Chapter 30: The Treasure Basin and the Useless Woman
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“Bing Yue! Bing Yue!”
Du Zi Heng finally caught up with You Bing Yue.
You Bing Yue shook off his hand violently. “Aren’t you more worried about that maid? About your mother and your legitimate wife? Why are you chasing after me?”
Du Zi Heng, worried about her health, softened his tone in an attempt to comfort her. “It’s not about caring for them—it’s about the rules of the Chancellor’s Mansion. In fact, every household has rules. Even in common folk’s homes, one cannot just casually hit or scold others. Isn’t that right?”
“Even when it comes to animals raised in the household, if an outsider harms them, it’s seen as an insult to the family.”
“Bing Yue, I don’t want you to be a concubine, and you don’t want that either. To my mother and others in the mansion, you’re an outsider. You striking a servant naturally upset my mother.”
“Think about it—if someone secretly harmed Xiao Hu, wouldn’t you be furious?”
Xiao Hu was You Bing Yue’s younger brother from her rural family.
You Bing Yue’s anger dissipated slightly. “Fine, I admit I acted impulsively. At worst, I’ll compensate the maid for her medical expenses. But if she dares seduce my man again, I’ll hit her again!”
Du Zi Heng adored her bold and unrestrained demeanor. Hearing her domineering declaration, his heart filled with a sweet tenderness. He smiled faintly. “Don’t worry; there won’t be a next time.”
He wanted to mention that his mother and Yu Zhi Yi would not allow a repeat of such incidents, but fearing it might provoke You Bing Yue, he swallowed his words. Instead, he said, “Come back with me.”
You Bing Yue pushed his hand away again. “No! Your mother has already driven me out twice. Last time, I overlooked it for your sake, but this time, I won’t compromise. Otherwise, she’ll think I’m really coveting the Chancellor’s Mansion’s paltry wealth.”
Despite Du Zi Heng’s repeated persuasion, she stood firm in her decision.
Helpless, he could only escort her back to the house he had previously purchased for her.
As soon as they entered, You Bing Yue shoved him onto the bed. “We haven’t finished what we started this afternoon.”
Amid the rolling waves of passion, a glint of determination flashed in You Bing Yue’s eyes.
The gold-digging woman who pretended to be pious could never have imagined that Du Zi Heng would spend the entire night away for You Bing Yue.
And this was just the beginning.
The days of that woman waiting alone in her room would stretch endlessly into the future.
Once You Bing Yue turned her bookstore into a vast treasure basin, Madam Yao would have no choice but to acknowledge her abilities and value.
Faced with a woman who could turn money into more money and a shallow gold-digger from the rear courtyard, which one would anyone with sense choose?
She would make Madam Yao beg for her to return!
And she would make that gold-digger kneel and plead not to be cast out of the Chancellor’s Mansion!
…
“Achoo!”
Yu Zhi Yi sneezed as she stepped out of the bath. Zi Yuan quickly stoked the fire in the brazier. “It’s chilly at night. Are you catching a cold?”
“Probably someone talking about me,” Yu Zhi Yi replied, sitting by the brazier to dry her hair.
Zi Yuan scoffed. “It must be that Miss You badmouthing you to the Young Master.”
Yu Zhi Yi made no comment.
Over an hour later, with her hair nearly dry, Yu Zhi Yi sent Zi Yuan to rest. She then crossed her legs and began her meditation.
The merit she had recently accumulated had significantly boosted her cultivation. If she continued at this pace, she might truly ascend to immortality.
The next morning, after finishing her morning exercises, Yu Zhi Yi went to the dining hall.
Madam Yao had arrived earlier, her face haggard. It was clear she had slept poorly, likely troubled by Du Zi Heng’s absence all night.
Yu Zhi Yi, on the other hand, was quite pleased. Without Du Zi Heng around, she didn’t have to worry about Madam Yao pressing her to consummate the marriage.
Of course, she couldn’t let her feelings show.
Just as she was about to comfort Madam Yao, a servant entered to announce, “Madam, Young Madam, the Eldest Young Madam of the Yao Family is here.”
The Eldest Young Madam, wife of the Yao family’s eldest son, Madam Huang, was someone Yu Zhi Yi had met during the chrysanthemum banquet.
Madam Yao composed herself. “Invite her in.”
Yu Zhi Yi, feeling a twinge of hunger, resisted the urge to start eating.
Soon, Madam Huang entered the dining hall.
The servant had already prepared an extra set of utensils. Madam Yao gestured for Madam Huang to sit. “Heng Niang, what brings you here? Have you had breakfast? Come, join us.”
Madam Huang looked even more haggard than Madam Yao, her face full of anxiety. Despite her troubled state, she did not refuse the Chancellor’s Wife’s invitation.
However, she barely touched her food.
Yu Zhi Yi, after a brief glance at Madam Huang’s face, picked up her chopsticks and began eating.
She was hungry.
And with the next meal hours away, she needed to eat her fill.
After only a few bites, Madam Huang put down her chopsticks, unable to eat any more. Watching Yu Zhi Yi eat so heartily, she tried to suppress her growing unease.
Only when Yu Zhi Yi finished her meal, rinsed her mouth, and set down her cup did Madam Huang speak. “Aunt, I’ve come to ask for a favor.”
“What is it?” Madam Yao’s voice was calm, though she could already guess the favor was related to Madam Huang’s family rather than her husband’s.
But she had only guessed half correctly.
Madam Huang turned to Yu Zhi Yi. “Sister-in-law, I know this is abrupt, but I’ve run out of options. I must ask for your help in finding someone.”
Madam Yao, slightly taken aback, quickly understood and refrained from making any decisions on Yu Zhi Yi’s behalf. Instead, she sought her opinion. “Yi’er, what do you think?”
Yu Zhi Yi replied, “As a practitioner of the Mystic Sect, I cannot interfere in others’ karma unless the karma is transferred to me.”
Madam Huang, bewildered, asked, “How… how does one transfer karma?”
Madam Yao, recalling the silver notes, gold hairpins, and jade thumb ring she had given before, removed the golden step-shake hair ornament from her hair and handed it to Yu Zhi Yi. “Yi’er, if it’s not too much trouble, please help Heng Niang.”
Madam Huang was stunned. So transferring karma meant offering payment.
The golden step-shake alone was worth at least a thousand silver taels.
Yu Zhi Yi explained, “It’s not greed on my part. As a Mystic Sect practitioner, I must strictly adhere to the karmic rules. Otherwise, it would harm both myself and others. Eldest Sister-in-law, you’re asking me to find someone. That is your planted cause. Whether or not the person is found, it remains the effect.”
“By seeking my help, you wish to transfer the cause to me. A medium is necessary to justify this to the Heavenly Dao.”
Still somewhat confused, Madam Huang suddenly caught the key point. “How did you know I came to ask you to find someone?”
Yu Zhi Yi only smiled.
Realizing her question was foolish, Madam Huang thought of all the times her grandmother-in-law had praised Yu Zhi Yi’s abilities.
Though the family had treated Yu Zhi Yi with respect, many were skeptical of her so-called skills.
Even those who had witnessed her turn the richest merchant’s son into a destitute outcast with just a few words thought she might have learned of the situation beforehand and used it to her advantage.
But desperate times called for desperate measures.
Despite her initial doubts, Madam Huang now felt as though a weight had been lifted. “Sister-in-law, please help me find my nephew!”