Chapter 44: Throwing Him Out
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation
Madam Yu knew exactly why she was being called back. She didn’t even have to think too hard—she could guess the reason easily enough.
It had to be Yu Jiao Jiao, running back to the manor, crying and complaining again.
Unless she was out of her mind, she wasn’t going back to deal with that nonsense.
Besides, she didn’t want any more ties with those people. It was best for everyone if they just stayed out of each other’s lives.
Unfortunately, that wish wasn’t going to come true anytime soon.
Yu Zhi Yi looked at the young man who had barged into her courtyard. Her eyes went cold. “Yu Zi Xuan, have you forgotten all your manners?”
Yu Zi Xuan, the fifth young master of the Yu family, was only fifteen years old. He was also the only brother of the two young ladies.
As Yu Zhi Yi looked at the boy’s smug face, a memory of a different expression came to her mind—a face that once seemed honest and sincere.
But in a blink, that memory scattered like stardust, leaving behind the sneering face of Yu Zi Xuan.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” he spat, his voice full of disdain. “Who do you think you are to lecture me?”
Yu Zhi Yi waved for a chair to be brought over. She settled herself down, lounging comfortably with her legs crossed. “And who are you, to storm into the chancellor’s estate?”
Yu Zi Xuan’s face froze.
Ever since Yu Jiao Jiao had returned to the Yu family, their parents and all the brothers had slowly started distancing themselves from Yu Zhi Yi. Among them, Fifth Brother Yu Zi Xuan’s attitude had shifted the most.
The reason was simple—Jiao Jiao was his savior.
Who did Yu Zhi Yi think she was? Not only had she stolen ten years of Jiao Jiao’s happiness, but she also wanted to take credit for Jiao Jiao’s achievements. Just the thought of it made him feel sick, remembering how he had once affectionately called her “Sister” for ten years.
“Even though I don’t want to admit it, you are still my sister, officially. So of course, I can come here,” he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
That attitude was exactly the same as in her past life.
These people despised her, yet they used their “family” ties to manipulate her.
In her past life, she had craved even the tiniest bit of warmth, so she put up with it.
But now…
“If you don’t want to acknowledge me, then don’t. I certainly don’t want a traitor for a brother.” She turned to her servants, her expression turning icy. “Throw him out. If he refuses to leave…” She gave a cold smile. “Don’t hold back. Beat him.”
Yu Zi Xuan’s eyes went wide with disbelief. “You wouldn’t dare!”
He quickly found out that not only did Yu Zhi Yi dare, but she was entirely serious.
Standing outside the tightly shut gates of the Du estate, Yu Zi Xuan rubbed his sore nose, which had been slammed by the door. He stomped his foot in frustration. “Yu Zhi Yi, calling me a traitor? You’re the real traitor here!”
He shouted at the gate, “If it weren’t for you bullying Jiao Jiao, do you think I’d want to come find you?”
“Keep it up! You’ll see how far you get without the Yu family backing you up!”
No one in the Yu family had expected this. Instead of coming back to apologize, Yu Zhi Yi had thrown Yu Zi Xuan out of the estate.
Yu Jiao Jiao, who had been tearfully waiting, hoping Yu Zhi Yi would come back, apologize, and obediently hand over the money, now stared in confusion.
When she saw Yu Zi Xuan’s sour expression, everyone was puzzled.
Yu Zi Xuan, noticing the eyes on him, grew even more embarrassed and ground his teeth. “She’s relying on her marriage into the chancellor’s family, thinks she has Du Zi Heng backing her up, and now she’s too proud to come back.”
As for being thrown out, he felt too humiliated to mention it.
The members of the Yu family were speechless.
Yu Jiao Jiao was so stunned that she forgot to keep crying.
No one knew better than her how much Yu Zhi Yi valued family, how much she cared for the Yu household.
In their past life, although Yu Zhi Yi had left the capital this same year and later returned, she had risen to become the wife of Marquis Zhang Tian Shun. Even then, she hadn’t acted arrogantly towards the Yu family. Instead, she had helped them through difficult times. With her assistance, several of her brothers had made a name for themselves in the court.
Why was everything so different now?
Wait…
Yu Jiao Jiao suddenly felt uneasy.
Unless… that woman had already given up on the Yu family.
But in this life, the event that had made Yu Zhi Yi lose hope hadn’t even happened yet…
Unless… that woman had also been reborn!
The more she thought about it, the more alarmed she became. She barely noticed what her brothers were discussing.
Yu Meng Qin, the eldest, clenched his teacup tightly and said coldly, “If she doesn’t want to come back, then let her stay away for good!”
The second brother scoffed. “I wouldn’t be so sure. She’ll come crawling back soon enough, begging us to stand up for her.”
Though others might not know, the Yu family was well aware of the rumors. Du Zi Heng, despite his image, wasn’t as noble as people believed. Before his marriage, he had a lover—someone Madam Du disapproved of due to their status. Forced by his mother, Du Zi Heng had married Yu Zhi Yi instead.
They figured that Yu Zhi Yi was only acting so tough now because she hadn’t yet learned about the lover.
Once she found out that the lover was still in Du Zi Heng’s heart, and that the man recently seen in public with him—the one he had taken to the doctor—was that lover, she’d surely go mad.
And when the chaos began, she’d have no choice but to rely on her family for support.
Third Brother Yu, who was sitting in a wheelchair, frowned slightly at their words. “She’s still our sister. I think we should at least warn her husband.”
Keeping a mistress in the household was one thing. No matter how favored, a concubine could be dealt with by the main wife.
But keeping her outside… It spoke volumes about her importance to the man.
Du Zi Heng had talent and a good reputation. There was even talk of him becoming a high-ranking official in the future. Once Chancellor Du passed away and Du Zi Heng had more control, the first thing he might do would be to replace his wife with his beloved mistress.
True, the scandal could be damaging, but with the right influence, it could be made to look legitimate.
Fifth Brother Yu Zi Xuan snorted. “What’s there to warn about? That woman isn’t worth our effort.”
Fourth Brother Yu stayed silent.
Seeing that most of his brothers disagreed, Third Brother Yu, though reluctant, decided to keep his thoughts to himself.
Yu Zi Xuan turned to Jiao Jiao, who seemed distracted. “Don’t worry, Big Sis Jiao Jiao. This time we’ll teach that woman a good lesson!”
Yu Jiao Jiao had been lost in thought, barely hearing anything they said. If she had been listening, she would have told them that Yu Zhi Yi didn’t care about that woman at all.
Well… she didn’t fully believe it herself, but she did know that expecting Yu Zhi Yi to back down over some other woman was impossible.
But she hadn’t heard them. And now, with her brothers looking at her with such care, ready to help her deal with Yu Zhi Yi, she felt both touched and proud. Her unease faded for the moment.
So what if that woman had been reborn too?
Didn’t she still lose to her last time?
Zhang Tian Shun, the future titled lord, was hers!
Yu Zhi Yi hadn’t expected that a rare whim to leave her estate would lead her to overhear people talking about her.
Not far away, two figures stood arguing. And from their conversation, it was clear—they were talking about her.