Chapter 67: Someone’s About to Break a Sweat
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The hall was filled with curious glances, and every now and then, peculiar looks swept over the sweat-drenched Minister Yu.
Minister Yu: “…”
The situation was becoming glaringly obvious.
If Chancellor Du and Duke Courage were not lying, then it meant Yu Jiao Jiao and Yu Zi Xuan had fabricated the truth.
As their father, he could not shirk responsibility.
Now that two esteemed officials were implicated, he could no longer stay hidden. Rising to his feet, he addressed the emperor: “Your Majesty, my children, Zi Xuan and Jiao Jiao, are young and ignorant. Please quell your anger.”
“When Zhi Yi was in our household, she indeed displayed a fascination with metaphysics. However, we never witnessed her abilities ourselves. That was why Zi Xuan and Jiao Jiao harbored doubts.”
He bowed low. “Your Majesty, they did not intend to deceive you. Their concern was only for potential mishaps. Please, I implore you to pardon them.”
The emperor’s expression turned amused.
Indeed, a falsehood remains a falsehood. Even if the Yu family had kept her in their household for the sake of appearances, they had never truly treated her as genuine.
His gaze shifted to the calm-faced Yu Zhi Yi. “Young Madam Du, do you still wish to perform? If you leave now, I will let this matter slide.”
Regardless of whether it was Yu Jiao Jiao and her brother’s accusations or Minister Yu’s excuses for all three, each subtly supported his own children and distanced himself from Yu Zhi Yi’s actions. Yet, she remained composed, her faint smile unwavering.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, but I would still like to proceed,” she replied.
Yu Jiao Jiao ground her teeth in frustration.
Why couldn’t this woman stop seeking attention?
“Big sister, stop this! The emperor is giving you an out—you should take it!” she blurted.
At this, Madam Du intervened. “Third Young Madam Zhang, you keep calling her ‘sister,’ but your actions hardly reflect familial care. If you truly cared, you would know that Zhi Yi has real abilities.”
Turning to the emperor, she continued, “Your Majesty, shortly after Zhi Yi’s marriage, she foresaw that my mother would face a disaster. She advised me to return home to help avert the crisis.”
“Following her guidance, I indeed saved my mother’s life.”
While Madam Du’s words lent credibility to Yu Zhi Yi, Madam Meng, who never favored her daughter-in-law, seized the moment to counteract with an exaggerated tone. “If your mother emerged unscathed, how can you be so certain that trouble was ever imminent?”
Her words stirred doubt among those in the hall.
Yes, if nothing happened, how could one claim disaster was averted?
It was like declaring a passerby saved your life simply because you remained unharmed that day.
Madam Meng chuckled coldly. “Madam Du, you’ve spent too much time confined to the back residence to recognize the tricks of these charlatans.”
Caught off guard, Madam Du faltered momentarily, struggling to respond as Madam Meng’s smugness grew.
Her sense of superiority surged as she thought of the status disparity between the Duke Courage’s Mansion and Chancellor Du’s family. Although seemingly equal, her family was a century-old noble household, while Chancellor Du was no more than a recent imperial favorite. How dare they marry into the same family and let their daughter-in-law outshine hers?
Today, at last, she had the chance to vent her resentment.
“Moreover, Madam Du has been bragging about her daughter-in-law’s so-called defensive bracelets, claiming they prolong life and even shield the wearer from mortal harm.”
She scanned the crowd. “Really, now, how absurd! Who would believe such nonsense?”
Several guests glanced at Madam Du’s wrist. Although her wide sleeves hid the bracelet, murmurs of agreement rose.
“That ‘defensive bracelet’ is supposedly made of jade. Wearing jade can indeed nourish the body over time, so claims of longevity aren’t far-fetched. But that’s a property of jade itself, not the bracelet. As for deflecting mortal harm… well, I don’t buy it.”
“Me neither. If such a treasure existed, people would be fighting tooth and nail for it. Why have we never heard of it before?”
Similar remarks proliferated, leaving Madam Du anxious.
“It’s all true…” she insisted, even considering revealing how the bracelet had once saved Chancellor Du during an assassination attempt. But the hall’s escalating chatter drowned her out.
Even if they heard, no one would believe her.
Yu Jiao Jiao had never found her mother-in-law so agreeable. She cast a smug glance at Yu Zhi Yi, her triumph blatant.
A fraud exposed in public—sweating bullets yet?
Yet, Yu Zhi Yi remained utterly calm, though she knew someone else was about to break a sweat.
Sensing Madam Du’s mounting distress, she gently patted her hand. “Mother, trust me.”
Instantly, Madam Du felt her anxiety dissipate. While she still harbored concern, her mind was now clear and no longer overwhelmed.
“If so many doubt me and even accuse me of deceiving the emperor…” Yu Zhi Yi looked unflinchingly at the emperor, “then I shall accelerate the process and divine something here and now. If I am correct, will that not prove my capability?”
Intrigued, the emperor nodded. “Proceed.”
Yu Zhi Yi’s faint smile widened as she scanned the room. Spotting Madam Meng and Yu Jiao Jiao conspiring again, she preemptively cut them off. “Rest assured, the person I choose will not be someone who could collude with me.”
Both women scowled simultaneously, their plans thwarted.
“Madam Zhang, you will do. My apologies.”
Her light tone belied the lack of sincerity in her smile, irking Madam Meng, who reluctantly maintained composure under the emperor’s watchful eye.
Feigning magnanimity, Madam Meng replied, “Very well. I, too, am curious to witness Young Madam Du’s skills.”
“You won’t be disappointed,” Yu Zhi Yi assured her.
Yet, beneath Yu Zhi Yi’s charmingly mischievous grin, Madam Meng suddenly felt unease creeping in. Angered by her own wavering resolve, she steeled herself.
What was there to fear from this trickster?
Yu Zhi Yi began to speak.
Hello, Im quite baffled with the amount to be able to read ahead. If I buy a physical book, it would only cost (at most) about 50USD. But here, it cost 5 USD per chapter. I understand that there are other stories that you are translating which I have access to but I am only interested in this one story. How do I request the rest of the chapters of “Mistress of Metaphysics ” only?