Chapter 17: The Secret of Yu Zhong
In the Zangdong Pavilion, the study of the Lian household, the air was charged with the heat of passion.
Yu Zhong's soft moans rippled through the air, the wild flames of desire burning fiercely.
"Ah... master…" The young woman's sweat-drenched body writhed seductively as she clung tightly to Lian Zheng's strong frame, leaving the marks of her fervor.
"Qiao Qiao…"
"Master, call me Yu Zhong… I am Yu Zhong…"
"Yu Zhong… Yu Zhong… Yu Zhong?!"
The name slipped from his lips three times before realization struck.
Lian Zheng jolted upright, shaking off the haze of intoxication. He looked down at the woman beneath him—her face flushed, lost in ecstasy. It was unmistakably the maid, Yu Zhong.
"Yu Zhong—how is it you?!"
Staggering back, Lian Zheng hurriedly gathered his clothes, his embarrassment sobering him further. He drank a cup of cold water from the desk to calm himself.
"Master…" Yu Zhong quickly rose from the bed and embraced him from behind.
Lian Zheng pried her hands away, his eyes red with fury. Picking up the crimson silk dress from the floor, he demanded angrily, "Why are you wearing Qiao Qiao's clothes and pretending to be her?"
"Master… I didn't mean to… From the first time I saw you, I longed to be like Lady Qiao Qiao… to be by your side…" Yu Zhong pressed herself against him, pleading.
Lian Zheng's brow furrowed. "Did you call yourself my third wife? I've never touched my maids, let alone tolerated someone impersonating Qiao Qiao to deceive me! Cover yourself properly!"
"Master—" Yu Zhong reluctantly protested but had no choice but to comply as she saw his anger.
"You're a maid. Know your place! Leave now, before the darkness fades and someone notices!" Lian Zheng held the red dress in his hands, his heart a mixture of pain and fury.
Yu Zhong tied her underskirt and leaned close again, her abdomen brushing provocatively against him. Her hands trailed across his chest in teasing caresses, her voice sweet and coquettish.
"Master, do you really want me to leave? I dare not hope for much. Serving you, pleasing you—that's all I desire…"
Lian Zheng cast her a sidelong glance, his cold smile like a dagger. His voice was soft but carried an icy chill.
"Is that so? Nothing else on your mind? Then what are you doing here, babbling? Seeking a title, wealth?"
Panic flickered across Yu Zhong's face as she hastily murmured, "Master, forgive me. I only impersonated Lady Qiao Qiao because I couldn't bear to see your longing for her. I meant no harm!"
Lian Zheng grabbed her chin and pinched it tightly. His tone was frigid.
"Don't think that wearing Qiao Qiao's clothes and climbing into my bed will make you her. Get out!"
"…Yes!" Tears of humiliation welled in Yu Zhong's eyes. She reluctantly complied, taking slow steps toward the door, glancing back at Lian Zheng. But seeing he had no intention of stopping her, she bit her lip and opened the study door.
"Madam!"
Yu Zhong's face instantly turned crimson.
Standing in the doorway was Yu Luoying, holding a tray with a bowl of sobering soup. She stood frozen, her face pale as snow. Her gaze, sharp as a blade, seemed to pierce through Yu Zhong, dressed scandalously.
"Luoying…" Lian Zheng turned around, startled to see his wife.
Yu Luoying's expression was unreadable as she stared at Lian Zheng. His disheveled state and the lingering scent of indulgence in the room said it all.
Lian Zheng fumbled to dress himself properly, standing awkwardly to the side.
After a long silence, Yu Luoying spoke coldly, her voice trembling with suppressed rage.
"I heard everything. It was this wretch who seduced you. There's no need for explanations. Just tell me, how do you want to deal with her?"
Yu Zhong collapsed to her knees, clutching Yu Luoying's skirts as she wept.
"Madam! I didn't mean anything by it! Please, don't punish me!"
"Your coquettish glances and flirtations—I've turned a blind eye to them because I trusted my husband to have boundaries. But now, taking advantage of the chaos in this household, you dare exploit the situation?" Yu Luoying's voice was icy, trembling with anger.
"I wouldn't dare…" Yu Zhong knelt, playing the pitiful card.
"Luoying… Please, don't misunderstand. I truly didn't realize…" Lian Zheng tried to justify himself, guilt written all over his face.
Yu Luoying ignored him, fixing her glare on Yu Zhong. Her voice was cold.
"Cover yourself and get back to your quarters. I'll deal with you later!"
Without looking back, she stormed down the stairs.
Lian Zheng watched helplessly as his wife, her face as cold as frost, disappeared from view. Frustration gnawed at him.
That night, Yu Zhong was thrown into the woodshed on Yu Luoying's orders, her cries echoing through the Lian household.
By morning, the mansion was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere. Servants tiptoed around, whispering amongst themselves but saying nothing openly.
At breakfast, Yu Luoying was still fuming. She ate her red bean porridge mechanically, her face devoid of expression. Lian Zheng, knowing he was in the wrong, watched her anxiously, choosing his words carefully.
"Luoying…" he began, only to have her cut him off with a sharp glare.
Finally, she slammed her bowl down on the table with a loud clang.
"Yu Zhong seduced the master. She's unforgivable. I want her out of this house!"
"What if I return her to Wang Zisheng?" Lian Zheng offered cautiously.
"She dared to act so brazenly—I'd rather sell her off to Yunxin Tower! Unless you can't bear to part with her?" Yu Luoying's voice dripped with venom.
Lian Zheng froze, then forced a smile. "Of course not. I'll leave the decision to you."
"Very well!" Yu Luoying nodded and called out loudly, "Luo Ma, go find a matchmaker later!"
Before the matchmaker arrived, however, Di Yun came to visit.
Lian Heng was dazed, sitting under the old tree in the courtyard. Seeing Di Yun walking in, bathed in the warm autumn sunlight, he couldn't help but exclaim in delight, "Have you found any new leads?"
"Perhaps, we'll have some soon," Di Yun replied softly, his voice as clear as morning dew, with a hint of determination in his eyes. "I just spoke briefly with Luo Ma and learned a bit about last night's events. It confirms one of my earlier suspicions. I've asked her to delay calling the matchmaker so I can thoroughly inspect Yu Zhong's room first."
As they spoke, the chubby Luo Ma rushed in, panting. "Master Di, you walk so fast! I could barely keep up!"
A hint of amusement flickered in Di Yun's eyes. He clasped his hands in apology. "My apologies, Luo Ma. I'm eager to solve the case. Please bear with me!"
"My mother is indeed a bit impulsive. Now is not the time to send Yu Zhong away. Luo Ma, take a rest for now. I'll handle things with my mother regarding the matchmaker."
"Understood, Miss!"
Once Luo Ma had left, Lian Heng raised an eyebrow and asked, "You suspect Yu Zhong too?"
"Yes. Her actions last night solidify my belief that she is connected to my aunt's miscarriage, the incident where you were pushed into the water, and the poisoning of Lady Lian. However, things may be more complex than they seem. Evidence is still lacking, but I have uncovered some leads that require further verification."
"Alright, follow me!"
After searching Yu Zhong's room for half a day, they found no expected poisons or drugs but stumbled upon a small bundle of gold and silver jewelry.
Among the items was a pair of letter-shaped earrings that were supposedly lost.
Lian Heng frowned, recalling Yu Zhong's previous words. "She once said she found these earrings in the past and accidentally dropped them into the well while fetching water. How are they here now? She also mentioned that things not belonging to her would never truly be hers."
Di Yun picked up the earrings, his eyes sparkling. "These earrings are of Western design, rarely seen here. For her to say such things clearly shows she didn't want others to discover their existence—which makes me even more certain of some things."
"What things?" Lian Heng asked curiously. Could there really be a massive hidden hand behind all this?
Di Yun smiled without answering directly. Instead, he asked, "She once wore these earrings and then abruptly stopped, claiming they were lost. What happened that made her stop wearing them?"
"That day, before lunch, I noticed her wearing these Omega-shaped earrings. Her hairstyle was quite stunning. Later, when I brought food to my second aunt's room, I saw my second aunt scolding Yu Zhong. By then, the earrings were gone," Lian Heng recalled carefully, a dreadful thought beginning to form in her mind.
"Why was your second aunt scolding Yu Zhong?"
"Perhaps... because Yu Zhong refused to alter some clothes for her?"
"That's all?" Di Yun frowned in deep thought.
"Yes." Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed over Lian Heng's heart.
Di Yun nodded, examining the unique earrings closely. He smiled brightly. "Omega? You seem quite knowledgeable!"
Lian Heng was momentarily startled but then smiled faintly. "I know more than that. Omega is a letter from a country called Greece."
"Indeed. People around here say the young lady of the Lian family has been smart and well-read since childhood." His gaze returned to the jewelry, brimming with admiration. "I discovered that Yu Zhong's previous master, Wang Zisheng, sold fabric in the neighboring county. Wang Zisheng's cousin, Mo Xiaotian, had been involved in overseas trade and only returned earlier this year."
"So, the earrings might have come into her possession via Mo Xiaotian?"
"Most likely." He nodded.
"Then why would she claim to have lost them? Highly suspicious."
"Very suspicious," Di Yun agreed. He laid out the jewelry one by one. "Take a look. Do you recognize any of these pieces?"
A pair of ruby earrings, two ordinary jade bracelets, a string of pearls, a simple engraved silver hairpin, a green jade hairpin with tinkling bells, and a phoenix-shaped gold hair ornament.
"The ruby earrings and pearl necklace were gifts from my mother when Yu Zhong first arrived. The bracelets and silver hairpin are standard accessories given to our maids. The last two items are more expensive, and I feel like I've seen them somewhere before."
"Think carefully."
Just then, Yu Luoying's voice came from outside. "Master Di, are you suspecting that vixen Yu Zhong? I suspect her too! If you don't want me to call a matchmaker to deal with her, then hurry up and take her away!"
Lian Heng quickly stood up. "Mother, just in time. Take a look at this jewelry!" She handed the jade hairpin with bells and the phoenix-shaped gold ornament to Yu Luoying.
Upon examining them, Yu Luoying's brows furrowed in anger. "That vixen! Not only does she seduce your father, but she also dares to steal!"
"What?" Lian Heng and Di Yun exclaimed in unison.
"This phoenix-shaped gold ornament belonged to your second aunt when she married into the family. She's always treasured it, keeping it locked away as her prized possession. And now, this vixen has stolen it!"