Although Prince Pingxi’s defiance of the imperial edict had not spread widely, for a first-rank ministerial family like the Yun Family, learning such information was not difficult.

“The Fang family is already the best choice within Prince Pingxi’s capabilities,” Yun Ze said slowly. “To defy the imperial edict rather than marry a Fang family daughter—what is he trying to do?”

Yun Chu shook her head.

The previous Second Miss Tan, and now Miss Fang—neither had caught that man’s eye. She didn’t know what he wanted either.

However, in her previous life, he had remained unmarried well into his thirties, so defying the edict didn’t seem so strange.

“I think the princess consort in his heart must be someone else,” Liu Qianqian said, stroking her pregnant belly. “It’s for Chu’er, isn’t it?”

“How is that possible!” Yun Ze scoffed coldly. “If he truly wanted to marry Chu’er, he wouldn’t have done such despicable things… Let’s not speak of this anymore. During this morning’s court session, the National Preceptor divined the nation’s fortune and there was unfavorable news.”

Yun Chu raised her eyes. “Is it about the southern border?”

Yun Ze nodded. “The divination showed that rebels have appeared in the southern border.”

“The National Preceptor is truly formidable,” Liu Qianqian said. “Father went to the southern border to execute the rebel General of Chariots and Cavalry, didn’t he?”

“The divination also showed white clouds crossing the land, leaving not a blade of grass alive, pointing directly at our Yun Family.” Yun Ze’s brows lowered. “Most people in the court don’t know Father went to the southern border, so no one dares openly say it relates to the Yun Family, but His Majesty knows full well. After court dismissed, he summoned me to the Imperial Study to ask if Father has sent any letters home recently.”

Yun Chu picked up her teacup and took a sip.

In her previous life, she had been a woman in the Xie family’s inner quarters. Regarding these major events, she only knew the results but not the detailed process.

Only now did she realize that the National Preceptor was also an important player in all this.

Her father’s disappearance was to be expected. Even without her rebirth to help, her father would return safely, so there was nothing to worry about.

But if this National Preceptor was allowed to continue, he might divine more prophecies in the future and throw more mud at the Yun Family, inevitably creating more trouble.

Was the National Preceptor the Empress Dowager’s person, or Prince Gongxi’s person?

It didn’t matter.

“Just replace the National Preceptor,” Yun Chu said.

Her words shocked Yun Ze. “Chu’er, what are you saying?”

The National Preceptor was a first-rank minister who controlled the Bureau of Astronomy and was someone His Majesty trusted extremely. For a National Preceptor to reach such a position required at least ten or twenty years—it wasn’t something that could be casually replaced.

“Elder Brother has forgotten that the scenes from my dreams have all come true,” Yun Chu said with a smile. “His Majesty values the National Preceptor because he can see the future. All other qualifications are secondary. In other words, anyone who can see the future can earn His Majesty’s trust.”

Worry crossed Yun Ze’s face. “Will it work?”

The Yun Family had always advocated self-preservation and was unwilling to participate in court disputes. To replace the National Preceptor with their own person—if exposed, the Yun Family would immediately fall.

“The current National Preceptor’s divination points directly at the Yun Family. Having done it once, there will be a second time. Keeping him is a disaster waiting to happen,” Yun Chu said slowly. “Of course, such a major matter still requires Elder Brother’s decision.”

Yun Ze didn’t hesitate for long.

He decided decisively, “Alright, then as Chu’er says, let’s replace the National Preceptor.”

After the siblings finished their midday meal, they went out into the streets.

The carriage traveled to a dilapidated temple outside the city.

Yun Chu lightly lifted the curtain. “Let’s wait first.”

When building the shelter, she had walked through every dilapidated temple and ruined house in the outskirts of the capital, and had seen many down-and-out, desperate people.

One of them had left a deep impression on her.

If choosing a future National Preceptor, his appearance was quite suitable.

Moreover, this person had a weakness.

The carriage stopped under a large tree across from the temple, watching from afar.

Before long, a man walked up the small path. He was dressed in rags, his beard unkempt, and he entered the dilapidated temple.

After sitting briefly, painful howls came from inside the temple.

The one crying out was the bearded man. His name was Ding Yiyuan, a scholar who had spent half the day finding food for his wife and child, only to have it seized by others in the temple. He fought back in resistance but was outnumbered, surrounded and beaten by seven or eight people. Not only did he fail to protect the food, he was also left covered in injuries.

“Stop hitting him, stop!” His wife rushed over holding their child. “If you keep beating him, he’ll die. Please show mercy…”

Those people weren’t truly vicious villains. After seizing the food, they dispersed.

Ding Yiyuan held his wife and child and wept. “It’s my uselessness, my cowardice…”

His family had fallen into poverty, yet his wife had still insisted on marrying him. He was too useless—after so many years of study, he still hadn’t achieved success, while his wife had fallen ill from the hardship this family brought.

He sold all his books to pay for his wife’s medical treatment. Hearing that the physicians in the capital were more skilled, he brought his wife and child to seek medical care in the capital.

But halfway there, all their money was stolen by bandits. They could only beg their way to the capital. Penniless, without even a place to stay, they settled in this dilapidated temple.

Every day he tried to find ways to earn money, but his travel documents had also been stolen by the bandits. Without proof of identity, he couldn’t find any work at all.

Thus, their family of three had lived in this dilapidated temple for half a year…

Winter was approaching. If he couldn’t find work soon, he and his wife and child might freeze to death in this temple.

They say men don’t shed tears lightly, only when truly heartbroken. Thinking about it all, Ding Yiyuan began to cry in grief, and his wife and child cried along with him.

As they cried, they suddenly smelled the aroma of food.

Ding Yiyuan raised his head and saw Yun Ze.

“Take this,” Yun Ze offered him a meat pie. “Eat something first.”

Ding Yiyuan’s eyes were full of wariness as he shielded his wife and child. “Who are you? What do you want? What are your intentions?”

His wariness was understandable—during this past half year, many men had come offering kindness, all wanting to take away his wife.

He would rather starve to death than let his wife be humiliated.

Yun Ze didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He was at least a gentleman—how could he possibly do such a thing?

He had no choice but to let Yun Chu come forward.

“No matter what we want to do, you must first fill your stomach,” Yun Chu’s voice was gentle. “This child is too thin. If he continues to starve like this, he’ll likely fall ill.”

The wife was Ding Yiyuan’s weakness, and the child was the couple’s shared weakness.

At the mention of their child, the two exchanged glances, gave up their resistance, and took the meat pie, preparing to feed it to the child.

“The meat pie is for the adults to eat, the child should drink porridge,” Yun Chu said, holding out a bowl of steaming hot pumpkin porridge. “He needs to drink porridge to recover before eating meat. Don’t rush.”

The woman repeatedly said, “Thank you, Madam, thank you…”

While the family of three ate, Yun Chu and Yun Ze learned about their experiences and couldn’t help but sigh.

Yun Ze spoke up, “I’ll take care of getting your travel documents.”

The woman wept tears of joy. “Thank you, thank you, sir…”

With travel documents, they could enter the capital and find work. They wouldn’t have to endure hunger and cold like this anymore.

However, Ding Yiyuan remained calm. “Why don’t you two speak plainly—what exactly is your purpose?”