Yun Chu looked at Tingyu with somewhat complicated feelings.

Tingyu and Tingshuang were born in the same year. Now twenty years old, she was already the mother of a four-year-old child.

From the time she could remember, Tingyu and Tingshuang had been serving by her side. Tingshuang was steady, Tingyu was attentive, and the two were as close to her as sisters.

When she was twelve, she accidentally fell into the water. It was Tingyu who jumped in and saved her. But Tingyu herself hadn’t made it to shore in time and remained unconscious for over half a month.

Tingyu had saved her, so even after Tingyu climbed into Xie Jingyu’s bed behind her back, she had never truly blamed Tingyu.

Until later when the Yun Family met with disaster, Tingyu chose to side with the Xie Family and even ordered Xie Shiyun to bring that cup of poison to her.

She couldn’t let go of what happened in her past life.

Tingyu had saved her but had also betrayed her. The two canceled each other out, so her approach to Tingyu was cold detachment.

But Tingyu kept coming over again and again.

A person with greed would sooner or later come to trouble because of that greed.

“Mother!”

While she was thinking, Xie Shiyun threw himself into her arms.

This child had been sent to her side as soon as he was born. Except for having Tingyu nurse him, he had grown up by her side all other times.

It wasn’t until Yun Brother turned three that he moved out of her bedroom to live with Tingyu in the side courtyard.

“Mother, I haven’t dined with you in so long, and I haven’t seen you in so long either.” Xie Shiyun pouted pitifully. “Does Mother not like me anymore?”

Yun Chu’s smile didn’t reach her eyes: “It’s that Yun Brother has grown up and should understand the rules now.”

Tingyu quickly pulled her son over: “This concubine will certainly discipline Yun Brother properly in the future. Madam, please quickly drink the soup while it’s hot.”

“Concubine Yu is now half a mistress. You shouldn’t always go to the kitchen doing such rough work,” Yun Chu said blandly. “I’m tired. You may withdraw.”

Tingyu nodded and left with Xie Shiyun.

“Auntie, why won’t Mother acknowledge me anymore?” Xie Shiyun felt extremely wronged. “She clearly wasn’t like this before…”

Tingyu didn’t understand why either. Madam had clearly given her whole heart to Yun Brother before, but now wouldn’t even say an extra word. Where exactly had things gone wrong…

Yun Chu entered the side hall. As soon as she closed the door, Chu Hongyu rushed over from the side and hugged her.

The little fellow looked up and asked, “That child just now called you Mother. Is he the son you gave birth to?”

Yun Chu laughed: “Why are you asking this?”

“I’m jealous of him.” Chu Hongyu bit his little lip. “Jealous that he can openly call you Mother, jealous that he can see you every day. I want to become him.”

Yun Chu said gently, “You are you. You don’t need to become anyone else.”

“If it weren’t for my little sister still at home, I would never want to go back.” Chu Hongyu opened his dark eyes wide. “Mother-dear, my little sister is very pretty and very cute, but she can’t speak. Would you like a child who can’t speak?”

Yun Chu was somewhat surprised.

Everyone in the capital knew that Prince Pingxi had a pair of children, but she had never heard anyone mention that the young princess of Prince Pingxi’s manor was mute.

Her voice became even more gentle: “If she’s also as well-behaved and sensible as you, of course I would like her.”

Being praised as well-behaved and sensible, Chu Hongyu was so happy his mouth couldn’t close.

Just then Tingshuang came to report on some matters. The little fellow very sensibly said, “I’ll go to the side and read. I won’t disturb Mother-dear’s business.”

He walked to the low table at the side of the hall and somehow produced a book from somewhere, reading it very seriously. His short little legs couldn’t reach the ground and swung back and forth in the air.

A smile that even she herself hadn’t realized appeared on Yun Chu’s face.

She turned her head and said softly, “Arrange for someone to keep watch at Prince Pingxi’s manor. If there’s any disturbance at all, report back immediately.”

Tingfeng received the order and went to the front courtyard to make arrangements.

Tingshuang took the account books and carefully reported the earnings from the outside shops and estates for the previous month.

Listening to those numbers, Yun Chu slowly frowned.

Just like in her past life, those estates of hers outside the city were doing worse and worse, gradually declining. Later she had sold them all.

She needed to think carefully about what businesses besides ice would be more profitable…

While she was talking with Tingshuang here, Chu Hongyu was feeling more and more bored. He didn’t like reading. Being able to sit quietly for a quarter-hour was already quite impressive. The key issue was that there were many characters in the book he didn’t recognize, so he couldn’t understand it even when reading. Pretending was truly exhausting.

“Mother-dear, I need to pee.”

The little fellow jumped down from the couch. Tingxue went over to lead him toward the privy at the back.

Because there was an extra child at Sheng Residence, Tingshuang had sent all the old servants and maids in the courtyard out to busy themselves with birthday banquet matters. The entire courtyard only had maids brought from the Yun Family.

Chu Hongyu relieved himself in the privy. Seeing a line of ants by the window, he followed the ants very curiously to the other side.

He didn’t know where he had wandered to when he saw a group of people suddenly appear ahead. Remembering Yun Chu’s words, he quickly hid in the bushes beside him.

The people ahead were the Old Madam and Yuan Shi. The two were admiring flowers in the courtyard.

“With Old Madam overseeing things, the birthday banquet preparations are all ready. Nothing will go wrong,” Yuan Shi said with a smile. “Jingyu said that Chu’er will also attend the birthday banquet to help receive guests. When that happens, the rumors in the streets and alleys will disperse on their own. Old Madam need not worry anymore.”

The Old Madam said coldly, “What, a junior attending an elder’s birthday banquet is like bestowing a favor? Should I be grateful?”

Yuan Shi didn’t know what to say. The Old Madam had quite liked Chu’er before, but after all these incidents one after another, she had developed prejudices against Chu’er. Whatever she said was useless.

“She hasn’t borne even half a son or daughter for our Xie Family—that violates the first of the seven grounds for divorce, childlessness. Not being filial to elders is the second. Claiming illness and not managing household affairs is the third,” the Old Madam said heavily. “Slapping her husband is the fourth. She’s violated four of the seven grounds. Tell me, can our Xie Family still tolerate her?”

Yuan Shi smiled bitterly. How had the topic returned to divorce again?

Chu’er had only been somewhat willful in her actions recently, but for the past four or five years she had always followed the rules properly. Not a single fault could be found in her conduct toward family or outsiders. One couldn’t completely negate a person because of temporary willfulness.

But she knew that if she tried to persuade at this moment, it would only make the Old Madam’s fury burn even hotter, so she could only swallow back those words.

“She just has a slightly higher family status. In what other way does she compare to our Jingyu?” the Old Madam said resentfully. “Jingyu is learned, talented, and exceptionally handsome. In all the capital, you can’t find a second man with both talent and looks like him. Being matched with that Yun Chu is truly a waste. And she even slapped him. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll definitely have Jingyu slap her back…”

Hiding in the bushes, Chu Hongyu clenched his little fists tightly.

Mother-dear was better than that man called Xie something-or-other Yu in every way. This old woman was simply blind with age, actually saying such ridiculous things.

She even wanted to slap Mother-dear. What kind of daydream was she having?

Chu Hongyu really wanted to jump out and angrily berate Old Madam Xie.

But he feared his existence would be discovered. If that happened, Mother-dear would definitely never allow him to come to the Xie Family again.

What should he do?

The little fellow’s eyes rolled, and suddenly he had a plan.

Wasn’t the old woman going to celebrate her big birthday? Hmph, he would let her have an unforgettable birthday banquet for the rest of her life.