Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

After visiting his "son's" teacher, Bian Hongzhen returned home with a heavy heart.

After asking the servants, Bian Hongzhen learned that Bian Yushu was in the study, which surprised him.

Bian Yushu used to dislike reading the most, but now, even though he is a study companion, he is clearly more interested in mechanics and divination.

Today was a day off, and he thought his son would relax, but he didn't expect him to stay in the study.

Bian Hongzhen went straight to the study. As soon as he reached the door, he saw his two sons lurking suspiciously on the door.

Bian Hongzhen cleared his throat.

Bian Yuheng and Bian Yulou both looked over.

Bian Yuheng quickly stepped back from the doorway and bowed respectfully to Bian Hongzhen. "You're back. How is Uncle Ji?"

Since it involved nine generations of relatives, Bian Hongzhen did not tell his two sons the truth. He only used the excuse that an old colleague had invited him out for drinks. "Everything is fine. He had a new grandson this year and was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. As soon as the grandson learned to crawl, he was already thinking about finding a suitable teacher to give him his early education."

"Your Uncle Ji has hinted and suggested that I suspect he has his eye on you."

Bian Yuheng is now twenty-seven years old. He passed the imperial examination in the eighth year of the Yuanxing era, ranking eighteenth in the second class. Now he works as an official in western Sichuan with his father.

When he took the imperial examination, Wang Jing was still in power. Because Bian Yuheng was talented, Wang Jing did not directly demote him due to the pressure from the literati and scholars. Instead, he moved him from the first class to the inconspicuous second class.

Later, taking advantage of His Majesty's influence, Bian Hongzhen was transferred to a post outside the capital, and Wang Jing simply packed him up and sent him to western Sichuan as well.

Firstly, out of sight, out of mind; secondly, it would also disgust the Bian family father and son, and cause them distress.

It has always been a major taboo in officialdom for fathers and sons to serve in the same position. In order to avoid suspicion, Bian Yuheng's official position had to be kept low-key and could not exceed the seventh rank.

He was a promising scholar with the talent of a top scholar, but in the end, he became a lowly eighth-rank official in charge of documents in Yundu Prefecture. He spent his days dealing with account books and legal documents. When his fellow scholars gathered, he was the lowest-ranking official and always sat at the end of the table.

Fortunately, he remained calm in the face of both honor and disgrace, never caring about those mocking or pitying glances. Instead, he took advantage of his position to thoroughly investigate the old files, tax records, and land ownership of various prefectures and counties in western Sichuan.

Later, when Qin Ji assumed personal rule, he wanted to transfer him back to the capital, but he politely declined.

His original words were: "Only when I was in the local area could I know the hardships of the people's lives and the deep-seated problems of officialdom. Only then did I realize how shallow I had been. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to serve my full three years and then be transferred based on my performance."

Now that the three-year term has passed, and the Ministry of Personnel has given them an excellent evaluation, their promotion is a foregone conclusion. Moreover, given His Majesty's favor towards their family, there is a high probability that they will stay in the capital to take up their posts. That is why Bian Hongzhen's old colleague was thinking of asking him to tutor his grandson.

Bian Yuheng didn't seem to care much, and smiled gently, "Uncle Ji's grandson is only nine months old, it's still early."

Bian Yulou was clearly uninterested in what they were saying. He continued to peek through the crack in the door and whispered, "Bian Hongzhen, come quick! Something terrible has happened!"

"I always felt that Yu Shu wasn't quite right, like he was possessed by a demon. When have you ever seen him sit still and read for so long?"

Bian Hongzhen was used to his second son's unruly nature and slapped him on the back of the head. "How dare you talk to your brother like that?"

Bian Hongzhen casually said, "I'll stay in Beijing with your brother after the New Year."

Bian Yulou immediately refused, "I don't want to."

Bian Hongzhen glanced at his second son.

Bian Yulou was luckier than his brother. He was among the first batch of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) after His Majesty assumed personal rule. He was originally supposed to work as an editor in the Hanlin Academy, but he refused and insisted on going to western Sichuan to become a minor eighth-rank official in charge of granaries.

In his words, "I am the younger brother; there is an order of seniority. How can my official rank be higher than my older brother's?"

And then there's the argument: "What's wrong with managing the granaries? Food is the most important thing for the people!"

It's like a joke.

If it were any other family's son, his legs would have been broken countless times. Bian Hongzhen was an enlightened father, so he didn't force him.

"Even Yuheng has stayed in Beijing, what reason do you have to stay in western Sichuan?"

Bian Yulou chuckled: "I'm enjoying a peaceful life in western Sichuan. If I stayed in the capital, where would I find even a moment of leisure?"

Only a son knows his own son.

This kid may seem unreliable, but he is actually very sensitive and values ​​family ties.

What seemed like a joke back then was actually not a joke.

He insisted on going to western Sichuan. The reason was simple: his eldest son was an eighth-rank official in western Sichuan, while he himself was appointed a sixth-rank Hanlin scholar as soon as he entered officialdom. Although his eldest son was a shrewd and calculating man, he wouldn't quarrel with his younger brother over this and would only be happy for him, the gossip outside would certainly not be pleasant.

Therefore, Yulou, in what seemed like a rebellious act, gave up her promising future and reunited with her family in western Sichuan.

A high-ranking official of the second rank, with two lowly sons of the eighth rank.

Bian Hongzhen's two sons held official positions that were subordinate to subordinates of subordinates of subordinates. He could send them back to the capital with a slap, but it would hurt his hand. Since they wouldn't provide any more gossip for the idle censors in the capital, Bian Hongzhen could only choose to ignore them.

Now that the eldest son wants to stay in the capital, Yushu will have someone to take care of him. This kid probably can't bear to leave him alone in western Sichuan without a son to take care of him.

Moreover, war is likely to break out in western Sichuan within two years, and having a son by one's side would provide a helper.

Once His Majesty decides to deal with those tributary states, he will be the only one to coordinate the military supplies in the rear. At that time, his second son, who is in charge of the granary, will be very important.

The sons all have very strong opinions. Bian Yushu used to be very obedient, but now he has also stubbornly chosen a teacher he can't afford to offend.

Bian Hongzhen couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He ruffled his second son's hair and said, "You think you can have a peaceful life staying in western Sichuan?"

Bian Yulou changed the subject, saying, "We've been talking at the door for so long, and Yushu hasn't made a sound. When have you ever seen him so engrossed in reading?"

Unable to persuade him with a few words, Bian Hongzhen gave his second son a meaningful look. "After dinner, I'd like to have a talk with you."

Bian Yulou froze, avoiding his gaze. "I have nothing to say to you. At your age, you should rest early tonight. Your children and grandchildren have their own lives to live, you know?"

Bian Yuheng couldn't stand it any longer and slapped his younger brother's head, "If you talk to your father like that outside, be careful you don't get impeached by the censor."

"I'm just an eighth-rank official in the southwestern border region, and they have too much free time," Bian Yulou said dismissively.

"If you don't want to talk to Dad, then talk to me?" Bian Yuheng asked.

Bian Yulou: "..." He didn't want to "talk" about any of them.

Between two evils, he chose the lesser. In less than a second, he made his decision: "I'll talk to Dad."

Bian Hongzhen still remembered why he came today. He sent his two sons away and said, "You two rest for a while. We'll have dinner together later. I have something to ask Yushu alone."

The two brothers exchanged a glance.

Bian Yuheng bowed to Bian Hongzhen and said, "Then I will take my leave."

Bian Yulou was unwilling to give up, "So mysterious..."

Even though he was unwilling, his brother grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dragged him away.

Bian Hongzhen pushed open the door, unsure how to begin speaking to his son.

...

Second update delivered, goal achieved, double updates tomorrow.

Does anyone want to see Bian Hongzhen and Bian Yulou "talk"?