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.
