Chapter 603: Du Yaoguang's Choice

Night.

The evening wind, bearing the muggy heat of early summer, sweeps over the vermilion eaves of the Du residence.

It brushes the copper bells hanging from the eave corners, making a tinkling clatter that drifts into the window lattice.

The study is spacious and bright, its four walls adorned with ancient calligraphy, and the desk piled with stacks of bamboo slips and plain sheets.

A three‑legged copper lamp burns, its wick drawn up high, and a dim yellow halo spreads across the entire Zitanmu Chang'an.

Du Yaoguang is bent over the desk practicing calligraphy; he is over forty, his features clear and refined, yet a few strands of frost‑white hair fringe his temples.

He wears a moon‑white cloud‑brocade daily robe that accentuates his upright bearing, a single ink‑jade belt hook at his waist, shedding the courtly authority for a few touches of a cultured gentleman's warmth.

The wolf‑hair brush pen, its tip soaked in thick ink, rustles as it meets the paper; the character "eternity" is written with dignified vigor, the opening stroke hidden yet steady, the strokes as vigorous as pine, and the finish crisp and clean.

The scent of ink mingles with the crisp aroma of dragon‑scent incense on the desk, slowly spreading through the air; at the desk corner lies a gold‑splashed red slip, its tiny regular script listing a gift list, prepared for the unborn child of his daughter Du Shuying.

From red‑gold longevity locks to mutton‑fat jade pendants, from brocade swaddling cloths to delicate glutinous‑rice cakes, a dense list fills an entire page.

Between the lines each word carries the elders' sincere intentions.

Du Yaoguang finishes the last stroke, lifts his hand to rest the pen on the pen holder, his fingertips gently tracing the red slip's characters, a faint smile curling his lips, and in his mind the pink little face of his grandchild already appears.

At that moment, the study's door is gently knocked.

The butler Du Zhong's voice comes through the curtain, reverent without a hint of impropriety: "Master, someone outside wishes an audience."

Du Yaoguang does not lift his head, reaches for the desk's paperweight, presses down the slightly curled xuan paper, and says lightly, "A late‑night visit? Who is it?"

"Replying, Master, it is Prince Gu Ye who has arrived!"

The pen tip, about to touch another plain sheet, pauses slightly at the words.

Du Yaoguang lifts his gaze, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, then turning into a gentle smile: "A Ze has come?"

Before the words finish, he recalls something and asks, "Is Shuying coming along?"

The butler's voice comes through the curtain, tinged with a hint of helplessness: "Replying, Master, the young lady has not returned."

Du Yaoguang's brows furrow imperceptibly, a trace of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Indeed, his daughter's condition is heavy; at such a late hour, she should not be traveling.

He sighs softly, relaxes his brows, his fingertips grasp the Wolf‑hair Brush again, about to write, when the butler's voice resumes, now bearing a weightier tone.

"Accompanying the Prince are Chen Zhuguo, and Lord Hou Mo Chen Xiao, the Zhuque Mirror Master!"

The butler pauses, his voice dropping further, "And… they are also escorting a person, a black cloth covering the head, face unseen, both hands bound in reverse…"

With a "swish," the Wolf‑hair pen tip slams onto the plain sheet.

Ink spreads, staining the pristine xuan paper with a glaring blot.

Du Yaoguang abruptly halts, the fingers gripping the pen shaft tighten slightly, the knuckles turning a pallid blue.

He lifts his eyes toward the doorway; the gentle smile fades, replaced by a deep, scrutinizing gaze.

A head covered, face unseen, hands bound in reverse…

Those words are like a stone tossed into Du Yaoguang's heart‑lake, sending out rippling circles.

The three arrive together at night, escorting an unidentified person; such a display is far from an ordinary visit.

Du Yaoguang sets the Wolf‑hair aside, slowly rises, his back straight as a pole, the leisure of his calligraphy now vanished, his dignified bearing quietly gathering in his brows.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly commands in a clear voice, the tone unwavering: "Invite them quickly!"

As the words fall, his nostrils twitch, as if catching a hint of an approaching storm.

It is the scent of the court, tinged with blood and intrigue.

The butler replies "Yes," and his footsteps hurry away.

The study returns to silence, only the copper lamp's shade crackling intermittently.

Du Yaoguang stands with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the gift list at the desk corner, his fingertips lightly tapping his palm, his eyes darkening.

He has floated in the court for twenty years, weathered countless storms; such a display must signal a monumental affair, and that affair likely cannot be separated from him…

Soon, footsteps draw nearer, accompanied by measured strides and the harsh clatter of iron chains dragging on the floor.

The study's door is pushed open, and Du Zhong bows and steps aside.

First entering are Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze, followed closely by Hou Mo Chen Xiao.

Behind the three, two embroidered‑clad envoys escort a person.

That person's entire head is covered by a black hood, both hands bound behind with coarse hemp rope.

The rope is tightly cinched into the sleeves, heavy iron chains dragging at the feet, each step producing a sharp clatter.

Yuwen Ze steps forward first, bowing to Du Yaoguang, his voice low: "Respectfully, I have seen you, Father‑in‑law!"

Chen Yan also bows, his tone bearing respect: "Respectfully, I have seen you, Uncle Du!"

Hou Mo Chen Xiao follows, clasping his fists in salute: "Respectfully, I have seen you, Uncle Du!"

Du Yaoguang lifts his hand in a feigned gesture, his gaze sweeping the three before settling on the hooded figure, his brows slightly raised, his tone calm yet inquisitive: "No need for excessive courtesy."

He pauses, his eyes blazing, "You three arrive at night, bringing such a 'distinguished guest'; what does this mean?"

Chen Yan, hearing this, smiles lightly, steps forward, his gaze landing on the bound person, and says slowly: "We have come today to request that Uncle Du meet someone!"

Before the words finish, he suddenly raises his hand, grabs the black hood on the person's head, and yanks it down forcefully!

As the hood falls, the person's face is revealed.

The dim yellow light falls on that face, and Du Yaoguang's pupils contract sharply.

It is a fairly handsome face, about forty years old.

Yet the complexion is as pale as paper, the lips tightly sealed by a coarse cloth, only a muffled "umm… umm…" can be heard.

Those eyes are filled with terror and burning, and the moment they see Du Yaoguang, they flash brightly, like a drowning person clutching a lifeline, the body thrashing violently.

The iron chains strike the floor, emitting a thunderous clatter.

Du Duo Yi?!

Du Yaoguang's whole body shivered as if struck by a flash of thunder; the paperweight in his hand clanged onto the desk and rolled onto the floor.

He stared blankly at that face, the astonishment in his eyes surging like tide, and even his voice trembled with disbelief: "Du Duoyi?!"

"How could it be you?!"

Chen Yan heard the words, nodded, his chest slightly lifted, his voice booming like a bell, echoing through the solemn Shufang: "It is indeed a member of the Jing Zhao Du Clan, the Huazhou Chief Clerk Du Duoyi!"

Before the words finished, he strode forward, seized the coarse cloth at Du Duoyi's cheek with his right hand, and snapped his wrist hard.

The cloth gag was ripped off violently, the force rough, pulling a red mark across Du Duoyi's mouth corner.

"Cough— cough—"

Du Duoyi coughed sharply, a hoarse sound issuing from his throat, as if blocked for too long, each breath tinged with a raw, painful sting.

He inhaled a few ragged breaths of air heavy with ink fragrance and dragon‑saliva incense, his cracked lips quivering.

A pair of blood‑veined eyes stared fixedly at Du Yaoguang, as if clutching the last straw of salvation.

"Clan brother! Save me!"

He roared impatiently, his hoarse voice like a cracked gong, tinged with sobs, the ending trembling, "I don't want to die!"

"Please, elder brother, in the name of our kinship and shared bloodline, spare my life!"

Saying that, he struggled desperately, his bound hands rattling the hemp rope, the iron chain dragging across the Blue Bricks floor with a harsh screech.

He was like a maddened trapped beast, yearning to throw himself at Du Yaoguang's feet and beg for mercy.

But as soon as the words fell, Chen Yan's expression darkened.

A muffled "bang" sounded, and Chen Yan lifted his booted foot, mercilessly kicking Du Duoyi's knee.

Du Duoyi was caught off guard, his knee gave way, and he collapsed heavily to the ground, his knee striking the hard Blue Bricks with a dull thud that made teeth ache.

"Ah—!"

A piercing wail ripped the Shufang's silence; Du Duoyi convulsed in pain, cold sweat beading densely on his forehead.

His face turned ashen as paper, even his voice changed pitch.

He hunches, curling into a ball from the pain, yet still lifts his head toward Du Yaoguang, eyes full of pleading and fear.

Chen Yan showed no mercy, bent down, grabbed the coarse cloth from the floor, and again forced it harshly into his mouth.

"Um um…" a vague whimper rose from Du Duoyi's throat, like a dying beast's lament.

The light in those eyes dimmed little by little, yet still stared fixedly at Du Yaoguang, refusing to shift at all.

The air in the Shufang seemed frozen into ice at that moment.

Du Yaoguang stood by the desk, watching the scene, his complexion darkening gradually, his demeanor as heavy as a layer of frost.

He still knew Chen Yan's temperament; unless it were a matter of utmost gravity, this young man who wielded great authority and was adept at affairs would never be so unyielding.

Du Duoyi's crime could not be minor!

Du Yaoguang slowly turned, his gaze falling on his son‑in‑law Yuwen Ze, and asked, "A Ze, what's going on?"

Yuwen Ze's expression grew solemn; he stepped forward, clasped his fists and bowed to Du Yaoguang, his tone austere: "Father‑in‑law, are you aware of the fire at the Huazhou Post Station?"

"Of course!" Du Yaoguang blurted, his brows knitting tighter.

How could he not know?

The incident had been the talk of the town in recent days, already spreading throughout Chang'an.

He inhaled deeply, his voice tinged with sorrow: "I heard that the fire killed over twenty officials from the Imperial Academy who were on duty!"

"Those people were all personally selected by your uncle Yi Chuan…"

By the end, his voice grew hoarse.

Yet Yuwen Ze's next words struck like a bolt of thunder, slamming onto Du Yaoguang's head.

Yuwen Ze lifted his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade, speaking each word deliberately: "Father‑in‑law, actually it wasn't a fire…"

He paused, then pointed a hand at the curled Du Duoyi on the ground, his voice so deep it seemed to drip water: "It was Chief Clerk Du Duoyi and Inspector Yao Hongnian, together with Household Department Staff Officer Pei Min, who conspired!"

"The evidence is conclusive! No denial possible!"

"What?!" Du Yaoguang stepped back sharply.

His back slammed hard into the Zitanmu Chang'an, the copper lamp on it swaying slightly.

The dim yellow halo flickered, reflecting the astonishment on his face like a surging tide.

He widened his eyes, staring fixedly at Du Duoyi on the ground.

"Scoundrels!" He trembled with anger, slamming the desk hard, causing the pen stack and the paperweight on the desk to jump, "You have the audacity of a dog! How dare you?!"

Over twenty lives!

And they were court officials!

This is no arson; it's like striking at the very head of the Grand Duke, a blatant challenge to Great Zhou's law!

Du Duoyi is merely a Huazhou Chief Clerk, and Yao Hongnian, though an Inspector, how could they dare act so recklessly?!

If they were dissatisfied, they could have used hidden traps; yet they came so openly—are they jealous of their longevity, or think the Ming Jing Si isn't strict enough?

Chen Yan stood nearby, watching Du Yaoguang's fury, a faint smile curling his lips with a hint of meaning.

He stepped forward, his gaze landing on Du Yaoguang's face, his tone even: "Bringing the Du clan member Du Duoyi here is only to ask Uncle Du for your opinion on how to handle it!"

The Du Duoyi on the ground heard this and seemed to spark hope instantly.

He strained to lift his head, a muffled "um um um" issuing from his throat, his eyes full of pleading, fixed on Du Yaoguang.

His body kept struggling, as if using this faint motion to awaken Du Yaoguang's kinship.

Du Yaoguang's chest rose and fell violently, the fury on his face gradually fading, replaced by a cold, solemn heaviness.

He looked at the tear‑streaked Du Duoyi on the ground, then glanced at the three people before him, each bearing a different expression.

He knew well that, had it not been for Shu Ying marrying into the Jin Wang Fu, it would likely have been a direct attack rather than an inquiry!

And it would have far‑reaching repercussions.....

The Jing Zhao Du Clan, generations of officials, must never be ruined by his hand!

Nor can it be ruined by that scoundrel Du Duoyi!

Du Yaoguang snapped his eyes shut, and when he opened them again, his gaze was crystal clear, showing no hint of hesitation.

His eyebrows knit tightly, he abruptly turned around, looked at Chen Yan and the other two, and retorted, his voice resonant and powerful: "Is that still in question?"

As the words fell, he flung his sleeves and robe upward, gave a fierce swing, and with righteous and stern diction shouted loudly: "Then we shall do exactly what must be done, just as it should be!"

"No leniency whatsoever!"

"Otherwise, what will we answer the Grand Preceptor, what will we answer Your Majesty!"

"What will we answer for the more than twenty unjust deaths!"

The final sentence was almost a roar, shaking the Shufang's window frames so that they trembled faintly.

Shielding is absolutely impossible!

My own legitimate eldest son is the organizer of the expansion recruitment, and the Du Duoyi before us is merely a side‑branch offshoot, so selecting him is no difficulty at all…

Du Duoyi collapsed onto the cold Blue Bricks, and the whimper in his throat abruptly ceased.

Du Yaoguang's thunderous words were like an ice‑tempered dagger, driving mercilessly into his heart.

His pupils suddenly contracted, the blood throughout his body seemed to freeze at that instant, and every limb and bone radiated a bone‑piercing chill.

A "thud" echoed in his heart; the last sliver of lingering luck was crushed, leaving only one thought in his mind—

"It's over! Completely over!"

Staring fixedly at Du Yaoguang, the blood‑veined eyes saw the final glimmer of light extinguish completely, replaced by boundless, endless despair.

A coarse cloth blocked Du Duoyi's mouth, preventing even a single plea for mercy; he could only watch, eyes wide, as his path to life was sliced away inch by inch.

The air in the Shufang remained stagnant, yet Du Yaoguang's stance introduced a subtle loosening.

Yuwen Ze stepped forward first, bowed to Du Yaoguang with clasped fists, his back perfectly straight, and said in a clear voice: "Father‑in‑law, you are profoundly righteous; your son‑in‑law admires you immensely!"

Du Yaoguang, however, showed no trace of smugness; he slowly withdrew the gaze that had fallen upon Du Duoyi, and instead, with keen interest, surveyed Yuwen Ze and Chen Yan.

The dim yellow light fell on his face, reflecting in his deep eyes a flash of insight that seemed to perceive everything.

He stared for a while, then suddenly curled the corner of his mouth, his tone laden with meaning: "Yuwen Ze, Chen Zhuguo, you brought Du Duoyi here masked on purpose; you're not merely asking for opinions on his disposition, are you?"