Chapter 097

Chapter 97: Give Each Other Some Time

Du Zi Heng came in carrying a bowl of medicine. Seeing her eyes open, he said calmly: “Awake? Good, the medicine is not hot anymore.”

Yu Zhi Yi asked: “You knew I would wake at this time?”

Du Zi Heng shook his head: “Only a guess.” She had fainted about half a day last time too. Even with that guess, he had still come by to check every so often. He let the boiled medicine cool, then had someone warm it to the right heat again.

The medicine had the usual sweet herbal smell, but Yu Zhi Yi knew it would taste very bitter and astringent. She was not fussy. She lifted the bowl and drained it in one go. It was only a tonic. At worst it would make her feel a bit too warm for two days.

Du Zi Heng’s eyes moved slightly. He had wanted to ask this last time and finally did: “Is it not bitter?”

Whenever he was sick, he had to build up his courage before he could swallow the whole bowl. Never mind talk about manly pride. Men hate bitter medicine too. Why else did every noble house keep lots of sugar on hand?

But Yu Zhi Yi’s face stayed calm, as if she had drunk a bowl of plain water, not something so bitter it made people gag.

Yu Zhi Yi tilted her head at him and said: “Not bitter. Try it if you don’t believe me.”

Du Zi Heng thought for a moment, then dipped his finger and tasted a drop. At once he almost spat it out.

Watching him put on a mask of pain in seconds, Yu Zhi Yi’s lips curved in a smile.

Du Zi Heng was about to accuse her of lying. He looked up and saw the laughter in her eyes. He paused, then schooled his face and said in a strict tone: “Young Madam Du, those who trick others will be tricked in return.”

Yu Zhi Yi raised a brow: “Do you think you can trick me?”

Du Zi Heng was at a loss for words.

Seeing his wounded look only brightened Yu Zhi Yi’s mood.

Maybe afraid he would be angered to death by her shamelessness, Du Zi Heng tossed down a stern line, then left the room. As the door closed, he sighed. [If I made her laugh, maybe she feels a little better.]

After a while, Madam Yao came in. Seeing Yu Zhi Yi awake, she fussed over her with warm questions. Noticing something on Madam Yao’s mind, Yu Zhi Yi asked: “Mother, did something happen?”

Madam Yao sighed helplessly: “Nothing gets past you. Some things happened after you fainted.” She was not sure if it was good or bad. Yu Zhi Yi had cut ties with the Yu manor, and Madam Yao agreed that cutting ties was best. But how did Yu Zhi Yi feel? In any case, she would learn after leaving the palace, so it was better to tell her now and prepare her heart.

She said: “Because the Yu clan deceived the throne and tried to harm the royal family, His Majesty removed Minister Yu from office and ordered them dragged to the Meridian Gate for beheading.”

Yu Zhi Yi was surprised for a moment, then relaxed. Considering what the Yu manor had done, beheading was not unfair. Still, she had a feeling they had not died. She had not seen death signs on their faces. Sure enough, Madam Yao said: “They were already at the palace gate when Third Young Master Yu arrived carrying a death-exemption gold medallion.”

Yu Zhi Yi was truly surprised now: “Third Brother?” She was not shocked that the Yu clan had such a medallion. Minister Yu’s grandfather had exchanged his life for it. Emperor Hui had been attacked. Minister Yu’s grandfather blocked the blade with his body and saved the Emperor, then died from his wounds. To honor him, Emperor Hui gave Madam Yu a death-exemption gold medallion and publicly announced that, as long as they did not try to rebel, no matter what crime they committed, showing that medallion would spare them from death. Madam Yu had always kept it in the ancestral hall.

Madam Yao nodded: “Yes, Third Young Master Yu.” She sighed with mixed feelings. “Who would have thought that this quiet, low-key third young master would be the farsighted one. If he had not rushed here with the medallion today, Minister Yu, no, Yu Cong Wen, and his whole family would have been in the underworld by now.”

Yu Zhi Yi said nothing.

Madam Yao took her hand and said gently: “I know you are cold outside but warm inside. Still, the Yu manor is not a good place. Cutting ties is for the best. From now on, the Du manor is your home. Your father and I, and You Lin, are your family.”

“You do not need to feel pressure. Your father and I already discussed it. Children are not urgent. If in the end it really is not possible, we will adopt a child from the Imperial Clan and put the child under your name.”

Yu Zhi Yi was startled. She asked in confusion: “Why go that far?”

“Yi’er, let me speak from the heart. If the injuries had happened right after your wedding, I might have considered letting You Lin take a concubine to continue the Du line. And because you and You Lin were not getting along, with You Bing Yue in the middle, I might have allowed you to divorce.”

“But Yi’er, hearts are made of flesh. Your father and I both like you very much, and we are grateful for all you have done for the Du clan.”

“No matter what, I will not push you into a pit you cannot climb out of.”

“You are young. You think you have skills, and even if you divorce, you can live fine outside the Chancellor’s Manor. But child, this world is harsh, and harsher to women. People call it a peaceful split, but divorce by mutual consent is little different from being set aside.”

“Once the world looks at you with tinted eyes, even your talents can become your original sin.”

Yu Zhi Yi frowned and wanted to say she did not care. Madam Yao continued: “Do not reject me yet. Hear my plan, all right?”

“I know you still mind that You Lin left you on the wedding night, and you mind his matter with You Bing Yue. So I will not force you to accept him, and I will not force you to consummate the marriage.”

“Let us give each other a few years. If after a few years you still cannot accept You Lin and do not want this marriage, your father and I will agree and let you go.”

“These years will be enough for you to use your skills and secure your standing. By then, no one will dare question you. And even if they do, you will have enough strength to shut them up.”

“As for You Lin, during these years, we will not let him take a concubine and will not allow him to flirt outside.”

“What do you think?”

To be honest, since Yu Zhi Yi could not cut this bond on her own without creating more karma, Madam Yao’s plan was very tempting. But…

Yu Zhi Yi frowned and said: “It is not proper.”

Madam Yao cut in quickly: “It truly is not proper. The wedding night was not only You Lin’s fault. I am at fault too.”

Yu Zhi Yi blinked: “How is any of it your fault?”

Before Madam Yao could answer, someone knocked. A new but distinctive voice called: “Madam Du, has the young madam awakened?”

Madam Yao sounded relieved, almost as if rescued. She said: “I will see who it is.”

A young eunuch from the Emperor’s side stood outside. He bowed and said respectfully: “His Majesty requests the presence of the young madam.”