Chapter 032

Chapter 32: Good Advice Cannot Persuade a Doomed Ghost

Song Xi Yuan stepped into a house.

The house sat on Luo Yang Street, where many officials lived. Its outside was not fancy and the spot was not good, which showed the owner was an official of low rank.

He pushed the door open and went straight to the main room.

A boy of about seven or eight lay on the bed.

His wrists and ankles were tied to the bedposts, like a criminal about to be torn apart by horses.

A rag stuffed his mouth, and his eyes were swollen from crying.

When he saw Song Xi Yuan return, he tried to curl up in fear. But his tied hands and feet would not let him, so he could only stare helplessly as the frightening man came closer, and more tears ran down his face.

Song Xi Yuan pulled a kitchen knife from behind his back. His old face twisted into a cruel grin as he said: “Brat, blame your father for being heartless. Because of him my son died a wrongful death.”

He hissed, voice shaking with hate: “He killed my son, so I will kill his son.”

He leaned close and spoke in a low, cold tone: “Do not worry about me. They think kidnappers from Yanwu Slope took you. After I kill you, I will dump you at Yanwu Slope. Then everyone will think those kidnappers did it, and no one will suspect me.”

Huang Ping An’s face was wet with snot and tears. When the man raised the knife high, fear swallowed him whole.

Just as the blade was about to fall on Huang Ping An’s neck, the door crashed open. The sudden bang made the attacker flinch for a heartbeat.

A Chancellor’s Manor Guard shot forward, kicked the knife from his hand, then kicked him again so hard that he sprawled on the floor, arms and legs spread.

Yu Zhi Yi came in, picked up the knife, and cut the ropes on Huang Ping An’s hands and feet. Then she flicked her wrist and tossed the knife. It buried itself in the floor right in front of Song Xi Yuan.

The knife fell so close it almost touched his nose. He nearly had his face split open. No one had to say a word; he was scared so badly he peed himself. For real.

Madam Huang held back her nausea, hugged her little nephew tight, and soothed him for a long time. She also sent people to report the crime to Jing Prefecture.

After that, there was nothing more for Yu Zhi Yi to do. The warm reunions of aunt and nephew, mother and son, did not suit her, so she quietly led her people back to the Chancellor’s Manor.

As soon as Madam Yao heard she was back, she dropped Chancellor Du, who had finally stolen a short rest at home, and hurried over.

Chancellor Du said: “…”

Madam Yao did not notice her husband’s wounded look. When she reached the Windward Pavilion she skipped all small talk and asked: “Yi’er, how did it go?”

Yu Zhi Yi said: “We already found the child. We were in time, so he was not hurt. We also caught the man while he was doing it. With both the person and the weapon there, he has no way to deny it.”

This man was clever. He hid Huang Ping An on his own bedroom bed. That way, even if the Huang family traced the boy there, he could lie that he found the child fainted outside and brought him to his room to treat him.

If they had not caught him in the act, the case would have been hard to settle.

Yu Zhi Yi briefly told the rescue, but she did not mention You Bing Yue.

First, there was no need. Second, from the faces of the Huang family servants, she had already seen their ending.

They would not only fail. They would be hurt.

She had no interest in brewing tea, and she did not like carrying the smell of tea on her clothes.

Yu Zhi Yi did not want to step on anyone. But some people had a victim’s mind and could not help themselves.

Clutching her pierced right shoulder, You Bing Yue shouted in rage: “Wretch! She must have done it on purpose,” then fainted.

Du Zi Heng looked at the pale face of the woman he liked and felt both heartache and helplessness.

He told people to take good care of You Bing Yue, then rushed back to the Chancellor’s Manor.

It was dinner time. That very busy man, Chancellor Du, had been called into the palace again. Du Zi Heng had not come home to eat for days. So neither Madam Yao nor Yu Zhi Yi planned to wait for him.

Yu Zhi Yi was hungry. When the food came, she ate quickly.

She ate fast, but she was not rough. Her movements were neat and calm, the kind that made people feel good just watching.

Her grace also made others want to pick up their chopsticks.

Watching her, Madam Yao added half a bowl of rice for herself.

In this short time, the results from Jing Prefecture also arrived.

Song Xi Yuan had taken Huang Ping An to get back at Madam Huang’s elder brother.

Madam Huang’s elder brother worked at the Ministry of Justice. Some time ago he caught a criminal who had raped and killed a young woman.

That criminal was Song Xi Yuan’s son.

Song Xi Yuan had already paved the way for his son. As long as the boy escaped the Capital and hid for a few years, when people forgot the case, Song Xi Yuan would bring him back and claim he was a cousin’s son or a nephew to raise at home.

But just when the son was disguised and about to leave the city gate, Madam Huang’s elder brother noticed something off, grabbed him, and exposed his true identity.

The evidence was solid. Seven days later, Song Xi Yuan’s son was beheaded.

He had only this one son. A white-haired father sending off a black-haired child, he grew to hate Madam Huang’s elder brother completely.

He wanted the other man to taste the pain of losing a child.

Madam Yao let out a long sigh.

It was still early. Madam Yao pulled Yu Zhi Yi into easy talk. Most of the time Madam Yao spoke, and Yu Zhi Yi answered now and then.

She did not say much, but each answer hit the point. Madam Yao did not feel bored. In fact, she was even more interested.

Suddenly, Aunt Wen’s anxious voice sounded outside: “Young master, please let me announce you first, young master.”

Du Zi Heng did not wait to be announced. He rushed in like a gust of wind and stopped in front of Yu Zhi Yi.

After a while, Yu Zhi Yi frowned and asked: “What exactly do you want to do?”

She had thought he came to make trouble. He had charged in like a storm, and he did look fierce.

But why did he turn mute when he got close?

Right then, his eyes bulged like copper bells, and anger almost shot out of them. Yet his mouth was very obedient. He did not say a word.

Madam Yao was also confused by her son.

When she saw him rush in, she stepped in front of Yu Zhi Yi at once to shield her.

She had thought her son would suddenly go crazy, but he only glared past her and stared at Yu Zhi Yi.

It was very strange.

Du Zi Heng closed his eyes, took a long breath, and opened them again. His face was still dark, but not as angry as before.

He spoke in a cold voice: “You had already figured it out, hadn’t you?”

He demanded: “You had the ability to stop them. Why did you watch them walk to their deaths?”

Yu Zhi Yi found it funny and said: “For cousin-in-law’s sake I warned them. They did not listen. Do I have to kneel and beg them not to go?”

Her eyes cooled as she asked: “Perhaps young master has heard this saying, good advice cannot persuade a doomed ghost?”