Chapter 94: Trust and Distrust
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The Carefree Prince stood before the crude ritual altar, his handsome face clouded with anger. “Royal Brother, this woman is nothing but a fraud. How can you allow her to act so recklessly?”
The Emperor frowned, recalling Yu Zhi Yi’s warning about the urgency of the situation. Her words explained his anxiety—the fear that any delay could spell disaster for his beloved mother.
The Carefree Prince scoffed. “This is the oldest trick in the book for swindlers. Royal Brother, you’ve never roamed the Jianghu, so you’re unfamiliar with their methods. They thrive on exaggerating trivial matters to create a false sense of urgency, making their victims desperate.”
“And desperation leads people to clutch at straws,” he added cynically, “leaving them easy prey to schemes.”
The Emperor, reflecting on his earlier feelings, realized he had indeed been swept up in the sense of urgency deliberately crafted by Yu Zhi Yi. He furrowed his brows and turned to her. “Official Yu, speak.”
Yu Zhi Yi sighed inwardly. “I maintain my stance: time is of the essence. Every moment wasted increases the Empress Dowager’s peril…”
“Enough!” A loud voice cut her off. Minister Yu, his face dark with anger, barked, “You insolent girl! Stop spouting alarmist nonsense!”
He stepped forward, his disapproving gaze fixed on her. “Don’t think a smattering of skills can let you play tricks before His Majesty. This isn’t a child’s game, and the Empress Dowager’s wellbeing is no matter for your wild experiments!”
Madam Yu had arrived with the Carefree Prince at the palace gates, though their goals differed. Both, however, sought to prevent Yu Zhi Yi’s intervention. Neither the Minister nor his wife believed in Yu Zhi Yi’s abilities.
The notion of her setting up a ritual altar to exorcise evil spirits nearly caused Minister Yu to faint on the spot.
“Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!” he fumed, regret flooding him. Had he known his adopted daughter would be so troublesome, he’d have cast her out years ago.
At the time, keeping her seemed inconsequential; his promotion was assured regardless. Expelling her would’ve earned him some gossip but nothing significant. Yet, his momentary lapse in judgment was now snowballing into calamity.
If Yu Zhi Yi’s antics were exposed as a sham, it wouldn’t just bring ruin upon the Du Family, but the Yu Family as well.
Yu Zhi Yi regarded him coolly. “I have never acted recklessly. I’ve told you repeatedly that I’ve mastered genuine skills. But you refuse to believe me, dismissing even my proofs as pre-arranged deceptions.”
Madam Yu, disappointment etched into her features, interjected, “You’re a sheltered girl who’s never had a proper teacher. How could you possibly have learned anything worthwhile?”
Even the usually silent Consort Yu spoke up, feigning surprise. “Oh? So you lack the ability to exorcise spirits? Here I thought your confidence stemmed from exceptional talent.” Her tone turned stern. “If you lack the skills, how dare you make bold promises before His Majesty?”
Madam Yu fell to her knees with a thud. “Your Majesty, this is all Yu Zhi Yi’s doing! It has nothing to do with the Yu Family. Years ago, her mother tricked us, and when the deceit was uncovered, she took her own life. Out of pity for her orphaned daughter, we took Yu Zhi Yi in.”
“But this child has always been cruel and deceitful, lying and bullying others despite our efforts to correct her. Now, she’s gone so far as to commit fraud before the throne. Your Majesty, we beg your discernment and ask you to absolve the Yu Family of responsibility!”
Yu Zhi Yi’s expression grew colder as she watched her “family.”
Truly, they were cut from the same cloth. Though they hadn’t conspired beforehand, they unanimously decided to throw her under the bus.
By pinning all blame on her, even Yu Jiao Jiao’s recent misdeeds might escape scrutiny.
This hadn’t happened in her previous life. Back then, after her marriage, she followed Zhang Tian Shun to the battlefield. Upon their victorious return, Zhang’s military achievements elevated her to Marchioness, then Duchess, and eventually Princess Consort.
Despite their disdain for her, the Yu Family had tread carefully around her due to her rank. Maintaining appearances or fearing repercussions, they never dared so openly sever ties.
Yet now, as she placed her hand on her chest, she found herself unmoved—amused, even.
In the corner of her eye, she noticed a dark shadow creeping over the Empress Dowager’s face. Calmly, she reiterated, “I’ll say it once more: I am not lying. The Empress Dowager is under spiritual attack. Any further delay, and the consequences will be dire.”
“Silence!” roared Minister Yu. “You insolent wretch! Will you persist in your stubborn folly?”
His fury was tinged with triumph. The more defiant Yu Zhi Yi acted, the more isolated she became, and the easier it would be for the Yu Family to wash their hands of her entirely.
“If you dare utter another word, do not call me your father again!”
Yu Zhi Yi saw through his ploy. What a shrewd plan.
By painting her as a lone troublemaker, the Yu Family could sever ties and shift blame entirely to her. Should the Empress Dowager’s condition worsen, it would fall solely upon her and the Du Family.
Such precise calculations—nearly laughable in their audacity.
Just then, a messenger arrived with news: Chancellor Du and his family had entered the palace.
Yu Jiao Jiao’s eyes lit up.
Surely they’d come to disown this wretched woman. The prospect of watching Yu Zhi Yi abandoned thrilled her to no end.
The palace doors opened, and the Du Family approached. Chancellor Du, visibly flustered, didn’t even pause to consider how suspicious his knowledge of palace matters might seem. Falling to his knees, he declared, “Your Majesty, I vouch that Yu Zhi Yi would never act without cause.”
Madam Du added urgently, “Your Majesty, time is of the essence! Please allow Yu Zhi Yi to proceed before it’s too late.”
Even Du Zi Heng, though silent, made no move to contradict his parents, signaling his alignment with them.
Yu Zhi Yi blinked, taken aback.
The Yu Family was equally stunned.
Yu Jiao Jiao seethed with fury. Watching Du Zi Heng’s worried glance toward Yu Zhi Yi nearly caused her to grind her teeth to dust.
This scoundrel! In her past life, whenever she faced hardship, his first instinct was to doubt her. Yet now, without a single question, he stood firmly by that impostor’s side.
Why?!
Minister Yu, unable to comprehend, protested, “Chancellor Du, do not be deceived. Yu Zhi Yi’s minor talents in divination are no different from what anyone can learn from a basic text. But this matter…”
Chancellor Du interrupted sharply, “I am not blind, Minister Yu. I know well whether Yu Zhi Yi’s abilities are real or mere tricks. I choose to trust her.”
The Emperor, his gaze frosty, surveyed the unfolding drama before turning to Yu Zhi Yi. “Official Yu, proceed.”
Without sparing her detractors another glance, Yu Zhi Yi simply sighed. “We may already be too late.”