Chapter 11: What Authority Deserves to Be Destroyed?
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Yu Pan Er asked hesitantly, “Young Madam, shouldn’t we crush that woman’s arrogance?”
Yu Zhi Yi glanced up at her. Yu Pan Er, a home-born slave of the Yu Mansion, had a certain charm about her.
The term home-born slave referred to children born to household servants. In this era, the status of one’s parents dictated their fate. Children of slaves were born as slaves themselves.
Yu Pan Er was ambitious. Back at the Yu Mansion, her attempt to seduce the eldest young master, Yu Meng Qin, had enraged Yu Jiao Jiao. The latter had swiftly punished her by relegating her to cleaning latrines and scrubbing chamber pots.
When Yu Zhi Yi’s wedding approached, Yu Jiao Jiao brought Yu Pan Er back, convincing Madam Yu to assign her as Yu Zhi Yi’s dowry maid.
Besides Zi Yuan and Yu Pan Er, Yu Zhi Yi’s other two dowry maids were lower servants chosen deliberately for their lack of cleverness—another calculated move by Yu Jiao Jiao.
Yu Zhi Yi understood Yu Jiao Jiao’s intentions but, bound by the kindness of being raised in the Yu Mansion, chose to ignore these petty schemes.
Moreover, Yu Zhi Yi could discern the true intentions of others with ease. None of them posed a threat to her peace of mind.
In her past life, she dismissed Yu Pan Er early on, unwilling to nurture a troublemaker. The other two, though dull, were loyal enough, so she kept them.
Now, however… they might serve a purpose.
“What authority does she have?” Yu Zhi Yi replied coolly.
Yu Pan Er’s eyes widened. “She left the mansion without informing you, completely disregarding you as the mistress!”
Yu Zhi Yi chuckled softly. “She’s neither a concubine nor a servant. She owes me no such reports.”
“But…” Yu Pan Er tried to press further.
Yu Zhi Yi waved her off. “That’s enough. Don’t concern yourself with trivial matters. From now on, simply monitor the mansion’s happenings. No matter how absurd the events, refrain from getting involved. Focus on living well.”
That night, Yu Zhi Yi suddenly opened her eyes.
Her defensive formation had been tampered with!
She rose, dressed quickly, and was met by Zi Yuan, who entered the room in a hurry.
“Miss, someone tried to climb over the wall to leave the mansion but slipped and fell, making a ruckus. The commotion alerted the guards. Now, the Chancellor and Madam are personally interrogating the intruder!”
Throwing on a red gauzy cloak, Yu Zhi Yi made her way to the scene.
A small man in gray servant garb knelt on the ground. Chancellor Du and Madam Du stood nearby, their hair unkempt, cloaks hastily thrown on.
Yu Zhi Yi greeted them, “Father, Mother.”
Before she could ask questions, Madam Du chided her, “The night air is damp. You should wear more when stepping outside.”
Then, pointing to the man, she added, “It’s just a thief trying to steal from the mansion. We’ve questioned him, and there’s nothing major. He’ll be handed over to the authorities shortly.”
At the mention of being sent to the authorities, the man’s body shrank, trembling as he pleaded for mercy.
Yu Zhi Yi regarded him coldly. “Enough pretending. Aren’t you secretly laughing inside right now?”
The man froze mid-plea, his expression stiffening.
Everyone present, including the Chancellor, Madam Du, guards, and servants, turned to Yu Zhi Yi in confusion.
Moments later, the man resumed his act, groveling. “I don’t understand, Young Madam! I’m truly terrified and regretful!”
To emphasize his supposed remorse, he crawled toward Chancellor Du, crying, “Master, I was wrong! Please spare me just this once!”
Yu Zhi Yi interrupted with a smile. “Father, your jade thumb ring is rather exquisite. May I have it?”
Everyone: “?”
What kind of timing was this? And asking for something so valuable?
She had been married only four days. How could she think it appropriate to make such a bold request?
Chancellor Du frowned, clearly displeased.
Madam Du, recalling Yu Zhi Yi’s earlier help with her mother, intervened. “Husband, if Yi’er likes it, give it to her. It’s just a ring, after all.”
Chancellor Du: “…”
The servants: “…”
Madam, do you hear yourself?
Seeing no further protest, Madam Du reached for the ring. Chancellor Du sighed, “I’ll do it myself.”
Yu Zhi Yi accepted the ring, turning it over in her hands. Her smile brightened. “The jade is translucent, warm to the touch, and of superb quality. Excellent craftsmanship!”
Chancellor Du remained silent, his face dark. Of course, it was fine jade—it had cost him eight thousand silver taels at an auction!
Unperturbed by his displeasure, Yu Zhi Yi slipped the ring into her pouch. She dismissed the guards and servants, leaving only the kneeling man, Liu Er Gou, behind.
Fixing him with a sharp gaze, she began. “Your real name is Liu Er Gou. Five years ago, you entered this mansion under the alias Du Ping.”
“My father and mother are kind to their servants—except when they betray their trust.”
“Three years ago, you were punished for breaking a golden lion paperweight. Though my father, merciful as he is, didn’t demand compensation, you held a grudge.”
“A few days ago, during your leave, you met an old acquaintance. Sharing your grievances, this person proposed a plan for revenge. You agreed, finalizing today’s scheme.”
Madam Du gasped. “What scheme? Does he intend to blame us for his theft?”
Lying nearby was a painting scroll, the ‘Mountains of Huai’, by a renowned artist of the previous dynasty. Its value was immeasurable.
Madam Du struggled to fathom how this theft could implicate them. Even Chancellor Du, with all his experience, was baffled.
Yu Zhi Yi sighed. “The painting is a diversion. The true trap lies in what he slipped into the bottom drawer of Father’s desk.”
Chancellor Du’s expression changed as he rushed to the study.
Liu Er Gou tried to flee, but tiny Zi Yuan, with surprising strength, hoisted him like a chick and dragged him to the study.
Once there, Chancellor Du unlocked the drawers, finding a hidden pouch nailed to the bottom.
Inside was a single sheet of white paper. Unfolding it, his face paled.
It was a letter—a response from the Great Luo Empire. Though brief, its implications were catastrophic. The mere discovery of this could annihilate his entire household… and implicate nine generations of his family.