Ye Yizhen was knocked down, crashing heavily to the ground. Pain made her cry out, and her veil slipped away, revealing a pure, beautiful face.
The one who had collided with her was a tender little boy, six or seven years old, fair-skinned with rosy lips and bright teeth. His clothes were filthy, but a purple jade pendant hung from his chest. Panicked, he didn’t stop after the collision—he bolted wildly, trying to escape.
Jiang Wenzhou rushed to lift Ye Yizhen, torn between worry and anger. “Catch that brat!”
Several servants surged forward and quickly seized the child. He struggled desperately, kicking and thrashing. “You bad people, let me go! Let me go!” His little face flushed red, as though he might burst into tears.
Ye Yizhen, seeing this, spoke gently: “Brother Jiang, he’s just a child. Let him go.”
But Jiang Wenzhou, still furious, glared at the boy. “No. Today I’ll teach him a lesson…”
He rolled up his sleeves and yanked the child closer. Ye Yizhen hurriedly grabbed his arm. “Don’t—this will frighten him.”
Her gentle, beautiful, and kind demeanor won the admiration of many onlookers.
Among the crowd, several officials’ wives nodded approvingly. Beautiful and kind-hearted—she was a good woman.
Only Yun Zheng, hidden among the throng, frowned thoughtfully. Something felt off. Too deliberate.
At that moment, a middle-aged man rushed forward, eyes fixed anxiously on the boy in Jiang Wenzhou’s grasp. “Sir, my child is young and ignorant. I apologize. Please return him to me.”
Ah, the father had arrived—apologetic, humble, his attitude impeccable.
Jiang Wenzhou couldn’t press further and handed the boy over.
But to everyone’s shock, the child clung tightly to Jiang Wenzhou’s neck, refusing to let go. “No! I’m not your child. I don’t know you.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The middle-aged man’s face twisted with sorrow. “Jun’er, your father only forbade you from eating too many sugar twists. They’re bad for your teeth. You can’t deny your own father just because you’re angry.”
So that was it—boys of this age could be troublesome, even to the point of denying their parents.
The man reached out his hand. “Jun’er, come home with your father.”
But the boy recoiled in terror, tears streaming down his face. “You’re a bad man, a kidnapper. I don’t know you. You’re not my father!”
The middle-aged man frowned and forcibly pulled the child into his arms. “Ah, you’re too unruly, child. My apologies for disturbing everyone.”
The boy screamed and kicked at him, but the man tolerated it with a seemingly good temper. Carrying the child, he turned to leave. The crowd parted to make way, even feeling sympathy for him—such a difficult child to manage.
But the boy’s eyes brimmed with terror and despair. Who would save him?
Just then, a sharp voice rang out. “Wait.”
It was Ye Yizhen. She stepped forward, righteous and firm. “You claim this child is yours. How can you prove it?”
The man froze, then shook his head helplessly. “We are father and son. How else should I prove it?”
A spark lit in the boy’s eyes. He cried out for help. “Sister, save me! He’s a kidnapper. He abducted me!”
The man’s face flushed red with anger, though he restrained himself from scolding. Onlookers murmured in pity.
Ye Yizhen stood tall. “He called me sister. That means I must intervene. Unless you can prove he is truly your son, you cannot take him away.”
The boy’s tears flowed with gratitude. No one else believed him, but this beautiful sister had stepped forward. In that moment, she was his only hope.
The man sighed in resignation. “His name is Jiang Jun, seven years old. We are from Ji County. We came to the capital seeking relatives but failed, so we came to Huangjue Temple to pray for peace. The boy cried all the way. I struck him once, and he hasn’t stopped fussing since. Ah, it’s my fault for spoiling him too much.” He looked honest and simple, dressed in a clean brocade robe, which won people’s favor.
By contrast, the boy’s frantic tantrum grated on ears.
The crowd believed the man’s words and began to scold.
“This child is too unruly—he hasn’t been disciplined enough.”
“Exactly. Don’t spoil him. He needs proper teaching.”
The boy broke down, panicked and desperate. “No! He’s lying! He’s a bad man, a trafficker. Don’t believe him!”
The man’s eyes filled with sorrow, tears rolling down his cheeks. “You wound me too deeply, child. Ah…”
He carried the boy quickly toward the exit. As he brushed past Yun Zheng, her sharp nose caught a scent—was that the smell of narcotics?
No—something was wrong. This man was suspicious. Was this child the Ghost Doctor’s grandson?
Yun Zheng’s mind spun rapidly. Just as she was about to intervene, Ye Yizhen stepped forward first. “Wait.”
The middle-aged man looked impatient, though his tone remained gentle. “Madam, what else do you want?”
Ye Yizhen’s brows furrowed, her gaze flicking between the man and the boy.
As the crowd looked on in confusion, Ye Yizhen declared with righteous conviction: “You are not this child’s father. You are a kidnapper.”
The scene erupted in shock.
Yun Zheng’s lips curved in a mocking smile. So this was the moment—the rescue she had anticipated. She had thought it would be quiet, discreet. Instead, it was dramatic, in full view of the crowd. That suited Ye Yizhen’s nature perfectly.
It was a performance—a staged act to win Ye Yizhen a reputation for virtue while earning the gratitude of the Ghost Doctor and his grandson.
Well played. But unfortunately for her, Yun Zheng was here.
The middle-aged man grew flustered and shouted in protest. “Nonsense! Step aside.”
Ye Yizhen blocked his path, refusing to let him leave. “You speak with a capital accent, but the child has a southern accent. How do you explain that?”
The man’s face shifted slightly. “I am busy with business. I left the boy in our southern hometown with his grandparents. Is that not allowed?”
Ye Yizhen’s expression was firm, brimming with confidence. “Allowed, yes. But your shoes betray the truth.”
Everyone instinctively glanced at his shoes. They looked ordinary enough.
Someone asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong with the shoes?”
Ye Yizhen pressed her lips together, then spoke. “Your clothes are fine and elegant, yet your shoes are the thousand-layer cloth soles favored by common folk. Meanwhile, the boy wears black leather boots. Do you know? Black leather boots are not something ordinary families can afford. Why don’t you wear them? Is it because you cannot buy them? Or cannot afford them? Judging by your attire, you are not a man who would deny himself.”
Her voice rang out, righteous and commanding. “Therefore, you are not father and son at all.”
In that instant, she seemed bathed in golden light, like a living Bodhisattva, winning admiration and praise from all around.
The man’s face changed. He turned and bolted.
The crowd cried out in alarm. “He really is a kidnapper! Save the child!”
Yun Zheng watched the spectacle unfold, her expression calm as she edged closer, waiting for the perfect moment to act.
Several officials’ wives gathered around Ye Yizhen, faces full of admiration. “You are so clever, righteous, and kind. May we ask which family you belong to?”
Ye Yizhen’s heart swelled with pride. Her lips curved slightly, and she gave a shy smile. “A trivial matter, not worth mentioning. To stand up against injustice is simply what I ought to do.”
Jiang Wenzhou looked proudly at the woman he loved. He signaled to his attendants, and one immediately announced loudly: “This is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Pingxi household.”
It was the perfect moment to spread Ye Yizhen’s name.
The crowd praised her endlessly. “So she is the marquisate’s young madam—and so humble too. Truly admirable.”
Ye Yizhen smiled modestly. “You flatter me, you flatter me.”
Meanwhile, the kidnapper was being beaten by the onlookers. People hated traffickers most of all, for the countless families they had harmed.
Amid the chaos, Yun Zheng seized her chance. Quick-eyed and swift-handed, she snatched the boy and bolted away. Ha! Success! She had stolen the opportunity. Joy surged in her chest.
Ye Yizhen had labored so hard, only to make a wedding dress for Yun Zheng to wear.
But this was only the first step. Yun Zheng had more moves yet to play.
When Ye Yizhen finished entertaining the officials’ wives and turned back, her face changed drastically. “The child—where is he? He’s gone! Find him! You must find him! Quickly!”
She was on the verge of madness.