Chapter 253: A Great Man Cannot Escape an Unworthy Wife and an Unfilial Son!

The supreme judicial authority of the Ming Song Dynasty is exercised jointly by the Great Justice Hall, the Ministry of Punishments, and the Grand Court of Censors.

It is called the "Three Departments Joint Trial".

And an Administrative Censor-in-Chief who came from the Grand Court of Censors foretold that the "Three Legal Departments" might refuse to follow the imperial edict.

In a sense, this indicates that judicial power has begun to slip out of the Ming Song Emperor's control.

Zhang Gui was slightly startled, then nodded pensively,

"I see, then I understand.

"Brother Qing, rest assured, actually I am close friends with Chu Tuantuan."

If the Eastern Depot truly follows the imperial edict and has any designs on our Pingyang Zhang Family in the future,

he will naturally smooth the connections, relay the information."

Zhang Jiuqing showed a surprised expression and clapped, praising:

"You, dear junior brother, truly deserve the 'Opening General title, Overseas Strongman bearing'."

You even managed to subdue the Chief Eunuch of a Region and the great head of a prefecture in the Eastern Depot.

I, your elder brother, feel ashamed of being inferior."

"Brother Qing, you are a one‑in‑ten‑thousand 'Governance Minister'.

I, the younger brother, am a one‑in‑a‑thousand 'Chaos Strongman'.

In times of peace and prosperity, you could serve the holy Son of Heaven, governing under his auspices, while you balance yin and yang.

The achievements to be attained in the future naturally belong to a figure like me, beyond your reach.

But alas, now it is a chaotic era."

Zhang Gui, hearing this, said leisurely,

Zhang Jiuqing's hand gripping the wine cup showed prominent blue veins, yet his complexion remained unchanged as he gave a faint smile.

"Times and circumstances.

Now our Pingyang Zhang Family ultimately still has to rely on you, younger brother; we must protect it in many ways."

Zhang Gui glanced at the back of his hand, laughed heartily, and said no more.

He thought silently: "Zhang Jiuqing lets you today pin me down; before I would constantly clash with Zhang Jiujiang over poor studying.

It makes me furious, you forgetful bastard."

At that moment, Zhang Bawang, being carried by a strong servant, along with two maidservants beside him, gestured, sometimes urging the carrier to walk faster;

then the strong servant lightened his steps so as not to jostle Sun Suzi, and returned home.

Zhang Gui hurriedly stood up.

He performed a proper New Year bow, recited a few verses of the "Joy Song", and then, concerned, asked how Zhang Bawang's injuries were.

From his birth until now, eighteen years, ever since the day he could toddle and run about on the streets, there hasn't been a year when he didn't come to Zhang Bawang's home to pay New Year visits.

But before he turned fifteen, he was a mischievous brat, the kind that "dogs hate cats".

After fifteen, his status grew more valuable year by year, until now he has become one of the few "great figures" in the entire family.

His treatment naturally became vastly different from before.

The lady of the house, Sun Suzi, hurriedly helped Zhang Gui to his feet herself.

The male head, Zhang Bawang, also hurriedly had the strong servant set him down, standing like a golden rooster and saying he had no serious injury.

A rest of two or three days will be enough.

"Uncle Bawang, it's good that you didn't break any bones, but if you later sustain any bruises or bumps, you might consider having a physician come to the house for treatment.

Otherwise, if the wound is aggravated again, it would be bad."

"I said the same, and Jiuqing went personally last night to invite a physician.

We agreed that the physician would come again today to change the dressing.

But Uncle Bawang insisted that during the New Year, there are few physicians willing to hold consultations, and he didn't want to trouble them to come.

He forced us to go ourselves to the medical hall to change the medicine, and I don't know what his intention was."

"I see.

Uncle Bawang, this insight is truly the proper path of 'A family that accumulates blessings must have abundant celebrations'.

It is that the younger nephew thought too shallowly."

Zhang Gui sincerely praised.

He then told Zhang Bawang and Sun Suzi, the couple, about his fabricated tale of Zhang Jiujiang's leisurely life in the Great Wolf Capital of the Far‑Mountain Empire.

After all, he couldn't honestly say that his little companion was now a bit crazy, locked himself in a nearly empty shabby room, doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and daydreaming.

That would take the lives of Zhang Bawang, the father, and Sun Suzi, the mother!

Thus, they spoke in cloud‑shrouded, vague talk for a full hour; Zhang Bawang's leg pain made it impossible for him to continue, and Zhang Gui finally took his leave.

He returned to his own home in Youyu Fang, and it was only a brief three‑quarter of an hour later.

Zhang Jiuqing, in a relaxed manner, also came to Zhang Gui's home to pay New Year greetings.

Entering the courtyard, the main gate still open, he immediately performed three bows, kneeling at the feet of Caiyang Duojie.

While Caiyang Duojie repeatedly said, "No need for that, no need for that,"

He solemnly explained that when "younger brother" Zhang Jiujiang was around, the full ceremony was completed during New Year visits, so he could now meet with a half‑ritual.

But this year Zhang Jiujiang did not return home for the New Year, so his next visit must be with a grand ceremony.

His words were logical and well‑supported, yet Zhang Gui beside him clenched his teeth.

Just because of that moment.

In the past, the Censor-in-Chief of Dongyue Sea Province, Zhang Jiuqing, along with the Heir Apparent of the State of Stone Corpse and the Dragon Tiger General, were not only paternal cousins on this side.

Moreover, there were rumors of close inter‑family ties, which had become a confirmed fact.

You should know that in the great aristocratic families, there are tens of thousands of relatives.

Being of the same clan and having a deep personal friendship are two completely different concepts.

Sometimes you try to latch onto them but can't.

But the elders of Zhang Gui's family and the elders of Jiu Qing's family are indeed lifelong friends.

When Zhang Gui was fifteen, he left school to earn a living, and his first job was immediately as a Shop Assistant in overseas Heimu Town.

After that, in just half a year he completed a path that others would take a lifetime to finish, becoming the Steward of Heimu Town.

It was because Caiyang Duojie, carrying two jars of stinky shrimp paste, found Sun Suzi and the couple Zhang Bawang.

Zhang Bawang, borrowing Jiu Qing's influence, gave a "favor".

Since the "old families" have such a friendship, what can the descendants do?

So everything must just go with the flow.

In short, it was like this: "You pay respects to my elders, I pay respects to your mother," and the busy hustle finished the first day of the New Year.

On the second day, according to custom, one must visit the maternal grandmother's house.

Zhang Gui's grandmother had long been gone, so there was no need for effort.

But the two daughters of his aunt‑in‑law's families, who married far away, never had the habit of visiting their natal home on the second day.

Yet in the past two years it suddenly appeared, and last year only one came, but this year there were several.

There was also a new "project", deliberately having the children politely and properly kowtow to the uncle for New Year's greetings.

They begged the Heir Apparent uncle to grant them a future.

What kind of nonsense future could a five‑ or six‑year‑old, still wet behind the ears, snot‑running child in the dead of winter possibly want?

Zhang Gui was made dizzy and dazzled by the noise.

He could only issue several Lucky Money envelopes of white two‑tael silver notes, and promise that when the children grew up, this uncle would certainly have arrangements, and finally managed to get through it.

Later, during the meal.

Several brothers‑in‑law, whose faces Zhang Gui could barely recognize, took turns expressing their intentions, flattering him.

And the two aunt‑in‑laws who had watched him grow up, their attitudes toward him had subtly changed without them noticing.

Even the five cousins also showed a faint difference.

Only then did Zhang Gui suddenly realize Amu's "wisdom", and recalled an old saying:

A true man cannot avoid an unworthy wife and an unfilial son!

He thought silently to himself:

"What kind of crappy family relationship is this!

Relatives gathering for a meal, and it turns out like this.

What the heck!"

(End of chapter)