The morning light barely glimmered.

Yun Chu had risen very early.

Ever since the Xie family fell, the morning ritual of paying respects had automatically been abolished. She contentedly finished her breakfast, then prepared to go to the Yun family residence.

Just as she stood up, she heard someone in the courtyard paying respects: “Eldest Young Master.”

She raised her eyes and looked, seeing Xie Shi’an walking in through the courtyard entrance.

The disheveled appearance all over him seemed to have been washed clean. He wore his former brocade robes, his hair tied up, his back straight. If not for the cloth covering his right eye, he looked no different from the former Eldest Young Master of the Xie family.

“Although the Xie family is not what it once was, propriety cannot be abandoned.” He cupped his hands toward Yun Chu. “This son pays respects to Mother.”

Yun Chu sat back down and asked casually, “Why aren’t you resting properly? Dressed like this, are you going out?”

Xie Shi’an nodded. “Father died early, so I am the pillar of the family. The Xie family now… I want to earn some silver to get through the current difficulties first.”

All the servants of the Xie family had scattered. Only one maid remained by Grandmother’s side, only one servant boy remained by his side, and the concubine’s courtyard had no servants left at all.

The reason Mother could still live as before was because Mother was a member of the Yun family.

How could the Yun family stand by and watch Mother suffer?

If he wanted the Yun family to support the Xie family, he must let the Yun family see his efforts and hard work. Only if he could lift himself up would the Yun family support him, wouldn’t they?

Yun Chu had thought he was going to meet Prince Gongxi, but unexpectedly he was going to earn silver.

Just back from death row, and already bustling about for the Xie family… If he hadn’t encountered her, a reborn person, Xie Shi’an was destined to succeed.

She pressed her lips tight.

It was to avenge the blood debt of the two children that she personally killed Xie Jingyu.

But in fact, the two children had not died.

With the children still alive, her heart had gained an inch of tender ground.

Xie Jingyu was already dead.

Xie Shi’an was blind.

The Xie family had become what it was now.

Should she continue to take action…

Thinking of this, Yun Chu laughed self-mockingly.

In her previous life, it was because she was too soft-hearted, holding beautiful expectations for everything, that she ended up in such a state.

As long as Xie Shi’an could still stir up trouble and still wanted to climb upward, she could never let her guard down.

“You are the eldest son, you should indeed shoulder your responsibilities.” Yun Chu spoke. “Have Duoxi take you first to offer incense and kowtow to your father. As for future matters, we’ll plan them slowly.”

Xie Shi’an nodded. “Yes.”

Duoxi led him away.

Yun Chu boarded her carriage and went to the Yun family residence.

Court had just dismissed at this time, and Yun Ze had also just returned from the palace.

“Elder Brother, I have something to discuss with you.” Yun Chu pulled Yun Ze to sit in the pavilion, pausing before speaking. “Four years ago, the twins I gave birth to prematurely…”

At the mention of those two children, pain surfaced on Yun Ze’s face.

Chu’er’s due date should have been in spring, but it had been moved up by two full months, disrupting the Yun family’s plans.

At that time, he was away on official business by imperial decree, and his mother and wife were accompanying the Empress Dowager to the temple to recite sutras. Thus, on the night Chu’er gave birth, not a single member of the Yun family was present, which was why such an irreversible tragedy occurred…

“Elder Brother, my children are still alive…” Yun Chu’s voice involuntarily choked up. “One son and one daughter, both alive and well.”

Yun Ze abruptly stood up. “Chu’er, are you certain of these words?”

“It’s true, they are still alive. Elder Brother, you’ve even met them…” Yun Chu couldn’t help but smile. “It’s Brother Yu and Changsheng.”

Yun Ze thought he had heard wrong. “What? Say that again!”

“The Young Lord and Young County Princess of Prince Pingxi’s residence are the twins I gave birth to that year.” Yun Chu’s eyes sparkled brightly, then dimmed. “I came to discuss with Elder Brother whether there’s any way to bring the children back to my side.”

In dealing with the Xie family, she was at ease.

But facing Prince Pingxi’s residence, she became helpless, completely unsure of what step to take next.

She feared doing too much would harm the two children.

She feared doing too little would prevent her from getting the two children.

Difficulties on all sides.

Caught in a dilemma.

Difficult, difficult, difficult.

She could only come to Elder Brother for guidance.

Yun Ze sat back down. “Chu’er, how did your children become Prince Pingxi’s children? What exactly happened in between? Have you figured it out yourself? Do you need me to investigate?”

Yun Chu drank a sip of tea and briefly recounted what happened on the wedding night five years ago.

“Outrageous!”

Yun Ze, usually a refined and elegant person, angrily slammed the table so hard that the tea water on it overturned from the震動.

“No wonder you wanted to destroy Marquis Xuanwu’s household. So, so he did such a thing!” His chest heaved violently. “Xie Jingyu had such audacity, he actually dared scheme against the Yun family. How could he just die from illness? He should have lived well, should have been unable to live yet unable to die, should have had his life ended by my own hands!”

Yun Chu lowered her eyes.

She didn’t dare tell Elder Brother that she had killed Xie Jingyu.

She feared Elder Brother would feel heartbroken that she had been stained with blood…

“Prince Pingxi, he, he! I always thought he was an upright gentleman, but unexpectedly, he’s so filthy and shameless!” Yun Ze’s rage shot straight to the crown of his head.

He and Prince Pingxi Chu Yi were about the same age. One was an imperial prince, one was the son of a great general. In their childhood, they often met at various banquets. Although the two couldn’t be considered close friends, their relationship was closer than ordinary acquaintances.

The Prince Pingxi he knew was an outstanding person among men, a man of passionate blood. People in the military all said Prince Pingxi was righteous and loyal to the heavens, the best comrade-in-arms and the best general.

He truly never imagined that Chu’er had actually been defiled by Prince Pingxi and had her son and daughter taken away.

“He definitely had premeditated plans.” Yun Ze said in a deep voice. “He knew the Yun family wouldn’t get involved in the succession struggle, so he plotted this matter five years ago. His purpose was to use the Yun family bloodline to threaten the Yun family into stepping forward to help him seize the throne! What deep scheming, what grand calculations! Daring to scheme against our Yun family—whether he’s an imperial prince or a prince, he deserves death!”

“Elder Brother, calm down.” Yun Chu softened her voice. “The urgent matter is, without harming the two children, how can we bring them back to my side?”

Yun Ze suppressed his anger. “Prince Pingxi made Brother Yu the heir apparent, so he couldn’t possibly let the two children go easily. Unless he doesn’t have long to live and doesn’t trust others to raise the children, he could only return them to our Yun family in the end…”

Yun Chu’s heart paused, and she was about to speak.

Then she heard Sister-in-law’s voice: “In my view, you two siblings are both thinking incorrectly.”

Liu Qianqian walked into the pavilion with her large belly.

She had come to call these siblings to eat, but unexpectedly, as she drew near, she heard words that overturned her understanding.

After the initial shock passed, she calmed down to think it over and reached a conclusion completely opposite to these two siblings.

“Have you considered that perhaps—” She parted her lips. “Prince Pingxi had no knowledge of what happened that night five years ago?”