Chapter 201

Chapter 201: She Cannot Wait to Come Back

In the palace, Consort Yu woke from a nightmare again, her hand on her belly trembling. She had dreamed she gave birth to a monster that was neither male nor female. His Majesty grew furious in the dream and sent her straight to the Cold Palace. She gritted her teeth and said: “No, I will never let something like that happen! Servants, send out a letter for me!”

At Yu Manor, Yu Chun Yue read the letter with a dark face. Beside him, Madam Zheng asked in a rush and said: “What did Her Highness say? Did she think of a way to have you reinstated?” Yu Chun Yue kept a cold face and handed the letter over. After Madam Zheng read it, she looked stunned and said: “Her Highness actually wants that imposter to enter the palace?”

Yu Chun Yue said in a deep voice: “It must be that Her Highness has run into trouble.” Madam Zheng cried out and said: “What should we do? Her Highness is our family’s hope now. Nothing can happen to her.” Yu Chun Yue grew impatient and said: “Do I need you to tell me that? Go find that imposter and tell her to enter the palace to help her aunt.”

Madam Zheng’s face stiffened and she said: “M-me?” Ever since Yu Jiao Jiao returned to the manor a few years ago, she had hardly managed Yu Zhi Yi at all. Though they lived under one roof, in those years she saw Yu Zhi Yi less often than she saw court officials. Private meetings were even rarer. Only before Yu Zhi Yi married did she call the girl over. She did not teach her how to survive in a household. Instead, she warned her not to cause trouble in the Chancellor’s Manor so as not to implicate the Minister of Revenue’s Manor. She also told that imposter not to get proud just because she was the Chancellor’s Manor’s daughter-in-law, to always think of her birth family, to remember her sisters, and to help Yu Jiao Jiao if needed. Most of all, their whole family had fallen out with her in the palace before, and Madam Zheng really had no face to go now.

She pressed her lips together and said: “Third Son is close to her. Let Third Son go.” Yu Chun Yue thought about it and agreed. When they cut ties in the palace that day, Third Son had not been there. Also, those two had always gotten along. If Third Son went, it should work.

The couple planned it all out, but they did not expect Yu Ming Quan to refuse. He said in a low voice: “I have already heard what happened that day. Since we severed ties, I have no face to ask her for help. Father, please find someone else.” With that, he pushed his wheelchair away.

“Unfilial son!” Yu Chun Yue’s face sank and he said: “Do not forget you belong to Yu Manor. We rise and fall together. If your aunt is in trouble, then our last hope of rising will be gone. What good will you get then?”

Yu Ming Quan paused. Yu Chun Yue thought he was moved and smiled like a kind father, saying: “That is right. You are a son of the Yu Clan and should think for the Yu Clan.” But Yu Ming Quan said in a steady voice: “I said I will not go. There are other ways for Yu Manor to rise. Fourth Brother is studying, is he not? When he earns his degree, he can also be promoted.”

“Yu Ming Quan!” Yu Chun Yue shouted in anger and said: “Unfilial son, what right do you have to refuse? Everything you have was given by me. Your food, clothes, and fine life. Without Yu Manor, could you live above others with that body of yours?”

Yu Ming Quan’s body went stiff. Madam Zheng’s face changed and she said: “Husband, what are you saying!” Yu Chun Yue regretted his words as soon as he said them. Yu Ming Quan had not been born lame; it happened later, and it had been because of Yu Chun Yue. That year, Yu Chun Yue’s political enemy fell from power because of him. The man kept his life but was stripped of property and rank, and his family fell from nobles to servants. Hating Yu Chun Yue to the bone, he hurt a guard and lay in wait outside Yu Manor, planning to die together with him.

Yu Ming Quan was only seven then. Seeing his father pressed under the man with a knife about to fall, the boy somehow found the courage to grab the knife away. Angered by the interruption, the man kicked Yu Ming Quan hard, sending him flying. The distraction gave Yu Chun Yue a chance to fight back and kill the attacker. But Yu Ming Quan’s legs slammed into a stone lion and broke on the spot. Even with imperial physicians treating him, the legs could not be saved.

Yu Ming Quan’s eyes turned red and he said: “Father is right. A useless man like me does not deserve Yu Manor’s support. I will leave now. I will find a way to pay back all I have cost over the years.” He turned the wheelchair again and left, not looking back this time.

“Sanlang!” Madam Zheng reached out, trying to call him back. Yu Chun Yue’s face was black with anger and he said: “Let him go! I want to see how a cripple like him lives in this world without Yu Manor!” Madam Zheng covered her face and cried.

Yu Chun Yue, full of his dear sister’s request, said in a heavy voice: “Send Second Son.” Madam Zheng forgot to cry and said: “Ah?” Yu Chun Yue’s mind was full of plans and he said: “Second Son did her a favor once. Have him use that favor to ask the imposter to act.”

When Yu Ming Yu heard he had to ask Yu Zhi Yi for help, he was very scornful and said: “That imposter only plays with spooky tricks. How can she help?” Yu Chun Yue kept a calm, dark face and said nothing. Yu Ming Yu realized something late and muttered in doubt: [Could it be…?] Yu Chun Yue did not explain. In fact, even he did not know the details. Consort Yu’s letter only said she needed Yu Zhi Yi to enter the palace to help, not what to help with. Whatever it was, it would not be small. Yu Ming Yu nodded and said: “Do not worry, Father. That imposter owes me a life. This will not be hard.”

Fifth Son Yu Zi Xuan was not present. Only Yu Chun Yue, his wife, and the eldest son Yu Meng Qin were in the room. Yu Meng Qin thought for a moment and said: “Maybe we can use this chance to make her settle down. Tell her that if she gets the job done, we can treat the severing of ties as if it never happened. She will still be a daughter of the Yu Clan.”

Yu Ming Yu said with disgust: “Big Brother, why bring someone like her back? Did you not see how she has harmed our family?” But Yu Chun Yue’s eyes flashed and he said: “Do not talk about harm. That day we truly hurt her first, and she cut ties in anger. Do as your big brother said.”

Yu Ming Yu rolled his eyes and said: “I told you she is deep and scheming. She did something so big and can still get Father’s and Big Brother’s forgiveness. Hmph.” Then he sneered and said: “She made all this trouble just to make us accept her. Do not worry. As soon as I say we will take her back, she will be eager to run home.”

That day, Yu Zhi Yi solved another cold case. After she finished writing the file, she packed up and left the Ministry of Justice. The young lord’s house had already been transferred to her name and was being repaired. In at most half a month, she could move in. Before that, she still had to live at Yiluan Charity. Just as she reached the gate, she saw a person she disliked, and the smile on her face vanished at once.