Chapter 41: Yu Jiao Jiao, Struck by a Boomerang
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
Consort Yu, the younger sister of Minister Yu, was one of the Emperor’s most favored consorts. Despite her two decades in the palace, her favor had not waned. Although she bore no sons, she was blessed with two young princesses, yet the Emperor’s affections for her remained steadfast.
Thanks to Consort Yu’s status, Minister Yu, a third-ranked official, managed to marry off both his daughters into prominent families: one into the Duke Courage’s Mansion and the other into the Chancellor’s Mansion. It was clear her favor played a significant role in these advantageous unions.
The Yu family took immense pride in having such a cherished consort among their ranks. In truth, had it not been for the Emperor being old enough to be Yu Zhi Yi’s and others’ grandfather, and the fact that the princes and dukes already had their rightful consorts, Minister Yu might have considered marrying his daughters into the imperial family.
For Yu Zhi Yi, avoiding ties with the imperial family was a blessing in disguise. As for Yu Jiao Jiao, knowing that Zhang Tian Shun would eventually rise as a great general made her indifferent to imperial ties altogether.
At that moment, Yu Jiao Jiao, her large eyes brimming with unshed tears, looked pitifully at her sister. “Sister, are you afraid I’ll outshine you?” she asked, her voice laden with grievance.
A young noblewoman could no longer stand it. “Young Madam Du, stop being absurd. The third young madam of the Zhang family is the true daughter of the Yu family—Consort Yu’s actual niece. Even without this skirt debacle, Consort Yu would obviously favor her over you.”
Yu Zhi Yi remained unbothered by the ridicule. With a serene smile, she turned to Yu Jiao Jiao. “If you don’t believe me, go ahead and present it. Let’s see if Consort Yu praises you or calls you foolish.”
Her calm demeanor unsettled Yu Jiao Jiao, while the surrounding noblewomen looked equally baffled. Embroidress Zhou, however, felt her heartbeat thunder in her chest as panic washed over her. Beside her, Bai Tian Er held her hand and reassured her, “Don’t worry. Young Madam Du is on your side, but even so, there’s no evidence. They can’t stir up trouble without proof.”
Despite the reassurances, Embroidress Zhou struggled to remain composed, forcing herself to maintain a neutral expression. Yu Zhi Yi, on the other hand, glanced at her with a knowing smile before addressing Du Zi Heng. “You’re well-read. Surely, you understand what I mean?”
Du Zi Heng, though unfamiliar with feminine interests, did notice something amiss. “The pattern on this dress… doesn’t align with the name ‘Golden Autumn.’”
With a soft laugh, Yu Zhi Yi clapped her hands. “Impressive, Young Master Du.”
Blushing, Du Zi Heng found himself uncharacteristically flustered. Compliments were not new to him, yet Yu Zhi Yi’s words left him unprepared and slightly embarrassed.
Unaware of his discomfort, Yu Zhi Yi turned her gaze to Red Luan, urging her with a smile. “Alright, stop keeping everyone in suspense.”
With a flick of her hair, Red Luan cast a disdainful glance at Embroidress Zhou and her daughter. “You fools! Where do wheat stalks exist in autumn?”
Her words struck like lightning. Embroidress Zhou’s face turned pale, while Bai Tian Er’s feigned smile faltered.
“W-What do you mean?” Yu Jiao Jiao stammered, confused.
As a pampered lady, she couldn’t tell wheat stalks from corn. What she didn’t know was that wheat ripened in summer, not autumn. Only in colder northern regions did wheat mature in early autumn. However, in the Sheng Capital and its surroundings, wheat always ripened in summer.
Whether Consort Yu understood this was unclear, but the Emperor certainly did. Presenting herself in an outfit with mismatched symbolism would undoubtedly make her appear foolish. For someone who had built her favor on intelligence and grace, this could be disastrous.
Yu Zhi Yi explained, “It means wheat grows in summer; in autumn, there’s only corn.”
Over a century ago, corn had been introduced from foreign lands. Now, alongside sweet potatoes, rice, and wheat, it helped the people of the Great Sheng Empire sustain themselves.
As Yu Zhi Yi concluded, Red Luan stepped forward with scissors and began cutting away the embroidered wheat stalks. Soon, the excess threads were gone, revealing the original design beneath.
Smirking, she turned to Embroidress Zhou and her daughter. “The original pattern depicted corn tassels. Upon hearing someone planned to steal my design, I modified it to feature wheat stalks.”
Removing added embroidery usually left tell-tale signs. But Red Luan, being the most talented embroideress of the Splendid Embroidery Pavilion, had memorized every detail. Though traces of her alterations remained, the original corn pattern shone through unmistakably. Its craftsmanship and elegance vastly outmatched the sloppy wheat design.
Turning to Auntie Red, Red Luan demanded, “These two stole my work and tried to pass it off as theirs. How will you handle this?”
Auntie Red froze in panic. The pavilion’s annual showcase wasn’t just their most profitable event; it set trends for the entire year. Customers trusted them for their innovative designs and ethical practices. Yet today, Embroidress Zhou’s actions jeopardized their reputation.
With cold fury, she declared, “Embroidress Zhou, you’re fired. Leave at once.”
Embroidress Zhou staggered, falling to her knees. “Please, stewardess! Give me another chance. I won’t dare do this again!”
Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Keeping her would risk greater harm.
Desperate, Embroidress Zhou turned to Yu Jiao Jiao, who had championed mercy earlier. Crawling forward, she begged, “Third Young Madam Zhang, please forgive me. I swear to change my ways!”
Yu Jiao Jiao’s face twisted briefly at Yu Zhi Yi’s suggestion, but she quickly forced a kind expression. Savoring the sight, Yu Zhi Yi smirked. “Pretend to be virtuous all you want. Looks like you’ve been struck by your own boomerang.”