Chapter 62: Reaping What You Sow
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In the end, Yu Zhi Yi wore the evening gown personally designed for her by Red Luan.
The moon-white dress shimmered like silvery light under the moon, draped with a pale red shawl that added a touch of allure to her elegance. These two colors were particularly challenging—one demanded flawless skin to carry it well, while the other accentuated the fair complexion, making it appear even more dewy and smooth.
Yet, neither the moon white nor the pale red could diminish the woman’s natural charm. Instead, they merely served as a backdrop to her radiance.
Madam Du remarked, somewhat exasperated by her own aesthetic fatigue, “Yi’er is so beautiful that even a random piece of cloth would look stunning on her. I can’t pick—there’s really nothing to nitpick.”
Yu Zhi Yi hesitated for a moment. “Why don’t we just settle on this one?”
The main reason was the wide sleeves of this dress—it was just the right length, not overly exaggerated like the others that trailed to the floor. Moreover, the color palette was tolerable.
Though the shawl’s red hue seemed a bit bold, it was comparatively subdued among the options available.
It seemed Red Luan was increasingly fond of bold, vibrant tones. Yu Zhi Yi resolved to discuss this with her at some point. If even she, as the wearer, felt uneasy, surely other clients would have similar concerns.
Outside, Chancellor Du had already been waiting by the carriage. When the two women joined him, the family of four shared the ride together.
These days, Du Zi Heng had grown more taciturn, barely speaking and only stealing occasional glances at Yu Zhi Yi. Other than that, he made no further attempt at interaction.
Yu Zhi Yi, of course, saw no need to engage in unnecessary conversation.
It was Madam Du who, unable to hold back, began coaching Yu Zhi Yi on the finer etiquette of attending palace banquets.
Although Madam Du had attended numerous palace banquets herself, she had only ever seen the True Daughter of the Yu Family there, never her daughter-in-law. She was worried Yu Zhi Yi might inadvertently make a blunder.
A small slip would be trivial; the real fear was offending someone important. If a dignitary took offense… Well, Madam Du wasn’t concerned about Yu Zhi Yi being at a disadvantage. With her support, few people could truly trouble Yi’er.
But Yu Zhi Yi’s own feelings would surely be affected.
Yu Zhi Yi obediently listened, occasionally responding to show she was paying attention. She wasn’t unfamiliar with such rules, but since Madam Du was willing to teach, she wouldn’t undermine her efforts.
In her previous life, she had learned these rules at a steep price.
Neither Madam Yu nor the Yu Mansion had ever guided her through the complexities of court etiquette. Instead, the Duchess of Duke Courage’s Mansion had deliberately left her to fend for herself. So, during her first visit to the palace, she had been as awkward and uneasy as a newcomer—unsure of her footing and entirely unprepared for the scrutiny.
Despite her best efforts to maintain composure, her innate nervousness betrayed her, leading to some minor, yet embarrassing, mishaps.
When the family of four arrived at the Hall of Morning Splendor, the Yu Family and the Duke Courage’s Mansion were already seated, their places surprisingly close to each other.
The moment Yu Zhi Yi entered the hall, two intense gazes locked onto her. The weight of their scrutiny, brimming with disdain and hatred, was palpable—so strong that even those without spiritual awareness could feel it.
The Du family frowned in unison, and Chancellor Du shot a calm, assessing glance at the source of the hostility.
Faced with his gaze, the Yu Family members and Madam Yu quickly averted their eyes. Similarly, Yu Jiao Jiao and Madam Zhang from the Duke’s Mansion also turned away.
It was only Zhang Tian Shun who continued staring at Yu Zhi Yi, his expression riddled with confusion.
What was this?
Why, upon seeing this woman, did he feel an uncontrollable urge to kneel on a washboard?
It was utterly bizarre.
A shiver ran down his spine as he struggled to recall if they had ever met—or if she had ever punished him. No matter how hard he tried, the memory remained elusive.
Impossible! He was Zhang Tian Shun, the Third Young Master of the Zhang family. How could a mere woman reduce him to kneeling on a washboard?
Moreover, wasn’t this Young Madam Du merely an adopted daughter of the Yu family?
The longer he stared, the more Yu Zhi Yi’s profile struck him as faintly resembling Yu Jiao Jiao’s.
Meanwhile, Yu Jiao Jiao felt an overwhelming sense of crisis under his scrutiny. No one understood better than she how precariously her marriage had been secured.
In her previous life, Zhang Tian Shun had married Yu Zhi Yi after being smitten by her beauty. Upon learning she was merely an adopted daughter of the Yu family, he had pestered the Duchess of Duke Courage’s Mansion to arrange the match.
This time, Yu Jiao Jiao had used her foreknowledge to preempt fate. She had deliberately dressed as Yu Zhi Yi, styling her hair and makeup to mimic her closely, and staged a heroic rescue.
Though Zhang Tian Shun later expressed doubts about the discrepancy between her appearance then and now, her meticulous use of cosmetics to imitate Yu Zhi Yi’s profile had managed to deceive him thus far.
But fake was fake.
Now, faced with the real Yu Zhi Yi, Zhang Tian Shun’s suspicions had inevitably resurfaced.
To make matters worse, Madam Zhang had berated Yu Jiao Jiao for hours the previous night and made her kneel in the courtyard to reflect on her conduct. Her knees were still throbbing.
All this combined to stoke Yu Jiao Jiao’s hatred toward Yu Zhi Yi to a fever pitch.
Sensing this animosity, Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow and turned to meet Yu Jiao Jiao’s gaze. Her opponent’s heavy makeup couldn’t conceal the dark circles beneath her eyes, nor the weariness etched into her features.
Yu Zhi Yi smiled faintly, nodding slightly as if greeting her, but only Yu Jiao Jiao knew the truth—this was mockery! She was gloating!
And Yu Zhi Yi was indeed reveling in schadenfreude.
The stolen life wasn’t so idyllic after all.
Madam Zhang was a controlling matriarch who sought to dominate everyone in the household, from her husband to her children, in-laws, and servants. Before Yu Zhi Yi’s previous marriage, she had succeeded.
But after marrying Yu Zhi Yi, Madam Zhang’s efforts to impose her authority were met with uncanny setbacks.
Whenever she punished Yu Zhi Yi, some misfortune would immediately befall her. If she ordered Yu Zhi Yi to kneel, she might trip and fall; if she demanded Yu Zhi Yi stand in the rain, she’d end up spilling scalding tea on herself.
Every insult hurled at Yu Zhi Yi would be repaid a hundredfold—whether by fate or by Yu Zhi Yi herself.
Now, seeing Yu Jiao Jiao flounder in the very pit she had jumped into, Yu Zhi Yi thought, Reaping what you sow.