Chapter 194

Chapter 194: Up a Few Ranks

“What?” A’Jian stared at Du Yi Zhi in shock. The few commoner still lining up outside, and the Hunter standing guard, all looked over as well.

Sun Dun Xu grew even more pleased and shouted, “Boss Du should have some self-awareness, and should think of the commoner of Ji Zhou Prefecture. Boss Du should hurry and get out of Ji Zhou Prefecture and stop bringing disaster on the commoner of Ji Zhou Prefecture-ah!”

Sun Dun Xu cried out in pain. A hard, frozen snowball slammed into his body.

Someone spat. “Pah! Boss Du is a good person. If not for Boss Du, my whole family would have frozen to death. If there is bad luck, it is you who brought bad luck to Sheng Shi Hall!”

Another voice shouted, “That’s right. Get lost and stop running your mouth in front of Boss Du!”

One snowball after another struck Sun Dun Xu until Sun Dun Xu could not lift his head. Sun Dun Xu covered his face and fled through the crowd. Even after Sun Dun Xu ran far, he still heard the jeers behind him.

Sun Dun Xu spat hard. “A bunch of low-life trash. They are already about to die, yet they still dare to buy his cotton.”

Sun Dun Xu muttered, “Rushing to die. If they die, they deserve it.”

After that, Sun Dun Xu hurried back to Du Residence to report what happened at Sheng Shi Hall.

When Old Madam Du heard there were still commoner defending Du Yi Zhi, the hand turning her prayer beads paused. Sun Dun Xu no longer looked arrogant like outside Sheng Shi Hall. Sun Dun Xu kept his back bent, barely daring to breathe.

After a long while, Old Madam Du let out a deep sigh. “Since that is the case, have them do their work with even more care.”

“Yes, yes!” Sun Dun Xu was overjoyed and turned to leave.

Just then, a figure hurried in. Sun Dun Xu’s steps collided with the newcomer’s, and the newcomer stumbled and nearly fell. Sun Dun Xu reached out and steadied him.

When Sun Dun Xu saw who it was, Sun Dun Xu’s face twisted. It was Second Master Du.

Second Master Du was not as hot-tempered as Third Master Du, but Second Master Du was the strictest about rules in Du Residence. Even if someone failed to salute from far away, that person would be punished for a long time. Sun Dun Xu thought he was doomed.

Yet Second Master Du laughed twice and did not even look at Sun Dun Xu. Second Master Du called out, “Old Madam! Great news!”

Old Madam Du looked over. Only then did Second Master Du seem to notice Sun Dun Xu, and Second Master Du waved him away.

Sun Dun Xu finally relaxed, but once Sun Dun Xu relaxed, an urgent need rose up. Sun Dun Xu had to go find a latrine in the outer courtyard first, then come back out to carry out Old Madam Du’s orders.

Inside Old Madam Du’s room, Second Master Du took out a letter that looked strangely familiar. Old Madam Du stood up. “This is?”

Second Master Du said, “It appeared in Du Third’s courtyard just now. Du Third was in a bad mood, so I took it for him.”

At the mention of Du Third, displeasure flickered in Old Madam Du’s eyes. After Du Cheng died, Third Madam Du caused chaos in the Third House and made the home restless. Old Madam Du felt sympathy for Third Master Du, so Old Madam Du had suggested Third Lord Du take two young concubines for Third Master Du.

Third Madam Du was old and not easy to bear children, but Du Third could still produce heirs. Losing one son hurt, but it could never be brought back. Better to have another one or two. Yet Third Madam Du had gone mad. That very night, Third Madam Du took a knife and hacked the two concubines.

Third Madam Du even injured Third Master Du’s face. If not for the fact that Third Madam Du had just lost a son, Old Madam Du truly wanted Third Master Du to divorce Third Madam Du. But since Du Third had told Du Family’s deeds to that woman, divorce was no longer possible. They could only wait until things passed, then find a way to let Third Madam Du die of illness.

Those thoughts only flashed through Old Madam Du’s mind. Old Madam Du’s eyes fell on the letter, and Old Madam Du reached out with a trembling hand, excited.

Compared to the rise and fall of the entire Du Clan, what did one Du Cheng matter? If Third Madam Du could not even watch over her own son, Du Cheng would not have had to die.

Old Madam Du asked, “Your father and Third Master’s side-”

Second Master Du replied, “They have already been informed.”

As soon as Second Master Du spoke, Second Lord Du and Third Lord Du hurried in. Besides Third Master Du, Third Lord Du still had a concubine-born son. Though he was concubine-born, Third Lord Du loved him, so Du Cheng’s death had not struck Third Lord Du as heavily.

Second Lord Du was the most excited. “Another letter from above?”

Second Master Du took out the token as proof. It was still the same gift they had once offered through that Noble Lady back then. Even the wax seal on the envelope matched the last time.

Second Master Du nodded. “Yes, it is correct!”

Second Lord Du said, “It seems that person values the Du Clan. Otherwise, why would a letter come again so soon? Perhaps it means Elder Brother’s position will move up another step.”

Second Master Du guessed the same, and Old Madam Du also thought so.

Old Madam Du said slowly, “If that is so, then our Du Family must be even more diligent.”

Old Madam Du carefully removed the seal. Second Master Du watched the envelope and said, “Old Madam can rest assured. Master Lin already coordinated with the other cotton merchants. In just two days, once Du Yi Zhi is driven out of Ji Zhou Prefecture, the matter will be settled.”

Old Madam Du nodded and took the letter out. Under everyone’s expectant gaze, Old Madam Du unfolded it slowly.

Second Master Du stared at Old Madam Du. A long time passed, yet Old Madam Du still did not speak. Second Master Du grew anxious and was about to ask.

Then Second Master Du saw it. Old Madam Du’s hand holding the letter began to tremble, little by little.

Second Lord Du joked, “How many ranks did Ming Yi climb? Sister-in-law is happy enough for her hands to shake.”

Then-

Old Madam Du spat a mouthful of blood, splashing red across most of the letter. Old Madam Du’s mouth hung open as the letter slipped from her fingers. Old Madam Du stared at empty air, and before anyone could react, Old Madam Du’s body tilted and crashed backward.

“Sister-in-law!”

“Old Madam!”

“W-what happened?”

Second Master Du grabbed Old Madam Du, and Nanny Zhou, who had been waiting outside, rushed in at the sound.

Second Lord Du had already picked up the letter from the floor. Second Lord Du only glanced at it once, and Second Lord Du’s expression froze solid.

“N-no…” Second Lord Du mumbled.

Before Second Master Du could understand what was happening, Second Lord Du’s body tilted and fell as well.

The room erupted into chaos. Second Master Du feared Third Lord Du might not endure it either, so Second Master Du snatched the letter away and read only a few lines.

Second Master Du collapsed to the floor with a cry. Second Master Du’s lips kept moving, but not a single word came out.

It was over. The Du Family was truly finished.

This letter was not what they had guessed at all. It was not news of Du Ming Yi being promoted. It demanded that they admit the Du Clan had colluded with the authorities and burned cotton.

But they had clearly done it according to instructions. Why did it become this? Why was it like this?

“The letter… the letter…” Old Madam Du, who had been unconscious, reached out with a shaking hand. “Fake! It must be fake!”

Old Madam Du cried and laughed like a madwoman. “Du Yi Zhi! It was Du Yi Zhi, taking revenge on the Du Clan… yes, that must be it…”

Second Lord Du’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.

In the end, Third Lord Du still took the letter from Second Master Du’s limp hands. The reactions of Old Madam Du and Second Lord Du had already prepared Third Lord Du, yet even so, the moment Third Lord Du saw what was written, Third Lord Du staggered.

How could it be like this? How could it be?