Chapter 138: The Portraits of the Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials Are Completed

"You two are advanced in years, yet you've lived your lives in vain!" Li Daozong fumed, his anger flaring as he looked at the stark contrast in their demeanor from before to now.

Qutu Shou and Zhang Daxiang were men in their thirties and forties, usually holding high positions of great authority. Yet in front of Li Daozong, they could only cower, nod deferentially, and bow in apology.

"Your Highness is quite right to discipline us! It was this nephew who was blind and wrongfully accused Brother Mo!" Zhang Daxiang conceded readily, swallowing his pride without hesitation.

Zhang Daxiang possessed an imposing name, and not only that; his two younger brothers were named Zhang Dasu and Zhang Da'an. Presumably, the family genealogy had reached the generation character "Da," making naming them rather difficult.

Qutu Shou also offered repeated apologies. Li Daozong not only held imperial lineage but also boasted illustrious military achievements, placing him at a supreme level of status. Qutu Shou had no choice but to listen respectfully.

"Moton, these two blockheads have already received a tongue-lashing from me. I am shamelessly putting in a good word for them! Do not lower yourself to their level," Li Daozong said, glaring bitterly at the two before pleading their case to Moton.

"Lord Mo, our late fathers shared deep comradeship with your esteemed late father. I beg you to consider the past sentiments of our predecessors and forgive us," Zhang Daxiang pleaded sincerely.

"Just mere words!" Li Daozong scoffed coldly.

Only then did Qutu Shou come to his senses. He hurriedly drew a yellowed document from his breast pocket and handed it over.

"A deed to land?" Li Daozong asked, raising an eyebrow as he took it.

"We know the Mo family experimental farm is currently testing new crops, which even His Majesty has praised endlessly. However, one hundred mu is simply too small; I fear it might delay His Majesty's grand enterprise. Coincidentally, the two of us possess four hundred mu of farmland adjacent to the Mo family farm. We wish to dedicate it to the Mo family experimental farm as a modest token of our sincerity, and as a way to repay His Majesty's immense grace and kindness toward us." Qutu Shou handled the matter with utter grace. Clearly, he was apologizing to Moton, yet he phrased it so that Moton could accept it without bearing any burden of obligation.

To be frank, four hundred mu of farmland was of little consequence to two Duke estates, but these particular plots were located near Chang'an City, making them exceptionally precious. Furthermore, the fact that the two of them had managed to specifically secure land directly adjacent to the Mo family experimental farm highlighted their profound sincerity.

Two great Dukes had personally come to humble themselves, which gave Moton an extraordinary amount of face. Coupled with Li Daozong's personal plea, Moton could no longer hold a standoffish attitude.

"You two Lords are too kind. Both of you have devoted your lives in service to the country, and for me to paint portraits of the two senior Dukes is merely my bounden duty and obligation. As for such a generous gift, Moton truly feels unworthy to accept it," Moton declined politely.

"Accept it! Why wouldn't you accept it? If we don't take this, how will these two fools ever learn their lesson? Besides, the sooner the Mo family experimental farm breeds high-yielding seeds, the greater the blessing it will be for the common people of our Great Tang," Li Daozong snatched the deed away before Moton could refuse further.

"Rest assured, this is the compensation you rightfully deserve, not a bribe. This old man guarantees that nothing will come of it," Li Daozong promised in a low voice.

Moton could only smile wryly. He suddenly recalled historical accounts depicting this prince as exceptionally fond of wealth. Since Li Daozong had already taken charge of accepting it, Moton found it difficult to refuse any longer.

Seeing that Moton offered no further refusal, Zhang Daxiang and Qutu Shou both let out sighs of relief.

"I wonder when Lord Mo might have some free time? We would like to visit in person to seek your instruction," Zhang Daxiang asked, lowering his posture completely.

"Why wait? I say right now is as good a time as any," Li Daozong declared decisively.

"I wonder if it is convenient for Brother Mo?" Qutu Shou inquired. He was anxious; the sooner this matter was resolved, the sooner the Duke of Jiangzhong's estate could salvage its reputation.

Moton pondered for a moment. Since he had come prepared for the Ministry of Punishments with brushes, painter's ink, and paper all fully equipped, he nodded and said, "I have no objections. However, to paint these portraits accurately, I will need oral accounts from several people who were close to the two senior Dukes."

"Brother Mo, rest assured, we have already gathered the people!" Zhang Daxiang pointed toward several carriages waiting not far away. Having learned of Moton's conditions from Old Madam Yin beforehand, they had prepared everything in advance.

"I was also very familiar with my two old friends; I should be able to help as well!" Li Daozong chimed in.

Since matters had reached this point, what more could Moton say? He promptly borrowed the premises of the Ministry of Punishments and got straight to work.

When Zhang Daxiang and Qutu Shou left in tears, holding the portraits of Qutu Tong and Zhang Gongjin and expressing their utmost gratitude to Moton, the entire city of Chang'an cast its gaze toward the Duke of Lai's estate.

Up to this point, twenty-three of the twenty-four portraits of the Lingyan Pavilion heroes had been completed, leaving only the portrait of Duke of Lai, Du Ruhui, unfinished. Everyone was watching to see how the Du household would respond.

"Unfilial wretch!"

Inside the Duke of Lai's estate, an enraged Lady Du rebuked Du He, who knelt before Du Ruhui's shrine, looking like iron that failed to become steel.

At that moment, Du He looked ashen, completely devoid of yesterday's arrogance and domineering aura. Bad news had arrived one after another: first, Yin Yuan—whom Du He had dismissed as a fool—had personally gone to court to clear the Mo family scion's name; next, Yan Liben had refused to paint the portrait, cutting off his last remaining escape route; and finally, the defection of the Duke of Jiangzhong's estate and the Duke of Zou's estate directly pushed the Duke of Lai's household into the eye of the storm.

"I refuse to believe the Mo family scion dares to refuse painting my father!" Du He stubbornly persisted.

"The Mo family scion may not dare, but with each passing day he delays, our Du household becomes the laughingstock of Chang'an for one more day, loses a fraction of the Emperor's favor a little more, and brings the hard-earned honorable reputation of your father one step closer to utter ruin," Lady Du said mournfully.

"Sister-in-law, do not panic. The most urgent task now is to quickly win the forgiveness of the Mo family scion and have the second brother's portrait painted as soon as possible. Only then can we salvage the reputation of the Du estate," Du Chukex consoled from the side. As Du Ruhui's younger brother, he had been summoned by Lady Du to discuss countermeasures the moment such a massive crisis struck the estate.

"Everything shall be decided by my brother-in-law!" Lady Du said helplessly.

Du Chuke thought for a moment and said, "As far as I know, Qutu Shou and Zhang Daxiang only managed to settle the matter thanks to the intercession of the Prince of Jiangxia, coupled with offering four hundred mu of land adjacent to the Mo family experimental farm."

"Four hundred mu of land is simple; our Du household can easily produce that," Lady Du said anxiously.

"Sister-in-law, do not be in such haste. Since we wish to demonstrate the sincerity of our Du estate, our recompense naturally cannot match theirs. I recall that the Du estate owns a residence near the Imperial Academy. At present, the Mo family's Medical Clinic is preparing a female medical academy to treat Her Majesty's illness. Why not offer this residence as compensation, leaving the Mo family scion no reason to refuse?"

Land near the Imperial Academy was undeniably valuable, but Lady Du felt not a shred of heartache at that moment. She immediately instructed the steward to hand the land deed over to Du Chuke.

"The root of this disaster lies with He'er. I fear..."

Lady Du glanced at Du He, closed her eyes in bitter grief, and said, "Please convey to Lord Mo that from this day forward, He'er shall return to our ancestral home to observe three years of mourning for his departed father."

"Mother!" Du He stared at his mother in utter shock. Returning to the ancestral home to mourn for three years meant he would not be able to set foot in Chang'an City for three whole years. Having grown accustomed to the prosperity and bustling life of Chang'an, sending him back to the countryside to endure such dry and dreary days of mourning was more agonizing than death itself.

Seeing his mother's resolute expression, Du He realized she was entirely serious. He slumped his head in dejection, his hatred and jealousy toward Moton reaching its absolute peak.

Du Chuke opened his mouth to speak; he had originally intended to suggest that Du He make a personal apology at Moton's door, never expecting Lady Du to resort to such harsh measures.

However, looking at the still-defiant Du He, Du Chuke ultimately felt Lady Du's approach was correct. Otherwise, there was no telling what kind of trouble this brat might stir up in the future.

Regrettably, had Lady Du and Du Chuke known that Du He would later instigate Li Chengqian's rebellion, bringing near-extinction upon the Du clan, they likely would have wished they had strangled him right then and there.

That very night, Du Chuke paid a personal visit to offer apologies and compensation. Upon learning of the Du estate's offering and the punishment meted out to Du He, Moton recognized the true sincerity of the household.

Eager to put this controversy to rest as swiftly as possible, Moton worked late into the night, using Du Chuke as a model to complete the portrait of Du Ruhui.

With that, all twenty-four portraits of the Lingyan Pavilion heroes were finally complete.