Chapter 88: The Handsome Male Version of Lin Jiaojiao

“Stop hitting me, Renjie! I am your father… your own flesh and blood… ah…”
With those words, the cries came to an abrupt halt.
Shen Zhao frowned and hurried forward; was Second Master Chu beating someone into madness?
Du Qian’an’s brows were also knitted tight—this Chu family’s conduct was certainly fierce.
The moment Shen Zhao stepped into the room, she was startled by what she saw.
She had been gone for less than half an hour, and Du Kang had been whipped by Second Master Chu until he was nothing but a bloodied mess.
His skin was turned out, flesh mangled, not a patch of healthy skin left.
Some parts still hung with shreds of meat, threatening to fall, making one’s heart quail.
He truly had no mercy.
And judging by the expressions of those present, not a single soul had stepped forward to stop it; all wore the look of wishing Du Kang dead.
She could understand Chu Mu’s reaction—after all, Du Kang and the venomous woman had conspired to harm his birth mother.
But the others, she couldn’t grasp.
Even timid Lady Liu’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Honest and simple Chu Eldest seemed to savor the moment, delight clear on his face.
Chu Shanjun and Chu Shanan looked eager, itching to join their father in whipping Du Kang.
They truly were wolf cubs—Du Kang had never treated them poorly!
Even Du Kang’s mistress, the old madam, glared at him with venom, as if regarding a corpse.
No poison surpasses that of a woman’s heart.
Chu Renjie still lay across the rack, panting heavily, hurling curses:
“To hell with you! Am I still your father? I am the only legitimate heir of the Chu family; you’re nothing but a lowborn servant, how dare you call yourself my father? Watch how I beat you to death today!”
He hurled the broken cane to the floor, grabbed another from a waiting servant, and raised his arm to lash at Du Kang’s face.
“Stop!” Shen Zhao cried at once, halting Chu Renjie. Had she arrived a moment later, Second Master Chu might have beaten the man to death.
This was not the time for Du Kang to die—the ninety thousand taels had yet to be secured.
She’d warned repeatedly before leaving; no one must die. Was Second Master Chu not afraid that, if he killed Du Kang, there’d be no one to testify to his identity?
What madness was this, turning a man into such a state?
Chu Renjie’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at Shen Zhao. “Third sister, you’re just in time. The old villain has confessed!” His gaze flicked to Du Qian’an, who stood behind Shen Zhao.
Du Qian’an, visiting the Grand General’s mansion, wore ordinary clothes, and being new to the capital, was unknown to Second Master Chu. He found the man’s features oddly alluring.
Such beauty in a man—who was he trying to seduce?
Shameless fox spirit! His good… sister-in-law’s eyes seemed glued to this fox.
With some arrogance and displeasure, he demanded, “Third sister, who is he? What business does he have here? Has all propriety gone? He comes here and doesn’t even pay his respects.”
Chu Mu had heard of Du Qian’an’s reputation but had never seen him in person.

Upon seeing him today, he was struck by how much Du Qian’an resembled someone he knew.
Was it an illusion? He felt Du Qian’an’s mouth and jaw were similar to Lin Jiaojiao’s.
Though their eyes and brows differed, the rest of their features were strikingly alike.
Shen Zhao noticed Chu Mu’s odd gaze. What did it mean?
Why did he stare so intently at Du Qian’an? Were she not sure Chu Mu occupied her body, she’d suspect she’d become lovestruck herself.
Following Chu Mu’s gaze, Shen Zhao scrutinized Du Qian’an.
At a glance, nothing seemed amiss, but upon closer inspection, she was startled.
No wonder Chu Mu couldn’t tear his eyes away from Du Qian’an’s face.
Cover his eyes and ignore his fair, smooth skin and less-than-perfect face shape—wasn’t he the living image of a male Lin Jiaojiao?
Could there be some melodramatic connection here?
It seemed unlikely: Lin Jiaojiao was the daughter of the Lin family, born to humble origins, unrelated to the Du clan a thousand miles away.
Du Qian’an grew uneasy under Shen Zhao and Chu Mu’s scrutiny.
What was going on? Why were they looking at him like that?
Was everyone in the Chu family abnormal?
Chu Renjie, seeing Third Sister also staring at the fox spirit, raised his voice:
“Third sister, are you listening? While you were entertaining the guest, the old villain confessed, admitting that Eldest Brother is the illegitimate child he had with the venomous woman.”
Shen Zhao withdrew her gaze, looking at Chu Mu for confirmation.
Chu Mu nodded.
Shen Zhao was slightly surprised; how had Du Kang confessed so easily?
It was quite beyond her expectations.
Du Qian’an cleared his throat, hinting to Shen Zhao that she should introduce him.
Had the General forgotten to present him to the household?
Shen Zhao understood and spoke:
“Second Brother, let the matter of the old villain rest for now. Du Qian’an, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has come to pay respects to the Old Madam.”
She beckoned to Du Qian’an. “Master Du, please.”
Du Qian’an cupped his hands in salute. “I greet the Old Madam.”
Everyone except Chu Mu now realized the identity of the handsome visitor and hurriedly paid their respects.
Second Master Chu’s mouth twitched; so the fox spirit was an Assistant Minister.
He couldn’t help but feel disgruntled—anyone could be a court official now.
Was such a fox spirit truly capable of fulfilling the duties of Assistant Minister of Revenue?

Who knew what underhanded means he used to rise to that position?
Du Kang, lying on the floor, barely alive, heard Du Qian’an’s name.
It was as though he’d been injected with vigor; he struggled to crawl toward Du Qian’an.
His body was devoid of healthy flesh, yet he gritted his teeth, enduring agony, dragging himself slowly.
Where he passed, blood stains marked the floor.
He couldn’t die—not so wretchedly, beaten to death by his own son.
With bloodied hands, he reached for Du Qian’an’s ankle.
Before he could beg for help, a shoe sole slammed into his face.
Du Qian’an leapt away just in time; quick-witted, he avoided the bloody man’s grasp.
Had he been caught, he’d have died of disgust—he was obsessed with cleanliness.
“Pfft…” Du Kang spat a mouthful of blood.
Shen Zhao watched, wondering if she should warn Du Qian’an.
How could he treat the uncle he’d spent ninety thousand taels to save like this?
If Du Kang died from that kick, who would be responsible? Would the ninety thousand taels still be paid?
Du Kang, already grievously wounded, was now kicked by Du Qian’an and lay like a heap of mud on the floor, gasping heavily.
His eyes kept darting to Du Qian’an.
His mouth opened and closed, finally forcing out a few words:
“Save… save me… I am… Du… Kang!”
Du Qian’an was startled; this mangled, bloodied figure was Du Kang!
He’d just kicked him—could he have killed him?
When he and the General entered, Du Kang still had strength to shout; now, even a sentence required all his energy.
He’d delivered that kick with full force.
…
Boom!
Earlier, he’d heard Du Kang cry, “Renjie, I am your own father.”
Du Qian’an suddenly turned to Chu Renjie; this disheveled, shameless creature lying on the rack was also of the Du family?
Disgust swept over Du Qian’an’s face. No!
He wasn’t worthy!