The sky had already darkened.

Yun Chu’s gaze fell upon Xie Shiyun. “Brother Yun, Mother asks you—whose shoe do you think this one in my courtyard should belong to?”

Her voice was calm without fluctuation, but Tingyu could sense the hidden anger in Madam’s voice.

She quickly spoke up. “Madam, Brother Yun, he…”

“I’m asking Brother Yun. Concubine Yu, go stand to the side first.” Yun Chu’s voice was very light. “Brother Yun, you know that Mother dislikes children who lie the most.”

Tingyu was nearly dying of anxiety.

But Tingshuang stood right beside her, staring at her coldly. She didn’t dare make any movement at all.

Xie Shiyun stood before Yun Chu with his head lowered.

A month ago, every time he came to Yusheng Residence, he would be held on Mother’s lap. Back then, as long as Mother was made happy, she would give him many good things.

During this period of time, Mother had grown increasingly cold toward him.

Clearly he hadn’t done anything wrong, so why had he lost Mother’s favor?

He felt wronged, truly too wronged.

Thinking this way, two lines of tears appeared on Xie Shiyun’s face. Golden beans kept falling down. He raised his head and said through his tears, “Mother, have you raised another child, so you don’t want Brother Yun anymore?”

Yun Chu steadied her mind and spoke. “What do you mean by ‘raised another child’? What does that mean?”

“Mother, don’t lie to me anymore. I saw everything.” Xie Shiyun cried loudly. “I saw that in Mother’s courtyard there’s a boy about the same age as me. Mother held him and smiled at him. He’s going to be Mother’s son from now on, isn’t he? Mother will never love me again…”

Yun Chu’s fingers tightened.

As expected, she had guessed that Brother Yun must know something. Otherwise, with Brother Yun’s timid nature, he would never have mentioned the shoe in front of Prince Pingxi.

She turned her head to look at Tingyu. “Did Concubine Yu also see it?”

Tingyu’s fingers twisted tightly together.

She bit the tip of her own tongue and said, “In response to Madam, this concubine saw nothing. Brother Yun must have seen wrong. This concubine will manage Brother Yun well and won’t let him speak carelessly before the Old Madam and the Master.”

Yun Chu lowered her eyes.

Her courtyard was no longer safe either. She absolutely couldn’t let those two children come to the Xie residence again.

She took a sip of tea and sighed. “Brother Yun didn’t see wrong. There truly is a child sent by the Yun family in my courtyard, prepared to be adopted under my name as my legitimate son. It’s just that I’ve always felt this doesn’t conform to propriety, so I haven’t mentioned this matter to the Old Madam or the Master. Concubine Yu, before I make a decision, you must keep this secret for me.”

Tingyu could hardly believe it.

The truth was actually just as she had guessed—Madam really was going to adopt a child with Yun family blood.

This truly didn’t conform to propriety and violated ritual law!

But as long as the Yun family decided on it, there would be no room for the Xie family to refuse. No matter how much this matter violated ritual law, it would become reality.

She gripped her handkerchief tightly. “This concubine will forever be Madam’s person and will definitely keep Madam’s secret sealed tight.”

Yun Chu looked at her quietly.

The opportunity had been given. It just depended on whether Tingyu would cherish this chance.

Later that evening, people from outside came to report that Prince Pingxi had taken the Young Lord into the palace. Yun Chu knew this matter had thoroughly passed.

The next morning, just after getting up, Yun Chu felt the oppressive heat.

People in the residence came to pay respects as usual. With one less Xie Shiwei, it seemed nothing had changed.

Yun Chu distributed the Xie residence’s affairs and continued researching the layout and facilities of the hot spring estate. After the hour of the dragon, Xie Jingyu returned to the residence after court. She changed her clothes and walked to the front courtyard.

Xie Jingyu had already changed out of his court robes. In his hand he carried a gift box for making amends. “This is a superior inkstone. Does Madam think it will do?”

Yun Chu spoke. “Marquis Xuanwu’s residence doesn’t lack such things. What he wants is just an attitude.”

Xie Jingyu also thought so.

The husband and wife got into the carriage and sat facing each other. The two were very close.

Yun Chu tilted her head slightly. She lifted the carriage curtain just a little and looked toward the bustling street outside.

Xie Jingyu looked at her delicate white profile. For some reason, he felt that Yun Chu seemed to be getting further and further away from him, like clouds at the edge of the sky—visible but untouchable.

If she still had even the slightest bit of expectation toward him, he would be willing to try to forget that night when she lost her virtue.

But the depths of her eyes looking at him no longer held any light. The affection between them as husband and wife had become thinner than paper, starting from some unknown point in time.

Bringing her to Marquis Xuanwu’s residence, he knew what he would have to pay, yet he still brought her.

“Madam.”

Xie Jingyu’s throat tightened.

He couldn’t help but call out.

Yun Chu put down the curtain and turned her head. “Husband?”

“All these years, have you ever blamed me?”

Hearing this question, Yun Chu almost laughed.

In her previous life, of course she had blamed, resented, hated—but what of it?

Before the blood feud of her family, what did these things count for?

“What are you saying, Husband?” Yun Chu spoke warmly. “I am a woman of the Xie family. The Xie family’s honor and disgrace are more important than my life. Coming to Marquis Xuanwu to apologize is my duty. How could I blame you, Husband?”

Xie Jingyu’s voice was dry. “Madam, you know that’s not what I’m asking about.”

Yun Chu lowered her eyes. “Bearing branches and spreading leaves for the Xie family is also my duty. Since I don’t have this ability, it’s normal for you not to come to my chambers, Husband. I won’t harbor resentment.”

“I want to make amends for my wrongs.” Xie Jingyu looked at her eyelids. “Tonight I’ll go to Yusheng Residence…”

Yun Chu’s fingers tightened. Without raising her head, she said, “Husband, my body is somewhat inconvenient.”

The expression on Xie Jingyu’s face gradually faded.

Regardless of whether she was truly inconvenient or falsely inconvenient, he could tell that she simply didn’t look forward to him going to Yusheng Residence.

If that was the case, there was nothing to feel guilty about in bringing her to Marquis Xuanwu’s residence.

The carriage traveled smoothly all the way to the gate of Marquis Xuanwu’s residence.

After getting out of the carriage, Xie Jingyu presented his calling card. The guard at the gate took the card inside to report.

Qin Mingheng was in the courtyard playing with his dog. He threw the frisbee in his hand, and the dog leaped up to catch it, then came over wagging its tail.

“Marquis, Lord Xie requests an audience.”

Qin Mingheng glanced at the calling card and said with a cold laugh, “Have him wait outside.”

The reason he had gone to Old Madam Xie’s birthday banquet was because he heard Yun Chu had fallen gravely ill, so he took the opportunity to go see her.

This time when Xie Shi’an passed the scholar examination, it was because Yun Chu had invited him, so of course he would give her this face.

He had never looked up to Xie Jingyu as a person—too despicable and shameless.

Qin Mingheng continued playing with the dog.

At this moment, he heard two young servants discussing in low voices not far away. “Lord Xie has offended our Marquis. He won’t have good days ahead.”

“The Yun family’s eldest daughter once topped the capital. Who knows why she would marry down to Lord Xie? Once a first-rank legitimate daughter, now she actually has to accompany him to the Marquis’s residence to bow her head in apology. How lamentable and pitiful.”

Qin Mingheng’s movements suddenly stopped. He inquired, “Lady Xie also came? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

On such a hot day, she was standing outside being exposed to the sun for so long—how could her delicate skin like white porcelain withstand such intense sun exposure?

He immediately spoke. “Let them in.”

The young servant quickly ran toward the residence gate.