Chapter 71: The Assassin
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Madam Meng utterly loathed Yu Zhi Yi’s smile.
No, to be precise, from the moment she laid eyes on this fake daughter of the Yu Mansion, a peculiar sense of disgust had inexplicably welled up in her chest.
This disdain surpassed even her contempt for her own inept daughter-in-law.
Yu Zhi Yi, however, paid no heed to what Madam Meng thought. She had already turned to address Duke Courage with a sharp declaration: “Your Grace, do you still remember that your sister had four close maids named Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju?”
The Duke nodded solemnly. “I do.”
He immediately frowned. “But they were all killed by the Li family.”
The Li Family, of course, was the household into which his sister had married.
Yu Zhi Yi nodded. “Exactly. Those four maids were murdered by Madam Zhang of the Meng Clan through the Li Family shortly before and after your sister’s passing. However, Qiu Ju had a younger sister who, due to her entire family perishing at that time, came to the Sheng Capital to seek her elder sibling.”
“When her younger sister arrived, Miss Zhang had just married and was basking in all her glory. But because Qiu Ju’s younger sister entered the Li Family under Miss Zhang’s care, Madam Zhang remained unaware of her existence.”
“Later, as Miss Zhang’s condition deteriorated, Qiu Ju, though utterly loyal to her mistress, refused to drag her younger sister down with her. She fabricated an excuse to send her sibling away from the Li Mansion.”
“Today, that younger sister of Qiu Ju works as a nanny for a wealthy family in Wude Township, just outside the Sheng Capital. If Your Majesty and Your Grace dispatch people to investigate, they will find my claims true.”
In this entire affair, the Li Family and Miss Zhang’s husband were the most direct culprits in her demise.
Yet, Madam Meng, as the orchestrator behind the scenes, bore no less guilt than the Li Family’s murderous Li Da Lang.
After all, had Madam Meng not severed Miss Zhang’s avenues of rescue, the lady, backed by her maternal family, would never have met her fate of being beaten to death.
Duke Courage rose with a roar, his face consumed by wrath. Yet, even amidst his fury, he did not forget to bow toward the Emperor. “Your Majesty, this old subject must return home to handle some urgent family matters.”
The Emperor, understanding his turmoil, waved him off with a gesture. “Go.”
“Leave,” the Duke commanded, glaring coldly at Madam Meng. His tone, frigid and biting, carried the weight of his fury.
Madam Meng’s face turned deathly pale, her trembling body barely able to support itself as she stood. Then suddenly, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed, unconscious.
Yu Zhi Yi chuckled lightly. “Your Grace, aside from divination, I’m also skilled in medicine. My acupuncture skills are unparalleled. If you trust me, I’d be delighted to revive your wife with my silver needles.”
“Very well,” the Duke agreed without hesitation.
Before Yu Zhi Yi could act, Madam Meng’s eyes fluttered open. “What… what happened to me just now?”
The crowd was silent.
Her recovery was swift.
“Such remarkable skill, Madam Du!” someone exclaimed.
Yu Zhi Yi smiled faintly. “You flatter me.”
Madam Meng: “…”
At last, Duke Courage had Madam Meng “helped” away.
Zhang Tian Shun shot a hateful glare at Yu Jiao Jiao, who, shivering, turned her resentful gaze toward Yu Zhi Yi instead.
While Yu Zhi Yi remained indifferent, the members of the Yu Family wore expressions of pity and collectively glared at her.
Sweeping her gaze over their vengeful eyes, Yu Zhi Yi smiled brightly. “Father, Mother, dear brothers, would you also like a fortune reading?”
The Yu Family: “…”
After witnessing Madam Meng’s humiliation, the Yu Family, though skeptical of Yu Zhi Yi’s abilities, dared not risk a challenge.
After all, if they gambled and lost, their dignity would be trampled upon for all to see.
Seeing no one step forward, Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow. “It seems everyone acknowledges my skill. In that case, let us cooperate and perform for His Majesty…”
Before she could finish, Yu Jiao Jiao suddenly cried out, “Your Majesty, I cannot leave! I have urgent news to report!”
Today was her chance to shine—a rare opportunity to regain face at Duke Courage’s residence. Yu Jiao Jiao could not let it slip away.
Growing impatient, Zhang Tian Shun grabbed her arm, dragging her out. “Be quiet! Stop embarrassing yourself!”
Yu Jiao Jiao struggled twice but failed to break free. She then screamed, “Your Majesty, there are assassins in the hall! They are divided into two groups, planning to massacre the Hall of Morning Splendor! I know who they are—if you let me stay, I can identify them!”
Yu Zhi Yi’s expression changed.
The hall erupted into chaos and panic.
The Emperor’s face darkened as he ordered Zhang Tian Shun to take her away to stop her from spouting nonsense.
But it was too late.
The assassins, who had long been biding their time, could no longer suppress their bloodlust. Only Madam Meng’s scandalous drama had delayed their move until now.
“Feasting in luxury while bones freeze outside—let’s slay these corrupt gluttons who prey on the people!”
With a shout from one “palace servant,” the assassins sprang into action.
It wasn’t just the assassins within the hall; those disguised as dancers outside also revealed their blades, drawing hidden soft swords to strike their “companions.”
The hall descended into utter chaos.
Sounds of slaughter and screams echoed endlessly.
Though guards were stationed outside, they were too far to intervene immediately. By the time they rushed in to protect the Emperor, the assassins had already begun their massacre.
“Help!”
“Don’t kill me!”
“Save me!”
Amid the chaos, though the hall contained many men, most were defenseless scholars.
Even the warriors present, barred from carrying weapons into the court, could do little but dodge clumsily despite their battlefield prowess.
In an instant, blood stained the floor, the scent of iron suffocating and nauseating.
Amid the turmoil, Yu Zhi Yi quickly returned to Chancellor Du’s side, intending to shield him and his family behind a sturdy pillar.
At first, Du Zi Heng was visibly flustered. But as he took in the blood-soaked scene and fallen bodies, his panic gave way to clarity.
Lifting his gaze, he saw the resolute beauty on Yu Zhi Yi’s face.
Her striking features stood in stark contrast to the pandemonium, her calmness and composure like a refreshing stream, soothing the chaos in his heart.
Suddenly, he felt embarrassed.
For all his masculine pride, steeped in years of military strategy and archery, he had been outclassed by a woman in composure.
“Father, Mother, Zhi Yi, don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you,” he declared.
To his dismay, none of the three acknowledged his bravado.
“Though the assassins are numerous, this position is a dead angle—easily defensible…” he began to strategize.
But Chancellor Du waved dismissively. “Your mother and I are wearing Yu Zhi Yi’s defensive talismans; we’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about. If you wander off, your rudimentary skills will get you skewered.”
Du Zi Heng: “…”
Could we not have a little father-son affection here?