The carriage stopped in front of the General’s Manor.

“Eldest Miss!”

“Eldest Miss has returned!”

The two guards stationed at the manor gate saw her and, after saluting, turned and ran inside to report.

Yun Chu had just walked in when she saw her mother Lin Shi and sister-in-law Liu Qianqian coming out to greet her together.

Lin Shi grasped her hand, saying happily: “Chu’er, why didn’t you send word that you were coming home?”

“Mother was talking about you just a few days ago.” Liu Qianqian spoke with a smile. “If your elder brother knew you were coming today, he’d cancel all his outside engagements no matter what.”

At the mention of her elder brother, Yun Chu’s eyes suddenly reddened.

Their Yun family had served in the military for generations. Her great-grandfather died on the battlefield. Of Grandfather’s generation, only Grandfather remained. Father stood guard at the front lines bearing wounds.

Because many Yun family men had perished on the battlefield, by Elder Brother’s generation, he was forbidden from learning martial arts. Elder Brother studied and pursued an official career. Last year at twenty-three, he passed the imperial examination and became a third-class presented scholar. He was now a seventh-rank official in the court.

When the Yun family was charged with treason, Elder Brother was the first to know. He immediately submitted a memorial defending the Yun family but was thrown into prison.

The day after Elder Brother was imprisoned, news came from the jail for the Yun family to collect his body.

She never even saw Elder Brother one last time…

“Why are you crying for no reason?” Lin Shi was startled. “Chu’er, have the Xie family wronged you?”

Only then did Yun Chu realize her face was wet. She hastily wiped it messily with her sleeve and threw herself into Lin Shi’s embrace: “Mother, I haven’t been home in so long. I missed you, I missed home…”

“You silly child, if you miss home, just come home.” Lin Shi patted her back. “Although there’s no rule for married daughters to frequently return home, the Xie family can’t control our Yun family. From now on, every few days I’ll have someone go to the Xie manor to bring you back.”

Feeling the reassuring presence of her mother, Yun Chu’s mood gradually calmed.

It was still more than ten years until the Yun family would be raided. Such a thing would definitely not happen again in this lifetime. She needn’t be sad or upset.

Her voice hoarse, she said: “I’ll go see Grandfather.”

Grandfather had fought on battlefields in his youth and was covered in injuries. Now that he was old, his legs weren’t very mobile, and he spent most of his time lying on his bed.

Originally Grandfather could have passed away with honor and his meritorious service intact, but in the end, to prove his innocence, he used the blade that had struck down enemy forces to slit his own throat.

“Chu’er has come back.” Old General Yun was half-reclining on the bed. When he smiled, the scar on his face was hidden by the wrinkles. “Come here, let Grandfather test how many moves you still remember.”

Yun Chu felt somewhat guilty: “Grandfather, please let me off.”

When she was young, because Grandfather was injured and could no longer go to battle, he spent most of his time at home. Elder Brother had to study, so Grandfather focused on teaching her martial arts.

She had a playful nature and couldn’t sit still. Back then Grandmother was still alive and often protected her, forbidding Grandfather from teaching her martial arts.

With this intermittent approach—three days of fishing, two days of drying nets—she barely managed to learn some moves, but after marrying, she forgot them completely.

“A person still needs to have some skills to rely on.” Old General Yun spoke. “If you rely on others, they will leave. If you rely on mountains, they will crumble. Money will also run out one day. Only talent and martial arts ingrained in your bones will accompany you for life.”

“I’m sorry, Grandfather. I was too immature before.” Yun Chu raised her eyes. “Grandfather, could you arrange someone to teach me martial arts?”

Old General Yun looked at her: “Are these sincere words, or are you just making Grandfather happy?”

Yun Chu spoke coquettishly: “Even if it’s to make you happy, I still have to study earnestly. Then every few days I’ll come find Grandfather to spar with. You can’t find me annoying.”

Old General Yun laughed heartily and promised to find her a suitable person to send to the Xie manor within three days.

Yun Chu ate a meal with her family, then sat in the flower hall with her mother and sister-in-law discussing recent trivial matters. Her mood was very pleasant.

Lin Shi sighed: “Your younger sister Ran’jie was ill a couple years ago, which delayed her marriage arrangements. She’s already seventeen—if we don’t arrange viewings soon, she’ll become an old maiden.”

Liu Qianqian spoke: “Tomorrow’s flower viewing banquet at the Eldest Princess’s residence is actually a viewing event for all the major families in the capital. We can arrange a good match for Ran’jie then. Mother needn’t worry about this.”

Yun Chu’s fingers paused.

Yun Ran was her half-sister, but her birth mother died in childbirth, so she was raised entirely by Mother and was like a blood sister to her.

Because her half-sister had a weak constitution and fell ill two years ago, which affected her marriage prospects, her age had been delayed. Being anxious about choosing a marriage, she made the wrong decision.

“Mother, can you take me to the flower viewing banquet too?” Yun Chu asked. “Since becoming the Xie family’s madam, I haven’t seen my former close friends in a long time.”

As the wife of a fifth-rank minor official, she was no longer in the same social circle as those daughters of second and third-rank officials from before.

For instance, the Eldest Princess’s flower viewing banquet would absolutely not invite her.

She could only use the Yun family’s invitation.

Lin Shi nodded: “Perfect. You can also look at the two families I’m considering for your half-sister and help me choose.”

As they were talking, Yun Ze returned.

Yun Ze was the Yun manor’s eldest young master, four years older than Yun Chu. Last year at twenty-three, he only then passed as a third-class presented scholar, which wasn’t particularly outstanding in the entire capital.

But Yun Chu knew her brother was very excellent. He clearly could have passed the imperial examination at eighteen, clearly could have become at least the second-place scholar, but fearing the Yun family would be viewed with suspicion by the Emperor, he deliberately waited five years before taking the examination…

“Your elder brother is back. You siblings chat for a while.” Lin Shi stood up. “Qianqian, come with me to the kitchen to see if the pastries are ready.”

She knew her daughter must have something important if she came back this time, otherwise she wouldn’t have kept waiting.

Yun Chu was indeed waiting for Yun Ze to return.

“Elder Brother, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.” She pressed her lips together and spoke. “Could you arrange for someone to make a trip to Jizhou?”

“Jizhou—isn’t that where the Xie family’s ancestral home is?” Yun Ze looked at her. “Has something happened?”

Yun Chu lowered her head: “I dreamed of my deceased children. They said they were so cold, so cold… The children were stillborn and couldn’t enter the Xie family ancestral tomb. They were casually buried somewhere back in the ancestral home. I want to ask Elder Brother to arrange for someone to bring the children’s remains back to the capital. I… I want to rebury the two children properly…”

Xie Jingyu had sons and daughters. He wouldn’t care about two dead children, so for this matter, she could only ask Elder Brother for help.

“Don’t tell Mother and Grandfather.” She said in a low voice. “I don’t want them to worry… Elder Brother, don’t worry about me either. I just want to let the children rest in peace again. Please fulfill this wish for me.”

Yun Ze sighed.

He reached out and, just like when they were young, ruffled her hair, his voice gentle: “There are floods in Jizhou. The court is about to send someone there. I’ll personally go bring my nephew and niece back and find them an auspicious burial site.”

Yun Chu choked up: “Thank you, Elder Brother.”

“Chu’er, remember—our Yun family will always be your strongest support. If the Xie family wrongs you, at worst you can divorce. Your inability to bear children is not your fault. Don’t let yourself be looked down upon in the Xie family because of this. You are the Yun family’s eldest miss, my most prideful sister, the precious pearl in our parents’ palms. Live however you wish to live.”

Leaving the Yun family home, sitting in the carriage, Yun Chu wept inconsolably.