Chapter 050

Chapter 50: Marquis Wu’an’s Reinforcements Have Nothing To Do With Yu Zhi Yi

Under Yu Zhi Yi’s watchful gaze, Duke Ding Guo fixed his sharp eyes on Prince Xiao Yao, anger tightly held back.

His little granddaughter was his favorite among all his children and grandchildren. He had worried himself sick over her marriage. He chose Prince Xiao Yao at first because the prince looked proper and upright, and because he seemed loyal and reliable. On top of that, the prince was his own grandson through his daughter, so he never doubted the man’s sincerity. When the empress dowager passed away and the prince asked to observe three years of mourning, the duke even refused to cancel the engagement out of respect for the prince’s filial piety.

He believed a filial man would be loving and dependable to his wife. So even if it meant risking his beloved granddaughter becoming a late-marriage girl, he still told her to wait three years.

And the result?

This same man who had vowed to cut off romance to mourn the empress dowager was now protecting another woman, coming into someone else’s house to make things hard for a stranger.

Prince Xiao Yao narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly: “Maternal Grandfather, that is not what happened. Young Madam Du misunderstood. This prince simply did not hear her greeting.”

Yu Zhi Yi answered in a soft, innocent tone: “Your Grace, you misunderstand. The prince truly did not make things hard for me. He was just staring at something so intently that he did not hear my greeting.”

[Didn’t they all call me scheming? Fine, I will let them see how scheming I can be.]

Duke Ding Guo exploded at once: “My eyes are not blind, and my ears are not deaf.”

He looked coldly at Prince Xiao Yao and said: “If you do not care for my granddaughter, say it directly. My granddaughters are sought after by many. She does not have to hang herself from a single tree.”

Prince Xiao Yao’s gaze flickered.

His little cousin was very good, but he truly did not want to marry her. He felt only brotherly affection for her, never once a heartbeat of love. Sometimes when she ran after him, he even felt annoyed. He had not understood love between a man and a woman until he met Miss You. Only then did his dead heart wake up. Seeing Miss You and Du Zi Heng’s love, he realized this was the love he wanted, not a lifetime of polite distance with a woman he did not love.

But Miss You already had someone she loved, so he kept his feelings carefully locked away, letting that flutter stay at the level of silent admiration. As for the engagement, he felt that marrying anyone was the same, and if he asked to break it, trouble would surely follow.

Now his maternal grandfather said that if he truly did not want to marry, he could break the engagement. His heart stirred.

A cold female voice cut in and froze the room: “But they cannot marry anyway.”

Everyone stared, stunned. Even Yu Zhi Yi looked at You Bing Yue in surprise. She had not expected her to be so bold.

Prince Xiao Yao was first caught off guard, then his eyes lit up with excitement. He turned to You Bing Yue, his feelings almost solid in his gaze: “Yue’er…”

Du Zi Heng’s face turned dark: “Bing Yue!”

Duke Ding Guo’s expression sank to its lowest point.

You Bing Yue’s cool face showed confusion, as if she did not know what she had said wrong: “Why are you all looking at me like that? I did not say anything false. Close relatives cannot get married.”

She added in a steady voice: “Children from close-kin marriages have a high chance of serious problems.”

Duke Ding Guo gave a harsh laugh: “Utter nonsense. I have lived a long time and never heard such ridiculous talk.”

Du Zi Heng frowned and said: “Bing Yue, do not speak carelessly. People of the same clan have married for generations. There have been no problems.”

You Bing Yue’s brows lifted, anger flashing in her eyes: “You do not believe me?”

Du Zi Heng shook his head and said: “It is not that I do not believe you. It is just…”

You Bing Yue stood up at once and cut him off: “Explaining is covering up, and covering up means it is true. Du Zi Heng, I never thought that after we have known each other so long, you still do not trust me at all. I misjudged you!”

Prince Xiao Yao glared at Du Zi Heng and said: “Yue’er is well-traveled and well-read. She would never speak without reason.” He turned back to You Bing Yue and said with feeling: “Yue’er, I believe you.”

Yu Zhi Yi almost wanted to clap. [What a show. This is delicious drama.] She even wanted to take out sunflower seeds so she could snack while watching.

Zi Yuan was just as absorbed. She finally understood why her lady had said a noble would perform a play for them today. This love triangle was truly exciting.

The mistress and maid wore their onlooker faces a bit too openly. You Bing Yue’s eyes snapped to them: “Everything today was your set-up, wasn’t it?”

Prince Xiao Yao looked at Yu Zhi Yi with a chill and said: “You fake young lady do have some tricks.”

The words were full of mockery and hidden danger.

Yu Zhi Yi paused. She had not expected to get caught in the crossfire while eating melon seeds in her heart. She put away the mood to watch and asked back plainly: “Prince Xiao Yao is right that I am just a fake young lady with no foundation and no backer. How could I possibly manipulate both the honorable Duke Ding Guo and the well-known Prince Xiao Yao at the same time?”

She added with a cool smile: “Besides, were you not the ones who came here of your own will? Did I beg you to come?”

Marquis Wu’an could invite Duke Ding Guo. What did that have to do with Yu Zhi Yi? So she was not lying. If people came to make trouble, why could she not fight back?

Prince Xiao Yao fell silent.

After this mess, he could no longer openly support You Bing Yue. Without this powerful shield, You Bing Yue’s other admirers would not be hard for Yu Zhi Yi to handle.

You Bing Yue felt her own words slap back at her. [So this is what getting hoisted by my own words feels like.] She had a strong hunch that the entire day had been designed by this woman, but she had no proof.

Prince Xiao Yao, seeing he could not pin anything on Yu Zhi Yi, swallowed his anger and smiled at Duke Ding Guo: “Maternal Grandfather, with Chancellor Du not at home, why did you come at this time?”

He was sure the duke would not lower himself to visit the minor junior Du Zi Heng. If the duke came while Chancellor Du and his wife were away, there could only be one reason: Yu Zhi Yi had invited him. That woman had purposely said things that could be misunderstood, just loud enough for his maternal grandfather to hear, so the old man would hold a grudge against Yue’er. Yue’er was right. That woman was deep and cunning.

Duke Ding Guo said evenly: “I came to see the master.”

“Master?” Prince Xiao Yao blinked. Since when had Du Manor turned into a temple?

Duke Ding Guo did not explain, because he himself was still unsure. He turned to Marquis Wu’an.

Marquis Wu’an, who had also been enjoying the drama, straightened when the duke’s eyes landed on him. He bowed and said respectfully to Duke Ding Guo: “Old Duke, the master is not far away at all but right before our eyes. Young Madam Du is the master I spoke of.”

Duke Ding Guo stared: “?”

Prince Xiao Yao sneered and said: “And you still say none of this was your plan?”

He looked at Yu Zhi Yi with disdain and said: “You are truly foolish. If you want to scheme, at least pick a better excuse. ‘Master’? You deserve that title?”

It was the second time he had spit out those three words.