Chapter 25: The Villain Stands Accused

“Mother, your child has returned!” As soon as he stepped through the gates, Li Yi called out into the hall as he always did, yet no one answered him.

Li Yi felt a pang of confusion. Could his mother not be at home?

Just then, a servant carrying water passed by. Li Yi frowned and asked, “Where is my mother?”

Based on past experience, this was usually the hour when he and Lady Hongfu would go to the martial grounds in the rear courtyard to practice martial arts together.

But today, Lady Hongfu was nowhere to be found.

The servant was momentarily taken aback, then bowed slightly and replied with a cheerful smile, “Young Master, just now Madam Du and her daughter from the Du family visited, and your mother went out with them.”

“Ah, she’s gone out…” Li Yi paused briefly, then smiled and waved off the servant, heading straight for the martial grounds in the rear courtyard.

He assumed Lady Hongfu had gone shopping with them and didn’t give it another thought.

In fact, the prospect of not having to endure Lady Hongfu’s “painful torment” today delighted Li Yi immensely.

“Come, Yue’er,” Li Yi glanced at the girl behind him, his mood soaring. “Today, I’ll teach you Tai Chi.”

Yue’er’s eyes widened in surprise, blinking repeatedly, but her voice was firm as she shook her head. “Young Master, I cannot practice Tai Chi!”

Yue’er remembered very clearly that Tai Chi could only be passed down to Li Yi’s family members.

Now, as nothing more than a humble maid at Li Yi’s side, she had no such qualification.

So Yue’er stubbornly shook her head and refused.

“What are you afraid of? If I say you can practice, then you can,” Li Yi saw through her worries at a glance. He smiled, pinched her cheek, and said, “Enough talk, let’s go!”

“Yes, Young Master.” Yue’er blushed and lowered her head, following Li Yi to the martial grounds.

Fortunately, Yue’er was quick-witted. Under Li Yi’s hands-on guidance, she managed to learn the basics after a short time.

During this process, Li Yi took many liberties, making Yue’er’s cheeks flush like a rosy sunset.

Seeing her like this, Li Yi laughed heartily and went off alone to practice boxing and swordplay.

Before he knew it, several hours had passed. Suddenly, Li Yi felt hungry.

“Yue’er, I’m hungry,” Li Yi stopped his training and looked at her.

“Uh…” Yue’er, busy practicing her sword skills, immediately put the sword back on the rack when she heard his words, lowered her head shyly, and said, “Young Master, I’ll go prepare your meal right away.”

With that, Yue’er headed for the kitchen.

Li Yi practiced a bit longer, but when Yue’er didn’t bring him food, he put his sword away and went directly to the kitchen.

From a distance, he heard voices coming from within.

“Miss Yue’er, the Young Master’s lunch has already been prepared. Please take it to him quickly.”

“Thank you, Master Song.”

“No need to thank me, Miss Yue’er. The Young Master always likes bird’s nest porridge. It’s my good fortune to serve him.”

Hearing this harmonious exchange, Li Yi felt gratified.

He strode into the kitchen.

“Young Master?”

The kitchen staff were surprised to see Li Yi and bowed respectfully.

Only Master Song, a portly man with a Buddha-like belly, seemed slightly flustered upon seeing Li Yi, a look of panic flickering across his face. This caught Li Yi’s attention.

Li Yi frowned, sensing something amiss.

Though the household servants had always had some fear of him, none had ever reacted with such panic upon seeing him.

Why was Master Song so unnerved? Could he be hiding something?

“No need for formalities,” Li Yi said with a faint smile, not confronting him directly. He swaggered over and glanced at the bird’s nest porridge in the wooden box.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Master Song’s hands were trembling.

This odd behavior only deepened Li Yi’s suspicions.

“Master Song, did you make this bird’s nest porridge?” Li Yi asked carelessly, scooping up a spoonful and sniffing it. “Smells good.”

“Yes… yes, Young Master, I made it,” Master Song replied, his voice trembling, head bowed.

“Oh!” Li Yi replied lazily, preparing to take a bite.

But suddenly, Master Song lunged forward and knocked the porridge from Li Yi’s hand just before it reached his mouth.

Crash!

The porcelain bowl shattered on the floor, porridge splattering everywhere and soiling Li Yi’s clothes.

Everyone in the kitchen stared wide-eyed at Master Song, utterly bewildered.

Yue’er rushed forward, spreading her arms protectively before Li Yi, her brows knitted in anger as she glared at Master Song. “Master Song, what are you doing?!”

Li Yi was equally taken aback, frowning as he stared at Master Song, uncertain of his motive.

“Young Master, I am guilty!” Master Song fell to his knees, heedless of the shards beneath him, and prostrated himself on the ground, his voice trembling. “Young Master, I put croton seeds in the porridge. Please punish me!”

“You…!” Master Song’s words shocked everyone in the kitchen.

Yue’er clenched her fists in rage, ready to strike him.

Li Yi raised his hand to calm them, then turned to Master Song, his voice cold. “Stand up and speak.”

“I dare not!” Master Song remained prostrate, refusing to rise, his tone resolute. “I am guilty, attempted to harm you. Please punish me, Young Master!”

Li Yi’s frown deepened, his tone suddenly sharp and icy. “Stand up!”

Only then did Master Song rise, still keeping his head bowed, trembling all over.

“Speak. Why did you try to harm me?” Li Yi fixed his gaze on Master Song.

Everyone in the kitchen was seething with anger, staring at Master Song, unable to comprehend why the usually kind and honest Master Song would behave so today.

“Young Master,” Master Song sobbed softly, his head hung low, despair filling his voice. “Young Master Changsun seized my family and threatened me—if I didn’t poison your food, he would sell them to Pingkang Brothel as prostitutes.”

“It was my own blindness that led me astray and tempted me to harm you. My death would be well deserved, but I beg you, Young Master, please save my family. They are innocent!”

Tears streamed from Master Song’s eyes as his voice choked with emotion.

“What?!” The kitchen staff, shocked and stunned, felt their anger flare anew, clenching their fists in outrage.