Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Who Are You? Everyone in the Wutong Courtyard knew that County Princess Rongjia was in a bad mood because people from the Du family had come. However, most of them didn't know who Du Cheng was. When the young maidservant heard Du Cheng say he was looking for his mother, her first reaction was to curse at him. "Where did you come from, you bastard? Our County Mistress doesn't have a son as old as you. Either you've mistaken the person, or your head isn't working properly?" In Du Cheng's eyes, this was County Princess Rongjia giving orders, refusing to accept him. He was in an awkward position in the Du family. He had been adopted into the eldest branch of the Du family, but he held no property in his hands, and he hadn't yet earned an official rank through the Imperial Examination. Old Master Du did occasionally inquire about his studies, but there was no closeness between them. As for the people from the other branches, they were pleasant to his face, but in reality, they didn't consider him one of their own. Not to mention his younger male and female cousins below him. Du Cheng knew clearly in his heart that if he wanted to rise above the rest, his first step was to earn an official rank through the Imperial Examination. Therefore, when Old Master Du mentioned the Imperial Examination, he deliberately brought up the Guozijian. But he hadn't expected County Princess Rongjia to be so repulsed by the Du family. Was there some reason behind this? Despite facing the maidservant's insults, Du Cheng still maintained an honest and simple appearance. "I truly am the County Mistress's son. Please, young miss, could you announce me? Tell her I have something I wish to say to her." "You're talking nonsense in your sleep. I've never heard that the County Mistress has a..." Before the young maidservant could finish, Mama Wang called out to her. She quickly turned to report, "Mama Wang, come quickly! This shameless fellow claims to be the County Mistress's son. How is that possible?" Wang Hechun's Wife told the maidservant to stop talking, then went to size up Du Cheng herself. He did have a decent appearance. "Cheng ger, if you have something to say, you can say it to me just the same." "I... I want to see my mother." Du Cheng lowered his head. "Don't go around calling her mother. The County Mistress has no intention of acknowledging you as her son. If you want to see the County Mistress, remember that." Wang Hechun's Wife had Du Cheng wait there while she went back to report to the County Mistress. When County Princess Rongjia learned that Du Cheng had come seeking an audience, she didn't even think about it before saying she wouldn't see him. But Wang Hechun's Wife said, "This servant thinks, since this young man wants to see you, why not just see him and find out what he has to say?" "What good words could he possibly have?" County Princess Rongjia felt nauseated just thinking about it. "Those two old bastards in the Du family insisted on adopting a son. Du Shibei deserves to have his bloodline die out!" Wang Hechun's Wife didn't know exactly what had happened between County Princess Rongjia and Elder Master Du, but she had heard that Elder Master Du had kept a concubine in a hidden residence. As for what happened to that concubine afterward, she didn't know. "Anyway, he's on the Marquis's territory. If he dares to play any tricks, we can easily deal with him. On the other hand, we might be able to find out the true purpose of the Du family's second branch. They can't have come all this way just to get the two young masters of the Du family into the Guozijian, right?" Wang Hechun's Wife had keenly sensed something. County Princess Rongjia frowned and thought for a moment before sending someone to summon Du Cheng. When Du Cheng entered the room, he initially wanted to call out "Mother," but remembering Wang Hechun's Wife's words, he instead knelt and addressed her as "County Mistress." "Speak. What did you want to see me about?" County Princess Rongjia held a teacup in her hand, very much wanting to splash it at him. "I... I wanted to kowtow to the County Mistress and beg you to help me get into the Guozijian." Du Cheng said. "Hah, why should I help you?" County Princess Rongjia laughed in anger. "You've been with the Du family for so long—don't you know that I wish the entire Du family would be executed?" "Precisely because of that, the County Mistress should help me. I... I also hate the Du family." Du Cheng paused. "They forcibly adopted me, then treated me coldly. I harbor resentment toward the Du family as well. If I amount to something, I can take control of the Du family's assets and make them regret it." At this point, he finally looked up at County Princess Rongjia, but quickly lowered his head again in haste. "Even some people the County Mistress dislikes could be made to disappear." Du Cheng was gambling—gambling on County Princess Rongjia's hatred for the Du family, and also gambling that County Princess Rongjia had no way to deal with the Du family herself, or perhaps that the Du family truly held some leverage that threatened the County Mistress's life. Perhaps his actions were risky, but his life was already what it was—he had nothing left to lose. When County Princess Rongjia heard Du Cheng's words about "disappear," she became somewhat interested. "Oh? You say you hate the Du family, but why should I believe you? I don't know whether you might be someone the Du family sent to deal with me." "To answer the County Mistress, the Du family has been declining day by day. From Old Master Du's retirement to my father's death from illness, none of the younger generation of the Du family has risen to prominence. In recent years, the Du family already sold off their properties in Bianjing—otherwise, they wouldn't need to come seek refuge with you today. The fact that the current Du family has come to ask for your help shows they truly have no other options. Since you are their only hope, how could they scheme against you?" Du Cheng believed his analysis was quite thorough. From every angle, it was logical. Yet County Princess Rongjia still splashed a cup of tea at him. The scalding hot tea splashed across his face, and Du Cheng was instantly stunned. "No need. I look down on the Du family, and I look down on you even more. If I have grudges and grievances, I'll settle them myself." County Princess Rongjia ordered Du Cheng to get out. Du Cheng left without ever understanding what he had said wrong. Wang Hechun's Wife was equally baffled. County Princess Rongjia offered her explanation. "That boy looks all meek and mild, but he's actually full of schemes. If I used someone like him, I'd be afraid of capsizing in a ditch—in the end, he might be the one to ruin me. Don't you think the way he talks sounds just like that wretch Cui Lingrong?" There was another reason too—a moment ago, when she looked at Du Cheng, she briefly thought Du Shibei had arrived. When she had first married Du Shibei, they had shared moments of affection. Du Shibei was eloquent and blessed with handsome features; countless young women had fancied him. County Princess Rongjia had initially been thinking of Song Shulan, but within days, her heart had fallen entirely for Du Shibei. Seeing Du Cheng again, though his bearing was different, he looked far too much like Du Shibei. County Princess Rongjia did not want to see that face again. "Well, that..." Wang Hechun's Wife hadn't noticed. But suddenly, Song Shulan's voice came from outside—he had run into Du Cheng. Du Cheng's hair was dripping wet, and his clothes were stained with tea, looking utterly disheveled. Since he didn't know Song Shulan, it was only when he heard the maids call out "Marquis" that Du Cheng hastily bowed and said, "Greetings, Marquis Song." Song Shulan narrowed his eyes. He knew the Du family had sent someone, and he also knew the adopted son they had arranged for Elder Master Du had come as well. Looking at the young man before him, Song Shulan asked, "Who are you?" Inside the room, County Princess Rongjia heard this and her heart leapt into her throat. She hurriedly rose and walked outside. She never spoke well of the Du family in front of Song Shulan, for fear he would grow jealous and take offense. Now that Du Cheng had appeared here as a living, breathing person, County Princess Rongjia wished she could strangle him. Coming over in the dead of night like this—what if Song Shulan misunderstood?