Chapter 24: The Yun Family Gathers Wealth Across the World

At that moment, Jun Shaomo was eating, and she paused for a moment upon hearing Beichen Yi’s words. Did he not know that what she hated most was being told what to do? The old matron following Jun Shaomo also froze, sneaking a glance at Jun Shaomo’s reaction.

She had expected the little mistress to be angry, but after a brief moment, Jun Shaomo broke into a dazzling smile. “Alright!”

She agreed so easily? The old matron could hardly believe her ears. “Mistress, are you really going to the Yun family?”

“Why not?” Jun Shaomo replied with a faint smile, her lips pressed together.

“In that case, it’s settled!” Beichen Yi clapped his hands in delight.

Gongsun Ziyan, however, couldn’t understand why Beichen Yi was so happy. She glanced at him with some confusion but dared not speak. Hmph, let Yun Feiyue enjoy her triumph for now. The real show would begin after the banquet.

At this moment, Yun Feiyue felt anything but triumphant. How could she have known that her casual teasing would lead to so much trouble? They had made their joyful decision, but had anyone bothered to ask for her consent? Not at all.

Little Mumu looked at Yun Feiyue with anticipation. “Feiyue, with so many people staying at our house, it will be so much fun! Besides, you’re participating in the Tianwu Rankings. With more people around, you’ll have more to spar with and practice.”

Yun Feiyue rubbed her forehead in distress. It would be fine if she could win, but what if she couldn’t? “Aren’t you afraid I’ll just be a target for them to beat up?”

Little Mumu shook his head, face upturned. “Not at all! Feiyue has always been so formidable!”

Really? Yun Feiyue looked into Little Mumu’s eyes, so full of certainty and admiration, and instantly believed him. Even so, she couldn’t help but worry about the sudden influx of people into the Yun household. More people always meant more trouble, a fact she understood well.

A soft, enchanting laugh drifted beside her. Lady Wei rose and looked at Yun Feiyue with a smile. “Since Miss Yun has agreed to host our princess, we’ll be counting on you for her affairs from now on. I’ll be leaving for Jingguo tomorrow, as there’s been a matter in the capital that requires my attention.”

Yun Feiyue eyed Lady Wei with suspicion. There was nothing about her demeanor that suggested trouble in Jingguo—if anything, she looked positively gleeful at her misfortune.

Well, so be it. She couldn’t worry about everything! The Yun family was vast; she refused to believe that each and every one of them could squeeze into her Feihua Pavilion.

“It’s no trouble. Chu is the host nation, and our family holds high office in the capital. It’s only right,” Yun Feiyue replied graciously in public.

Several officials then came over to toast Yun Feiyue. She took a few sips before feigning tipsiness and slipping away to the rear garden. If they kept pouring her drinks like that, she’d have to crawl home!

After making a few rounds and finding nothing of interest, she headed to Consort Yun’s residence—Yunluan Palace.

Yunluan Palace was one of the two most luxurious palaces in the harem, the other being the Phoenix Splendor Palace of the Southern Imperial Empress Dowager. The hall was built entirely of marble, inlaid with precious aloeswood, its ancient elegance lending it a unique charm.

The air was scented with dragon brain incense, making the maids somewhat drowsy. Yun Feiyue had already approached before they noticed her and quickly curtsied, “Miss Yun!”

Yun Feiyue shook her head, signaling them not to call out, so as not to disturb Consort Yun’s rest.

But Consort Yun was already awake. Reclining gracefully on her couch, she opened her eyes slowly, as beautiful as a goddess of sleep. “Yue’er, you’ve come.”

With the help of her maids, she sat up and arranged her robes. Though still beautiful, Consort Yun’s face was tinged with weariness. Holding her forehead, she forced herself to ask the question she’d rather not, “Beichen Yi—he’s been successfully invested, hasn’t he?”

Yun Feiyue nodded and sat obediently by her side. After a long silence, she asked, “What about Beichen Yu? I heard he went to the borderlands and was made Prince of Chu.”

Consort Yun waved her hand, dismissing the maids. Only after everyone had left did she speak. “Yu’er is fighting at the border. I heard a few days ago there was an assassination attempt. I can hardly sleep now; my heart is heavy with worry.”

Yun Feiyue pressed her lips together, saying nothing. In the struggle for succession, the victor is king and the loser vanquished; it has ever been thus. In the contest between Beichen Yu and Beichen Yi, the latter had prevailed.

The Yun family had not supported either side, for Beichen Yu was not Consort Yun’s blood son, but the adopted child of a palace maid. They could not guarantee his martial bloodline was pure, and if he failed to make breakthroughs in martial cultivation, even ascending the throne would not secure the people’s loyalty and would only bring strife.

The Yun family, masters of commerce, would never invest in a project with high risk and little return. Moreover, Beichen Yi had always trusted the Yun family implicitly, giving them even less reason to take such a gamble.

Consort Yun understood this well, and so Beichen Yu had been sent away to the distant frontiers.

“Aunt, if you miss him, just summon him back. The realm is at peace—is it really necessary for him to guard the borders?” Yun Feiyue smiled as she sat, taking out a small pill. “This is a Calming Pill my master often gives me. It’s good for soothing the nerves when you’re troubled.”

Little Mumu shook his head. “That’s not quite right, Feiyue! That’s the basic version for your minor outbursts. Grandmaster also gave me a special one to give you when you’re really in a temper! Consort Yun, would you like to try it? It’ll let you sleep for days!”

Consort Yun’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air.