Chapter 149: Yu Jian Ren Captured, Yu Ning Gui Subtly Humiliated
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The Yu Mansion.
Li Li staggered, nearly coughing up blood after being violently kicked by Yu Jian Ren. Her chest burned with unbearable pain, leaving her momentarily speechless. Yu Jian Ren stormed over, grabbed her by the collar, and delivered a flurry of slaps across her face. The harsh sound of each strike echoed in the courtyard.
“You wretched maid! How dare you offend the Fourth Young Master? This steward will beat you to death!” he bellowed.
Yu Ning Gui, though displeased by the sudden interruption of a maid charging out so recklessly, couldn’t ignore the pitiful sight of her being treated like a ragged leaf in the wind. After furrowing his brows, he finally intervened, “Enough. If you keep hitting her, you’ll kill her.”
Reluctantly, Yu Jian Ren let go. However, hidden from Yu Ning Gui’s sight, his eyes glinted with venomous malice, a warning etched deep into his stare.
Yu Ning Gui, unaware of this exchange, turned to the trembling maid. “What grievance do you bring before me?” he asked coolly.
Yu Jian Ren’s gaze darted toward Li Li, sharp as a blade. Under that cold, snake-like stare, she shivered but bit her lip, mustering courage. Her voice quivered but rang firm, “Fourth Young Master, I accuse the steward of abusing his position to violate me!”
Yu Ning Gui froze, shock flashing across his face as his eyes shifted to Yu Jian Ren, filled with doubt.
Yu Jian Ren’s expression twisted into one of utter disbelief, followed quickly by a pitiful plea. “Fourth Young Master, this servant would never! I wouldn’t dare!” He then rounded on Li Li, snarling, “Li Li! You must bear a grudge because I refused your bribe! How dare you fabricate such venomous lies to ruin me? Truly, the heart of a woman is the most poisonous!”
“What is going on here?” Yu Ning Gui’s tone sharpened, detecting discrepancies.
Taking advantage of this opening, Yu Jian Ren spun a tale without hesitation. “Fourth Young Master, you may not be aware, but this girl works in the kitchen. She finds the tasks there exhausting and asked me to assign her a different position. However, as per Madam’s regulations, roles in this household are strictly appointed according to protocol. I declined her request.”
He paused dramatically, shaking his head with a bitter smile. “She then tried to bribe me, but how could this servant take such disgraceful money? I sternly admonished her to focus on proper work and not dream of shortcuts. Who would have guessed that not only did she ignore my advice, but she now accuses me falsely?”
Turning to Yu Ning Gui with a pained expression, he pleaded, “Fourth Young Master, you know this servant’s character. How could I dare commit such atrocities?”
Yu Ning Gui, though briefly skeptical, found the steward’s account believable. His gaze turned icy as it landed on Li Li. “You vile wench! For your selfish desires, you dare to concoct such treacherous accusations? There is no place for someone like you in the Yu Mansion.”
He issued his verdict decisively. “Sell her off.”
“No! No!” Li Li screamed, her eyes wide with despair. She hadn’t expected her plea for justice to backfire so drastically. “Fourth Young Master, I swear I’m telling the truth! I have evidence!”
But Yu Ning Gui had already turned his back, unwilling to listen further.
Behind him, Yu Jian Ren revealed a sinister smile. Leaning close to Li Li, he hissed in a low voice, “You wretched girl. If you won’t drink the toast offered, you’ll be forced to swallow punishment instead. Get ready to serve the filthiest men in the lowest brothel.”
Li Li shuddered violently. The mere thought of such a fate plunged her into despair.
Desperately searching for an escape, her eyes landed on a jagged rock in the garden. Clenching her teeth, she steeled herself to end it all. Just as she rushed toward the rock, a sudden commotion erupted at the courtyard’s entrance. A group of constables strode in, their uniforms bearing the insignia of the Jingzhao Prefecture. The leader glanced at Yu Jian Ren and demanded, “Are you Yu Jian Ren?”
At that moment, Yu Ning Gui, having not walked far, paused. Curious about the ruckus, he retraced his steps.
Seeing the constables, Yu Ning Gui displayed a wary expression. “What are you doing here? Wasn’t the matter from last time already resolved?”
Constable Song cupped his hands politely. “Fourth Young Master Yu, you’ve misunderstood. We’re not here about the corruption case from before. This concerns an old case from years past.”
He proceeded to recount the incident from several years ago in Linzhang County, where someone from the Yu family allegedly abducted a village woman, ruining her family.
Yu Ning Gui’s first reaction was vehement denial. “Impossible! How dare you spout such nonsense? Don’t blame me for being impolite!”
Constable Song’s face darkened.
Indeed, the Yu family once held an exalted position he dared not provoke. But now, they were mere commoners. How dare they try to intimidate him?
“This matter was brought to light when the Court of Judicial Review reopened old cases in Linzhang County. The County Magistrate himself confirmed it. We’re not here to cause trouble without reason,” he said coldly. “We’d like to trouble you to bring out the Eldest Young Master Yu.”
Yu Ning Gui’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re saying my eldest brother was the one who committed such an act? That’s absolutely impossible!”
Constable Song, losing patience, presented the investigation order. “If the Fourth Young Master continues to obstruct us, don’t blame us for taking action.”
The words left Yu Ning Gui flustered.
He understood that once an investigation order was produced, further resistance could result in him being arrested for obstructing justice. Reluctantly, he sent someone to summon Yu Meng Qin.
Fortunately, Yu Meng Qin was home.
Before long, the Eldest Young Master arrived at the entrance. On his way there, he had already been briefed on the situation and found it utterly absurd.
After listening to Constable Song’s explanation, his usually composed face turned even grimmer. “Constable Song, may I ask, how do you view my appearance?”
Constable Song was momentarily taken aback but then scrutinized Yu Meng Qin’s face. “Eldest Young Master Yu is strikingly handsome, with an extraordinary presence.”
Yu Meng Qin continued, “And what about my status at the time?”
A few years ago, Minister Yu was at the height of his power.
“Naturally, you held unparalleled influence, and none could oppose you,” Constable Song replied.
Yu Meng Qin nodded. “I possess looks, power, and wealth. Do you think there’s any kind of woman I couldn’t have? Why would I need to forcefully abduct a village woman? Furthermore, even if I had lost my mind and was infatuated with such a woman, wouldn’t I have handled it discreetly?”
The argument was compelling.
Constable Song couldn’t help but agree. “Eldest Young Master Yu, you’ve misunderstood. We’re not here to arrest you. The person responsible is Yu Jian Ren, who impersonated you to commit the crime.”
“We’ve summoned you merely to inform you. After all, he accompanied you to Linzhang County and stayed in the County Magistrate’s residence under your name.”
The crowd fell silent.
Yu Ning Gui was stunned. “What?”
He turned to Yu Jian Ren in shock.
Yu Jian Ren vehemently denied the accusations, crying injustice. But the evidence was irrefutable.
Even though Yu Meng Qin was no longer the Eldest Young Master of the Minister’s Mansion and held no official position, he had no authority to interfere with the Court of Judicial Review’s investigation. Most importantly, seeing the damning evidence Constable Song presented, he had no intention of shielding Yu Jian Ren.
Because…
Back then, Yu Jian Ren had abducted the woman under the guise of being the Eldest Young Master Yu!
At that moment, Yu Meng Qin was furious beyond measure.
Yu Ning Gui, on the other hand, felt a burning shame, as though an invisible hand had slapped him across the face. He had nearly become an accomplice to a criminal.
If this matter had been exposed after he had achieved a scholarly title, his reputation would have plummeted, and years of effort might have been ruined. The thought enraged him, and he kicked Yu Jian Ren in fury. “You scoundrel! How dare you!”
Yet he conveniently ignored the fact that when Li Li had claimed to have evidence, he had never even asked to see it.
As Yu Jian Ren was shackled and taken to the Court of Judicial Review, Yun Zhi Yi sat with Li Feng in a secluded booth on the second floor of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, quietly observing the scene.