Chapter 006

Chapter 6: Who Cared More Is Clear at a Glance

Du Zi Heng was aloof, not foolish. On a beloved daughter’s return day, how could her parents not go out to greet her? Even if he felt nothing for his principal wife, a principal wife was still a principal wife and stood for his honor. [Shaming his wife was shaming him.]

Yu Zhi Yi did not argue and followed him back into the carriage.

The steward hurried after them, calling: “Son-in-law! Son-in-law!”

Inside the residence, several women of the Yu clan looked at the quiet halls in confusion and asked: “Elder sister-in-law, isn’t today Yi’s return day?”

These were kinswomen of the Yu clan. For weddings and funerals, families always visited one another. In truth, Madam Zheng had not sent them word, so they should not have come. But Yu Zhi Yi had married the only son of Chancellor’s Manor and was now the chancellor’s daughter-in-law. If the chancellor learned that on her return day none of her maiden family’s kin had shown up, their husbands might suffer for it, so the women came to show their faces.

Yu Jiao Jiao sat at Madam Zheng’s side, covered in pearls and gold, looking extremely grand. Minister Yu held a third-rank post, which was not low, but compared with a hereditary Duke’s Manor there was still a huge gap. In both status and wealth, they were far behind. Yu Jiao Jiao had married into Yong Duke’s Manor, which was truly marrying up. From her posture now, she was clearly favored and living very well there.

The kinswomen’s eyes turned red with envy, but they still had to flatter. Yu Jiao Jiao listened to their praise and could not hide her pride, saying with a smile: “My husband really treats me well.”

She lifted her wrist and hairpin as she added: “This South Sea pearl and Treasure Pavilion’s Peony Gold Hairpin were both picked out for me by my husband from the manor’s treasury.”

After showing off, Yu Jiao Jiao sighed and said: “Aunts, it is not that Mother meant to slight my sister and brother-in-law. It is just that…”

She seemed embarrassed, then said with a face full of wounded sympathy: “My husband has many contacts. He heard that on the wedding night Young Master Du left my sister and spent the night whispering with a country girl, leaving my sister alone in an empty room.”

She lowered her voice and continued: “It turns out Young Master Du had sworn long ago that he would marry only that woman. He wed my sister only because Madam Du forced him by threatening her life. So they would not be coming back today. Mother did not want you all to make the trip for nothing, so she did not send invitations.”

The kinswomen stared in shock. One could not hold back and said angrily: “This is too much! Is he not grinding the Yu clan’s face into the dirt?”

Another urged: “Elder sister-in-law, we cannot let this rest!”

Madam Zheng looked troubled as she said: “Even if I want to stand up for her, I need a reason. You also know that Yi has been distant from us since she was young. If she does not send word back, we have no grounds to act.”

Yu Jiao Jiao listened and let a faint smile lift her lips. [Yu Zhi Yi, so you finally taste this too.]

In the last life, she had borne this shame. She was the legitimate daughter of the Minister’s Manor under the Ministry of Revenue. How could she swallow such humiliation? What made it worse was that Yu Zhi Yi had received Zhang Tian Shun’s wholehearted protection. [Luckily, in this life everything is reversed. Zhang Tian Shun’s love and the future princess consort’s seat are all mine.]

Her pleased thought had barely formed when Nanny Zhang rushed in and whispered at Madam Zheng’s ear: “Madam, bad news. The elder miss and the son-in-law have returned. Finding no one at the gate to greet them, the son-in-law turned to leave. The steward stopped him, but he is very angry.”

Madam Zheng’s face changed, and she glanced instinctively at Yu Jiao Jiao. Nanny Zhang had not spoken loudly, but Yu Jiao Jiao sat right next to Madam Zheng and heard every word. She burst out: “That’s impossible!”

Nanny Zhang said steadily: “Miss, this servant would not dare lie.”

The kinswomen looked over with open curiosity. After a moment’s thought, Madam Zheng decided to tell the truth, saying: “Yi and her husband are here. Let us go receive them together.”

She added to Nanny Zhang: “Send word to the master and the five elder brothers.”

The men from the Imperial clan did not need invitations; many had come with their own madams and were already waiting in the main hall.

Outside Yu Manor, Du Zi Heng’s handsome face was dark. Yu Zhi Yi stood easy and calm, not surprised by any of it.

Du Zi Heng looked at her relaxed expression and asked, half angry: “You are not mad?”

Yu Zhi Yi answered lightly: “This was within my expectations, so what is there to be angry about?”

“They treat you so harshly and you can endure?” Du Zi Heng could not believe it. Where had her talent for scheming gone?

Yu Zhi Yi asked in return: “Minister Yu and his wife raised me. The kindness of raising me is as great as the sky. If they asked me to give my life, it would still be reasonable. If I cannot endure, what then?”

[Of course, I repaid what I owed in my last life. And what they did to me more than offset that debt. In this life, I will not yield without reason.]

Du Zi Heng’s eyes went round as coins, which spoiled his refined air but made him seem more human. He could not match the woman before him with the scheming adopted daughter of Yu Manor that the capital gossiped about.

Before he could sort out his thoughts, a large group came out from Yu Manor. Yu Zhi Yi raised her eyes and fixed on Yu Jiao Jiao, whose whole body was glittering with jewels. Her gaze swept the other’s face, and her red lips curved. [So that was it.]

Yu Jiao Jiao did not dare believe Yu Zhi Yi had truly come until she stepped out of the gate. But even then she thought: [How is this possible? Why would that scumbag Du Zi Heng refuse to escort me back last life, yet come back with this fake now?]

Yu Zhi Yi wore the most expensive, splendid red dress from Splendid Brocade Workshop. Her already stunning face looked even more radiant. Everyone else saw her and went still at her splendor.

A kinswoman gasped and said: “Isn’t that the peony-red dress hanging on the third floor at Splendid Brocade Workshop? That one costs three thousand taels!”

Another echoed: “It really is. Young Master Du treats Yi far too well!”

Yu Jiao Jiao’s South Sea pearls and gold hairpin were precious too, but together worth just over a thousand taels. Now both were overshadowed by the red dress. What was more, the pearls and hairpin had been casually pulled from Yong Duke’s Manor’s treasury, while the red dress had been bought especially for Yu Zhi Yi. Who had put in more care was clear at a glance.

Meeting everyone’s eyes, Yu Zhi Yi stood openly at Du Zi Heng’s side and let them look and praise. Yu Jiao Jiao’s heart turned messy.

Madam Zheng steadied herself and spoke first, pleading: “Son-in-law, Yi, we did not mean to slight you. It was the servants’ neglect. They failed to report that you had left your residence.”

Yu Zhi Yi did not tear open the obvious lie and smiled gently as she said: “It is nothing, Mother.”

Du Zi Heng frowned, displeased with how she kept treating her family like a soft target. Madam Zheng let out a quiet breath of relief. Yu Jiao Jiao sneered inwardly. [Low-born thing. Even if you got Du Zi Heng to escort you home, you still cannot stand tall.]

As if she had not noticed the changing faces around her, Yu Zhi Yi asked with curiosity: “Where are Father and my five elder brothers? Why did they not come out with everyone?”