Just as she was sinking into unprecedented self-doubt, Qing Ning entered, her face etched with panic.
"Master! Miss, this is bad! The authorities are here to make an arrest!"
Father Yu was startled and hurried out of the study.
Yu Banxia followed closely behind her father.
Reaching the front hall, they saw a contingent of soldiers surrounding the courtyard.
Father Yu stepped forward and asked, "Sirs, what is the meaning of this?"
The soldier cupped his hands and replied, "Minister Yu, apologies for the intrusion. We've received reports that several people's faces were ruined after using the rouge and powder from Yu's Cosmetics Shop. We are here to ask Miss Yu to return with us to cooperate with the investigation."
Father Yu frowned, casting a glance at Yu Banxia.
Yu Banxia said coldly, "Yu's is the Sixth Prince's property. If you want to question someone, go find the Sixth Prince!"
The soldier declared loudly, "The shop's manager and staff all say Miss Yu is the actual owner of the shop. Therefore, we request Miss Yu to come with us. Do not force us to use force; it will not be a pleasant sight for anyone then."
Yu Banxia's face turned white. Only now did she understand Jun Hui's true intentions. All that talk about him taking responsibility if anything went wrong was just deceptive nonsense!
Seeing Yu Banxia remain still, the soldier waved his hand, "Take her away!"
"Daughter! My daughter!" Mother Yu rushed over, only to see her daughter surrounded by soldiers.
Father Yu blocked her daughter, speaking politely, "Esteemed sir, my daughter is still the daughter of an official family. Wouldn't this be inappropriate? If she's taken to the yamen, her reputation will be ruined! How about this, we will offer compensation. We will pay any amount!"
Yu Banxia's eyes welled with hot tears as she choked out, "Father."
Father Yu turned and glared at her, saying coldly, "Be quiet!"
The soldier said coldly, "It's not that I'm trying to make things difficult for Minister Yu, but among those whose faces were ruined are family members of several high-ranking officials. This is not something money can settle. Take her away!"
"Daughter! My daughter!"
"Mother! Father! Mother!"
"Miss! Miss..."
Watching his daughter being taken away, hearing his wife's continuous weeping, and then recalling the Sixth Prince's scheme, Father Yu felt powerless.
"A lenient mother spoils her child! I told you long ago that if our daughter continued like this, something bad would happen, but you kept indulging her! Now look, she's brought trouble upon us!"
"Master, quickly think of a way to save our daughter! She's physically weak, how can she endure something like this?"
Father Yu said in a deep voice, "What method could I possibly have? Didn't you hear them say that those whose faces were ruined are all official family members?"
With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked out of the residence.
"Master, where are you going?" Mother Yu asked, seeing him leave, suddenly losing her emotional anchor.
"To the Grand Court of Judicial Review!"
Yu Banxia was taken to the Grand Court of Judicial Review, where the victims, upon seeing her, unleashed another barrage of curses.
Some, emotionally agitated, even lunged forward, threatening to ruin her face.
Yu Banxia's heart was in a panic; she was truly afraid of the situation before her.
A sharp thwack from the gavel above startled Yu Banxia, and she knelt on the ground.
"Audacious Yu Banxia, you peddled rouge and powder that caused multiple people to be disfigured! What crime are you guilty of?"
Yu Banxia looked up and argued, "Your Honor, the true owner of this shop is the Sixth Prince! Your Honor, it truly wasn't me!"
Zhang Dehui was startled. How was the Sixth Prince implicated in this?
With so many people watching, since the Sixth Prince had been implicated, he couldn't very well do nothing.
"Go to the Sixth Prince's Estate and see if you can invite the Sixth Prince to come here."
Because the involved parties included family members of officials, the case had escalated to the Grand Court of Judicial Review.
Yu Banxia saw him send someone to summon Jun Hui, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.
Two incense sticks later, Jun Hui did not appear. Instead, it was the steward from the Sixth Prince's Estate.
"Steward, quickly tell them, the owner of that cosmetics shop truly isn't me!"
The steward didn't even spare her a glance. He cupped his hands to Zhang Dehui and said, "Minister Zhang, my Prince is a man who cherishes talent. Seeing Miss Yu's talent, he held her in high regard. Beyond that, there is no further involvement! Yu's shops, furthermore, have absolutely no connection to my Prince!"
Yu Banxia suddenly rose, about to lunge at the steward.
"You're lying! You're lying! That shop clearly belongs to Jun Hui! You—"
Thwack! The gavel slammed heavily onto the table.
"Silence!"
Yu Banxia was once again forced back to her original kneeling position by the officers.
Watching this scene, Father Yu's heart felt as though it were being sliced by knives.
Why was this child still so foolish? That was the Sixth Prince; dragging him into this would only make her suffer even more.
Zhang Dehui sneered, "Enough. With both eyewitnesses and material evidence present, your sophistry is useless. Guards, take Yu Banxia and imprison her in the grand jail to await sentencing."
"Yes."
Soon, Yu Banxia was dragged away.
"Get in!" With a shove, the prison door was then locked shut with an iron chain. Yu Banxia frantically pounded on it.
"Let me out, I've been wronged! Let me out!"
"Jun Hui! You heartless wretch!"
"You demon in human disguise! I curse you! May you die a terrible death!"
Just as she was screaming curses, a voice came from outside.
"Quickly go in, you only have a quarter of an hour!"
"Yes, many thanks, many thanks!"
Recognizing the person who had come, Yu Banxia's eyes brightened.
"Father! Father! Quickly save me! Your daughter doesn't want to stay here!"
Father Yu gently smoothed his daughter's hair, saying softly, "Xiaxia, be good. Father will get you out very soon, don't be afraid."
Yu Banxia quieted down, gripping Father Yu's hand and asking, "Father, what method do you have? If those people don't relent, your daughter can't get out."
Father Yu said, "Don't worry, leave it to Father; you'll be out very soon. But my daughter, you must not be willful anymore from now on."
Yu Banxia shook her head vigorously, exclaiming, "I won't be like that again! Your daughter won't!"
She truly wouldn't be so opinionated anymore. After suffering such a tremendous loss, she had truly learned her lesson.
Father Yu patted his daughter's head and said, "Then take good care of yourself. The food here isn't good, but endure it and eat a little. Wait for Father to come and get you."
"I understand, Father. Please be quick."
Father Yu nodded. After comforting his daughter, he left the grand jail.
The servants from the Yu Residence asked, "Master, where are we going now?"
Father Yu said, "To the homes of those few people who were in court just now!"
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