Chapter 113: Of Course, She Has a Purpose
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“When Ma Bo Cai and a few displaced refugees he met along the way journeyed to the capital, you discovered that they were the last survivors of their respective families. Ma Bo Cai, in particular, was the sole remaining member of his household. That sparked an idea in your mind.”
“You were well aware that continuing to use your identity as Wu Liang would eventually lead to your exposure. Yet, you weren’t willing to retreat into the wilderness to live like a savage. If you wanted to enjoy a respectable life, the best solution was to adopt a new identity.”
“And Ma Bo Cai presented the perfect opportunity.”
“The man’s age and build closely matched your own. Though his appearance differed, you could always adjust your looks to resemble his well enough to fool others. Most importantly, he possessed a fish token that could prove his identity.”
“So, on a dark and stormy night, while everyone was sound asleep, you made up your mind. Using the dagger you carried, you slaughtered them all. You dragged their bodies into the nearby forest, hoping wild animals would consume them, erasing all traces of your crime.”
“From that night onward, you became Ma Bo Cai, a nineteen-year-old student candidate.”
“Initially, you planned to use this new identity to make a living in the capital. However, as you passed through Lotus Town, you stumbled upon a private estate seeking workers. Naturally, you seized the opportunity.”
“Your parents had spoiled you, sparing no expense to send you to school. Armed with a bit of cleverness, you could write decently enough. Most importantly, you were skilled in abacus calculation.”
“At the estate, you played up the plight of Ma Bo Cai’s refugee status, shedding pitiful tears to evoke sympathy. Your performance moved the people at the estate, including the estate’s owner, the orphaned Miss Feng.”
“Claiming that you had run out of travel funds, you asked to work at the estate to repay your debt, promising that you would eventually continue your studies for the imperial examinations. Miss Feng agreed.”
“The examinations had just concluded, and the next round was three years away.”
“Knowing full well that your mediocre skills wouldn’t even secure you the title of scholar, let alone top scholar, you began scheming ways to make money.”
“After a few months at the estate, you noticed that Miss Feng paid little attention to its management, visiting only once or twice a year. Even when she came, she remained ignorant of the estate’s affairs. That gave you an idea.”
“You mixed defective seeds with good ones, leading Miss Feng to believe that the estate’s soil had been exhausted. The following year, you planted only high-quality seeds, but when reporting the harvest, you handed over only one-fifth of the yield to Miss Feng. Thanks to the prior year’s experience, she suspected nothing.”
“Through such deception, you siphoned money from Miss Feng for two consecutive years, amassing over a thousand silver taels.”
“Initially, you planned to buy the estate outright. But then you realized that seducing Miss Feng would be a faster and simpler route. You staged a drunken spectacle to make her believe she had compromised your honor while under the influence.”
“In truth, you had spiked her drink, but Miss Feng, naïve and unsuspecting, never imagined such underhanded tactics.”
“Thus, you acquired the estate, the woman, and her wealth.”
“Yet, even in your moments of happiness, fear gnawed at you. What if your dark past were uncovered?”
“You feared both the murder from years ago and the seed scam coming to light. And as fate would have it, Miss Feng discovered the truth about the seeds and confronted you.”
“You used your glib tongue to muddle through her accusations but secretly bore a grudge against the informant. Fearing that Miss Feng might gather witnesses and evidence, you decided to eliminate anyone who had handled the seeds back then.”
Old Man Zhang trembled, dropping his cane in shock. “He wanted to kill me for this?”
Yu Zhi Yi couldn’t bear to look at his anguish but couldn’t lie either. She nodded, delivering the harsher truth. “He wasn’t just after you. He wanted your family dead too. In fact, aside from your son, all your other relatives died because of him.”
“Worried that you might have already revealed the secret and finding you absent at the time, he targeted your family first.”
Old Man Zhang staggered to a nearby wall, leaning against it as his legs gave way. Sliding down, he muttered in disbelief, “How could this happen? How could this happen?”
Moments later, he erupted in fury, charging at Wu Liang. “You beast! You vile beast! I didn’t even know those seeds were faulty! How could you harbor such murderous thoughts over something so absurd?”
“If you had to kill someone, you should’ve come after me alone! What kind of man goes after an old man’s parents and wife? Beast! Beast!”
Grabbing his cane from the ground, he aimed to strike Wu Liang.
Wu Liang howled, flailing. “Old Zhang, I didn’t do it! I’m being framed!”
You Bing Yue caught the cane mid-swing. Despite being a woman and using only one hand, she stopped the blow effortlessly.
Old Man Zhang roared in rage. “Why are you defending this beast?”
You Bing Yue flung the cane aside. Her force sent Old Man Zhang stumbling back several steps, nearly toppling over.
“You have no evidence. Do you believe this woman’s accusations without question?”
Wu Liang bobbed his head in agreement. “She’s right! That official is spouting nonsense!”
He plastered on a pitiable expression. “I don’t even know what I did to offend you so badly, but I swear I’ve done nothing wrong. No matter how much you pressure me, I won’t confess! If I ever do, it will be because I was tortured into it!”
Old Man Zhang turned to Yu Zhi Yi and Wu Shan for guidance. “Steward Wu…”
Steward Wu, unsure of the source of Yu Zhi Yi’s information, decided to trust her unconditionally. “She is our esteemed proprietor. She has no reason to lie.”
You Bing Yue sneered. “Oh, but she does. She’s new to her position and needs to make a bold statement. Catching a criminal with an old case—what a spectacle! Wouldn’t that shut up her detractors in the Ministry of Justice?”
The crowd murmured in agreement, their expressions shifting to realization.
Du Zi Heng pinched the bridge of his nose. “Bing Yue, Zhi Yi isn’t like that.”
You Bing Yue’s eyes flashed coldly, but she said nothing further. She had no interest in engaging with this man anymore.
Let the truth slap him in the face!
Amidst the chaos of voices and accusations, Yu Zhi Yi calmly dusted off her sleeves. “You’re clever, trying to manipulate public opinion to buy yourself time. But… who says I have no evidence?”