Chapter 20: Du Zi Heng’s Apology
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“Miss, is this really fair to the first wife?” Zi Yuan asked hesitantly, her tone tinged with concern.
At that moment, the group was making its way to No. 18 Lin’an Street.
Ji Yi Fei had one objective: to expose Yu Zhi Yi’s lies.
Du Zi Heng and the Yao family accompanied them, partly to protect Yu Zhi Yi from harm and partly out of curiosity to watch the drama unfold.
As for the chrysanthemum banquet…
Although Yao Wu Lang had meticulously prepared the event, inviting several rare and renowned blooms, the guests clearly thought:
Why admire flowers when there’s a juicy spectacle to enjoy?
The rest of the Yao family felt the same. Only Zi Yuan, who knew her mistress’s abilities, wasn’t worried about her predictions. Her concern lay with the first wife’s safety.
After all, based on the temperament of Madam Ji as described by her mistress, this woman seemed utterly ruthless.
“Exposing this truth is their only hope for survival,” Yu Zhi Yi stated, her voice calm and unshaken.
She didn’t elaborate further. From Ji Yi Fei’s face, she had discerned that his only sibling wouldn’t live much longer.
In other words, Madam Ji would soon discover that the first wife and her son were alive, at which point she would likely send assassins to eliminate them. While the son’s fate was sealed, Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t yet foresee the wife’s outcome. But judging by Madam Pang’s nature, it was unlikely to end well.
In her past life, the scandals surrounding Ji Cong Xin’s first and second wives never came to light. This suggested Madam Pang had handled the matter with extreme secrecy, going so far as to completely subjugate Ji Cong Xin to prevent him from seeking vengeance for his wife and son.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the carriage came to a halt.
The group disembarked.
Ji Yi Fei glared at Yu Zhi Yi, his eyes red with anger. “I’ll expose your lies right here and now!”
He turned to Du Zi Heng. “You Lin, once it’s proven that this woman is full of nonsense, I expect an explanation from you!”
Du Zi Heng’s brows furrowed with concern. “Don’t be hasty, Ji.”
Bang!
Ji Yi Fei kicked the courtyard door open, his fury igniting the scene.
Inside, he froze, his vision blurring with disbelief and rage.
His normally stern father was tenderly teaching a young man to write, his expression brimming with affection. Nearby, a plainly dressed woman emerged from the house, carrying a steaming tray of soup.
The scene was ordinary yet heartbreakingly warm.
Ji Yi Fei’s eyes turned crimson, and his lips quivered as he struggled to find words.
The tranquility of the courtyard shattered under his intrusion. The woman startled, dropping the tray, spilling soup across the ground.
Ji Cong Xin initially appeared panicked but quickly composed himself. He walked to the woman’s side, checking her gently. “Are you hurt?”
Ji Yi Fei found the sight unbearable. He yelled, “Father! How could you betray my mother like this?”
He lunged forward, but the young man stepped protectively in front of Ji Cong Xin and the woman. His towering frame blocked Ji Yi Fei several meters away, preventing him from getting any closer.
Once assured the woman wasn’t injured, Ji Cong Xin stood and looked at his two sons. His gaze was heavy with emotion. “Perhaps it’s time to put an end to all this.”
True to his decisive nature, Ji Cong Xin divorced Madam Pang the very next day.
He didn’t hide the reasons either. Those close to the family quickly learned of Madam Pang’s past atrocities. While a few dissenters argued he shouldn’t have acted so harshly, considering the time that had passed and the survival of the first wife and son, most commended his moral courage.
After all, harboring both wives would have been the easy choice. But Ji Cong Xin took the righteous path.
…
Meanwhile, Yu Zhi Yi was on her way back to the Yu Mansion.
Sharing little conversation with Du Zi Heng, she closed her eyes to rest, digesting the unexpected surge of Golden Light of Merit that had entered her body moments earlier.
Speaking of the golden light, she felt rather surprised.
This time, she had acted purely to humiliate Ji Yi Fei, with no intention of earning merit. Given her selfish motive, she hadn’t expected the Heavenly Dao to count it as a good deed—let alone reward her with more merit than ever before.
Perhaps it was because she had saved two lives?
As she pondered, the man opposite her broke the silence. “I apologize.”
Yu Zhi Yi opened her eyes, confused. “What?”
Du Zi Heng turned his gaze aside, visibly uncomfortable, but repeated himself. “I said, I apologize for doubting your abilities.”
Although he had already witnessed her skills firsthand, his previous prejudice had blinded him. Even when Madam Yao revealed how Yu Zhi Yi had exposed Du Ping’s treachery, saving the Chancellor’s Mansion from ruin, he remained skeptical.
He had assumed his mother exaggerated to push him and Yu Zhi Yi together.
Reality, however, had dealt him a harsh lesson.
Yu Zhi Yi seemed indifferent. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
Those six nonchalant words carried an unexpected weight.
Du Zi Heng, recalling the rumors about her in the capital and her actions in the Chancellor’s Mansion, felt a pang of guilt. The more he reflected, the clearer it became: the rumors were all lies.
Still, he attempted to justify himself. “A year ago, while traveling, I was ambushed by bandits. Severely injured, I was saved by Ice Moon.”
Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow. “And?”
She hadn’t expressed the slightest curiosity about his romantic history. Yet he continued, narrating how You Bing Yue’s stoic yet gentle care had captivated him, leading him to abandon thoughts of home and dream of a rural life with her.
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. “No wonder Madam Du—a woman of such gentle temperament—detests You Bing Yue.”
Du Zi Heng stiffened. “Why?”
Yu Zhi Yi cast him a sideways glance. “If it were me, and my son disregarded family and honor for some random woman, I wouldn’t just hate her—I’d disown him too.”
Du Zi Heng was left speechless.
The clarity of her words struck him like a lightning bolt, unraveling his confusion. Embarrassed, he stammered, “I… I only wanted to avoid upsetting my mother.”
Yu Zhi Yi rolled her eyes. “Let’s be honest. You wanted to drive her mad so she’d stop standing in your way.”