Chapter 39: The Unlucky Father and Son of the Du Family

  "Big brother! What are you doing?! Can't you see I'm entertaining honored guests?!"

  Du Ruhui suppressed his anger and stood in front of Du Ruping.

  Du Ruping saw Du Ruhui's uncontrollable anger and directly pointed at Du Ruhui, scolding: "Seventh brother, I never thought you would degenerate to this point. Not only did you secretly associate with lowly merchants, but also ate inside and peeled outside, helping outsiders bully your own nephew. You've completely lost the face of our Du family."

  He's still protecting outsiders even now; in his eyes, Du Ruhui is truly beyond salvation.

  Du Ruhui was so angry that he vomited blood. I'm saving you father and son, but you don't appreciate it and speak wildly. However, Yang You didn't reveal his identity just now, and Du Ruhui didn't dare to say it out loud either. Tell Du Ruping: The person in front of you is the Crown Prince's substitute.

  "Brother, I'll explain everything later. You go back first."

  Unfortunately, Du Ruping and his son had already been blinded by the huge profits of the wealthy merchants and couldn't listen to Du Ruhui's advice.

  Du Ruping pointed at Du Ruhui and said with a tone of "hating iron for not becoming steel": "You can be friends with whoever you want, but these people absolutely cannot leave today. The four classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were established by our ancestors, and merchants are the lowest class."

  Today, a certain merchant actually publicly provoked at the entrance of the Du family's house and even instructed his servants to beat Zhaoyi. This is a provocation against my family, no matter if you have the king's golden edict, our Du family will never let it go easily."

  "Du Jiazhai, you'd better say something. What are the rules? Let Yang take it all at once." Yang You said loudly as he got off the carriage.

  "Your Highness, don't take risks personally!" Dong Yue hastily returned and advised in a low voice.

  "Now that you're here, don't leave. Let your grown-ups come and pick you up!" Du Ruping said condescendingly, thinking to himself that a little kid like you can't make any decisions, it's better to let your grown-ups handle things!

  "You're actually using the Substitute King's Seal! I don't believe you'd dare use it!"

  Du Zhao felt relieved, previously he was intimidated by King Jin's substitute, after his father's analysis, he realized that King Jin's substitute was just a deterrent, until the last moment, no one would easily use this powerful weapon, after all, there is only one King Jin's substitute, once used, it will be gone, unless they are in a life-or-death situation, they won't use it.

  Du Ruhui heard Du Zhao's words and had already guessed eight or nine out of ten about Du Ruping father and son's plan.

  In his heart, he secretly admired the big brother, who was indeed a character. If it were really two businessmen's sons today, they would probably have fallen into his trap. However, he had calculated the outcome but not the beginning.

  Who spent 100,000 yuan to buy something and was willing to let two kids take it out to play?

  "Go and keep both of you noble guests here. I want to see who gave you the guts to come to Du Ling and provoke me!"

  Du Ruping directed a large group of people to move forward.

  "Big brother is not allowed."

  Du Ruhui stepped forward to block him, but was stopped by two strong underlings sent by Du Rugui, who pushed Du Ruhui aside.

  "Halt! That is His Highness the Crown Prince!"

  Du Ruhui struggled with all his might, but couldn't get free. In a fit of rage, he loudly shouted.

  Big brother, you're looking for trouble, if you really let something happen to Crown Prince Dai, the entire Du family will be buried with you.

  "Your Highness..."

  Du Ruhui's words shocked everyone, and the people below also hesitated and turned back to look at the master of the Du family.

  Du Zhao glanced at Du Ruhui, suddenly bursting into loud laughter as if he had heard the most hilarious joke, pointing at Yang You: "If he is the substitute for the Crown Prince, then I am... uh!"

  His words had just come out when a burst of clashing steel and ringing sword sounds cut off the second half of his sentence in his belly.

  The other side's men and horses all drew their swords and guns, proving that Du Ruhui's words were not in vain.

  "Could it really be Prince Dai Wang?" Du Ruping turned his head with difficulty and looked at Du Ruhui beside him.

  Seeing Du Ruhui with a sympathetic gaze, he suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his whole body cold, and only felt dizzy and confused, with a blank mind.

  I had thought of every possible outcome, but I never expected that they would be substitutes for the prince, and yet I still foolishly rushed forward to seek my own death.

  "Bang!"

  Du Ruping slapped Du Zhao hard in the face.

  His eyes were bloodshot as he glared fiercely at Du Zhao, who was stunned like a wooden chicken. You ungrateful son, you're trying to get me killed!

  With a thud, Du Ruping knelt on the ground and crawled forward. Seeing the usually majestic master of the house in such a sorry state, the Du family servants finally came to their senses and dropped whatever they were holding, squatting down on both sides of the road.

  Until a long sword was placed in front of him, Du Ruping stopped and wailed: "Forgive the king's crime, forgive the king's crime, I didn't know you were the king!"

  Yang You was just escorted onto a carriage by guards, and the crisis was resolved. Only then did he get off the carriage with Yang Jier.

  Indeed, they were two young children, a clever and handsome young man, and a sweet and beautiful little girl, who happened to match the age of Prince Dàiwáng and Princess Chūyún. Such unique noble aura, how could it be cultivated from a merchant's family?

  Du Zhao also learned from his father's example and crawled over.

  Yang Jier saw Du Zhao kneeling on the ground and snorted.

  "Unfilial son, don't you apologize to the princess!" Du Ruping slapped Du Zhao's ear.

  "I'm doomed, I've offended Princess Izumo, I hope Princess Izumo will forgive me for my transgression!" Du Zhao slapped himself in the face and begged for mercy.

  The sound of slapping continued nonstop, and before long, Du Zhao's cheeks had already swollen up, bright red, and with a face full of snot, he looked pitiful.

  Yang Jier was spoiled and willful, but after all, she was still a child. Seeing Du Zhao's pitiful appearance, she couldn't bear to look at him anymore and waved her hand, saying: "Alright, alright."

  "Thank you, Princess Icicle! Thank you, Princess Icicle!" Du Zhao slapped himself several times before he finally stopped.

  "Bang!"

  Du Zhao stopped, and Du Ruping slapped him to the ground with a palm.

  "The rebellious son has offended the princess and your lordship, a lowly person will certainly be severely punished, after returning home, he will be dealt with according to family law."

  "Today is a good day for me to invite Du Ruhui out of the mountain. Considering Du Ruhui's face, I will pardon your offense." Yang You said with disgust, looking at the humble and arrogant Du family father and son.

  Du Ruhui coming out of the mountain? The Du family father and son were taken aback, then suddenly realized that wasn't to say that Du Ruhui was going to be an official again?

  They've really hit the jackpot, and a hint of jealousy flashed in the eyes of the father and son. They had thought that after Du Ruhui resigned from his official position, he would no longer have any chance to turn things around, but unexpectedly, it was actually Prince Wang who personally came to invite Du Ruhui to take office.

  At this time, Du Jia and his son finally understood why Dai Wang had to come to Duling, and they also knew that the mastermind behind their series of misfortunes today was none other than Du Ruhui, who had gained the most benefits.

  But he no longer has the qualifications to be jealous of Du Ruhui, now he also needs Du Ruhui's help to get out of trouble.

  Kneeling on the ground and turning around, he faced Du Ruhui with a bitter smile and said, "Congratulations, Seventh Brother!"

  "However, I discovered another great talent on my way to Duling. Compared to him, Du Ruhui's talent is not even one-tenth of his!" Yang You said with a change in tone, delightedly.