Duke Feng Sheng of Song was Chang Mao's father-in-law. However, Feng Sheng looked down on Chang Mao, and the feud between the two was once quite comical.

The reason for this was that during the campaign against Nahachu, Chang Mao wounded Nahachu at the surrender banquet, which led to Feng Sheng and Chang Mao shifting blame to each other. This was also the reason why Chang Mao was not given important positions; he was indeed somewhat arrogant and domineering.

The relationship between the father-in-law and son-in-law had once reached a freezing point. It was only because Zhu Yunying was 'magnanimous' and gave Chang Mao's second son to Feng Sheng that Feng Sheng 'recognized' Chang Mao as his son-in-law again.

From Zhu Yunying's tone, Chang Mao sensed some dissatisfaction with Zhang Wen. His first thought was to shirk responsibility and distance himself from the matter, which he actually felt quite justified in doing so. This might have been acceptable with other people, but Zhang Wen was definitely not from the Chang faction.

Despite having followed Marquis Dingyuan, Wang Bi, in the campaign against the Western Qiang, Zhang Wen actually had more dealings with Fu Youde. While Feng Sheng was sidelined by the retired emperor, Zhang Wen had already moved on to follow the increasingly favored Fu Youde.

That connection had long since ended, so if the emperor were to punish Zhang Wen now, Chang Mao wouldn't even consider trying to protect him; it wouldn't even be worth a second thought.

Moreover, as the emperor's maternal uncle, if Zhang Wen had truly done something to displease the emperor, even if he was a confidant of the Chang family, Chang Mao could still execute him like Ma Su.

Zhu Yunying smiled and nodded, saying, "Since that's for the best, then Uncle won't be in a difficult position. I didn't expect Zhang Wen to become so confused in his old age. This fierce general on the battlefield has become senile."

Historically, Zhang Wen was implicated in the Lan Yu case and sentenced to death. Now, however, he is old and frail, yet stubbornly alive. But this time, he's not only senile, but his servants are also quite arrogant, which is what gave Zhu Yunying the idea to act.

Zhu Yunying did not hide anything and said, "Uncle, you probably don't know, but the court is lenient towards veteran generals. The court has also bestowed many rewards upon Zhang Wen. However, his residence and utensils are mostly overstepping his bounds."

This crime was actually quite serious. In the increasingly disciplined and etiquette-conscious Ming Dynasty, Zhang Wen's offense was no small matter.

Back then, when Zhu Yunying's second uncle's favorite concubine dared to wear the empress's robes, Zhu Yunying rebuked Zhu Shuang for "usurping his place and being disrespectful, a crime of the highest order," and at the same time ordered Deng's death, showing no respect whatsoever to Duke Deng Yu of Wei. It could even be said that this Deng was completely slapping Deng Yu in the face, as his eldest daughter was betrothed to the Prince of Qin as a concubine, and was even subordinate to the Mongolian woman Guanyinnu.

Emperor Hongwu, while not particularly concerned with etiquette, was also extremely particular about it. He was intolerant of even the slightest impropriety from ordinary officials, whether military or civil. However, he was remarkably lenient towards his own children.

Chang Mao knew that Zhang Wen might be in trouble. The current emperor seemed to care little about etiquette in some areas, but he cared a great deal about it in others.

In the early days of the dynasty, when the system of rites was not yet perfect, the emperors of the Ming Dynasty could not tolerate usurpation of power from time to time. Now that the system of rites has been perfected, it is even more so.

When the retired emperor ordered that the princes and the crown prince wear the same rank of clothing, the then-grandson of the emperor strongly opposed it, demanding that the princes' "treatment" be downgraded. If he was this strict with his own uncles, how much more so would he be strict with someone who is merely a military officer?

Zhu Yunying seemed quite helpless and said to Chang Mao, "Uncle must know that nobles are always the fastest to become corrupt and increasingly arrogant. Over the years, we have punished quite a few lawless nobles, but some still repeatedly commit crimes."

Chang Mao has the right to speak on this matter; his drinking in the army was a minor issue compared to that of his uncle, Lan Yu. His uncle's actions, such as seizing farmland, were also minor; when drunk, he even dared to attack Ming Dynasty passes, demonstrating the arrogance of a military officer.

These people are fearless because they are either uncouth, rely on the merits of their fathers and grandfathers, or feel that they have made great contributions and are therefore fearless.

And Zhang Wen, now, might become the next unfortunate military officer, the target of Emperor Ying Shi's attempt to establish his authority.

Thinking about it this way, Chang Mao also felt that Zhang Wen was a suitable target for making an example of someone, and he really was quite suitable.

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