The screen before her was something Yun Chu had commissioned from the least skilled embroiderer she could find, completed in just a day’s work.

This was the birthday gift she intended to present to Old Madam Xie, costing less than two taels of silver in total.

Over the past four or five years, she had racked her brains for gifts for the old madam’s birthday every single year. The first year, she had gifted a coral basin worth eight hundred taels of silver. The second year, she had personally participated in crafting a complete set of emerald and gold hairpieces. The third year… In any case, each birthday gift had cost time and money. Looking back now, she truly felt it wasn’t worth it.

Look at this screen—though it was rather ugly, as long as she claimed she had embroidered it herself, no one would dare say anything. They might even praise her filial devotion.

Yun Chu had someone put away the screen, and the maids brought out the dinner dishes one by one.

She had ordered a table full of light dishes that children loved to eat, including a steamed fish. She personally picked out the fish bones and placed the meat in Chu Hongyu’s bowl.

Chu Hongyu stood on his chair, reaching out with his little arms to ladle a bowl of chicken soup for Yun Chu.

After dinner ended, the little fellow picked up his book and continued reading. The Three Character Classic that he previously couldn’t read smoothly, he could now recite haltingly through most of it.

Yun Chu had Tingshuang carefully accompany the child with his studies, while she herself rose and headed to the small temple at the Xie residence.

Only a young nun and He Shi lived in this temple. Because they feared He Shi would cause trouble again, Xie Jingyu had ordered two matrons to guard the entrance.

Seeing Yun Chu arrive, the two matrons hastily bowed: “Greetings, Madam.”

Yun Chu said lightly: “Has that He Shi been behaving herself these past days?”

One matron replied: “She’s been lying in her room all day nursing her injuries. No matter what food is sent in, she eats it all clean and sends the dishes back out. She’s been quite obedient.”

Yun Chu nodded and stepped inside. Tingfeng went forward and pushed open He Shi’s door.

He Shi was lying down embroidering something. Seeing Yun Chu arrive, her expression changed, then she obediently got down from the bed to bow in greeting.

Tingfeng picked up the embroidered item and handed it to Yun Chu.

Yun Chu glanced at it and smiled: “Nanny He, even while confined here, you still thought to embroider a birthday gift for the old madam. To have such thoughtfulness is truly rare.”

He Shi lowered her eyes and said: “This forehead band will be finished if this servant spends another half day embroidering it. When that time comes, could Madam show mercy and find someone to help deliver it to the old madam?”

“Since this is a birthday gift you embroidered yourself, naturally it would be more appropriate for you to deliver it yourself.” Yun Chu’s voice was very gentle. “The old madam’s birthday is a rare happy occasion. I’ll lift your confinement for that one day, but remember—don’t cause any trouble.”

He Shi could hardly believe it.

She had schemed so elaborately to frame the madam for poisoning Concubine Tao, which had resulted in her confinement. Yet the madam was actually voluntarily lifting her confinement for a day?

She didn’t dare rejoice too soon, always feeling that something bad was waiting for her.

Yun Chu dropped these words and walked straight out.

Returning to Sheng Residence, Chu Hongyu had already fallen asleep. The little fellow still clutched his book in his arms, muttering words in his mouth. Listening carefully, he was actually still reciting the Three Character Classic.

She laughed despite herself, pulled out the book, removed the child’s clothes, covered him with the quilt, and lay down beside him to sleep as well.

That night, she slept very soundly. When she woke in the morning, the sky was already bright.

Turning her head to look, she found the little fellow beside her was gone, and her heart suddenly felt empty for a moment.

Tingshuang said with a smile: “The Young Lord woke very early. He said that today is his last day staying at the Xie family, and he wants to give you a gift, Madam.”

Yun Chu followed Tingshuang quietly to the side hall and saw the little fellow holding a section of wood in his hands while gripping a short knife in the other, carving a wooden sculpture.

His expression was extremely serious, as if he were doing something tremendously important.

Yun Chu also began to ponder—what should she give this child?

“Madam, the concubines have all come to pay their respects.”

Tingshuang remained in the side hall watching the child, while Yun Chu went to the front.

Concubine Jiang, Concubine Tao, Concubine Yu, plus several young masters and young ladies were all present.

“Madam, your complexion looks good. It seems you’ve fully recovered,” Concubine Jiang said with a smile. “You’ll be just in time to attend the old madam’s birthday banquet.”

“Speaking of the banquet, I should ask Miss Ping something.” Yun Chu spoke up. “Have all the preparations for tomorrow been completed? If there’s anything you’re uncertain about, we can discuss it now.”

Xie Ping replied: “The old madam has personally overseen the banquet preparations. Everything is ready. Mother need not worry about these trivial matters.”

The old madam had said that once the birthday banquet ended, she would hand over all the household management authority Mother currently held to her. Before her marriage, she would manage everything in the Xie residence. If an unmarried young lady could manage the household in perfect order, it would be a major advantage when discussing marriage prospects…

Yun Chu didn’t inquire further about the banquet and instead asked about the recent situations of the concubines and children one by one.

Concubine Tao’s body was getting heavier and heavier. She would likely give birth during the hottest time of year.

Concubine Jiang had Miss Xian begin learning to recognize characters and read, just starting her education.

Not to be outdone, Concubine Yu had sent Brother Yun to the small school within the residence to study with a tutor.

After taking family discipline last time, Xie Shiwei had become much more obedient, sitting quietly to the side during the greeting without making a sound.

The group talked for a while, then dispersed.

After leaving Sheng Residence, Xie Shiyun tugged on Tingyu’s sleeve and said: “Concubine Mother, Mother doesn’t like me anymore. Is it because she has another child?”

Tingyu shook her head. The madam had not only grown much colder toward Brother Yun—she was like this with the eldest and second young masters as well. Even the master had been slapped…

To be honest, even though she had served the madam since childhood and knew the madam’s habits inside and out, she couldn’t see through what the madam was trying to do now.

“Concubine Mother, I saw another child in Mother’s courtyard.” Xie Shiyun said in a low voice. “Yesterday when I came to play by Mother’s courtyard, I heard a child speaking inside—a boy’s voice. I waited for a very long time before I saw a boy walk out from the side hall, about the same age as me… It must be because of this child that Mother doesn’t like me anymore!”

These words clearly weren’t fabricated randomly. Tingyu’s expression showed shock: “You really saw this?”

Xie Shiyun nodded vigorously.

Tingyu’s hand suddenly clenched.

This child was most likely someone from a branch family of the Yun clan. Could it be that since the madam had no children of her own, she wanted to adopt one from the Yun family?

If the madam truly raised a child with the same bloodline by her side, then her Brother Yun would never again have a chance to win the madam’s favor.

Did the old madam know about this? Did the mistress know? Did the master know?

Tomorrow was the old madam’s birthday banquet. Was the madam planning to make this child’s presence known at the celebration?

Various thoughts whirled through Tingyu’s mind, but she didn’t dare take any action because she wasn’t certain what the madam intended to do…

As soon as Yun Chu reached the side hall, the little fellow hid what he held in his hands: “Mother, don’t look at me. I’ll give you a surprise in a little while.”

“Alright then, Mother will wait.” She sat by the window and busied her hands as well.

She was also preparing a parting gift for the little fellow.

This was the last day. Just thinking about how the little fellow would leave the Xie family tomorrow, she actually felt a faint sense of reluctance in her heart.