Chapter 185

Chapter 185: Who Were You Trying to Disgust?

Yet even that little cotton – less than one in ten – was what the commoner had saved with everything they had.

commoner were slow, but they repaid kindness best.

Du Yi Zhi’s chest felt tight.

“Waa – waa -”

A baby’s crying pulled Du Yi Zhi back to himself. Du Yi Zhi turned and saw a figure charging out of the Infant Nursery Hall, holding one baby in one arm and dragging another person with the other hand.

The last beam crashed down behind them. Black ash blasted into the air.

Du Yi Zhi seemed to see someone who should not have been there.

“Dammit!” Jiang Mang cursed. Jiang Mang shoved the baby in his right hand into a woman’s arms, then quickly lowered the person from his back onto the ground.

Only then did Du Yi Zhi see that face clearly.

Du Residence.

In the discussion hall, several basins of the finest Silver Thread Charcoal burned. Second Lord Du, Third Lord Du, several Eldest Masters of the Du Family, and Prefect Yan all sat inside.

Below them, someone knelt and spoke vividly, describing how Du Yi Zhi had ordered everyone to abandon the cotton and save people first.

Smiles showed in the eyes of those seated above.

Through the tightly shut doors, Prefect Yan drew a deep breath, as if he could smell the scorched stench carried by the cold wind.

Third Master Du looked especially pleased. The idea to burn the Ci Ji Orphanage had come to Third Master Du in a flash.

Wasn’t Du Yi Zhi obeying orders to sell low-priced cotton and win over the people’s hearts? Then Third Master Du would force Du Yi Zhi to choose.

If Du Yi Zhi saved the cotton, Du Yi Zhi would leave more than thirty infants to die. With a little manipulation, they could destroy the good reputation Du Yi Zhi had built.

If Du Yi Zhi saved people, it was even easier. Du Yi Zhi would fail his mission, and the master above would not spare him.

And those commoner – they did not fear having little, they feared unfairness. Some had bought cotton and some had not. How could the ones who got none accept it?

Either way, Du Yi Zhi would not come out well.

That bastard without a father even dared to frighten Cheng’er. He still wanted to leave Ji Zhou Prefecture safe and sound? No way!

“But,” the man kneeling below continued, “it was unexpected. Besides Du Yi Zhi and the Northern Du Branch, a lot of commoner heard about the fire and went too.”

Old Madam Du frowned.

Prefect Yan looked displeased and said, “Hm?”

The man hurried on, “But the fire was truly too big. Even with many people putting it out, the cotton still burned until less than one in ten remained!”

Less than one in ten.

Prefect Yan looked to Old Madam Du, and Old Madam Du nodded. “That is about right.”

They had not burned the cotton only to burn the cotton. They had done it to threaten Du Yi Zhi, to make Du Yi Zhi understand that no matter how much cotton Du Yi Zhi had, and no matter whose orders Du Yi Zhi followed, in Ji Zhou Prefecture Du Yi Zhi still had to act under the Du Clan.

Otherwise, what if Du Yi Zhi still had cotton? If Du Yi Zhi had it, they could burn it.

Once was not enough, then twice. Twice was not enough, then three times.

“Old Madam! N-not good…” Just then, a steward rushed into the courtyard.

Nanny Wang stood outside the hall. Seeing the steward’s pale face, Nanny Wang frowned and went to meet him. “Old Madam Du is in a discussion. What happened? Why do you look like you saw a ghost?”

“Outside… outside…” The steward swallowed. “Du – Du Yi Zhi is here!”

Nanny Wang snapped, “What is he coming for? Why are you so scared?”

Nanny Wang was Old Madam Du’s trusted aide. Even if Nanny Wang did not know what Old Madam Du planned tonight, the rolling firelight outside and the burnt smell in the wind told her enough.

Du Yi Zhi would soon be like a stray dog. Was Du Yi Zhi coming to bark a few last times before dying?

“N-no, it’s not…”

Third Master Du pushed the door open and said, “What are you making noise for?”

When the steward saw Third Master Du, the steward looked even worse. “Th-third Master, Du Yi Zhi is here. You should go take a look.”

Old Madam Du’s voice came from inside. “He still had time to come to the Du Residence? Then go see what he wanted to say.”

The cotton was burned. The situation was decided.

Du Yi Zhi came only to demand an explanation.

But did they need to give Du Yi Zhi one?

What proof did Du Yi Zhi have that the burning had anything to do with the Du Residence?

If anyone had to be blamed, it was Du Yi Zhi’s pride. Du Yi Zhi had offended a clerk who wanted to buy more cotton, and that clerk was narrow-minded.

In anger, the clerk had stolen the shop’s fire oil and burned all the cotton to ash.

If anyone had to be blamed, it was Du Yi Zhi for not knowing how to bend.

With Old Madam Du’s word, everyone in the Du Family followed her and Prefect Yan outside.

Du Yi Zhi stood at the gates of the Du Residence.

Du Yi Zhi had not fought the fire himself, but falling ash and the hunters’ bloodstains still splattered his face and clothes.

So Du Yi Zhi looked a little bedraggled.

The Du Residence had a high threshold. Old Madam Du led the others out slowly and looked down at Du Yi Zhi from above.

Old Madam Du said nothing.

Du Yi Zhi said nothing either.

Prefect Yan pretended to be shocked as Prefect Yan stared at Du Yi Zhi’s sorry state. “Boss Du, why are you in such a mess?”

Du Yi Zhi looked back at Prefect Yan and said, “Prefect Yan did not know? My courtyard caught fire. The flames were fierce, and it even affected the nearby Ci Ji Orphanage.”

Prefect Yan asked with concern, “What? Were there casualties?”

Du Yi Zhi said evenly, “Thirty children from the Ci Ji Orphanage and five old servant women were all rescued safely.”

Prefect Yan let out a breath and said, “Then that’s good!”

Du Yi Zhi nodded. “It is fortunate. It’s just that my cotton is almost completely burned. I’m afraid I can’t provide low-priced cotton for the commoner of Ji Zhou Prefecture for now.”

Prefect Yan smiled and said, “This… there was nothing to be done. As long as Boss Du is safe, that’s what matters.”

They faced each other.

Du Yi Zhi knew tonight’s fire had everything to do with the people in front of him. The people in front of him also knew that Du Yi Zhi understood.

They knew each other, yet still had to act.

Third Master Du felt there was no need for this. What was Du Yi Zhi, that they had to stand in the cold wind and perform with him?

Third Master Du snorted and said, “Enough, Du Yi Zhi. Your cotton burned down, so why did you run to our Du Residence? You don’t actually think our Du Residence burned your cotton, do you?”

Third Master Du laughed twice and added, “If you have proof, show it. If you don’t have proof, then hurry and think about how you’ll report this to your master, the Princess!”

Old Madam Du scolded, “Du San!” Yet there was no displeasure in Old Madam Du’s eyes.

Du Yi Zhi had been far too arrogant. Now she also wanted to see how Du Yi Zhi would struggle in this situation.

Surely Du Yi Zhi would not choose this moment to bow his head and beg the Du Clan for help.

Hah. Too late.

That was what Old Madam Du thought.

But Du Yi Zhi did not even look at her. Du Yi Zhi only stared at Third Master Du with pity. Then Du Yi Zhi lifted a hand and said, “A’Jian.”

“Grr – grr -” A handcart rolled over the bluestone pavement that had been cleared at the Du Residence gate.

The people of the Du Residence were confused.

They saw something on the cart, covered with a white cloth.

What was it?

Just from the shape under the cloth, they already had a guess.

Old Madam Du tightened the prayer beads in her hand.

Third Master Du stepped back in disgust and said, “Bad luck! Du Yi Zhi, what are you doing? I already told you, your cotton catching fire was your own business. You dragged a dead body to our Du Residence gates. Who are you trying to disgust?”