Many women from the Yun family came.

Although the Yun family was currently in trouble, that was merely an issue with the previous dynasty. The Emperor had not truly touched the Yun family’s foundation—such a vast estate was still there and needed people to manage it.

Lin Shi was getting on in years, and Liu Shi was pregnant. Now they were having Yun Chu, a young woman who had separated from her husband, manage everything.

Those people thought that Yun Chu had previously been a sheltered young lady, and later the mistress of the Xie family’s humble household. Naturally, she wouldn’t be able to manage the Yun family’s enormous business empire, so it made perfect sense for them to come and help.

These women normally took care of their husbands and educated their children, and managed a dowry or two. They had plenty of spare time, so when they heard that Yun Chu needed people here, they naturally came.

A group of people gathered in the flower hall.

“All of you aunts, uncles’ wives, and sisters-in-law, please sit.”

Yun Chu smiled and invited everyone to sit. The maids served them tea and refreshments one by one.

“I’ve just taken over the Yun family business, and I’m truly overwhelmed, so I can only ask everyone to come and help.” She smiled as she spoke. “I know that each of your families also has people responsible for the Yun family business. For example, Third Master’s nephew is mainly responsible for the Yun family’s farmland in Jizhou. Seventh Grand-Uncle’s eldest grandson inspects all the Yun family estates every year. The Yun family’s fabric business is…”

She clearly explained who did what in each family.

Fourth Aunt Yun, who had been somewhat looking down on Yun Chu just moments ago, couldn’t help but straighten her posture, frowning slightly.

“Currently, the Yun family is going through troubled times. Business is more difficult than before, and the people beneath us will inevitably cause some incidents. My strength alone definitely cannot take care of everything. I was thinking of dividing these ledgers among us. Each of us will be responsible for a few shops or estates, attending to every detail, striving to prevent any chaos.” Yun Chu had people bring up several trunks of ledgers. “This year’s accounts are all here. Everyone can speak up about what they’re good at.”

Everyone present was shocked.

They had thought Yun Chu would just assign them some specific task to do. They never expected that she would actually divide up the ledgers.

You must know that ledgers are the most important thing for a shop. Having the ledgers means having a say in that shop.

Giving out the ledgers was equivalent to dividing power.

Everyone wanted to consolidate power, yet Yun Chu was giving it away as soon as she got her hands on it?

Fourth Aunt Yun couldn’t help but sneer.

She had thought Yun Chu was capable, but it turned out she was just lazy. Giving the accounts to others—what business would she even manage? Laughable.

The people present didn’t speak up right away.

Fourth Aunt Yun looked around the room before saying, “Since Chu’er needs our help, I won’t decline. My dowry includes a silk and satin shop, so I know this area inside and out. Chu’er, why don’t you let me supervise the Yun family’s fabric ledgers?”

Yun Chu nodded with a smile. “I heard that Fourth Uncle has a tea shop that you’ve been helping to manage, Fourth Aunt. How about you also oversee the Yun family’s tea estates?”

Fourth Aunt Yun was overjoyed.

After all, she still cared about face, so she only dared to request the slightly less important fabric business. She never expected that in the next moment, Yun Chu would also hand her the tea business.

Fabric and tea combined accounted for sixty percent of the Yun family’s profits—they were truly two large pieces of fat meat.

When a pie falls from the sky, it would be foolish not to take it.

Fourth Aunt Yun patted her chest. “Since Chu’er needs me, I definitely won’t disappoint your trust!”

Third Aunt Yun immediately became dissatisfied. She said incredulously, “Fourth Sister-in-law, your small tea shop only makes a hundred taels of silver a year. The Yun family’s tea estates profit over ten thousand annually. Can you really manage them properly?”

Fourth Aunt Yun smiled. “Could it be that you want to manage them instead, Third Sister-in-law?”

Third Aunt Yun’s words were blocked.

Her son Yun Run was excellent, so she was too lazy to bother with business management. Every day she just drank tea and socialized with the ladies in her circle, paving the way for her son.

She couldn’t figure out business matters anyway. Today she had just come to join in the excitement.

She was quite speechless about her eldest sister-in-law Lin Shi, who had actually handed the business over to Yun Chu, a daughter married out of the family. And Yun Chu was being so reckless about it all.

The Yun family should change its head of household. Her son should become the clan leader…

Third Aunt Yun stood up. “Chu’er, these businesses are the foundation of our Yun family. If they’re ruined in your hands, you’ll be a sinner of our Yun family. I won’t get involved in these matters. I’ll take my leave first.”

The family business accumulated generation after generation was concentrated in the main family’s hands, supporting this enormous clan.

If the family business was gone, the Yun family would cease to be a family.

She put down her teacup and left directly.

Yun Chu’s eyes narrowed.

That Third Aunt wasn’t getting involved in these matters was somewhat beyond her expectations.

Based on everyone’s family situations, she divided up the ledgers. The women who came all took their ledgers and left happily.

In Yun Chu’s hands, only the master ledger remained.

After finishing all this, the Imperial Academy let out. Before she even saw anyone, she heard Chu Hongyu’s voice coming from the other side of the wall.

“Mother, I’m back!”

Yun Chu quickly went out and scooped up the little one who came rushing over.

The little one hugged Yun Chu’s neck and said, “Fortunately I ran fast. Otherwise, when Uncle Crown Prince and Second Uncle came, I wouldn’t have been able to secretly squeeze through the door opening.”

Yun Chu indeed saw that as soon as the little one came through, Steward Cheng had people cover the door opening. It turned out the Crown Prince and Prince Gongxi had arrived.

The two courtyards were only separated by a wall. She worried that the little one’s noise would be heard, so she led the two children to the front courtyard.

The Crown Prince and Prince Gongxi walked into the courtyard together, looking left and right.

This courtyard had refinement but lacked grandeur. It truly was not fitting as the residence of a prince.

The two frowned as they walked to Chu Yi’s courtyard. The disdain on their faces deepened—the main quarters were actually in a corner against the wall, extremely off-center. Who knows what genius had designed this.

“Crown Prince Imperial Brother, Second Imperial Brother.” Chu Yi lay in bed without moving. “The imperial physician instructed me not to get up. Please forgive my rudeness.”

The Crown Prince nodded. “I heard from the imperial physician that your heart was nearly pierced. You should indeed lie down and recuperate properly. However, this courtyard of yours is too cramped and not suitable for recovering from illness. You should bow to Father Emperor sooner and move back to the prince’s manor.”

Prince Gongxi advised, “Third Brother, to make such a fuss over a woman is truly not worth it.”

Chu Yi’s voice was low and hoarse. “As long as I think it’s worth it, that’s enough.”

“I really didn’t know that Third Brother was such a romantic.” The Crown Prince looked completely unable to understand. “You’ll understand later—women are like clothing. No matter how much you like them now, after a while, you’ll immediately fall for new clothes again.”

Chu Yi said nothing.

Prince Gongxi spoke slowly, “If Third Brother insists on this, Father Emperor may arrange for someone to kill your sweetheart. Even then, Third Brother still won’t yield?”

Chu Yi’s expression finally changed.

Prince Gongxi opened the paper fan in his hand and smiled.

He had originally thought Third Brother had no weak points at all, and could never find a breakthrough.

Now, this weak point had delivered itself to his door.

He heard that Consort Yin had come to the door several times but hadn’t caught that woman—she must be hidden somewhere…

If that woman fell into his hands, he would definitely use her to make the Crown Prince and Third Brother mortal enemies…