Chapter 23: A Small Matter
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Yu Zhi Yi was utterly baffled.
Yet, as someone who always repaid kindness tenfold, she felt it improper to owe a debt without reciprocation. Since Madam Yao had given her such a treasured gift, Yu Zhi Yi decided she must not leave this kindness unanswered.
However, Madam Yao’s face-reading had grown hard to interpret lately. Unable to discern fortune or misfortune, Yu Zhi Yi instead chose to repay her through action. She selected a fine piece of jade from her private collection and spent three full days crafting it into a defensive bracelet. With her work completed, she personally delivered the gift.
“This is for me?” Madam Yao asked, staring at the bracelet with its vibrant green jade beads. Each bead was lustrous and translucent, emanating a faint glow even without sunlight. It was an enchanting, dreamlike creation.
Madam Yao was captivated at first sight.
Relieved by Madam Yao’s genuine delight, Yu Zhi Yi inwardly sighed.
She remembered her childhood. At eleven, when she first learned to craft mystical tools, she had made a set of defensive bracelets for each member of the Yu family. Her skills had been immature, yet the bracelets’ designs were indistinguishable from high-quality jewelry sold in stores.
However, the Yu family showed no appreciation.
Yu Wu Lang had even thrown the bracelet to the ground in front of her, sneering, “A defensive bracelet, you say? Yu Zhi Yi, can you not survive without these ridiculous tricks? Playing at being a grandmaster after two days of tutelage from a fake Daoist?”
“This rubbish? Anyone who wants it can have it. I certainly don’t!” he declared, storming off.
The other Yu brothers refrained from such harsh words, nor did they discard their bracelets outright. Yet Yu Zhi Yi had never seen them wear the gifts.
As for Yu Jiao Jiao, her bracelet had likely ended up discarded in some forgotten trash heap.
Finding herself dwelling too much on the past recently, Yu Zhi Yi forced those trivial memories aside. Hesitating briefly, she said, “Mother, this bracelet has defensive properties. Even without facing danger, wearing it can enhance health.”
Madam Yao’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”
She stroked the bracelet more firmly, only to stop abruptly, worried she might damage its mystical qualities. Gingerly, she slipped it onto her wrist and raised it to the sunlight, marveling at its beauty.
Yu Zhi Yi was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Madam Yao to cherish the bracelet so deeply.
For the first time, she realized her creations weren’t inherently unwanted—only unwanted by the Yu family.
Lowering her gaze, Yu Zhi Yi felt a subtle shift, as if certain burdens from her heart had quietly dissolved.
…
That evening, Chancellor Du returned to the mansion and noticed the unfamiliar bracelet on Madam Yao’s wrist. “A new purchase?” he asked casually.
Pleased, Madam Yao waved her wrist with pride. “Yi’er gave it to me.”
Chancellor Du’s expression froze for a moment. “That girl took my jade thumb ring worth eight thousand taels and didn’t even offer me a proper thank-you gift?”
Unfazed, Madam Yao added, “Yi’er said she made this bracelet herself. It’s a defensive tool—not only does it offer protection, but wearing it regularly also promotes health and longevity.”
“I swear,” she continued, “my chronic headaches have already eased, and my whole body feels lighter since I put it on.”
Chancellor Du frowned skeptically. “There’s no such miraculous thing in this world.”
Madam Yao glared at him, resolute. “It’s true! Try it if you don’t believe me.”
With reluctant hands, Chancellor Du accepted the bracelet, sliding it onto his wrist.
Madam Yao, visibly pained at parting with the bracelet, nonetheless urged him to wear it for a while to “experience its effects.”
Nodding perfunctorily, Chancellor Du replied, “I’ll give it a thorough test. You go to bed.”
Though Madam Yao loathed parting with it, she reluctantly let him keep the bracelet, firm in her determination to prove its efficacy.
…
Chancellor Du retired to his study with the bracelet, soon forgetting about it as he immersed himself in the day’s paperwork. His position demanded relentless effort; even deep into the night, there was no reprieve. Should the emperor summon him unexpectedly, he would have to crawl out of bed and rush to the palace, no matter the hour.
Fortunately, the palace was tranquil that evening, with no urgent matters.
Around midnight, Chancellor Du finally looked up from his documents. Stretching to ease his fatigue, he suddenly realized—how peculiar! He wasn’t tired.
Instead, he felt invigorated, as though he could tackle another hundred reports.
Gazing at his wrist, he saw the bracelet’s soft glow in the darkness, enchanting yet understated.
“Hmph… That girl!” he muttered. “She gave me this as a petty afterthought for taking my thumb ring?”
Though grudgingly impressed by its craftsmanship, he muttered to himself that his jade thumb ring was far superior. A single thumb ring, he calculated, could buy ten such bracelets.
The next morning, though tempted to keep it, Chancellor Du restored the bracelet to Madam Yao’s wrist before heading to court.
…
In the following days, Yu Zhi Yi’s life at the Chancellor’s Mansion was serene.
Madam Yao had entrusted her with managing the household. Though the mansion carried prestige, its inner workings were straightforward, housing only four members: Chancellor Du, Madam Yao, Du Zi Heng, and Yu Zhi Yi.
Thanks to Madam Yao’s previous reforms, the mansion was orderly and peaceful.
Servants treaded carefully, knowing that while the Young Madam lacked her husband’s favor, she held the unwavering support of her in-laws. Her uncanny ability to discern wrongdoing at a glance had become infamous, deterring potential troublemakers.
For mundane tasks, Yu Zhi Yi delegated most responsibilities to Zi Yuan, who, predictably, grumbled.
“Miss, even meeting with the estate stewards is now my job?” Zi Yuan complained, her tone incredulous. “I’m just a maid! This isn’t fair!”
Yu Zhi Yi, relishing a fragrant melon imported from the northern frontier, replied innocently, “Why not?”
Zi Yuan clenched her teeth. “Why not? It’s a huge problem! I’m no match for them!”
Yu Zhi Yi waved dismissively. “It’s nothing serious.”
Taking a moment, Yu Zhi Yi studied the face-readings of the stewards. Pointing to one, she said, “This Du Qiao—though he appears honest and humble, he indulges in every vice imaginable behind the scenes. Gambling, in particular. While vices are understandable, as long as they harm no one else, they’re tolerable.”
“But,” she continued with a sharp gleam in her eyes, “his losing streak has drained him dry. Unable to stop, he’s started dipping into the estate’s funds to fuel his habits. His plan? Win enough to cover the losses. The result? A deeper hole. The accounts now show significant discrepancies, disguised as business losses.”
“As for evidence…”