Du Yutao

Biodata

Background / History

Grain Business in the Royal City

Shortly after Du Chengji’s transfer to Xiling’s central government, Du Yutao used his connections to open several grain shops in the royal city. With the Empress Dowager backing him, much of Xiling’s grain-shop business shifted in his favor despite court-controlled prices 16.

Di Qingyu targeted this business by distributing free porridge, instructing Chunzhi to disrupt his grain deals and advertise half a month of free food. When he failed to react, she arranged for his usual companions to get him drunk. Du Yutao publicly dismissed the lost business as insignificant, though his companions noticed his resentment 16 18.

Assault on Di Qingyu

While drinking at the Misty Rain House, Du Yutao spotted Di Qingyu in the street and approached her, introducing himself as the minister of punishments’ son. She refused his invitation to admire the lanterns and publicly rebuked him when he blocked her path. Pretending to accept the rejection, he waited for the crowd to disperse before following her with two servants; his companions followed to watch 18.

Di Qingyu had deliberately attracted his attention and exposed him to a medicinal powder made by Qiuwen. Combined with the alcohol in his body, it induced irrational rage. The powder evaporated readily, leaving no trace that investigators could discover once he sobered up 18 21.

During the ensuing assault, Di Qingyu drove a hairpin into his left eye, blinding it. Du Yutao drew a concealed dagger and threatened to kill her. After Zhu Wuyang intervened, he ordered his two martial-trained attendants to attack the guard. When Di Qingyu appeared to collapse unconscious, Du Yutao tried to stab her face; Zhu Wuyang shielded her, took the dagger in his back, and kicked Du Yutao away before escaping with her 19.

Palace Plea and Imprisonment

Du Chengji whipped his son severely before bringing him to the palace to plead guilty. They presented the incident as a misunderstanding, using Du Yutao’s unbandaged eye and visible injuries to seek leniency. Frightened before Di Yunqian, Du Yutao claimed that drunken admiration had led to the confrontation and shifted responsibility for the drawn weapons onto his servants. He also claimed to have put both servants to death 21 22.

Zhu Juxuan interrupted the audience and kicked Du Yutao twice, leaving him vomiting blood and eventually unconscious. He argued that the attack concerned the imperial family’s safety, not merely an inappropriate pursuit. Di Yunqian ordered Du Yutao imprisoned pending investigation and punished Du Chengji with a year’s withheld salary and seven days of confinement at home 22 23.

After questioning the other young masters, Di Yunqian confirmed that Du Yutao had followed, assaulted, and drawn a blade against Di Qingyu. He initially intended to execute him after the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Empress Dowager subsequently abandoned Du Yutao and urged his swift execution, but the emperor postponed judgment as the investigation into the Du family widened 25 28 29.

Disownment and Betrayal of Du Chengji

As accusations against the Du family spread, Du Chengji publicly swore to sever his father-son relationship with Du Yutao. He cut his palm to seal the declaration and announced that Du Yutao was no longer a member of the family. Du Yutao witnessed this while bound and gagged in a tower opposite the residence, having been brought there as part of an emperor-approved plan to turn him against his father 36 39.

Believing his father had abandoned him to die, Du Yutao offered evidence of corruption in exchange for Di Yunqian’s promise not to execute him. He identified a hidden compartment beneath the cushion of a chair in Du Chengji’s study, where records of corrupt financial exchanges with court ministers were kept. Zhu Wuyang recovered the account book and presented it to the emperor 38 39.

Du Yutao also exposed his father’s coaching of his false account of the assault and accused the Empress Dowager of arranging the destruction of case files to protect Du Chengji over crimes committed seven years earlier. Enraged, Du Chengji attacked him, bit off part of his ear, and beat him until he could no longer move. Guards restrained Du Chengji only after Du Yutao lay bloodied on the floor. The emperor then ordered Du Chengji imprisoned, the family’s property confiscated, and its members jailed 39.

Wei Xin later identified Du Yutao as the decisive “killing stone” in Di Qingyu’s scheme: his resentment supplied the evidence needed to bring down Du Chengji 43.

Revenge Attempt and Recapture

Di Yunqian honored his promise not to kill Du Yutao but expelled him from the palace to fend for himself. Du Yutao later returned at the head of several dozen black-clad assassins to attack Di Qingyu’s carriage. Her subordinates captured the entire group 49.

Du Yutao accused Di Qingyu of deliberately engineering his family’s destruction but refused to identify who had informed him or supplied the assassins. She had him gagged, severed one of his arms, and ordered all the other attackers killed. Du Yutao was taken away for interrogation under torture, with explicit instructions that he be kept alive 49.

Appearance

• Clothing: Wears a dark purple brocade robe during his outing at the Misty Rain House 18.
• Left eye: Blinded by Di Qingyu’s hairpin during the alley assault 19.
• Ear: Loses part of an ear when Du Chengji bites him during their confrontation in Xuanzheng Hall 39.
• Arm: Has one arm severed by Di Qingyu after his later assassination attempt; the side is not specified 49.

Personality

Du Yutao is arrogant, accustomed to flattery, and eager to invoke his father’s position. He enjoys taking credit and seeking glory, frequents brothels, and pursues women without accepting rejection. After Di Qingyu humiliates him publicly, he conceals his anger until he can follow her away from the crowd 18.

His confidence collapses before stronger authority: once sober, he trembles before the emperor and fears his father. Nevertheless, resentment repeatedly drives him toward retaliation. He turns against Du Chengji after witnessing his disownment, then risks his life in revenge against Di Qingyu despite having escaped execution 21 22 39 49.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Concealed dagger — Carried at his waist during the alley assault. He uses it against Di Qingyu, but Zhu Wuyang intercepts the attack and is stabbed in the back 19.

Relationships

• Du Chengji — Father. Initially protects and coaches Du Yutao, then publicly disowns him to shield the family. Du Yutao retaliates by exposing his corruption 21 36 38 39.
• Di Qingyu — Target of both his assaults and his eventual revenge attempt. She exploits his misconduct and family resentment to bring down Du Chengji 18 19 43 49.
• Zhu Wuyang — Opponent during the alley assault and later the recipient of his evidence against Du Chengji. Du Yutao briefly seeks protection behind him when his father attacks 19 38 39.
• Zhu Juxuan — Father of the guard he wounded. Beats Du Yutao at court, advocates his imprisonment, and helps arrange his confrontation with his father’s abandonment 22 23 39.
• Di Yunqian — Emperor who orders his imprisonment and initially plans his execution. Spares his life in exchange for evidence but does not protect him from Du Chengji’s beating 23 25 39.
• Empress Dowager — Maternal relative and former source of protection for the Du family. Withdraws her support and presses for his execution when his case threatens the wider family 16 28 29.

Notable Quotes

“I don't have proof that you committed murder seven years ago, but I do have proof of your embezzlement. As long as I provided it, His Majesty promised not to kill me.” 39

“Di Qingyu, kill me if you have the guts! If it weren't for you, how could my Du Family have suffered this calamity? It was you! You deliberately set me up!” 49