Chapter 32: Good Advice Is Wasted on the Doomed
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Song Xi Yuan stepped into the house, his eyes narrowing as they swept over the modest surroundings. The residence, nestled along Luoyang Street, was far from grand. It was no show of wealth or power, which told him that the owner held a minor post, likely someone of little importance.
He pushed open the door and made his way straight to the main room. There, on the bed, lay a boy no older than seven or eight. His small wrists and ankles were bound to the bedposts, trapping him like a helpless captive. A filthy rag was shoved into his mouth, muffling his cries. The child’s eyes were red and swollen from hours of sobbing, and when he spotted Song Xi Yuan, he shrank back, his tears spilling over again. Though his bound limbs prevented him from moving away, the terror on his face was all too evident.
With a chilling grin, Song Xi Yuan pulled out a cleaver from behind his back. He approached the boy slowly, savoring every second of his terror. “You can blame your father for this,” he hissed, his voice as cold as ice. “He cost me my son’s life, and now I’ll take his son in return.”
Song Xi Yuan lifted the cleaver, his expression filled with malice. “He killed my boy, so I’ll kill his,” he murmured. “Don’t worry, no one will suspect me. They’ll think it was those kidnappers from Yanwu Slope. Once I’m done with you, I’ll leave your body there, and everyone will believe it was them.”
Huang Ping An’s face was slick with tears and snot, his eyes wide with horror. He could do nothing but watch as the cleaver was raised high above his head. The terror consumed him, freezing him in place.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Song Xi Yuan froze, startled. In the blink of an eye, a guard from the Chancellor’s residence rushed in, kicking the cleaver out of Song Xi Yuan’s hands. A second kick sent the man sprawling onto the floor.
Yu Zhi Yi entered the room, her expression calm as she picked up the cleaver. She cut the ropes binding Huang Ping An’s hands and feet, tossing the cleaver aside without a second glance. It landed with a loud thunk right in front of Song Xi Yuan’s face, so close it nearly grazed his nose. The man was so terrified he wet himself.
Yes, actually wet himself.
Madam Huang rushed in, her face pale as she cradled her young nephew, her hands trembling as she comforted him. She called for someone to report the incident to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Yu Zhi Yi, her part in the rescue complete, felt no need to linger. She had no interest in witnessing the tearful reunion of aunt and nephew, or mother and son. Silently, she turned and led her guards out, heading back to the Chancellor’s residence.
As soon as Madam Yao heard of Yu Zhi Yi’s return, she dropped everything she was doing—even leaving Chancellor Du, who had just managed to find a rare moment to come home for some rest.
Chancellor Du sighed. “…”
Madam Yao, not noticing her husband’s resentful gaze, rushed straight to Wind Facing Pavilion. She wasted no time with formalities. “Yiyi, how did it go?”
Yu Zhi Yi answered plainly, “We found him. We got there just in time—the child wasn’t harmed, and we caught the man red-handed. With all the evidence, he couldn’t deny it.”
She explained the situation briefly. Song Xi Yuan had hidden Huang Ping An in his own bedroom, thinking that even if the Huang family came looking, he could lie and say he found the boy unconscious and brought him in to help. If they hadn’t caught him in the act, it could have turned into a long, drawn-out argument.
Yu Zhi Yi said nothing about You Bing Yue. There was no need. She had already seen the looks on the faces of the Huang family servants—they were the looks of those who had failed.
Not only had they failed, but they’d also been hurt.
Yu Zhi Yi wasn’t one to enjoy pointing fingers, nor did she like the trouble that often came with it.
Still, some people were prone to paranoia.
You Bing Yue clutched her injured right shoulder, her voice seething with rage. “That wretched woman! She did it on purpose, didn’t she?!”
With that, she fainted.
Du Zi Heng looked at his beloved, her face pale as a ghost, caught between worry and helplessness. He made sure You Bing Yue was taken care of before storming back to the Chancellor’s residence.
It was dinnertime by the time he arrived. Chancellor Du had once again been called into the palace, and with Du Zi Heng away often himself, neither Madam Yao nor Yu Zhi Yi had thought to wait for him before starting dinner.
Yu Zhi Yi, famished, was already eating with gusto. Even as she ate quickly, her movements remained graceful, almost mesmerizing to watch. The way she ate was so refined it made anyone watching want to pick up their own chopsticks.
Even Madam Yao found herself eating an extra half bowl of rice, just from watching her.
Soon, news arrived from the Jingzhao Prefecture.
It turned out that Song Xi Yuan had kidnapped Huang Ping An to take revenge on Madam Huang’s brother. Her brother worked at the Ministry of Justice and had recently arrested a criminal who had assaulted and murdered a young woman.
That criminal had been Song Xi Yuan’s son.
Song Xi Yuan had planned everything. He intended for his son to escape the capital and lie low for a few years, until the incident was forgotten. Then, he would bring him back, raising him under the guise of a distant nephew.
But just as his son, disguised and all, was about to leave the city, Madam Huang’s brother spotted something suspicious. He detained him, uncovering his true identity. The evidence was undeniable, and seven days later, Song Xi Yuan’s son was executed.
Song Xi Yuan had only the one son. Watching him die had shattered him, and he vowed to make Madam Huang’s brother suffer the same way.
Madam Yao sighed heavily.
It was still early, so she stayed to chat with Yu Zhi Yi. Most of the talking was done by Madam Yao, with Yu Zhi Yi responding now and then. Though she didn’t say much, every word hit the mark, keeping Madam Yao more engaged than ever.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Madam Wen’s anxious voice could be heard. “Young master, please, let me announce you first!”
Without waiting for any introduction, Du Zi Heng stormed into the room like a gust of wind, stopping right in front of Yu Zhi Yi.
After a long silence…
Yu Zhi Yi looked up at him, her brow furrowed. “What exactly do you want?”
She had assumed he had come to make a scene—his whirlwind entrance certainly suggested as much. But now that he was here, he suddenly had nothing to say?
His eyes were wide, practically bulging, filled with fury, yet he stood there without uttering a word.
Madam Yao, equally confused, instinctively moved in front of Yu Zhi Yi, shielding her. She had expected her son to lose his temper, but instead, he just stood there, glaring at Yu Zhi Yi over her shoulder.
It was… odd, to say the least.
Du Zi Heng closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, though his expression was still dark, the anger had ebbed.
“You knew, didn’t you?” he asked, his voice cold.
“You knew what would happen, and you did nothing to stop it. Why? Why did you just watch them walk to their deaths?”
Yu Zhi Yi chuckled. “I warned them out of respect for my cousin-in-law. They wouldn’t listen. What was I supposed to do? Get on my knees and beg them?”
Her eyes turned cold. “Perhaps you’ve heard the saying—good advice is wasted on those destined to die.”