Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Heads Would Roll

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Ting Lan, who was covering her mouth and giggling, and Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyelid twitched.

This was the future treacherous and ruthless man, the Eastern Depot Chief. Ting Lan had ten times the courage to call him an idiot.

But Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Du Yi Zhi.

Du Yi Zhi did not seem angry. Du Yi Zhi actually lifted his head and looked at Sheng Zhi Wan, then frowned, but it only lasted an instant before Du Yi Zhi returned to his earlier expression.

Sheng Zhi Wan sighed inwardly. As expected of the future Eastern Depot Chief.

Du Yi Zhi asked, “What does Noble Lady want?”

Du Yi Zhi had been born in wealth, then fallen into a mire. Du Yi Zhi understood better than anyone that people’s hearts were more dangerous than mountains and rivers.

No one in this world offered kindness and care for no reason. If they did, then they wanted something.

So Du Yi Zhi was certain the person in front of him wanted something from Du Yi Zhi.

But Du Yi Zhi’s life was cheaper than grass. Du Yi Zhi did not know what kind of background Sheng Zhi Wan had, but it made no sense for Sheng Zhi Wan to want something from him. Even the fact that Sheng Zhi Wan knew Du Yi Zhi’s name was wrong.

Du Yi Zhi kept his head down, and countless thoughts crowded Du Yi Zhi’s mind.

Sheng Zhi Wan saw his wariness and spoke plainly. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “This palace indeed has something to ask of you. I wonder – can we go to Master Du’s home and talk in detail?”

This palace?

Du Yi Zhi’s body jolted. Du Yi Zhi looked up in disbelief.

The Emperor had four princesses. Three had died young, and the Fourth Princess was still a child. Of the remaining two, one was the eldest princess, who had married far away. That left only Princess Qing Ning.

In almost a single breath, Du Yi Zhi guessed Sheng Zhi Wan’s identity.

Du Yi Zhi licked his dry, cracked lips. Du Yi Zhi’s heart pounded like thunder as Du Yi Zhi said, “If Princess Qing Ning doesn’t mind this commoner’s home being dirty and messy, then this commoner is willing!”

Ting Lan’s eyes widened. How did this man instantly know the Princess’s identity?

With Du Yi Zhi guiding them, they arrived at a door in Yellow Earth Alley. Before they even entered, a violent coughing fit sounded from inside.

Du Yi Zhi hurried his steps.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at the woman coughing nonstop in the small courtyard. As expected, at this time, Du Yi Zhi’s mother was still alive.

Sheng Zhi Wan walked over.

Only then did Du Yi Zhi remember Sheng Zhi Wan was behind him. Du Yi Zhi quickly said, “My mother is unwell. If Noble Lady minds, we can come another day, or this commoner can come tomorrow…”

Du Yi Zhi stopped mid-sentence.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s fingers were already resting on the woman’s wrist.

After a moment, Sheng Zhi Wan paused, then studied the woman’s face and said, “Can you open your mouth so I can take a look?”

Du Yi Zhi stiffened.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “I know some medicine.”

Du Yi Zhi hurriedly said, “Alright… alright!”

Du Yi Zhi turned to his mother and urged, “Mother, let Noble Lady take a look.”

Madam Du panicked. Madam Du stared at such a beautiful, richly dressed woman, like a fairy maiden, who wanted to examine her, and Madam Du tried to refuse.

But Sheng Zhi Wan did not let Madam Du reject her. Sheng Zhi Wan had come for the sake of winning Du Yi Zhi over. Sheng Zhi Wan spoke a few more lines, and only then did Madam Du reluctantly agree.

Soon, Sheng Zhi Wan’s brows knitted. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “It’s pulmonary consumption.”

Du Yi Zhi’s face went white. Madam Du’s face turned bleak.

Sheng Zhi Wan quickly added, “But it’s only mild. It isn’t serious. Does Master Du have paper and a brush? I’ll write a list, and you can go get the medicine.”

Du Yi Zhi did not dare believe it. Du Yi Zhi asked, “Th-this… Noble Lady, is that really true?”

Ting Lan did not know how the Princess even knew medicine, but the Princess could not be wrong. Ting Lan rolled her eyes at Du Yi Zhi and said, “Why would my master lie to you?”

That was true.

Du Yi Zhi said, “There’s no paper or brush. Noble Lady can just tell me the list. I can remember it.”

Their home was this poor. How could Du Yi Zhi afford paper and ink?

Sheng Zhi Wan thought for a moment and said, “Do you know Ci Xi Hall? From now on, you can go there to get the medicine.”

Du Yi Zhi felt deeply grateful. After settling his mother, Du Yi Zhi bowed to Sheng Zhi Wan with great seriousness.

Du Yi Zhi asked, “What does the Princess want this commoner to do?”

Sheng Zhi Wan had Ting Lan stand guard outside before Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “Salt smuggling – do you know it?”

Du Yi Zhi froze. Du Yi Zhi replied, “I know it, but those are things Wealthy Merchant and Official people do. A commoner like me doesn’t even qualify to enter, and…”

Du Yi Zhi frowned and said, “If the authorities find out, heads will roll.”

Half the taxes under heaven came from salt profits. Salt and iron had always been the Sheng Kingdom’s main source of revenue. Du Yi Zhi never expected that Sheng Zhi Wan, a Princess, would also want a share of it.

Sheng Zhi Wan seemed to see what Du Yi Zhi was thinking. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Don’t worry. I’m not asking you to do it. I’m only asking you to lead someone else into doing it…”

As Sheng Zhi Wan spoke, coldness filled Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes.

A quarter-hour later, Sheng Zhi Wan left Yellow Earth Alley.

Du Yi Zhi stared at the three-thousand-tael banknote in his hand and still felt like he was dreaming.

Madam Du trembled as Madam Du came out of the room. Madam Du saw the banknote and gasped. Madam Du grabbed Du Yi Zhi’s wrist hard and warned, “Th-this… Yi Zhi, don’t do something that harms Heaven and reason!”

Du Yi Zhi came back to himself and felt the strength in his mother’s grip. Only then did Du Yi Zhi understand it was not a dream.

Du Yi Zhi took a deep breath. Du Yi Zhi said, “Mother, don’t worry. I’m only doing work for that Noble Lady. These silvers are also for carrying out the task.”

Madam Du still did not believe it. Madam Du said, “Really?”

Who gave someone that much money just to run an errand?

Du Yi Zhi thought for a moment, then leaned close to his mother’s ear and quietly told her Sheng Zhi Wan’s identity.

Madam Du froze.

Du Yi Zhi said softly, “Noble Lady just doesn’t want others to know her identity. Mother can rest assured now, right?”

Madam Du nodded again and again. Madam Du said, “Rest assured, rest assured! Qing… Noble Lady donated a lot of silver to the Frontier. Others forgot, but we can’t forget!”

Madam Du had come from Ji Zhou, and Ji Zhou had the Mo Bei army stationed there. No one in the capital city knew the name Sheng Shi Hall, but Madam Du had once heard it by accident.

Madam Du grasped Du Yi Zhi’s sleeve and urged, “Then you must work well for Noble Lady!”

Du Yi Zhi nodded repeatedly.

Du Yi Zhi’s fingers tightened around the banknote. A flash of gloom slid through Du Yi Zhi’s eyes, then disappeared in an instant. Du Yi Zhi respectfully helped his mother back inside.

Du Yi Zhi would not only do the work well, Du Yi Zhi would do it beautifully.

Only then would the Princess value Du Yi Zhi more.

And only then would Du Yi Zhi have the chance to seek justice for his father.

Ting Lan asked, “Princess, why did you give Du Yi Zhi such a huge sum of silver?”

Ting Lan looked pained. Even if the Princess liked him, the Princess could have just given him a courtyard for Zi An. If the Princess gave so much now, what would the Princess do if the Princess liked someone even better later?

Sheng Zhi Wan saw Ting Lan’s eyes rolling around and frowned. Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “What are you thinking?”

Ting Lan coughed awkwardly and said, “Nothing… ahem. Princess, this Du Yi Zhi really is good-looking. Where did you ever see him before?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s expression turned strange. Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “You like him?”

Ting Lan immediately said, “How could I? I wouldn’t dare covet anyone the Princess had her eyes on!”

Ting Lan would never be a white-eyed wolf like Huan Zhu.

Sheng Zhi Wan drew a deep breath. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “…Who said this palace had her eyes on him?”

Sheng Zhi Wan felt this girl’s mind wandered too far every day.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “This palace found him only to have him do work.”

Ting Lan pouted.

That skinny, pale-faced man looked like a thin bamboo pole. What kind of work could Du Yi Zhi do for the Princess?

Sheng Zhi Wan chuckled and ordered Zhang Da, “Go to Ci Xi Hall.”

Sheng Zhi Wan went to Ci Xi Hall and told Shopkeeper Lin about Du Yi Zhi. Sheng Zhi Wan handed over the prepared list and said, “In the next few days, gather all the medicinal ingredients on this list and send them to the Duke residence.”

Shopkeeper Lin answered, “Yes.”

Shopkeeper Lin added, “The person the Princess asked me to find has been found.”

Shopkeeper Lin continued, “The background is clean and can withstand inspection. Princess, do you want to meet in person?”