Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Ungrateful

Du Yi Zhi was now working under the Royal Princess’s command.

The major cotton merchants readily accepted this news, some even breathing sighs of relief. After all, the nobility had both silver and status. When they occasionally sought fame through acts of kindness, it never truly changed the fate of the common people. Life would go on as it always had.

Yet compared to these merchants, there was another group more reluctant to believe this truth—the Du Family.

Old Madam Du stared sharply at Nanny Wang. “You say he’s connected with Princess Ning?”

“Yes…” Nanny Wang replied carefully.

Old Madam Du closed her eyes, the prayer beads spinning swiftly through her fingers. If Du Yi Zhi were merely an ordinary merchant, the Du family would hardly care. But now, as someone serving the Royal Princess, his standing could no longer be ignored.

Abruptly halting the beads, Old Madam Du opened her eyes again, instructing Nanny Wang, “Very well. Though his father disgraced our family’s reputation, he is still of Du blood. Now that he has returned to Ji Prefecture, it is only proper he visits.”

“You go and invite him here personally. Tell him I wish to meet.”

Nanny Wang hesitated for a moment, then said respectfully, “Old Madam is truly generous. This old servant shall fetch Sixth Young Master immediately.”

Du Yi Zhi ranked sixth among the Du family’s grandchildren. After his father was expelled from the clan, no one had called him by this title anymore. But today, since Old Madam Du herself had spoken, it was clear she intended to welcome him back into the family.

Nanny Wang arrived by sedan chair outside Prosperous Hall.

Meanwhile, Du Yi Zhi was reflecting on recent events. In just two or three days since the severe winter struck, over ten thousand displaced households had sought refuge on Manifest Dragon Mountain.

While openly selling cotton, Du Yi Zhi secretly arranged for his subordinates to spread carefully crafted rumors among the struggling commoners.

Officially, Sheng Kingdom claimed around sixty million inhabitants based on tax records from the previous year. Yet, the true number was undoubtedly higher. Countless people, oppressed by local powers, hid from official records, forced into labor for rich families just to survive. Saving enough for a sack of grain was already a hardship, let alone cotton priced at three hundred coins per jin.

Only these desperate souls, willing to risk their lives on uncertain hope, climbed through snowstorms toward Manifest Dragon Mountain. Once there, with food, warmth, and work awaiting them, their hearts would quickly be won.

As Du Yi Zhi pondered this, he heard news of Nanny Wang’s arrival.

He had vivid memories of this nanny.

After his father’s death, he and his mother had knelt outside the Du residence gates, begging for help. Nanny Wang had coldly turned them away. Later, when they had resorted to picking scraps from a tavern’s rubbish, she had ordered someone to snatch even half a steamed bun from his hands, crushing it beneath her feet.

“If you still bear the Du surname, maintain the dignity of our family! Even starving, a Du should never eat discarded food,” she’d scorned.

He invited her inside calmly.

Nanny Wang examined him carefully. He had grown taller and become rather handsome. Lowering her gaze slightly, she delivered her message: “Sixth Young Master, Old Madam wishes to meet you at the residence.”

When trouble first struck, he’d knelt outside, desperate just to catch a glimpse of Old Madam. Now she was extending an invitation; surely he’d be grateful.

Yet his answer surprised her. “Sixth Young Master Du? Perhaps Nanny Wang is mistaken. I have no brothers, no elders. Where did this title come from?”

Nanny Wang frowned. “Old Madam Du is your grandmother. Your elder wishes to meet her grandson. Young Master, prepare quickly.”

“My grandmother passed away over forty years ago,” Du Yi Zhi replied casually. “Unless I visit her grave, there’s no way I can fulfill your request. Ah Jian,” he called a servant, “escort Nanny Wang out. Don’t let just anyone wander inside.”

Anyone? She flushed angrily at this insult, feeling vaguely familiar with these words but unable to recall exactly why. Furious, she stormed back to the sedan chair and returned to the Du residence.

Just a dog barking at his master’s heels! He dared insult her like this? She spat angrily upon reaching home and embellished Du Yi Zhi’s insults when reporting to Old Madam Du.

Old Madam Du remained silent for a long while afterward.

“He’s clearly holding grudges against our family,” Nanny Wang added heatedly. “Doesn’t he realize that without your kindness back then, his family wouldn’t even be alive today? Ungrateful wolf!”

Old Madam Du laughed coldly. Du Yi Zhi clearly felt safe with Princess Ning backing him. But what good was a mere Princess’s protection against the might of the Du family—and the one who stood behind them?

Thinking of this, she relaxed. Princess Ning wouldn’t sever ties with the powerful Ji Prefecture Du family—or their hidden ally—simply over a subordinate.

But since Du Yi Zhi refused her kindness…

A cold gleam filled her eyes as she sent a quiet word to the Prefectural Office.

Meanwhile, Du Yi Zhi, after dismissing Nanny Wang, went to Illustrious Virtue Alley.

The Du family had risen to prominence when Sheng Kingdom was newly founded. During a severe flood in Ji Prefecture, the original Du ancestors led the commoners to build a canal connecting directly to Ji Prefecture’s main waterway, preventing future disasters. The royal ancestor, moved by their noble deed, awarded the family a grand stone archway. From humble villagers, the Du family became wealthy gentry, their descendants educated and entering officialdom.

Over the past century, the family split into two branches—South Du and North Du. Du Yi Zhi belonged to South Du. The North Du lineage had gradually declined, lacking talent or prominence.

Currently, the patriarch of North Du lived in Illustrious Virtue Alley.

“He thinks he can rely on North Du?” Hearing the news, Old Madam Du laughed mockingly. What was North Du now? Their most promising member was merely a minor county magistrate, Du Heng’s son. A clan of hopeless fools. Did Du Yi Zhi truly think joining North Du would allow him to rival the southern branch?

Utterly laughable!

Yet Old Madam Du misunderstood his intentions. Du Yi Zhi wasn’t seeking refuge; he planned to make North Du serve him instead.

“Impossible! Escort him out!” Patriarch Du Heng exclaimed, shocked that Du Yi Zhi dared suggest becoming the North Du clan’s leader.

Was this a joke?

No matter how poor, North Du would never allow someone expelled from South Du to take leadership. Besides, he himself was the clan leader—what would become of him then?

South Du had long sought to cast North Du aside. Now they used Du Yi Zhi to humiliate them further?

Angrily, Du Heng stood to leave.

But Du Yi Zhi calmly spoke again. “Master Du Heng, what’s more important—your son’s future or your own position as clan leader? If Second Uncle could rise higher in rank, North Du wouldn’t have to suffer under South Du forever. Can Fifth Master Du truly accept such a fate?”

Du Heng froze in place, startled by the sudden temptation of Du Yi Zhi’s quiet words.