Chapter 116: Under the Guise of “For Your Own Good”
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Outside the Graceful Phoenix Charity, a crowd had already gathered.
Among them were many who had come simply out of curiosity. After all, from ancient times, it was unheard of for anyone to willingly spend their own money to aid the downtrodden, save for the occasional charity porridge during famine years.
Such an altruistic act in a time of peace naturally drew skepticism. There were also those in dire need, cautiously observing the proceedings. The world is full of people who have nowhere to turn for help, even abandoned by the imperial court.
For them, if such a place truly existed—one willing to listen to their struggles, grievances, and injustices—it would be nothing short of paradise.
Yu Zhi Yi observed the throng of people, layer upon layer surrounding the entrance, and silently noted that there were still too few guards. Fortunately, the crowd was merely here for the spectacle. And Yu Zhi Yi herself was the spectacle they sought. Upon seeing her arrival, the crowd parted to make way, allowing her to pass smoothly.
Red Luan had, for the moment, set aside her usual duties. Today, she wore a simple… men’s outfit, complete with two small fake mustaches. Standing amidst the charity’s team, she was surprisingly inconspicuous. However, Du Zi Heng spotted her immediately and fell into contemplation.
It seemed his wife and this Red Luan girl were indeed on very close terms.
Old Man Zhang had been craning his neck toward the entrance countless times. Upon seeing Yu Zhi Yi finally arrive, he hobbled forward eagerly.
“My lord, where is my son?!” he cried.
“We are setting out to find him now,” Yu Zhi Yi replied.
“Good! Good!” Old Man Zhang nodded fervently.
Yu Zhi Yi glanced at the noisy crowd outside and spoke calmly. “We will be heading out of the city to search for someone. We should return by noon. If you are curious about the outcome, you may come back to check later.”
“For now, both the charity and the nearby shops need to continue business as usual. Everyone, please disperse.”
“Those seeking assistance but unsure if they qualify may step inside to inquire. Staff are available to help. However, our manpower is limited, so please proceed one by one.”
“As for those who do not meet the criteria, I urge you not to feel disappointed. After all, those eligible for help are truly unfortunate souls. To not qualify is, in itself, a blessing.”
As the crowd thinned, Yu Zhi Yi instructed someone to help Old Man Zhang into the carriage. It was his first time riding one, and he sat stiffly, nervous about dirtying such a fine object.
The carriage rolled forward, followed by several swift horses carrying six charity workers.
Red Luan had suggested that since this was the charity’s first operation, its members, unfamiliar with such work, needed firsthand experience. Yu Zhi Yi thus brought them along.
Du Zi Heng lifted the curtain and glanced behind them, his brows knitting together. “Quite a few onlookers are trailing us.”
They were affluent idlers of the capital, eager to make this rare spectacle their entertainment.
Yu Zhi Yi was not surprised. Before setting out, she had cast a divination, which revealed the word “change.”
This indicated that today’s outcome was not set in stone. The variable, she surmised, lay in those spectators.
And also…
She said coolly, “Ignore them. What you should be concerned with is You Bing Yue.”
Du Zi Heng started. “Bing Yue? She’s here too?”
Lifting the curtain again, he scanned the following groups but saw no sign of You Bing Yue.
Yu Zhi Yi pointed toward a tree. “See that tree over there? Behind its shadow. That’s where she is.”
Following her finger, Du Zi Heng spotted the tree, large enough to conceal a slender figure completely.
“Now, please disembark and escort her back to the city,” Yu Zhi Yi instructed.
While the other onlookers posed no threat, You Bing Yue was a wildcard. In every situation she’d appeared, smooth operations had unraveled into chaos—whether it was the assassin incident or Wu Liang’s attempted murder of Old Man Zhang.
Had Yu Zhi Yi not employed her most guarded abilities to deduce Wu Liang’s history without his exact birthdate, exploiting a weakness to trick him into revealing his identity, yesterday’s matter might have dragged on interminably.
Wu Liang, as cunning as he was ruthless, would have escaped, leaving behind untold trouble. His murderous tendencies and jealousy made him dangerous, and Yu Zhi Yi feared he might harm Miss Feng before fleeing.
The forced divination had drained much of her spiritual energy. Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao rewarded her with merit, not only replenishing her reserves but also elevating her cultivation. Otherwise, she would have been incensed.
Du Zi Heng, ever protective of his love, argued, “Bing Yue is highly skilled. If she accompanies us, she could lend a hand if needed. She probably means no harm and just wants to watch the excitement…”
Yu Zhi Yi’s expression turned icy. “Young Master Du, committing misdeeds out of malice isn’t the only way to do wrong. Doing harmful things under the guise of ‘for your own good’ is equally despicable, and even more revolting!”
“Take yesterday, for instance. If not for her impulsive actions, there wouldn’t have been a cascade of trouble. Yes, she acted out of goodwill and saved Old Man Zhang. But because of her ‘good intentions,’ I expended a significant amount of spiritual energy. Can you or she compensate for that?”
“Today’s task is one even I’m not fully confident about. I refuse to allow an unstable factor to follow. If you don’t remove her, I will. And my methods won’t be gentle. If someone gets hurt, you’ll have no right to call me ruthless.”
Du Zi Heng was left speechless. With his intelligence, he could see clearly. Given Wu Liang had destroyed all evidence, the best course of action had indeed been to catch him in the act of murder. In truth, without Yu Zhi Yi’s extraordinary skills in uncovering Wu Liang’s past, they would have been powerless to detain him and would have had to watch him walk free.
Still, Du Zi Heng was reluctant to let Bing Yue be labeled a “troublemaker.” Softly, he pleaded, “I will personally watch over her and ensure she does nothing rash. Would that suffice?”
“Not at all.”
With a flick of her wrist, Yu Zhi Yi produced a talisman. “This is a Lightning Talisman. Wherever I point it, lightning will strike.”
“I’ll go fetch her!”
As his words fell, Du Zi Heng vanished from the carriage.