chapter 73.2

The crowd was outraged and wanted to beat Fang Zhi Chen to death but was met by a team of officials that happened to be on patrol. They came around to find out the situation before detaining Fang Zhi Chen and brought him to Yamen[1] for interrogation.

This kind of erotic amorous anecdote spread most quickly and within half a day, Fang Zhi Chen became infamous that people began to link this matter to the scene he made outside of Yongle manor a few days ago. One by one the people realized that how could this be an exchanging of private love tokens between two lovers! It was obvious Fang Zhi Chen had stolen the clothing of the Marquis manor’s young miss and pinned it on the person incidentally. Who asked Yongle manor to be the tall tree that catches the wind[2]!

Even similarly victimized women spoke up for Yu Si Yu where she momentarily drew sympathies from countless people.

A day later, there were more sympathizers when the news of attempted suicide of the Eldest Young Miss Yu by hanging herself was spread out and those previous harsh comments gradually disappeared. At the same time, the women in the Capital no longer embroidered their names on their dudou. To prevent confusion after washing for family with many women, they just make an inconspicuous mark on the embroidery.

In the end, Fang Zhi Chen was sentenced to fifty beatings by wooden staves and was exiled three thousand miles away. This matter was then considered settled. Rumors about the top scholar being a slave soon superseded the buzz of Marquis Yongle manor and became the latest topic of conversation in the Capital. Everyone is waiting to see how far this amazingly talented top scholar can go in his official career and how the Emperor will deal with him.

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Lin Shi’s mother and daughter have both been in bed with serious illness since the day Jin Momo was killed. Due to excessive worries and apprehension, Lin Shi’s state of mind was overwhelmed while Yu Miao Qi was actually afraid to see people due to the red and swollen slap print on her face.

During this period, many Momo-in-charge went to Third Young Miss and Old Madam to report matters yet were ignored by them, thus they had no choice but to go to the principal courtyard and look for Lin Shi.

Yu Miao Qi thought the household management authority would definitely be taken away but unexpectedly it was still in her hands. She doesn’t care what Old Madam and Yu Xiang had in mind, she only knows that she can reap lots of benefits by taking charge of the household, accumulating wealth and social connections and before she gets married, which will sufficiently assist her after her marriage.

Hence, she put on a face veil, braced herself up and dealt with the manor’s affairs every day as if she had not been subjected and affected by the ‘incriminating incident’.

Old Madam laughed grimly when she heard the news and even dreaded this Di[3] granddaughter of hers to the bones. Keeping in mind that she absolutely must not gain power in the future, otherwise with her viper-like heart and rock-like disposition, her first revenge will definitely be against the Marquis manor once power has been gained.

Yu Si Yu had also fallen ill, not as the hearsay of hanging herself but rather infuriated sick by those mother and daughter.

After half a month of recuperation, she got slightly better and resumed paying her respect to Old Madam where she immediately begged Old Madam to send her to the countryside. Although those rumors outside no longer defame her for having loose moral instead stating her pitiable, her reputation eventually was damaged and she can no longer show her face in the Capital.

Old Madam nodded her head and promptly agreed.

When Yu Si Yu was packing her luggage in her room the next day, she heard the sound of the moving wheelchair outside the door.

Yu Xiang raised the curtain with the horsewhip. “Are you leaving now?”

“En, I’m going to the countryside to keep my Yiniang[4] company.” Yu Si Yu placed a huge brocade box on the table and smiled, “Inside are the collection of all my small trinkets, jade stone, pearl hairpin, small ceramic figurines and so on. Although not as valuable and rare as those of yours, everything is my beloved item. I will leave them for your remembrance.”

“Snort’~ who cares about these broken things of yours. Take them to the countryside to take care of those pozi[5] in the hamlet.” Yu Xiang’s face was full of disdain.

If Yu Si Yu had heard such words in the past, she would be fuming with anger but now, not only was she not angry, she could still find hidden concerns in those words of hers. Yu Xiang is actually a hedgehog with spikes all over her body, seemingly not to be trifled with but once you get familiar with her, you will realize that she is just trying to protect the softest part of her belly.

This childish temper of hers is actually quite cute.

Yu Si Yu smiled at her. She did not take back the brocade box but continued burying her head to sort her things out.

“Who are you taking along this time?” Yu Xiang looked around. Except for Qiu Shi who was taking care of the luggage, all the other maidservants were gone and the courtyard looked extremely deserted.

“Who else can I take with me? Naturally, it’s Qiu Momo. How would those maidservants be willing to go and suffer with me in the countryside? In order to find a better place to go, they are busy running to the principal courtyard now to beg Yu Miao Qi.” Yu Si Yu sneered, “I will not stop them, just let them go. Who knows if they might follow Jin Momo’s footsteps some day by following Yu Miao Qi. So for the time being, let them be happy then.”

As Yu Pin Yan had cleared the scene, not many servants knew what happened that day and they still thought Yu Miao Qi was very sweet-tempered and amiable. Straightening up and looking at the bustling Qiu Shi, Yu Si Yu could not help but mock at herself. She didn’t expect that after so much ruckus, in the end the most devoted person was the informer that Yu Xiang dispatched to her side, which was truly ironic.

Yu Xiang ordered Tao Hong and Liu Lu to push herself into the room, raising her eyebrows and asked, “You are just leaving like this? After losing your reputation, your husband and your status, you are just going to walk away dejectedly like a bereaved dog? Don’t you ever ponder who has harmed and put you in such a plight.”

“I naturally remember it in my heart. When I come back again, I will kill that little bitch!” Yu Si Yu spat a mouthful on the ground.

“You have no wealth, no power and no connection, what can you use to fight against her? Just rely on spitting your saliva farther than she is?”

Yu Si Yu immediately kept mum and glared annoyingly at Yu Xiang. Thinking to herself, no wonder none of the noble ladies in the Capital like you. With such a poisonous tongue, who can stand it?

Covering her mouth, Yu Xiang laughed then winked at Liu Lu.

Liu Lu immediately handed over the small box she was holding and explained, “This is the compensation for the emotional damage that our Young Miss asked for Eldest Young Miss, please check it out.”

Yu Si Yu opened the box and browsed through it. Her doubtful look was soon replaced with a dumbfounded expression. She never expected deeds of the four west city shops in Wuli Pai, Yuqing Street, Ningwang Road and Huaniao Lane plus a fertile farmland of two hundred hectares were inside the box. These are the most valuable properties of Lin Shi’s!

“You, how did you get it?” Yu Si Yu asked stammeringly.

“I asked for it directly. How else can it be? She is burdened with a guilty conscience, so after several intimidating words, she just gave it earnestly. On the contrary, Yu Miao Qi was rather unhappy. Since she is not happy, I am relieved. With these things, you can still live a comfortable life like before even if you go to the countryside. People are forgetful. In another year or so, who will still remember your trivial matter. When the time comes, let Elder Brother find you an honest and decent husband so you can live your life well.” With an unconcerned expression, Yu Xiang whipped the edge of the table with the horsewhip she was holding.

Eyes brimming with tears, Yu Si Yu spoke with a sob after a moment of silent, “Thank you Younger Sister. Whatever happens, I, Yu Si Yu will only acknowledge you, Yu Xiang as my Di Younger Sister. I truly need these things now, so I will not decline and will surely repay Younger Sister a hundred and a thousand folds in the future.” As the saying goes, as distance tests a horse’s strength, time will reveal a person’s heart which she now understands the principal ultimately.

Yu Xiang glanced at her disdainfully and reprimanded, “What are you crying for? Don’t you mimic the unworthy attitude of Yu Miao Qi. I’m leaving now. Before you leave, remember to go kowtow to Grandmother. She was beside herself with rage over you a few days ago.”

“Ai, I’m aware that it’s all my fault.” Hastily wiping the tears with her sleeves, Yu Si Yu followed and sent her out.