her stomach churned. She covered her mouth and moved aside.

She dry-heaved several times but didn’t vomit anything out.

Liu Qianqian quickly said: “Quick, quick, call for a physician!”

Yun Chu waved her hand: “I’m fine. Perhaps I caught a chill from the wind on the way here earlier.”

“Still, we should have a physician take a look.” Chu Yi spoke. “If minor illnesses aren’t treated, they can easily develop into major ones.”

Yun Chu could only agree.

Before long, a physician arrived and took Yun Chu’s pulse.

“Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Princess Consort! This is a pregnancy pulse. You’re with child—already over two months along!”

Yun Chu’s face was full of disbelief.

She was pregnant?

Already over two months?

She had been completely unaware.

Lin Shi was overjoyed: “Quick, rewards! Everyone gets rewards!”

Liu Qianqian had someone bring out silver to give to the physician. The physician wrote a prescription for stabilizing the pregnancy before leaving.

“Chu’er, now that you’re pregnant, you absolutely cannot endure long journeys traveling so far anymore.” Lin Shi’s face was full of smiles. “You must rest well yourself so the child can grow and be born safely and smoothly… Tomorrow I’ll go to the temple to pray for a peace talisman for you, to bless you and the child with everything going smoothly…”

Yun Chu was still in a daze.

Chu Yi was also completely stunned.

Then, half a beat later, he picked up Yun Chu: “Chu’er, this is wonderful, truly wonderful…”

When Yu’ge and Changsheng were in Chu’er’s belly, he had known nothing. He owed Yun Chu far too much.

This time, he would make it up to her a hundred, a thousand times over.