On the day Yun Jinnian left, a maid died mysteriously in his house. She died without any visible wounds, poisoning, or internal injuries; she simply perished.
When the butler mentioned it to him, he just said to bury her generously and send some silver to her family. Then, the matter was dropped.
Soon after, the medicine shop ran into trouble, and the jewelry shop and antique shop were successively robbed, facing significant compensation. Today, he had a collision with Princess Jinfeng on the street.
Yun Chen rubbed his temples, then called for the butler, "Did anyone go to see off Jinnian when she left that day?"
The butler’s face turned pale, "Master, on that day, the Fourth Miss left alone. No one saw her off, just a carriage covered in green cloth!"
Yun Chen closed his eyes for a long while before asking, "Did she leave through the main entrance or the back door?"
"Did any of the sisters see her out?" Yun Chen’s heart filled with increasing dread as he continued his questioning.
"Master, besides the Second Miss who gave the Fourth Miss a purse, nobody came to see her off!"
Yun Chen raised his hand to cover his eyes and after a while asked, "Who do you think is targeting the Yun Family in all this?"
The butler fell silent.
The Second Lady hadn’t set foot in the Capital City for many years. Back at the Han Residence, her family home, only a few servants were taking care of the mansion, and Old Master Han hadn’t returned for many years.
"Go, prepare the carriage, I must go and find Second Master!"
At this moment, Yun Chen could only hope Yun Qi would return to help the Yun Family, otherwise, they might truly be done for...
Yun Qi’s residence in the Capital City, with five courtyards, was quite desolate, home to just him, served by two hundred servants, three butlers, and ten stewards.
He lived alone and didn’t invite Aunt Su or Aunt Hua to stay with him, nor did he care for the several children.
Whether the Yun Family provided for him or not, it made no difference to him.
When Yun Chen found Yun Qi, he was playing with a mynah in a cage.
His entire demeanor was indifferent and aloof, his handsome face cold and detached. He glanced back at him and continued to play with the mynah.
"Second brother!" Yun Chen called out softly and sat down opposite Yun Qi.
The servants immediately served tea.
Yun Chen had no interest in tea.
"Try it, it’s the new tea of this year, quite rare!" Yun Qi said casually.
He continued to entertain the mynah.
A bitter taste filled Yun Chen’s heart.
The Yun Family was being so severely manipulated, and yet here he was, leisurely playing with a bird.
Squandering heaps of silver on new tea.
It was only the beginning of February, and the new tea was as precious as gold. How could he stomach it?
"The Yun Family has run into quite a few problems recently, and you’re just looking on?" Yun Chen challenged.
Yun Qi raised his eyebrows indifferently, "What does that have to do with me?"
"You are part of the Yun Family; there’s a share for you in it!" Yun Chen shouted angrily, smashing the teacup.
"That share of the Yun Family’s, I never wanted it!" Yun Qi remained detached, witnessing Yun Chen’s face turn white with anger, he coldly chuckled, "If you want me to help the Yun Family through this crisis, fine, but tell me what exactly happened back then?"
Yun Chen staggered backwards a few steps, "You’re still not giving up!"
"Give up, why should I give up?" Yun Qi suddenly flipped the table, "Back then, I told you not to come in, not to come in, but all of you rushed into the room so eagerly, resulting in today’s irreparable situation. Aunt Shu moved to the cottage, Third Brother went far away, Aunt Shu wants a separation, wants to take Jinnian away, it was you who said that if Jinnian left the Yun Family, she would lose her illustrious status and wouldn’t find a good marriage. You promised you would treat Jinnian as your own daughter, not allowing her to suffer the slightest grievance. But what did you actually do?"
Yun Qi’s intense interrogation.
Yun Chen found himself at a loss for words...