Chapter 24: Sharing a Bed with Another Man
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
“In the bedroom of his mistress, behind the vanity mirror, there’s a hidden compartment. The back panel is double-layered. Open the first layer, and you’ll find the real account book stashed in the interlayer.”
Yu Zhi Yi smiled brilliantly at Zi Yuan. “Kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, right? Once you deal with this one, the rest will fall in line.”
After a pause, she added nonchalantly, “Oh, and remember to bring more people with you. Cornered gamblers are like mad dogs; they’ll do anything.”
Zi Yuan was already exasperated. “Miss, you…”
Could someone really justify being this lazy?
Yu Zhi Yi took another bite of her fragrant melon, savoring the sweet flavor as her taste buds tingled. She closed her eyes in pure contentment.
Living a second life would be meaningless if one didn’t embrace a little sloth now and then.
Once Zi Yuan left, Yu Zhi Yi was about to take her midday nap when Li Rou came in and announced, “Young Madam, Miss You has arrived.”
Li Rou was one of the four maids Yu Zhi Yi had brought from the Yu Mansion, another being Zhang Xiang.
Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow.
You Bing Yue had been back for a few days but had seemingly grown smarter, working diligently to leave a good impression on Madam Du instead of causing trouble.
Yu Zhi Yi had been more than happy to enjoy the peace.
Even Madam Du had come personally the next day to apologize. She explained that, if she had a choice, she wouldn’t have let You Bing Yue set foot in their household. But her son was smitten to the point of madness.
She had already once used her life to threaten her son, gravely harming their mother-son bond. Madam Du didn’t want to resort to such drastic measures again unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, she feared the damage to their relationship might become irreparable.
Yu Zhi Yi had expressed her understanding.
In this era, it was common for men to take multiple wives and concubines. Men like Chancellor Du, who loved and stayed faithful to only one wife, were rare.
While Madam Du wished for her son to remain devoted to a single woman, she could understand if he insisted on having more.
Yu Zhi Yi, naturally, didn’t expect Madam Du to strain her bond with her son for her sake. She also had no objections to You Bing Yue’s return.
After all, Madam Du might otherwise bring up the topics of consummation and children.
Still, she hadn’t expected You Bing Yue to seek her out.
Before Yu Zhi Yi could decide whether to invite her in or send her away, You Bing Yue barged in without so much as a word.
Yu Zhi Yi: “…”
“I heard from Zi Heng that it was your idea—your advice—that convinced Madam Du,” You Bing Yue said sharply, her demeanor haughty and oppressive.
Yu Zhi Yi gestured for Li Rou to take away the melon rind. She then washed her hands in the basin Zhang Xiang brought over, remaining completely unbothered.
She didn’t answer You Bing Yue’s question. She didn’t even spare her a glance, exuding an air of disdain far surpassing the latter’s arrogance.
You Bing Yue’s already icy expression turned frigid. “What’s with your attitude? I’m asking you a question!”
Yu Zhi Yi turned to Li Rou. “Did you hear something making noise just now?”
Li Rou wasn’t a home-born servant of the Yu Mansion but rather a maid purchased midway.
For prominent families, trusted servants were typically either hereditary retainers or those bought young and carefully raised. Older hires were relegated to menial tasks and rarely entrusted with important duties.
Lacking such training and trust, Li Rou retained her natural personality and naivety. Her pure, slightly foolish gaze reflected her confusion as she looked at You Bing Yue. Hadn’t the young lady just spoken?
But Yu Zhi Yi was her mistress. If her mistress said it was merely noise, she couldn’t contradict her. Hesitantly, she replied, “It… seems so?”
You Bing Yue’s fury exploded.
Especially after Li Rou’s glance—a look that, while harmless, was profoundly insulting.
“Yu Zhi Yi! What exactly are you so smug about?”
“Do you think your schemes are so brilliant? Pretending to be aloof and detached while secretly using shameless tricks to seduce men. Don’t you find it disgusting?”
The memory of Du Zi Heng’s recent behavior was enough to send You Bing Yue into a spiral of rage.
He hadn’t sought her out once during her absence from the Chancellor’s Mansion!
When he finally came to see her, it was to drag her back to apologize to Madam Du.
She hadn’t wanted to return at all. But Du Zi Heng, ever the scholar, bombarded her with a barrage of twisted logic about how leaving his parents was wrong, how there were no parents who didn’t love their children, and how they just needed to appeal sincerely to the Du family.
His honeyed words had momentarily swayed her.
Only after returning did she learn, inadvertently, that the strategies he’d used had all been taught to him by Yu Zhi Yi.
Yu Zhi Yi!
Again, it was Yu Zhi Yi!
Her mind flashed back to the chrysanthemum banquet, where Ji Yi Fei had originally intended to seek justice for her. Yet afterward, he’d vanished as if the earth had swallowed him whole, never to approach her again.
Utterly absorbed in her emotional turmoil, You Bing Yue remained oblivious to external matters, unaware that Ji Yi Fei was no longer the influential heir to the wealthiest family.
At this moment, her hatred burned fiercely.
This wretched woman had stolen her thunder, deliberately antagonized her, and now sought to charm not just one but two of her suitors—Du Zi Heng and Ji Yi Fei!
If not for her, why would Ji Yi Fei avoid her out of shame?
Yu Zhi Yi chuckled. “Feigning detachment while seducing men behind closed doors—are you talking about yourself?”
Counting on her fingers, she began, “Let’s see: Du Zi Heng, Ji Yi Fei, Dong Fang Yuan, Leng Xiao Yao… and that’s just the named ones. There must be plenty more I can’t recall.”
You Bing Yue’s expression wavered.
How did this wretch know so much?
“Stop spouting nonsense! I have pure friendships with them! You’re the one with a filthy mind!” she snapped. “I’m not like you—I don’t need men to survive!”
Although Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t discern You Bing Yue’s character from her face alone, she had memories from her previous life to rely on.
In that life, she had witnessed this extraordinary woman’s exploits firsthand and heard many of her stories.
Every meeting with You Bing Yue brought about an unforgettable “male showdown” of jealousy and chaos.
A true protagonist, naturally.
“Pure friendships? Like when you and Ji Yi Fei spent a night together after drinking alone in his room?” Yu Zhi Yi asked, her tone dripping with mockery. “Or how about borrowing 3,000 taels of silver from him? You promised to repay him once your business succeeded, yet it’s all gone, and your plans are nonexistent.”
These revelations were gleaned from her face-reading of Ji Yi Fei.
You Bing Yue’s unease deepened.
Was this woman cursed?
Or… had Ji Yi Fei betrayed her by spilling everything?
Her resentment toward Ji Yi Fei surged.
That man, who’d sworn eternal love, had not only moved on to another woman but also sold her out.
Mortified and enraged, she could no longer suppress her fury. Leaping forward with astonishing speed, she struck at Yu Zhi Yi. “You’re courting death!”
Her hand clawed forward, brimming with power.
The murderous intent blazing in her eyes was so tangible it paralyzed Li Rou with fear. “Young Madam, watch out!” she cried, instinctively shielding Yu Zhi Yi with her own body.
Yu Zhi Yi was stunned.