Chapter 87: No Problem When I’m a Fraud, But Family When There’s Trouble
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
The Yu Mansion was shrouded in gloom.
When Yu Zhi Yi entered Madam Yu’s bedchamber, the potent scent of medicinal herbs filled her nose.
Inside, only Yu Ming Quan, the third son, who struggled with limited mobility, remained to tend to Madam Yu. Minister Yu and the other sons were nowhere in sight.
“Third Brother,” Yu Zhi Yi greeted.
Yu Ming Quan’s brows furrowed slightly, carrying an air of light worry. Upon seeing her, he inclined his head gently. “Yi’er.”
“Is it Yi’er?” Madam Yu’s soft voice drifted from the bed.
Lifting her eyes, Yu Zhi Yi saw Madam Yu looking as usual but with a trace of weariness. Most conspicuous were her eyes—swollen and red.
Yu Zhi Yi averted her gaze and bowed slightly. “Mother.”
“Ming Quan, leave us,” instructed Madam Yu, Madam Zheng, with a wave of her hand.
Guiding his wheelchair towards the door, Yu Ming Quan brushed past Yu Zhi Yi and murmured under his breath, “Do what you can. Don’t let it weigh on you.”
Yu Zhi Yi pressed her lips together. Madam Zheng didn’t hear Yu Ming Quan’s words and beckoned her over. “Yi’er, come and sit.”
Yu Zhi Yi obeyed, walking to her side.
Madam Zheng sighed wistfully. “It seems like we’ve gone a long time without a heartfelt talk, just the two of us.”
Yu Zhi Yi remained silent.
The lack of a response prompted a bitter smile from Madam Zheng. “I know you resent me for neglecting you. But Yi’er, understand this—Jiao Jiao is my daughter.”
“She was lost in the world during her most vulnerable years, enduring such hardships. As her mother, it breaks my heart.”
“And all of this—what happened to her—is because of your mother.”
“I love you, Yi’er, but I also hate you.”
Her words stirred no emotion in Yu Zhi Yi’s heart.
Such confessions had been uttered in her past life as well.
Back then, she had believed them. She had even imagined herself in Madam Zheng’s shoes—if her own daughter had been maliciously swapped and forced to endure ten years of suffering in the countryside, she, too, would not have kept the other girl.
Don’t talk to her about innocence.
Her mother’s malicious act of swapping her into a wealthy family while condemning the rightful daughter to a life of hardship meant that her very existence was an original sin.
Yet sometimes, Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t help but wonder—what wrong had her “original sin” committed?
This absurd contradiction of a life—she couldn’t possibly atone for it by simply dying, could she?
Thus, upon learning that Yu Jiao Jiao was the reverse scale of the Yu family, she ceased struggling.
When others plotted against her or humiliated her, she stood unmoved.
In her past life, when she heard Madam Zheng’s heartfelt words, she had been deeply touched. She thought it meant her mother still held some warmth for her.
Until the day she accidentally overheard Madam Zheng’s conversation with Yu Zi Xuan after returning for a forgotten item.
“Mother, you don’t still have feelings for that ingrate, do you?”
“How could I? If it weren’t for your father’s critical moment of career advancement back then, we would never have kept her. What I said was just to make her obediently help arrange a position for your fourth brother.”
…
“Yi’er?”
Startled from her thoughts, Yu Zhi Yi blinked. Madam Zheng’s tone was displeased, though she suppressed her anger.
Yu Zhi Yi composed herself. “Apologies, I was lost in some unpleasant memories. Please continue.”
She had thought the bitterness of her past life had long faded.
But when the old scars were torn open, they revealed decayed flesh beneath.
Only by cutting it away could healing begin.
Her calm, clear gaze was like a serene spring, so pure and tranquil that it unsettled Madam Zheng.
This wretched girl, wasn’t she supposed to be some divine prodigy capable of foretelling events?
How could she not understand what I mean?
Of course, all those skills were fraudulent.
Still, her favor with Chancellor Du and his wife was sufficient.
With that thought, tears suddenly streamed down Madam Zheng’s face.
Yu Zhi Yi watched silently.
After a moment of awkward weeping, Madam Zheng realized she wasn’t being consoled, leaving her feeling embarrassed and frustrated.
Suppressing her irritation, she forced herself to remain composed.
Realizing her tears were ineffective, she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and spoke with a choked voice. “Yi’er, you and Jiao Jiao grew up together. You know her well. She couldn’t possibly be involved with those assassins.”
“She’s already endured ten bitter years away. She finally came home to a few peaceful years, only to be dragged into this calamity. Yi’er, my heart aches for her.”
Yu Zhi Yi’s expression remained indifferent. “This matter is being handled by the Court of Judicial Review. I’m afraid I’m powerless.”
“After all, while I was granted an exceptional appointment, I’m only a minor fifth-rank official. My words carry little weight.”
Though her response was a refusal, it strangely reassured Madam Zheng.
She clutched Yu Zhi Yi’s hand. “Yi’er, His Majesty only appointed you because of your extraordinary abilities. If you tell him that Jiao Jiao is innocent, he will believe you.”
“In a case of treason, how can you be so sure His Majesty would trust me and not see me as an accomplice to the conspirators, wiping us all out?” Yu Zhi Yi withdrew her hand.
Madam Zheng didn’t falter and quickly replied, “He wouldn’t! You spoke just a few words in court, and His Majesty believed in your talents. Your defensive bracelet has also proven its worth. I’m confident he’ll believe you.”
Yu Zhi Yi replied coolly, “You only saw me speaking briefly in court but ignored how I directed His Majesty to find evidence. He didn’t believe me because of a fantastical story. He trusted me because I led them to evidence. Don’t confuse cause and effect.”
Madam Zheng was rendered speechless.
Yu Zhi Yi continued, “Actually, this matter is easily resolved, isn’t it? If Jiao Jiao can explain how she came to know about the assassins and her explanation proves true, clearing her name should be simple.”
Madam Zheng’s lips trembled but no words came out.
They had questioned Yu Jiao Jiao in prison, but she had stammered and offered no clear explanation, insisting only on their trust.
Their belief wasn’t enough. The Court of Judicial Review and His Majesty had to believe her.
Madam Zheng bit her lip and grasped Yu Zhi Yi’s hand again. “Yi’er, can’t you tell His Majesty that you foresaw the assassins and accidentally revealed it to Jiao Jiao…”
Yu Zhi Yi abruptly stood. “So that’s your real purpose, isn’t it?”
Even if Madam Zheng couldn’t see through the events in court, Minister Yu surely understood what had convinced His Majesty.
Yet they still dragged her back here.
Exposed, Madam Zheng blushed, momentarily at a loss for words.
Unable to stand it, Yu Zi Xuan stormed in. “We’re family! Why can’t you help Jiao Jiao?”
Yu Zhi Yi sneered. “When there’s no trouble, I’m a revolting fraud unworthy of being family. But when there’s trouble, suddenly we’re family again?”