Chapter 95: Severing Ties
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“Yu Zhi Yi!” Minister Yu’s voice thundered with fury. “I’ve given you countless chances, yet you remain obstinate and refuse to change! If you insist on acting recklessly, then hear me now: the Yu family will sever all ties with you!”
Yu Zhi Yi’s heart, which had long since grown accustomed to indifference, suddenly felt as though it had been struck by an unseen force. The sensation was complicated—not painful, merely a jarring impact, leaving no lingering trace.
She gazed at Minister Yu with cold detachment. “Is that truly your decision?”
Her eyes were too clear, too calm. Under her unflinching gaze, it felt as if no pretense could remain concealed. Minister Yu found his confidence faltering, and he turned his gaze aside, unable to meet her eyes.
The moment he looked away, realization struck him—he had just been shamed by a mere girl. His anger surged anew, and his tone grew frostier. “Yes! If you persist in this folly, you will no longer be the eldest daughter of the Yu family!”
Yu Zhi Yi thought she heard the crisp sound of something breaking. The karmic ties binding her to the Yu family frayed, leaving but a fragile thread. It was faint, barely perceptible.
Lowering her eyes, she turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, I request your witness. Today, it is the Yu family who wishes to sever ties with me. From this moment forward, whether wealth or poverty, health or affliction, we are no longer connected.”
She continued, her voice steady. “However, having been raised by the Yu family for seventeen years, I am willing to repay all the expenses they have incurred on my behalf. From now on, you are no longer my father, mother, brothers, or sisters. Likewise, I am no longer your daughter, sister, or elder sibling.”
“To repay the debt of raising me, I, Yu Zhi Yi, will bear full responsibility for today’s matter. If I succeed in awakening the Empress Dowager, all will rejoice. If I fail to restore her consciousness or if it is proven that her condition is due to illness and not malevolent forces, I am willing to atone with my life.”
Du Zi Heng’s lips pressed into a thin line as he watched her. Her face, already pale, seemed almost translucent now. Though her expression remained serene, her eyes revealed no emotion whatsoever. Yet, he felt as though he could glimpse the sorrow hidden behind her fortress-like demeanor.
The Emperor remained silent, a trace of unease shadowing his brow. Though he enjoyed a good scandal as much as anyone, now was hardly the time for indulgence.
Unlike the Emperor, the Yu family collectively exhaled in relief. They did not believe Yu Zhi Yi possessed the capability to succeed, and since she was no longer their responsibility, her actions—reckless or otherwise—were of no concern to them. They only cared about preserving their unity as a family.
This relief was short-lived. As the last thought passed through their minds, their faces collectively changed.
The once-unmoving Empress Dowager abruptly sat up in bed.
“The Empress Dowager has awakened!” Yu Jiao Jiao exclaimed in alarm.
Minister Yu relaxed visibly, and the Carefree Prince gave a derisive laugh. “I told you there was nothing wrong with Mother…”
He never finished the sentence. His words froze on his lips, as did the expressions of everyone else in the room.
The once-dignified and gentle Empress Dowager now crawled on all fours like a beast. Her eyes glowed red, and she bared her teeth menacingly. She no longer resembled a human being but rather a feral creature.
Her strange posture was startling, but it paled in comparison to the eerie red light that enveloped most of her face. That glow, ominous and unnatural, was the focal point of everyone’s fear.
Some faint-hearted individuals screamed, while others collapsed unconscious from sheer terror. Among the latter was Yu Jiao Jiao, who fainted on the spot after locking eyes with the Empress Dowager’s twisted visage.
The chaos in the chamber reached a fever pitch. The Yu family siblings rushed to their parents’ side for protection, while Madam Yu hid behind Minister Yu. The Carefree Prince and the Emperor both turned pale, their earlier composure shattered. The Emperor instinctively moved to shield Consort Yu while attempting to retreat.
“Brother, Mother has always carried protective talismans. How could she be afflicted by such malevolence?” the Carefree Prince asked, his voice trembling.
The Emperor’s reply was terse. “We’ll investigate later. Right now, we must remove this threat immediately.”
Just as he was about to order Yu Zhi Yi to act, the Carefree Prince pulled out a string of prayer beads. “These were personally blessed by the abbot of the Protector Temple. He assured me they could ward off evil spirits. Let me subdue Mother first while you send for the abbot.”
The Emperor hesitated but nodded reluctantly.
The Carefree Prince moved swiftly, tossing the beads onto the Empress Dowager’s back. The result was immediate…
Nothing happened.
Instead, the beads seemed to provoke the malevolence further. With an animalistic growl, the Empress Dowager lunged at the Carefree Prince, striking his chest with a single clawed hand. He was flung across the room like a discarded rag doll, landing with a sickening crack as bones shattered upon impact. He lay immobile, his eyes wide with terror.
The Emperor’s face turned ashen. “Mother!” he cried, desperation lacing his voice. He tried to appeal to her humanity while edging away with Consort Yu.
The Empress Dowager’s glowing red eyes locked onto him. Her movements grew more erratic, and the malevolent light around her seemed to intensify. The Emperor felt an icy chill settle over him as though death itself had come to claim him.
With astonishing speed, she leapt again. This time, her claw aimed directly at the crown of his head. If the blow landed, there would be no hope of survival.
The court guards charged into the room, brandishing weapons and forming a protective barrier around the Emperor. Though trembling with fear, they stood firm in their duty. Yet, against such an otherworldly foe, their efforts were futile. One by one, they fell.
The Empress Dowager advanced on the Emperor, her next strike poised for a killing blow.
And then…
Her hand stopped mid-air, as though held by an invisible force. She struggled, but her arm refused to move further. All eyes turned toward Yu Zhi Yi, who stood unflinching amidst the chaos.
Her voice rang out, clear and ethereal. “Carefree Prince, Minister Yu, shall we continue this ritual?”