In the afternoon, the Yun Family’s carriage stopped at the palace gates.

Yun Chu descended from the carriage with Lin Shi, presented their palace tokens, and only then did a young eunuch lead the two of them through the side entrance of the imperial city.

Walking through the long palace corridors, they finally reached the inner palace. They had to first pay respects to the Empress before they could go to Imperial Concubine Yun’s residence.

The two arrived at Kunning Palace. Within the majestic and imposing palace walls, palace maids and eunuchs came and went constantly. After standing briefly at the entrance to the hall, a nanny came out to lead the mother and daughter inside.

“This subject’s wife and her daughter pay respects to the Empress.”

Lin Shi led Yun Chu in a graceful curtsy.

The Empress was nearly fifty years old but extremely well-preserved, appearing kind and benevolent. She bade them rise and granted them seats.

“The palace has been uneventful lately, and I haven’t seen Madam Yun in quite some time.” The Empress smiled. “Madam Yun should visit Kunning Palace more often.”

Lin Shi hastily replied: “This subject’s wife feared that coming too frequently would annoy Your Majesty the Empress. As it happens, there is a matter for which I wish to request Your Majesty the Empress’s assistance. My daughter Chu’er has had poor health ever since her premature birth four years ago, and hasn’t been able to conceive all these years. I’ve heard that a divine physician is currently treating Your Majesty the Empress. I wonder if the divine physician might examine my daughter’s pulse?”

The Empress had also heard of this matter. Her gaze fell upon Yun Chu with pity: “Heaven have mercy, still so young, yet without a child—how will she endure the long years ahead? Madam Yun, rest assured, this matter is now in my heart. I will arrange it as soon as possible.”

Lin Shi was overjoyed: “Many thanks to Your Majesty the Empress.”

The Empress knew they had primarily come to see Imperial Concubine Yun. After chatting briefly, she let them proceed to Imperial Concubine Yun’s residence.

Imperial Concubine Yun was one of the Four Consorts, and having given birth to the Eighth Prince, her residence was naturally quite good, with a large retinue of palace servants attending her.

“Greetings to Imperial Concubine Yun.”

Lin Shi and Yun Chu both curtsied to Imperial Concubine Yun.

Imperial Concubine Yun knew this was proper etiquette and did not prevent it. Only after dismissing all the attending servants did she help them to their feet.

“Elder Sister-in-law, Chu’er, please sit.” Imperial Concubine Yun sighed. “These past few days, His Majesty has been taking in a new consort, and the Empress has been constantly remonstrating against it, making the inner palace restless as well.”

Lin Shi asked in surprise: “Is he taking in that young palace maid he currently favors?”

Yun Chu was not surprised in the least.

In the year she died, His Majesty was already over sixty years old, yet still constantly taking in women to fill his harem.

His Majesty’s thoughts were entirely consumed by harem matters, causing the imperial court to grow increasingly chaotic. She still didn’t know whose hands the throne had ultimately fallen into.

“The Crown Prince sits securely in the Eastern Palace, the Second Prince Gongxi is exceptionally talented, the Third Prince Pingxi controls military power, and the Fourth Prince also received his title early on.” Lin Shi spoke. “The Fifth and Sixth Princes are also gradually growing up. The factional struggles within the palace are gradually surfacing. Father’s intention is for the Eighth Prince to maintain a moderate path and absolutely not meddle in matters he shouldn’t.”

Imperial Concubine Yun nodded: “I know all this.”

Yun Chu spoke softly: “Aunt, if the Eighth Prince receives a title in the future, it would be better to have him stationed outside the capital in his fief. That would truly mean not meddling at all.”

In her previous life, Aunt and the Eighth Prince had never participated in the succession struggle, yet in the end, the Eighth Prince had somehow been schemed against and died at the hunting grounds, while Aunt had also fallen to Xie Ping’s hands…

As long as the Eighth Prince bore the surname Chu, he definitely could not escape this vortex.

Since he couldn’t compete, it was better to go far away and never return to the capital. At least he could preserve his life.

Imperial Concubine Yun couldn’t help but smile: “Our Chu’er has grown up and now knows to offer advice to her aunt. However, the fiefs His Majesty grants are all in the northwest borderlands or southern frontier—too far away. I can’t bear to have Eighth Prince go suffer there. Keeping him by my side, I can protect him somewhat.”

Yun Chu said no more.

She was young, her words carried little weight, and Aunt naturally wouldn’t listen to her.

In any case, there was still plenty of time. With gradual persuasion, she believed Aunt would eventually come around.

Yun Chu followed Lin Shi and stayed in the palace for less than an hour before taking their leave. Sitting in the carriage, she raised her head to look at the towering palace walls and couldn’t help but sigh.

Aunt’s entire life was confined here. She had entered the palace at fourteen and never been able to leave again.

Imperial Concubine Yun had gifted some beautiful palace flowers for Yun Chu to take back. Upon returning to the Xie Family residence, Yun Chu distributed these flowers to Xie Ping and Xie Xian.

“Madam, Concubine Yu made a scene earlier.” Tingxue came to report. “When she learned that the Third Young Master had been sent to be raised by Concubine He, she couldn’t accept it at all and charged into Concubine He’s room to snatch him back. The two of them fought, frightening the Third Young Master into wailing. Since Madam wasn’t home, the matter was taken to the Old Madam.”

Yun Chu laughed coldly.

When Xie Shiyun was sent to her, Tingyu had been quite unwilling.

Concubine He had previously nearly caused Concubine Tao to miscarry. How could Tingyu allow her own child to fall into Concubine He’s hands? She would inevitably make several scenes.

As for whether Concubine He would deliberately mistreat Yun’er, that was beyond Yun Chu’s scope of concern.

“The Old Madam, knowing this was the joint decision of the Master and Madam, gave Concubine Yu a scolding and didn’t inquire further.” Tingxue continued. “Earlier, Concubine Yu came to Shengju Residence but was scolded away by Tingfeng. Does Madam wish to see Concubine Yu?”

Yun Chu curled her lips: “She brought this upon herself. She must bear this bitter fruit.”

The next morning, Xie Ping came to discuss Yuan Shi’s birthday celebration with Yun Chu. The Xie Family didn’t have many people—they would prepare two tables for the meal, and afterward arrange a tea gathering where the family could sit together drinking tea, playing cards, and chatting.

Yun Chu glanced at it and said: “You’ve arranged the tea gathering in the Xie Family’s back garden. In this weather, sitting in the courtyard drinking tea, everyone will be drenched in sweat.”

Xie Ping replied: “I’ll have people buy more ice blocks.”

“Eldest Miss, that may not be possible.” Tingshuang spoke. “Only two hundred taels of silver were allocated for the Grand Madam’s birthday. If we buy ice, the budget will be exceeded.”

“I truly don’t know why ice is so expensive this year.” Xie Ping sighed. “Two taels of silver per pound of ice. Just for the Old Madam’s room alone, two pounds are needed daily.”

This was only May—summer had just begun. As time went on, the ice consumption would only increase.

Yet the silver in the public accounts kept dwindling.

She said: “Mother, I’ll look again to see where we can economize some silver.”

Yun Chu shook her head: “No matter how much you economize, you won’t save enough silver to buy ice. Go find the Old Madam and have her send someone to the estate to ask your grandfather for some funds. Otherwise, this summer will be unbearable.”

In previous years, she had used her dowry to buy ice. This year, either the Xie Family would provide the money themselves, or the whole family could suffer the heat. She wasn’t going to manage it anymore.

Xie Ping lowered her head and acknowledged the order.

Yun Chu looked at her and said: “Recently, many unfortunate events have occurred in our Xie Family. I had originally planned to take you to Qing’an Temple to pray for blessings and ensure our Xie Family’s smooth fortune. Who knew that yesterday when entering the palace, I learned that the Fourth Prince has actually gone to stay at Qing’an Temple. Thinking it over, we should avoid going for now.”

Xie Ping’s head shot up: “The Fourth Prince is at Qing’an Temple?”

Heaven knows how many dreams she’d had since seeing the Fourth Prince at the Eldest Princess’s residence that day.

She had once fantasized about becoming the Fourth Prince’s consort, but gradually came to realize that with her status, she wasn’t even worthy of being a prince’s secondary consort.

She wanted to see the Fourth Prince just once, yet it was so difficult—as difficult as ascending to heaven…

Hearing that the Fourth Prince was at Qing’an Temple, how could she possibly restrain herself? She quickly said: “How would ordinary people know the Fourth Prince is at the temple? People should go when they need to go. Since Mother had already planned to go to Qing’an Temple to pray for blessings, then let’s go. We’ll just be careful not to offend the Fourth Prince.”

Yun Chu’s expression was half-smiling.

She had merely dangled a little bait, and the fish had taken the hook.

How could such a foolish Ping’er have harmed her aunt so terribly in her previous life…