Tingyu was completely stunned.

How had the Xie family suddenly reached this point?

No wonder her and Yun’er’s allowances had been getting worse lately. It turned out it wasn’t that Madam was deliberately withholding—the household truly had no money left.

“Most of the Xie family’s silver was spent on the Old Madam’s funeral.” Yun Chu spoke. “Kang’er is weak, Master is ill, An’er gives gifts to his teachers—all of it scraped together from various sources. The Xie family has long been emptied out. If we use the remaining thousand-plus taels to hire a physician for Master, the servants in this household will have to be dismissed.”

Tingyu clutched the handkerchief in her hands tightly: “Madam—Madam should still have some silver on hand.”

She had formerly been Madam’s personal maid. She knew exactly how much dowry Madam had. Even if some had been contributed to the Xie family, there must certainly be plenty remaining.

Hearing her say this, Yun Chu smiled: “As far as I know, Aunt Yu has also saved quite a bit of private money over these years. Why not take it out and invite Old Imperial Physician Qin to examine the pulse?”

“This concubine doesn’t have any…” Tingyu hastily shook her head. “Master needs someone to care for him. This concubine will take her leave first.”

Yun Chu didn’t care about how Tingyu would sow discord before Xie Jingyu.

She looked toward Tingfeng, who was walking in: “Everything arranged?”

Tingfeng nodded: “Madam can rest assured. There will be a good show to watch tomorrow morning.”

“Arrange more people to follow.” Yun Chu’s long lashes cast a shadow, her voice very cold. “After the incident occurs, take advantage of the chaos to take He Xu away. We won’t need him anymore after this.”

In her past life, Tingfeng and Tingxue had suffered terrible violations by He Xu. This person should have died long ago.

However, there was still this last task waiting for He Xu to complete. After the matter was concluded, He Xu could go reincarnate.

Tingfeng turned and went out to relay the instructions.

Tingxue walked in holding a property deed: “Madam, it’s done. That three-courtyard residence on Yulin Lane has officially been registered under Madam’s name.”

Yun Chu looked at the deed with satisfaction and carefully put it away.

Yulin Lane was a lane behind the Yun household, not far from the prosperous streets either—quiet when you entered, bustling when you left.

A three-courtyard residence was actually a bit too large for her to live in alone. The front courtyard for receiving guests, the rear courtyard for living—the middle could be modified slightly.

She had someone prepare the four treasures of the study and seriously began drawing the courtyard’s layout plan.

Anyway, she would be the only one living there. She didn’t need to consult with anyone. Whatever was comfortable was best. She loved eating peaches, so she’d plant some peach trees—in spring she could also admire the peach blossoms.

She also loved green bamboo. Planting half a circle of bamboo along the lake would be quite nice.

She vaguely remembered that Yu’er said he loved eating persimmons, so she’d have people plant more persimmon trees along the courtyard walls.

Changsheng loved eating lychees, but the capital’s soil and water couldn’t sustain lychees.

Changsheng also loved small animals like cats and rabbits. Why not build another small garden specifically for raising these little creatures…

As she drew, the sky gradually darkened.

While Yun Chu enjoyed herself here, everyone else in the Xie family found it difficult to sleep.

Xie Jingyu couldn’t sleep because of his illness.

Xie Zhongcheng and Yuan Shi couldn’t sleep from worrying about the Xie family’s future.

Xie Shi’an—whenever he closed his eyes, several faces would float before him: his birth mother He Lingying’s face, the Old Madam’s face, and his elder sister Xie Ping’s face.

He couldn’t sleep. He simply couldn’t sleep.

In the past, he only needed to study well. All matters inside and outside the Xie family would naturally be handled by others.

But now? He didn’t know why, but all the responsibility and pressure seemed to have been placed entirely on his shoulders.

His birthday was in early winter. By winter, he would still only be a thirteen-year-old youth. Why should he have to bear the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of the entire family?

Xie Shi’an struggled through all kinds of emotions, and before he knew it, dawn had arrived.

The sky had just barely brightened. He got up, changed his clothes, finished washing up, took his books, and headed for the Imperial Academy.

No matter what happened at home, no matter what he would encounter, he couldn’t possibly give up the opportunity at the Imperial Academy. He must step on everyone at the Imperial Academy and walk before His Majesty, walk to the highest place.

When a person became strong enough, when a person stood high enough and stable enough, no wind or rain could destroy him.

Court officials attended court earlier than the Imperial Academy. After waiting a while longer, they would be dismissed. Along the way, he didn’t encounter many people.

Xie Shi’an’s carriage traveled to the palace gate, where he encountered several classmates also coming to attend classes at the Imperial Academy.

As soon as he heard those people’s voices, he knew they were the Sixth Prince’s dissolute hangers-on, who often made things difficult for him alongside the Sixth Prince.

He got down from the carriage, quickened his pace, and rapidly walked toward the palace gate.

“Stop right there.”

A reckless voice rang out behind him.

He knew this was the heir of Marquis Pingjin, the Sixth Prince’s number one follower.

“I thought Young Master Xie wouldn’t be coming to the Imperial Academy anymore.” The Pingjin heir walked before Xie Shi’an and said mockingly, “Previously you were Prince An’jing’s brother-in-law, putting on airs before us every day. Now that Prince An’jing has died for treason, you still have this half-dead appearance—who are you showing it to!”

As he spoke, he reached out and patted Xie Shi’an’s face.

Xie Shi’an hadn’t slept all night and had no energy to tangle with him. He stepped back: “Has the young lord finished speaking? If so, I’ll go in.”

“Did I say you could leave?” The Pingjin heir suddenly raised his foot and kicked Xie Shi’an in the abdomen.

Xie Shi’an was kicked to the ground.

He clenched his fists but didn’t force himself to get up.

As long as he waited for these people to have their fun, they would naturally let him go.

Right now, he didn’t have enough power. Besides endurance, he had no second choice.

The Pingjin heir said some mocking and cutting words and kicked him a few more times. By this time, many students had arrived, so he was just about ready to enter the Imperial Academy to study.

Just then, a familiar voice came from far to near.

“Xie Shi’an, my good nephew, your dear uncle has finally found you!”

This familiar voice made Xie Shi’an suddenly lift his head. He looked and saw a figure he hadn’t seen in a long time rapidly walking toward him.

His pupils involuntarily widened to their maximum.

After accidentally spotting He Xu returning to the capital last time, he had paid several people to watch He Xu’s movements, wanting to deal with him.

But so many days had passed, and those people couldn’t even find a shadow of He Xu. He had thought he must have been mistaken, and perhaps He Xu had been chased by creditors from the gambling house and fled the capital again…

He never imagined he would see He Xu here.

He saw the malicious smile on He Xu’s face and inwardly thought this was very bad.

He Xu walked closer step by step, seeing Xie Shi’an wearing brocade, his hair bound with a jade crown—completely the appearance of someone raised on fine clothes and food.

Enjoying overwhelming wealth and honor himself, yet driving his relatives to extinction one by one… He was Xie Shi’an’s own maternal uncle! In this world, besides parents, uncles were closest. Yet this dear nephew had tried to have him killed time and again.

If not for Madam’s loyal servant Chen Bo protecting him, finding him lodging, and arranging people to serve and protect him, he wouldn’t have survived until now.

Why should he live like a rat while this nephew walked a broad and open road?

If he wasn’t doing well, no one should think of doing well—even if it was his own nephew!