Chapter 197: She Outshines That Scoundrel by Far
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Yu Zhi Yi’s tone was indifferent as she remarked, “He may indeed achieve notable accomplishments in the future. Chancellor Du is deeply trusted and heavily relied upon by His Majesty, a pillar of the Great Sheng Empire. But… what does any of this have to do with me?”
“Their achievements and glory are things I can’t partake in at all.”
Miss Su was stunned. “Are you foolish? You’re a woman—why would you need achievements or glory? If your husband achieves greatness, don’t you benefit from it by association?”
Yu Zhi Yi now deeply understood the phrase “no meaningful dialogue is possible when viewpoints differ too much.”
She shook her head gently. “You’ve been tainted with yin energy. Spend more time in the sun for the next three to five days, and the yin energy will dissipate. For now, it’s best to avoid going out, especially traveling far. Until the yin energy clears, you’re prone to unforeseen accidents.”
With that, Yu Zhi Yi turned and left with Red Luan. However, Miss Su was unwilling to let it go and shouted after them, “Running away because you can’t win the argument? Let me tell you—you’ll regret losing Young Master Du!”
Yu Zhi Yi had no desire to engage further. After all, one cannot awaken someone pretending to sleep, nor did she care to correct another’s erroneous thinking.
The position of Young Madam Du had already been vacated. Anyone who thought it was a fine seat was welcome to claim it.
Except, of course, for You Bing Yue. For everyone else, it was a case of “sit down and remain silent.”
Red Luan, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back her indignation.
Grasping Yu Zhi Yi’s hand, Red Luan turned back and sneered at Miss Su. “If your brain’s not working, go home and eat walnuts to nourish it. Don’t go spouting nonsense everywhere, or people will realize your brain is smaller than a sesame seed.”
She continued with scorn, “My sister earned her appointment as a fifth-rank official through sheer ability, bypassing the usual procedures. And that Young Master Du you’re praising to the skies? He’s nothing more than an eighth-rank minor official right now!”
Her disdain was palpable. “Since the Yu family discovered my sister wasn’t their biological daughter, they cut off all her education and training. Every achievement and position she has today were won through her own efforts.”
“And as for your Young Master Du, after receiving the finest education the Chancellor’s Mansion could provide and basking in the guidance of a well-versed father with years of exam expertise, he’s still two years older than my sister yet lags behind her by several ranks!”
Red Luan’s voice was dripping with contempt. “I can’t tell if you’re truly foolish or just pretending. The facts are so obvious, yet you think my sister loses out by leaving that scoundrel?”
“If your brain doesn’t work, stay home and hide it. Don’t come out here embarrassing yourself!”
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t help but admire Red Luan’s fighting spirit, giving her a thumbs-up in silent approval.
Red Luan tilted her head back proudly, like a general who had never lost a battle.
Miss Su’s face turned bright red with anger. Pointing at Red Luan, she stammered, “You… you… you…” but couldn’t muster a single rebuttal. In the end, she could only sputter out a weak threat: “You’re just a lowly embroideress! How dare you speak so rudely to me!”
Red Luan froze momentarily.
In her fervor, she had forgotten this was a feudal society where power could indeed devour the powerless.
Yu Zhi Yi’s gaze turned cold as she addressed Miss Su. “Miss Su seems to misunderstand the situation here.”
With a snap of her fingers, Miss Su suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed to the ground.
“My daughter!”
Grand Tutor Su’s face darkened as he rushed forward to catch Miss Su. Glaring at Yu Zhi Yi, he bellowed, “Fifth-Rank Official Yu, how dare you bully my daughter right in front of me, the Grand Tutor!?”
Yu Zhi Yi’s expression remained serene. “Oh? And how exactly did I bully her?”
Grand Tutor Su was momentarily at a loss for words.
Indeed, Yu Zhi Yi had merely snapped her fingers. Among the many witnesses present, none had reacted except for his daughter. To accuse Yu Zhi Yi of foul play seemed far-fetched.
The undeniable reality was laid bare before everyone—Miss Su’s earlier threat to the embroideress had been immediately followed by her writhing in pain upon hearing a mere snap of the fingers. Denying Yu Zhi Yi’s involvement would make even a fool doubt their own reasoning.
Fortunately for Miss Su, her suffering did not last long.
Yu Zhi Yi’s expression remained cold and distant as she addressed her: “Power and influence are indeed intoxicating, but there exist forces in this world far more elusive and far more capable of rendering one’s life unbearable.”
Her gaze swept across the room, piercing and frigid, resting momentarily on each individual. “For anyone daring to scheme against those around me…” she paused, her voice sharp as ice, “…you’re welcome to gamble whether your life is sturdy enough to endure the consequences.”
Red Luan’s eyes shimmered with admiration, the awe within her heart lingering even after they had returned to Graceful Phoenix Charity. “You were absolutely stunning back there,” she exclaimed with enthusiasm. “If I weren’t so firmly set in my preferences, you might have just turned me.”
Yu Zhi Yi tilted her head, puzzled. “What does it mean to be ‘too stunning?’ And why would I ‘turn’ you?”
“Cough, it’s nothing,” Red Luan quickly deflected, rubbing her nose awkwardly. Changing the topic, she asked, “How did you manage that earlier? Could there really be such mystical techniques that a mere snap of the fingers could bring someone to such agony?”
Yu Zhi Yi replied with a calm nod, “Indeed, such techniques do exist. However, what I employed wasn’t one of those. I merely influenced the yin energy surrounding Miss Su.”
She explained that though these individuals carried little yin energy within them, the presence of yin sha could have a profound impact on ordinary people. Normally, this energy dispersed along the body’s surface, causing discomfort or ill fortune but nothing too severe. With enough sunlight and virtuous deeds, its effects could be mitigated. However, once the energy penetrated the body, it could induce significant pain.
“When examined by a physician, no tangible issue would be found,” she added with a faint smile. “What I did was merely direct that yin energy into Miss Su’s body for a brief moment. For someone unaccustomed to such energy, even that fleeting exposure is profoundly painful.”
She continued, “For the next few days, she’ll experience episodic heartache.”
Red Luan’s lips pressed together in concern. “Will it bring harm to you?” she asked hesitantly.
Yu Zhi Yi blinked, momentarily taken aback. She had expected Red Luan to reproach her for employing mystical means to harm an ordinary person. Instead, her friend’s first concern was for her well-being.
A brief silence passed before Yu Zhi Yi reassured her, “It won’t. At most, there might be a slight karmic repercussion, but it’s negligible.”
She chose not to elaborate further, deeming it unnecessary to burden Red Luan with that knowledge.
Relieved, Red Luan’s thoughts shifted to her dear friend’s personal life. “Did you really divorce that scoundrel Du?” she asked, her tone brightening with expectation.
“Yes,” Yu Zhi Yi confirmed.
“Good riddance!” Red Luan exclaimed, her brows arching with satisfaction. “You’re so exceptional, only the finest man under heaven deserves to stand by your side. That scoundrel Du couldn’t even pass the imperial examinations—what right did he have to be with you?”
She paused before asking, “So, will you stay here at Graceful Phoenix Charity?”
Yu Zhi Yi shook her head with a soft smile. “I prefer to keep my work and personal life separate. I’ve already found a new place to live. The deed will be in my hands tomorrow.”
“I see,” Red Luan replied, a trace of disappointment evident. “I was hoping we could move in together.”
“Just because I’m not staying at Graceful Phoenix Charity doesn’t mean we can’t live together,” Yu Zhi Yi offered.
Red Luan chuckled, wagging her finger in a playful reprimand. “You don’t understand. No matter how close two friends are, they need their own independent space. Graceful Phoenix Charity is a shared domain of ours. If we both lived here, we’d have our separate corners within the same space.”
She continued with a grin, “But if I move into your personal residence, I’d be encroaching on your territory. And in doing so, I’d lose my independence.”
Yu Zhi Yi blinked, her confusion evident. “Is it really so serious?”