Chapter 325

Chapter 325: Paying Respect to the Second Miss

Jiang Yu Wei opened his mouth, then glanced at Yu Zhi Yi and Commandery Governor Song. The two were walking side by side, and Commandery Governor Song’s eyes were only on Yu Zhi Yi, as if he had forgotten his own wife was here. Seeing this, who wouldn’t suspect the two had something secret?

But he couldn’t find the right words to break the awkwardness or to speak for Chen Xin Yue, so he looked to Lin Jing Xuan for help.

Lin Jing Xuan could only think: [I’ve never handled something this dramatic.]

By now Chen Xin Yue had caught her breath. Seeing that Jiang Yu Wei and Lin Jing Xuan still didn’t stand up for her, she almost went crazy. [Fine! If none of you put me in your eyes, then none of you will have it easy!]

She finally stood up. With teary eyes, she looked at Madam Song and said: “Madam Song, I must have said something wrong, which is why Second Aunt dislikes me so much. My sister and Commandery Governor Song definitely have no improper relationship. Please don’t be angry.”

[If they follow my lead and deny it, then that little tramp was just played for nothing. But if they refuse to deny it, then Xiao Qing Xuan must apologize to me,] she thought with twisted pride.

Xiao Qing Xuan grew even angrier. [Even now this girl wants to throw dirt on my daughter!]

She moved to strike again, but Yu Zhi Yi held her back and said calmly: “Mother, let me.”

Since the trouble was brought to her face-and in front of her mother-Yu Zhi Yi could not ignore it.

Chen Xin Yue watched Yu Zhi Yi warily, her body tense and ready to dodge. [I couldn’t dodge Xiao Qing Xuan-but I can dodge this little tramp, right?]

Smack! A heavy slap landed.

Chen Xin Yue stared in disbelief. She had been fully on guard-how did she still get hit?

Before she could figure it out, another slap fell. Yu Zhi Yi didn’t hold back. One to the left, one to the right-plus Xiao Qing Xuan’s earlier work-were enough to leave Chen Xin Yue with a pig-head face for a whole year.

“You… you dare hit me!” Chen Xin Yue was furious. She was angry she couldn’t dodge, and even angrier that Yu Zhi Yi dared hit her in public. Being slapped by Xiao Qing Xuan could still be called an elder teaching a junior, so she had no excuse to dodge. But being hit by this little tramp-she had no way to save face.

Yu Zhi Yi spoke evenly: “You dared spread rumors right to my face, so you should’ve been ready for me to hit you back in public. What’s there to be angry about?”

The thin string of reason in Chen Xin Yue’s mind snapped. She forgot all schemes. Right now she only wanted to make the little tramp pay.

“Am I wrong?” she shouted. “Commandery Governor Song came to your welcome feast ignoring public opinion and gave you such expensive gifts. Even Madam Song has come here herself to confront the homewrecker-what else do you have to deny?”

Yu Zhi Yi let out a short laugh and said: “So because Commandery Governor Song hosted my welcome and gave me gifts, that means I’m having an affair with him?” She looked Chen Xin Yue up and down, her gaze light and dismissive: “Is your tiny little brain only filled with dirty thoughts like that?”

“!” Chen Xin Yue was so angry she couldn’t speak, her vicious eyes full of confusion. [How can she be this shameless? The facts are right in front of us, and she still denies it? Doesn’t she want to enter the commandery governor’s household anymore?]

Hearing this, Commandery Governor Song finally understood that people were misunderstanding Official Yu because of his own behavior, and cold sweat ran down his back. He was eager to curry favor with Official Yu; how could he let her be insulted because of him?

He stepped forward and said in a deep voice: “Young girl, don’t think in such filthy ways. I, this official, feel only respect and admiration for Second Miss Jiang. I have absolutely no improper thoughts.”

“Respect? Admiration?” Chen Xin Yue couldn’t believe it. How could a commandery governor respect and admire some wild girl? [Impossible!]

Before she could shout her disbelief, Madam Song stepped forward and gave Yu Zhi Yi a slight bow, saying: “I am Song of the Ding clan. I pay my respects to Second Miss Jiang.”

Madam Song knew Yu Zhi Yi did not wish to reveal her identity, so she used this form to show Yu Zhi Yi’s noble status.

Everyone at the gate was shocked. The madam of a high official of the Imperial Court was saluting an unknown young woman. And she said “pay my respects”! That title is used only when the other person’s status is far higher.

Chen Xin Yue swayed on her feet and whispered: “H-how is that possible?”

The Jiang couple looked at each other and saw the same disbelief in each other’s eyes. Even Xiao Qing Xuan was surprised. She knew her daughter had promise, but she hadn’t expected this-that even the head of Tian’an Commandery, a fourth-rank official, and his wife would treat her with respect.

Yu Zhi Yi, however, took it in stride. In the capital she hadn’t held a high post, but she had still been a fifth-rank official, and minor clerks had to salute her. The only difference now was that the one saluting her was a commandery governor, a fourth-rank official. Not a big problem. She said calmly: “Rise.”

Her manner made it clear she was used to this.

Jiang Yu Wei was even more shocked. He looked at Lin Jing Xuan, asking with his eyes what was going on.

Lin Jing Xuan could only think: [If I had known, I wouldn’t have dragged Yu Zhi Yi out today to offer apologies.]

The one who couldn’t accept it most was Chen Xin Yue. She stared as if seeing a ghost and blurted: “Why would the commandery governor’s madam salute a young woman?” In her madness she lost all reason and cried out: “Madam Song, were you bought off by her?”

Strict by nature, Madam Song’s aura turned icy as she snapped: “Impudent! Who are you to slander Second Miss Jiang?”

She looked at Jiang Yu Wei without expression and said: “Alliance Leader Jiang, the Martial Alliance’s manners are quite worrying.”

Jiang Yu Wei’s heart lurched. Though only the madam had spoken, Commandery Governor Song had not objected, which meant he agreed. More importantly, his niece’s identity was clearly not simple-likely even higher than the commandery governor and his wife. Chen Xin Yue had publicly slandered someone above a fourth-rank official. That wasn’t only her own death wish-it was digging a pit for the Martial Alliance.

He barked: “Chen Xin Yue, shut up!”

Fearing she’d spit out even more nonsense, he struck her mute point.

Chen Xin Yue stared, wild with shock and rage.

Ignoring her, Jiang Yu Wei hurried to apologize to the commandery governor and his wife. Commandery Governor Song smiled without smiling and said: “Alliance Leader Jiang, we aren’t the ones you should be apologizing to.”