Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Improper Manners

Du San Ye stood frozen, the echoes of Du Yi Zhi’s words still whispering in his ears. His own son, Du Cheng, had died trying to save the orphans of the Mercy Hall?

Ha… Haha… how laughable!

It was he himself who suggested burning the Mercy Hall to trap Du Yi Zhi, yet now his son had perished saving those nameless, parentless children?

Everything he had done, all the schemes he had plotted, were meant to elevate his son above the rest of their family.

Yet now, Du Cheng was dead.

Du San Ye slapped himself hard across the face.

Old Madam Du’s expression turned cold as ice.

Prefect Yan opened his mouth to speak but could find no words. Yes, it was Du San Ye’s plan, but he himself had ordered his men to set the fires.

Old Madam Du’s eyes were piercingly cold. “Enough. Cheng’er was good. If he died saving those children from Mercy Hall, let the news spread tomorrow.”

It was a worthy death.

One fitting a son of the Du family!

“Ah Jian!” Despite his composed appearance, Du Yi Zhi was far from calm.

Since Nan Du and Prefect Yan dared strike once, they wouldn’t hesitate a second time. He could rely on the commoners once, but twice?

If Nan Du and Prefect Yan offered enough temptation, would the struggling common folk resist forever?

Right now, the commoners were grateful for Prosperous Hall’s cheap cotton. But gratitude wouldn’t feed them; tangible benefits would ultimately win.

Du Yi Zhi refused to sit idly by.

He quickly wrote a letter and handed it to Ah Jian, instructing him to send it swiftly to the capital.

Yet, barely a tea’s time passed before Ah Jian returned.

Du Yi Zhi frowned.

Ah Jian quickly explained, “I have a faster method.”

Du Yi Zhi nodded, understanding.

Indeed, Ah Jian had his ways.

He belonged to Shang Hang Yu. Though Shang Hang Yu played the carefree noble publicly, he had long since seized control of Qin’s Merchant Company. Today, the business was entirely different, having quietly spread into every corner of Sheng Kingdom—brothels, gambling halls, taverns, escort agencies, even underground auctions.

In the darkness, a Peregrine Falcon silently soared above Ji Prefecture’s walls, flying swiftly southward.

Trained meticulously, the falcon quickly reached its destination. There, the message on its foot was passed to another falcon, continuing this rapid relay.

By the following night, Shang Hang Yu had already received Xiu He’s urgent letter. After reading it, his expression darkened.

Without hesitation, he swiftly left his residence, dressed entirely in black.

His figure, swift as wind and silent as shadow, skimmed effortlessly over the rooftops of the sleeping city, finally arriving at a familiar dwelling.

Tonight, however, he had no heart for personal matters.

He purposely stepped harder, causing roof tiles to shift audibly.

Sheng Zhi Wan had always slept lightly, but Liu Shang, resting fully clothed outside the chamber, reacted even faster.

“Princess! Someone is here!” Liu Shang whispered, drawing her sword to stand protectively before Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan rose quickly from her bed, wrapping a cloak around her shoulders.

But something felt odd. The intruder made noise only after arriving, yet hesitated outside, seemingly allowing her time to prepare?

Her thought was barely finished when Liu Shang clashed with the dark figure who jumped inside.

Liu Shang was about to call for help when Sheng Zhi Wan calmly spoke up, “Liu Shang, he is one of ours.”

Liu Shang paused, startled.

The figure withdrew his hand first, allowing Liu Shang’s sword to skim dangerously close to his leg.

“It’s me,” Shang Hang Yu murmured deeply.

Liu Shang froze again—a man?!

A man had entered the princess’s room in the dead of night, and she called him one of their own?

Yet, as an obedient maidservant, Liu Shang merely stepped back cautiously, staring at the dim silhouette beneath the moonlight.

Realizing Shang Hang Yu must have urgent business, Sheng Zhi Wan instructed gently, “Liu Shang, guard outside. Let no one near.”

Liu Shang, lips pressed tight, quietly obeyed. As she stepped out, her mind already spun tales of forbidden love between the princess and her secret lover. But wait! She’d thought that voice sounded familiar…

Who could it be?

Once Liu Shang left, Sheng Zhi Wan lit a candle. Shang Hang Yu’s figure was clear in the gentle glow.

“Ji Prefecture is in trouble,” he said grimly, handing her the letters.

As she read, Sheng Zhi Wan’s normally calm gaze turned icy.

“Ji Prefecture’s Du family and Prefect Yan… how dare they?”

Burning cotton wasn’t enough? They dared threaten the lives of more than thirty innocent children?

Her fingers pressed tightly against the paper. “You said earlier, Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang met my third imperial brother?”

“Yes,” Shang Hang Yu nodded.

The pastries he had sent earlier were never merely pastries.

“It appears Third Brother has been backing them from behind.”

“What will Princess do now?” Shang Hang Yu asked softly. “If you fear for the cotton, I can have the Serene Virtue Escort Agency guards and the Gathering Worthies Teahouse warriors protect it.”

These warriors—known as the cup masters—could be hired at great expense.

Previously, Sheng Zhi Wan had attempted to recruit a few but had been refused.

“No,” Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes lowered slightly, her lashes casting ominous shadows beneath the flickering candlelight.

“It would only solve the symptoms. Since they dared to use innocent lives as leverage, rather than simply guarding against them, why not end the threat at its source?”

Since they saw commoners as worthless, why shouldn’t those very commoners rise to devour them?

Resolutely, she touched the letter to the candle flame.

Only at the last moment, as the fire nearly touched her delicate fingers, did she release the ash.

Shang Hang Yu’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “What will Princess do next?”

She met his gaze, voice cold and firm. “Water may bear the boat, yet also overturn it. Since the Du family has forgotten the roots of their prosperity, why not let those very roots destroy them?”

Then, looking directly at him, she added, “Second Young Master Shang, please wait here… No, please wait outside for half an hour.”

Shang Hang Yu was speechless.

He wanted to say something, but Sheng Zhi Wan had already stepped out.

He touched his nose lightly, only now noticing a faint fragrance—the scent she wore after bathing and before sleep.

[What am I thinking?!]

He scolded himself inwardly. Despite the emptiness of the room, he dared not look around, swiftly leaping outside once more.

Soon, candlelight flickered to life in Sheng Zhi Wan’s study. Shang Hang Yu stood quietly in the distance, watching, counting the minutes patiently.

Exactly half an hour later, the study’s candlelight extinguished.

Only then did he return.

Sheng Zhi Wan reentered her bedroom, slightly surprised to find Shang Hang Yu indeed gone.

Half an hour in the biting cold…

She had said it would be improper for him to remain, yet hadn’t he already trespassed by entering her bedroom in the dead of night?

Now he knew propriety?

As she mused, a shadow silently returned—