Chapter 143: She Belongs to Me Alone
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The arrogant Yu Pan Er paid no heed to Yu Zhi Yi’s well-intentioned reminder.
As she left the Breeze Pavilion, she happened to see Li Rou returning from outside.
At that moment, Li Rou was dressed in a meticulously tailored dress. Although it faintly bore the style of a maid from the Chancellor’s Mansion, her head was adorned with elegant hairpins and accessories. Her once coarse complexion now appeared smooth and delicate, her lips vibrant, her teeth pearly white, and her eyes bright and spirited. Clearly, she had been living well lately.
Seeing Yu Pan Er, Li Rou’s face lit up with joy. “Pan Er Jie!”
Zi Yuan, Li Rou, Yu Pan Er, and Zhang Xiang had all been maids who came from the Yu Mansion as part of the dowry.
Initially, Yu Zhi Yi only had Zi Yuan as her first-rank maid, Yu Pan Er as a second-rank maid, while Zhang Xiang and Li Rou were third-rank maids who did rough work.
Now, with Zi Yuan sent out on errands and Yu Pan Er dispatched to learn management, Li Rou had been promoted to a second-rank maid.
Although second-rank, in Zi Yuan’s absence, she effectively became the trusted assistant by Yu Zhi Yi’s side.
However, Li Rou harbored no cunning ambitions or thoughts of competition. On the contrary, even if she had such thoughts, she knew she could not compare to Yu Pan Er.
In her view, Yu Pan Er was sent to learn stewardship, and once she mastered it, she would assist the Young Madam in managing the household. Such a position was akin to that of a trusted auntie—a cut above ordinary maids like her.
She felt no jealousy. Instead, because the four of them shared their origins from the Yu Mansion, she always had a sense of camaraderie with the other three. Their successes made her genuinely happy.
Unfortunately, Yu Pan Er did not share this sentiment.
Yu Pan Er fixed her gaze on Li Rou’s attire for a moment before suddenly asking, “Your dress, is it from the Splendid Embroidery Workshop?”
Li Rou answered honestly, “Yes, the Young Madam had these specially ordered for us from the Splendid Embroidery Workshop.”
Although the dress was crafted by a silver-ranked embroideress, it was already an enviable luxury surpassing all other maids in Sheng’s Capital. Even the palace maids might not be able to wear something from the Splendid Embroidery Workshop.
Moreover, the Young Madam had also gifted her a fair share of jewelry and cosmetics. Most significantly, her monthly silver stipend had increased from two taels to five taels!
Such a kind mistress was impossible not to adore.
Yu Pan Er’s gaze turned sharp. “It really is from the Splendid Embroidery Workshop!” She was filled with jealousy. “What exactly have you done to deserve such generosity from the Young Madam? And Zi Yuan approved of this?”
Everyone in the Yu Mansion knew that Zi Yuan was not an ordinary servant but one personally chosen by Yu Zhi Yi.
Years ago, Yu Zhi Yi had snuck out of the mansion and returned with a little beggar, pleading with Madam Yu to let the child stay.
However, Madam Yu found the little beggar—skinny and dirty—unacceptable. Most importantly, through this incident, Madam Yu discovered Yu Zhi Yi’s frequent sneaking out, which led to severe punishment and a demand that she personally drive the little beggar away.
At the time, tensions over the real and fake daughters of the Yu Mansion had just surfaced, and Madam Yu’s resentment toward Yu Zhi Yi was at its peak. She declared that if Yu Zhi Yi could not bear to part with the beggar, they could both leave the mansion.
That day, Yu Zhi Yi stared at Madam Yu for a long time before calmly saying, “Fine.”
She then packed her belongings, took the little beggar’s hand, and left the Yu Mansion.
This departure lasted seven days.
Moreover, she took nothing from the Yu Mansion except the clothes on her back.
Later, the Yu Family found them in a dilapidated temple outside the city.
Realizing the firmness of Yu Zhi Yi’s resolve, the Yu Family had no choice but to compromise and allow the little beggar to stay.
That beggar was Zi Yuan.
However, while Zi Yuan stayed, she was never considered part of the Yu Mansion.
This was because ten-year-old Yu Zhi Yi had declared that all of Zi Yuan’s expenses, from food to clothing, would be her sole responsibility, requiring no additional funding from the Yu Mansion.
The family agreed.
Thus, Zi Yuan was not a servant of the Yu Mansion but a maid exclusively loyal to Yu Zhi Yi.
From the age of ten onward, Yu Zhi Yi had only ever trusted Zi Yuan, making her an unparalleled presence in her life.
Yu Pan Er’s expression turned venomous. “Could it be that you took advantage of Zi Yuan’s absence to deceive the Young Madam into giving you these things? I advise you to restrain your ambitions. When Zi Yuan returns, she’ll tear you apart!”
Li Rou, frightened by her malice, turned pale and shook her head hurriedly. “No… no! The rewards are for everyone. The Young Madam has already set aside items for Zi Yuan. What I have, Zhang Xiang has as well. It’s not just for me.”
Yu Pan Er was stunned. “Zhang Xiang too? Does she also have clothes from the Splendid Embroidery Workshop?”
Li Rou nodded earnestly. “Yes.”
“The Young Madam also gifted her bracelets and some cosmetics. It’s not exclusive to me.”
Yu Pan Er: “!”
Is Yu Pan Er foolish?
It’s understandable why Li Rou would receive rewards. After all, as the temporarily appointed first-class maid, she represents Yu Zhi Yi’s face and dignity. Ensuring she looks respectable is perfectly logical.
But Zhang Xiang?
What justification is there for her?
She’s merely a servant for menial tasks!
Most infuriating of all, why wasn’t there anything for her?
Yu Pan Er wanted to confront Yu Zhi Yi, but this time, she couldn’t even enter the room. The talisman scripts at the doorway blocked her path.
Watching Li Rou easily pass through the invisible barrier, Yu Pan Er fumed, her nose almost twisting with rage. That Yu Zhi Yi dared to single her out like this!
She ground her teeth in frustration.
“It’s just a few clothes, a few accessories. I don’t care!” she muttered to herself.
Once she became a concubine, there would be plenty of such things. She’d have as much as she wanted!
Before long, she learned that Du Zi Heng would soon be hosting a gathering at the mansion. Her eyes gleamed with a sudden idea.
Yu Zhi Yi, however, paid no attention to Yu Pan Er’s petty schemes. She could already see that the girl’s doom was near. The ladder to survival had been extended, but if the other insisted on ignoring it, there was nothing more she could do.
The next day, as usual, Yu Zhi Yi went to the Ministry of Justice.
Not long after her arrival, a master official delivered a booklet. “My lord, this was sent from the Court of Judicial Review.”
Yu Zhi Yi nodded and opened the booklet, scanning it briefly before closing it.
The records detailed findings from the Court of Judicial Review, which had rushed overnight to Linzhang County to investigate based on the clues she provided. They had even managed to uncover evidence.
With the evidence in hand, they could overturn the wrongful cases in Linzhang County. Clearing these injustices would allow them to convict the county magistrate of dereliction of duty, bribery, and corruption.
Once the magistrate was interrogated thoroughly, the truth about Li Feng’s wife being abducted would surely come to light.
Although Yu Zhi Yi could have personally gone to Linzhang County and observed the magistrate’s facial features for clues, some evidence wasn’t so easily uncovered. Even if she could precisely calculate the locations of hidden evidence, retrieving certain items from remote areas required time and manpower—resources only the Ministry of Justice and Court of Judicial Review could provide.
After all, she was just one person. Moreover, it was their responsibility to do such work in the first place.
Within days, the wrongful cases in Linzhang County were righted. The real culprits faced punishments ranging from imprisonment to exile and execution, while those unjustly accused finally received overdue justice.
Having resolved these, Yu Zhi Yi pulled out a stack of old case files and performed a divination using three copper coins. The resulting hexagram made her pause. Silently, she locked the files back in her cabinet.
Li Rou, watching with bewilderment, asked, “Miss, aren’t we reviewing cases today?”
Yu Zhi Yi hummed in acknowledgment. “Something will come up soon; I’ll hold off for now.”
As she spoke, she jotted down a message, sealed it, and handed it to Li Rou. “Take this to the Court of Judicial Review’s minister personally, then return to the mansion.”
Across the desk, an assistant official couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of his mouth. After so many years in office, it was his first time witnessing someone treat their duties so leisurely.
What an eye-opener.
Why was it that while others toiled over complaints pouring in from across the country, she could handle her shifts as if she were on a scenic outing?
“Sigh…”