Volume 1, Chapter 7: Seeing Mother Chen Tormented, Yunxi Feels Heartbroken

Only the main room of the entire courtyard appeared slightly more habitable. Seeing that they had settled Mother Chen in such a place, Yun Xi felt her heart grow cold once more. The remnant of kinship she had still cherished was now completely severed by the surge of fury in her breast.

"Mother..."

Upon entering the room and seeing the elderly woman lying on the bed, Yun Xi could not conceal the tremor in her voice.

Mother Li, who had been walking in front, wrinkled her nose as soon as she pushed the door open and stepped out in disgust. In her entire life, she had only visited such places twice: once was the dilapidated courtyard where Yun Xi had previously lived, and the other was this one. Although the environment here was slightly better than where Yun Xi had been—at least the room did not leak wind from every side—her own time was far too precious to be wasted in such a place. She would return in an hour to urge them along; besides, since Mother Chen was held firmly in the Madame’s grasp, there was no fear of them playing any tricks.

Hearing the door close, Yun Xi used her fair, delicate hands to support Mother Chen’s arms as she struggled to sit up.

Mother Chen raised her clouded eyes to look at her, her hands trembling as they fumbled to touch her face. "Is my girl back?"

"Yes," Yun Xi replied, forcing back the urge to weep as she gripped the woman’s hands, which were covered in protruding veins and wrinkles.

She did not know why, but she had felt no grievance when she was sent to the Marquis’s mansion, nor on her wedding night, nor when she was slapped and forced to kneel. Yet, at the sound of Mother Chen’s voice, the bitterness and sorrow in her heart seemed ready to overflow.

Hearing the longed-for response, the corners of Mother Chen’s lips curled upward, as pleased as she had been when she taught her to write as a child and discovered her exceptional talent. "Has my girl been living well?"

Receiving no reply from Yun Xi, she assumed her hearing had failed her again. She covered her mouth to cough, her voice withered and weak. "Girl, be obedient while at the Madame’s side. Go out and see more of the world. When you reach the age of marriage, choose a man you truly desire, and a good life will follow, cough, cough, cough..." Halfway through her words, Mother Chen fell into a violent fit of coughing, as if she were trying to vomit out her very heart.

So, that was it. The Madame had deceived Mother, telling her she was being taken along to experience the world, which was why they had to be separated.

Yun Xi gently patted Mother Chen’s back and picked up the medicine from the table, feeding it to her bit by bit. Watching Mother Chen gasp in agony before her, she wished she could suffer in her stead.

After finishing the medicine, Mother Chen became delirious again, muttering incoherently: "Girl, don't run to crowded places, you'll get lost..." "My child, my child..."

Yun Xi wept silently, large tears splashing onto the bed. Seeing that Mother Chen was drifting into a heavy, drowsy sleep, she tucked the quilt around her and sat by the bedside to keep watch.

***

In truth, Mother Chen had been the daughter of a scholarly family in her youth, but after her family’s fortunes declined, she somehow ended up married to a hunter. Later, after her husband passed away, she wandered in displacement with her daughter. Yet, misfortune seemed to single out the wretched; her only child died of a high fever on the road. After much hardship, she arrived at the Yun residence to work as a wet nurse, a position she had held for twenty years.

Over these years, Mother Chen had always regarded Yun Xi as her own flesh and blood, yet in the end, she could not even live in a decent room.

Once Mother Chen was asleep, Yun Xi smelled the residue in the medicine bowl. Having spent her childhood by Mother Chen’s side, she possessed a rudimentary knowledge of medicine and recognized that the replaced medicine was actually of superior quality.

Madame He was still somewhat attentive to Mother Chen; after all, if Mother Chen were to die before Yun Xi became pregnant, Yun Xi might choose to destroy them both, and neither side would benefit. Furthermore, Madame He had promised that as soon as a child was born, she would let the three of them—mistress and servants—leave.

*As long as the child is born...*

Yun Xi bit her lip, her eyes flashing with cold intent.

Given Madame He’s ruthless nature, it would likely not be that easy. If she wanted to get Mother Chen out, she had to prepare for every contingency. The eldest young master was her first choice.

Yun Xi sat by the bed, her gaze fixed on Mother Chen’s face. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and a single string felt pulled taut within her, ready to snap at any moment.

...

"It’s time to go." Mother Li knocked on the door impatiently, unwilling to step inside for fear of contracting some filthy disease.

After a long while without a response, she pinched her nose and stepped inside, only to find the room empty. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurried to the bedside, pulling back the gauze curtains.

The person on the bed was sleeping peacefully. That old hag, Chen Yuan, was still there.

She let out a sigh of relief, but quickly grew furious—where had that wretched girl gone?

She stormed out of the room, intending to report to Madame He. Just as she crossed the threshold, she saw Yun Xi returning with a wooden bucket. Yun Xi blinked, asking innocently, "Mother Li, what is the matter?"

Seeing that Yun Xi had changed her clothes, Mother Li squinted at her. "Where did you go? Why have you changed your attire?"

"I went to change the water for Mother. It is inconvenient in my maid’s uniform; if the clothes were to get dirty, it would invite suspicion upon my return."

Seeing that the bucket in her hand was indeed empty, Mother Li’s suspicions were dispelled, though she couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust. A young lady, actually changing a chamber pot for her wet nurse—truly base and demeaning.

A look of revulsion crossed Mother Li’s face as she told Yun Xi to put the bucket away and follow her to see the Madame.

At the same time, Ji Yu sat in the seat of honor, one hand lightly tapping the table while the other rested casually on his leg. His posture was arrogant and unbridled, as if he regarded the Yun family’s study as his own.

Minister Yun stood below, delivering his report.

"Eldest Young Master, there has been much anxiety within the Ministry of Revenue of late. His Majesty has been confined to his bed for many days, and the stability of the state is uncertain..."

"Many officials in the imperial court support the appointment of the Third Prince as Crown Prince, especially Minister Lin of the Ministry of Rites..."

"Eldest Young Master, I fear we must make plans early."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yu stopped tapping his fingers on the table. He tilted his eyebrows toward the face of Minister Yun, his narrow, long eyes slanted upward as a faint smile curled the left corner of his mouth.

He picked up the teacup from the small table, gently rubbing the texture on the rim, but remained silent.

The Eldest Young Master’s thoughts were the most difficult to guess; his moods were famously mercurial. A smile did not mean he was pleased, nor did it mean he was displeased. This was an unspoken fact known to everyone in the officialdom and the military camps.

Minister Yun wiped the sweat from his face and gritted his teeth, carefully broaching the subject. "A few days ago, Minister Lin submitted a memorial impeaching my son for staying at a flower house during the period of national mourning, and my son was taken away by the Censorate. Although he is a bit unconventional in his daily life, he knows where he stands on matters of great principle, Eldest Young Master..."

Halfway through his words, he raised his eyes to check Ji Yu’s expression, only to be caught in the act. Minister Yun felt his confidence falter even more.

Ji Yu leaned against the back of his chair, his expression one of condescension. He placed the teacup back on the table with a touch of imperceptible mockery. "It is merely such a trivial matter; why does my father-in-law worry?"

As he finished speaking, he rose from the carved pear-wood chair. Minister Yun bowed slightly to see him off, wiping his sweat as he chimed in, "Yes, yes, of course... as for the matter of my son..."