107
The Duan family members had long held grievances about Duan Linzhou marrying into Marquis Annan Mansion.
When his decision was first announced, everyone in the Duan family who had any say came to the Duan Mansion. Even several clan elders who were already very old and no longer involved in worldly affairs were all dissatisfied. It wasn’t that a Zhongyong couldn’t marry a Tianqian, but rather that the Duan family’s clan leader couldn’t marry into another family as a wife.
Before his death, Old Master Duan had overruled the objections and passed over Duan Linyu, handing the entire Duan family over to Duan Linzhou. Duan Linzhou was the current clan leader.
Once Duan Linzhou married into Marquis Annan Mansion, where would the Duan family be placed? At that time, some people had wanted Duan Linzhou to step down and hand over the Duan family to other descendants of the Duan family, but Duan Linzhou hadn’t relented. The Duan family’s current status was entirely due to Duan Linzhou. Since he was unwilling, no one could shake his position in the Duan family. Duan Linzhou had always been firm, and with a combination of forceful and persuasive tactics, the matter had to be dropped.
Even so, there were still many people in the clan who couldn’t accept Duan Linzhou marrying Mu Peixuan, despite Mu Peixuan being of noble birth and a prince.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Duan family’s wealth could rival that of a small country. For Duan Linzhou to marry into the Mu family like this made it seem as if the entire Duan family had become his personal property, and his dowry had become an appendage of Marquis Annan Mansion. Duan Linzhou’s health was already failing. Once he died, if Marquis Annan Mansion intended to seize the Duan family’s wealth, how could they, as commoners, compete with officials?
They could only approach the matter through Duan Linzhou, but Duan Linzhou lived a secluded life and later went to Fengzhou. Old Master Duan’s death anniversary was a rare opportunity for them.
The unexpected factor was that they hadn’t anticipated Mu Peixuan’s arrival. However, the arrow was already on the string, and the opportunity couldn’t be missed.
As soon as Duan Linyu said this, the expressions of the Duan clan members present shifted slightly, and a hint of agreement appeared on their faces.
Mu Peixuan’s eyes were cold as he looked at Duan Linyu. Upon hearing his words, he scoffed and said, “The Duan clan… the Duan clan. Without Duan Linzhou, what is the Duan clan? Just a small spice merchant in Ruizhou city.”
Duan Linyu abruptly raised his eyes, staring at Mu Peixuan. “Your Highness, this is the Duan family’s affair. Even if you are a prince, you have no right to interfere in the Duan family’s matters.”
Duan Linzhou smiled and said, “His Highness is my husband. How can he not have a say in the Duan family’s affairs?”
Sixth Great-Uncle frowned at these blunt and direct words. “That’s right, Linzhou has made great contributions to the Duan clan, but without the Duan family, how could there be him? One should remember the source of their blessings. No matter how successful Linzhou becomes in business in the future, the Duan family belongs to the entire Duan family, not just his alone.”
He looked at Mu Peixuan and said, “Since Your Highness has come today as the Duan family’s son-in-law, then please forgive my boldness, but Linzhou has already married into Prince Annan Mansion… he is now a member of the Mu family and naturally cannot be the head of the Duan family.”
These words were truly cold and heartless. Duan Weirui couldn’t listen any longer and spoke up, “Sixth Great-Uncle, my Third Brother’s surname is Duan, so he will naturally always be a member of the Duan family. Moreover, every copper coin the Duan family has today was earned through my Third Brother’s hard work. He has poured his heart and soul into the Duan family. If my Third Brother can’t be the head of the Duan family, then who can?”
Sixth Great-Uncle was immediately annoyed that a concubine-born Kunze had spoken and rebuked her, “Where is there any place for a kunze like you to speak here?”
Duan Weirui was about to retort when she heard Duan Linzhou say, “Weirui, come here.”
Duan Weirui glanced at Duan Linzhou and tugged at Duan Lin’an beside her, who had just come back to his senses. After hesitating for a moment, Duan Lin’an also walked over with her.
The atmosphere in the cemetery was clearly divided. The wind on the mountaintop was strong, and the autumn wind blew, carrying a faint chill. Duan Linzhou chuckled softly, his expression calm. “It seems that this is something everyone discussed beforehand, what is this? Trying to force me to hand over the Duan family?”
He looked at Duan Linyu and said, “Duan Linyu, it seems you have improved a little.”
“But do you think bringing out the elders will be of any use?”
Duan Linyu’s face twisted for a moment as he glared fiercely at Duan Linzhou, as if he wished he could devour his flesh and blood.
Duan Linzhou acted as if he hadn’t noticed and muttered to himself, “It seems I’ve been too lenient all these years, making everyone think that I, Duan Linzhou, am kind and easily bullied. Since you all want the power to manage the Duan family back, very well.”
As soon as these words left his mouth, both Duan Weirui and Duan Lin’an couldn’t help but call out, “Third Brother!” Mu Peixuan, however, remained silent, merely watching Duan Linzhou quietly.
Duan Linzhou wore plain robes with wide sleeves, his face pale, which made his already thin figure appear even more frail. Duan Linzhou had never been a weak and pitiful person; he was strong-willed and had a unique and effective approach. But at this moment, Mu Peixuan truly felt a pang of heartache, and his gaze swept across the Duan clan members in the area, turning icy.
Even with him present, these people dared to bully Duan Linzhou. If he weren’t around, Mu Peixuan couldn’t imagine how Duan Linzhou would be forced into a corner. It was at this moment that Mu Peixuan understood exactly what Duan Linzhou had shouldered in order to marry him.
“Back then,” Duan Linzhou said, “The Duan family only had one Duan Clan Spice Shop in the east of the city. When it was passed down to my father, it was still just that one shop, earning roughly two to three thousand taels a year.”
“Sixth Great-Uncle, am I right?” Duan Linzhou looked at Sixth Great-Uncle, speaking casually. “This shop was given to me after my father fell ill. Not to mention the three new spice shops I added in Ruizhou city. Since you all want them, then take them.”
Duan Linyu exclaimed, “Duan Linzhou, what do you mean?!”
Duan Linzhou smiled slightly. “The spice shops are yours. From now on, the Duan family is divided into two.”
Sixth Great-Uncle’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this. His beard trembled with anger as he roared, “You want to establish your own branch?”
Duan Linzhou retorted, “What are you saying, Sixth Great-Uncle? The Duan family’s ancestral inheritance is only that one spice shop. As for the merchant guild, the taverns, and the escort agency under my name… which one didn’t come into being through my own efforts? The ‘Duan’ clan in their name is my ‘Duan’, Duan Linzhou’s ‘Duan’.”
Everyone present had a change of expression. What they wanted was far more than just the few spice shops of the Duan family. Besides, even if Duan Linzhou gave them the spice shops, over the years, the goods in those shops had all passed through his hands, transported by the Duan family’s merchant caravans from all over the country and even from overseas lands. It was because of this that the Duan family’s spice business had leaped to become the leader in Ruizhou.
Once Duan Linzhou washed his hands of it, the Duan family’s spice business would definitely suffer a severe blow.
For a moment, the minds of the Duan clan members were in turmoil. Some of them had been instigated by Duan Linyu, and what they cared about was only the ownership of the Duan family after Duan Linzhou’s death. However, they also didn’t want the Duan family to truly fall apart.
Duan Linyu sneered. “You have a good plan. Without the Duan family, could you, Duan Linzhou, be where you are today? Which of the things under your name wasn’t acquired with the Duan clan’s fund?”
“Duan Linyu, it seems you have truly forgotten,” Duan Linzhou scoffed. “Back then, Father didn’t let either of us touch that spice shop. Father gave you and me each a hundred taels, that was the first time you lost to me,” he emphasized the words ‘lost to me’, watching Duan Linyu’s face turn unsightly, and slowly continued, “You lost a thousand taels to me.”
“All the businesses I’ve built since then originated from that silver. As for those hundred taels, not to mention that I bear the Duan surname and Father giving it to me was only right, even if I had borrowed it, it should also have been paid long ago.”
Having said this, Duan Linzhou raised his eyes, looking at the faces, some familiar, some unfamiliar, and sneered. “Do you still want to settle accounts with me?”
“Sixth Great-Uncle, Duan Qing has lost no less than ten thousand taels in gambling in the past two years alone,” Duan Qing was Sixth Great-Uncle’s youngest son, born late in life and doted upon. Duan Linzhou continued, “All these years, you’ve taken quite a bit from the account to pay off his gambling debts, haven’t you? How much did he rack up this time? Or did the Madam promise you some kind of benefits?” Duan Linyu’s maternal family, the Wen family, had also been prominent merchants. Ever since he and Duan Linyu had fallen out, Duan Linzhou had been suppressing the Wen family. Later, the Wen family incurred debts and moved away to another place as a whole family.
“Seventh Uncle, Ninth Brother smuggles no less than a thousand taels of private goods on the merchant ships every time he travels.” Duan Linzhou then looked at a middle-aged man. “Since we all share the Duan surname, let’s just make it ninety percent of the profit for the family. I’ll have the steward go to your residence to collect the accounts. Oh right, he’s also keeping two mistresses outside, and they’ve given you a few more grandsons…”
The middle-aged man’s expression changed drastically. Although his daughter-in-law was a Zhongyong, her family was wealthy, and she had a fiery temper, which even he was somewhat wary of. If she found out about this, there would likely be no peace in his household.
Duan Linzhou’s gaze swept over them one by one. The Duan family members subconsciously took a step back. The Duan family was now a prominent family in Ruizhou, and they had all benefited from Duan Linzhou’s influence over the years, engaging in more or less shady dealings in the open or in secret. Meeting Duan Linzhou’s slightly mocking gaze, a chill ran down their spines, reminding them of how ruthless Duan Linzhou’s methods had been when dealing with his opponents in the past.
As Duan Linzhou had said, he had been ill for the past few years, and managing the vast family business had already consumed most of his energy. He had turned a blind eye to what was happening within the clan.
Clear water breeds no fish. Which large family didn’t have some dirty secrets?
But unexpectedly, he had nurtured their greed and ambition, teaching them to hope for his death and to covet what was in his hands even while he was still alive.
Duan Linzhou felt inexplicably disheartened. He said faintly, “Today, I will make my words clear. The Duan family’s wealth was built by my own hands. How I choose to deal with it is my business, and no one should even think of taking a share.”
“Whoever makes me unhappy,” Duan Linzhou stared at Sixth Great-Uncle and said in a deep voice, “Don’t blame me for turning against you.”
“As for you, Duan Linyu,” Duan Linzhou said, “you should pray that I live a few more days. For every day I live, you can prolong your miserable existence by a day. If I die,” he smiled softly and said, “You won’t survive either. You are welcome to try.”
Madam Wen shrieked, cursing, “Duan Linzhou, you are so vicious! You will surely die a terrible death—”
Before she could finish her words, a heavy force suddenly struck her hand. She saw that Duan Linyu, wheelchair and all, had been kicked over by Mu Peixuan. Mu Peixuan stared at Madam Wen coldly, holding a sword he had drawn from a guard’s waist, its tip pressed against Duan Linyu’s neck. “Say that again.”
Madam Wen seemed to have her throat seized, her face flushing crimson. “You release my son!”
Duan Linyu, however, was like a madman, roaring, “Kill me, Duan Linzhou! If you have the guts, kill me now!”
Duan Linzhou hadn’t expected Mu Peixuan to take action. This was originally a messy affair, and if these people hadn’t made trouble at his father’s grave, Duan Linzhou wouldn’t have wanted to sully Mu Peixuan’s eyes with such things either.
Duan Linzhou lowered his eyes, looking at Duan Linyu. “You should count yourself lucky. If it weren’t for Father’s dying wish for me to spare you, do you think you would still be alive today?”
Duan Linyu spat, the blade sliding against his neck, yet he seemed oblivious, sneering coldly. “You spared me, ha! You spared me? You clearly did it to torment me! You made me a cripple, forced me to live this half-dead existence! You just wanted revenge on me!”
Duan Linzhou chuckled. “So what if I did take revenge on you?”
Duan Linyu glared at him viciously, then suddenly let out a strange laugh. “Duan Linzhou, it’s painful, isn’t it? No matter how much silver you earn or how glorious you become, you’re still going to die!”
“And you’ll die a terrible death as well, a terrible death, hahaha—ah!”
Before he could finish his sentence, he let out a miserable scream. Mu Peixuan had forcefully severed one of his arms. The force of the strike sent the severed limb flying, blood splattering everywhere. Screams of terror erupted all around, and Madam Wen’s eyes widened as she let out a heart-wrenching cry, almost fainting.
Mu Peixuan’s face was cold and impassive, like a wrathful demon. Today, like Duan Linzhou, he was also dressed in plain white robes, which were now splattered red with blood.
Mu Peixuan said, each word distinct, “Duan Linzhou will not die. He will live very well.”
“Duan Linzhou left you these two legs, but you don’t want them—” Mu Peixuan said casually, “Then there’s no need to keep them anymore.”
With that, he raised his hand and severed both of Duan Linyu’s thighs.
Duan Linyu’s lower body was already paralyzed, so he felt no pain. However, he could still see that his legs had been cut off. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted directly.
Madam Wen was on the verge of madness, rushing forward as if wanting to kill Mu Peixuan. But as a mere woman, before she could even get close, Mu Peixuan’s bloodied sword pointed at Duan Linyu’s neck, stopping her in her tracks. Tears streamed down her face, filled with terror. “Yu’er, Yu’er, my son…”
The stench of blood filled the air, making people want to vomit. The Duan clan members were just ordinary people; how could they have witnessed such a scene? Each one was so terrified that their faces turned pale.
Mu Peixuan said, “Linzhou is my princess consort. Whoever bullies him bullies my Prince Annan Mansion.”
“The Duan family will forever belong only to Duan Linzhou.”
Having said that, he tossed aside the sword and said to Duan Linzhou, “Let’s go down the mountain.”
Duan Linzhou looked at Mu Peixuan deeply, smiled, and said, “Alright.”
The descent down the mountain was silent. Mu Peixuan supported Duan Linzhou, while Duan Lin’an and Duan Weirui followed behind them, both feeling somewhat frightened.
Once they were in the carriage, Mu Peixuan took off his outer robe, looking at the bloodstains on his clothes with some disgust. Duan Linzhou, however, smiled and leaned against the carriage wall, saying, “Why did you get so angry?”
Mu Peixuan raised his eyes to look at Duan Linzhou, his expression very serious. “I should have accompanied you back to the Duan family earlier.”
That way, those people, out of fear of Prince Annan Mansion, wouldn’t have dared to humiliate Duan Linzhou like that.
Duan Linzhou was taken aback, then smiled helplessly and sighed. “With profit in sight, I’ve made Xiao Junwang laugh.”
Under heaven, all bustle for profit; under heaven, all hasten for gain. The human heart has never been able to withstand the test of profit.
The Duan clan members only saw the Duan family’s merchant guild making huge profit but they hadn’t considered that in these chaotic times, the Duan family’s wealth had become a tempting piece of fat meat. Merchants were ultimately just merchants; how could they fight against the powerful and influential? Even if Duan Linzhou survived in the future, he might not be able to protect the Duan family in the chaotic world of warring lords either.
Duan Linzhou was momentarily dazed. A warm palm pressed against his cheek. Mu Peixuan said softly, “Duan Linzhou, this is not something to laugh at.”
“I like you, and protecting you is something I should do.” He said.
Duan Linzhou looked at Mu Peixuan’s beautiful face, which had already shed its boyishness. A warmth stirred in his heart, and he leaned in to kiss his lips, whispering, “Then thank you, Fujun, for standing up for me?”
“I will always stand up for you, whether you need it or not.” Mu Peixuan pursed his lips, then gently sucked on Duan Linzhou’s lips, saying, “Duan Linzhou, you will definitely live to be a hundred years old.”
They didn’t stay at the Duan Mansion for long. Duan Linzhou saw Duan Weirui and Duan Lin’an off at the gate. Duan Weirui said to Duan Linzhou, “Third Brother, I’m sorry. I didn’t know when Big Brother and Sixth Great-Uncle…”
Duan Linzhou had essentially placed Madam Wen and Duan Linyu under house arrest and had also asked Wen Xin to pay close attention to them. However, unexpectedly, this incident had still occurred.
Duan Weirui felt very guilty.
Duan Linzhou patted her head and said, “This isn’t your fault. They were never going to be content.” Today’s scene had been within Duan Linzhou’s expectations. Duan Linyu hated him to the bone and had always hoped for his death, intending to stage a comeback. But no one had anticipated that he would marry Mu Peixuan. In this way, even if he died, it wouldn’t be easy for Duan Linyu to take back the Duan family from Mu Peixuan. He could only take advantage of Duan Linzhou still being alive and use the clan’s influence to pressure him. After being paralyzed in bed for three years and barely surviving, a proud and arrogant person like Duan Linyu would have gone crazy long ago.
Duan Linzhou glanced at Duan Lin’an and instructed, “Duan Linyu… probably won’t survive much longer. You and your mother should all be careful.”
Duan Lin’an quickly replied, “Understood, Third Brother.”
Duan Weirui said, “Third Brother, you should also be careful. We’re here for you at the mansion.”
Duan Linzhou smiled and nodded.
As Duan Linzhou had expected, within two days of returning from the mountain, news spread that Duan Linyu was dead.
With Duan Linyu’s death, Madam Wen went mad.
Duan Linzhou felt little emotion in his heart. He and Duan Linyu had been at odds since childhood. After he caught his father’s eye and gradually showed his talent for business, Duan Linyu had been even more eager to get rid of him.
In those years, the two brothers had clashed many times, practically becoming mortal enemies.
Even his father had been powerless about this, only able to enjoin him on his deathbed that Duan Linyu was, after all, his elder brother, and if he ever did something wrong and Duan Linzhou could spare his life, then he should. So, when Duan Linzhou discovered that the “Jian Huangquan” poison in his body had been acquired by Duan Linyu from the black market and administered to him, he arranged for Duan Linyu to fall from his horse and become a cripple. Duan Linzhou had spared Duan Linyu’s life not only because of his father’s dying wish but also because Duan Linzhou didn’t want Duan Linyu to die so easily.
There was no reason for him to suffer the torment of “Jian Huangquan” while Duan Linyu could just close his eyes and die. Duan Linzhou wasn’t a saint; on the contrary, he was vengeful and held grudges.
After his and Mu Peixuan’s display of power on the mountain, the Duan family members no longer dared to harbor disloyal intentions and behaved themselves honestly. However, Duan Linzhou fell ill again. He had been exposed to the wind on the mountain and caught a chill, developing a fever on the very night they returned. He lay in bed for several days before he could barely get out of bed.
It was at this time that Mu Ke and Old Physician Ji brought good news: there might be a way to cure the poison in Duan Linzhou’s body.
