Chapter 083

Chapter 83: That Damn Familiar Feeling

“You dare,” You Bing Yue said, cold seeping from her body as killing intent flashed in her eyes. To her, Red Luan was just a small seamstress who thought she could act proud because she had ties to the Du Clan’s young madam.

“Why would I not dare?” Red Luan’s pretty face cooled as she mocked her: “If you are not convinced, ask our owner to discipline me. Unless the owner speaks, I have the right to refuse.” Disgust shone in her long fox-like eyes as she added: “You are just a plaything, yet you still swagger around. How ridiculous.”

“Wretch, you are seeking death!” Stabbed in her sore spot, You Bing Yue flicked forward like lightning and struck toward Red Luan’s back.

At the instant her palm was about to land, an invisible force rose out of thin air. A feeling she hated struck her again. You Bing Yue’s face changed; she tried to pull back, but it was too late. It was as if a giant hammer slammed her chest. She flew backward, hit the wall hard, then slid down it.

Hearing the thud, Red Luan turned and stared, full of question marks. She took two wary steps back and said: “I did not touch you. If you throw yourself at a wall, that has nothing to do with me. Do not try to scam me.”

You Bing Yue clenched her teeth, choking back the urge to spit blood as she squeezed out: “Yu Zhi Yi, I…!”

Red Luan’s face darkened as she said: “Shameless. You crashed into the wall yourself. What does that have to do with my sisters?”

Glaring, You Bing Yue suddenly laughed and said: “You refuse to make my clothes, is that it? I will make you do it. If your work does not satisfy me, wait to be demoted to a white-rank seamstress.”

Yu Zhi Yi stepped out when she heard the commotion and caught that last loud boast. Other guests opened their room doors and came to watch as well. Seeing Yu Zhi Yi, You Bing Yue’s hatred grew deeper, and she said: “So that is it. A little seamstress would not dare challenge me unless her master was here.”

Yu Zhi Yi frowned, about to correct her, but Red Luan spoke first and said: “Exactly. I dare because my master has my back. What about you? You do not dare because you do not want to, or is it because the person who should back you does not dare show up now?”

Yu Zhi Yi shook her head with a helpless smile. She knew Red Luan meant Du Zi Heng. When Red Luan learned he had a sweetheart before marriage, she had cursed him plenty. But today Red Luan guessed wrong. The one backing You Bing Yue now was no longer Du Zi Heng, but Prince Xiao Yao. However foolish he looked lately, Prince Xiao Yao was still a first-rank prince. If he held a grudge against Red Luan, she would be in danger. Yu Zhi Yi decided to pull You Bing Yue’s attention away.

Before she could speak, You Bing Yue turned her fire on Yu Zhi Yi by herself and said: “Yu Zhi Yi, you can only use that spooky trick of yours to take shortcuts.”

Enemies met, and anger flared. Just looking at Yu Zhi Yi made You Bing Yue lose control of her temper. She thought of the credit for saving the emperor. After thinking back on the banquet that night, she had reached a conclusion. Yu Zhi Yi had foreseen that You Bing Yue would run into danger that night. She had also seen there would be assassins, and that You Bing Yue would earn great merit. So Yu Zhi Yi used that knowledge to her advantage, used dirty means to control Prince Xiao Yao, and made him lose face. In the end, both he and You Bing Yue were pushed out, and Yu Zhi Yi smoothly stole the credit for saving the emperor.

You Bing Yue sneered and said: “Those who praise you are blind. Besides your little tricks, what else can you do? Can your tricks actually run a business or help the Du Clan make money?”

By now, the triangle between Young Master Du and the two women had become gossip in the upper circle of the Capital. Many onlookers knew of You Bing Yue and knew that after she took over Du Zi Heng’s bookstore, she turned it into a reading haven all the nobles chased. People in the crowd murmured one after another: “You Bing Yue may be a farm girl, but she is impressive. Nan Feng Bookstore has lines every day,” and, “A store with so many customers must be raking in profits,” and, “So she is capable. But as for Young Madam Du, people say she can divine, that one look at a person tells their life and that she can avoid misfortune and find fortune. How can a woman of the inner courtyard have such power? Even the masters of Tian Yin Temple or Daoist Master Qing Yun of Dragon-Tiger Mountain would not dare claim that.”

Hearing with your ears is one thing; seeing with your eyes is another. The crowd had seen Nan Feng Bookstore booming with their own eyes. As for Yu Zhi Yi’s ability, they had not seen a bit of it.

Red Luan had not fully felt Yu Zhi Yi’s power herself, but the last incident had made her sense something unusual about her own sister. She planted her hands on her hips, ready to argue with the doubters.

You Bing Yue watched coldly and said: “So the people really do see clearly.”

Red Luan’s gaze shifted as she looked again at this woman who did not even count as a paramour. The onlookers, though they did not know the saying itself, heard the praise and questioned Yu Zhi Yi even more loudly. Red Luan snapped out of her surprise and opened her mouth to speak, but Yu Zhi Yi patted her shoulder and said: “Rest a moment and drink some water.”

“What is it, feeling guilty so you will not let your sister speak for you?” You Bing Yue mocked.

Yu Zhi Yi shook her head and said: “There is no need. Look over there.” She pointed at the open window and said: “Nan Feng Bookstore is about to be smashed. You are its manager, yet you still have time to order clothes here?”

Windward Pavilion stood close to Nan Feng Academy. Opening the south window gave a clear view of the bookstore. Right then, chaos roared outside Nan Feng Bookstore. Someone had already started to lead the crowd in smashing the door.

You Bing Yue’s face changed. She glared at Yu Zhi Yi and said: “This is your doing.”

Yu Zhi Yi gave a short laugh and said: “Do not assume everyone is as petty as you. If the bookstore shuts down, I gain nothing. Why would I do that? On the contrary, two-thirds of the bookstore’s profits go into Chancellor’s Manor’s accounts. I can sit and collect hundreds or thousands without lifting a finger and make the elders at home happy. Why would I bother to ruin it?”

After hearing You Bing Yue’s accusation, the crowd had also wondered if Yu Zhi Yi was behind it. But what Yu Zhi Yi said made sense. A smart mistress would not throw money away for no reason. So what if the one making money was her husband’s paramour? That was even better. It saved wages.

Red Luan’s eyes gleamed with schadenfreude as she said: “If I were you, I would have gone down long ago to handle the mess, not throw blame around up here.”

Yu Zhi Yi said nothing, but she could not help nodding along.