Chapter 094

Chapter 94: Belief and Doubt

Prince Xiao Yao looked at the rough little altar, anger darkening his handsome face as he said: “Imperial Elder Brother, this woman is a fraud. How can you let her do as she pleases?”

The Emperor frowned and explained what Yu Zhi Yi had said about the urgent timing. That also explained why he was so anxious. He feared that if they delayed, his own mother would truly be in danger.

Prince Xiao Yao gave a cold laugh and said: “This is the usual trick of swindlers from the martial world. Imperial Elder Brother, you do not walk the martial world, so you do not know their ways. They love to take something small and make it sound huge so the victim panics.”

He added with scorn: “Once a person panics, they grab at any cure. Then they fall into the trap.”

The Emperor thought it over and realized his own change of mood did follow the urgency she had created. He frowned and said: “Minister Yu, speak.”

Yu Zhi Yi sighed inwardly [time is truly tight], then said: “I still say the same thing: time is short. Every moment we waste adds to the Empress Dowager’s danger…”

She did not finish, because a shout cut her off. Minister Yu snapped, voice sharp with anger, as he said: “Enough, unfilial girl. Stop spreading fear!”

He glared at her and said: “Do not think a few shallow tricks let you play games before Your Majesty. This is not children playing house. Her Highness the Empress Dowager’s body is not for you to toy with!”

He and Madam Yu had met Prince Xiao Yao at the gates of the Imperial Palace. They were not here for the same person, yet it was the same matter. Prince Xiao Yao did not believe Yu Zhi Yi had the skill. The Yu couple did not believe it either.

As for fortune-telling, anyone who learned a little could talk a good game. But clearing a malevolent spirit and curing illness could not be done with scraps of learning.

When he heard Yu Zhi Yi planned to set up an altar to perform an exorcism for the Empress Dowager, Minister Yu nearly choked. He thought with fury: reckless. Far too reckless.

Now he regretted it deeply. If he had known this adopted daughter would cause so much trouble, he would never have kept her back then. His promotion had already been certain at the time. Even if he had driven her out, at most people would gossip, and it would not change the outcome.

He never expected one foolish choice would brew a disaster. If this unfilial girl’s tricks were exposed, it would ruin not only the Du Clan but also the Yu Clan.

Yu Zhi Yi looked at him coolly and said: “I am not being reckless. I told you more than once that I learned real skills. You chose not to believe me and called the cases I used as proof fake and staged.”

Madam Yu spoke with open disappointment as she said: “You are a sheltered miss from the women’s quarters. You never formally apprenticed to any master. How could you have real skill?”

The always quiet Consort Yu showed surprise for the first time as she said: “So Yi’er cannot do exorcisms? I heard you speak so firmly, I thought your skill was outstanding.” Her face turned to disapproval as she added: “Since you do not have this ability, how dare you make bold promises before Your Majesty?”

With a heavy thump, Madam Yu dropped to her knees and said: “Your Majesty, Yu Zhi Yi acted on her own. This has nothing to do with the Yu Clan. Years ago our whole family was fooled by her mother. When the truth came out, her mother killed herself out of fear and shame. I pitied the child who had no one and kept her.”

She wept and said: “But this child has always had a vicious temper. She likes to lie and bully others. We tried every method, yet we could not correct her. I never thought she would dare to deceive before the throne today. Your Majesty, this matter is not related to the Yu Clan. Please judge clearly.”

Yu Zhi Yi looked coldly at these so-called relatives. It was worthy of a family. Without any planning together, they still made the same decision when things turned bad: throw the blame onto her.

As long as she carried the blame alone, even the trouble with Yu Jiao Jiao might be pinned on her head.

This scene had not happened in her past life. After she married, she followed Zhang Tian Shun to the battlefield. When they returned, his military merit raised her to marchioness. Later, when Zhang Tian Shun turned thirty-five, she became a duchess. A few years after that, Zhang Tian Shun was made a non-royal prince for his victories, and she became a princess consort.

These people had always disliked her even while using her. Yet because of her rank, they never dared to say anything too nasty. To keep up a kind face or because of her status, either way, they had never drawn such a hard line in public.

She thought she would feel sad. She touched her chest and found only calm as she thought: [I do not feel hurt at all. It is even a little funny.]

Not far away, a haze of black qi slowly spread across the Empress Dowager’s face.

Yu Zhi Yi spoke faintly as she said: “I repeat: I am not lying. Her Highness has been invaded by evil qi. If we do not begin at once, things will spiral out of control.”

“Silence,” Minister Yu roared as he said: “Unfilial girl, are you still this stubborn?”

Anger burned in his chest, yet he also felt a twisted joy. The more stubborn this unfilial girl was and the more she defied them, the better it would be for the Yu family.

He pointed at her and said: “If you dare speak nonsense again, do not call me father.”

Yu Zhi Yi saw through his plan at once. What a tidy abacus. They would push her up onto the fire, then use the chance to cut ties with her. Afterward they could shift all the blame and keep Yu Jiao Jiao clean. If the Empress Dowager truly had an accident, it would have nothing to do with the Yu Clan. All the responsibility and trouble would land on Yu Zhi Yi and the Du family. The beads of that abacus were about to bounce into her face.

Suddenly a palace attendant hurried in to report that Chancellor Du, his wife, and Du Zi Heng had arrived.

Yu Jiao Jiao’s eyes lit up. They were here to cut ties with that wretch, right? The thought of watching that woman lose every ally made her tremble with excitement. Her back stopped aching, her legs stopped hurting, and strength filled her limbs.

Yu Zhi Yi also looked toward the doors of the hall.

In a short while, the three members of the Du Clan reached the threshold. Chancellor Du had clearly heard what was happening. In his worry, he did not even care if the Emperor would suspect how a chancellor learned palace news. He knelt and raised his voice as he said: “Your Majesty, Yi’er would never speak without cause.”

Madam Yao said urgently as she said: “Your Majesty, the most important thing now is to let Yi’er perform the exorcism for Her Highness at once. If we are late, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Du Zi Heng did not speak, but since he did not object, it showed he stood with his parents.

Yu Zhi Yi was stunned.

The Yu Clan was also surprised.

Yu Jiao Jiao ground her teeth in hatred, especially when she saw Du Zi Heng cast a worried look at Yu Zhi Yi. She almost bit through her silver-white teeth. She raged in her heart: [Scumbag.] In the last life, whenever something happened to her, his first reaction was to doubt her. Yet now he did not even ask questions and had chosen to believe that impostor. Why?

Minister Yu also found it unbelievable as he said: “Chancellor Du, do not be foolish. Yu Zhi Yi may be able to tell fortunes, but that little trick can be learned by anyone who reads the Book of Changes. What we face now is not just talk. It involves-”

Chancellor Du cut him off impatiently as he said: “I am not blind. I can see whether Yi’er has real ability or is just showing off. In short, I believe her.”

The Emperor watched the farce with a cold face, then finally looked at Yu Zhi Yi as he said: “Official Yu, speak.”

Yu Zhi Yi did not try to argue. For some people, whatever she said would be labeled lies. She only sighed as she said: “We are running out of time.”