Chapter 247 Returning Home

Su Fengzhang had no idea how He Jun coaxed his wife and comforted the old lady. After all, He Jun didn't have the courage to really come over and beat him, so Su Fengzhang didn't know that he had once again helped to take the blame.

When Su Fengzhang returned home, he was greeted by the tears of his mother and sister.

Before Su Fengzhang came back, Su Zhaoshi and Su Huihui were still able to support each other, but now when they saw him, they couldn't stop crying and they both started crying at the same time.

Su Fengzhang had no choice but to comfort them first, and tried to persuade them in every possible way, even almost taking off his clothes to let them see that he had gained weight, and only then did the two of them slowly stop crying.

Su Zhao wiped her red eyes, glared at him, and said, "Mother knows you're capable of great things, but this time I'm truly frightened. War is always dangerous, and swords have no eyes on the battlefield. Even though I'm worried sick, I can't help you at all."

Su Fengzhang repeatedly consoled her, "Mom, before I left, I promised I would return safely, and now I'm back in one piece. I never break a promise."

Su Zhaoshi finally burst into laughter and said, "Feng'er, I don't ask you to be made a marquis or a prime minister. I just want you to be safe and sound."

Su Fengzhang knew they must have been terrified during this time, so he leaned into her arms and said, "Mother, I'm sorry for being unfilial and causing you worry. I will definitely be more cautious in the future."

Su Zhao sighed and said, "It's good that you know what's going on."

"This time, it's all thanks to Huihui. When that so-and-so rushed in, I was completely frightened. It was your sister who was brave enough to deal with them. Otherwise, even if Prince Cheng had arrived, it would have been too late."

Su Fengzhang looked at Su Huihui. The little girl's eyes were red from crying. He stood up, bowed, and said with a smile, "Thank you very much, sister."

Su Huihui chuckled and said, "I didn't do anything. It was all my brother who taught me."

"No, you helped my second brother a lot this time." Su Fengzhang touched the little girl's hair and praised with a smile.

Su Huihui's eyes became brighter, flashing with excitement.

After saying this, he looked at Liu Neng, beckoned and said, "A Neng, come here, let me take a closer look to see if you have lost weight."

Liu Neng walked up to him with his hands behind his back and a sullen face, saying, "Dad, I'm sorry, I can't help you at all."

Su Fengzhang smiled and pinched his nose, "You're a big help if you're fine."

Su Zhaoshi also said: "This child is very thoughtful. You were in the school when those people came. Besides, you are just a child. No one will blame you."

Liu Neng was still a little depressed. Since Su Lanzhang was not there, he was considered half a member of the Su family. He couldn't help but feel a little upset about what happened that day, especially when he came back that day and saw that his house had been dug up beyond recognition.

Su Fengzhang stroked his hair and said with a smile, "Aneng, study hard and practice martial arts well. One day in the future, your father will be waiting for your help and support."

Liu Neng finally cheered up and nodded vigorously, saying, "Dad, I will study hard and practice martial arts well."

At this time, Su Zhaoshi had time to say: "Feng'er, before you came back, the rewards from the palace were delivered. Mother has put them in the house. Do you want to go and take a look?"

Su Fengzhang was safe and sound, and he felt happy when he thought of rewarding Su Zhaoshi and Su Huihui.

Su Fengzhang nodded and took them to take a look next door.

As soon as Su Zhao entered the room, she said, "This reward is a bit too much, but our Feng'er has made great contributions, and this is what she deserves."

I didn't think much of it when I heard Eunuch Li reading out the list, but now I see that the whole room is full of boxes. Just looking at those carved and lacquered gold boxes, I can tell that they are worth a lot of money.

Su Fengzhang sighed in his heart, wondering if this reward was directly taken out of the national treasury. If so, wouldn’t it be the money he had earned with great difficulty?

Thinking of this, Su Fengzhang felt that most of the pleasure brought by the reward had disappeared.

Su Zhaoshi and Su Huihui had no idea what Su Fengzhang was thinking, and they were still looking through the rewards with a smile on their faces. Some of the jewels in them were especially eye-opening and amazing.

Su Fengzhang took a quick look and said, "Mom, please pack some of them up and pick out a few of the better ones and put them away separately. When the time comes, you can take them back to Yuexi Village and offer them in the ancestral hall."

When Su Zhaoshi heard this, she was first shocked, then delighted: "Feng'er, can you go back home to visit your relatives?"

It is said that not returning to one's hometown when one is rich is like traveling at night with wealth and honor. Although Su Zhaoshi thought the capital was a good place, she still missed Yuexi Village, especially since Su Fengzhang was unable to return home to pay homage to his ancestors even after he passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar.

Su Fengzhang nodded, then shook his head and explained: "Not yet, but it should be possible after a while."

It was fate that made things difficult for him. He should have gone back years ago, but when he first entered the Hanlin Academy, his superiors deliberately made things difficult for him. Su Fengzhang mentioned it once but was rejected, so he never mentioned it again.

Later, one thing followed another and there was no time to spare. After Su Zhao and others came to Beijing, this matter was put on hold until now.

Now that the dust has settled, although the court has not changed, the overall situation has actually been determined and is difficult to change.

Su Fengzhang thought that he should go back before the current emperor died. Otherwise, if the ninth prince ascended the throne, there would definitely be a series of troubles, and it would be even more difficult for him to go back then.

After Su Zhaoshi's joy, she hesitated again and whispered, "Will it affect your future? In fact, it doesn't matter if you don't go back."

Yuexi Village is far away from the capital, and it takes at least a month to go back and forth. It is reasonable that I cannot go back.

The management of officials' home leave in the Great Zhou Dynasty was not particularly strict, but there were laws and regulations that stipulated that if an official's parents were within 300 miles of his post, he could have one home leave every three years, and each leave could not exceed 20 days.

If the distance is more than 300 miles, the maximum period is two months, which can be increased or decreased depending on the situation.

Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "It's all in accordance with the rules and will not have any impact."

He added, "This time, if I go back, I can wait until the provincial examination is over. Then I can bring Lan Zhang back to Beijing with me."

Upon hearing this, Su Zhaoshi was even more excited and added, "Lan Zhang is also very hardworking. He has already passed the imperial examination in one go and is now a junior scholar. If he can pass the provincial examination, he can become a juren."

When this matter was mentioned, Su Huihui also became cheerful. Everyone was worried before Su Lanzhang left, but they didn't expect that the news he brought back was better than the last.

Su Fengzhang was not surprised by this. Su Lanzhang was the child he had personally taught. Although he was naughty on weekdays, he was serious about studying. Qingzhou Prefecture was Fang Zhiwen's base, so it would be strange if he couldn't even pass the college entrance examination.

Seeing their happiness, Su Fengzhang said, "Mom, please pack up some local specialties or fashionable items so that we can take them back and give them to others. Also, after we go back this time, we might not be back for many years, so we need to make some plans."

Su Zhao smiled and said, "Don't worry about these things. Mother knows what's going on."

The matter was settled. Su Zhaoshi and Su Huihui were full of doubts, but they did not notice the deep thought in Su Fengzhang's eyes.

This trip will last at least two months, so Su Fengzhang naturally had to inform Prince Cheng in advance.

Upon hearing this, Prince Cheng frowned and asked, "Why do you want to go back now? It's not that I don't want you to go back, but the court is in need of people right now."

Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "The Ministry of Revenue has arranged everything perfectly. I was away for a few months without any trouble. Now, Minister Xu probably doesn't have the heart to compete with me anymore."

Prince Cheng asked, "But His Majesty deliberately suppressed you, and it hurt your feelings?"

Su Fengzhang laughed, shook his head and said, "At my age, I can still sit firmly in the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. How can you say that I am suppressed?"

Prince Cheng asked again, "Do you really just want to go back home to visit your relatives?"

Su Fengzhang explained: "On the surface, it seems that the court is now completely wasted, and it seems to be the best opportunity."

"But Your Highness must also know that the Emperor is now planning to suppress the lower officials and the Prince of Xi, and will not promote them for the time being."

"If I stay, I will only work in the Ministry of Revenue. If I leave, it will give someone a chance. Your Highness, it will save you a lot of trouble and effort to clean up the mess later."

Prince Cheng's brows moved slightly, and he understood what he meant.

He sneered: "Why, you still don't trust the Ministry of Revenue?"

Su Fengzhang said, "I am worried about Minister Xu."

"You mean... the Xu family has a backup plan?" asked Prince Cheng.

It's not that he looks down on the Xu family. The Xu family climbed to power thanks to the nepotism of Concubine Xu. He doesn't object to Minister Xu being capable, but now the Fourth Prince is dead and Concubine Xu is seriously ill. If the Xu family is wise, they should not make trouble anymore.

Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "Your Highness, Minister Xu is not stupid, nor is the Fourth Prince. The Xu family has been entrenched in the Ministry of Revenue for many years, so how could they not have a backup plan? The smoother this minister's control of the Ministry of Revenue has been over the past year, the more frightened I feel."

"I'm afraid that one day I'll wake up and there'll be a big hole."

Prince Cheng's eyes flickered, and he asked, "Are you planning to take action before leaving Beijing and uncover the Xu family's hidden plan?"

Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "It's not me who will do it, it's Minister Xu who will do it."

Prince Cheng's expression was unpredictable. Su Fengzhang continued, "Before the Fourth Prince dies, Minister Xu will not act rashly, because the Ministry of Revenue of the Great Zhou Dynasty is likely to be the Ministry of Revenue of the Fourth Prince."

"But now that the Fourth Prince is dead, the Xu family will likely be forced to leave the center of power. Minister Xu will have no successor. Under such circumstances, what could be more useful than leaving behind countless silver coins?"

"The Fourth Prince is dead, but he still has several little grandchildren."

Prince Cheng said, "You are right. If you stayed in the capital, Minister Xu would probably be more cautious."

After knocking on the table, Prince Cheng continued, "In that case, I will ask my father to grant you more leave to visit your family. Just go home and visit your family."

"Thank you very much, Your Highness." Su Fengzhang said with a smile.

Prince Cheng's words were equivalent to taking over Minister Xu's affairs, which saved him a lot of effort.

After Su Fengzhang left, Prince Cheng sighed and frowned.

Tie Lei asked quietly, "What's wrong, Your Highness? Do you think Minister Xu's situation is difficult?"

After all, the Fourth Prince was already dead, and he died at the hands of the Crown Prince. He did not commit any major mistakes before his death. If they continued to pursue Minister Xu, it would appear to be inhumane.

Prince Cheng shook his head and said only: "That's not it... I always feel that Feng Zhang is not telling the truth."

Tie Lei said strangely: "Lord Su is your man, Your Highness. How can I hide anything from you?"

He then asked, "Could it be that Master Su is planning to go home and get married secretly?"

Prince Cheng glared at him angrily: "Do you have brains or donkey balls? Who is Su Fengzhang? If he really wants to get married, he has a thousand ways to do it. Why would he choose such a method that can be easily broken?"

Tie Lei touched his nose and said embarrassedly, "That subordinate really can't think of it."

Prince Cheng was interrupted by him and could not think of any possibility. He just said, "Forget it. I guess I am just overthinking it."

Tie Lei added naively, "That's right. Smart people tend to overthink."

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