Chapter 018

Chapter 18: Thanks for the Compliment

The two newlyweds, still not very familiar with each other, soon arrived at Shang Jing Garden.

Several cousins from the Yao clan and their spouses were already there, and when they saw Yu Zhi Yi, they all showed surprise at her beauty. Clearly, Madam Yao’s makeover had worked wonders.

Yao Jin Ang nudged Du Zi Heng’s elbow and teased with a grin: “You rascal, your blessings aren’t small. Little sister-in-law is both pretty and capable, you’re lucky!”

News that Yu Zhi Yi had indirectly saved Old Madam Yao had spread through the Yao clan. As people say, an elder at home is a treasure. Old Madam Yao held a special, respected place in the family and was kind by nature. Whether someone was born of a concubine or was a concubine-born grandson or granddaughter, she tried her best to treat them equally, so the younger generation loved her dearly. By saving her, Yu Zhi Yi had earned the gratitude of the whole Yao clan.

Du Zi Heng had already learned from Madam Yao what happened on the return-to-bride’s-home day. He felt it was just a coincidence, but he did not expose anyone in public.

Just then, a man’s voice sounded from behind as a young man in a red long robe edged with gold strolled in, openly looking Yu Zhi Yi up and down. For a moment his eyes flashed with admiration, but whatever he remembered snuffed it out, and his gaze turned to disgust as he said with a drawl: “Oh, Young Master Du and the young madam seem quite close, always together.”

Du Zi Heng frowned and answered curtly: “My grandmother invited us. That’s why we came together.” His tone sounded like he was doing everything he could to distance himself from Yu Zhi Yi.

Yu Zhi Yi was neither surprised nor bothered, but several members of the Yao clan drew their brows together. Du Zi Heng did not notice their reaction and asked the newcomer: “Brother Yi Fei, did you come alone?”

This was Ji Yi Fei, son of the richest man, Ji Cong Xin. Ji Cong Xin had only this one son and doted on him. He and his wife, Madam Pang, were deeply in love. After nearly twenty years of marriage, he kept no concubines, not even a bedchamber maid, and he never showed up at brothels. Growing up with loving parents and a strong family background, Ji Yi Fei developed a bold, showy temper.

Ji Yi Fei lifted his chin and sneered: “If I didn’t come alone, would I, like Brother You Lin, have a beauty on my arm?” You Lin was Du Zi Heng’s courtesy name. The words looked like a simple comment that Du Zi Heng had brought a beautiful wife to a chrysanthemum-viewing party, but the sour tone was thick.

Du Zi Heng’s face tightened, and he didn’t know how to reply. He had indeed been going out with another woman. To outsiders, Yu Zhi Yi was his properly married wife, so of course they should appear together. Only people in their circle knew that he and Bing Yue were in love; acting like this was no different from betrayal.

Yao Jin Ang could not bear it and cut in with a snort: “Brother Ji, if you envy You Lin and little sister-in-law getting along so well, ask your mother to arrange a good wife for you instead of pouring sour vinegar here.” They all ran in the same circle, and since Du Zi Heng was his cousin, he knew about the messy tangle between those two men and one woman. He neither understood it nor wanted to. His cousin was already married, and the bride was his grandmother’s benefactor. He would not allow Du Zi Heng to keep fooling around.

Ji Yi Fei laughed, then rolled his eyes and admitted lightly: “Envy? I suppose I do. It’s not like I didn’t invite a beauty. It’s just that her heart belongs to someone else, so she refused to come with me.” He fixed his gaze on Yu Zhi Yi, his eyes going cold as he added: “Pity the beauty’s beloved is a scumbag who dumped her for a fox spirit.”

Yu Zhi Yi blinked and answered with a mild smile: “Thanks for the compliment.”

“?” Ji Yi Fei stared, momentarily thrown.

Yu Zhi Yi’s lips curved as she explained in a calm, pleasant voice: “The earliest meaning of fox spirit was a beautiful and clever person. In ancient times it was a totem, a sign of good fortune. Later, people piled shame on beautiful things, calling them troublemakers who bring disaster to the state. That’s how the fox spirit went from auspicious to being called a demonic entity.”

Yao Jin Ang laughed and backed her up at once: “Little cousin isn’t wrong. In the beginning, foxes were symbols of good luck. I’ve traveled far and wide and seen many places where people worship the fox as an immortal.” The other Yao clansmen echoed him. Du Zi Heng stayed quiet.

After a brief pause, Ji Yi Fei let out a cold laugh and said with open scorn: “Sharp tongue. You’re good at turning black to white. No wonder such a simple girl can’t beat you.” He dropped the hints and started mocking her to her face.

Looking Yu Zhi Yi up and down, he said with contempt: “Eldest Miss Yu, wasn’t stealing your sister’s family’s affection in the Yu clan enough for you? Now you come to the Chancellor’s Manor to steal another woman’s beloved. Don’t you feel any shame?”

He jabbed a finger as he pressed on: “Don’t give me that nonsense about parents arranging marriages and you having no choice. You’re so full of tricks that if you truly didn’t want to climb into the Chancellor’s Manor, you would have found a way to make Minister Yu and Madam Yu change their minds. Yet you still married in! That proves you’re a vain woman who loves status.”

He finished with a snarl: “And you knew Bing Yue is Brother You Lin’s sweetheart, yet you schemed to drive her away. That proves you’re selfish and jealous. A woman like you isn’t even worthy to carry Bing Yue’s shoes.”

Du Zi Heng frowned and cut him off: “Enough.”

Ji Yi Fei’s eyes went wide as he snapped: “You’re speaking up for her? Have you really changed your heart?”

Du Zi Heng pinched the bridge of his nose, about to reply, but Yu Zhi Yi interrupted with a light laugh: “Of course he hasn’t changed his heart. His mind is full of Miss You. You can all rest easy.”

[It was true, but why did it sound so odd coming from her?] Du Zi Heng fell silent.

Yu Zhi Yi smiled at Ji Yi Fei and asked mildly: “In your view, taking something from someone else is shameless, and a person of low status seeking someone of high status is vanity, right?”

Ji Yi Fei gave a short, smug laugh: “What else would it be?”

Yu Zhi Yi tilted her head as if thinking, then nodded and said evenly: “By that logic, no one here is as shameless as you.”

Ji Yi Fei’s smile froze, and anger flared as he shouted: “You dare insult me?”

Yu Zhi Yi looked innocent as she answered: “I only judged you by your own logic. Since you agree with that logic, you should accept the result. Why are you angry?”

“When did I ever…?” he started, but she was already speaking.

Yu Zhi Yi counted on her fingers as she spoke in a calm voice: “When you were three, you visited your mother’s family and saw that your cousin had a wooden horse. You liked it and tried to take it. When your cousin got upset, you rolled on the ground crying until your uncle had to give you the horse.”

“Still the same cousin, when you were six, you saw he had a finely made wooden sword and ordered a servant to snatch it. You didn’t know your uncle had spent a month making it as a birthday gift, and your cousin treasured it.”

“When you were ten, that cousin already knew your robber’s habits. He stopped showing off his favorite things and put them away in a cabinet in his room. Even so, he still couldn’t escape your claws. You chased into his room and took his things anyway.”

Ji Yi Fei’s face turned red, then black. At last he squeezed out one line through his teeth: “You had people investigate me?”

Yu Zhi Yi let out a small laugh: “I didn’t even know you before today. Why would I investigate a stranger?”