Chapter 211

Chapter 211: Excuse Me

Princess Consort Ping looked at the talisman paper for a long time, then said coldly, “I am a bit short on silver lately, so I won’t buy it for now. If I need it later, I will send someone to ask for it. I hope Official Yu can hold some for me.”

Yu Zhi Yi smiled at her and said, “All right.”

She had heard from Madam Yao that Princess Consort Ping’s family was backed by the Grand General Yuan Wei, a first-rank military officer, with more yearly rewards than one could count.

And when Princess Consort Ping married, her dowry in silver alone reached several hundred thousand taels.

How could she be short on money?

But Yu Zhi Yi was not angry; she was a little pleased.

There are too many women trapped in love, and few find a happy ending. In her view, it matters more to protect yourself and treat yourself well.

By the time everything was done, it was evening. Yu Zhi Yi returned to Yiluan Charity.

She had just stepped into the shop when Steward Wu rushed in behind her and reported, “Owner, Lian Yong Chao’s injuries are stable now, and I also learned what happened.”

This time Lian Yong Chao and his team were headed to a household with the surname Jiang.

The Jiang clan now had only a widow and an orphan: the widow’s surname was Li, and she was deaf and mute. She had no way to make a living and survived by picking discarded vegetable leaves at the market.

Summer was not so bad. But in winter, when no one sold fresh vegetables on the street, she lived on the dried greens she had sun-dried in the summer.

Her child was named Jiang Xiaohua. She was already three years old but still had never spoken a word.

Neighbors said Jiang Xiaohua had inherited the mute illness from Madam Li and was born unable to speak.

During the first round of checks by the Investigation Unit, they noticed the mother and daughter’s situation. But it was summer then, and compared to others who needed help even more, their case could wait, so it was set aside.

When most of the other work was nearly done, they remembered this pair.

Thinking about how the two lived on leftovers, and how the weather had turned cold, Steward Wu feared they might not survive the winter if no one helped. So he sent people over to try to settle aid for them.

Actually, it wasn’t the first visit. Today was the third time.

The first two times, no one was home. It seemed Madam Li had taken her child out to beg.

Today, before they even reached the house, they were beaten up.

Steward Wu said, “Owner, I’ve reported it to the authorities. I believe those thugs will be caught soon. Lian Yong Chao’s injuries count as work-related, and I’ve worked out compensation with him. He has no objections.”

“But about Madam Li and her daughter…”

Those men looked strange. Calling it random violence sounded far-fetched.

They didn’t rob money or try to kill. They just targeted three people for a beating. The goal was too clear.

Steward Wu said with worry, “Madam Li is deaf and mute, but she is rather pretty. I’m afraid someone with background has set eyes on her.”

Besides that, he could think of no reason.

After all, the Jiang clan had nothing.

Yu Zhi Yi said, “I’ll go there myself in a bit.”

Even if Madam Li had taken her daughter out to beg, it was late now. They should be home.

The weather was getting colder. In the Capital City’s winter, staying outside could mean freezing to death.

Steward Wu said, “I’ll go find two men to come along.”

Yu Zhi Yi had been about to say no, but then thought that if Madam Li agreed to accept help, they might need to bring her over and pack her things. So she agreed.

Soon, Yu Zhi Yi arrived near the place where the mother and child lived.

It was a small, broken, tile-roofed house, even more run-down than the other houses on North Outskirts Street. You could spot it right away without trying.

What made it stand out even more, besides how shabby it looked, were the several big, burly men standing guard in front of it.

Li Da Shi had been beaten earlier that morning, and he recognized two of those men at a glance. He hurriedly said to Yu Zhi Yi, “Owner, those are the thugs! They came back!”

He was both nervous and worried.

He was nervous about a fight breaking out, and worried about Madam Li and her little girl.

Yu Zhi Yi frowned and said, “Li Da Shi, go report this to Jing Prefecture.”

Li Da Shi’s eyes lit up.

These men were fierce, but even they had to follow the capital’s rules.

With Jing Prefecture’s protection, maybe nothing would go wrong.

He said, “Owner, please wait for me. Let’s go in after the people from Jing Prefecture get here.”

Yu Zhi Yi glanced at the broken house. If they waited for Jing Prefecture to arrive, it might be too late.

She did not answer, and Li Da Shi took her silence as agreement.

As soon as he left, Yu Zhi Yi walked straight toward the little brick house.

Tian Meng Da was stunned and said, “O-owner? Weren’t we going to wait for Jing Prefecture before going in?”

Yu Zhi Yi did not look back and said, “If you’re afraid, you can wait here.”

Tian Meng Da had never seen Yu Zhi Yi take action. He had only heard rumors that their owner was very capable.

But he could not figure it out. She was a woman. How strong could she be?

Watching Yu Zhi Yi’s back grow smaller as she walked away, he struggled inside.

If he followed, he might not make it home today.

If he didn’t follow…

He grit his teeth and ran after her, saying, “Owner, wait for me! I’ll protect you!”

Yu Zhi Yi gave him a puzzled look and said nothing.

Inside the wrecked little house.

A middle-aged man in silk pinned a thin woman against the only table and laughed in a low, nasty voice, saying, “Little wench, it’s your blessing that I want you. I don’t care that you’re poor and dirty, so don’t you dare play hard to get.”

“As long as you come with me and behave, you’ll eat well and live well every day. Your daughter will wear fine clothes and live like the rich. Isn’t that better than hiding in this dump?”

The woman could not speak and could not even understand his words, but she knew he meant harm.

She fought with all her strength, trying to push him away.

But she was too weak.

She clenched her teeth so hard that her lips bled.

Even when she used every bit of strength, she could not beat him. Despairing, she shook her head.

[No… no… My daughter is here. I can’t let her see something this dirty. If I die, will this evil man stop? Will my daughter be spared from seeing this filth?]

Just as Madam Li decided to bite her tongue and end her life, an airy female voice came from the doorway and said, “Excuse me.”

Madam Li could not hear the words, but she felt the tight door open and a rush of cold wind pour in.