Chapter 071

Chapter 71: Assassin

Madam Meng now hated Yu Zhi Yi’s smile. To be exact, ever since she first saw this false daughter of Yu Manor, a strange dislike had risen in her heart, even stronger than what she felt for her own useless daughter-in-law.

Yu Zhi Yi ignored what Madam Meng felt and asked Duke Yong: “My lord duke, do you remember that your sister had four personal maids named Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum?”

Duke Yong nodded and said: “I remember,” then he frowned and added: “But they were all killed by the Li Clan.”

Yu Zhi Yi said: “Yes. Around the time your sister died, all four were killed, and Madam Zhang borrowed the Li Clan’s hand to do it. But Qiu Ju had a real younger sister. At that time, because her relatives had all passed away, she came to the Capital City to rely on her sister.”

She explained: “When her sister arrived, Miss Zhang had just married into the Li Clan and was at the height of her glory. Because Qiu Ju’s sister was taken in by Miss Zhang inside the Li Clan, Madam Zhang did not know of her.”

She continued: “As Miss Zhang’s situation grew worse, Qiu Ju stayed loyal, but she did not want to drag her own sister down, so she found a reason to send her sister out of Li Manor.”

She said: “Today, Qiu Ju’s sister is working as a wet nurse for a wealthy household in Wude Township outside the Capital City. Your Majesty and my lord duke can send people to check and you will find what I say is true.”

She added in a level voice: “In Miss Zhang’s case, the direct killers were the Li Clan and her husband. But Madam Meng was the hand behind the curtain. Her guilt is no less than Li Da Lang’s. If she had not cut off Miss Zhang’s path to seek help, a woman with her natal family behind her would never have been beaten to death.”

Duke Yong shot to his feet, rage like a tide, yet he still saluted the emperor and said: “Your Majesty, this old subject must return and deal with matters at home.”

The emperor, understanding his feelings, waved his hand and said: “Go.”

Duke Yong looked coldly at Madam Meng and said: “Come,” the word squeezed out through his teeth.

Madam Meng’s face went paper white. She stood with a shiver. All at once her eyes rolled, and she fainted.

Yu Zhi Yi smiled lightly and said: “My lord duke, I can do more than tell fortunes. I can also treat illness. My silver-needle technique is excellent. If you trust me, I am willing to wake your madam with a few needles.”

Duke Yong said without thinking: “Good.”

Before Yu Zhi Yi could move, Madam Meng opened her eyes and said: “I… what happened to me just now?”

Everyone fell silent: “…”

Someone whispered that she woke very fast. Another voice, half teasing, said: “Young Madam Du has real skill!”

Yu Zhi Yi answered with a soft smile: “You praise me too much.”

Madam Meng said nothing.

At last, Duke Yong had people “support” Madam Meng as they left.

Zhang Tian Shun glared hard at Yu Jiao Jiao. Yu Jiao Jiao shivered, then looked at Yu Zhi Yi with hate.

Yu Zhi Yi showed no reaction, but members of the Yu Clan wore heartsick looks, then glared at her together.

Yu Zhi Yi glanced over the Yu Clan’s resentful faces, then smiled and said: “Father, mother, dear brothers, do you want me to read your fates too?”

The Yu Clan said nothing: “…”

With Madam Meng as a fresh lesson, they still did not believe Yu Zhi Yi truly had such skill, but none of them dared to gamble. If they lost, the price would be their faces ground into the floor.

Seeing no one step out, Yu Zhi Yi raised an eyebrow and said: “It seems everyone accepts my ability. In that case, please cooperate with me so we can perform for Your Majesty…”

Before she could finish, Yu Jiao Jiao shouted: “Your Majesty, I cannot leave. I have important matters to report!”

Today was her chance to earn merit, her one chance to shine at Duke Yong’s Manor. She would not miss it.

Zhang Tian Shun grew impatient. He grabbed her and pulled her toward the door, saying: “Shut up and stop embarrassing yourself.”

Yu Jiao Jiao struggled twice and could not break free, so she shouted louder: “Your Majesty, there are assassins in the great hall. They split into two groups and plan to slaughter Morning Splendor Hall. I know who they are. Let me stay and I can point them out one by one!”

Yu Zhi Yi’s face changed.

The great hall fell into noise and fear.

The emperor’s face sank. He ordered Zhang Tian Shun to take her away at once so she would not continue to spout nonsense.

It was already too late.

The assassins had been holding back their urge to act. If Madam Meng’s gossip had not been so tasty, they would never have waited this long.

A “palace attendant” shouted: “Rich houses stink of meat and wine, while bones freeze on the road. Kill these gluttons who bully the people!”

At that shout, the assassins moved together.

Not only the assassins hidden in the hall, but the assassins planted among the singing and dancing performers outside bared their fangs. They pulled soft swords from their clothes and stabbed their “companions.”

In moments, the hall plunged into chaos.

Sounds of fighting and screams rose again and again.

Guards stood outside, but they were still some distance away. While they rushed in to protect the throne, the assassins had already begun a massacre.

“Help!”

“Do not kill me!”

“Save me!”

Shrieks came from every side. Many men were present, but most were civil officials with no strength to bind a chicken.

There were military officers too, but they could not bring weapons into the hall. Even great generals could only dodge when it started.

In the blink of an eye, blood stained the floor. The smell of it filled the air and made people gag.

In the chaos, Yu Zhi Yi hurried back to Chancellor Du and his wife and moved to shield them, planning to hide the three of them behind a thick pillar.

Facing the sudden change, Du Zi Heng was flustered at first. But as he saw the spreading blood and the people falling, fear gave way to reason. When he lifted his eyes and saw the woman’s calm, decisive face, he felt the heat in his chest cool. Her steady calm did not fit this wild hall at all, like cool spring water poured on a fire.

He suddenly felt awkward. [I am a man who has read war books since childhood and learned riding, archery, and tactics, yet in a key moment I am not as calm as a woman.]

He said: “Father, mother, Zhi Yi, do not be afraid. I will protect you.”

After he spoke, he saw that none of the three moved.

He tried again and said: “Although there are many assassins, our spot is a blind corner that is easy to defend and hard to attack…”

Chancellor Du waved a hand to cut off his analysis and said: “Your mother and I are both wearing Yi’er’s Defensive Magical Artifact, so we will be fine. You, however, should not run out there for nothing. With your half-baked skills, you will end up full of holes.”

Du Zi Heng fell silent: “…”

He thought, [Can we have a little father-and-son love?]