Duke Yi was a senior official who had served three emperors.

His residence was right next to the Imperial City—a sign of his immense imperial favor.

The carriage stopped at the gate of the Duke’s mansion.

Mo Yu’s face was pale. “Miss, you really shouldn’t go… We can’t afford to offend Duke Yi…”

Ji Laizhi, the coachman, hesitated before saying, “Miss, perhaps it’s best to leave this to Lord Cheng. He will surely handle it properly.”

The Xiangyang Marquis’s household going up against the Duke Yi’s residence was like throwing an egg at a rock.

If anything happened to Miss Li, he wouldn’t be able to explain to his young master.

Li Zhiyue lifted the hem of her dress and stepped out of the carriage. “Since I’m here, it means I have a way to bring Xiaoling back. Mo Yu, go inform them.”

Xiaoling was a servant of the Xiangyang Marquis’s household.

She had gotten into trouble at the grand opera house.

Both in reason and in sentiment, Li Zhiyue had to step in and bring her back.

Just as she reached the gate of the Duke’s mansion—

A horse galloped toward them. Riding it was a man in his twenties and a stunningly beautiful woman. It was none other than Yu Yu, heir of the Duke of Yi, and Xiaoling, the star performer of the Li family’s opera house.

“Miss… Save me!”

Xiaoling’s voice was hoarse from screaming—it was clear she had been calling for help the whole way, but to no avail.

Yu Yu grabbed her and tossed her into the arms of a nearby servant, ordering, “Take her to my courtyard, clean her up nicely, and wait for me!”

Several servants carried Xiaoling into the Duke’s mansion.

Li Zhiyue’s expression showed no emotion.

But her fingers were digging into her palm, and deep in her eyes was a chilling, terrifying coldness.

“Miss Li!” Yu Yu laughed loudly as he dismounted and walked toward her. “What a rare honor it is to have a beauty like you visit our Duke’s residence. Let me guess—could it be that you’ve come for that wretched maid just now?”

Li Zhiyue curled her lips. “And what if I say yes?”

“She’s just a lowly maid. Is she really worth you coming here personally?” Yu Yu took a folding fan from his waist and flicked it toward Li Zhiyue’s chin.

Li Zhiyue raised her hand and caught the fan.

Yu Yu’s eyes were fixed on her face. “I’ve admired you for a long time. If you’re willing to enter our Duke’s residence, I might consider releasing that wench.”

Mo Yu’s face turned red with anger.

Everyone knew Yu Yu was already married and had several children.

What he said—did he mean for her lady to become a concubine?

The dignified eldest daughter of the Xiangyang Marquis’s household, become someone’s concubine?

This heir of Duke Yi was clearly disregarding the Marquis’s status entirely!

Li Zhiyue smiled. “Unfortunately, I didn’t come to see the heir.”

Just then, a young maid came out of the mansion and bowed. “Miss Li, our madam invites you in.”

Yu Yu sneered, “Don’t tell me you think that by complaining to my mother, I’ll hand over that wench?”

“Then why don’t you come with me,” Li Zhiyue replied with a smile, “and see for yourself whether I’m here to complain—or for something else entirely?”

Yu Yu snorted.

He had beauties waiting in his courtyard—he didn’t want to waste time.

Li Zhiyue’s eyes glinted. “Maybe… I’m here for a marriage proposal?”

Yu Yu instantly perked up.

He loved beauties.

As for lowly maids or common girls—if he fancied them, he’d just abduct them.

But the eldest daughter of the Xiangyang Marquis’s household was a noblewoman.

He didn’t have the guts to snatch her.

Could it be that she was offering herself voluntarily?

Come to think of it, the Xiangyang Marquis’s family was declining—they had nothing to their name.

Their only asset was this daughter. Maybe they were trying to latch onto the Duke’s powerful household…

Thinking this, Yu Yu opened his fan with a smirk he thought was charming. “Miss Li, after you.”

Li Zhiyue walked up the steps.

Having this scoundrel follow her was actually good—it would help protect Xiaoling’s chastity.

Before long, they reached the residence of the Duke’s wife.

The Duke’s wife was over fifty years old, and Yu Yu, her only son, was in his twenties—born in her later years, and thus excessively pampered.

“Yu’er, why did you come in with Miss Li?”

Yu Yu slouched into a chair. “Ran into her at the gate, so I came along. I’m just curious why she came to see Mother.”

The Duke’s wife was curious as well.

Although both were noble families, the Xiangyang Marquis’s and Duke Yi’s households rarely interacted—not even at banquets.

So why had this Miss Li shown up unannounced?

“Miss Li, please sit. Someone, bring tea.”

The Duke’s wife was polite enough.

Li Zhiyue took a sip of tea and smiled. “Duke Yi has served three reigns and is a pillar of the empire. Madam is known for her virtue—every time there’s a natural disaster, we hear of your charitable deeds…”

The Duke’s wife beamed.

Who doesn’t like being flattered—especially by a beautiful young lady?

But then, Li Zhiyue changed tone. “The Duke and Madam’s good names are known throughout Da Wei… So why is it that the heir, Young Master Yu, is infamous in the capital?”

The moment she said this, Yu Yu exploded with rage.

He slammed the table and stood up. “Li Zhiyue! What nonsense are you spewing? This is the Duke’s residence, not your Xiangyang Marquis’s!”

“Yu’er, sit down,” the Duke’s wife said. “She is a guest. Be courteous.”

The smile had vanished from her face.

This son of hers had been born after six daughters—her only son, and a difficult birth. It was no wonder he was spoiled.

But spoiled too much, it seemed he had grown crooked.

By the time she realized she had raised him wrong, it was already too late.

What could she do?

He was her only son—the heir to the Duke’s residence.

All she could do was cover for him.

The Duke’s wife said calmly, “Miss Li must have misunderstood. Yu’er is just outspoken—he says whatever comes to mind, which leads to rumors. The things said about him outside aren’t true.”

Li Zhiyue smiled. “All six of your daughters are known throughout the capital as model wives and mothers. Why is it that your son turned out so differently? Has it never occurred to you that perhaps he’s not truly the Duke’s blood?”

“What did you say?!”

Yu Yu was so enraged it seemed his soul would burst from his head.

He grabbed the tea cup beside him and hurled it at Li Zhiyue.

Gender didn’t matter—he would strike her anyway.

The cup was caught midair by Ji Laizhi.

The Duke’s wife’s face had turned completely cold. “It seems Miss Li didn’t come to visit—she came to stir up trouble. Our Duke’s residence has stood in the capital for a hundred years. This is the first time someone dared to provoke us at our door. The Xiangyang Marquis must have grown bold—perhaps you don’t want that marquis title anymore.”

“Rather than doubt me,” Li Zhiyue said, “why not conduct a blood test? Over the years, surely many have whispered that your son doesn’t resemble the rest of the family? If Madam still remembers the wet nurse hired over twenty years ago, perhaps you’ll find that Yu Yu… actually resembles her quite a bit.”