The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Yun Heting failed to get any money from Chu Wanqing and left Qingshui Garden dejectedly. The night wind blew in his face, making him shiver.

He stood in the corridor for a while, his mind a jumble. After being husband and wife, she wouldn't help him.

Did she really know something?

He was very uneasy, but he didn't dare to ask.

If you don't ask, he can pretend to be confused; but if you do ask, it's tantamount to admitting that he did those wrong things.

He now regrets it somewhat; how could he have acted so impulsively at the morning court session and actually offered to donate four thousand taels of silver?

His monthly salary was only 180 taels of silver and 8 shi of rice. That's just over 2,000 taels a year. Even if he didn't eat or drink, it would take him two years.

He thought Chu Wanqing would fill it in for him, but to his surprise, she refused.

Yunheting grew angrier the more he thought about it, and walked towards the study.

As he passed the side courtyard, he hesitated for a moment, but then turned around and went to the study.

The study was as cold as an icebox.

He asked Ping An to add two more charcoal braziers, sat down at the table, spread out a piece of paper, wrote a few lines, and then irritably crumpled it into a ball.

Four thousand taels. Where can I get four thousand taels?

He thought for a moment and realized that the household accounts only had a little over a thousand taels of silver, and his personal savings also only had a little over a thousand taels of silver left. He was still short a little over a thousand taels.

He has several fine ancient paintings and books in his private collection, but he is reluctant to part with them and keeps them for future use.

Otherwise, he would have to borrow from his colleagues, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. Besides, he had donated four thousand taels, and if word got out that he was going to borrow money from someone else, where would he put his face?

Looking for Liu Zhixue? She's so poor she can't even afford a decent piece of clothing. She's hoping I'll help her out, where would she get the money?

Yun Heting leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. Suddenly, he opened his eyes—Yun Xiu!

He stood up and paced around the study. Yunxiu must have accumulated quite a few things. Chu Wanqing used to dote on her and bought her a lot of clothes and jewelry, and she would also receive gifts during festivals.

The General's Mansion also gave quite a lot. Although that old man Lan Ying is now affectionate towards Yun Jin, he was not bad to Yun Xiu in the past either.

He straightened his clothes, called out to Ping An, and headed towards Xue Zhai.

The lamp in Xuezhai was still on, and Yunxiu hadn't rested yet. Hearing that Yunheting had arrived, she quickly put on her clothes and came out, bowing and asking, "Father? It's so late, is there something you need?"

Yunheting sat down in the chair and waved for Granny Qi and Lixiang to leave.

"Xiu'er," Yun Heting sighed, a worried look on his face, "Father is in trouble."

Yunxiu was taken aback and quickly asked, "What difficulties has Father encountered? Is there anything I can do to help?"

Yun Heting recounted the donation, concluding, "Father acted impulsively and donated four thousand taels. But the household account only has a little over a thousand taels, and your mother..." He paused, not mentioning Chu Wanqing's refusal, only vaguely saying, "Your mother also has difficulties. Father really had no other choice but to come to you."

Yunxiu bit her lip and lowered her head.

She had some money, but she gave most of it to her mother. Her mother was having a hard time, and she couldn't bear to see her mother suffer.

She hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked to the cabinet. She took out a box, opened it, looked inside, and turned to Yun Heting, saying, "Father, I don't have much cash on hand, less than four hundred taels. If you need it urgently, I have some jewelry that Mother gave me before. You can pawn it to make up the difference."

Yun Heting frowned. Four hundred taels? That's a bit too little, but gold and silver jewelry would do. He licked his lips and said with difficulty, "Xiu'er, you've helped your father so much, your father won't forget it."

Yunxiu sighed inwardly, took the key, and led Yunheting to her private vault.

Her private treasury contained quite a few things, including several boxes. She opened the boxes and let Yun Heting choose. He selected a jade bracelet, a jade ruyi, a jade vase, and some jewelry that Yun Xiu no longer wore. He had Ping An take the jade vase and leave, while he found a box and packed the jewelry and the jade ruyi away.

He held the box and said to Yunxiu, "When your father is better off in the future, he will get you a new one."

Although Yunxiu felt a pang of reluctance, there was nothing she could do. Remembering something, she asked, "Father, what about Mother... can we really not help?"

Yunheting waved his hand, unwilling to say more.

He dismissed the servants and asked, "Xiu'er, how is things going with your relationship with the Fifth Prince?"

Yunxiu blushed slightly, lowered her head, and said softly, "The Fifth Prince... said he admires my talent. A few days ago at Zuixianlou, he even spoke to me privately."

Yun Heting's eyes lit up: "What did he say?"

Yunxiu bit her lip, but couldn't help but smile: "He said I'm exceptionally talented and wants to hear me play the zither."

Yun Heting nodded, secretly making plans in his mind.

The Fifth Prince's interest in Xiu'er is a good thing. But then he remembered the rumors about the Eldest Princess, and he felt a little uncertain.

"Xiu'er," he said carefully, "pay close attention to the Fifth Prince. But I also advise you not to put all your attention on him alone."

Yunxiu looked up, somewhat puzzled: "What do you mean, Father?"

Yun Heting lowered his voice: "I heard that the Eldest Princess wants Princess Yamin to marry the Fifth Prince. If she insists, the Fifth Prince probably won't refuse. If you want to choose the Fifth Prince, you'll need the Eldest Princess's support."

Yunxiu's expression changed slightly. She bit her lip and said after a long while, "Sister Yamin doesn't like the Fifth Prince. She likes Prince Yu."

Yun Heting sighed, "Whether you like someone or not is one thing, whether you marry them or not is another. If Ya Min doesn't marry Prince Yu, the Eldest Princess will definitely try to force her into the marriage with the Fifth Prince. What will you do then?"

Yunxiu lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief between her fingers, and remained silent.

Yun Heting softened his tone: "It's not that your father doesn't want to help you, but he wants you to have a backup plan. Actually, there's a good chance with the Third Prince. He's the Empress's legitimate son, with a noble status. Although he has a bad temper, men naturally become more restrained after starting a family. If you can catch the Third Prince's eye, you might not be any worse off than the Fifth Prince in the future."

Yunxiu raised her head, somewhat reluctantly: "Father, I don't like the Third Prince."

Yun Heting waved his hand: "Whether you like it or not is not important. What's important is whether you can sit in that position. Think about it carefully. If you can't make up your mind, go ask your mother. She's smarter than you and knows how to choose."

Yunxiu was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Yun Heting stood up and patted her shoulder: "Alright, get some rest. Father has remembered the matter of the money."

He took the box and left Xuezhai. The night wind rushed towards him, and he shrank his neck, looked down at the box in his hand, and smiled. These things should be enough.

After Yun Heting left, Yunxiu returned to her room. Thinking of Yun Heting's words, she felt a little melancholy. What should she do if the Eldest Princess insisted on marrying Yamin to the Fifth Prince?