Yun Chu had someone bring Madam Dou in.

Madam Dou was a merchant’s wife. In this dynasty, merchants had extremely low status and ordinarily would not be permitted to step foot in an official’s residence.

After entering the residence, Madam Dou kept her head lowered, not daring to look around randomly. After passing through several gates, she finally arrived at the flower hall of Sheng Residence.

“Greetings to Madam Xie.”

Madam Dou bent her body to the lowest position and respectfully paid her respects.

“Madam Dou is too polite. Please sit. Tingxue, serve tea.”

After drinking tea, Madam Dou felt much more at ease and said with a smile: “I came without sending a calling card. I hope I haven’t disturbed Madam Xie.”

Yun Chu said warmly: “Last time I also entered your Dou family’s estate without permission. Didn’t Madam Dou also not blame me?”

Madam Dou then felt that this Madam Xie was amiable and easy to get along with. She spoke frankly: “Last time Madam Xie mentioned three thousand taels of silver. After discussing with my husband, this common woman feels it’s not unacceptable.”

Yun Chu spoke: “Madam Dou should know that my son just became the provincial examination top candidate. Our Xie family is at the height of good fortune. I’m truly afraid that estate will affect our fortunes, so…”

Madam Dou was filled with regret.

That day when Madam Xie had said three thousand taels of silver, she should have agreed. Although the money wasn’t much, from a certain perspective it actually cut their losses. Otherwise, having the estate remain unsold would be even more of a loss.

However, since Madam Xie had allowed her to call at the door, she must still be interested in that estate.

She tentatively said: “Then how about two thousand taels of silver?”

Yun Chu pondered.

Madam Dou immediately became restless.

After a long while, Yun Chu finally spoke: “In business, we seek mutual willingness. Two thousand taels of silver would clearly be a loss for the Dou family. If you later regret it, it would become our Xie family’s fault. Let’s make it three thousand taels. I’ll have someone accompany you to the brokerage right now to handle the deed transfer. However, please don’t spread word of this, Madam Dou.”

Madam Dou was overjoyed. Yun Chu had Chen Defu go with the Dou family members to handle the procedures.

After finishing these matters, Yun Chu took the Xie family’s calling cards and personally returned to the Yun family to invite her family members to attend the banquet.

“An’ge’s future prospects are limitless.” Yun Ze said with emotion. “In the entire capital, you couldn’t find a second child as excellent as him.”

Lin Shi added: “This child ultimately isn’t your biological son. Though Chu’er has raised him for four years, he’s not very close to our Yun family. Although Xie Jingyu is a scoundrel, the fault doesn’t lie with An’ge. You should put in more effort. You’ll need to depend on An’ge for the rest of your life.”

Yun Chu gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

In her previous life, Mother, Elder Brother, and Sister-in-law had persuaded her exactly like this, telling her to pour her heart and soul into the several Xie family children. They hoped the Xie family children would provide for her in old age and see her to her final days.

But the children she had raised by giving everything ended up sending her and the Yun family to a dead end.

“Last time I found two families for Ran’jie. Mother chose the Dai family. This time I specifically invited Madam Dai and Young Master Dai to the Xie family. When the time comes, Mother can chat with Madam Dai, and I’ll take Ran’jie to look at Young Master Dai.” Yun Chu smiled. “In the end, Ran’jie must nod her approval for this marriage to be considered settled.”

Standing to the side, Yun Ran’s small face turned completely red.

Yun Chu changed the subject: “There’s one more matter. A divine physician has come to the capital and is currently staying in the palace treating the Empress. I wonder if Mother can help invite the divine physician out for half a day?”

Lin Shi’s face erupted with delight: “Chu’er, you’ve finally come around to it. As long as you’re willing to receive treatment, no matter how much effort it takes, Mother will help you invite the divine physician.”

She dreamed of Yun Chu being able to have her own child.

Yun Chu didn’t deny it.

Let Mother be happy for now, so she wouldn’t constantly worry and fret over her affairs.

When she returned to the Xie family from the Yun family, the sky had already darkened. Yun Chu didn’t return to Sheng Residence but instead made a round of the kitchen, confirming all preparation items were ready before returning to her courtyard for the evening meal.

Returning to her room and seeing the wood carving placed on the windowsill, Yun Chu sighed. It had been quite a while since she’d seen the little fellow. She inexplicably missed him a bit.

There was also that young princess who had gotten lost that night. She remembered Prince Pingxi had called out “Changsheng” once—was he called Chu Changsheng? It was a good name.

With various thoughts in her mind, Yun Chu drifted off to sleep. The next day when it was still dim, Tingshuang came in to gently wake her.

She put on slightly more formal skirts and robes, styled her hair in a cloud bun, inserted a rose-gold pearl hairpin in her hair, and applied light makeup to her face.

After dressing properly, Xie Ping was the first to come pay her respects, because Yun Chu had instructed her to rise early. The banquet was being organized rather hastily, so there would inevitably be some oversights. Rising early would allow them to handle all existing hidden troubles one by one.

Xie Ping followed behind Yun Chu and saw Yun Chu enter the kitchen, summon all the old women, personally inquire about all matters, and even personally taste the ingredients to check whether they were fresh…

Xie Ping couldn’t help but feel ashamed.

Last time when she was responsible for the Old Madam’s birthday banquet, she had never personally handled such matters but had simply given verbal instructions for her maids and old women to carry out.

No wonder Mother managed the household better and better. There was truly so much she needed to learn.

After Yun Chu made a round of the courtyard, the sky had already brightened considerably. The Xie family members got up one after another and went to the front courtyard, but there was no sign of Xie Shiwei.

Xie Jingyu’s brow darkened: “It seems I was too light-handed last time.”

“Husband, today is a wonderful day. Don’t be angry.” Yun Chu spoke. “I’ll go wake Wei’ge.”

She walked into Xie Shiwei’s courtyard and saw Jiu’er standing at the bedroom door. She spoke: “Go in and call Second Young Master to get up.”

Jiu’er said with lowered brow and submissive eyes: “Last night Second Young Master drank quite a bit of wine. Half an hour ago when he got up, he said he had a headache. Right now I’m afraid…”

Yun Chu glanced at Jiu’er: “Is this your so-called revenge?”

Jiu’er’s expression stiffened. How did Madam know she had deliberately gotten Second Young Master drunk?

She had wanted to make Second Young Master miss Eldest Young Master’s banquet, provoke the adults’ anger, and make Second Young Master suffer another severe beating.

“If it doesn’t truly hurt, better not to do it at all.” Yun Chu shook her head. “Today quite a few high-ranking officials and nobility will come to the Xie residence. As a legitimate son of the Xie family, he must go out to receive guests. No matter what method you use, you must wake Second Young Master within a quarter hour.”

Jiu’er hurried in to call him.

Before long, Xie Shiwei came out wearing new clothes, though his face was somewhat swollen from drinking wine the previous night.

Yun Chu spoke indifferently: “You’re only eight years old, yet you’re already drinking to the point of hangover. If your father knew, he would definitely make you kneel in the ancestral hall. Today is your elder brother’s celebratory banquet, so this matter is forgotten. Pull yourself together and properly receive guests. Many high-ranking officials and nobility will bring their own young masters. When the time comes, you must accompany them in conversation and amusement. Remember, those are all people of high status. Be careful not to offend them.”

Standing to the side, Jiu’er’s brow moved.

She seemed to suddenly understand what Madam’s words meant…

Yun Chu brought Xie Shiwei to the front courtyard.

The Old Madam and Yuan Shi waited in the rear courtyard for female guests to arrive.

Xie Zhongcheng was in the front courtyard responsible for receiving male guests.

Yun Chu and Xie Jingyu, along with their children, stood at the Xie family’s main gate respectfully welcoming guests.

The first to arrive was Official Yuan, Madam Yuan, and Young Master Yuan—a family of three descending neatly from their carriage.

“Congratulations to Master Xie.” Official Yuan walked over, cupping his hands. “Today I specially brought my worthless son to attend the banquet. I hope my son can learn more from Young Master Xie. We don’t seek anything like top candidate status—as long as he can pass the scholar examination, it would be our old Yuan family’s ancestors manifesting themselves.”

Although the scholar title wasn’t particularly remarkable, having this title was the first step into entering official circles, so it was very important.

Xie Jingyu made a gesture of invitation: “Official Yuan, please come inside. Shi’an, you take Official Yuan and Young Master Yuan in.”

Yun Chu had Xie Ping take Madam Yuan inside.

After the Yuan family of three entered, Xie Jingyu gave low-voiced instructions to the young servant beside him: “Keep a close eye on this family of three. Report to me immediately if there’s any unusual movement.”

Last time it was the Yuan family members who made trouble, causing his Xie family to lose complete face. This time if the Yuan family dared make trouble again, he definitely wouldn’t be polite.