Chapter 21: Chivalrous Spirit

"Chongwu Street" in the east of the capital. The mansions here were basically residences of military officials or generals' mansions.

In front of the mansion of Minister of War "Han Xiu."

"I have troubled you to report that Chen Ji requests to see Minister Han."

Chen Ji said anxiously.

The gatekeeper sized Chen Ji up and down and said impatiently: "Go, go, go! Where did this madman come from? You think you can see our master just because you want to?" The gatekeepers rubbed their hands, about to drive him away.

"This is the token Minister Han gave me!"

Chen Ji took out a black iron token from his bosom.

This token was old and incomplete, with one corner cut off by a sharp weapon. One side was engraved with "Town-North Army" and the other with "Centurion Han Xiu."

This was the token Han Xiu had when he was a centurion in the Town-North Army. After he was injured and withdrew from the Northern Frontier, he gave three tokens to the descendants of martyrs and boasted that if they had any trouble, they could bring the token to the Han Mansion.

The leading gatekeeper recognized the token and bowed repeatedly:

"It is this little one who has eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. Young Master, please wait a moment; this little one will go in and report." After saying this, he walked quickly into the mansion and soon brought out Steward Li from the mansion.

"So it is Young Master Chen. Minister Han is currently not in the mansion. Have you encountered any difficulties?"

This Steward Li was in his fifties, wearing a scholar's cap, elegant and polite, welcoming Chen Ji into the mansion while asking.

The two were not meeting for the first time. Every year, Han Xiu would help the descendants of those three martyrs in his private capacity. In previous years, he did it himself, but after he had an official position and was busy with official business, Steward Li did it on his behalf.

Chen Ji's situation was somewhat special; his father joined the army and died in the Northern Frontier, and his mother died of an epidemic.

Every year, after receiving the silver taels from Han Xiu, Chen Ji would give them all to the descendants of martyrs who were living in poverty without keeping a single cent.

Han Xiu had once commented: "This child has a spirit of 'chivalry' in him."

"When will Minister Han be back?"

Chen Ji asked somewhat urgently.

"He should be back soon. If Young Master Chen has any urgent matters, you can tell this old man; perhaps I can help you solve it first."

Steward Li smiled.

Chen Ji didn't think Steward Li could help much, but he still told him the matter. He had taken the initiative to come to the Han Mansion for the first time to ask Han Xiu to intercede for Lu Fang.

Steward Li was smiling when he first heard it, but when he heard that Chen Ji had a conflict with Xiao Jinchen, the descendant of the Three Dukes, his eyebrows couldn't help but wrinkle.

He thought that was the end of it.

Who knew that at the end, he heard that Chen Ji's "friend" had killed Xiao Jinchen in public!

"Ah!"

Steward Li's voice was trembling.

The Xiao family was the most powerful among the powerful in the capital. If the younger generation had some verbal conflicts, it would be fine for Minister Han to mediate.

But killing a descendant of the Xiao family! Even Minister of War Han Xiu was probably powerless.

Chen Ji was still continuing to speak...

When Steward Li heard that the killer was a disciple of Semi-Sage Xu Xu Han Yi, forced Supervisor Xiao Xun to kneel, and was protected by Supervisor Liu Wenyu, he was completely numb.

"Young Master Chen, this matter is of great importance, and this old man cannot help. Calculating the time, Minister Han will be back from the palace soon. You wait in the study for a while."

Steward Li brought the person to the study and left with a bitter smile.

About half an hour passed.

Han Xiu returned from the palace without changing his court robes. Hearing Steward Li say that Chen Ji had come because "Lu Fang killed Xiao Jinchen," he walked into the study with undisguised appreciation.

"Uncle Han."

Chen Ji bowed and said impatiently: "Today I had a..."

Han Xiu pressed his palm in the air, interrupting:

"I already know the whole story in the palace. Nephew, don't worry. His Majesty is clear-sighted and knows that it was Xiao Jinchen who was arrogant and wanted to kill Lu Fang first, so he only ordered Lu Fang to be grounded and punished with boards."

Xiao Jinchen recklessly discussed and insulted the Town-North Army, and Chen Ji spoke out without fear of power.

Han Xiu already knew from the Shadow-Recording Talisman. What gratified him was that he hadn't misjudged Chen Ji; the extremely precious "chivalrous" spirit in this child was even better than his father's.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ji couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, "That's good, that's good."

Han Xiu pondered: "A direct descendant of the Xiao family has been killed; they will definitely not let it go easily. You should try to keep your distance from that Lu Fang, lest you be implicated by him."

Chen Ji bowed: "Uncle Han, I know you are doing this for my own good, but forgive me, I cannot do that."

"Sigh! You stubborn temper!"

Han Xiu sighed. Knowing Chen Ji's temper, he didn't continue to advise him and changed the subject:

"In a few days, it will be your father's death anniversary. Help me burn more incense. You have helped so many descendants of martyrs who are living in poverty; is your silver enough? When you go back, I will let..."

Li Mansion on Wanfeng Street.

After Li Yu respectfully sent off Liu Wenyu, she paced and looked at Lu Fang, who was lying on the chair, and said:

"Your courage is truly great. You killed Xiao Jinchen on your first day at Wenyuan Academy. Don't you know he is a descendant of the Three Dukes, his grandfather is the former Prime Minister, and his father is the Minister of Justice?"

"Ouch, ouch..."

Lu Fang had just been punished with thirty heavy boards, and he winced in pain at the slightest movement. He said unhappily:

"Xiao Jinchen wanted to kill me. Do you expect me to just stand there and let him kill me? I am your little martial uncle, pay attention to your tone."

Li Yu frowned and rolled her eyes:

"The Xiao family has a feud with our master sect. Next time you encounter this situation, Little, Martial, Uncle, you must think twice before acting, lest you fall into their trap."

"This time His Majesty only grounded you and punished you with boards because Xiao Jinchen wanted to kill you first, and out of respect for Master's face. Next time, it won't be settled so simply."

Lu Fang asked puzzledly: "What feud does the Xiao family have with our master sect?"

When Li Yu spoke of this, her expression turned cold:

"Back then, Xiao Wanlin was the Prime Minister and held the position of Minister of War for a period of time. On the battlefield in the Northern Frontier, in order to preserve more than a dozen Xiao family members in the Town-North Army, he caused thirty thousand soldiers to be completely annihilated by the barbarians."

"Master found out and slapped Xiao Wanlin more than a hundred times in public, and from then on, a grudge was formed."

"The students and descendants of the Xiao family will impeach people from our master sect to His Majesty whenever they get a chance, regardless of whether they are reasonable or not."

Lu Fang lowered his voice: "Master is at least the number one person under the Sage, didn't he think about finding a chance to 'exterminate' the Xiao family?"

Speaking of power, logically speaking, Semi-Sage Xu Xu Han Yi shouldn't be bad.

Li Yu smiled bitterly and shook her head: "First of all, Master is not that kind of person. Secondly, the ancestors of the Xiao family were ranked among the Three Dukes, and there are several Semi-Sages sitting in town. Xiao Wanlin is even the former Prime Minister, and his students and descendants are all over the court."

"And they are also relatives of the Emperor. Their power is even greater than you, Little, Martial, Uncle, imagine. In short, you must be careful of the Xiao family in the future."

"No wonder Xiao Jinchen dared to kill in public." Lu Fang said coldly.

If you ask him if he regrets it? Of course not. Someone wanted to kill him and threatened to kill his whole family, what does he have to regret?

"Cousin!"

A slightly "sharp" voice came from outside the living room.

Only to see a fatty with a belly walking into the living room, swaying and struggling. He unfolded his folding fan gracefully, his face full of confident smiles: "I heard your little martial uncle Lu Fang is here. I have important business to discuss with him."

This person was He Zixuan, the son of the Prime Minister.

He originally held an idle position as a Censor in the Ministry of Revenue.

After the Prime Minister created the Great Zhou Literary Gazette, he was transferred by the Zhou Emperor to specifically handle the affairs of the Literary Gazette. ===== CHAPTER 22 =====