Hearing the head eunuch’s promise of release, White Concubine looked around the courtyard and spotted Yu Yi among the maids. Wanting to seize this opportunity, she immediately pointed and shouted: “Young Miss Yu is disguised as a maid!”
The head eunuch looked in the direction she pointed.
With dozens of maids standing together, he couldn’t distinguish who was Yu Yi, so he asked White Concubine to identify her.
When Yu Yi heard White Concubine’s voice, she knew her fate was sealed. Looking at White Concubine with hatred, she feared the woman might reveal Hongrui and Honzhi’s location. She walked out from among the servants and went to her mother’s side, linking arms with her.
White Concubine was surprised when Yu Yi walked out and stood awkwardly at the hall’s entrance. She turned to the head eunuch, hopeful: “Your Excellency, may I leave?”
The head eunuch smiled slightly, and White Concubine smiled too. He said: “You must also find Yu Hongrui and Yu Honzhi.”
Yu Yi felt her mother’s hand trembling violently. Closing her eyes in pain, she held her mother tightly. She heard White Concubine agree and soon heard voices from the courtyard: “This is Hongrui, this is Honzhi.”
Lady Yu could no longer maintain her composure and fainted, with Yu Yi trying to support her, both falling to the ground. She cried out: “Mother, mother, wake up!”
Yu Binyi was unsteady, gritting his teeth to prevent himself from collapsing.
Hongrui and Honzhi were brought to the main hall. White Concubine quietly asked: “Your Excellency…”
The head eunuch raised his voice to command everyone to kneel and listen to the imperial decree.
The decree essentially stated that the former Loyal Marquis Yu Binyi had rebellious intentions and secretly planned for his disciples to revolt, stripping the Yu family of their hereditary title and sending the entire family to prison for investigation.
White Concubine thought she had escaped, but after the decree was announced, she was also taken to the Ministry of Justice prison.
All male members of the Yu family were eventually beheaded. The “traitor” Yu Binyi was executed by waist cutting, and all female family members were sold into slavery.
