Chapter 18: Thank You for the Compliment
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The recently married yet unfamiliar couple soon arrived at Shangjing Garden.
Inside, several of the Yao Family’s cousins—both male and female—were present. Upon seeing Yu Zhi Yi, they all displayed expressions of amazement. Clearly, Madam Yao’s meticulous makeover efforts had been extraordinarily effective.
Yao Jin Ang nudged Du Zi Heng playfully, his tone teasing. “You lucky dog, your wife is both stunning and capable. What fortune you have!”
The story of how Yu Zhi Yi had indirectly saved Old Madam Yao had already spread among the Yao Family.
As the saying goes, “An elder at home is a treasure.” Old Madam Yao held a revered position in the family, her fair treatment of all—whether legitimate or born of concubines—garnered deep respect from her descendants. Yu Zhi Yi’s actions, therefore, were seen as a blessing upon the entire family.
Du Zi Heng, having been informed by Madam Yao about what had transpired on the day of their return visit, attributed it to coincidence but refrained from undermining her reputation in public.
Suddenly, a male voice cut through the gathering. “Well, well, looks like the young master and madam are inseparable. Such affection!”
Turning, they saw a young man clad in a red robe trimmed with gold striding boldly into the room. His gaze swept over Yu Zhi Yi, first betraying a flicker of admiration before quickly hardening into distaste, as though recalling something unpleasant.
Du Zi Heng frowned. “We came together at my grandmother’s invitation,” he replied, as though eager to distance himself from Yu Zhi Yi.
She was neither surprised nor bothered by this. However, the Yao Family members all frowned.
Oblivious to their reactions, Du Zi Heng asked, “Brother Yi Fei, did you come alone?”
The young man was Ji Yi Fei, the only son of the wealthiest merchant, Ji Cong Xin.
Born into privilege and doted on by his affectionate parents, Ji Yi Fei had developed an unrestrained personality. He responded with a smirk. “Alone? Unlike you, I didn’t have the pleasure of bringing a beauty to accompany me.”
Though it seemed like an offhand remark about Du Zi Heng bringing his beautiful wife to the chrysanthemum feast, the sarcastic undertone was impossible to miss.
Du Zi Heng’s face stiffened. At a loss for words, he could only stew in silence. After all, while Yu Zhi Yi was his lawful wife, those in their circle knew of his deep affection for You Bing Yue. His current behavior felt almost treacherous.
Unable to stomach the insult, Yao Jin Ang interjected. “Brother Ji, if you envy my cousin and his harmonious marriage, why not have your mother arrange a match for you instead of souring the atmosphere here?”
As part of the same social circle and protective of his cousin, Yao Jin Ang knew about the entanglements involving Du Zi Heng and another woman. While he didn’t understand it, he couldn’t condone it either.
Ji Yi Fei snorted. “Me? Envy him?” His gaze shifted to Yu Zhi Yi, cold and sharp. “Perhaps I do envy him. After all, I invited a beauty too, but she refused to accompany me—her heart belongs to a scoundrel who abandoned her for a fox spirit.”
Yu Zhi Yi smiled faintly. “Thank you for the compliment.”
Ji Yi Fei blinked, momentarily stunned. “What?”
With an elegant demeanor, Yu Zhi Yi elaborated, “The term ‘fox spirit’ originally referred to someone beautiful and intelligent. In ancient times, it was a revered totem, a symbol of good fortune. Only later did people attach negative connotations, equating beauty with disaster. It’s a shame how perceptions twist over time.”
Yao Jin Ang quickly chimed in, “Sister-in-law is right! I’ve traveled far and wide and seen many places where foxes are revered as divine beings.”
The Yao Family echoed their agreement. Du Zi Heng remained silent.
Ji Yi Fei, however, sneered. “Clever tongue. No wonder someone as pure as her couldn’t compete with you.”
This time, his words were outright mockery. He scornfully continued, “Miss Yu, you stole affection and resources from your younger sister while in the Yu Family. Now you come to the Chancellor’s Mansion to claim another woman’s beloved. Don’t you feel shame?”
His disdain grew sharper. “Don’t give me that nonsense about ‘parental orders.’ Someone as scheming as you could’ve easily swayed Minister Yu and Madam Yu if you were truly unwilling to marry into the Chancellor’s Mansion. But you didn’t. Why? Because you’re nothing but a vain, greedy woman!”
“Worse, you drove away You Bing Yue, knowing full well she was his true love. You’re not just selfish—you’re spiteful! You don’t even deserve to carry her shoes!”
Du Zi Heng frowned. “That’s enough.”
Ji Yi Fei glared. “Are you defending her? Have you fallen for her?”
Before Du Zi Heng could reply, Yu Zhi Yi intervened, her smile unruffled. “Of course not. His heart is entirely with Miss You. You can rest assured of that.”
The truth in her statement only made Du Zi Heng feel awkward. Why did it sound so unsettling when she said it?
Calmly, Yu Zhi Yi turned back to Ji Yi Fei. “According to your logic, stealing is shameless, and seeking connections with higher status is vanity. By that reasoning, no one here surpasses your shamelessness.”
His face reddened with anger. “Are you insulting me?”
Feigning innocence, Yu Zhi Yi replied, “I merely applied your logic to describe your actions. If you agree with the logic, you shouldn’t be upset by the conclusion.”
“When did I—”
“Let’s see… When you were three, you visited your grandmother and coveted your cousin’s wooden horse. You threw a tantrum until your uncle had no choice but to give it to you.”
“When you were six, you took a wooden sword from the same cousin. That sword, a gift from your uncle crafted over a month, was his treasured possession.”
“By ten, your cousin had grown wary of you and stored his cherished items in a locked cabinet. Yet you still managed to invade his room to steal.”
His face flushed with embarrassment. “Did you investigate me?”
Amused, Yu Zhi Yi replied, “Until today, I didn’t even know who you were. Why would I bother?”