Chapter 138: An Unexpected Bonus

"I have invited you here today, Eldest Brother, to speak with you about the truth of your birth."

Chu Renqing's heart skipped a beat. What did his Third Sister-in-law mean by those words?

What did she mean by the truth of his birth? He was a legitimate son of the Chu family.

"I wonder what Third Sister-in-law means by this?" Chu Renqing's voice carried a trace of tension that even he was unaware of.

For some reason, he suddenly recalled the words Du Kang had spoken—that he was not a son of the Chu family, but the child of Du Kang and his mother.

"The truth is, Eldest Brother, you are not a descendant of the Chu family, but the offspring of Du Kang." As soon as Chu Mu finished speaking, Chu Renqing's face turned ashen.

"Third Sister-in-law, do you have any proof for such claims!" Chu Renqing asked, his voice lacking conviction.

"Du Kang is the proof, and the midwife from back then is also the proof. If Eldest Brother does not believe it, you can send people to investigate. Now that the Old Lady has been detained and there are no obstacles in the way, it will not be difficult for you to uncover your own origins."

Chu Renqing's body trembled slightly. He understood everything Third Sister-in-law was saying.

Yet he dared not investigate, nor did he dare to believe it.

If it were true, his crimes would be unforgivable even if he died ten thousand times.

His father, grandfather, and grandmother had treated him exceptionally well. Because he was the firstborn child of the Chu family, their attention toward him surpassed that of any of the other three brothers.

If he were not a Chu, then the actions he had committed in the past made him deserving of a thousand deaths.

Not only had he failed his legal mother, but he had also deeply failed his father, grandfather, and grandmother.

Watching Chu Renqing sink into agony, Chu Mu spoke up, "I know you cannot accept this fact overnight, but the reality remains.

"Eldest Brother, if you truly feel a sense of guilt toward my legal mother and my husband, an opportunity has presented itself right now for you to atone for that guilt in your heart."

"What opportunity? What can I do for Third Brother!" Chu Renqing answered instinctively, even though deep down he refused to acknowledge that he was Du Kang's descendant.

Yet he could not deny it. In truth, these past two days he had been living through fire and water, his mind constantly replaying Du Kang's wild ramblings and his mother's reaction on that day.

Had he not already guessed the truth long ago?

No matter how desperately he tried to deny it, he could not change this fact.

Now, he could only spend the remainder of his broken life trying to make amends for the guilt he owed Third Brother, his legal mother, and the Chu family.

"Does Eldest Brother remember Du Qian, the Ministry of Revenue official who came to our estate demanding Du Kang that day?"

"I remember. I have not forgotten."

Chu Mu simply and clearly explained Du Kang's standing within the Du family.

"Eldest Brother, you must understand my husband's hatred toward Du Kang.

"Not only did he ruin my husband's life and leave him without descendants, but he also harmed my husband's parents. The vengeance for a murdered father is irreconcilable, and the humiliation of a mother runs as deep as a sea of blood.

"Any one of these reasons is enough to make my husband wish he could slice Du Kang into pieces while he is still breathing."

My husband cannot hand Du Kang over to the Du family, yet the Du family is influential with deep foundations, and their clansmen are spread throughout the imperial court—something my husband cannot contend with at present.

What Eldest Brother can do for my husband right now is to return to the Du family in the capacity of Du Kang's descendant and take charge of the Du family's commercial faction.

Looking earnestly at Chu Renqing, Chu Mu asked, "Are you willing to return to the Du family and relieve my husband of this urgent crisis?"

"I am willing! Forget about returning to the Du family; I would not utter a single word of hesitation even if I had to scale a mountain of blades or plunge into a sea of fire!"

Even if Third Brother were to order him to die right now, he would not hesitate for a moment.

"Rest assured, Eldest Brother, my husband will grant you an honorable status and will never allow you to return to the Du family with a blemish on your name.

"My husband will announce to the outside world that you were a child adopted by the Chu family in your early years and have now been reclaimed by the Du family. At that time, the Du family will also appreciate my husband's actions and will not make things difficult for him on account of him keeping Du Kang."

Chu Mu then relayed the agreement between Ah Zhao and Du Qian to Chu Renqing. Even if he did not mention it now, Du Qian would eventually inform him.

Why not explain it in advance to prevent any lingering resentment in Chu Renqing's heart?

"Third Sister-in-law, I have no face to face Third Brother right now. Please convey this to him on my behalf: as long as he acknowledges me, he will forever be my Eldest Brother.

"I know the estate is facing difficulties right now. When I return to the Du family in the future, I will manage the family business diligently. Third Brother need only ask whenever he requires funds.

"Since I belong to the commercial branch of the Du family and hold a unique status there, Third Brother's funding will not need to pass through the hands of other Du family members, and he will not need to owe them any favors. As long as I can lay my hands on it, I will give it all to Third Brother."

Hearing this, Chu Mu felt a tumult of mixed emotions. Could this be considered an unexpected blessing?

His feelings toward Chu Renqing were complicated, a mixture of hatred and sentiments defying simple definition.

"I will pass your words on to my husband. In a couple of days, my husband and the Du family will host an ancestral-reunification ceremony for you. Eldest Brother need only attend; my husband will arrange everything properly."

Du Qian would certainly agree and might even be more enthusiastic than they were about holding this recognition ceremony to proclaim Chu Renqing's status.

"Very well, I shall return to make preparations immediately and will no longer disturb Third Sister-in-law."

Watching Chu Renqing's retreating figure, Chu Mu let out a long sigh.

Addressing the shadows, he commanded, "Take action. Spread the news at once."

Like wings sprouting upon it, the news that the Old Lady of the Great General's Estate had been arrested by the constables of the Capital Magistrate's Office instantly swept through the capital city.

Naturally, Chu Mu had added fuel to the flames behind the scenes.

The men he arranged quickly spread the news to every street and alley of the capital.

Although he usually remained as inconspicuous as an invisible man in the capital, his status as a military commander guaranteed that his actions would draw public attention.

Just as he anticipated, the populace who caught wind of the news broke into lively discussions.

What crime had the general's mother committed to be hauled off to the Capital Magistrate's Yamen?

This was the founding dynasty's very first instance of a noble matriarch being dragged into a prison cell when neither her sons nor her husband had committed any offenses.

Many people, driven by insatiable curiosity, began inquiring into the reasons behind it.

Especially the factions hostile to Chu Mu; they exhausted every resource to dig deep into the truth.

Shen Zhao, who had woken up not long ago and was being closely observed by those around her, heard the news and thought to herself that Chu Renjie truly had not failed her expectations.

He was remarkably prompt, managing to throw his own biological mother into a cell within a mere two days.

Before she could even revel in her joy, Xie Yuheng beside her instantly flew into a rage.

"Brother Chu, this Capital Magistrate is pushing things too far! A couple of days ago they detained the junior officers of our camp, and now they've locked up your mother, too!

"And they even had the audacity to make the arrest right at your doorstep. They clearly have no respect for you or for our Capital Camp!

"To think they dare to openly crap right on top of your head. Don't get worked up, Brother Chu; just focus on recovering properly in the camp.

"I'll go and escort the Old Lady back to the estate myself."

Zhang Liang and Liu Zhong echoed him, saying, "We'll go too, Subordinates! Do they really think our camp is empty, daring to bully the General like this? Have they lost their minds? If they won't release her, we'll storm the place and snatch her back! Even if this matter is brought before the Golden Throne, we are in the right."

Only Shen Tianci remained silent. As far as he knew, that Old Lady Chu was no good at all—she had been utterly vicious toward his Cousin Ah Zhao.

Muttering under his breath, he said, "What are you lot getting so blindly excited for? Do you even know the reason behind this before shouting about going to the Magistrate's Office to demand people? If that Old Lady Chu were a decent person, why would the Magistrate's Office arrest her for no reason? Flies don't bite seamless eggs; there's definitely a hidden story here. It won't be too late to rescue her after we've investigated clearly."

Hearing this, Xie Yuheng grew displeased. He knew Shen Tianci harbored deep grievances against the Chu family because of his unreasonable cousin.

But right now was hardly the time to air grievances or vent on behalf of his cousin!

The person who had been locked up was Brother Chu's mother!

"Shen, stop with your passive-aggressive sarcasm here. Brother Chu just fished you out of the Capital Magistrate's Office not long ago; how can you be so ungrateful? You're still here sticking a knife into Brother Chu's heart."

With that, he shouted to the others, "Except for Shen, all other brothers, follow me to the Capital Magistrate's Office to demand the release of our people!"