Chapter 21: The Return
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
The love story of Du Zi Heng and You Bing Yue could have easily been taken from the pages of a romantic tale. It was the classic story of a nobleman falling for a farm girl, with both of them defying obstacles and societal rules, eventually living happily ever after.
If such a story were written and sold, who knows how many young girls would sigh dreamily, believing they too could rise above humble beginnings to become someone extraordinary. How many young boys would be inspired, imagining themselves as brave heroes defying the world for their beloved?
But in reality?
Back then, Du Zi Heng had been missing for three whole months. Madam Yao was worried sick, crying herself into exhaustion day after day, almost losing her sight from the grief. Even Chancellor Du was tormented with anxiety, losing sleep each night. In just those few months, he seemed to age several years.
And what about Du Zi Heng himself? He had recovered enough to move around within two weeks after the accident, and was fully healed by the end of the first month. If he had reached out to his parents then, letting them know where he was and brought his savior back to the capital, Chancellor Du and Madam Yao might not have been thrilled about You Bing Yue’s humble background, but they probably wouldn’t have been completely opposed either.
After all, she had saved their son’s life.
Instead, Du Zi Heng hesitated, afraid Madam Yao wouldn’t accept You Bing Yue’s status. He kept delaying, hoping to find a way to make his parents come around. Meanwhile, You Bing Yue, after learning about his family, didn’t push him to send a message home either. When she eventually found out that his parents wanted a well-matched marriage for him, she suggested that he leave everything behind and live freely with her.
Her exact words were: “I have ways to earn money, and you have the skills and experience. Even without relying on the Chancellor’s estate, we could live just fine.”
Not only did she say this to Du Zi Heng, but she also repeated it word for word to Madam Yao when Madam Yao politely expressed her hopes for her son to marry a noblewoman who could support him.
And when the Chancellor finally sent people to find that small village, Du Zi Heng was just about to set off with You Bing Yue to wander the world together.
With behavior like that, it was impossible for Chancellor Du and Madam Yao—who weren’t made of clay—to ever accept You Bing Yue into the family.
Yu Zhi Yi said calmly, “From what I’ve seen, Father and Mother aren’t unreasonable. Like when I wanted to set up a perfume workshop—Mother wasn’t confident in my ability at first, but after I explained, she agreed, even if she was skeptical.”
“If you hadn’t intentionally hidden the truth and even considered abandoning your parents to run away, maybe things could’ve turned out differently.”
At the time, Du Zi Heng didn’t think he was doing anything wrong.
His father was the Chancellor, and he was the estate’s only son. His father had always been strict with him, and although his mother loved him, when it came to his father’s principles, she would only urge him to compromise.
Since his parents had always told him to marry a woman of suitable status, he never imagined they could accept someone of humble background. So, when You Bing Yue suggested they elope, he was tempted.
He had never considered any other possibility.
Until now, it hadn’t crossed his mind how much his actions had hurt his parents.
The people around him had only ever scolded him for being blinded by love. But no one had ever told him that if he had trusted his parents from the beginning, things might have ended differently.
It felt like a hammer had struck his head. Dizzy, he asked suddenly, “In your opinion, what should I do now?”
Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow. “Pardon?”
She looked at the young master before her with slight exasperation. “When Miss You first met me, she not only spoke rudely to me but also tried to push one of my people into the water.”
“The second time we met, she helped others frame me.”
“Why should I help her?”
Du Zi Heng was at a loss for words but still tried to make an effort. Yu Zhi Yi sighed. “Not tearing you two apart myself is the most generous I can be. Helping you? That’s out of the question.”
The moment Du Zi Heng asked for her help, he realized how absurd it was. Asking his wife to convince his parents to accept a concubine? What sort of man would do that?
He covered his face, embarrassed. “I apologize, that was thoughtless of me.”
“No harm done.”
The carriage rolled forward again, the wheels clattering along. Du Zi Heng wasn’t one for small talk, and Yu Zhi Yi certainly wasn’t going to initiate any conversation either, so the interior of the carriage quickly became quiet.
Du Zi Heng picked up a book but found he couldn’t focus on the words. His thoughts kept drifting—not to You Bing Yue, but rather to what he had witnessed that day.
Who would have thought that gentle and gracious Madam Pang was actually a heartless schemer? He was curious. “Can you guess what Uncle Ji will do?”
Although Madam Pang was vicious, Ji Cong Xin’s original wife and son were still alive. For many men, that might have been enough to let bygones be bygones.
As a man himself, Ji Cong Xin could just bring his original wife back into his household and enjoy the company of both women.
But imagining himself in that situation, Du Zi Heng knew he could never tolerate a viper like Madam Pang in his life.
He was curious about what would happen next.
Since the matter would be resolved the next day and Du Zi Heng wasn’t the type to gossip, Yu Zhi Yi decided to satisfy his curiosity. “Uncle Ji is a man of deep emotions and righteousness. He will undoubtedly choose his first wife.”
Du Zi Heng nodded, satisfied. He felt happy with Ji Cong Xin’s choice, though there was some regret. “It’s just a pity for Brother Yi Fei…”
A family that was once whole was now broken.
The next day, Ji Cong Xin divorced Madam Pang.
At first, Madam Pang resisted, but Ji Cong Xin laid out all her wrongdoings and declared that if she refused to divorce, he would have no choice but to publicly abolish her.
The Pang family, unwilling to let their daughter bear the disgrace of being rejected, agreed to the divorce.
Now, Ji Cong Xin was no longer the helpless merchant from the countryside, forced to run from the power of the Pang family. He had wealth, influence, and powerful allies behind him. The Pang family, despite their anger, could do nothing to harm him.
Still, Ji Cong Xin wasn’t entirely ruthless. After the divorce, he gave Madam Pang a large sum of money and allowed Ji Yi Fei to stay with her.
Zi Yuan, one of the maids, recounted the events at the Ji household with animated detail. She was just reaching the climax when Yu Pan’er rushed in, her face filled with worry. “Bad news, Young Madam!”
Yu Zhi Yi looked over lazily. “What is it?”
“The young master has brought that woman back! And somehow, he’s even convinced Madam to let her stay at Moon Viewing Pavilion!”
Yu Zhi Yi wasn’t surprised at all. “I thought it was something serious. Is this worth panicking over?”
Yu Pan’er stared, wide-eyed. “Isn’t this serious?”
“He’s a man. If he wants to bring someone home, that’s his business,” Yu Zhi Yi replied indifferently.
Yesterday, Du Zi Heng had actually come to visit her. Madam Yao had been so happy she’d practically beamed.
Yu Zhi Yi had worried that if You Bing Yue didn’t return soon, Madam Yao might start pressing for consummation and children.
All she wanted in this life was to cultivate in peace. Let someone else have the man, and let someone else have the children too.
After all, no matter who gave birth, the child would call her the legitimate mother. If she earned herself a noble title in the future, even if she failed to ascend in her cultivation, she would at least have a dignified burial.
Wasn’t that better than exhausting herself over a man?
Despite her thoughts, Yu Zhi Yi sighed. If she hadn’t been reborn at an inconvenient time, she wouldn’t have had to deal with any of this.