The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 131 Being controlled by others
"How did you manage to barge here!" Shang Zishu said sharply, her expression masking her panic.

Shang Wenshu's face had already turned deathly pale. This was her boudoir, and the personal maids guarding outside hadn't made a sound. Even the guards left behind by Shang Mingshu had disappeared...

"Is the Second Mistress wondering where the maids and guards are?" Du Zhong had lost his usual gentle demeanor; his face was full of the nonchalant and contemptuous air of a cat toying with a mouse. "As the physician of this household, wouldn't it be easy for me to take down these people?"

"Du Zhong, it's you!" A deep pain surfaced in Shang Wenshu's eyes. "You've sided with the Shi family!"

"Wen Shu only realized this now, but it was too late." He stepped into the courtyard and approached the two sisters step by step.

Shang Wenshu clearly felt that Du Zhong's gaze was fixed on her like that of a predator determined to capture its prey. She tried to remain calm: "My father treated you well, and our family has raised and nurtured you. Why would you choose to side with the Shi family, who have done so many evil deeds?"

"The merchants have been kind to me, I have never denied that." Du Zhong continued walking, his tone indifferent. "So what? Wen Shu, you always think too highly of people. Don't expect anything in return for your kindness, or you will end up like this, in a place of no return!"

Shang Zishu rushed to the table, grabbed the porcelain teapot and threw it at Du Zhong. Taking advantage of Du Zhong turning his head to dodge, she pulled Shang Zishu and ran to the other side.

Just as they were about to reach the door, Du Zhong suddenly appeared and blocked their way, startling the two sisters so much that their faces turned pale.

Shang Zishu: "You know martial arts..."

Before Shang Zishu could finish speaking, she felt a sharp pain in her arm. Du Zhong had grabbed Shang Zishu's arm, pulled Shang Wenshu along, and shoved Shang Zishu away.

Shang Zishu fell to the ground, tried to get up and rush back, but two guards stopped her. Looking at the guards in the mansion, boundless fear enveloped her with the cold night, and her hands and feet were ice cold.

The door was closed in front of her. The candlelight was bright. She watched as Du Zhong grabbed her sister's hands, raised them above her head, and pressed them against the door. Then came the ear-piercing sound of tearing silk, and Shang Wenshu's struggles and fearful pleas.

"Du Zhong, please let me go, I beg you to let me go, sob sob sob..."

"Eldest sister, eldest sister!" Shang Zishu tried to rush inside, but two guards restrained her hands from the left and right. No matter how she kicked, struggled, or twisted, she could not break free or touch the people who were restraining her.

"Du Zhong, you beast! Let go of my elder sister, or you'll die a horrible death!"

"Du Zhong, I will not let you go! My third sister will tear you to pieces!"

"Eucommia ulmoides—"

No matter how hard Shang Zishu screamed and cursed, she could only watch helplessly as her elder sister was violated by the person her family trusted most, separated by a door...

Shang Zishu didn't know how much time had passed. Every moment of her elder sister being humiliated felt incredibly long to her. She was powerless to resist and could only watch helplessly, her eyes turning red, tears streaming down her face, and her voice hoarse with despair.

Never before had she hated herself so much, hated herself for not having practiced martial arts as hard as her third sister when she was young, hated herself for not studying with her third sister. If her third sister had been both literate and skilled in martial arts, she would not have been so careless.

If my third sister were here, this would never have happened.

The door opened, and Du Zhong, dressed disheveled, came out carrying his outer robe.

Shang Zishu was released. She had just used all her strength and fallen to the ground. She tried to get up, but her limbs were weak and she could only crawl in with difficulty.

With her hair disheveled and her face streaked with tears, the eldest sister leaned against the door. Her eyes were vacant, and tears continued to stream down her face. She clutched her outer robe tightly to her chest, revealing her pale arms covered in red marks, especially her wrists... "Elder sister..." Shang Zishu finally mustered the strength to stand up and rushed to Shang Wenshu's side, embracing her tightly.

Shang Wenshu stood there dumbfounded, like a puppet, letting Shang Zishu hug her.

"Lock them up and keep a close watch on them. If anything goes wrong, I will not let them off easily!" Du Zhong ordered the guards outside.

“Young Master Du, this first wife is your sweetheart, and the second wife…” one of them couldn’t help but reveal a wicked look, his tone full of suggestive meaning.

They are normal men; how could they not be aroused after watching a live sex show?
With a smile on his face, Du Zhong turned to look at the guard, then suddenly his eyes flashed with a fierce light. He stepped forward and plunged the dagger in his hand into the guard's body, startling the other guard into losing all composure.

Pushing the limp man to the ground, Du Zhong took out a gold ingot from his pocket and threw it to another guard: "Take this to the brothel and get rid of this person."

The guard who caught the gold was overjoyed and quickly did as instructed.

Du Zhong left the merchant's house and went straight to the Shi family, where Shi Houqiong personally received him.

"Congratulations, Young Master Du, on achieving your wish." The merchant had Shi Houqiong's people, so he knew exactly what had happened.

“Master Shi, we each get what we need, there’s no need for such formalities.” Du Zhong was not humble towards Shi Houqiong. “I just want to ask Master Shi when you will make your move?”

"Why is Young Master Du in such a hurry?" Shi Houqiong asked leisurely, tucking his sleeves into his tea.

“I received a letter yesterday that Third Madam Shang has left Guide Prefecture. Judging by the time, she should have arrived in Fengyang Prefecture today,” Du Zhong reminded him. “She will be back in a few days.”

"Does Young Master Du think I would spare her life?" Shi Houqiong twirled the empty cup in his hand.

"I don't care how you do things. I just want to take the person I want." Du Zhong had no interest in Shi Houqiong's plan. After a pause, he asked provocatively, "If Master Shi isn't afraid of Madam Shang, why did you lead her away that day?"

Shi Houqiong's face suddenly turned cold.

Du Zhong's smile widened: "What happened in the capital? I'm sure Master Shi, who's been watching Third Sister's every move, knows better than I do. Third Sister escaped unscathed from the capital, where powerful figures hold sway. I heard that the noblewoman who forced Master Cheng to commit suicide died suddenly. Master Shi, aren't you afraid of things going wrong? Do you think your Shi family is more capable than the high-ranking officials in the capital?"

"You—" Anger flashed across Shi Houqiong's face, but he quickly suppressed it. "Since you are so afraid of her, yet dare to betray her, aren't you afraid she will tear you to pieces?"

"Therefore, I need to take two people with me, and Shang Erniangzi is my lifesaver." Du Zhong seemed to have come up with a foolproof plan and didn't care at all.

"What if I insist on waiting for her return so I can catch them all in one fell swoop?" Shi Houqiong sneered.

Du Zhong's face darkened as well: "Master Shi, if you're playing with fire and getting burned, I'm not willing to go to the Yellow Springs with you. I'll give you three days at most. If you don't make your move within three days, I won't live, and your son will be buried with me!"

"You dare!" Shi Houqiong suddenly stood up.

Everyone outside thought that Du Zhong had sided with him. This treacherous and cunning man actually poisoned his son. Now he only has Shi Guangbo as his sole heir, and he is still under the control of this man!
Du Zhong turned around, facing the cold wind, his steps steady: "Master Shi, you are well willing to give it a try!"

(End of this chapter)