Chapter 45: Don’t Bully My Sister
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One of the figures sat in a wheelchair. He had a gentle demeanor, much like Du Zi Heng’s elegant style, but there was a frailness to him, a lack of the confidence and composure that Du Zi Heng possessed.
This was Yu Ming Quan, the third young master of the Yu family, and Yu Zhi Yi’s third brother by name.
Yu Ming Quan had once been a well-known scholar in the capital, but it seemed that heaven envied his talents. At twelve, he fell seriously ill, and though he eventually recovered, his legs were forever paralyzed.
In her past life, Yu Zhi Yi had done everything she could to gather the ingredients to cure his legs. But just when she had everything ready, she was forced to marry Zhang Tian Shun and was taken to the borderlands with him.
Before leaving, she sent the cure for his legs through a trusted messenger. But her brother never believed in her.
When she returned to the capital ten years later, he was still in his wheelchair. Years of immobility had taken a heavy toll on his health, and not long after her return, he passed away.
Yu Ming Quan was one of the few in the Yu household who had always shown her genuine kindness, both in her past life and even now.
As Yu Zhi Yi was lost in thought, voices from ahead snapped her back to the present.
“Young Master Zi Heng, Yi’er is my sister, and I hope the rumors outside are just that—rumors. I also hope you won’t do anything that would hurt her. Though I cannot walk, I am still capable of standing up for my sister.”
Du Zi Heng looked embarrassed. The situation was complicated. In truth, no one was really at fault, and he didn’t have much to say in his defense. He simply responded, “Don’t worry, Third Brother. Zhi Yi has lived well in the Du family since her arrival, and I have done nothing to wrong her.”
What he left unsaid was that whatever had happened, it happened before she became his wife.
Yu Ming Quan, though aware of some things, only knew bits and pieces. Hearing Du Zi Heng’s assurances, he believed him and nodded. “If that’s the case, all is well.”
Declining Du Zi Heng’s invitation to enter the Du residence, Yu Ming Quan had someone push his wheelchair slowly back toward the Yu mansion.
Yu Zhi Yi remained hidden, watching her third brother’s figure fade into the distance, her eyes clouded with sorrow. If there was one regret she had carried to her death in her past life, it was why her third brother didn’t trust her. Why had he burned the remedy she sent?
At that time, she had already made a name for herself. She was no longer the young girl whose words meant nothing to anyone.
Du Zi Heng, unaware of Yu Zhi Yi’s presence behind the door, said his farewells to Yu Ming Quan and walked quickly toward the end of the street. Yu Zhi Yi knew he was going to deliver some charms, but she didn’t care.
Her mood had soured completely, and she no longer felt like strolling. She returned to Wind Facing Pavilion. She didn’t feel like cultivating, nor did she have an appetite. Instead, Yu Zhi Yi went to the incense room.
The scent of sandalwood curled in the air as Yu Zhi Yi sat on the cushion, her beautiful face devoid of expression, her eyes vacant.
When she was little, besides Zi Yuan, there had been no one to share her thoughts with. Later, even Zi Yuan couldn’t be trusted with some things, and she ended up confiding in the ancestral master instead.
“Here I am to bother you again,” she murmured softly. “I’ve been reborn for so long, but I still feel lost. What’s the point of this second chance?”
If she had been reborn before her marriage, she would have done anything to avoid marrying Du Zi Heng. Her master had said her ties to the mortal world were not yet severed, but he hadn’t specified it had to be a marriage bond. Still, things hadn’t gone her way.
“Ancestral Master, I don’t ask for family bonds, but there’s one thing I still don’t understand…”
Just as she was about to voice her confusion, there was an urgent knock on the door. Zi Yuan’s anxious voice followed, “Miss, something bad has happened!”
A moment later, the door opened, and Yu Zhi Yi asked calmly, “What happened?”
“The young master, he’s been hurt!”
When Yu Zhi Yi reached Bright Harmony Courtyard, all the servants were as silent as mice, hardly daring to breathe. A heavy, dark cloud seemed to hang over the entire courtyard, and the atmosphere was suffocating.
As she approached, Yu Zhi Yi caught the metallic scent of blood.
Du Lin knelt at the door, his back straight, his whole demeanor steeped in sorrow and guilt. Madam Yao was crying, her face streaked with tears. Seeing Yu Zhi Yi, she grabbed her hand, her eyes swimming with tears.
“Yi’er, Heng’er will be fine, won’t he? He must be fine, right?”
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t predict fate anymore; she had long lost the ability to read Du Zi Heng’s future. But she still reassured her, “Don’t worry, Mother. He will be alright.”
Madam Yao seemed to take her words as a promise, and though she was still heartbroken, she no longer looked as anxious.
Yu Zhi Yi then asked, “What exactly happened?”
Madam Yao gritted her teeth, rage flashing in her eyes. “It’s all that wretched woman’s fault!” She then turned to the doorway and yelled, “Du Lin, get in here!”
Du Lin crawled inside. He had already heard Yu Zhi Yi’s question and began explaining without needing to be prompted further.
“After Miss You Bing Yue was injured, she’d been in a foul mood. Today, she wanted to leave the city for some fresh air. Young Master Zi Heng didn’t agree, but Miss You insisted, saying she was tough and the injury was nothing, and even questioned if he still loved her since he wouldn’t grant her such a small request.
“Young Master finally gave in after being worn down. He arranged for a carriage and helped her inside.”
“I was outside the carriage, so I’m not sure what exactly happened within. But I vaguely heard Young Master mention giving Miss You something for her protection. Miss You…”
Du Lin hesitated, glancing at Yu Zhi Yi.
Yu Zhi Yi finished for him, “Young Master Zi Heng wanted to give her the protection charm he took from me. Miss You refused it, knowing it was from me?”
She was puzzled. Even if she refused the charm, it would only mean she wouldn’t accept his care. But the charm would still be with him, and if anything happened, it would protect him.
Madam Yao seemed to think of the same thing and quickly pressed, “What happened next? Did that woman cause trouble?”
Du Lin lowered his head, unwilling to comment on his master and his master’s beloved, and just recounted what he knew.
“The two of them began to argue, and Miss You demanded that Young Master throw away the charm.”
“I heard Young Master Zi Heng promise that once they got off the carriage, he’d throw it far away.”
“After that, we were ambushed.”
“Miss You, though injured, was quite capable. The attackers weren’t after her, so she wasn’t hurt further. But Young Master Zi Heng was struck three times. If he hadn’t dragged Miss You back into the carriage at the last moment, where the outer shield kept the attackers at bay, and if the capital guards hadn’t shown up in time, none of us would’ve made it.”
Madam Yao was livid. “That wretched woman! Because of her petty jealousy, she made him discard something that could save his life!”
She rarely lost her composure, but now she was furiously cursing You Bing Yue.
Yu Zhi Yi hadn’t expected You Bing Yue’s jealousy to run so deep that she’d reject even something that could save lives.
Suddenly, the steward came rushing in. “Madam, Young Madam, it’s terrible! The Chancellor’s been attacked!”
Without thinking, Yu Zhi Yi stepped closer to Madam Yao, just in time to catch her as her knees buckled, her face paling, ready to faint.