Chapter 177

Chapter 177: He Must Not Die

Du Yi Zhi’s eyes darkened, but now wasn’t the time for distractions.

These bandits were ruthless. Apart from Ah Jian, all Du Yi Zhi’s men were hunters. Strong they might be, but this was their first real fight, making their movements hesitant. Nearly all carried injuries by now.

Worst off was the man who had taken a crossbow bolt meant for Du Yi Zhi himself.

The bolt had sunk deep into his back, and blood already bubbled from his mouth.

One of the men, perhaps knowing him well, started sobbing. “Hu Lai! Don’t you dare die! You can’t! Your little one hasn’t learned to call you ‘Papa’ yet! Your wife’s still waiting for you at home!”

Du Yi Zhi snapped, “Enough shouting! He’s still breathing! Quickly, clear a cart and get him to a doctor!”

Hu Lai’s blood had already stained the snow scarlet. Du Yi Zhi ordered the men to gently lay Hu Lai, face-down, onto the cart.

Ah Jian examined the wound and shook his head. “It’s deep. Even if we hurry, I fear the doctor can’t save him…”

“But we’ll still try!” Du Yi Zhi frowned deeply, instructing Ah Jian to tie up the captured attackers and keep watch. He himself followed closely beside the cart.

As they rushed through the streets, Du Yi Zhi spoke firmly to the wounded man: “Hu Lai! Listen well! We’re heading to the best medical hall in Ji Prefecture. But if you dare die, I’ll personally find another man to marry your wife. Your child will call someone else ‘Papa’! Yet if you hang on, I promise you a good life under my care. Your child will even go to school. Do you hear me?”

Hu Lai: “…”

The crying man beside Hu Lai stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

[Hu Lai can’t die!]

[Boss Du, a good man, how can he say something so dreadful?]

But soon enough he understood—Du Yi Zhi was deliberately provoking Hu Lai, trying to keep him alive through sheer stubbornness.

The others quickly realized this too.

Yet, to them—mere hunters—a bolt wound like this was hopeless.

“Boss Du, we’ve arrived! This is the largest, best medical hall in Ji Prefecture!”

The hunters carefully carried Hu Lai inside.

The doctor took one look and saw the bolt had nearly come out through Hu Lai’s chest.

“It’s hopeless—”

“I don’t care how many silver ingots it takes! Save him, and I’ll give you an extra hundred taels!” Du Yi Zhi interrupted sharply, making the doctor bite back his words.

He’d try, for one hundred taels!

Hu Lai vaguely heard “one hundred taels.”

One hundred taels… how much was that?

His wife had just given birth. Days before, he’d spent three taels buying cotton, only to learn afterward about cheaper supplies elsewhere.

He’d come to Prosperous Hall seeking just two taels, hoping to help his wife and child survive the winter. Yet once here, not only was he well-fed and warmly dressed, Boss Du even bought ointments and lard to treat their frostbite.

Hu Lai had hidden those items at the base of a wall, saving them for his wife. Her hands had frostbite too.

Perhaps she’d use the lard for soup instead…

He, a rough man, had no need for such luxury. Boss Du was kind. He didn’t regret shielding him from harm. But the words Boss Du used were infuriating…

One hundred taels—to a doctor?

Why not give it to his wife and child instead? That would let him close his eyes in peace.

Yet he couldn’t die now.

What if Boss Du really let someone else be his child’s father?

If he survived, would Boss Du truly send his child to school?

His thoughts wandered into confusion, then darkness.

Du Yi Zhi arranged bandages and medicine for the others, instructing Jiang Shunyi—the man who’d cried—to stay with Hu Lai at the clinic. He himself quickly returned to Prosperous Hall.

He had to know who’d sent those assassins.

But upon returning, he learned the prefectural office had already taken the captives away.

Du Yi Zhi’s gaze darkened further. “Prefectural Office?”

Since his arrival in Ji Prefecture, Du Yi Zhi had made quite a stir. Yet the local authorities had shown no reaction at all—even after the rumor spread that he served Princess Ning.

But now, just moments after the attack, they swiftly appeared to claim the criminals.

Moreover, someone had recognized the attackers’ leader—a horse thief previously arrested by this same prefectural office.

Clearly, it was the authorities targeting him.

But why?

Had he upset the cotton merchants, or was this the work of the Southern Du family?

Cotton merchants lacked the power to command a prefectural magistrate, which left only Southern Du.

Madam Du was ruthless as ever.

She’d never hesitated in forcing Du Yi Zhi’s father to death. Now, simply because Du Yi Zhi refused her wishes, she sought to end him too.

Du Yi Zhi’s thoughts grew clear.

Those attackers had likely been silenced by now.

But he still needed to face the prefectural magistrate and hear his excuses.

Magistrate Yan hadn’t expected Du Yi Zhi would prove so hard to kill.

Those attackers had been prisoners sentenced to death. Magistrate Yan promised their freedom in exchange for Du Yi Zhi’s life. He’d never failed before.

Yet today he failed.

Because Du Yi Zhi had won people’s hearts, ordinary villagers had willingly fought to defend him.

This complicated things.

After all, Du Yi Zhi was known as a servant of Princess Ning.

Magistrate Yan personally greeted him with feigned regret, blaming careless guards who allowed the prisoners to escape and nearly harm Du Yi Zhi.

Du Yi Zhi sneered inwardly.

But Magistrate Yan quickly shifted: “Still, today’s fault truly lies with our guards. How about this? Many of your men are wounded. I’ll send officers to guard Prosperous Hall from now on.”

Clearly, Yan planned to wait for another chance.

Still, this suited Du Yi Zhi. Having the magistrate’s men close by provided protection and could also intimidate any cotton merchants plotting harm.

Du Yi Zhi agreed and left.

Magistrate Yan frowned, watching Du Yi Zhi’s departing figure, then quickly sent word to the Du household.

Madam Du, hearing Du Yi Zhi had survived again, ground her teeth in fury.

At the same moment, another secret message left Ji Prefecture for the capital.

Days later, Lin Yi and Ji Prefecture’s cotton merchants noticed something odd.

Du Yi Zhi clearly held more cotton than he openly admitted—otherwise, why court Northern Du and open Prosperous Hall branches elsewhere?

If Du Yi Zhi continued stabilizing prices with cheap cotton, merchants fearing Princess Ning wouldn’t dare retaliate, ruining their own scheme.

Lin Yi dared not act rashly, instead clearly reporting the situation to Qi Shu Xian.

At Duke Qi’s residence—

Qi Shu Xian was delighted to see Lin Yi’s letter arrive.

“The cold disaster’s lasted days. Cotton prices must be soaring! Quickly open it, my lord. Perhaps Master Lin already earned the three hundred thousand taels!” Meng Yang urged eagerly.

Qi Shu Xian shared her excitement. Feeling triumphant, he opened the letter—