Chapter 29: Let Them Clear the Water in Their Heads First
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Du Zi Heng felt a bit uneasy.
In truth, You Bing Yue had already recovered enough to get out of bed. In fact, they had nearly given in to their passions just moments ago.
But one lie begat another, and now he had to commit to the story. Gritting his teeth, he said, “That’s right. The doctor said she’s still very weak.”
His mind raced. If his mother or Yu Zhi Yi insisted on calling a doctor to verify her condition, he would find a way to stop them. Under no circumstances could the lie be exposed.
However, he failed to notice the awkward expression on You Bing Yue’s face.
Madam Du trembled with rage as she pointed at Du Zi Heng. “Du You Lin, did all those books of wisdom you read go straight to the dogs? Deceiving your own mother for the sake of a woman!”
Du Zi Heng’s heart sank. “I…”
Yu Zhi Yi cut him off. “Young Master, before you try to defend yourself, meet someone first.”
As she spoke, Yu Pan Er was pushed into the room.
In the short time since their previous encounter, Yu Pan Er’s face had swollen even more, to the point of being unrecognizable.
Du Zi Heng blinked, struggling to place her. “Who is this?”
Yu Zhi Yi stared coolly at Yu Pan Er. “Tell him yourself.”
Yu Pan Er, still seething from the beating she’d endured, glanced at Du Zi Heng with a tear-streaked face. “Young Master, it’s me, Pan Er.”
“This morning, I was minding my own business, studying and practicing my calligraphy, when Miss You suddenly appeared and beat me up.”
“She said you belonged to her alone, and that no one was allowed to compete with her. She warned that anyone who defied her would end up like me…”
Her recounting wasn’t exactly untrue; You Bing Yue had said something to that effect.
Du Zi Heng immediately denied it. “Impossible! Bing Yue may be skilled, but she’s not the type to act impulsively, much less attack someone without reason.”
Yu Zhi Yi turned to You Bing Yue. “Miss You, I’ve heard you pride yourself on owning up to your actions. Surely you won’t deny this?”
You Bing Yue smirked coldly. “She tried to steal my man. Why wouldn’t I hit her?”
“I showed mercy, considering her connection to the Chancellor’s Mansion. Were it not for that, being slapped into a pig-faced mess would be the least of her worries.”
Her forthrightness left no room for doubt, and she didn’t seem the least bit remorseful.
Du Zi Heng was stunned. His mind whirled as he tried to understand how, in the short time he’d dozed off that afternoon, she had caused such an uproar.
She had assaulted someone within the mansion!
If she were a mistress of the household, it might be excused. But she wasn’t.
Her actions were tantamount to outright defiance of both his mother and Yu Zhi Yi!
To make matters worse, she had stood by silently while he lied for her, without a word of warning.
His face flushed with embarrassment, alternating between crimson and pale, as if he had been slapped. He felt utterly humiliated.
Yu Zhi Yi’s voice was like ice. “Young Master Du, do you now understand why your mother is angry?”
Du Zi Heng closed his eyes briefly. “I…”
Yu Zhi Yi cut him off again, unwilling to listen to excuses. “Let me be frank. With your current state of being led astray by infatuation, even if you manage to pass the exams, you’d make a useless, corrupt official.”
“Your mother is the epitome of patience and kindness. If outsiders are unaware, you, her son, should know better!”
“If Miss You hadn’t behaved so appallingly, would your mother ever have lost her temper like this?”
Du Zi Heng tried to interject, but Yu Zhi Yi continued relentlessly. “Miss You, aren’t you audacious? As an outsider, you dared to discipline the servants of this house. And you, Young Master, blindly sided with her, insulting your own mother. Do you think your love is noble or admirable?”
“Ha! It’s nothing but laughable, disgusting folly!”
Du Zi Heng was left speechless.
After a long pause, he finally turned to You Bing Yue with an accusatory glare. “Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t act recklessly again?”
He redirected his anger at her.
You Bing Yue, however, was even angrier. “You’re blaming me? For a wretched maid?”
“She tried to seduce my man. Why shouldn’t I teach her a lesson?”
Du Zi Heng felt his frustration mounting. “She’s a servant of the Chancellor’s Mansion. If she’s in the wrong, it’s up to my mother or Yu Zhi Yi to deal with her. You are not the mistress here; how dare you take such liberties?”
You Bing Yue sneered. “Oh, I see now. You’re just upset, aren’t you? Upset that I turned that wench into a swollen mess. Upset that I dared to defy your mother and Yu Zhi Yi. You pity everyone but me!”
She jabbed her finger toward the door. “Get out! I don’t want to see you ever again!”
Madam Du, furious, retorted, “If anyone should leave, it’s you! This is the Chancellor’s Mansion, Du You Lin’s home!”
You Bing Yue snapped. “Fine, I’ll go! But once I leave, don’t even think about asking me to return!”
Without sparing Du Zi Heng another glance, she stormed out. Just as she reached the threshold, she faltered, her hand instinctively moving toward her chest. It seemed her old injury had flared up again.
Yet, as though remembering something, she dropped her hand and quickened her pace, disappearing from view.
Du Zi Heng suddenly recalled that she hadn’t fully recovered. Overcome with worry, he rushed after her. “Bing Yue!”
“Du You Lin, stop right there!” Madam Du called out.
But Du Zi Heng either didn’t hear or ignored her entirely. He vanished without a backward glance.
“Outrageous! Simply outrageous!” Madam Du fumed, ready to send someone to drag him back.
Yu Zhi Yi held her back. “Mother, forcing the issue will only make matters worse.”
Though still seething, Madam Du restrained herself, not directing her anger elsewhere. “Are we just going to let that woman have her way?”
Yu Zhi Yi shook her head. “Miss You seems to be quite capable. It’s only natural for capable people to have tempers. But right now, Young Master is deeply infatuated. The more we oppose them, the stronger their bond will become.”
For the Chancellor’s Mansion, Du Zi Heng’s upcoming imperial exams were paramount.
Even without Yu Zhi Yi’s intervention, Madam Du would likely relent after cooling down.
However, Yu Zhi Yi had no intention of letting You Bing Yue return so soon to disrupt things again.
“Let those two, who value love above all else, sort out their muddled heads before coming back,” Yu Zhi Yi thought to herself.
She didn’t wish to ruin their relationship, but You Bing Yue’s overbearing nature needed to be tempered.
Sighing softly, she concluded, “If Young Master continues to pine for Miss You, it won’t help him focus on his studies. So, we should step back for now. Once the exams are over, we can revisit the matter. What do you think?”
After all, Du Zi Heng was bound to fail. When that happened, they could settle all the scores, old and new.
In her past life, Yu Jiao Jiao’s relentless animosity toward You Bing Yue had thrown the Chancellor’s Mansion into chaos. When Du Zi Heng failed the exams, he blamed Yu Jiao Jiao entirely.
Yu Zhi Yi wanted to see: without interference this time, would he still absolve You Bing Yue of all responsibility when he inevitably fell short?