Chapter 31: Doubt
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The Huang family wasn’t particularly distinguished. Huang’s father held a modest position as a fifth-rank official. The fact that Huang had married into the Yao family was largely due to the Yao family’s refusal to trade their children’s happiness for social advancement.
With such a low-ranking official, the household was uncomplicated. Huang’s father had no concubines and shared his life solely with Huang’s mother, raising one son and one daughter.
Though their son wasn’t exceptionally bright or promising, he was honest and well-mannered, never causing unnecessary trouble. Of course, as a low-ranking officer in the Ministry of Justice, some things were unavoidable.
The family lived a straightforward life.
So, Huang couldn’t fathom why her young nephew had suddenly disappeared.
Some speculated that her nephew had been abducted by child-snatchers, but the boy was already eight years old! Such kidnappers typically targeted much younger children to sell to childless families. The older the child, the more memories they retained, making them unsuitable.
Especially since the child came from an official’s family, his clothing of fine fabric alone would deter any child-snatcher with a grain of sense from taking such a risk.
This led many to suspect that the boy’s abduction was an act of revenge against the Huang family.
“Don’t worry, cousin-in-law. Give me his birth details.”
Huang had already prepared her nephew’s birth details. At the request, she personally handed the paper to Yu Zhi Yi.
Yu Zhi Yi examined the birth details carefully for a moment before rising to her feet. “Don’t fret, cousin-in-law. He’s safe for now and still in the city. However, we must act quickly to rescue him. If we delay, even if his life is spared, there might be lasting consequences.”
Turning to her mother-in-law, Madam Yao, Yu Zhi Yi said, “Mother, I’ll need a few skilled guards from the mansion.”
This was a matter of life and death—how could Madam Yao refuse? In fact, if her position allowed, she would have gone herself. But as the dignified wife of the Chancellor, she had to maintain her composure and couldn’t afford to appear overly curious.
“Very well,” she agreed, before instructing a servant. “Send the ten most skilled guards in the mansion to accompany the Young Madam.”
Yu Zhi Yi had only requested two. She blinked in silence at this abundance of support but didn’t protest.
The preparations were swiftly made. Huang directed the coachman, “Let’s stop by my house first to inform my father and brother. They’re beside themselves with worry. If we don’t tell them we have a lead, they’ll keep rushing around blindly.”
Yu Zhi Yi frowned slightly but said nothing.
Perhaps it was for the best. If they could catch the culprit red-handed, it would leave no room for excuses.
The carriage rattled along the road, taking roughly half an hour to reach the Huang Mansion.
The moment Yu Zhi Yi and Huang stepped out of the carriage, a group of people poured out from the courtyard.
Yu Zhi Yi’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally landing on one particular individual. Her brows arched slightly.
The man’s expression darkened upon noticing Yu Zhi Yi.
Huang, oblivious to this subtle exchange, asked in surprise, “Father, Brother, where are you heading?”
The Huang family wasn’t large, and in her brother’s generation, there were only two children, one of whom was a boy.
At that moment, however, Huang’s brother stood with a group of robust men, including household retainers and members of their extended family.
Huang’s brother replied, “Sister, you’ve come at the right time. We’ve found a lead on An’er’s whereabouts and are heading out to save him. Stay here with Mother; we’ll bring him back shortly.”
Huang’s surprise turned to joy. “Really? Did you also determine that An’er is still in the city?”
Yu Zhi Yi had mentioned the boy’s location but hadn’t shared specifics with them.
Huang’s brother shook his head. “Not in the city.”
Then, with visible anger, he added, “He’s at Flame Martial Slope! There’s a hideout there where child-snatchers keep their victims. I’ll destroy that place and dismember those fiends!”
Huang froze and instinctively turned to Yu Zhi Yi.
She remembered her sister-in-law stating that An’er was in the city.
Yu Zhi Yi had no obligation to correct Huang’s brother, but she addressed Huang, “Your nephew is not at Flame Martial Slope. He’s still in the city. Moreover, I strongly advise against searching there.”
Huang’s face changed. She hurriedly told her brother, “Brother, An’er is not at Flame Martial Slope!”
Huang’s brother glanced at someone beside him and said hesitantly, “Heroine You Bing Yue…”
Standing just over 1.7 meters tall, You Bing Yue had a slender yet well-proportioned frame. Despite her efforts to conceal it, her chest was noticeably fuller than most men’s.
She wasn’t a man at all but a woman in disguise.
You Bing Yue sneered, “If you’d rather trust this infamous Young Madam of the Yu Mansion, go ahead and doubt me. But if your son suffers because of it, don’t blame me for not warning you.”
As a self-proclaimed Dark Night Queen from the twenty-first century, how could she possibly mistake the trail of a missing child?
What did this woman know besides hiding in formation spells and gathering personal dirt to grandstand later? Could she do anything else?
This child wasn’t some wealthy magnate’s offspring. You Bing Yue was confident that Yu Zhi Yi wouldn’t have preemptively investigated him.
This time, she would expose the woman’s true nature and show Madam Yao how foolish she had been!
Who could truly see through someone’s destiny?
It was all lies!
The thought that his only son might suffer weighed heavily on Huang’s brother. Nothing else mattered now. Huang’s father agreed, “Stay with your mother. Wait for our good news.”
With a wave of his hand, he led the group away.
As the crowd passed Yu Zhi Yi, You Bing Yue gave her a cold, disdainful glance.
The contempt and smugness in that look were so blatant even the blind could see it.
Huang, growing anxious, asked, “Sister-in-law, what now?”
Yu Zhi Yi, unfazed by the skepticism and provocation, remained serene. Her beautiful face radiated calm, and her voice, soft and melodic, carried an almost hypnotic reassurance. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
Something about her tone truly eased Huang’s nerves.
Seeing her sister-in-law’s composed demeanor, Huang asked tentatively, “Is it because…”
Yu Zhi Yi raised a finger to her lips. “Shh.”
In a nearby alley, a shadowy figure peeked out, intently observing the activity at the Huang residence.
Seeing the men leaving for Flame Martial Slope, he hesitated briefly but decided to follow them, still wary.
Once the group had left the city, he relaxed and sneered, “Idiots.”
Thanks to these fools, he now had scapegoats and could act without fear.
After the shadow disappeared, Yu Zhi Yi glanced toward the alley and then lowered her hand. “Let’s go. It’s time to save him.”