Chapter 101: Unprovoked Hostility

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Shen Zhao’s face turned cold as she dismissed them outright. Having come this far, she refused to believe that Du Qian would willingly walk away. If she had laid all her cards on the table from the start, Du Qian would never have agreed. But by taking a gradual approach, Du Qian would think it was still acceptable. Just as Shen Zhao had predicted, Du Qian clenched his teeth, suppressing murderous rage, and said through gritted teeth, “Fine, fine, fine! I agree to talk! Please, General Chu, continue.” He was unwilling to stand by and watch Du Kang die without a fight. Shen Zhao’s expression softened considerably. “That’s better, Lord Du. Anger harms the body; please, sit down. I will have my attendants bring paper, ink, brushes, and inkstone. As before, I will speak, and you write.” “Very well!” Du Qian sat down stubbornly, unwilling to exchange a single word with this Chu. Soon the attendants presented the writing instruments. Du Qian grabbed a brush and shook it violently, as if that were the only way to vent his fury. Ink splattered everywhere, and only then did he feel some relief. Shen Zhao watched Du Qian’s childish display silently. She feared that if she pressed him to compensate for the furnishings in the house, she might drive him away, which would be counterproductive. However, Chu Mu’s expression darkened. What was this Du man playing at? Still unwilling to relent. Given Du Kang’s actions, Chu Mu thought he might as well tear Du Kang to pieces, and the Du family couldn’t say a word. Moreover, Du Kang was a member of the Du family, and the Du family bore some responsibility for his deeds. Yet Du Qian was still angry—such a bad temper. His character was no better, which explained why the Du family produced such a scoundrel as Du Kang. The root was rotten, so all branches were corrupt. Chu Mu looked at Du Qian with clear disdain and disgust. Du Qian felt the weight of Chu Mu’s gaze and almost died of anger. First, a man named Chu tormented him, and now Chu’s wife as well! What grudge did this Chu woman have against him? What was with her disdainful eyes? If the tiger did not show its might, did this couple think him a sickly cat to be bullied at will? Before coming here, he had even felt pity for this Chu woman. Born of noble lineage, her father and brothers were rare paragons of integrity who stood firm against tyranny. It was a pity she married a Chu; after only half a year in the Chu household, she was neglected, mistreated, and known to all as unloved. Now, it seemed some people were not worthy of pity at all. Without hesitation, Du Qian shot back a glare. Though good men did not quarrel with women, today he would make an exception.

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Du Qian’s retaliatory glare was a provocation in Chu Mu’s eyes. He could no longer sit still. How could he be bullied by a pretty-faced weakling in his own house? If not for being on Chu’s turf, he would have beaten this feeble scholar ten times over. Chu Mu’s scornful gaze grew even more brazen. Du Qian was already full of pent-up frustration, and the repeated provocations from Chu Mu’s eyes pushed him beyond endurance. Damn it! There was a limit to patience! Shen Zhao, seeing the situation about to explode, feared that if she did not intervene, Chu Mu and Du Qian might come to blows, which would be disastrous. Du Qian even put down his brush, almost rising. Shen Zhao immediately raised her voice, “Lord Du.” Du Qian snapped to attention. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the brush again with such force he nearly broke it. He would endure. This woman was insufferable. How could anyone like a woman? Shen Zhao shot a warning glance at Chu Mu, who was almost ruining her plans with his stubbornness. Chu Mu looked at Shen Zhao with grievance, wondering why she was angry with him when it was clearly that Du man’s fault. Shen Zhao ignored Chu Mu’s complaints and continued, “As I said before, Lord Du, the first condition is that you stand with me in the court. Now, this condition must change.” Du Qian frowned deeply. What did this Chu woman want now? Did she expect him to oppose himself? If so, he would gladly give her ten thousand taels of silver to watch her suffer! “I hope that in the future, Lord Du will heed only me in the court, and the Du family will fully support my actions.” Du Qian’s head shot up. “General Chu, do not be too presumptuous!” The Du family was vast and powerful. Chu had no right to claim them as his own. They would not even show the prince such deference, let alone him. He refused to put pen to paper on such an unreasonable demand. Shen Zhao smiled. “Lord Du, do not rush to refuse. Hear me out. Rest assured, I will never ask you or the Du family to commit murder or arson on my behalf, nor will I have you or your family risk life and limb for me. I only ask that when I am oppressed and isolated, Lord Du and the Du family stand by me and lend support. I also hope that Lord Du and the Du family will not oppose me. Is that too much to ask?” Du Qian looked at Shen Zhao oddly. Why couldn’t she just say everything at once? What she said before sounded as if the Du family had to sell themselves to Chu Mu. What she said now was more reasonable. He could accept this. “Not too much,” he said, carefully inscribing the clause.

Chu Mu was deeply moved. Shen Zhao was looking out for him, aware of his isolation and oppression in court. She was seeking him protection; he understood her intentions. Shen Zhao found Chu Mu’s emotional gaze unsettling. For no reason at all, this stubborn blockhead was so moved as to have red eyes—something she couldn’t comprehend. After Du Qian finished writing the clause, Shen Zhao continued, “As for the second condition, I hope the Du family will assist me in vindicating the Shen father and son, clearing the injustice on their names, and allowing them to return openly to the capital.” Du Qian’s frown deepened further. The Shen father and son had offended not only the prince but others as well. Chu Mu might be unaware that the decree to exile them bore the prince’s hand and those of two other generals stationed outside the capital. Most of the Northwest army under the Shen father and son was controlled by those two. While the Du family might be able to protect them somewhat, fully vindicating the Shen family would mean offending not only the prince but also two powerful and untouchable figures. Those two were not as easily suppressed as Chu Mu; each was capable of shaking the entire court. “That will not be possible. General Chu, please do not propose unrealistic conditions. I can only agree that the Du family protect the Shen father and son in exile. As for full vindication, General Chu should not raise that again.” Shen Zhao was puzzled. She only asked the Du family to aid her in clearing her father and brother’s names. The Du family never took sides; this should not be difficult. Could there be some hidden truth she was unaware of? “Ah Zhao, it’s better to heed the Ministry of Revenue’s deputy minister and have the Du family protect your father and brother in exile. Your father-in-law and brother are not easily rehabilitated. When the Shen family fell, I investigated the matter carefully.” “Why? Why can’t they be vindicated? Are you all so afraid of the prince?”

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