Chapter 939: Chapter 541: Identity Exposed—So You Are Zhao Douan!
"What’s going on?" Zhao Douan asked curiously.
The middle-aged and downcast Du Ruhui sighed and explained, "I heard a rumor this morning that a big figure was killed in the city last night. In the middle of the night, Yunfu soldiers were scouring the streets. It seems that there are experts from the court lurking in the city."
He sighed again, though he harbored great ambitions, as a scholar with no power to fight, he could only aim to survive and keep his family safe.
Turmoil in the city was undoubtedly something he didn’t want to see.
Mrs. Du also changed from her usual fierce demeanor and looked tense, glancing at her husband whom she often found cowardly: "What should we do about our family? Will we be affected?"
Du Ruhui frowned and said: "We still have enough food. Stay indoors, lock the doors, don’t go out. Our mansion is near the government office residence, even the rebel army might not act recklessly."
Then he said to Zhao Douan: "If you have no urgent matters, you also shouldn’t leave the house."
Zhao Douan nodded: "Thanks for the advice, I’ll stay indoors today too."
Du Xiaobao ate without a care, while the girl sitting at the side occasionally glanced at him but said nothing.
By noon, news that the soldiers were searching door to door came from the neighbors.
They said the Lower City District was the first to be searched, and today the streets are filled with the rebel army, with fear of thousands conducting searches. With this scale, Upper City District will soon be next.
As expected, by evening, Zhao Douan crossed the fence between the two residences again to have dinner at Du Mansion.
"Bang bang bang!" Knocking sounds came from the courtyard gate, someone shouted arrogantly: "The official army is searching for spies, open the door for inspection!"
Inside the hall, the five people were stunned simultaneously.
The fierce Mrs. Du’s face showed strong anxiety as she looked at her husband nervously: "Sir..."
Du Ruhui calmly stood up, shedding his henpecked image, and said to his wife: "Take our daughter and Little Treasure to the bedroom."
Zhao Douan got up, intending to walk to the house he rented.
But Du Ruhui glanced at him and said, "You’re our tenant, they’ll question you anyway."
Indeed... Zhao Douan stopped.
Du Ruhui stepped forward, unlocked the gate, and opened it, revealing about ten rebel soldiers outside, all wearing leather armor with steel swords at their waists.
The one leading had slanted eyes and an arrogant air, dressed like a little flag officer.
"Greetings, officer. What’s the matter?" Du Ruhui showed a courteous smile.
The little flag officer, with a cold face, replied irritably: "Searching for spies, why only two people? Find them all, men!"
The soldiers behind rushed in fiercely.
Du Ruhui’s face changed, and he hurriedly pulled out a money pouch discreetly and handed it over: "I’m friends with Mr. Sun from the government office... Our family has passed down poetry and books, absolutely no spies."
The little flag officer glanced at him, accepted the pouch, and snorted coldly: "Don’t play this trick, orders from above are strict this time, nobody can escape."
Soon, Mrs. Du brought out her two children.
When the little flag officer saw Du Shishi, his eyes brightened for a moment, somewhat fixated.
Du Ruhui quickly presented the household registry, proving identities.
"Hmm... What’s your deal?" The little flag officer glanced at the registry, looking down, staring at Zhao Douan.
"I’m the Du family’s tenant, renting the adjacent house." Zhao Douan appeared anxious, handing over his credentials: "This is my identification..."
The little flag officer’s face turned cold, he knocked down the credentials, stepped on them, and waved: "Orders from above, non-local young men must be taken away for interrogation. Take him away!"
Immediately, soldiers controlled Zhao Douan from both sides.
The little flag officer stroked his chin, smiled, and said: "He’s your tenant, someone else has to come and be questioned too. It’ll be you."
He pointed at Du Shishi.
Du Ruhui’s face changed drastically, hurriedly taking a step forward: "I am the head of the household, I can go..."
But the rebel soldiers had already rushed forward aggressively, pulling Du Shishi away.
"Let go of my daughter!" The fierce Mrs. Du panicked, tried to block them, but was kicked to the ground by the little flag officer. Du Xiaobao was terrified. The chubby child with a round face turned red and screamed as he charged at them, but what threat could a child only reaching the waist of the rebel soldiers pose?
Seeing the little flag officer grin and about to draw his sword, Du Ruhui rushed over, pulled back Du Xiaobao, and squeezed out a smile: "The child was impolite... Please don’t hold it against him, officer..."
The little flag officer looked at him with amusement, laughed heartily, sheathed his sword, and waved his hand as the group pressed Zhao Douan and Du Shishi away.
When they left, the smile on Du Ruhui’s face slowly disappeared, his hands clenched tightly, nails almost dug into his flesh.
"Sir... our daughter..." Mrs. Du painfully climbed up.
Du Ruhui turned back, expressionless, and said: "Keep Xiaobao hidden at home, don’t open the door for anyone. If anyone comes, hide at Mrs. Li’s."
After speaking, he looked up with a bitter smile, having resigned early to avoid disaster, but still unable to escape.
Du Ruhui went back inside, found the remaining silver in the house, thought for a moment, then took a knife from the kitchen, and walked out with a gloomy face, heading straight for the government office.
He needed to hurry to find connections to get his daughter out, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
...
With the sun setting, the city’s cooking smoke was significantly reduced tonight.
This group of rebel soldiers, holding Zhao Douan, finished searching a few alleys, capturing three people altogether, then headed back towards the government office at the city center, attempting to deliver them.
Zhao Douan’s hands were tied with cowhide straps, walking on the street, seeing the city filled with a sense of killing, and other teams also escorting people.
Most were young men, but there were some women too.
Obviously, Zhao Shixiong’s search wasn’t just for Zhao Douan, but also for other Shadow Guards.