Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Gratitude and Grief

“Guards! Come quickly!”

At his command, several gatekeepers from the Du Residence rushed forward.

Third Master Du pointed furiously at Ah Jian and Du Yi Zhi. “Drive these two away at once!”

“Wait!” Du Yi Zhi inhaled deeply, steadying his nerves. “Third Master Du, didn’t you just ask why I’ve come?”

Third Master Du scowled.

Du Yi Zhi continued calmly, “You claimed I suspected tonight’s fire was started by the Du family—that’s a grave misunderstanding.”

“Even if I suspected Prefect Yan, I would never suspect the Du clan—certainly not you, Third Master.”

Prefect Yan’s face twitched slightly.

Third Master Du stared in confusion.

Du Yi Zhi’s gaze drifted sorrowfully toward the cart behind him. Pain and sympathy filled his eyes. “I came here tonight, firstly, to thank the Du family—and you especially, Third Master—for raising a noble son like Du Cheng, who sacrificed himself for others.”

He paused, his voice growing sharp and clear. “Secondly, I came to deliver tragic news—to report a death to your family.”

What?

On the high steps of the Du Residence, sneers and mockery vanished instantly, replaced by bewilderment, swiftly followed by anger.

Madam Du opened her mouth to speak, but at that very moment, Du Yi Zhi nodded. Expressionless, Ah Jian lifted the white cloth covering the cart.

Everyone from the Du family stared down at the body beneath.

The mocking words Third Master Du had prepared froze on his lips. He opened and closed his mouth soundlessly, his expression turning to stone.

Madam Du’s eyes widened abruptly.

Others of the Du household exchanged stunned glances, their gazes finally settling on Third Master Du, some flickering toward Prefect Yan.

Prefect Yan staggered forward, his face turning ghostly pale as he recognized the figure.

How—how could this be?

That was Du Cheng!

Third Master Du’s only son, Du Cheng—how could he be dead?

At this moment, several maidservants stumbled forward behind a distressed woman, crying out, “Master—oh no! Young Master Cheng—he’s escaped!”

Third Master Du, frozen like a statue, shuddered back to life at these words, disbelief filling him as though trapped in a nightmare.

“Master!” Third Madam Du’s voice was thick with regret. Cheng had asked for porridge; she’d left the door unlocked in her joy, thinking he’d finally come to his senses. But he had slipped away.

The Master had warned repeatedly tonight that Cheng must remain locked away. If only he’d stayed put, after tonight, Cheng might have gained a minor official post.

Why was the boy so stubborn? Those orphaned children at the Mercy Hall had nothing to do with him. If they died, blame Du Yi Zhi!

As Third Madam Du approached, she spotted Du Yi Zhi—the man she hated with every fiber of her being. A cold dread filled her heart.

Had Cheng revealed their secret?

Before she could consider damage control, Du Yi Zhi bowed deeply to her. “Third Madam Du, please accept my condolences.”

Condolences?

For what?

Third Madam Du frowned beneath delicately painted eyebrows. She finally noticed the pitying, complicated gazes around her.

She glanced at her husband, silently questioning him. Third Master Du was shaking uncontrollably as he moved toward something nearby.

What—was that?

Third Madam Du took a few hesitant steps closer, finally seeing clearly what lay on the cart. Her eyes widened in shock, and she staggered forward, grasping desperately at her son.

“Cheng! Cheng! Wake up—please don’t scare your mother like this!”

“Madam!”

“Young Master!”

Maidservants began sobbing loudly.

Du Yi Zhi sighed deeply. “Third Master, Third Madam, my deepest condolences. Young Master Cheng was honorable and brave. Hearing that a child remained trapped inside Mercy Hall during the fire, he rushed in without concern for himself.”

“A beam collapsed at that very moment, engulfed in flames. To protect the child, Cheng took the full weight of the burning timber on his back.”

“The child was saved—but Cheng could not endure his injuries.”

Du Yi Zhi finished, emotions tangled within him. He had always considered Du Cheng foolish and cowardly, easily manipulated, and timid enough to fall ill from fright when merely his horse had been harmed.

Yet, that same Du Cheng had courageously rushed into a fire.

Du Yi Zhi bowed sincerely toward the body.

Third Madam Du’s head snapped up, fury blazing in eyes that had always been gentle. She glared accusingly at her husband.

Third Master Du remained trapped in grief.

Smack!

A sharp slap snapped Third Master’s head to the side.

“It was you! You wanted to burn Mercy—”

“Third Madam Du!” Madam Du interrupted sharply, cutting off her accusation.

Madam Du clutched her prayer beads tightly, her chest heaving with anger. Her cold, calculating stare brought Third Madam Du briefly back to her senses, stunned silent before collapsing again over her son’s body.

Madam Du fixed her heavy gaze on Du Yi Zhi. “Master Du, you came to provide the Princess’s affordable cotton. Now that the cotton is lost to the flames, you’d best return immediately. Lingering here risks unnecessary harm—don’t you agree?”

Du Yi Zhi narrowed his eyes.

The Du clan wanted him out of Ji Prefecture?

This fire wasn’t just aimed at him; it targeted the Princess’s efforts directly. Besides the cotton merchants, whose fortunes did the Princess’s cotton threaten? Qi Shu Xian?

No—if it was merely a Duke’s heir, the Southern Du wouldn’t dare. Then…it must be someone behind Qi Shu Xian.

The Third Prince?

In a heartbeat, Du Yi Zhi had grasped nearly all of it, though he kept a humble demeanor.

“Madam Du need not worry. Little cotton was lost. By tomorrow afternoon at latest, the Princess’s second shipment will arrive. I’ve arranged for the commoners themselves to help guard it.”

“Ah, yes—” Du Yi Zhi turned toward Prefect Yan, whose face had darkened considerably. “I’ll rely on Prefect Yan to investigate tonight’s fire thoroughly and provide a proper explanation. Only then can I report clearly to the Princess.”

Prefect Yan, jaw clenched, replied coldly, “Master Du need not fear. I promise a thorough investigation.”

“My thanks, Prefect Yan,” Du Yi Zhi said courteously. He turned to Ah Jian. “Ah Jian, please have Third Master and Third Madam remove Young Master Cheng’s body from the cart. We need it tomorrow to transport more cotton.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ah Jian shook his head inwardly. Du Yi Zhi truly knew how to infuriate people.

Still, the Du family had brought this upon themselves.

Their figures disappeared gradually into the night, the cart rattling behind them. Third Madam Du’s cries had turned to hoarse whispers, and Third Master Du stood motionless, staring blankly at the corpse of his only son.