Chapter 244

Chapter 244: Are You Truly Not Even a Little Moved?

Du Zi Heng did not know why, but [he really did not want her to misunderstand]. Seeing her calm face, the heavy feeling in his chest grew stronger. His jaw tightened and his voice sank: “We were husband and wife at least. Are you truly not even a little moved?”

Yu Zhi Yi answered calmly: “No. It was a messy, unfaithful marriage. I could promise not to cross the line while we were married, but toward that man, I had no reason to be moved.”

She looked him in the eye, a hint of impatience there, and added: “Besides, there is nothing about you, Du Zi Heng, that moves me.”

Her gaze was open and steady, with a trace of annoyance: “If it isn’t necessary, please don’t come to me again. I don’t want needless blame, and I don’t want any tie to you.”

She admitted to herself that her words were pointed.

She was an honest person and usually did not trip others. But if someone made trouble again and again, she was not a saint.

Du Zi Heng wanted to say more, but Yu Zhi Yi had already walked past him. She entered with Li Rou, one ahead and one behind, and the door closed by itself.

With a bang.

It seemed to tell the man outside how unwelcome he was.

Du Zi Heng felt as if the doors had slammed into his heart. The sound roared in his ears until his head buzzed.

That night, he dreamed.

In the dream, he was still the son of Chancellor Du and had shown unusual talent since childhood. When it was time to marry, his mother arranged a match. He did not care much either way. He had no sweetheart then, so he married smoothly.

On the wedding night, he lifted the bride’s red veil.

One look felt like a lifetime.

After the wedding, the two loved each other and trusted each other. They had misunderstandings sometimes, but they cleared them quickly. His career went well. After the wedding, he easily won Top Scholar in the Imperial Examinations. Even though his father held power at court, he did not borrow any of it. The emperor posted him out for six years.

He helped countless common people. His bride had a kind heart and a sharp mind. Working side by side, they managed their jurisdiction so well that the people lived in peace. In only six years, they turned a poor county into one of the nation’s top ten taxpayers.

After his father passed away, he became chancellor on his own ability.

In that life that felt both long and short, he and his wife moved with one heart. His name spread far and wide, and his wife’s good name was praised by many.

When he died of old age, his wife held his hand. Love filled her eyes, along with deep sorrow.

As he closed his eyes in the dream, the waking Du Zi Heng opened his eyes. He could not say if it was a sweet dream or a nightmare, but his heart pounded hard and strange. He pressed his restless chest, confusion in his eyes. He could feel his deep love for the wife in his dream. Yet a light mist always covered her face. He could not see through it, so he did not know who she was.

[Is it Yu Zhi Yi?]

[No.] The clothes his dream wife wore had never appeared on Yu Zhi Yi. And the dream wife was gentle as water, not cold like Yu Zhi Yi.

Du Zi Heng felt an empty loss. For some reason, [he suddenly felt that should have been his life]. As the son of a chancellor, his life ought to have been smooth and carefree.

After her morning practice, Yu Zhi Yi formed a dust-clearing seal. Zhang Xiang came to report that Du Zi Heng had been waiting outside for a long time. Yu Zhi Yi frowned and said: “Ignore him.”

Her work during the holiday was done. She planned to enter the palace later to explain things to the emperor. In one or two days at the latest, she would set out for the Martial Alliance. Thinking of the poor woman in the Martial Alliance, the heartstrings that had not moved for so long seemed gently plucked. She pressed her lips. [Am I still looking forward to it?]

Because Du Zi Heng was blocking the front gate, Yu Zhi Yi did not want to argue with him and simply left by the back door.

He waited until mid-morning and still did not see her. Realizing what had happened, he let out a bitter smile. After thinking a bit, he knocked on the courtyard gate.

Knowing her miss did not want to see her ex-husband, Zhang Xiang hid inside and did not open the door. After a long time, the knocking stopped, and Zhang Xiang sighed with relief.

Another hour passed. It was almost noon, and she needed to buy food for lunch. Figuring Du Zi Heng must have left, Zhang Xiang picked up her basket and stepped out.

She found him standing right there at the door.

Zhang Xiang froze. [Is it too late to shut the door now?]

It was clearly too late. Seeing her intention, Du Zi Heng spoke quickly: “Please don’t close the door. I mean no harm. I only wish to ask your miss something.”

Zhang Xiang’s not-very-clever mind spun hard. [Does miss want to see him? She probably doesn’t.]

Watching her troubled face, Du Zi Heng felt helpless. He had never imagined that someone others found so hard to see would be treated here like a plague.

He sighed and said: “How about this: I will write a letter and state what I’m asking for. Please pass it to your miss. I will come again tomorrow. If she is willing to help, let me in. If she still does not wish to help, then I will not bother you.”

Zhang Xiang felt this plan made sense. She knew miss had opened a charity that did not make money and even used her own to support it. What if miss wished to earn some silver off him for a good cause?

When Zhang Xiang finally nodded, Du Zi Heng let out a breath. He said, “Wait a moment,” walked back to his horse, and took out paper and brush. Soon he handed a letter to Zhang Xiang, along with a silver ingot.

Zhang Xiang did not take the silver and promised: “I will deliver the letter to miss. How she handles it is not up to me.”

Du Zi Heng’s eyes turned complicated. Yu Zhi Yi had taught her people very well. People say that when the water is too clear, there are no fish. Even his own people, when there was fat to skim, could not help being greedy. But her people were so… upright.

If Zhang Xiang had known what he was thinking, she would have rolled her eyes. Her master could see through hearts at a glance. He was not like that kind of mediocrity. He never knew when his people would skim money or how much. Miss could see it.

Yu Zhi Yi came back after noon. Zhang Xiang, hesitant, handed over Du Zi Heng’s letter and said: “Miss, Young Master Du blocked the door for half a day. I worried he would keep blocking it, so I agreed to pass his letter.”

Yu Zhi Yi did not blame her. She opened the envelope and took a look. Her careless face slowly turned serious. [Did Du Zi Heng dream about a past life?] Then she shook her head. No, that was not it.