"What?"
Yun Xi's eyes widened in shock. She immediately frowned and gritted her teeth.
"Are you saying that Yuzhu wasn't injured originally, but was beaten by the old madam after she returned to the mansion?!"
Yun Xi was furious. Her voice involuntarily rose, and she felt a searing flame in her chest.
Hongluo had never seen Yun Xi so angry before. She was startled by the coldness in Yun Xi's eyes and nodded blankly, answering truthfully,
"Yes. Yuzhu rushed back to the mansion yesterday to seek help. She said that the young lady was attacked on the way to pay respects to the late madam's grave and had gone missing. She hoped that the old madam would send people to look for the young lady as soon as possible. Upon hearing this, the old madam immediately ordered people to tie up Yuzhu and beat her with a cane in public."
"It wasn't until the master returned to the mansion this morning that Yuzhu was released from the woodstore."
Thinking of the situation at that time, Hongluo couldn't help but sigh.
The eldest young lady of the mansion had gone missing, but instead of sending people to look for her, the master punished the servant. This kind of situation could probably only be seen in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
It was a pity that she was just a humble servant. With the master and the young lady not in the mansion, after failing to plead for mercy, she could only watch helplessly as Yuzhu was beaten.
"Miss, is that you, miss?"
Yuzhu had just taken the medicine and was feeling drowsy. Suddenly, she seemed to hear Yun Xi's voice outside the door. She immediately opened her eyes wide and tried to get out of bed with difficulty.
Hearing a loud noise from inside the room, Yun Xi's pupils shrank. She immediately forgot her anger and rushed in quickly.
Seeing Yuzhu looking haggard, with pale lips, and having fallen out of bed in her haste, Yun Xi's eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Yuzhu, I'm back!"
Yun Xi rushed forward to pick up Yuzhu. With Hongluo's help, they managed to help Yuzhu back onto the bed.
"I'm sorry, Yuzhu. It's all because of me that you've suffered so much!"
Yun Xi hugged Yuzhu and cried uncontrollably.
Since her mother's death, Yuzhu had been almost the closest family member to her in this world. She even relied on and cherished Yuzhu more than her own father.
At this moment, she regretted her own willfulness that had implicated Yuzhu, and she also hated herself for not being able to protect Yuzhu.
The moment she saw Yun Xi, Yuzhu was overjoyed and almost forgot the pain in her body.
"Miss, as long as I can see you return safely, I can rest in peace even if I die!"
When Yuzhu woke up from the cold under the bed that morning and found a quilt covering her, she immediately sensed that something was wrong.
The escorts realized that they had been drugged the previous night, and all the people in the inn had disappeared. They searched everywhere, but due to the heavy snow covering the ground, the clues were interrupted, and they had no choice but to return to the capital for help.
At that time, Yuzhu knew that it must have been the young lady who had saved her in a moment of desperation, but she herself had fallen into danger.
Since she couldn't find the young lady anywhere, she was almost crazy with worry at that time!
She even thought about ending her own life, but in the end, because she was worried about Yun Xi, she managed to survive.
She didn't hate being beaten with a cane, but she blamed the old madam Yun and Mrs. Jiang for their cold - heartedness. Even though she pleaded desperately, they still didn't send anyone to look for the young lady.
They even said that even if they found the young lady, it might only be a corpse, which would be inauspicious during the New Year.
So, she had slapped Mrs. Jiang's face out of anger!
Hearing Yuzhu's story, Yun Xi clenched her fists tightly and trembled with anger. Yuzhu comforted her,
"Miss, the suffering I've endured is nothing, and you don't need to avenge me!"
"From now on, we must be careful of that snake - like woman, Mrs. Jiang. We must never fall into her trap again!"
Thinking about the day they left the city, no wonder Mrs. Jiang had been so kind. Even though the young lady had been vigilant and changed the carriage, she still fell into the other's trap.
It was obvious that Mrs. Jiang had been plotting for a long time. She had even bribed all the people in an inn along the way!
Such scheming and cunning had to be guarded against!
Yun Xi understood Yuzhu's concerns and gently patted her on the shoulder,
"Yuzhu, don't worry. I won't act impulsively from now on."
This time, she had underestimated Mrs. Jiang. She thought she had seen through the other's tricks, but she had forgotten how much Mrs. Jiang wished for her to disappear immediately!
If Qi Rong hadn't appeared in time, she might have been dead and buried by now!
Mrs. Jiang must be very disappointed that she had returned safely this time!
Yun Xi said a few more words to Yuzhu and gently covered her with the quilt,
"Yuzhu, you should rest assured and recover. Don't worry about other things."
Yuzhu grabbed Yun Xi's hand and kept warning her uneasily,
"Miss, my injury is really not serious. Please don't argue with the old madam again."
Mrs. Jiang always tried to sow discord between the young lady and the old madam Yun. If the young lady got angry and stood up for her, it would surely fulfill Mrs. Jiang's wish.
All the hard - won achievements of the young lady would be wasted!
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. You have a good sleep. I'll come to see you tonight."
Yun Xi gave Yuzhu a reassuring smile. She told the maid to take good care of Yuzhu. As soon as she stepped out of the door, the smile on her face disappeared immediately, and her face became as cold as ice!
Looking at her father standing not far outside the room, Yun Xi curled her lips in a sarcastic smile and walked towards him with heavy steps.
"Father, how long have you been here? I'm sure you've heard what Yuzhu said just now. What do you think about it?"
Yun Xi asked three questions in a row. Yun Sheng also had a gloomy expression. He stared sharply at his daughter without answering but instead asked a question,
"What do you want your father to do?"
On his way here, he had also questioned Xiao Anzi.
The situation was indeed as Yuzhu had said. It was Mrs. Jiang who had found an excuse to send Xiao Anzi away, which had allowed his daughter to slip out of the mansion.
If it was proven that those bandits were indeed bribed by Mrs. Jiang to kill his daughter, he would surely not tolerate it!
Seeing the determination in her father's eyes, Yun Xi seemed to have a telepathic connection and suddenly understood something.
She knew that this time, her father had chosen her side.
Yun Xi suddenly smiled. All the coldness on her body instantly disappeared. She slowly leaned into her father's arms, relying on him whole - heartedly just like when she was a child.
"Dad, your daughter wants to get justice for Yuzhu. I hope you won't interfere."
She understood her father's dilemma. At this moment, she didn't want to force her father anymore.
Since it was a war between her and Mrs. Jiang, then she would make a final decision herself!
Yun Sheng closed his eyes and gently patted his daughter's shoulder. Without hesitation, he simply said,
"Okay."
If this was his daughter's own choice, then he could only follow her.
As a father, he had already failed. If he couldn't even be his daughter's shield, then what face did he have to face his deceased wife?
In the past, considering Yun Ni and Yun Qi, he had given Mrs. Jiang many chances to repent. However, she had repeatedly challenged his bottom line.
Even if his daughter didn't take action, he would surely not let her go!
Hearing her father's answer, Yun Xi's lips curled slightly, showing the first bright smile since she returned to the capital.
The battle between her and Mrs. Jiang had been tortuous for so long, but there had always been this heartache about her father in her heart. Now that this obstacle was removed, she could give full play to her abilities.
She would officially put the drama of punishing Mrs. Jiang on the agenda and would surely leave no room for mercy, making Mrs. Jiang pay the price she deserved!