Chapter 005

Chapter 5: Stop Waiting, She Will Not Return for the Visit

In the capital, any special skill a noble lady has will be loudly praised, because it becomes a point in her favor when she marries and makes her in-laws value her more.

Yu Zhi Yi smiled and gently changed the topic, saying: “Either way, this matter is now settled. Mother can rest easy. But I have one request.”

Madam Yao gathered her thoughts and asked with interest: “What is it?”

Yu Zhi Yi said: “I want to set aside a room in Windward Pavilion to place the ancestor tablets. I am of the Mystic Sect, and we care most about our line of teaching. If the offerings stop, the ancestors may grow angry, and no one knows what trouble that might bring.”

Madam Yao laughed softly and said: “I thought it was something big. Windward Pavilion is your home. Arrange it as you wish. No need to ask me first.” She looked to Aunt Ye and said: “Give the young madam one thousand taels from my account.”

She then told Yu Zhi Yi: “If that is not enough, ask me again.”

Yu Zhi Yi was stunned for a second, then smiled and said: “It is enough. Thank you, Mother.”

Back at the Yu Manor, she had asked for the same thing. Minister Yu and Madam Yu both refused. Later, Yu Jiao Jiao blew up the best courtyard and turned it into a garden. Minister Yu, Madam Yu, and the five elder brothers all clapped and cheered. From then on, Yu Zhi Yi saw clearly the gap between herself and Yu Jiao Jiao. She stopped asking for anything at all.

She had thought Madam Yao would also make excuses. She had even prepared to convert one of her Sparrow Temple shops into an incense room if she was refused. She did not expect Madam Yao to be so generous. Maybe Madam Yao only saw her value. Even so, Yu Zhi Yi remembered how she once used her Mystic Arts to help Minister Yu uncover a traitor, yet he decided it was just luck and did not believe she had real skill. Madam Yu and the elder brothers thought she was just playing tricks to get their attention. The fifth brother even said bluntly that no matter what she did, in their hearts she was not worth even one finger of Jiao Jiao, and her actions only made them dislike her more.

Yu Zhi Yi fell quiet for a moment. Then she studied Madam Yao’s face and asked: “Mother, have you not seen my grandmother for a long time?”

Madam Yao blinked before understanding that “grandmother” meant her own mother. She sighed and said: “I have been busy with your wedding. Your grandmother planned to attend on the wedding day, but she caught a chill. I did not want her to travel while sick, so I kept her from coming.”

Yu Zhi Yi nodded slightly and said: “Tomorrow will be free of tasks. Mother will also have time. You can go see her.”

From the lines of Madam Yao’s face, Yu Zhi Yi saw the parents palace dim, and the spot that stood for the mother was ringed with a sign of blood. It meant Madam Yao’s mother would face a blood-related misfortune soon.

Madam Yao felt uneasy at Yu Zhi Yi’s words. If Yu Zhi Yi had told her this yesterday, she would have thought the girl was trying a new way to win the elders’ favor since she did not have her husband’s love. But after the matter with the Marchioness Wu’an, Madam Yao did not dare to take the warning lightly.

She nodded and said: “Very well. After you two visit your parents tomorrow, I will also go see my mother.”

Yu Zhi Yi said no more. Still, she clearly saw Madam Yao’s face change for the better. She was a person who returned respect with greater respect. She could not leave the Chancellor’s Manor for now. Since her mother-in-law gave her honor, she would live in peace with her.

Madam Yao called the steward in and instructed: “From now on, the house affairs will be managed by the young madam. Help her where she does not understand.”

Yu Zhi Yi looked at Madam Yao with a hint of surprise. This meant Madam Yao was handing her real power, not just a title. In the last life, Yu Jiao Jiao never gained real control even after she moved out of the Chancellor’s Manor.

The day to return to her parents came. Yu Zhi Yi washed, finished her morning practice, and ate breakfast. Only then did Du Zi Heng arrive late. By that time, Yu Zhi Yi was already seated in the carriage.

He looked at her once. His gaze rested on the fine, complex red dress. He froze, then frowned and started to speak: “You…”

Yu Zhi Yi smiled a little and asked first: “Pretty?”

Du Zi Heng turned his eyes away, uneasy. She was, without question, beautiful. After the first meeting, Madam Du had told him how elegant and gorgeous Yu Zhi Yi was. If You Bing Yue was like a cold snow lotus on a high mountain, beautiful but distant, then Yu Zhi Yi was a peony, splendid and bright. The rich red dress did not lessen her beauty. It made it shine.

Realizing what he was thinking, he frowned deeper. Before he could speak, Yu Zhi Yi said in a calm voice: “Young master, do not overthink it. This dress is not for you to see. I will only wear it this once. I will not trouble you in the future.”

Du Zi Heng opened his mouth, but the carriage stopped. The coachman called from outside: “Young master, young madam, the Yu Manor is here.”

Yu Zhi Yi thought to herself: [Finally, we are here.]

The gate of the Yu Manor was quiet and cold. Besides one gatekeeper and two bodyguards, there was no one. Yu Zhi Yi stepped down first. The sight surprised her, yet it also made sense, because in the last life Yu Jiao Jiao had not returned for the visit.

She let her eyes pass over the two guards and saw the answer she had guessed in their faces. Yesterday, Yu Jiao Jiao had come back. With the help of Zhang Tian Shun’s connections, she had learned that Du Zi Heng favored a concubine over his wife. She made the whole Yu Manor believe he would not come with Yu Zhi Yi today. So Minister Yu and the five elder brothers each went off to busy themselves.

Yu Zhi Yi laughed to herself, thinking: [Good. Let them be busy.]

Du Zi Heng frowned and asked sharply: “Where are Minister Yu and Madam Yu?”

Yu Zhi Yi glanced at him in silence. He realized his mistake, hesitated, then corrected himself and asked: “Where are Father-in-law and Mother-in-law?”

The gatekeeper blanched and hurried to beg: “Please do not be angry, young sir. The master and madam were delayed by business. They did not mean to slight you. They will come out very soon.”

Du Zi Heng let out a cold laugh and said: “On the return day, what could be more important than welcoming the newlyweds? And what kind of business makes a dozen people vanish at once?”

He straightened and said in a hard voice: “It seems the Minister of Revenue’s manor does not welcome us. Wife, let us go.”