Chapter 57: The Tide Turns

"Sanlang?" The moment she caught sight of Li Yi, Lady Red Whisk was stunned for several seconds. The household servants and maids were equally shocked. None of them had expected such a turn of events: Lady Zhangsun had arrived so aggressively to demand justice, and even Lady Red Whisk had been preparing to persuade her to stay and talk things over. Yet, this was how Li Yi chose to respond.

"Does the young master truly not fear that she will take this matter to Her Majesty the Empress?"
"After all, no matter what, the Empress Zhangsun is still family to the Zhangsun clan!"
"If this truly reaches the palace, then our Li household will be in real trouble..."

Not only Lady Red Whisk, but even the maids and servants harbored anxious concerns.

Yet, in stark contrast to the Li household’s reactions, Lady Zhangsun, upon seeing Li Yi and hearing his words, broke into a cold, mocking smile.

"Oh? If it isn’t Li Sanlang at last. So you finally dare to show yourself?" Lady Zhangsun’s tone was icy, her words brimming with scorn. "I almost thought you’d never come out!"

Li Yi, however, paid her no heed. He walked straight into the main hall and sat down with composure. He ordered Yue’er to bring him a cup of tea. Only then did he look to Lady Red Whisk, offering a gentle smile. "Mother, do not worry. Leave this matter to me."

"But..." Lady Red Whisk wanted to say more, but with Lady Zhangsun present, she could not risk speaking further, lest some stray word spark more rumors and make matters worse. She could only nod, take a deep breath, and say, "Very well. I trust you, Sanlang."

"Thank you, Mother." Li Yi smiled, giving her an encouraging look.

Just then, Yue’er arrived with the tea. Li Yi took a sip to quench his thirst, then turned to Lady Zhangsun, speaking in an unhurried tone. "Madam Zhangsun, may I ask—have you truly ascertained the facts before coming to the Li household to demand justice?"

Lady Zhangsun did not seem angered. Instead, she sneered lightly, her face calm and indifferent. "Of course I have."

"Well said, Madam Zhangsun." Li Yi nodded, a sly smile flickering across his lips. "Then do you know why I felt compelled to give Zhangsun Chong a beating?"

At these words, a glimmer of satisfaction flashed through Lady Zhangsun’s eyes. She understood perfectly well why her son had been beaten, but she had come to the Li household with no intention of investigating the truth. All she wanted was for Li Yi to be punished and her own anger to be appeased.

"Heh, Li Sanlang, since you have admitted it was you who struck my Chong’er, then how should we settle this?" Lady Zhangsun replied with a smile, firing the question back at him. She had no intention of answering his question.

Li Yi was in no rush. He met her gaze with quiet composure. "Madam Zhangsun, you have yet to answer my question."

"Hmph. You are just a junior—why should I answer you?" Lady Zhangsun scoffed, giving Li Yi a dismissive glance. "I don’t care about anything else. Today, I’m here to demand justice for my Chong’er! If need be, I shall take this matter straight to Her Majesty the Empress!"

She showed not the slightest trace of fear, her posture lofty and imposing. She didn’t believe for a moment that the Li household would risk letting this escalate. And even if it did, she had no fear—after all, the Empress was her own clan’s kin.

Li Yi could not help but shake his head and laugh. If she wanted trouble, then he would see it through. Did she think invoking the Empress’ name would make him cower?

"To think Lady Zhangsun is so willing to pass judgment without regard for truth or falsehood. Very well, since you won’t speak, I shall." Li Yi’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Lady Zhangsun, his tone cold and deliberate. "Not long ago, Zhangsun Chong seized a member of my household and used them to threaten us, attempting to coerce someone into poisoning me."

"Madam Zhangsun, were you aware of this?"

Li Yi raised his voice for all to hear, his eyes narrowing to a cold slit as he stared at Lady Zhangsun, a mocking smile curling his lips. Did she not enjoy acting without regard for right or wrong? Then let him escalate matters even further. Who was afraid of whom? After all, he still had witnesses.

"You—Li Sanlang, how dare you spout such nonsense here!" As expected, at Li Yi’s words, Lady Zhangsun’s face changed abruptly, turning uneasy and even a little panicked. To attempt to take a life—this was no minor crime! It was a capital offense, one even the Empress herself could not shield her from.

In a fluster, Lady Zhangsun hastened to protest, "Li Sanlang, this is pure fabrication! My Chong’er merely ordered a bit of croton to be administered—where is this ‘poisoning’ you speak of? There was no intent to take your life!"

At that, Li Yi laughed outright.

He had not expected Lady Zhangsun to be so easily rattled, blurting out the truth in front of everyone. All the better—it would save him the trouble of arguing further with such an unreasonable woman.

At Lady Zhangsun’s confession, the entire hall erupted in a furor.

"Tsk tsk, who would have thought the Zhangsun clan, for all their airs, would stoop to such a vile act—trying to drug our young master!"

"Indeed—what shamelessness from the Zhangsun family!"

"To think they’d commit such a disgraceful deed, and then Lady Zhangsun has the gall to come here and accuse us—her face is thicker than the city walls!"

The servants of the Li household gossiped openly, uncaring of Lady Zhangsun’s dignity. Even Lady Red Whisk turned pale on hearing the truth. She had not realized matters were thus. While Li Yi had perhaps exaggerated the gravity of events, she could no longer contain her anger. Someone had dared to harm her son—this could not be forgiven!

"Lady Zhangsun, you have raised quite the son!" Lady Red Whisk’s earlier worries evaporated. Now that her son’s life was at stake, she would not let it pass. She fixed Lady Zhangsun with an icy glare, her voice cold and resolute. "To think, after your son did such a shameful thing, you still have the nerve to come here and accuse us!"

"If you do not offer an explanation today, I shall take this matter straight to the palace and beseech Her Majesty to uphold justice for me!"

Lady Red Whisk’s tone was firmer and colder than ever as she stared down Lady Zhangsun.

With just a few words, Li Yi had turned the tables completely, shifting Lady Zhangsun from a position of strength to utter disadvantage.

And Lady Zhangsun, in that very moment, was filled with bitter regret...