Chapter 32: Hard to Persuade a Ghost Courting Death
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Song Xi Yuan entered a modest residence.
This house, located on Luoyang Street among rows of official mansions, was neither extravagant nor well-placed. It was clear its owner, though a government official, held only a minor position.
Pushing open the door, Song headed straight to the main house.
On the bed lay a boy of seven or eight, bound hand and foot to the bedposts like a criminal awaiting execution. A dirty rag stuffed in his mouth muffled his cries, but his swollen eyes revealed a long bout of weeping.
The moment Song Xi Yuan appeared, the boy’s terror intensified. Though he tried to shrink away, the ropes held him fast. Helpless, he could only watch as the man approached, his tears streaming afresh.
Song Xi Yuan retrieved a kitchen knife from behind his back, his weathered face twisted into a malicious grin.
“Kid, blame your father for being a scoundrel,” he snarled. “He caused my son’s tragic death.”
“He took my boy’s life, so I’ll take his!” Song raised the blade high. “Don’t worry—everyone will think you were kidnapped by the child-snatchers from Flame Martial Slope. After I kill you, I’ll dump your body there. No one will suspect me.”
Huang Ping An, sobbing uncontrollably, froze as fear engulfed him. Just as the blade was about to descend on his neck, the door burst open with a loud bang.
Song Xi Yuan hesitated, startled. In that brief pause, a guard from the Chancellor’s Mansion rushed in. With one swift kick, the knife flew from Song’s hand; another blow sent him sprawling to the ground.
Yu Zhi Yi strode in, picked up the knife, and slashed the ropes binding Huang Ping An. Tossing the knife aside, she embedded it in the floor right before Song Xi Yuan’s face.
The blade landed so close to his nose that he nearly fainted from fright—and wet himself. Literally.
Madam Huang, suppressing her revulsion, held her nephew close and comforted him. She immediately instructed someone to report the crime to Jingzhao Prefecture.
With the family reunited, Yu Zhi Yi quietly left, leaving the warm scene of familial embrace behind. Such displays of affection didn’t suit her, so she and her entourage returned to the Chancellor’s Mansion.
As soon as Madam Yao heard of Yu’s return, she abandoned Chancellor Du, who had managed to steal a rare moment of leisure at home.
Chancellor Du: “…”
Madam Yao ignored her husband’s silent complaint and went directly to Breeze Pavilion. “Yi’er, how did it go?” she asked without preamble.
“The boy is safe,” Yu Zhi Yi reported. “We arrived just in time, caught the man in the act, and secured enough evidence to leave him no room for denial.”
Song Xi Yuan had been clever, hiding Huang Ping An in his bedroom. If the Huang family had come looking, he could have claimed he’d found the boy unconscious outside and brought him in for treatment. Without solid proof, the situation could have turned into a drawn-out dispute.
Yu Zhi Yi gave a concise account of the rescue but made no mention of You Bing Yue. For one, it wasn’t necessary, and for another, she had already glimpsed the futility written on the faces of the Huang family retainers. Their mission not only failed but resulted in injuries.
Back at the Huang household, You Bing Yue clutched her wounded shoulder and cursed bitterly. “That wretch must’ve done this on purpose!” she spat before passing out.
Du Zi Heng, torn between heartache and exasperation, ordered someone to tend to You Bing Yue before storming back to the Chancellor’s Mansion.
It was dinnertime when he arrived. Chancellor Du had been summoned back to court, leaving Madam Yao and Yu Zhi Yi to dine alone. Neither felt inclined to wait for anyone else.
Yu Zhi Yi, hungry from the day’s events, ate with gusto. Though her speed suggested a storm, her movements were graceful, a pleasure to watch. Even Madam Yao found herself adding half a bowl of rice, inspired by Yu’s appetite.
News from Jingzhao Prefecture soon followed: Song Xi Yuan had abducted Huang Ping An to avenge his son, who had been executed for a heinous crime.
The Huang family’s patriarch, a Ministry of Justice official, had recently apprehended a criminal guilty of assaulting and murdering a young woman—Song’s son. Song had hoped to help his son escape the capital, disguise himself, and live quietly elsewhere until the incident faded from memory. But just as his son was about to leave the city, Huang Ping An’s uncle detected inconsistencies, exposed the ruse, and captured him.
The evidence was irrefutable, and Song’s son was executed within seven days.
Left with no heir, Song Xi Yuan resolved to make the Huang family suffer a similar loss.
Madam Yao sighed at the tragedy.
The evening was young, and Madam Yao chatted with Yu Zhi Yi, who responded sparingly but aptly, keeping Madam Yao’s interest alive.
Their conversation was interrupted by the urgent voice of Wen Nanny. “Young Master, please wait for me to announce you!”
Ignoring her, Du Zi Heng stormed into the room and stopped before Yu Zhi Yi.
A long silence followed.
Yu Zhi Yi blinked. “What do you want?”
She had expected accusations, especially given his fiery entrance. Yet, now he stood silently, his eyes blazing with unspoken anger.
Madam Yao instinctively stepped in front of Yu Zhi Yi, ready to protect her. But Du Zi Heng merely glared at Yu, his fury palpable yet wordless.
Finally, he exhaled deeply, his tone frosty but more composed. “You knew, didn’t you?”
“You could have stopped them. Why did you just stand by and watch them court death?”
Yu Zhi Yi smirked. “I did warn them, out of respect for my cousin-in-law. They didn’t listen. Should I have gotten on my knees to beg?”
Her gaze turned cold. “Perhaps you’ve heard the saying: ‘Hard to persuade a ghost courting death.’”