Chapter 9: She Could Only Endure Even If I Touched Her
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Yu Zhi Yi thought that as long as Du Zi Heng stopped pestering her in the future, life at the Du Mansion could be quite comfortable.
Before long, she could save enough precious jade stones to carve formation arrays.
A Spirit-Gathering Formation large enough to envelop her Breeze Pavilion would cost at least jade stones worth ten thousand taels of silver. If she wanted to set up other functional formation arrays simultaneously, like a Defensive Formation, she would need even more jade stones.
In her previous life, even while advancing in rank alongside Zhang Tian Shun, she couldn’t afford to deploy both the Spirit-Gathering Formation and the Defensive Formation with jade stones.
Military campaigns demanded exorbitant spending, and political adversaries always found ways to withhold provisions. She couldn’t let soldiers starve, so her savings were inevitably sacrificed.
The Chancellor’s Mansion, however, was immensely wealthy, and they weren’t engaged in any extravagant expenditures. Most importantly, Du Zi Heng’s attitude was clear: she could spend freely, keeping her funds growing without a single outflow.
Though jade stones weren’t an option for now, she could use talisman paper as a temporary substitute for formation flags. While less powerful and easily damaged by various factors, it was better than nothing.
Yu Zhi Yi began drawing talismans.
After working tirelessly through the night, she finally completed enough talisman paper to arrange a Defensive Formation.
The next morning, after breakfast, she claimed she wanted to explore the mansion. Outwardly, she was aimlessly strolling, but in reality, she strategically placed talisman paper in suitable locations as substitutes for formation flags.
Zi Yuan chattered incessantly beside her.
As the legitimate Young Madam, Zi Yuan had gathered information about the Moon Gazing Pavilion: “Last night, after the young master returned, he went straight to the Moon Gazing Pavilion, but the lady there refused to let him in.”
“Tsk, tsk. The young master truly lacks dignity. He actually waited outside half the night until she finally let him in during the late hours.”
“They say he slept until mid-morning today. By now, the academy would’ve already finished its early lessons.”
Knowing her mistress cared only about wealth and not about gaining affection, Zi Yuan felt it was pointless to seek the young master’s approval. Instead, she treated the gossip from the Moon Gazing Pavilion as entertainment to amuse Yu Zhi Yi.
Yu Zhi Yi indeed found it intriguing. “No wonder Du Zi Heng won’t top the imperial exams this year.”
With such a troublesome enchantress, how could he possibly focus on success?
But he was intelligent and capable—originally, he could have topped the current exam cycle.
As they walked, Yu Zhi Yi paused. Ahead, on a stone bridge, a woman stood with her hands clasped behind her back.
The woman wore a tight black dress, her figure captivating, yet her face was cold and aloof. Though icy in demeanor, she was undeniably stunning.
Zi Yuan leaned closer to whisper, “Mistress, that’s the one from the Moon Gazing Pavilion!”
It was Yu Zhi Yi’s first encounter with her husband’s mistress.
In her previous life, if Zhang Tian Shun had dared to keep concubines, she would have made him kneel on a washboard and ensured those women were dealt with thoroughly.
But now, she was surprisingly calm. She gently waved her folding fan, silently waiting for the woman to approach.
You Bing Yue’s frosty aura intensified when Yu Zhi Yi didn’t step forward. Eventually, she strode over, her expression like a glacier.
Up close, You Bing Yue’s exquisite beauty became even more striking, like an unattainable flower blooming on the highest peak of the Tianshan Mountains.
When she spoke, her voice was as cold as her demeanor. “Zi Heng has explained everything to me. I know you were forced into this marriage, so I don’t blame you.”
“But you will have only the laughable title of Young Madam Du. Don’t think you can covet anything else. Otherwise… the consequences will be beyond your ability to bear.”
Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow.
She hadn’t even sought out trouble with this woman, yet the woman came to provoke her?
Yu Zhi Yi was puzzled and curious. “What ‘other things’ are you referring to?”
“Zi Heng’s love,” You Bing Yue declared, tilting her alabaster neck arrogantly.
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” You Bing Yue demanded.
Yu Zhi Yi quickly restrained her smile and nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, I won’t covet him.”
After all, wasn’t the Du Mansion’s treasury of real gold and silver far more enticing?
Why would she want a man who still relied on the Chancellor’s Mansion for food and drink?
Even if he became the top scholar in the future, his path to prominence would take over a decade, during which he’d remain penniless.
She would be a fool to trade pearls for fish eyes.
Fish·Du Zi Heng·Eyes: “Achoo!”
Du Lin, his servant, grumbled, “Miss You is too much. It’s already autumn, and the nights are cold. Yet she made you wait outside half the night!”
“Silence!” Du Zi Heng frowned. “Don’t speak ill of Bing Yue!”
This was their playful dynamic—what would Du Lin understand?
Upon hearing a report from another servant, Du Zi Heng quickened his pace.
Meanwhile, You Bing Yue lifted her chin slightly. “Good that you understand. I hope you stick to your word. If not, I’ll make you kneel and sing ‘Conquer.'”
Zi Yuan snapped, “How dare you! What gives you the right to speak to the Young Madam like that?”
You Bing Yue’s eyes turned cold. “A foolish servant dares yell at me? Courting death!”
She stepped forward, reaching for Zi Yuan’s throat.
Yu Zhi Yi’s smile vanished. She pulled Zi Yuan back a few steps, widening the distance between them, and flicked her fingers.
Splash!
You Bing Yue fell into the water.
“Bing Yue!” Du Zi Heng arrived just in time to witness the scene and glared furiously at Yu Zhi Yi before diving in after her.
After a while, the two emerged from the water. Du Zi Heng ordered Du Lin to drape his coat over You Bing Yue and then strode angrily toward Yu Zhi Yi, his eyes blazing. “Who allowed you to touch her?”
Yu Zhi Yi countered, “Which eye of yours saw me touch her?”
Du Zi Heng froze. Now that he thought about it… she really hadn’t?
From his angle, all he saw was Yu Zhi Yi pulling her maid backward, while You Bing Yue had reached out to attack them.
He had been too anxious and enraged to notice these details earlier.
Yu Zhi Yi dusted off her wide sleeves, as if brushing away some unseen grime. “I used to wonder why the young master of Marquis Wu’an’s family nearly got beaten to death for drunkenly speaking a single sentence. Now I understand.”
“If I’d known the price of intervening, I wouldn’t have wasted a favor.”
Her breathtaking face bore no anger, yet her gaze was cold—utterly unlike the lively and feigned sweetness of two days ago. “She blocked my way, spewed insults, and even tried to harm my servant. For someone so reckless and morally corrupt, even if I had truly touched her, she could only endure it!”
“Zi Yuan, let’s go.”