Chapter 82: Are You Her Friend?
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Du Zi Heng couldn’t help but grind his teeth.
She knew perfectly well that he wouldn’t do such a thing!
Yu Zhi Yi, however, didn’t care about Du Zi Heng’s inner turmoil or struggles. After laying her cards on the table, she no longer intended to pretend.
If they wanted to accept a daughter-in-law or official wife who couldn’t have children and refused to consummate the marriage, then so be it.
Suddenly, dozens of strands of golden light entered her forehead.
Yu Zhi Yi: “!!”
Her vision darkened briefly.
She hadn’t directly saved the people at the banquet—did that still count as her doing?
Merit was a good thing, sure, but receiving such a massive influx of Golden Light of Merit all at once left her heart trembling.
The warnings from her senior uncle’s past still echoed in her ears. The suffocating pain of being buried alive in her previous life resurfaced vividly.
Pressing her fingers against her temple, she called for Zi Yuan. “Take half of the money and items His Majesty rewarded me, convert them to silver where needed, and use the funds to buy grain. Transport the grain to Peng City and distribute it to the people there for free.”
According to Red Luan, in this world, there existed a near-paradise-like country with highly advanced technology. Wealthy individuals who wanted to do good didn’t need to worry themselves—they simply donated money to charities, which would then use the funds to benefit the public.
Donating was straightforward and quick, requiring just a tap of the finger.
Unlike her situation, where, upon receiving ill-gotten wealth, she had to jump through hoops to turn it into good deeds.
Zi Yuan wasn’t surprised by the instruction.
This had always been her mistress’s way. Whenever Yu Zhi Yi felt that she had received undeserved wealth, she would disperse it through charity.
But before, it had been on a much smaller scale—at most spending dozens of taels.
This time, however, she was spending thousands of taels.
Clearly, this matter was significant.
Zi Yuan didn’t dare delay. She quickly packed five hundred taels of gold and some other rewards into a small chest and left the estate to handle the matter.
After Zi Yuan’s departure, Yu Zhi Yi sank into deep thought.
Most of the people she would deal with in the future would be nobles or aristocrats. Additionally, she now held a position in the Ministry of Justice, where a single misstep could embroil her in significant karmic entanglements.
She foresaw many instances where donations would be necessary. She couldn’t always summon Zi Yuan at the last minute to handle things.
“Li Rou, come with me to the Splendid Embroidery Workshop.”
Li Rou was the maid who had shielded Yu Zhi Yi when You Bing Yue had tried to strike her. After that incident, Yu Zhi Yi had promoted her to a first-class maid.
Usually, Zi Yuan managed external affairs while Li Rou handled internal matters. With Zi Yuan absent and Yu Zhi Yi needing to leave the estate, Li Rou was the natural choice to accompany her.
This left only Zhang Xiang behind, but there wasn’t much to guard. Even if Breeze Pavilion were empty, its defenses were like a fortress; no one could infiltrate and cause trouble.
However, someone had to stay behind to handle any visitors who might come by.
When Red Luan heard Yu Zhi Yi’s question, she was surprised. “You want to donate?”
Yu Zhi Yi nodded.
“Donating in this era isn’t easy.”
In the world Red Luan came from, donating money was as simple as lifting a finger.
The most tedious part was ensuring the charity was trustworthy.
As for how the donations were used or who benefited, donors didn’t need to worry.
In this era, however, the wealthy were akin to skinflints. Expecting them not to exploit the poor was already asking too much—let alone expecting them to donate to help the impoverished.
The only scenario where the rich were coerced into aiding the underprivileged was during a natural disaster when the court lacked funds for relief and resorted to soft threats.
“But you could establish your own charity.”
“Charity?” Yu Zhi Yi was all ears.
Red Luan was about to elaborate when someone called for her. “Sister Red Luan, a guest is requesting you specifically for a dress.”
After the banquet, Red Luan’s fame had soared. She had replaced Embroideress Zhou as the most sought-after embroideress at the Splendid Embroidery Workshop.
Initially, Red Luan was thrilled, but it quickly became overwhelming.
No matter how many hours she worked, she couldn’t keep up with the demand.
Desperate, she had to negotiate with Auntie Red to stop accepting new orders for her. If customers requested her, they would be informed that her schedule was fully booked for the next two months and advised to seek other embroideresses.
Auntie Red had agreed.
Understanding, Yu Zhi Yi said, “Go ahead. I’ll wait.”
After Red Luan left, Yu Zhi Yi rubbed her temples.
While she had officially examined only Princess Consort Shun’s remains today, she had discreetly used a Secret Technique to unveil the obscured fates of others connected to the princess’s life, including her parents.
Efficiency had indeed improved.
But the cost was real.
If not for the unexpected influx of merit, she would already be resting.
Suddenly, commotion outside drew her attention. Yu Zhi Yi looked up at the source of the noise…
Meanwhile, Red Luan arrived at the guest area.
The second floor of the Splendid Embroidery Pavilion doubled as a display area for ready-made garments. It also featured tables and chairs, where esteemed guests could relax, sip fine tea, and browse designs.
Red Luan entered the display area to find a woman clad in tight black attire, standing with her arms crossed.
Hearing footsteps, the woman turned, revealing a face as fair as frost and as striking as snow.
Her beauty was undeniable, but it lacked the demure softness typical of women in this era. Instead, her aura exuded boldness and confidence.
Red Luan’s eyes lit up.
A beauty with such a unique demeanor always inspired creativity.
“Are you the best embroideress here?” The woman’s scrutinizing gaze swept over Red Luan, pausing at her splendid red dress. She frowned. “You’re not, by any chance, that woman’s friend, are you?”
Red Luan: “?”
The woman was none other than You Bing Yue.
After the palace banquet, she had been utterly humiliated thanks to Prince Carefree.
She had intended to clarify her relationship with him to Du Zi Heng but had stumbled upon the sight of him chasing after that woman.
The scene made her feel utterly betrayed.
In her fury, she abandoned her bookstore duties, deciding to shop and indulge her frustrations instead. Who would have thought she’d encounter someone suspected to be that woman’s friend?
It felt like the universe was mocking her, flooding her surroundings with traces of that woman.
She let out a cold laugh. “I want to see what kind of garbage designs come from a friend of hers.”
Red Luan narrowed her eyes.
She had a strong hunch about the other woman’s identity, and whatever goodwill she had initially felt evaporated instantly. “Apologies. As the gold-ranked embroideress of this establishment, I reserve the right to refuse service. I will not take your order.”