However, since Hong Yan entered the household, Jin Zhi appeared dull and unlikable compared to the clever and talkative Hong Yan. Moreover, due to years of childlessness, Jin Zhi often looked worried. Even when he stayed in her room, she would constantly sigh, making him reluctant to stay by her side. Yet at this moment, seeing her eyes moist and that slight smile, he once again felt the same excitement as when they first married.
He hesitated before saying: “Jin Zhi, I’ll have dinner here today.” By saying this, he meant he would also stay the night.
Yu Yi was stunned, then nodded: “Okay.”
Managing household affairs was originally the responsibility of the principal wife, but Jin Zhi had never been one to compete for power or harbor suspicions. She was gradually relieved of her duties by Hong Yan under the pretext of helping her.
Towards the end of the year, Jin Zhi made a mistake when preparing the New Year gift list, somehow omitting Liu Zhengyu’s fourth uncle’s family, which she only discovered after the New Year, causing great awkwardness for Liu Zhengyu. Immediately after, a maidservant in her household was caught stealing property, and Hong Yan seized the opportunity to stir up trouble. Liu Zhengyu began to doubt Jin Zhi’s ability to manage the household and declared that all household affairs would be managed by Hong Yan.
Hong Yan managed the accounts initially well, but after becoming pregnant, she began to shortchange the monthly finances allocated to Jin Zhi’s quarters. It was only at this point that Jin Zhi realized Hong Yan had malicious intentions and suspected that her previous mistakes and the maidservant’s theft might have been Hong Yan’s doing.
Though she was tolerant, she could not bear a concubine’s bullying. She angrily confronted Hong Yan, and during the argument, Hong Yan approached Jin Zhi, repeatedly bringing up her intimate relations with Liu Zhengyu to provoke her. Jin Zhi merely pushed Hong Yan away, but Hong Yan seized the opportunity to fall to the ground, claiming Jin Zhi had struck her.
Liu Zhengyu happened to be home that day and heard from Hong Yan’s maidservant that his wife had come to cause a disturbance.
When he arrived, he saw Hong Yan sitting on the ground weeping and blamed Jin Zhi. After returning to her room, Jin Zhi grew increasingly angry and fainted. It was at this moment that Yu Yi possessed her body.
Unlike the honest and kind Jin Zhi, Yu Yi had been groomed since childhood to be the lady of the marquis’s household, understanding the importance of managing household affairs for a mistress. She seized this opportunity to reclaim Jin Zhi’s authority.
After the meal, when Liu Zhengyu wanted to stay in Jin Zhi’s room, Yu Yi cleverly said shyly: “These are my days of the month, my lord should not stay here.”
Liu Zhengyu left disappointedly. Yu Yi sighed, knowing Liu Zhengyu couldn’t even remember which days were Jin Zhi’s monthly days, indicating how long he had not stayed in her quarters.
Hong Yan grew complacent, thinking that Liu Zhengyu would still spend the night with her. However, after serving Liu Zhengyu, he dropped a sentence that nearly drove her mad: “Hong Yan, give the keys and account books to the wife tomorrow. From tomorrow, you don’t need to manage these troublesome household matters anymore.”
On the third day, Yu Yi arrived early at Hong Yan’s quarters. Hong Yan knew why she was there and had no pleasant expression.
Though Liu Zhengyu had spoken last night, she had no choice but to comply, yet she had not agreed on when to hand over the items.
Hong Yan had her maidservant search for the keys for half a day. Yu Yi did not rush her, sitting calmly and watching her struggle. Hong Yan occasionally glanced at Jin Zhi’s expression, and seeing her completely unperturbed, became increasingly anxious, ordering her maidservant: “Cui’er, go check that cabinet.”
Yu Yi smiled: “Can Madam Zhou manage the household if she can’t even manage her keys?”
Hong Yan’s face turned pale, then she smiled: “Since becoming pregnant, Red Sparrow’s memory has deteriorated. Perhaps the madam could return and wait. I’ll send the keys once found.”
Yu Yi softly remarked: “Could it be there are issues in the account books that Madam Zhou is reluctant to hand over?”
“How could that be? I just momentarily forgot where I placed the keys,” Hong Yan’s smile became forced.
A year ago, Yu Yi would not have detected this subterfuge. Now, having seen much, she immediately formed a thought upon seeing Hong Yan’s expression: “I’m not in a hurry. I’ll wait here. Madam Zhou can calmly recall that the account book was altered last night.”
Hong Yan could no longer smile, turning to pretend to search for keys, not daring to look at Jin Zhi, wondering how this woman knew about her secret account book alteration last night!
During her year managing the Liu household, she had initially only falsely reported expenses and hidden some private money. Later, growing bolder, she bribed the steward, not just falsifying accounts but occasionally sending money home and even helping her third brother repay a debt.
When Liu Zhengyu mentioned handing over the account books and keys last night, she was terrified. While he slept, she secretly altered the accounts all night, changing suspicious entries and recopying, only managing half before having to attend to Liu Zhengyu’s morning needs. After sending him off, she planned to continue recopying when Jin Zhi arrived, forcing her to delay.
Yu Yi had only been testing Hong Yan’s procrastination, but seeing her guilty expression, knew she had guessed correctly and was close to completing her task. She stood: “Madam Zhou, take your time. I’ll return first.”
Hong Yan’s shoulders relaxed, turning to smile: “I’ll send them to the madam as soon as I find them.”
Leaving Hong Yan’s room, Yu Yi turned back halfway. Near the small courtyard, she saw Hong Yan’s maidservant Cui’er guarding the gate, knowing she was watching for signals while Hong Yan altered the accounts inside.
If she approached now, Cui’er would alert Hong Yan, who would hide the account books.
Yu Yi pulled the window frame, estimating it could bear her weight. After a moment’s hesitation, she gripped the frame, stepped onto the window sill, and propelled herself over.
The accompanying maidservants stood dumbfounded, watching their usually dignified mistress climb over the wall using the decorative window frame.
Even so, Yu Yi was sweating when climbing the wall, not entirely due to the heat. When she finally stood steadily in the small courtyard, her nervous mood gradually calmed. She took a deep breath, brushed off the dust from her skirt, straightened her clothes, and walked towards the house.
Cui’er was guarding outside the courtyard, and another maidservant was serving inside. At this moment, the courtyard was empty, and Yu Yi went directly into the room.
Hong Yan was buried in copying documents. Noticing a shadow moving in the doorway, she looked up, about to scold Cui’er for not guarding outside. When she saw Yu Yi enter, her eyes widened.
She was quick-witted and tried to cover things up, forcing out a smile: “Why has madam returned so suddenly? Hong Yan just found the account books and noticed they were written too messily, so I wanted to recopy them to make it easier for madam to read.”
Yu Yi smiled: “Madam Zhou is thoughtful. You are in a delicate condition and shouldn’t work so hard. Just give me the account books, and I will handle them.”
“It’s not hard, as it should be,” Hong Yan hurriedly shook her head.
Yu Yi collected all the old account books: “Madam Zhou, the key.”
Hong Yan’s face turned pale as she handed over the key, glaring at Yu Yi’s back.
Yu Yi returned to the main hall, had some water, and then began checking the accounts.
