Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Giving Thanks and Reporting a Death

“Guards! Guards!” As Third Master Du spoke, several gatekeepers of the Du Residence rushed out.

Third Master Du pointed at A’Jian and Du Yi Zhi and said, “Drive them away!”

Du Yi Zhi drew a deep breath and said, “Wait. Third Master Du, didn’t you just ask what I came here for?”

Third Master Du frowned.

Du Yi Zhi said, “Third Master Du just said I suspected the Du Clan started tonight’s fire. That was truly a misunderstanding of me!”

Du Yi Zhi continued, “Even if I suspected Prefect Yan, I would never suspect the Du Clan, and I would never suspect Third Master Du.”

Prefect Yan’s face twitched.

Third Master Du blinked.

Du Yi Zhi’s gaze had already fallen on the cart behind him. Du Yi Zhi’s eyes looked sorrowful, full of pity. “I came for two reasons. First, I came on behalf of the children of the Ci Ji Orphanage to thank the Du Residence and thank Third Master Du for raising a young man like Du Cheng, someone who gave up himself to save others.”

Du Yi Zhi paused, then spoke each word clearly. “Second, I came to report a death to the Du Residence!”

W-what?

On the high steps of the Du Residence, every face that had been mocking, scornful, or disgusted turned blank in that instant.

Then rage surged up.

Old Madam Du was about to speak first. Yet in the next moment, Du Yi Zhi dipped his head.

A’Jian, expressionless, pulled the white cloth off the cart.

Everyone in the Du Clan saw the person lying there.

The mockery Third Master Du had been about to spit out froze on his face. Third Master Du’s lips parted, but no sound came.

Old Madam Du’s eyes widened.

The others in the Du Family stared at each other in disbelief.

In the end, all eyes fell on Third Master Du.

Some people also looked at Prefect Yan.

Prefect Yan was the most stunned. Prefect Yan took two steps forward, and his face grew whiter as the face on the cart came into view.

How… how could this happen?

This was Du Cheng.

Third Master Du’s only son, Du Cheng. How could Du Cheng be dead?

“Master – Master, something happened! Cheng’er – Cheng’er ran out!” Just then, several maids stumbled over, following a woman in front of them. They fell and staggered toward the gate.

At that shout, Third Master Du’s body, stiff as ice, seemed to wake up at last.

Third Master Du could not believe it. Third Master Du only felt as if he was trapped in a nightmare.

“Master-” Third Madam Du regretted everything. When her son wanted porridge, she went to get another bowl.

Third Madam Du thought her son had finally come around. She was so happy that she did not lock the door properly.

Who would have thought Du Cheng would run out?

Third Master Du had said tonight’s matter was important. Cheng’er must not go out and speak nonsense.

As long as they got through tonight, maybe Cheng’er could even get a small official post.

Why was this child so stubborn? What did other people’s life and death have to do with Du Cheng?

Those children in the Ci Ji Orphanage had no father and no mother. If they died, they died. If anyone had to be blamed, it should be Du Yi Zhi for dragging them down and not saving them.

While Third Madam Du was thinking this, she saw Du Yi Zhi, the man she hated to the bone, standing not far away.

Her heart jolted.

Could it be that Cheng’er really had told everything?

If so, what should she do?

Before Third Madam Du could think of any fix, Du Yi Zhi clasped his hands toward her and said, “Third Madam Du, please accept my condolences.”

Condolences?

What condolences?

Third Madam Du’s carefully drawn brows knitted together. Only then did Third Madam Du notice the other people’s pitying, complicated looks.

Third Madam Du looked at Third Master Du, wanting to ask what was happening.

But Third Master Du’s body trembled as Third Master Du walked toward one spot.

What was that?

Third Madam Du took two steps closer and finally saw what lay there.

Third Madam Du’s eyes widened. She stumbled forward and grabbed Du Cheng on the cart. “Cheng’er! Cheng’er, wake up… Cheng’er, don’t scare Mother…”

“Madam!”

“Young Master…”

The maids cried in a mess.

Du Yi Zhi sighed. “Third Master Du, Third Madam Du, please accept my condolences. Young Master Du Cheng was loyal and righteous. When Du Cheng learned that Ci Ji Hall was on fire and that one infant still had not been rescued, Du Cheng did not care about his own safety and rushed inside.”

Du Yi Zhi continued, “When Du Cheng rushed in, a beam snapped. To protect that child, Du Cheng used Du Cheng’s back to hold up the burning beam.”

Du Yi Zhi lowered his voice and said, “Later, the infant was saved, but Du Cheng… did not make it.”

After speaking, Du Yi Zhi felt a tangle of emotions.

In Du Yi Zhi’s mind, Du Cheng had always been stupid and foolish. Du Cheng always followed the main branch. With the slightest push, Du Cheng could be used.

Du Cheng was also timid and afraid of death. Du Yi Zhi had only told A’Jian to cut down Du Cheng’s horse, and when Du Cheng heard, Du Cheng had been scared into a high fever for days.

Yet this same Du Cheng had dared to charge into the fire…

When Du Yi Zhi finished, Du Yi Zhi bowed sincerely toward Du Cheng’s body.

Third Madam Du suddenly lifted her head. Her usually gentle eyes glared at Third Master Du with hatred.

Third Master Du was still drowning in grief.

Smack!

A slap snapped Third Master Du’s face to the side.

Third Madam Du screamed, “It’s you! You’re the one who wanted to burn Ci-”

Old Madam Du barked, “Du San daughter-in-law!” cutting Third Madam Du off.

Old Madam Du kept squeezing her prayer beads, her chest heaving.

Old Madam Du’s dark, sinking stare pulled a bit of Third Madam Du’s lost reason back from the pain of losing her child.

Third Madam Du froze, turned, and threw herself back onto her son’s body again.

Only then did Old Madam Du look at Du Yi Zhi with heavy eyes. “Boss Du, you came to distribute low-priced cotton for the Princess. Now the cotton has been burned. Why not go back tomorrow to report? Otherwise, if you stay here in this ice and snow and something happens, and you lose your life, it would not be worth it. What do you think?”

Du Yi Zhi narrowed his eyes.

The Du Clan wanted Du Yi Zhi to leave Ji Zhou Prefecture?

It seemed this fire was not only aimed at Du Yi Zhi. It was also aimed at what Du Yi Zhi was doing.

The Princess’s low-priced cotton, besides blocking cotton merchants, also blocked whose road to profit?

Qi Shu Xian? No. If it was only an Heir Apparent of the Duke’s Manor, the Southern Du Branch would not have dared this much.

Then it had to be the person behind Qi Shu Xian.

The Third Prince?

With just one sentence, Du Yi Zhi guessed most of it. Yet Du Yi Zhi still answered humbly, “Old Madam Du does not need to worry. Not much cotton was burned by thieves. At the latest by tomorrow afternoon, the second batch the Princess sent will arrive. By then, I have already asked the commoner to help escort it together.”

Du Yi Zhi added, “And also-” Du Yi Zhi looked at Prefect Yan, whose face was dark. “Please investigate tonight’s burning and give me an explanation. That way, I can report it to the Princess.”

Prefect Yan fell silent.

Then Prefect Yan said grimly, “Boss Du, rest assured. This official will investigate until the truth comes out!”

Du Yi Zhi nodded and said, “Then I will trouble Prefect Yan.”

Du Yi Zhi turned his head and said, “A’Jian, hurry and have Third Master Du and Third Madam Du move Young Master Du Cheng’s body down. This cart still needs to haul cotton tomorrow.”

“Yes.” A’Jian looked utterly speechless.

Du Yi Zhi really knew how to anger people.

Still… it served the Du Family right.

The two of them left with the cart, the wheels creaking as they went. Third Madam Du’s crying had already turned hoarse.

Third Master Du stood there in a daze, staring at his son’s body.