Chapter 37: Just Because They Have More “Sisters”?
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Yu Zhi Yi had no idea that someone was about to lose their fiancée because of her, nor that Shen Yun Jing’s failed explanation to his fiancée had sent him storming off to trouble Du Zi Heng.
At that moment, she was enjoying tea and pastries in a corner of the renowned Splendid Embroidery Pavilion.
Known as the most prestigious tailoring shop in the city, the Pavilion often catered to nobles and officials. Everything here, from the tea to the delicacies and even the seasonal fruits, was of the finest quality.
Not far from Yu Zhi Yi, Yu Jiao Jiao sat stiffly. Though she burned with hatred and wished to mar Yu Zhi Yi’s face, she had learned her lesson about acting rashly in public. She forced herself to maintain a facade of sisterly affection when others approached her with compliments.
After all, she couldn’t bear hearing Yu Zhi Yi mention their supposed “hundreds of sister concubines” again.
But while Yu Jiao Jiao avoided the topic, others weren’t as restrained.
The scandal of the real and fake daughters of the Yu Mansion had once caused a great stir, and everyone in noble circles knew Yu Zhi Yi as the so-called pheasant that had landed on a gilded branch. Many still felt sullied by the memory of befriending her for ten years, only to discover her humble origins.
What was even more infuriating was that this so-called “pheasant” had been gifted entry into the Yu Mansion by sheer luck, only to marry into the Du Mansion, one of the most powerful families in the land, thanks to the benevolence of Minister Yu and Madam Yu.
Young noblewomen who had once dreamt of marrying Du Zi Heng, or simply coveted the Du family’s status, were left seething.
But Yu Zhi Yi rarely attended gatherings. For events like tea parties or banquets hosted by noblewomen, it was usually Madam Yao who represented her. So when they finally found her at the Pavilion, they weren’t going to waste the chance.
One noblewoman in a red dress gracefully set down her teacup, her every move exuding elegance and poise. “I heard that Young Master Du was almost seduced away by a man, yet here his wife is, leisurely browsing dresses.”
The story of Du Zi Heng rushing into a clinic carrying a petite, handsome young man had already spread through the noble circles. The scandal within the Du Mansion had become impossible to contain.
The red-dressed woman’s mocking gaze was echoed by the others. After all, what did it matter if a pheasant landed on a golden branch? A pheasant was still a pheasant, no matter the nest it perched in. And clearly, Du Zi Heng didn’t think much of her.
Yu Jiao Jiao cast a gloating look at Yu Zhi Yi. She hadn’t said those words herself, so the blame wouldn’t fall on her. She delighted in watching this impostor endure humiliation.
But Yu Zhi Yi merely glanced at her coolly. “Wipe that smug look off your face. Regardless of anything else, I’m still the eldest daughter of the Yu Mansion in name. If I’m publicly ridiculed, it’s the Yu family’s reputation that suffers. That includes yours as the second daughter. So tell me, what are you grinning at?”
Yu Jiao Jiao flinched. “I-I wasn’t laughing! Sister, you misunderstood me. I’m only worried about you. About Brother-in-law…”
Though she inwardly wished for Yu Zhi Yi’s downfall, outwardly she maintained the delicate image of a kind-hearted younger sister who had endured years of mistreatment.
Yu Zhi Yi didn’t let her continue. “Since when did helping the wounded become something shameful? If you saw an injured person bleeding on the street, would you just stand by and let them die?”
Her pointed words struck a nerve. The noblewomen, who prided themselves on their propriety, couldn’t openly admit to ignoring someone in need, even if they privately dismissed the commoners’ lives as insignificant.
The woman in red faltered. “Of course not. But still…”
“My husband simply follows His Majesty’s decree to live frugally. Unlike you all, he doesn’t travel with a large entourage. Without servants to assist him, he had no choice but to carry the injured himself. Is that so hard to understand?”
It was this very explanation that Du Zi Heng overheard as he arrived on the third floor. He stopped in his tracks, momentarily stunned.
After being rejected by his fiancée’s family and barred from entering their estate, Shen Yun Jing had stormed off to the Du Mansion, accusing Du Zi Heng of causing him to lose his fiancée. Though Shen Yun Jing hadn’t actually done anything wrong, the scandal had left his fiancée unwilling to continue their engagement.
Later, Shen Yun Jing had suggested Du Zi Heng go to the Pavilion, worried that Yu Zhi Yi might use the situation to humiliate them and escalate matters.
“I wouldn’t put it past that Yu girl to exploit this and publicly elevate Miss You Bing Yue. If that happens, you’ll both become the scandal of the capital—villains in everyone’s eyes. Miss You may not withstand the backlash,” Shen Yun Jing had warned.
But contrary to expectations, Yu Zhi Yi had defended them instead of fanning the flames.
While Du Zi Heng processed this revelation, another noblewoman tried to provoke Yu Zhi Yi. “I heard that the man your husband carried wasn’t just any injured passerby, but someone he keeps as a lover.”
Feigning shock, Yu Jiao Jiao gasped. “That can’t be! Sister, you’ve only been married for a short while, and Brother-in-law already has a concubine? Don’t worry, I’ll tell Father and Mother. They’ll make sure you get justice!”
Yu Zhi Yi calmly sipped her tea. “Why would my husband need to keep a lover outside when I have no objection to him taking concubines? If someone could strengthen the Du family by bearing children, I’d welcome it. Why would I stop them?”
Her words left the noblewomen speechless. She looked at them with mild curiosity. “Would any of you stop your household’s concubines from having children?”
“…Of course not,” they replied reluctantly.
It wasn’t the truth, but admitting otherwise would destroy their image. Despite the increased status of women since Senior Princess Jia Luo’s reforms a century ago, men still retained the privilege of multiple wives. A woman’s only legal recourse was amicable separation, but few dared take that step.
Bound by these constraints, they were forced to accept their husband’s other relationships—however begrudgingly. They might plot privately to eliminate rivals, but no one would ever openly admit such intentions.
Yu Jiao Jiao seethed in silence. The noblewomen had failed to ridicule Yu Zhi Yi, leaving her simmering with frustration.
As Yu Zhi Yi watched their flustered expressions, she found the situation amusing. They were all struggling to hold onto their dignity as the primary wives in their households, competing with “sisters” for their husband’s affection. What right did they have to mock her?
Was it simply because they had more “sisters”?