Chapter 213

Chapter 213: That Rotten Eggplant Actually Has a Partner?

The silk-clad man truly was finished.

When Duke Ping Nan first heard that someone was using his name and had been caught by Yu Zhi Yi, that money-loving woman, he thought the culprit might be one of his own relatives. He had the steward questioned and learned that his rebellious son was not in the manor that day. His heart sank at once, worried that his son had caused trouble and been caught by Yu Zhi Yi.

He rushed over, only to see an unfamiliar face. A few questions later he learned this man only knew the head chef in his manor, yet dared to borrow the Duke’s Manor name to do evil, bully women, and had even caused a death. Duke Ping Nan flew into a rage on the spot and ordered the man thrown into prison.

With how badly this man had blackened the Duke’s Manor name, it was a question whether he would even live to see trial.

None of that mattered to Yu Zhi Yi now. She cared about the person behind him. She did not mean the head chef, of course, but the one who had sent this man to block Yiluan Charity from doing good.

There was no need to trouble the constables for that. From the man’s features alone, she could see the clues.

[So that’s how it is.]

As Yu Zhi Yi was thinking through the hidden hand, Duke Ping Nan’s displeased voice cut in: “Official Yu, your abilities are vast. Can’t you see that the one truly tied to that man is not this duke?”

The duke was still brooding over those ten thousand taels of silver, and his words carried a sour, mocking edge.

Yu Zhi Yi answered without bowing her head: “My lord duke, I cannot use face-reading at every moment. It burns my own spiritual energy and drains my strength. I only use it when needed.”

Duke Ping Nan made a face and muttered: “Official Yu is truly… steady.”

Calling a young woman “steady” was no praise at all. Yu Zhi Yi accepted it with a smile as she said: “I also think I am quite steady. There is nothing wrong with being steady.”

The duke looked at her oddly and grumbled: “You look more like an old person than I do, this old man.”

He shook his head and snorted: “I still don’t know what that brat saw in you that he would do business with you.” Every time that son saw his own father, he ran faster than a rabbit.

After sending the onlookers away, and with Tian Meng Da watching her with starry-eyed admiration, Yu Zhi Yi walked over to Madam Li.

While the silk-clad man was being handled, she had sent Zhang Xiang to a nearby clothing shop to buy two sets of ready-made clothes, one large and one small. Madam Li’s clothes had been torn by the silk-clad man; she had only been able to clutch her collar to keep herself covered. The little girl Jiang Xiaohua’s clothes were not torn, but they were far too thin.

The wind outside was bitter. Madam Li did not dare accept items from unknown people, but when she saw her daughter’s little face turning purple from cold, she forced down her unease and took the clothes.

She stayed silent. She had no way to express thanks, and no way to ask the questions in her heart.

Seeing how stiff and anxious she was, Yu Zhi Yi spoke softly: “Do not worry. I am not a bad person. You also heard it just now. Yiluan Charity is a charity recognized by His Majesty. We exist to help those who need help.”

Madam Li jerked her head up. She could hear?

She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but what came out was a string of muffled “mm-mm” sounds. And her ears heard nothing at all.

Yu Zhi Yi added in an even tone: “I sent my voice straight into your heart, so you could hear me. As for your deafness and muteness, I will look for a skilled physician to treat you.”

Madam Li’s eyes went wide. A voice that went straight into the heart? Only an immortal could have that kind of power, right?

[Yes. She is an immortal.]

[She tore the darkness and came to my side to help us, a mother and child with no one else.]

Madam Li fell to her knees, crying through the gag as she bowed her head to the floor again and again.

Yu Zhi Yi lifted her up and said gently: “It is late. Pack your things and go to Yiluan Charity. Your room is ready. Go back before the curfew starts, wash up, and have a good sleep.”

Jiang Xiaohua had not said a word this whole time. She could not speak, so even when her mother was being hurt, she could only wail and cry without saying a single word. When Yu Zhi Yi entered the cold, dark room like a Divine Maiden and knocked down the bad man, her crying stopped. She peeked at Yu Zhi Yi, her big eyes full of shy worship and curiosity.

Feeling the little girl’s gaze, Yu Zhi Yi turned and looked at her. The child shrank into Madam Li’s arms, but her eyes still held a small, eager light. Yu Zhi Yi reached out, patted her head, and said with a smile: “Hello, Xiaohua.”

Jiang Xiaohua’s cheeks flushed. In all her life, no one besides her mother had ever come close to her, and no one had ever smiled at her. Even her mother had never smiled, always worried or quietly crying.

For the first time, Jiang Xiaohua learned how pretty a smile could be. The Divine Maiden sister not only looked pretty and smiled pretty, she also gave her new clothes. The clothes were so warm. They covered her feet, and the numbness slowly faded as warmth returned.

After settling the mother and daughter, Yu Zhi Yi returned to Yiluan Charity.

Red Luan had come back earlier. From the steward she had learned what had happened these days, and she knew Yu Zhi Yi had gone to deal with it. She poured a cup of ginger tea to warm Yu Zhi Yi and then asked: “How did it go? Did you find anything?”

She knew that if Yu Zhi Yi took action personally, it would not be only to pick up a mother and child.

Yu Zhi Yi sipped the tea in small gulps and answered: “Someone is doing this on purpose to get revenge.”

Red Luan blinked: “Revenge? Against who? We do charity. We are not running a crooked business. How can we suffer revenge?”

Yu Zhi Yi cleared her throat and said: “They are after me. Yiluan Charity is just unlucky, caught in the crossfire.”

“Ah…” Red Luan frowned and asked: “Is it hard to deal with?”

Yu Zhi Yi shook her head: “It is fine. The other side is not very skilled, so they only dare to work in secret. The only trouble is that I cannot find that person’s aura in the city, so I cannot remove them for now.”

She gave a small smile: “But do not worry. I already know their face. The moment they enter the city, I will sense them.”

She did not say the person was a demonic cultivator. She did not want to scare Red Luan.

Yes, a demonic cultivator. This one was the partner of the last demonic cultivator, and not just a partner but a lover. It was hard to imagine that a rotten man who liked to torture and kill women would have a woman who loved him, and it even looked like she loved him deeply.

Even so, this was not very tricky. These past few days Yu Zhi Yi had walked a circle around the entire Capital City and set up formation arrays on all sides. As soon as a demonic cultivator entered the city, she would sense it. After that, they would not have to act so passively.

Late that night, in the Imperial Palace, Consort Yu woke from a nightmare again. The feeling in the dream, when she was given death, was far too real, and her heart pounded with panic.

Suddenly, her face changed.

At some unknown time, someone had appeared in her room.

It was a woman with a hunched back.