Chapter 182

Chapter 182: A Clear Conscience

Du Yi Zhi finally continued, “The laws of the kingdom must not be broken. Nan Du, as Ji Prefecture’s leading family, only seeks its own gains amidst this harsh winter calamity. They conspire with the Yamen, abandoning conscience!”

“When the Northern Desert calamity ends, I’ll personally report this to the capital. Nan Du… ah!” He sighed deeply.

The eyes of Bei Du’s people sparkled—Nan Du was finished!

For years, although both sides shared the Du surname, there was no kinship left between Nan Du and Bei Du.

Nan Du once cruelly oppressed Du Yi Zhi, his mother, and brother. And hadn’t they done the same to Bei Du?

Take Du Jiu Shu’s son, Du Yun Kun, for instance. Once the brightest youth of the Du clan, he’d surpassed Du Kuang, Du Lao Madam’s grandson, by a few points in an exam. Soon after, a runaway horse crushed his leg.

Du Jiu Shu loathed Nan Du with all his heart!

Yet, to survive, he’d reluctantly accepted three hundred taels of silver as compensation from Nan Du.

Three hundred taels—to buy his son’s future!

He owed his wife and child, but finally, he saw a chance to do something for his son.

Du Jiu Shu’s eyes reddened as he joined Du Heng of the Fifth branch in accepting the task of guarding the cotton.

Du Yi Zhi had warned them: the Yamen and Nan Du colluded; the cotton merchants plotted against them. Yet, Du Jiu Shu was unafraid.

Without risk, where was glory?

After the crowd dispersed, Du Yi Zhi touched his chest, relieved that his conscience was clear.

Though he’d somewhat deceived Bei Du, it wasn’t entirely false.

If this succeeded, Nan Du would suffer greatly, while Bei Du gained the common people’s support. Rising in power, Bei Du might eventually consume Nan Du entirely.

In the following days, Lin Yi awaited news from the capital. The presence of Yamen guards temporarily restrained the eager cotton merchants. Magistrate Yan had yet to devise a better plan.

With none daring to move rashly, Prosperous Hall enjoyed a brief calm. Commoners from surrounding villages continued pouring in to buy cotton.

The cotton dwindled day by day, just as a second shipment was about to arrive.

Finally, letters from the capital reached Ji Prefecture!

The first to receive a letter was Du San Ye of Nan Du, Du Cheng’s father.

In the bitter winter cold, even sending out letters was difficult. Yet, early that morning, Du San Ye found a letter placed in his study.

He rubbed his eyes again and again.

When he noticed the item beneath the letter, disbelief turned swiftly to uncontrollable joy.

[Could it truly be…that esteemed one?]

Only that great figure could possess the token they’d once gifted!

For years, Nan Du had tried tirelessly to curry favor through powerful intermediaries, and now, finally, they’d caught the esteemed one’s attention.

What did that person desire of them?

Though Du San Ye wished he could read immediately, he held back. Carefully hiding the letter and its token, he stepped out.

“Master?” Madam Du San entered, carrying hot pear soup. “You’re going out?”

“Yes,” Du San Ye impatiently dismissed her concern.

But after a few steps, he turned back. “Where’s Du Cheng?”

“Cheng’er only just recovered. I asked him to rest in his room,” replied Madam Du San.

“He’s young; it was just a minor illness. His fever’s already gone. Tell him to dress and join me to see Father in the main hall.”

“Ah?” Madam Du San hesitated. “Is this to seek justice for Cheng’er?”

“What justice? That’s a minor issue! Today we’re seizing glory!” Du San Ye dismissed her confusion and hurried her to wake their son.

Du Cheng emerged from his room shortly after, visibly thinner since the incident with Du Yi Zhi, carrying a newfound gloom.

Du San Ye led him to meet Du Lao Master. Together, father and son joined their patriarch and arrived at Du Lao Madam’s quarters.

Only then did Du San Ye mysteriously pull out the hidden letter.

Du Cheng didn’t understand the fuss, but upon seeing it, Du Lao Madam and Du Lao Master immediately stood.

Drawing a deep breath, Du Lao Madam swiftly summoned the second branch’s elders. Soon, all influential figures of Nan Du gathered, excited anticipation filling the air.

Only Du Cheng remained perplexed.

“San Ye, open it,” commanded Du Lao Madam.

Du San Ye broke the seal, unfolding the letter under everyone’s watchful gaze.

Du Lao Madam smiled broadly as she read.

The letter instructed two clear actions:

Firstly, burn the cotton! Destroy Prosperous Hall’s cotton stores in Ji Prefecture, ensuring cotton prices soared uncontrollably.

Secondly, cooperate with Lin Yi to rally the local cotton merchants, pushing prices even higher.

Du San Ye stared in disbelief. “Burn the cotton? That esteemed one actually ordered us to burn it?”

Du Lao Madam sneered, “Du Yi Zhi flaunts the Princess’s backing, openly defying countless merchants eager to profit. Clearly, this Lin Yi mentioned here is the esteemed one’s agent.”

At last, her suppressed heart could breathe freely!

This was how things ought to be!

Who was Du Yi Zhi, a nobody, to oppose the Du family?

She had once generously offered to meet him. Yet he arrogantly refused, siding with Bei Du behind a Princess’s influence.

What a joke!

Even a Princess was helpless now.

That esteemed one wished the cotton burned; even if Du Yi Zhi perished in the flames, would his precious Princess dare object?

Immediately, Du Lao Madam dispatched a servant to summon Magistrate Yan. With Yan’s men already guarding Prosperous Hall, pinning blame on a minor guard would be simple enough.

Du Lao Madam calmly turned her prayer beads, content with their perfect plan.

Yet, Du Cheng, initially confused, gradually understood the horror unfolding before him.

At eighteen, he wasn’t a child anymore.

Du Yi Zhi had rightly pointed this out. Despite being impulsive, Du Cheng wasn’t foolish.

Burn cotton?

Even he—a pampered youth raised in luxury—knew exactly what cotton meant for Ji Prefecture.

The cold calamity had struck without warning, catching Ji Prefecture entirely unprepared. The region itself scarcely produced cotton. Each ounce of cotton meant survival for commoners.

Yet, this letter instructed them to burn it all!

True, the cotton belonged to Du Yi Zhi.

And Du Yi Zhi was the son of a criminal who’d wronged a woman.

He was a born villain!

He’d slain Du Cheng’s beloved horse, humiliating him in front of friends.

Yet, a wrong was still a wrong!

Burning cotton—how could they?

Du Cheng finally spoke up, “Great-Grandmother, Father, I disagree!”

“Didn’t you always say the Du family, as Ji Prefecture’s great clan, should act with a clear conscience towards the people?”