Chapter 16 You Bingyue Leaves the Prime Minister's Residence

You Bingyue pointed at Yu Zhiyi and stammered "you you you" for a long time, but she didn't know what to say.

She, the queen of the night, was actually taught a lesson by a gold-digging woman from ancient times. How could she swallow this insult?

"Alright, alright, Bingyue, let's go back." Du Ziheng quickly put his arm around You Bingyue, afraid that she would make a move in front of Prime Minister Du and his wife.

When his gaze fell on Yu Zhiyi, his expression was complicated: "We didn't understand the situation today, I'm sorry."

Yu Zhiyi raised an eyebrow.

"Du Ziheng, come back here!" Seeing that Du Ziheng was still protecting You Bingyue even at this time, Yao was furious.

"Mother, don't be angry. It's not worth ruining your health."

Madam Yao looked at Yu Zhiyi apologetically: "Yi'er, it's all my fault for not disciplining this unfilial son."

Yu Zhiyi shook her head: "Everyone is an independent individual. Young Master is already an adult and should be responsible for his own actions. How can you blame it on Mother?"

Before Madam Yao could say anything more, Yu Zhiyi changed the subject: "You two have been busy most of the night, you should go back and rest. Father has to go to court tomorrow morning."

"Oh no, I completely forgot about that!"

Madam Yao slapped her forehead and quickly pulled Prime Minister Du away.

Before leaving, he said, "Don't worry, Yi'er, I'll get rid of that woman when it's light!"

As was her word, Yao led her men to Guanyue Pavilion at the crack of dawn, throwing a stack of testimonies at Du Ziheng's face.

Testimony indicates that Du embezzled a total of three thousand taels of silver in just five years!

Now, only three hundred taels can be recovered.

Of the remaining 2,700 taels, he used nearly 100 taels for drinking and enjoyment, and exchanged the rest for gold hairpins and jewelry to give to You Bingyue to make her happy.

Du Ziheng and You Bingyue were initially angry because of Yao's act of having someone violently kick down the door early in the morning, but their expressions changed at the same time.

Du Ziheng turned to look at his beloved, his eyes filled with disbelief.

You Bingyue was initially shocked, but quickly recovered and frowned, saying, "How would I know those were bought with stolen money? Anyway, the items are still here. If you want to get them back, we'll return them to you."

Madam Yao looked at her calmly: "So, Miss You is such an indiscriminate person? No matter who the other party is, you'll accept anything as long as it's offered to you?"

Sensing the hidden meaning, You Bingyue became furious: "What do you mean? Are you saying I'm after that little thing?"

Before Yao could say anything, she jumped up and said, "Do you think I'm your short-sighted daughter-in-law? It's just a few hairpins. If Du Sheng hadn't said they were for thanking me, I wouldn't have accepted them!"

"I'm not your naive daughter-in-law who's never seen the world. I won't sell my integrity for a little something!"

Yao sneered: "You keep saying that Yi'er has never seen the world, but what happened last night clearly shows that you are the one who has never seen the world."

She shook her ornate wide sleeves: "It's just a few hairpins. If Heng'er had given them to you, I wouldn't have said anything. But they were bought with stolen money, so Miss You, please hand over the stolen goods."

You Bingyue felt insulted: "Don't keep talking about stolen money!"

She gave a cold laugh, thinking she had seen through everything: "Don't think I don't know, you're just using this as an excuse to humiliate me. Let me tell you, I, You Bingyue, am not like you stupid women who can only survive by relying on men. I can live just as well as I can without the Prime Minister's mansion!"

"Even if they beg me, I won't come to this Prime Minister's residence again!"

She stormed off in anger, taking nothing with her.

"Bingyue!" Du Ziheng hurriedly caught up.

Madam Yao was prepared: "Guards, stop him!"

Du Ziheng was anxious: "Mother! Bingyue is a girl, and she has no relatives or friends in Shengjing. I must go find her!"

Madam Yao chuckled: "Didn't she say that she doesn't need to rely on men or the Prime Minister's mansion to live, and can live very well? Isn't the person you've taken a liking to just as independent and capable?"

Du Ziheng was speechless.

“Although Du Sheng’s embezzlement has nothing to do with her, the items bought with the embezzled money were indeed delivered to her. Until it is found out whether she deliberately had Du Sheng buy them for her or whether Du Sheng wanted to give them to her himself, you are not allowed to go to her again.”

"Du Lin, keep a close eye on your young master. If I find out that he met with that Miss You in private, I will hold you accountable!"

After Yu Zhiyi got up, she heard Zi Yuan say, "Miss, Madam is really capable; she chased that woman away!"

Yu Zhiyi was taken aback: "Du Ziheng agreed?"

Although she can see through a person's entire life by looking at their face, she cannot see through those who are related to her or those with special destinies.

Ever since the Lady of Wu'an Marquis visited, the bond between Prime Minister Du and his wife and her has deepened. She and Du Ziheng are a legitimate married couple, and You Bingyue is a person with a special destiny...

Therefore, she gradually lost the ability to predict the future through metaphysical means regarding these individuals.

Zi Yuan: "The young master will definitely refuse, but that Miss You accepted the things that Du Sheng bought with his ill-gotten gains, and the madam used this as an excuse to make her leave. That girl is very proud and said that even if the Prime Minister's mansion begs her in the future, she will not come back. She left without taking anything with her."

She then smiled and said, "The son-in-law wanted to pursue her, but the madam stopped him."

Yu Zhiyi was somewhat surprised, but after thinking about it for a moment, she understood.

Previously, Yao was helpless against You Bingyue because Du Ziheng protected her fiercely.

Why did Du Ziheng protect her?

Because at that time, You Bingyue was innocent and in a weaker position, while the Yao family was the stronger one.

This time, however, You Bingyue not only helped Du Sheng escape punishment during his trial, but also accepted gifts he bought with embezzled funds, thus becoming the party at fault, while Yao Shi, as the victim, became the weaker party.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Du Ziheng lost face and stopped arguing.

Seeing Zi Yuan's happy expression, Yu Zhiyi couldn't help but tease her, "Don't worry, he won't stay still for long."

Zi Yuan's smile vanished instantly.

Miss, are you a devil?

Although I know this is true, could you please let me be happy for a little longer?

Over the next few days, Madam Yao thoroughly investigated the entire Prime Minister's residence and uncovered several more corrupt officials.

This included Du Sheng's parents.

They were even more ruthless than Du Sheng, not only embezzling money by abusing their positions, but also bullying their subordinates.

Yao was both angry and relieved.

A person whose heart is rotten to the core might embezzle a few thousand taels of silver today and bully a few servants with no background; who knows what heinous things they might do tomorrow.

They might become the next Du Ping, pawns used by others to deal with the Prime Minister's residence.

That would be terrible.

After getting rid of these termites, the sky above the Prime Minister's residence seemed to clear up considerably.

During this cleaning, Madam Yao did not forget to mention Yu Zhiyi's contribution.

As a result, all the servants knew that their young mistress was a very wise woman; her eyes were like a ruler, and no one who did bad things could escape from her grasp.

Many of those who had been eager to make a move have become honest, and those who had previously looked down on the young mistress because she was not favored have also corrected their attitudes.