Chapter 103

Chapter 103: A War of Words with the Yu Crowd

Yu Jiao Jiao was on the second floor of the restaurant, with walls and railings in the way. How strong would Yu Zhi Yi have to be to trip her from across the street? It was pure slander, like calling a deer a horse right in front of everyone. Unless the whole crowd had gone blind, no one would buy it.

Yu Zhi Yi had also offered a key clue. People of the Yu clan had chosen to pretend they did not see through Yu Jiao Jiao’s petty tricks, and let her frame others. That explanation made sense. What decent family would favor a fake daughter and let their true daughter be bullied? Since that could not be real, whoever spread those tales had a nasty mind.

Once people thought it through, many started to feel sorry for the fake daughter. Back then, Yu Zhi Yi was just a girl of ten-plus years, and without checking anything, they had cursed her for being weak and helpless. Some even wanted her nailed to a pillar of shame. But there were still others who insisted that being a fake daughter was original sin. She was not innocent and deserved the hostile treatment. The two sides could not convince each other, and a big public debate broke out.

Yu Zhi Yi knew nothing about this later mess. By then she had already returned to Du Manor. Li Rou wanted to help her change, but she refused. Only her skirt hem had a little dirty water on it, while half of Li Rou’s shoulder was soaked, and it was close to her nose and mouth. Anyone with a normal nose would be choked by the smell.

After Li Rou left, Yu Zhi Yi changed into a simple dress and lay down to rest on the lounge chair under the parasol tree in her courtyard. She had ordered this chair made for this spot. The tree’s leaves were thick, giving cool shade in summer. Lying there, the air smelled fresh like grass and wood. It was peaceful and lazy. It was not the height of summer, but the afternoon was still quite warm. She had a cultivation base, so temperature did not affect her much, but she still enjoyed cooling off under the tree. Sometimes watching the clouds by day and the stars at night helped her heart settle and even break through.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiang’s voice sounded at the gate: “Greetings, young master.”

Yu Zhi Yi opened her eyes and saw Du Zi Heng walk into the courtyard. Seeing her resting, he paused and glanced at the lush tree and the lounge chair, looking thoughtful.

“Do you need something?” she asked.

Hearing her cool tone, Du Zi Heng felt a little helpless. He had Zhang Xiang bring over a chair, then sat beside her and brightened: “It really is cool here.”

Yu Zhi Yi grew alert: “You have trees in your own yard. If you want shade, go rest there.”

Du Zi Heng shook his head: “It is not the same. Mine does not feel as cool as here.”

“One Spring-Warm Summer-Cool Talisman costs five hundred taels,” she said.

Du Zi Heng stared: “A Spring-Warm Summer-Cool Talisman? There is a talisman that works like that?”

“You have seen a life-saving talisman,” Yu Zhi Yi said, puzzled. “Why can’t you accept a cooling talisman?”

Du Zi Heng grew interested: “Besides defense talismans and the Spring-Warm Summer-Cool Talisman, what other talismans are there?”

Yu Zhi Yi did not feel like explaining: “Young master, what did you come here for?”

“…I heard what happened on the street,” he said, “so I stopped by Yu Manor and got fifty taels for you.”

Yu Zhi Yi blinked: “Fifty taels for what?”

“For your skirt,” Du Zi Heng said, a bit regretful. “I wanted to ask for more, but Minister Yu has already been dismissed. Money is everything to them now. A thousand, or even eight hundred, was impossible. Getting fifty taels already felt like taking their lives.”

He had planned to demand a thousand. The Yu clan did not want to give even a single coin. They said a dirty skirt could be washed, so why pay? So he had to fight a war of words. Except for Third Master Yu, even when the others teamed up, they still could not out-argue him. But winning the debate was one thing; making them pay a thousand for a skirt was another. In the end, both sides gave ground, and the Yu clan paid fifty.

To be honest, fifty taels was not small. Even for a family like theirs, as long as they did not eat and drink at taverns and teahouses every day, did not visit brothels, did not shop all the time at Splendid Brocade Workshop and Treasure Pavilion, and did not gamble, fifty taels could cover a month.

Yu Zhi Yi had not expected him to go make trouble with the Yu clan over a skirt. She stared for a moment, then frowned: “You did not have to.”

Du Zi Heng pressed his lips together and turned the silver ingot in his hand: “You saw my parents’ attitude. In their generation, they would rather be widowed than agree to a separation. If there had been any way to persuade them, we would not have married in the first place. Since it is done, and a quick separation is not realistic, you and I are one family. If my family is bullied, of course I will seek justice.”

Yu Zhi Yi gave a cool little laugh: “What if the person who bullied me was you?”

Du Zi Heng flushed. He knew she meant the wedding night. He had run out to find You Bing Yue, thinking he was being so manly, daring to fight the whole world for his true love. But lately he felt as if he had been possessed that night. That was not like him. He had been raised on books and knew propriety. Even if he disliked his new wife and refused to share a bed, by his own logic he should have gone to the next room for the night, not… what he had done. That insulted all three of them. Now it was too late to change anything. He said: “I am sorry.”

Yu Zhi Yi said: “I accept your apology, but I will not say it is fine.”

Du Zi Heng gave a wry smile and shook his head: “My mother likes you. From now on, I will treat you as family. Even if we cannot be husband and wife, we can be like brother and sister. I am a year older. If you do not mind, you can see me as your older brother…”

“I have no older brother,” Yu Zhi Yi said, her face turning cold.

Du Zi Heng’s expression changed. Realizing he had misspoken, he apologized again: “I am sorry. In any case, we are family. You do not need to worry about anything. Live here in peace. If something comes up, come to me.”

[What is this, turning husband and wife into siblings?] Yu Zhi Yi thought it was absurd. Her gaze shifted to the silver ingot beside the lounge chair. [When he is not being a lovesick fool, he is actually not a bad person.] Sadly, she had no interest in such a twisted relationship. She straightened her clothes and got up, planning to go find Madam Yao.