Chapter 191

Chapter 191: If you want to prove you have skill, then buy it

News had already spread all over the Capital City: the richest merchant Ji had abandoned Ji Yi Fei and his mother to return to his first wife and their son.

The broker had clearly heard it too. Now he looked worried. He feared that Young Master Ji’s troublemaking would ruin his sale. This deal could earn him a fifty-tael commission.

Ji Yi Fei’s gaze was even more hostile. In his heart, this woman had stolen Du Zi Heng from You Bing Yue, ruined his family, and made him a laughingstock of the Capital. Worst of all, since his father left, his family had fallen from the clouds to the mud. The friends who used to call him brother no longer played with him. How could a proud boy like him accept that? But even if he could not accept it, he had to swallow it. He even had to flatter rich elders to keep them pleased, selling his dignity to survive. When he thought of what he had gone through lately, he wanted to run over and choke the calm woman at the gate.

He had just lifted his foot and had not even stepped over the threshold when the loose plaque over the gate suddenly crashed down. With a loud bang, the old wood shattered into pieces on the spot. The bluestone slab at the threshold took the hit and sank into a deep dent.

Ji Yi Fei froze again. This time there was no anger, only fear. Cold sweat streamed down. [If I had not stopped just now, the plaque would have smashed my head. The stone could not take that hit. How could I?]

He swallowed and stared, his feelings a tangle: “Just now… you…”

Yu Zhi Yi looked at him coolly: “Don’t misunderstand. I only didn’t want your blood to dirty this estate.”

After all, she planned to live here later. Seeing blood on the very day she came to view it would be very unlucky. Besides, the place was already unclean. If blood was spilled, it would be even harder to deal with.

Ji Yi Fei ground his teeth. This woman was still as infuriating as ever after a short time apart.

He drew a long breath, telling himself again and again not to lose his temper, then asked: “What are you doing here?”

Yu Zhi Yi’s tone was flat: “None of your business.” She looked him up and down: “What about you? Why are you here?”

She could have divined the reason in an instant, but she did not feel like making a move for such a small matter and such an unimportant person.

The broker also remembered himself and asked: “Right, Young Master Ji, why are you here?” Even if a place was not listed, a house still had an owner. It was not proper for an outsider to break in, even if the estate had gone to seed.

Before Ji Yi Fei could answer, a group of people came from the direction of the moat. A tall, sturdy youth walked in front. Young men and women followed behind him. None of them looked very old.

Ji Yi Fei saw them and changed his expression. He bowed: “Greetings, Young Lord, Young Master Zhang, Miss Su.”

Hearing this, Yu Zhi Yi looked over. Her gaze swept the leading youth’s face, then the others, and she frowned.

Ji Yi Fei noticed that Yu Zhi Yi did not bow, so he lowered his voice and reminded her: “That is the Young Lord of Ping Nan Duke’s Manor. That is Young Master Zhang from the vice minister of the Ministry of War’s household. That is the grand preceptor Su’s youngest daughter.” He did not introduce the rest, because compared to these three, the others were not worth mentioning to Yu Zhi Yi. As for his own current status, even the daughter of a minor official could make him bow.

Young Master Zhang glanced over and chuckled: “Well, if it isn’t Young Madam Du. Instead of staying home and thinking how to win Young Master Du’s heart, what are you doing out here in the wilds?”

Miss Su gave a cold laugh: “She must think all her tricks are useless, so she ran out to make a scene and grab attention.”

Miss Su’s hostility toward her was strong. Yu Zhi Yi did not find it strange. She remembered the rumors about Miss Su. Before Du Zi Heng married, this Miss Su admired him and chased him often. [In my last life, after Du Zi Heng married, she often made things hard for Yu Jiao Jiao. Oddly, she felt a strange sympathy toward You Bing Yue, Du Zi Heng’s true love.]

Yu Zhi Yi’s voice was mild: “Miss Su, you could not marry into Du Manor. You should ask yourself whether you failed to win Madam Du and Du Zi Heng’s hearts, instead of barking here and making trouble for others.”

Miss Su flushed: “Did you just call me a dog?”

Yu Zhi Yi looked honestly puzzled: “Isn’t it obvious? If you are not a dog, why do you bark for no reason?”

Miss Su was speechless.

The Young Lord snorted: “Sharp tongue. No wonder His Majesty broke the rules to appoint you as a section chief at the Ministry of Justice.”

Yu Zhi Yi did not bother to answer.

The Young Lord turned to the broker, thinking aloud: “You’re here to buy this estate?”

Before Yu Zhi Yi could speak, the broker hurried to explain to her: “The previous buyer of this estate was the Young Lord.”

Young people often do not believe in rumors. This estate was full of peach trees, and in spring the whole yard bloomed beautifully. The Young Lord liked to paint and fell in love with the view here. He had heard the stories but did not take them seriously. He did not believe in ghosts. Sadly, even his iron head could not beat invisible forces. After living here for only two months, he suffered two serious illnesses. From then on, he could not pretend. He had to list the house and sell it. But the rumors about the estate were too deeply rooted. He had posted it for half a year and no one bought it. It would soon be a full year since it came into his hands. Fearing the one-year rumor, he was eager to sell and came up with a way: find someone to test-live in the estate. If the person stayed safe, it would prove there was nothing dirty here.

He knew it was not very kind. But compared to vague moral ideas, real silver was far more persuasive. Besides, he himself had stayed two months before trouble started. If someone only test-lived a few days, nothing would happen… right?

The Young Lord looked at Yu Zhi Yi with a faint smile: “Official Yu, are you interested in this estate? Why not go in and take a look?” Seeing her still standing, he added, “You must have heard the street rumors. But there are no ghosts.”

He had seen her figure out hidden matters before, yet he still did not believe it. In his mind, Chancellor Du had arranged everything in advance to make her look like an all-knowing diviner. He despised charlatans like that. But today, that very image suited his purpose.

He raised his brows as if setting a test: “Since you’re so capable, buy this ‘haunted’ estate. What? Are you scared? Then it proves your skill is fake.”