Chapter 812: Chapter 772: An Unspoken Trouble

Yun Huai returned to the guest courtyard of the Western Marquis Mansion and told Yun Shisan about handing over the Sky Eagle Guard to the court.

After the initial shock, Yun Shisan looked aggrieved, "Master handed over the Sky Eagle Guard, our intelligence source will be completely cut off in the future."

"It doesn’t matter." Yun Huai’s face showed no hint of regret, "Being able to serve the court is their good fortune."

Yun Shisan pouted.

Yun Huai asked him, "What do you want to say?"

"The Crown Prince is clearly using this opportunity to weaken the Yun Family’s influence, I’m worried that his next step will be to deal with Master."

"He won’t." Yun Huai rarely showed an indulgent smile, "I have taken a minor position in the palace, a Ministry of War attendant, and I’ll be staying in the capital for a period of time."

"Attendant" in this dynasty is not a formal position on the official payroll, Yun Huai just wanted to use the opportunity to stay in the capital, so Zhao Xi allowed him not to report to the government office daily, only occasionally when he had time.

Hearing this, Yun Shisan showed an incredulous expression. His master, who has always been used to freedom, actually took a position to stay in the capital?

Why?

It’s too unreal, everything is too unreal, it feels like a dream, not real.

Yun Shisan took the chance to pinch himself, hurting his fair face into a contorted expression.

"Mas... Master, are you serious?" No wonder he felt that his master had changed on the way back to the capital, he really had changed, handing over the Sky Eagle Guard was one thing, but taking a position in the court? Even if it’s just a minor position, it still meant being under the court’s jurisdiction, how could it be more comfortable than being the Family Head?

"Or does Master have some unspeakable reason?" Yun Shisan asked cautiously.

Yun Huai naturally wouldn’t answer his question, he just instructed, "Go tidy up the house on the back street, we’ll move in the next couple of days."

The back street where the Western Marquis Mansion is located, Yun Huai had once acquired a house there, originally meant for hidden agents, but the agents thought it too ostentatious and so it remained vacant.

Yun Shisan dared not ask further, responded with an "Oh," and turned to head out straight to the back street.

Yun Huai went to the front yard, just as Xu Shu returned from the martial arts field, sweating profusely. Seeing Yun Huai, he wiped his forehead with his sleeve and greeted, "Master Yun!"

Yun Huai paused, asking him, "Did you go to the martial arts field?"

"Yes." Xu Shu nodded and said, "I’m not on duty today, just went to practice."

Xu Shu held a position in the Patrol Camp. On duty days, he was responsible for patrolling his designated area and ensuring the safety of the people.

Glancing at the immaculately dressed Yun Huai, and considering his own sweaty smell, he instinctively stepped back two steps, sheepishly smiling, "Where is Master Yun planning to go?"

Yun Huai noted Xu Shu’s actions but said nothing, only replying, "To bid farewell to the Young Master."

"Bid farewell?" Xu Shu was taken aback, "The Crown Prince and Song Yuanbao’s wedding hasn’t even happened yet, and you’re going back to Jiangnan?"

"Not going back to Jiangnan for now." As Yun Huai said this, his gaze briefly drifted past Xu Shu’s back before returning, "It’s just that my apprentice and I have disturbed your mansion for days, it feels inappropriate. We’ve found accommodations, and I’m here to inform the Young Master."

Xu Shu, feeling a bit of regret, was about to speak when someone else interjected, "Did some servants slack off and make Master Yun uncomfortable?"

The person speaking was Xu Jia, who had come to the outer courtyard looking for Xu Shu and unexpectedly ran into Yun Huai, overhearing his intention to leave.

Xu Jia’s first reaction was that their family’s conditions might not have been good enough for Yun Huai.

Yun Huai’s gaze subtly swept over her face, "I’ve taken a position at the Ministry of War and need to stay in the capital. I’ve already sent Shisan to prepare the house, so it wouldn’t be proper to stay in your mansion any longer."

His tone was casual, yet it left the siblings visibly shocked.

What does it mean to have taken a position at the Ministry of War?

Emperors occasionally travel incognito among the people to understand public sentiment, but what does it mean for Yun Huai, the renowned Yun Family Head in Jianghu, to take an official position in the Ministry of War? Someone used to freedom wanting someone to oversee them? This is fantastical!

Xu Shu was so surprised that he couldn’t even speak.

Xu Jia composed herself, regaining her composure, "Master Yun, are you joking?"

The uncertainty in her voice was evident.

Yun Huai looked towards her, his gaze seemingly teasing, "Do you think I’m not suited for officialdom?"

Of course not!

Xu Jia silently retorted, a person who exudes an ethereal aura entering the officialdom is like pristine jade falling into the mire; even if it’s retrieved and cleaned, the scent of mud will still linger.

She didn’t deny it; on the way back to the Capital, she found herself bewildered by this face several times. Maybe it’s just human nature, to always be generous with extra glances at beautiful things.

It was precisely because of this that upon hearing Yun Huai wanted to enter officialdom, Xu Jia felt a faint sense of loss.

It was a kind of regret at something beautiful being about to be destroyed.

The Family Head was doing well, why must he enter officialdom?

Xu Jia couldn’t understand.

Not only Xu Jia couldn’t understand, Xu Shu was also puzzled, "I heard that the Yun Family Head was fetched by the Eastern Palace Eunuch before, and he wants you to enter the Ministry of War. Was this the Crown Prince’s intention?"

Yun Huai didn’t respond, just returned a non-committal faint smile.

Xu Jia asked, "Where’s the new house? I’ll arrange for some people to go over and clean. I’m afraid it’s too much for Thirteen alone."

"Just on the back street." Yun Huai didn’t refuse this time, speaking with politeness, "Much obliged."

Previously, on returning to the Capital, due to Xu Guangfu’s commission, Yun Huai was very harsh with her, forbidding this and that, as if overseeing a child who’s just learned to walk and is curious about everything. Hearing him speak so politely today made Xu Jia uncomfortable instead. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "In any case, Master Yun escorted me back all the way, considered an benefactor to our family, this little matter I should do."

Saying this, she turned and went to her own courtyard.

With her experience in assessing people over two lifetimes, Xu Jia judged people accurately. It didn’t take long for her to pick out about ten nimble maidservants and matrons, leading them in a grand procession towards the back street.

She had previously never noticed that Yun Huai had a house on the street behind their home. It was a siheyuan courtyard with white walls and black tiles, and lacquered doors. Upon entering, there was an ornate wall with a hip-and-gable roof and a high base, engraved with a picture of calm rivers and seas.

Walking around the wall, the entirety of the courtyard was in view.

The main building had four sections with three rooms each, with side rooms newly built on both sides. There was a well next to the side rooms, with three rooms on each side of the east and west wings. Altogether, it was just this one courtyard. In the courtyard, banana trees were planted, and stone tables and stools were set under the banana trees, their wide, green leaves shielding out a lot of sunlight.

It seemed like nobody had tended to it for a long time, as the stone tables and stools were covered with dust, and the flowerbeds were overrun with weeds and insects buzzing about.

Xu Jia saw Yun Shisan coming out of the main house with a broom, his whole person dusty, and she laughed, "You’re not suited for this; let them do it!"

She pointed to the dozen or so servants behind her as she spoke.

The servants quickly stepped forward upon hearing this, taking the broom from Yun Shisan’s hands, and then began sweeping or fetching water to wash.

Seeing Yun Shisan pouting in the distance, Xu Jia walked over to him, pulled out an embroidered handkerchief, and handed it to him, "Wipe yourself!"

Thirteen was still young, probably feeling out of sorts with being assigned to do such menial labor by his master.

In fact, what Yun Shisan was upset about wasn’t this; the Yun Family had more than just this residence in the Capital, and other places were managed by special personnel where he could stay comfortably upon entering. He didn’t understand why his master chose this place, both simple and unmanaged, to move into.

For that matter, this place wasn’t particularly close to the Ministry of War!

Seeing his still pouting face, Xu Jia smiled, reached out to pat the dust off his head, "Alright, alright, don’t be mad. I’ll have someone start a fire to heat a pot of water for you to wash up properly, or you could come to our mansion to wash, it’s not far."

This scene happened to be seen by Yun Huai, who had just entered the door.

"Has it all been cleaned?" He asked, without much emotion.

Yun Shisan was just taking Xu Jia’s embroidered handkerchief, but upon hearing this, his hand shook, and the handkerchief fell to the ground. He didn’t have time to pick it up and could only look nervously at Yun Huai, "Master, Miss Xu brought people here, saying I don’t need to clean."

Yun Huai responded with a soft hum, his gaze settling on Yun Shisan’s dust-covered little face, "If you really can’t stand it, go to the Marquis Mansion to bathe and change, then come back."

"Yes, Master, your disciple will take his leave." For some reason, Yun Shisan felt his master was a bit angry, likely because he had seen the emotions previously written on his face. He didn’t dare to be mischievous and ran out as if granted amnesty.

Xu Jia bent down to pick up the embroidered handkerchief that had fallen on the ground and looked back to see Yun Huai standing just a foot away from her. In her field of view was the hem of the man’s snow-white robe embroidered with dark silver patterns. Her heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily took a step back. After calming her nerves, she asked her lingering doubt, "Master Yun suddenly entering the court, is it truly as my brother said, the Crown Prince’s request, or is there some unspeakable reason?"

Yun Huai pondered for a while, "Let’s say, there is an unspeakable reason."