Chapter 949: My Brother-in-Law is Here! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Xun Zhen and Jiang Sheng have been friends for many years.
Normally, these two would stop after a brief argument, since a messy fight would affect official business, and it wouldn't be good for Jiang Sheng to suffer a major financial loss at a private gathering. But Jiang Sheng's words just now hit Xun Zhen's weak spot; he hates involving his family the most.
Even if his son is indeed useless and not very bright, what can he do when he and his deceased wife only have this one child? He can just complain a little, but Jiang Sheng's jinxed mouth won't let it go.
This fellow's scholarly ways can truly discern good and bad fortune!
"Stop hitting! Stop hitting!"
"Who's pulling at my toes—"
"Don't push forward, everyone back up! Back up! Back up!"
"You shameless bastard! You took advantage of the situation to ambush me and settle personal scores. I've finally caught you!" Some people shouted themselves hoarse trying to break up the fight, some took advantage of the chaos to seek revenge, and others were pushed forward by the crowd of onlookers, their official hats and robes all disheveled.
"The postal service belongs to the Ministry of War; the Ministry of Revenue must not rob it!"
"We're targeting those heartless people in the Ministry of Revenue! Tell me, wasn't the cured meat they gave to the Ministry of Rites' canteen rotten last December?"
"Who took off my pants?!"
Some roll up their sleeves to mediate, others get into the fight;
They take off their shoes and swing them at people, slapping their faces;
Using saliva to wash someone's face at close range...
While displaying their martial prowess, the officials began to dredge up old grievances, including but not limited to delayed salary payments, substandard or short-weight supplies, malicious rejection of leave requests, failure to repay loans on time, and skipping out on meals and drinks arranged for others...
At first, some officials tried to break up the fight, but after being accidentally injured multiple times, one of them angrily tucked his robe into his sleeve and kicked the plump, round buttocks of the person he had accidentally injured. The brawl caused the generals to retreat in fear of being hit by flying objects.
The battle ended with everyone receiving equal blame.
The Ministry of War protected the postal stations through unity and friendship.
Xun Zhen and the Ministry of Revenue's plans have temporarily fallen through.
Shen Tang: "..."
What kind of vegetable market will she be visiting?
The fight was over, but the officials remained with their heads bowed, the atmosphere more tense than usual, threatening to erupt again at any moment. Shen Tang rubbed his throbbing temples, unable to believe these were his ministers—which idiot had hidden a pancake in his sleeve? The pancake had even flown out! And some of them had even hidden eggs in their sleeves.
Having such ministers is truly a blessing for Kang!
After the chaotic morning meeting ended, Shen Tang logged out of DingTalk, her ears still ringing. She ordered someone to summon Jiang Sheng.
When Jiang Sheng arrived, his face still bore scratches.
But he wore a victor's smile on his face.
"Greetings, my lord."
Shen Tang took a deep breath: "You just said in the court assembly that there would be bloodshed at Hanzhang Mansion. What do you mean by that?"
Even Shen Tang felt that this statement was inappropriate.
Who in the entire court doesn't know that there's a joyous occasion at Xun Zhen's residence?
If we ignore the fact that she was pregnant out of wedlock, it should be considered a double celebration. Xun Zhen had privately asked her a few days ago if she wanted to attend the ceremony. Shen Tang's willingness to go, or to bestow gifts upon the newlyweds, would be an unparalleled honor, and also proof of the deep favor the king bestowed upon Xun Zhen and his son.
Having served as both ruler and subject for many years, she was naturally willing to grant them this courtesy.
At times like these, bloodshed or disaster is considered unlucky.
It was especially inappropriate for this to fall on the newlyweds, but Shen Tang knew Jiang Sheng well; his words wouldn't be wrong. He said there would be bloodshed in Xun Zhen's household, so something bad was bound to happen. It was just unknown whose life this prophecy would ultimately fulfill.
Jiang Sheng said, "Judging from the situation, it shouldn't be serious."
Shen Tang asked again, "Was it Alai who got into trouble?"
Gong Xilai is now pregnant with twins. If something happens to her, she will most likely miscarry. Should we transfer a few people from the medical department to watch over her? Gong Xichou entrusted this younger sister to me, so nothing can happen to her.
No sooner had he finished speaking than a messenger announced that Xun Zhen was requesting an audience.
The two ministers exchanged a glance, their expressions turning sour.
Since it concerned his friend's family, Jiang Sheng didn't hide anything because of the fight in the court. However, his anger hadn't subsided, so he addressed him with a sarcastic tone: "It was Minister Xun's palace of children that was darkened, and the bloodshed was about to happen to his son. He is, after all, a martial artist with considerable strength and cultivation. It's just that he will suffer minor injuries, not fatal ones."
Upon hearing this, Xun Zhen cupped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you."
Jiang Sheng snorted and ignored him.
Trying to steal the Ministry of War's cash cow? No way!
Hearing that Xun Ding would suffer serious injuries, Shen Tang didn't care. Martial arts practitioners are tough and resilient, not to mention that the Medical Bureau had dozens of physicians who had already discovered the power of limb regeneration in livestock. For example, Imperial Physician Dong Dao, along with six other physicians, helped twelve veterans with minor disabilities regain full mobility last month. These soldiers had lost fingers, hands, ears, or eyes in the war, and it was said that the regenerated parts were exactly the same as the originals.
As long as Xun Ding doesn't die, everything else is a minor matter.
Shen Tang thought so, and Xun Zhen thought so too.
The emperor and his ministers all assumed that Xun Ding's recent misfortune was either due to an accidental fall or being accidentally injured in a sparring match. However, they were only a quarter of the right. The injury was indeed from a sparring match, but not from accidental injury.
This story begins with a report from the Zhechong Prefecture.
Attendant-in-Ordinary Ning Yan hurriedly requested an audience.
Seeing her tense expression, Shen Tang thought something serious had happened.
"My lord, please look."
Shen Tang became even more confused when he saw the cover of the memorial.
To improve efficiency, she stipulated that the contents of memorials be distinguished by different colored covers and stamps according to their urgency.
Most of the documents sent to Shen Tang were very important. She only responded to the less important greetings when she had free time and was in a good mood. Otherwise, she delegated the replies to others. All documents sent from various places were transcribed according to procedure, with two copies kept. The one Ning Yan sent was one of the copies; judging by the stamp, the content was unimportant.
They receive countless copies of this level every year.
It wasn't worth Ning Yan making the trip herself.
But Shen Tang knew better than anyone that Ning Yan wouldn't make such a statement without a reason.
Filled with curiosity, she opened the document from the Zhechong Prefecture and skimmed through it—no, by the second line, her eyes were glued to the page. She stared intently at the three large characters "Gongxi Chou," unsure whether to continue.
When did Gongxi Chou return?
She paused for a moment after saying that.
It's perfectly normal for Gong Xichou to come back at this critical juncture.
His sister was getting married, and it wouldn't be right for Gongxi Chou not to be there. Xun Ding wouldn't have the guts to not inform him either. If Gongxi Chou were angered, he wouldn't care who the general was; he'd just wield his halberd and send chills down his spine.
Shen Tang muttered, "Come back for the wedding..."
Then he whispered, "It's been years, I wonder if his brother and nephew have been found yet. With the situation in Beimo getting tense, if Gong Xichou could come back, the pressure would be much less—poof, why is Gong Xichou fighting with Gong Cheng?"
Shen Tang nearly choked on her saliva when she saw what was coming.
The intelligence report submitted by the Zhechong Prefecture stated that on a certain day of a certain month, the figure of General Gongxi Chou was spotted near a post station. The enemy was strong, and Gongxi Chou was no match for them and was seriously injured. The report also described in detail the miserable state of Gongxi Chou's martial spirit totem.
Shen Tang was worried that she might lose patience.
She skipped directly to the end of the memorial and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Gong Xi Chou had been rescued by a group of wandering knights. Knowing that Gong Xi Chou was out of danger, Shen Tang drank water while working backwards through the timeline. Looking across the Northwest Continent, the only one who could openly threaten Gong Xi Chou and had beaten him so badly was Gong Cheng. The time Gong Cheng appeared also matched the time mentioned in the memorial.
Then, considering that Gong Cheng was ordered to exterminate the Gongxi clan.
Gong Xichou's enemy that day was the one who didn't escape.
Shen Tang glanced at the time the memorial was submitted and the time it was copied, and his lips twitched slightly: "What's going on at the Zhechong Prefecture?"
Such an important memorial was only delivered yesterday?
If the official copying the memorial hadn't discovered that it mentioned Gongxi Chou, which alerted Ning Yan, Shen Tang would never have seen it.
Ning Yan said, "The report was submitted to the Jinli County Zhechong Prefecture."
Shen Tang: "..."
Shen Tang purged all the counties and prefectures of Kunzhou, including Jinli County. The Jinli County Zhechong Prefecture was the most affected, with the most personnel changes. During that period of chaos, it was difficult for the Zhechong Prefecture to even send out intelligence, so it was normal for their efficiency to be lower.
She exhaled a breath of stale air: "But Gong Xichou didn't come."
Gong Xichou and Gong Cheng fought in the deep mountains along the official road on the border of Jinli County, while Shen Tang was living in Jinli County during that time.
Why hasn't Gong Xichou come to see her after all these days?
Could it be that Gong Cheng injured a vital spot, and he can't get up?
Shen Tang couldn't help but worry about Gong Xi Chou's injuries.
Ning Yan suddenly said, "Perhaps he went to Fengluo? He should be back at this time to attend the wedding. The emperor led the officials to inspect the royal court and investigate the case. The common people were unaware of this, so Gongxi Chou naturally did not know that you were nearby at that time."
Shen Tang: "...Um, I overlooked that."
Suddenly, a thought struck her. She looked up at Ning Yan and slammed her hand on the table, saying, "Wait a minute, Gong Xichou went to the capital, Fengluo?"
Ning Yan didn't know why she was reacting so strongly.
He said, "This is merely my guess."
Shen Tang leaped out gracefully, bracing himself on the table, and shouted urgently, "We're doomed! Where is Hanzhang now?"
Given Gong Xi Chou's thought process, he wouldn't mind if his sister got pregnant out of wedlock, since women of the Gongxi clan are very keen on having children before marriage—although Gong Xi Lai isn't a true member of the Gongxi clan, she has spent many years with Gong Xi Chou and has absorbed some of his wisdom; otherwise, she wouldn't have waited until this age—but Gong Xi Chou would definitely mind if they got married before marriage! If he ran into Xun Ding, he'd beat him to death!
Shen Tang finally understood what Jiang Sheng meant by "bloodshed and disaster." If Xun fell into Gong Xi Chou's hands, he would definitely not have a good time.
At that time, the royal court had already embarked on its return journey.
The time wasted in Kunzhou was a bit too long, exceeding expectations. Shen Tang and the heads of the Three Departments and Six Ministries should not be away for too long, which resulted in insufficient time to inspect other parts of Kang Kingdom. When Shen Tang received the news, they were only two days' journey from the capital.
Xun Zhen was startled when he saw the king rushing over in a hurry.
"Does the lord have any important instructions?"
Shen Tang asked, "When is Yong'an's wedding date set?"
A smile appeared on Xun Zhen's face: "Three days later."
The timing was perfect.
I can go back and rest for a day and then I'll be able to see my son's wedding.
Shen Tang's expression was solemn: "We need to get back as soon as possible. Give the order to speed up our journey back and shorten the time to one day."
Xun Zhen was puzzled: "Why is that?"
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind.
Could it be a mutiny in the capital?
That can't be right. Who among those left to guard the capital could do that?
Shen Tang called out, "Gong Xi Chou is back!"
Voiceover: Your son is going to get a beating!
Xun Zhen: "..."
The officials, who had been walking and stopping intermittently, were suddenly forced to speed up. They had no choice; imbued with the power of those words, even the short legs of a turtle could swing with incredible speed. The closer they got to the capital, the more people appeared on the official road. Many people saw a group of several hundred people, glowing with the power of those words, rushing past at speeds far exceeding the permitted limits. If it weren't for their banners, they would have been stopped and ticketed long ago.
The capital city is Fengluo.
The city walls are towering, the buildings are magnificent, and the city is bustling with activity.
Night had fallen.
Thousands of lights illuminated the azure sky, while towering buildings reflected the bustling crowds. Shops lined both sides of the road, their wares dazzling the eye. The pedestrians were diverse, ranging from elderly men and women in their sixties and seventies to toddlers as young as five or six, with young men and women walking hand in hand without any hesitation. The atmosphere here was open; the women dressed boldly and passionately, their makeup exquisite and glamorous.
Every now and then you could see several people dressed in tight-fitting clothes. Although they didn't have graceful figures, they were all tall and slender, and their wrist guards clearly outlined the lines of their arms. But these weren't the main points. The main point was that, looking around, you could see very few commoners wearing patched clothes.
Not only are her clothes clean, but she also has a healthy complexion.
This is very different from what Fang Yan saw in various places.
"Shen Jun is bound to win."
After many years, Fang Yan still felt regret when he mentioned the old days, but then he thought that this was also his elder brother's lifelong wish. If this wish could be fulfilled by Shen Jun, his elder brother would be gratified in the afterlife, at least he had not made the wrong friends or misjudged the person.
Shao Chong's cheeks were already bulging from eating.
Both hands were full of food bought along the way.
"Wow, Sixth Brother, look! Isn't this a specialty of Qi Kingdom? And here, there are even seafood here! It smells so fresh... Twelfth Brother, please let me have two more skewers!" Shao Chong's stomach was like a bottomless pit. He would go into any eatery he saw and buy something to try, whether it was grilled, fried, boiled, or steamed... He didn't miss any of the sour, sweet, bitter, or spicy dishes.
Chao Lian and the others, refusing to pay, instigated Ji Moqiu.
Even though he had little concept of money, he knew that the gold, silver, and pearl beads braided in Ji Moqiu's hair could be exchanged for good things.
"Don't eat too much late at night, it's not good for your health."
Chao Lian and Fang Yan couldn't hold Shao Chong back at all.
He said helplessly, "There will be plenty of opportunities to eat our way through the rest of the year. Let's find a place to stay tonight, and be good."
Uncle Lin and Gong Xichou have already gone to inquire about the location of the Gu residence.
However, only Uncle Lin returned.
Fang Yan asked, "What about him?"
Uncle Lin said, "We went to inquire about the location of the Xun residence."
Fang Yan's lips twitched.
"Is he planning to come knocking on our door late at night?"
Just as Uncle Lin was about to answer, he saw Gong Xichou return with a gloomy expression, which surprised the others. Gong Xichou knew what they were thinking at a glance: "We can't make a move in Fengluo."
If Mama finds out, she'll tear him apart.
"Tomorrow, drag him out of the city and beat him!"
Uncle Lin and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
They were genuinely afraid that Gongxi Chou would cause a huge disturbance without regard for the consequences.
|ω`)
(End of this chapter)
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