Chapter 105

Chapter 105: Are You Robbing Me?

Yu Zhi Yi acted as if she had not noticed the commotion outside. She used a handkerchief to wipe the ash from her palm and said calmly: “A single Transfer Talisman costs at least five hundred taels. I should bill Prince Xiao Yao for that.”

The Empress Dowager had summoned Yu Zhi Yi today for Prince Xiao Yao.

After that incident, Prince Xiao Yao lay paralyzed in bed. His entire lower body had lost feeling. He could not stand or move on his own, and he could not even sit up without help.

Though the imperial physicians said it was human-inflicted trauma, the Empress Dowager stubbornly believed demonic entities were involved and that mystic arts could fix it.

So she sent for Yu Zhi Yi.

Prince Xiao Yao found his imperial mother’s thinking absurd.

Never mind whether that woman’s mystic arts could cure anyone. Even if they could, how could she be kind enough to help?

Still, he did not try to stop it.

[Wouldn’t it be a joke if a master who can predict others’ fortune could not foresee her own death? The Capital City could laugh for years.]

Then he heard the announcements: “The Empress Dowager arrives, His Majesty arrives, Official Yu arrives!”

Prince Xiao Yao thought: “…”

[That woman is fine?]

Not until he saw Yu Zhi Yi standing before him without a scratch did he admit that the men he sent were useless.

Yu Zhi Yi was not only unhurt; not even the hem of her robe was torn.

Prince Xiao Yao hid the gloom in his eyes.

Yu Zhi Yi smiled bright and greeted him: “Greetings, prince.”

At that moment, the emperor and Empress Dowager were walking ahead of Yu Zhi Yi, so only Prince Xiao Yao saw her smile.

Some palace attendants also noticed, but Prince Xiao Yao cared about his face. He knew Yu Zhi Yi was mocking him. He would not embarrass himself by complaining, and he swallowed the anger.

The Empress Dowager said: “Official Yu, I called you here to see if Prince Xiao Yao still has any evil energy on him.”

Prince Xiao Yao felt scorn in his heart, but he was always gentle and polite in public, so he said nothing.

He did not look at Yu Zhi Yi.

He was handsome and mild in bearing. With his eyes lowered, he looked like a melancholy beauty.

Why melancholy?

Naturally because he might never walk again.

The Empress Dowager filled in the scene herself, imagining a son whose spirit was wounded by his injuries. She ached for him and grew urgent: “Official Yu, if you can cure Prince Xiao Yao, I will reward you handsomely.”

The emperor added: “You cleansed the Empress Dowager of a malevolent spirit last time, and I still have not rewarded you. If you can truly cure Prince Xiao Yao, I will double your reward.”

Prince Xiao Yao frowned. [Imperial Mother and Imperial Brother are letting this woman lead them by the nose.]

Yu Zhi Yi seemed not to see the prince’s sarcasm or resistance. She said evenly: “Your Highness, Your Majesty, I can. But the prince’s injury is severe. It will cost me a great deal of effort and money.”

She could cure him today. If he suffered another “accident” in a few days, that would not be her problem.

After severing ties with the Yu clan, her heart grew calmer. She valued even more the Heavenly Secret Sect’s way: I act as my heart wills.

The Empress Dowager and the emperor both brightened. The emperor waved his hand: “Do not worry. I will not let you suffer a loss.”

Prince Xiao Yao finally could not hold back: “Official Yu, this prince remembers you are skilled in mystic arts, not medicine. This prince already invited Daoist Master Yun Qing Zi of Dragon-Tiger Mountain. The daoist master said there is no malevolent spirit on this prince. The reason I cannot walk is a severe injury to my waist.”

He added: “Are you saying Daoist Master Yun Qing Zi was wrong?”

Yu Zhi Yi had joined the Heavenly Secret Sect at seven and had been there ten years. Though she had used a false name among the common folk and had not studied the wider mystic world in detail, she had heard of Dragon-Tiger Mountain as the orthodox Mystic Sect.

The common people knew the name but not the details. She herself did not know who Yun Qing Zi was, but…

She said: “This Master Yun Qing Zi is not wrong. The prince’s condition has nothing to do with malevolent spirits. It is simply an injury.”

Prince Xiao Yao seized on it and turned to the Empress Dowager and the emperor: “Imperial Mother, Imperial Brother, you see! She admits she is lying!”

If any other part of him could move, he would have jumped up.

Sadly, he could not.

So his sudden head turn and the way he tried to lift his chin looked abrupt.

The Empress Dowager and the emperor both frowned. The emperor said nothing, and the Empress Dowager asked Yu Zhi Yi: “Official Yu, what do you mean?”

Yu Zhi Yi explained to the Empress Dowager while giving Prince Xiao Yao a mocking look: “Daoist learning is not only ‘mountain arts.’ They also study medicine, fate calculation, physiognomy, and divination.”

Her lips curved: “I am not especially gifted, but besides mountain arts, physiognomy, and divination, I have also studied medicine. I do not practice like ordinary physicians. I heal by using mystic arts.”

Prince Xiao Yao’s brows knit.

He really did not want to admit the woman had any skill.

He also did not believe she truly meant to cure him.

But what if?

What if she had to obey imperial authority and treat him?

There were many talented people in the world. The old daoists of Dragon-Tiger Mountain were gifted, yet even they could not overrule the human throne.

As the Son of Heaven and guardian of order, the emperor commanded their submission.

Yu Zhi Yi likely would as well.

No one wanted to be bedridden forever, least of all Prince Xiao Yao.

His face and graceful bearing had charmed many women.

He did not want to lie in bed for life, dealing with filth every day.

Yu Zhi Yi saw Prince Xiao Yao’s shifting expression and smiled more.

[Asking someone you hate for help must be hard for a man as proud as you.]

So she asked: “Prince, will you choose to trust me?”

Prince Xiao Yao thought: “…”

So-called striking at the heart was nothing more than this.

He closed his eyes.

He wanted to say he did not believe.

But a voice inside shouted: [Do not say it. Do not you dare. What if she can cure you, and you give her a reason to refuse? Then you can forget standing ever again.]

At last, he opened his eyes and said coldly: “I believe.”

That single word circled again and again, each turn full of resentment toward Yu Zhi Yi.

Yu Zhi Yi did not mind. She nodded slightly: “I always take payment first. Please prepare 11,500 taels of silver.”

Prince Xiao Yao was stunned: “Are you robbing me?”