Chapter 143

Chapter 143: She Is Mine Alone

Arrogant Yu Pan’er did not take Yu Zhi Yi’s kind warning to heart. Leaving Windward Pavilion, she happened to see Li Rou returning from outside. Li Rou wore a neatly tailored dress. You could still tell it was a maid’s uniform from the Chancellor’s Manor, but the hairpins on her head were delicate, and her once rough face was now smooth and fine. Her lips were rosy, her teeth white, and her eyes bright. Her energy was good. One look showed she had lived well lately.

Seeing Yu Pan’er, Li Rou brightened and said: “Sister Pan’er.”

Zi Yuan, Li Rou, Yu Pan’er, and Zhang Xiang had all come from Yu Manor as dowry maids. At first, Yu Zhi Yi had only one first-class maid, Zi Yuan, and one second-class maid, Yu Pan’er, while Zhang Xiang and Li Rou were third-class rough maids. Now, with Zi Yuan away handling matters and Yu Pan’er sent to learn stewardship, Li Rou had been promoted to second-class maid. Although she was still second-class, when Zi Yuan was not present, Li Rou was the mistress’s reliable helper.

Li Rou had little scheming and no urge to compete. Besides, even if she wanted to compare, she could not compare with Yu Pan’er. In her mind, Yu Pan’er was studying to steward; once she succeeded, she would help Miss manage the household and become a trusted auntie. That was not the same as an ordinary maid. Li Rou felt no jealousy. Because the four of them all came from Yu Manor, she felt a special closeness to the other three. When they did well, she was happy for them.

Sadly, Yu Pan’er did not appreciate it. Yu Pan’er stared at Li Rou’s clothing for a while, then asked sharply: “Is that dress made by Splendid Brocade Workshop?”

Li Rou answered honestly: “Yes. Miss ordered them for us at Splendid Brocade Workshop.”

Although a silver-ranked seamstress had made them, such treatment already surpassed that of all the maids in the Capital. Even palace maids might not wear clothing from Splendid Brocade Workshop. Miss had also given Li Rou quite a few hair ornaments and cosmetics. Most important, her monthly silver had risen from two taels to five taels. How could she not love such a good Miss?

Yu Pan’er’s gaze turned sharp: “So it really is from Splendid Brocade Workshop.” Sourness filled her heart. She demanded: “What did you do to make the Young Madam so generous? And Zi Yuan agreed to this?”

Everyone in Yu Manor knew Zi Yuan was not a servant of the manor but of Yu Zhi Yi herself. Years ago, Yu Zhi Yi had snuck out and brought back a little beggar, begging Madam Yu to keep him. Madam Yu disliked how dark and skinny the child was and did not want to keep him. Worse, she found out Yu Zhi Yi often slipped out, so she punished Yu Zhi Yi hard and ordered her to drive the beggar away herself. At that time, the truth about the real and fake daughters had just come out, and Madam Yu’s anger at Yu Zhi Yi was high. She said if Yu Zhi Yi could not bear to part with the beggar, then she could leave Yu Manor with him.

That day, Yu Zhi Yi stared at Madam Yu for a long time and slowly said “fine.” Then she packed and left Yu Manor holding the little beggar’s hand. She was gone for seven days and took nothing from Yu Manor except the clothes on her back. Later, the Yu clan found them in a ruined temple outside the city. Seeing how determined Yu Zhi Yi was, they compromised and allowed the beggar to stay. That little beggar was Zi Yuan.

Even so, Zi Yuan did not belong to Yu Manor. Eleven-year-old Yu Zhi Yi said Zi Yuan’s food, clothes, and all expenses would be paid by her, and Yu Manor did not need to spend extra. Yu Manor agreed. So Zi Yuan belonged to no one but Yu Zhi Yi. After ten years old, Yu Zhi Yi had only Zi Yuan as a close confidant, so Zi Yuan’s place in her heart was special and unmatched.

Yu Pan’er’s eyes turned vicious as she snapped: “Did you trick the Young Madam while Zi Yuan was away to get all these things? You had better curb your little thoughts. If Zi Yuan comes back, she will rip your face.”

Frightened by Yu Pan’er’s look, Li Rou went pale and shook her head: “No, the rewards were given to everyone. Miss left clothes and other gifts for Sister Zi Yuan. What I have, Zhang Xiang also has. It is not only me.”

Yu Pan’er was stunned: “Zhang Xiang too? Also clothes from Splendid Brocade Workshop?”

Li Rou nodded honestly: “Yes. Miss also gave her a few bracelets and some cosmetics. It is not just mine.”

Yu Pan’er was speechless. [Is Yu Zhi Yi stupid?] She could understand Li Rou being rewarded, since Li Rou was acting as the top maid and represented her mistress’s face, so being well dressed was normal. But why Zhang Xiang? She was only a rough maid. Most important of all, why was there nothing for Yu Pan’er?

She wanted to go back and confront Yu Zhi Yi, but this time she could not even get through the door. The Talismanic Seals at the entrance blocked her. Seeing Li Rou pass through the invisible Protective Barrier with ease made Yu Pan’er’s nose twist with anger. [Yu Zhi Yi is targeting me!] She ground her teeth. It was just a few dresses and a few pieces of jewelry. She did not care. Once she became a concubine, she would have more of these than she could count.

Soon she learned that in a few days Du Zi Heng would invite friends to the manor for a gathering. Her eyes flashed. She had an idea.

Yu Zhi Yi paid no mind to Yu Pan’er’s little schemes, because she could see the girl’s death date drawing near. She had already handed her a ladder to a way out. If the other side refused to climb, there was nothing she could do.

The next day, as usual, Yu Zhi Yi went to the Ministry of Justice. Shortly after she arrived, the chief officer delivered a booklet and said: “My lady, this is from the Court of Judicial Review.”

Yu Zhi Yi nodded, opened it for a glance, then closed it. The booklet recorded how the people from the Court of Judicial Review had rushed to Lin Zhang County overnight based on the clues she provided, and they had already found the evidence. With evidence, the wrongful cases in Lin Zhang County could be overturned. Once the unjust cases were set right, the magistrate of Lin Zhang County could be convicted of dereliction of duty, taking bribes, and bending the law for personal gain. With strict questioning after that, they could surely trace the truth of how Li Feng’s wife had been abducted.

She could have gone to Lin Zhang County herself to read the magistrate’s face and see the truth, but not all evidence could be found instantly. Even if she could accurately calculate where the evidence lay, bringing it back from remote places took time. For that, she needed the power of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. After all, she was only one person. And this was their job to begin with.

A few days later, all the wrongful cases in Lin Zhang County were corrected. The real criminals were jailed, exiled, or sentenced to death, each getting what they deserved. Those who had been wronged received their long-delayed justice.

Yu Zhi Yi then pulled out a stack of old case files. She took out three copper coins and cast a divination for herself. After seeing what the hexagram showed, she sat silent for a moment, then locked the files in her cabinet again.

Li Rou watched, confused, and asked: “Miss, are we not reading case files today?”

Yu Zhi Yi hummed and said: “Something will come to us shortly. Do not read for now.” As she spoke, she wrote a note, sealed it, and handed it to Li Rou: “Go in person to the Court of Judicial Review and give this letter to the minister there, then return to the manor.”

Across the desk, the clerk’s mouth twitched. He had served for years, but it was his first time seeing someone be this relaxed while on duty. [So this is how some people work like they are out sightseeing, while I have to slog through public letters from all over the country. Hmph.]