Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 226: Chapter 217: Today, there is peace throughout the world, and there are no significant events.

”Someone go to the Military Equipment Department government office and ask Lord Xu to come over!”

”Yes!” Upon hearing the order, Zhou Ren, who was hiding in a nearby wing room, immediately came out and responded.

”Han Fei, report this matter to General Wang Bin and tell him that Imperial Censor Yuan Qing, acting under orders from Marquis Jingyuan, intends to harm me in the garrison office!”

”I didn’t!”

Hearing these words, Yuan Qing finally panicked and quickly tried to defend himself.

”Hmph, you’d better save your explanations for the Imperial Examination Hall!”

Yang Zhenshan snorted coldly.

He wanted to blow this matter up and make it as big as possible so that everyone would know that Marquis Jingyuan intended to harm him.

Originally, he did not have this idea, but since Yuan Qing had delivered himself to the doorstep, he naturally wanted to take advantage of the situation and roast Marquis Jingyuan over the fire thoroughly.

Privately mobilizing the imperial guard away from the Capital City was enough to give Marquis Jingyuan a hard time.

Yuan Qing stared at Yang Zhenshan, truly not expecting such a result.

Yang Zhenshan’s strength exceeded his expectations, and Yang Zhenshan’s reaction even more so.

”Do you wish to become mortal enemies with Marquis Jingyuan Mansion?”

Yang Zhenshan coldly approached and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground.

”Do you think everyone in the world is afraid of Marquis Jingyuan Mansion?”

”From the moment you laid hands on my wife and child, you should have understood that this feud was sealed, and it’s the kind that won’t end until one of us is dead!”

It was the other party who made the first move to kill. Although they did not succeed, the grudge had been formed.

Yang Zhenshan could not suppress the rage in his heart nor swallow this affront, so it was destined that the Yang family and Marquis Jingyuan Mansion would be at odds until the bitter end.

Yuan Qing’s eyes were full of disbelief; he truly could not believe that Yang Zhenshan would dare to be hostile to Marquis Jingyuan Mansion.

Marquis Jingyuan Mansion was one of the foremost noble houses in Da Rong, second only to a few Duke Mansions and Marquis Changping Mansion at the top tier.

And what about the Yang family?

Just a small family in a border town.

Yang Zhenshan ignored the shock on Yuan Qing’s face, threw him to the ground, and then turned to re-enter the house.

The surrounding soldiers rushed forward and captured Yuan Qing and his group.

As for resistance?

Don’t joke.

This was the garrison office, Yang Zhenshan’s territory.

Not to mention whether they could fight their way out, even if they could, they wouldn’t dare!

If they really dared to fight, it would be an assault on the government office.

A troupe of imperial guard does not travel a thousand miles to assault the garrison office in Chongshan Town for no reason. If they truly dared to do so, no one could save them.

Yuan Qing closed his eyes, allowing the soldiers of the garrison office to lock him up in the prison.

After returning to his study, Yang Zhenshan immediately wrote a letter.

The events of today must be escalated to the court; otherwise, all his efforts would be in vain.

It’s not possible to deal with Marquis Jingyuan in Chongshan Town.

To cause trouble for Marquis Jingyuan, he must impeach him at court.

After writing the letter, Yang Zhenshan immediately called for Ding Qiu, ”Take this letter to Liu Mansion in the Capital City.”

At the court, his position as a garrison head was of little significance, so he needed a heavy-hitter to assist him.

And Liu Yuanfu was undoubtedly the best choice.

Impeaching Marquis Jingyuan by the Right Imperial Censor from the Imperial Examination Hall should not be a small matter!

As to whether Liu Yuanfu would help him.

Yang Zhenshan felt Liu Yuanfu would not refuse.

It wasn’t that he could command Liu Yuanfu at will, but because Liu Yuanfu was a stubborn and incorruptible old man, someone who could not stand even a speck of dust in his eye.

If the case was just, Liu Yuanfu would certainly help him.

Liu Yuanfu might even be more eager to stir things up than he was.

Just as Yang Zhenshan had someone send off the letter, Xu Jin arrived.

”What happened, what’s wrong?”

When he came in, he saw the captured imperial guard soldiers being guarded.

”Have a seat and we’ll talk!” Yang Zhenshan said with a smile, gesturing for Xu Jin to sit down.

Over the past two years, he had gotten along very well with Xu Jin, a man of great responsibility. Although sometimes too overzealous in his duties, Xu Jin would be sincerely friendly once you gained his approval.

The two had become good friends, and the same was true for their relationship with Lin Shoude. The three of them were very close.

Yang Zhenshan waited for the tea to be served before recounting the recent events.

After listening, Xu Jin became furious.

”That’s outrageous, completely lawless!”

”I will definitely impeach Marquis Jingyuan!”

It was one thing for Yuan Qing to come to An Yuan City, but for him to dare draw his sword within the garrison office was simply brazen arrogance.

The garrison office is an extension of the court, not a place where one can wield weapons at will.

Not to mention the garrison office, even the county government is not a place for random violence.

To put it bluntly, it’s a mockery of the government, a mockery of the court.

Yang Zhenshan, hearing this, stroked his long beard and chuckled.

That’s exactly what he wanted, isn’t it?

Lord Xu is such a good person!

Without even a prompt from him, Lord Xu came up with the idea himself!

How wonderful!

However, it seemed Yang Zhenshan got too carried away in his smugness, for Xu Jin suddenly glanced over at him and saw his beaming face, causing his own to darken.

”You old coot, always with too many schemes up your sleeve!”

”...”

Yang Zhenshan’s body stiffened.

Old coot!

He actually called me an old coot!

At that moment, Yang Zhenshan felt as if his heart would shatter to pieces.

Considering his age, he was only forty-four years old, and yet he was being called an old coot.

”Lord Xu, I am more than a decade younger than you!” protested Yang Zhenshan.

”Is that so? I thought you were over a decade my senior, you old sly fox!” Xu Jin replied irritably.

He had already caught on—Yang Zhenshan was using him, inviting him over with the aim of having him impeach the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Yang Zhenshan picked up his tea and took a light sip.

Well, if he was to be labeled an old sly fox, so be it!

After all, he knew that Xu Jin would end up impeaching the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion.

...

The journey from An Yuan City to the Capital City stretched close to two thousand li, and traveling by carriage would take at least half a month to reach the Capital City, but if one were to ride swiftly, it could be anywhere from two to three days at best, and six to seven days at worst.

For instance, with an urgent dispatch over a distance of eight hundred li, it could be delivered in just over two days, by using the relay of postmen along the way to rapidly transport messages to the Capital City.

Of course, Yang Zhenshan did not have the privilege to use the eight hundred li urgent dispatch; he had only sent two guards, who could not make use of the relay of postmen to send his messages continuously.

Thus, when his letter finally reached the Capital City, it was already five days later.

In the evening, just after Liu Yuanfu returned to his mansion from the Imperial Examination Hall, Liu Zhe said to him, ”Dad, Master Yang has sent someone with a message!”

Removing his official robe and tidying his slightly disheveled hair, Liu Yuanfu asked, ”What does Master Yang want?”

Holding the letter, Liu Zhe leaned close to Liu Yuanfu and whispered, ”The second son of the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion was killed in Chongshan Town, and the Marquis Mansion suspects it was Master Yang’s doing. They’ve already sent someone to investigate in An Yuan City a few days ago.”

”Those from the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion are probably too bold, even resorting to drawing a knife on Master Yang inside the garrison office!”

”Oh!” Liu Yuanfu said as he sat on the luohan bed, warming his slightly frail body with a hand stove, ”Is Master Yang alright?”

”He’s fine; the man has already been apprehended by Master Yang. Master Yang wrote to ask if Dad can impeach the Jingyuan Marquis at court,” Liu Zhe said.

Picking up his smoking pipe, Liu Yuanfu lit it and laughed, ”It seems the death of the Jingyuan Marquis’ son was indeed his doing!”

It is said that with age comes cunning, and although Liu Yuanfu is stubborn, it doesn’t mean he is naïve.

A naïve person would not have survived the ups and downs of court life for so many decades.

He did not know the full story, but from these few words he could tell that the murder was definitely committed by Yang Zhenshan.

”What does Dad think?” asked Liu Zhe, curious.

Liu Yuanfu puffed on his pipe and after a moment of silence said, ”The Jingyuan Marquis Mansion has indeed been too active recently, which is not good for the Crown Prince!”

As a senior court official, Liu Yuanfu did not harbor much ill will towards the Crown Prince; in fact, he believed the Crown Prince was the most legitimate heir to the throne.

Although he had not taken sides in the matter of succession, his subconscious still favored the Crown Prince.

But his favoritism didn’t mean he acted entirely according to the Crown Prince’s wishes.

He even dared to remonstrate with the old Emperor, let alone the Crown Prince!

”Draft a memorial and send it to Zheng Xiao later, so he can submit it tomorrow!” Liu Yuanfu said leisurely, emitting puffs of smoke.

He was a big shot; naturally, he needn’t get his hands dirty impeaching Marquis Jingyuan; it was enough to have his disciple take action.

If the situation escalated, and Zheng Xiao couldn’t bear the load, that would be the time for him to step in.

Otherwise, for someone of his standing to directly confront Marquis Jingyuan would seem rather beneath him.

...

The following morning, after the early court session.

The winter in the Capital City arrives much later than in Chongshan Town, but it is still very cold in the Capital City now.

Inside the Imperial Study Room, Emperor Chengping, his hair white as snow, dressed in a loose Taoist robe, reclined lethargically on a couch.

Two bronze heaters were placed beneath the couch, being carefully tended to by two young eunuchs adding charcoal.

Hunched-over Chen, the eunuch, sorted several memorials and placed them on the table in front of Emperor Chengping.

”Is there any important matter today?” Emperor Chengping casually picked up one of the memorials and asked offhandedly.

”Eh, Your Majesty, there is peace across the land today, with no significant matters!” Chen answered adeptly.

Perhaps it was because of his advanced age or his lack of energy, but Emperor Chengping had grown more indolent and more fond of hearing good news, such as the peace of the realm.

Emperor Chengping opened the memorial and glanced at it, discarding it to one side immediately, and then he looked through four or five other memorials in succession. Just as Chen had said, there were no important matters today.

However, when he reached the sixth memorial, he stopped and motioned for Chen to come over.

”Have I heard of this Yang Zhenshan somewhere before?”

The memorial he held was Zheng Xiao’s impeachment of Marquis Jingyuan, but clearly, his focal point was not on Marquis Jingyuan; instead, it was on the name Yang Zhenshan, garrison officer of An Yuan City.

Chen glanced at the memorial and cheerfully said, ”Your Majesty has a good memory. This Master Yang assisted the Secret Martial Guards in cracking the Songzhou Guard espionage case over two years ago; at the time, Lv Hua from the Northern Station also recommended him for recognition!”

Clearly, it was not Emperor Chengping who had the good memory, but Chen.