This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

The empress's vision went black, and she almost fell to the ground.

She glared angrily at Zhang Ping'an: "Young Master Zhang, how could you joke with me about such a serious matter?"

Zhang Ping'an said innocently, "Brother Chu, I'm not joking with you! This is the method I came up with."

"Or do you have a better idea?"

The Empress carefully examined Zhang Ping'an and saw that he certainly didn't seem to be joking.

But this made the empress even angrier.

Seriously, you're telling me to summon heavenly lightning to solve this? Don't you know that the last person who tried to summon heavenly lightning was already severely reprimanded by me?

The Empress already felt her scalp tingle at the mention of summoning heavenly lightning, and now she's about to explode at the mere thought of it.

Meanwhile, Chu Yuxun, standing to the side, looked so resentful that she almost resembled a young wife who had just married into the family and lost her husband.

It seems to be saying, "See? I told you cultivators really exist!"

"Young Master Zhang, great minds think alike!"

"Come on, let me toast you!"

Chu Yuxun raised an eyebrow at the Empress triumphantly, picked up her wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Ping'an didn't understand the grudges between the two sisters and thought that this Chu land was where his brother Chu's beloved relatives and brothers were.

The wine was naturally poured out of the glass.

"Let's do it!"

Seeing the two of them drinking like that, with expressions of regret for not having met sooner, the Empress was furious.

"Young Master Zhang, then tell me, how do you summon heavenly lightning?"

Chu Yuxun chuckled: "Naturally, it's about finding cultivators."

Zhang Ping'an was taken aback: "Cultivators? Heh, those are just fictional characters from storybooks. How could there possibly be cultivators!"

Finally, he said something sensible.

The Empress's expression softened somewhat.

Chu Yuxun retorted angrily, "Young Master Zhang, what do you mean? How can you summon heavenly lightning without a cultivator?"

Gunpowder was still in the research and development stage, and the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

Zhang Ping'an smiled mysteriously: "You don't need to worry about that. I have my own way of summoning heavenly lightning."

"However, some things need to be prepared in advance."

The Empress immediately thought of Zhang Ping'an getting rid of the white crystals she had collected.

His eyes immediately lit up.

Could it be that Zhang Ping'an's claim of summoning heavenly lightning wasn't just boasting?

If those things could really summon heavenly lightning, it would be like divine assistance to the entire Great Wu Dynasty!

But with Chu Yuxun, that big mouth, around, she was full of doubts but dared not ask any more questions.

"That's good since you're confident."

"Now you can rest assured about Chu, right?"

The empress made a sarcastic remark about her own sister.

Chu Yuxun, however, was still uneasy. She glared at Zhang Ping'an and said, "No, you have to explain to me clearly today how to summon heavenly lightning!"

The Empress's expression turned serious: "Stop joking. Since Young Master Zhang is not going to say, he must have his reasons."

Chu Yuxun compromised, saying, "But you should at least give me a specific timeframe. The disaster victims can't wait."

The Empress looked at Zhang Ping'an, which was also what she was thinking.

Zhang Ping'an thought for a moment, then looked up: "Three days."

Three days was enough time for Xu Fu to experiment and figure out the correct gunpowder formula.

"A gentleman's word is his bond!" Chu Yuxun extended her palm.

"A promise made in heaven is a promise made in heaven!" Zhang Ping'an and she made a high five to pledge their oath.

Chu Yuxun clasped her hands in a fist salute, exuding a heroic air, and said, "Young Master Zhang, I await your good news!"

The Empress was speechless, realizing that her younger sister's acting addiction had kicked in again.

Fortunately, this time he was playing a chivalrous hero.

"Young Master Zhang, if there's nothing else, we'll take our leave now," Chu Tian said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"I'll see Brother Chu out." Zhang Ping'an politely escorted Chu Tian to the door.

However, Mo Yu stood guard beside Chu Tian with a wary expression, preventing Zhang Ping'an from suddenly unleashing his lewd groin.

They boarded the carriage.

The Empress's face immediately darkened.

"Xiaoyu, investigate Wang Yuan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, immediately. I need to know why he is making things difficult for Zhang Ping'an."

Wang Yuan had no enmity with Zhang Ping'an, so this action was most likely instigated by someone else.

"Yes."

This problem is not difficult to investigate. As soon as Mo Yu arrived at the Ministry of Justice prison, Ye Shou confessed everything.

It's someone from the Zhang family again.

Zhang Xuanling is simply inhuman!

Even Mo Yu felt angry this time.

Even though Zhang Ping'an had already left the Zhang family, they still wouldn't let go of him.

After returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he informed the Empress of this news.

The Empress was furious.

Ye Shou was exiled to the frontier, and Wang Yuan was demoted three ranks and sent to Zhang Ping'an's construction site as a supervisor.

"Issue my imperial decree that Zhang Xuanling kneel before the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

Upon hearing Zhang Xuanling's name, the old man at the door wished he could cover his face with his hands.

Oh, Lord Zhang, why can't you be more careful? Even we feel sorry for you!

Soon, Zhang Xuanling rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and knelt down obediently.

Looking at Eunuch Xi, who was rolling his eyes, she asked softly, "Eunuch, is His Majesty inside this time?"

"Shh, keep your voice down, His Majesty is here!" Eunuch Xi gestured for silence and whispered nervously.

Zhang Xuanling frowned immediately. This time he hadn't provoked that little beast Zhang Ping'an. Why was His Majesty reprimanding him?

Half an hour later, Mo Yu walked out with a cold face.

"Lord Zhang, His Majesty summons you."

"Thank you for conveying the message, Miss Xie!" Zhang Xuanling stood up, enduring the pain in his legs, and his attitude was very polite.

Limping into the main hall, Zhang Xuanling slowly knelt in the middle of the hall.

"Your subject Zhang Xuanling pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

The Empress kept her head down, looking at the memorials, and ignored him.

Zhang Xuanling frowned secretly, observing the situation closely.

"Your Majesty, I truly do not know where I went wrong this time. I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me."

Zhang Xuanling decided to admit his mistake first, but at the same time, he was also a little angry.

"Your eldest and third sons secretly bribed Ye Shou, an official in the Ministry of Works, to obstruct Zhang Ping'an's construction project in the south of the city. What is their punishment?"

"This...this humble subject knew absolutely nothing about it!"

"Your Majesty, this must be those two rebellious sons secretly retaliating against Zhang Ping'an without my knowledge. I have warned my family many times not to target Zhang Ping'an anymore, so this time it's truly not my fault!"

Zhang Xuanling was furious.

Those two good-for-nothings, I'll break their legs when we get back.

The Empress saw that Zhang Xuanling's attitude did not seem to be lying. According to the information brought back by Mo Yu, this matter was indeed unrelated to Zhang Xuanling.

However, if a son is not taught, it is the father's fault.

Giving Zhang Xuanling a good talking-to first won't hurt.

The Empress seems to have made it a habit.

If they didn't give Zhang Xuanling a good scolding every few days, they always felt something was missing.

"Hmph, I'm not punishing you this time because you were unaware of the situation. Go back and discipline your son; you know what to do, right?"

Zhang Xuanling hurriedly kowtowed, "Your Majesty, I understand! I will certainly give Zhang Ping'an a satisfactory explanation!"

The Empress nodded slightly: "Go down!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Xuanling wiped away his cold sweat, lifted his official robe, and retreated.

Construction site in the south of the city.

The lockdown has now been lifted.

The person who lifted the seal was Lord Wang Yuan, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works—no, the former Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

Now he should be called Supervisor Wang.

"Lord Zhang, I have offended you greatly before. I beg you to forgive my transgressions this time!"

Wang Yuan bowed and clasped his hands in greeting to Zhang Ping'an with a fawning smile.