Chapter 115: It’s Not Entirely Impossible
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Yu Zhi Yi sighed deeply. The simplest ropes often snap at the thinnest threads, and though her heart ached with compassion, Old Man Zhang was a beneficiary of the Graceful Phoenix Charity. His sole wish was to find his son, and she couldn’t bear to withhold the truth from him.
“Grandpa, pack your things and come stay at our shop tonight. At dawn tomorrow, we’ll head out to find your son.”
Old Man Zhang, who had been lamenting over Wu Liang’s heinous crimes as a heartless murderer, abruptly lifted his head. “Miss, are you serious? You really can find my son?”
Yu Zhi Yi nodded, her expression grave. Fortunately, her naturally stoic demeanor masked her true feelings, sparing Old Man Zhang from unnecessary worry.
The events of the day had caused quite a stir. The tales of a “betrayed fiancé turned mass murderer,” a “scoundrel stealing a young scholar’s identity after killing him,” and a “scheming man deceiving a wealthy, orphaned girl for her inheritance”—any one of these would have made headlines, let alone all three being connected. To top it off, this tangled mess also involved the youngest female Fifth-Rank Official in the Ministry of Justice.
In no time, the capital was abuzz with chatter, and Yu Zhi Yi’s name became renowned. Where she had once been known as “the fake daughter of the Yu family” and later “the Chancellor’s future daughter-in-law,” her name now stood alone, commanding respect.
While rumors swirled outside, Yu Zhi Yi remained in seclusion, refining the Golden Light of Merit. Though she had not personally saved the lives lost to Wu Liang’s atrocities—that honor belonged to You Bing Yue—she had brought long-buried injustices to light and sought justice for the victims. The Heavenly Dao had rewarded her with strands of merit, and to her surprise, it had not reclaimed the previous blessings she had “borrowed” during her dealings with the Carefree Prince.
At first, she had suspected a delayed reckoning, but now it seemed the Heavenly Dao had no intention of retracting its gifts. After all…
She had already converted the merit into spiritual energy.
The realization filled her with delight.
In the afternoon, Red Luan burst in. “Sister, you’ve really outdone yourself this time!”
Her eyes sparkled like twin suns, so bright that Yu Zhi Yi found them hard to meet. “I just did what I could,” she replied, rubbing her nose in mild embarrassment.
Red Luan’s enthusiasm was undeterred. “Thanks to you, our charity is now famous! People are finally curious about what Graceful Phoenix Charity does.”
Previously, the charity had struggled to gain trust. Its refusal to conduct business or sell goods had puzzled many, and their proactive outreach to help those in need was met with suspicion. Even those abandoned by the court doubted the charity’s intentions. Why would wealthy benefactors care about the destitute unless they had ulterior motives?
As a result, only Old Man Zhang had accepted their aid since the charity’s inception. But Yu Zhi Yi’s dramatic revelations changed everything. Her status as an official, coupled with Steward Wu’s public acknowledgment of her as the charity’s founder, lent credibility. Now, people were flocking to inquire about its purpose.
Red Luan grinned. “We used to struggle to find people to help. Now, they’re coming to us. This will save us manpower.”
Yu Zhi Yi was less optimistic. “But… won’t we attract freeloaders?”
She had seen greed ruin many before. Even among soldiers, there were those who exploited the weaker recruits, bullying them and stealing their rations. If such behavior occurred in disciplined ranks, it was likely rampant among common folk.
Red Luan chuckled. “Don’t worry. Our investigation team is already on it. We verify every case before offering aid. No one can just waltz in and walk away with money.”
Yu Zhi Yi relaxed. Her limited use of Heaven’s Eye meant she couldn’t oversee everything personally, and a robust system would save her much effort.
Red Luan’s tone grew curious. “By the way, how’s Old Man Zhang’s son?”
Yu Zhi Yi hesitated, her silence telling. Red Luan quickly waved her off. “Never mind. I’d rather find out later. Let’s not ruin the moment.”
Red Luan’s intuition told her the news wasn’t good, perhaps even tragic. She preferred to delay the inevitable, much like one clings to life itself despite its finite nature.
The next day, Yu Zhi Yi donned plain clothes and prepared to visit the charity. As she left Breeze Pavilion, she found Du Zi Heng waiting outside. His handsome face lit up with a warm smile. “Heading to the charity? Let me take you.”
“Don’t you have work at the Ministry of Personnel?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s still early,” he replied. “I’ll head in later. No rush for an eighth-rank official like me.”
Yu Zhi Yi frowned. “If you want to see us find Old Man Zhang’s son, you’ll need to skip work entirely. He’s not in Sheng Capital, and we’ll be gone for half the day.”
Disappointment flickered across Du Zi Heng’s face. “I see. Then I’ll just drop you off and head to work.”
Before she could decline, Chancellor Du unexpectedly returned. Spotting the two at the gate, he asked, “What are you two doing here?”
“Zhi Yi is heading to the charity. I was about to escort her,” Du Zi Heng explained.
Chancellor Du slapped his forehead. “Ah, I almost forgot. With all the commotion yesterday, many people will visit the charity today. You should go with her to help maintain order.”
Yu Zhi Yi sighed inwardly. Remembering Du Zi Heng’s skills, she decided against further objections. A competent bodyguard wasn’t the worst thing to have on a chaotic day.