Keeping the green mountains means there’s hope for firewood. As long as he survived today, there was a chance to turn things around. Although Chen Gao had decided to follow the mysterious person’s instructions, he was still uneasy. “How can I be sure you won’t kill me after I finish writing?”
Yu Yi said nothing, lifted Chen Gao’s left sleeve, and with a swift knife, cut off a thin piece of skin and flesh. Chen Gao let out a miserable scream. Yu Yi cut another piece of skin and said coldly, “Cry again and I’ll cut more. I see you have plenty of flesh on your arm, enough for me to slice dozens of times.”
Chen Gao had specifically chosen this small building far from other courtyards to imprison Bai Xiu, ensuring her sharp cries and mad ravings wouldn’t be heard.
Chen Gao cried with tears and mucus flowing but didn’t dare to scream or negotiate further. Trembling, he picked up his pen to write, when the person behind him ordered, “This paper is bloodstained.”
Get a new one.” He obediently took a spare sheet, enduring the intense pain in his left arm, and began writing carefully to avoid getting blood on the paper. The pain and fear made it impossible for him to think of forgery, focusing only on finishing writing, with the person behind him constantly reminding him to write down specific details, timing, and verifiable evidence.
Chen Gao became increasingly certain that the person behind him was someone who knew the truth, but he couldn’t figure out who they were. In this coerced situation, it was difficult for him to think clearly and discern.
Finally, Chen Gao wrote down why he wanted to frame Bin Yi and how he did it, filling more than ten pages with tiny fly-head script, and signed his name as instructed by the person behind him.
Yu Yi collected the document proving her father’s innocence in a fireproof bag and placed it in her pocket. Then she stuffed a rubber stopper into Chen Gao’s mouth, made him lie face down, and bound his knees and arms. Learning from the previous lesson at the Lei household, she was extra careful, wrapping the binding areas with thick sponge and using ropes that wouldn’t leave traces.
Chen Gao shivered, not knowing what this person intended to do with him.
After securing Chen Gao, Yu Yi removed the previously installed monitoring and listening devices and put on a professional fireproof suit and mask.
Then she sprinkled accelerant on the beams, doors, and windows before setting them on fire.
Early winter meant everything in the room was dry and flammable, and the accelerant quickly intensified the flames.
Chen Gao heard the crackling of flames and broke out in a cold sweat, slightly raising his head before being scared back down by Yu Yi’s command to “lie still.”
In the night, the burning small building attracted people from the Chen household who began to fight the fire.
Yu Yi adjusted her voice changer and shouted in Chen Gao’s voice: “Don’t put out the fire! This fire is set by me.”
People outside were stunned, but no one was more terrified than Chen Gao himself. He struggled to turn over, only to see a strange silver “monster” in the room, nearly fainting from fright.
Yu Yi continued loudly: “I am disloyal to the Emperor, unfaithful to friends, framed the Loyal Marquis, killed the innocent, and now haunted by vengeful spirits, I can’t bear the pain anymore… I will die with Bai Niang, and no one is allowed to put out the fire!”
The story continues with Yu Yi’s elaborate plan to destroy Chen Gao and clear her father’s name, ultimately burning Chen Gao alive while making it appear like a suicide driven by guilt.
Now she only wished her father’s case could be retried to restore his innocence.
At this time, the wooden beams and pillars of the small building were burned and on the verge of collapse. Yu Yi called out to Boshi.
“Is everything okay?” Boshi had already agreed with her and was waiting for her signal.
“It’s done.” As soon as Yu Yi finished speaking, Boshi took her to Chen Gao’s office at the Ministry of Justice. Yu Yi placed Chen Gao’s confession into an envelope and put it on the bookshelf. To be safe, she first scanned and backed it up on her personal terminal.
Afterward, Boshi sent Yu Yi to the inn she had entered that morning. When she came out of her room, she saw Fu Cheng waiting in a carriage. She apologized, “Brother Fu, I’ve kept you waiting for a long time.”
Fu Cheng hurriedly said, “Miss, there’s no need to be so polite. Waiting a while is nothing. Please get in the carriage.”
After Yu Yi got in the carriage, she said, “Go to Longyun Hall.”
Longyun Hall was where Meng Qing lived. Seeing that Yu Yi’s mood was not good and her eyes carried a hint of sadness, he joked, “Why are you coming so late? This young master has been waiting for Miss Yu to treat him to dinner, but now it seems like you’re treating me to a late-night snack!”
Yu Yi had asked Meng Qing to help her install surveillance at the music house the previous night and intended to pay him, but Meng Qing said a meal would suffice.
Coming late this time was indeed her fault, so she apologetically said, “Then I’ll treat Young Master Meng to dinner and a late-night snack, combining the two. Surely Young Master will be satisfied now?”
Meng Qing said, “Wait, you just said one thing, and now it’s become two meals in one? That would be too much of a loss for me! No, no.”
Yu Yi smiled lightly, “Then please, Young Master Meng, eat as many meals as you like.”
“That sounds good.”
Next to Longyun Hall was Yipin Pavilion, one of Longdu’s famous restaurants. After dining at Yipin Pavilion, Yu Yi prepared to return to the mountain villa. After getting in the carriage, she saw Meng Qing had also followed her. She looked at him questioningly, “Young Master Meng, where are you going? Do you need me to accompany you?”
“Xiye Mountain Villa, thank you.”
Meng Qing had an expression that said, “Have you forgotten?” He said, “I promised Ting’er that I would definitely go to the mountain villa today.”
Yu Yi had a look that said, “Are you taking a child’s casual remark seriously?” She said, “It’s so late now. By the time we reach the villa, Ting’er will already be asleep.”
“A real man’s word is his bond. If you promise someone something, you must do it,” Meng Qing argued, then added, “Also, some promised late-night snacks cannot be forgotten.”
Yu Yi laughed and went along with him, then asked, “Young Master Meng, have you been doing any ‘business’ recently?”
Meng Qing knew what she meant by “business”. “I’ve been doing too much recently, so I’m taking a break from business for a few days. After visiting yesterday, I found this Xiye Mountain Villa quite suitable for a vacation.”
Hearing this, Yu Yi’s eyebrow twitched, then she said, “Have you already settled the bill at Longyun Hall?”
“Miss Yu really understands me too well,” Meng Qing laughed.
Yu Yi and Meng Qing returned to Xiye Mountain Villa around the hour of Hai (9-11 PM). Yu Song was still waiting for them. Yu Yi was surprised, “Mother, why haven’t you gone to bed?”
Yu Song looked at her reproachfully, “Why are you back so late? I’ve been worried. At least you’re with Young Master Meng.” Then she looked at Meng Qing, “Have you had dinner this late?”
“I’ve eaten, Madam Yu. Thank you for your kindness.”
“Today, I and my daughters have prepared the side courtyard. Though it’s not luxurious, it’s clean. If Young Master Meng doesn’t mind, you can rest in the side courtyard.”
Meng Qing smiled, “That would be perfect.”
After Yu Song said a few more words, she excused herself, saying it was too late and went to rest. Only Yu Yi and Meng Qing remained in the main hall.
Yu Yi felt the atmosphere was somewhat awkward and was curious about why Meng Qing had come to this time and space.
