Chapter 342: The Despair of Three Women
Seeing those wide, innocent eyes looking at him with confusion, Chi Jinchen’s gentle gaze deepened with amusement. His lips curled into a faint smile.
“He’s just the Third Master of Feng City. What qualifications does he have to meet City Lord Yu and his wife? If you allow them to dig into Luo City’s foundation, do you think you currently have the strength to resist Feng City?”
So that’s what this was about.
As expected, Chi Jinchen was incredibly calculating.
Meanwhile, she had been too straightforward, thinking that if it came down to it, they could simply fight head-on—even if it meant both sides suffering losses.
But was Chi Jinchen truly helping their family and Luo City out of goodwill?
It didn’t seem like their relationship had reached that level yet.
Although she couldn’t determine whether Chi Jinchen was a friend or foe, Yu Luo still accepted his suggestion without hesitation. She even followed his advice immediately, summoning a guard to deliver a message to her father and mother.
Meanwhile, in the medical hall, Yu Haojie was waiting for Ye Jiamei.
When she heard the message from Yu Luo, asking them not to go to the tournament because Feng City’s people had arrived, Ye Jiamei—who had just finished preparing to leave—suddenly froze, her expression shifting.
“Husband, do you think the people from Feng City came to cause trouble?”
“It’s hard to say,” Yu Haojie replied.
“But since Xiao Luo told us not to go, we should listen. I heard that the true leader behind Feng City is extremely mysterious. As Luo City’s lord, it’s best for me to keep a low profile.
Not only is it wise to remain discreet, but keeping a bit of mystery about ourselves will also prevent them from figuring us out too soon.”
His tone was lighthearted, as if he were joking, but deep down, he knew the truth.
Luo City’s rapid success wasn’t just due to his own capabilities—it was all thanks to Yu Luo’s system.
When it came to actual martial strength, Yu Haojie didn’t stand out at all.
Aside from some modern knowledge that helped him impress people in this ancient world, if it ever came down to a real fight, he would probably get knocked out before even landing a punch.
“Then why don’t we just disguise ourselves and sneak in to watch?” Ye Jiamei suggested.
“Absolutely not!”
“If a fight breaks out, and you—a pregnant woman—get caught in the chaos, what then? You’re considered an older mother, and I don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby.”
Ever since learning about Ye Jiamei’s pregnancy, Yu Haojie had been on edge.
This child had come unexpectedly.
For years, after giving birth to Yu Luo, Ye Jiamei hadn’t conceived again.
Then suddenly, she was pregnant. Yu Haojie was both shocked and overjoyed.
“Fine, I won’t go.”
“Besides, Du Ruo and Tang Xueli went to the tournament. The medical hall is empty—I should stay and continue treating patients.”
“Alright, then I’ll stay with you.”
On the day of the finals, almost everyone who wasn’t working had flocked to the tournament.
The streets, usually bustling, were now eerily quiet.
After several days of working for Ye Lu, Yu Xiaoxuan saw this as an opportunity.
With the Yu family all occupied with the tournament, he left the gambling house, hoping to gather information on Old Madam Chen and Concubine Lan.
He had been in Luo City for days and had already befriended several city guards.
Since none of them recognized him, he casually brought up the incident where Old Madam Chen had been hung from the city walls.
From their responses, he learned that Old Madam Chen had not been executed.
Instead, she was imprisoned and forced to work on a farm.
However, ordinary people were not allowed into the farm, making it impossible for Yu Xiaoxuan to meet her directly.
When he arrived at the farm, he saw how heavily guarded it was.
This posed a major problem.
It was autumn, and the harvest season was in full swing.
Each day, crops were gathered and brought back to the farm.
Corn had to be processed for storage; Rice had to be dried and stored in granaries; Sweet potatoes had to be stockpiled, with some being ground into flour for vermicelli noodles—a dish that would be added to the city’s winter restaurant menus; Beans, melons, and fruits were divided: some were used in communal kitchens, while others were saved for winter.
The farm was endlessly busy.
For the three prisoners, their bodies covered in bruises, they still had to endure harsh labor under the supervision of whip-wielding guards.
At first, Old Madam Chen and Concubine Lan believed that Yu Luo was merely torturing them temporarily—that eventually, she would come to interrogate them about her grandmother’s past.
But as time passed, Yu Luo never showed up.
It was as if she had completely forgotten them.
With no hope of escape, and no reason to keep living, the three women began to fall into despair.
Finally, Concubine Lan couldn’t take it anymore.
She instructed her daughter to seduce the guards.
Hearing this, Yu Meiyao’s eyes widened in horror.
“Mother, you want me to use my beauty like that?! Do you think so little of your own daughter?!”
Yu Meiyao exploded in rage.
Concubine Lan immediately looked aggrieved, her eyes turning red as she whispered while pushing a heavy grindstone:
“Lower your voice! Do you want to get whipped again?! You think I want this? Do you really believe Yu Luo will ever let us go?”
Thinking of Yu Luo’s ruthless nature, Yu Meiyao felt despair creeping in.
But she refused to sacrifice herself for mere guards.
If she had to seduce someone, it had to be someone powerful, someone who could ensure her a life of luxury.
After all, what if they somehow returned to the capital?
Wouldn’t she be able to marry a nobleman and live in wealth and comfort?
Even as a concubine’s daughter, her eldest sister’s position could restore their noble house.
Even if she was illegitimate, she could still marry a fourth or fifth-rank official.
Her mother’s plan was insane!
“I won’t do it! If you want to, do it yourself!”
Seeing her daughter refuse outright, Concubine Lan felt helpless.
If she had been ten years younger, she wouldn’t have even needed Yu Meiyao—she could have handled it herself!
A sharp whip cracked through the air.
“Ahh!”
Old Madam Chen let out a miserable wail.
The painful cries startled both mother and daughter, making them work faster.
Tears rolled down Old Madam Chen’s wrinkled face.
She wasn’t just in pain—she was utterly humiliated.
But with the guards watching closely, she had no choice but to continue grinding the stone.
In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to bash her head against the millstone and end it all.
But she was a coward.
She didn’t have the courage to die.
She still wanted to live—to return to the capital, to her past riches.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaoxuan, seeing the heavy security, abandoned his plan.
He left the farm, making a firm decision—
He would go directly to Yu Luo.
