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

Zhao Qianshan continued to smile at Wang Qisheng.

Wang Qisheng immediately shouted exaggeratedly, "Boss, it really is only five taels of silver! If you don't believe me, I'll strip naked and show you!"

Zhao Qianshan immediately retorted with a look of disgust, "Go away, who cares to look at you?"

Then, his gaze fell on Zhou Weidong, who was standing to the side.

Zhou Weidong immediately raised his hands: "Boss, I didn't find a single tael of silver, I swear!"

Seemingly familiar with the personalities of these two, Zhao Qianshan didn't make things difficult for Zhou Weidong, but instead looked at Zhang Ping'an.

"Your name is..."

Zhang Ping'an hurriedly stepped forward and replied with a fawning expression, "Zhang Ping'an, Zhang as in 'bow and arrow,' Ping'an as in 'peace and safety.'"

"Hmm, a good name. In this life, living peacefully and safely is better than anything else," Zhao Qianshan remarked sarcastically.

Then, he squinted, leaned back in his chair, and stopped talking.

...What the hell is going on?

Zhang Ping'an really wanted to slap this guy twice.

But he dared not.

This is a Silver Guard of the Night's Watch; although it's only a seventh-rank officer, it wields considerable power.

Zhang Ping'an could only look to Wang Qisheng for help.

Wang Qisheng leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Didn't you just find some silver on the road?"

"Oh, oh..." Zhang Ping'an immediately understood and smiled ingratiatingly.

"My lord, I also found ten taels of silver just now, but I kept it at home. I will definitely bring it to you next time."

Zhao Qianshan smiled with satisfaction: "If you find something, you should hand it over to your superior. That's what it means to be an honest young man."

"This humble subject will heed your teachings, Your Excellency!"

This is Zhao the Skinflint... Zhang Ping'an could only curse these corrupt officials viciously in his heart.

"By the way, the reason I called you here today is because Princess Zhaoyang recommended you to Lord Dian, and Lord Dian asked me to investigate you on his behalf."

"I have already examined him, and he is indeed a rare talent."

Zhao Qianshan nodded solemnly, not even blinking as he spoke.

"So, Zhang Ping'an, would you be willing to join the Night Watch?"

Zhang Pingan was stunned.

It turns out it wasn't because he had committed a crime, but because the Night's Watch wanted to recruit him.

Spicy, damn it!

Zhang Pingan turned his head and looked at Zhou Weidong and Wang Qisheng with a resentful expression.

Zhou Weidong maintained his aloof demeanor, but he could no longer suppress the smile on his face.

Wang Qisheng chuckled and bowed to Zhang Ping'an without any embarrassment.

"Brother Ping An, I just asked you, so you're not allowed to go back on your word, okay?"

Zhang Ping'an knew he was talking about silver. He had already witnessed how shameless this guy was, and now he was even more certain of it.

"Zhang Ping'an, after you join the team, you will be a member of the Night Watch Iron Guard, just like the other two. Your monthly salary will be one tael of silver and one shi of rice."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just ask those two."

After Zhao Qianshan finished speaking, he yawned and prepared to leave.

After all, in the entire Great Wu Dynasty, no ordinary person would be foolish enough to refuse the Night Watch's invitation.

They had already investigated Zhang Ping'an's background, and it was clear that Zhao Qianshan did not believe Zhang Ping'an had the means to refuse the Night Watch.

Zhang Ping'an lowered his head, pondering for a moment.

The Night Watchmen wield considerable power; once someone becomes a member of the Night Watch, even the Prime Minister's household must treat him with respect.

However, he only slightly overestimated him; a mere Night's Watch Iron Guard was not enough to warrant the attention of the current Left Chancellor.

For Night's Watch members to climb the ranks is even harder than for officials, and they risk their lives; it's far less easy for them to get promoted than for officials.

Finally, even if he climbed to the highest position, he would only be a Palace Attendant, a third-rank official, the same rank as Zhang Xuanling, but still much lower than the Left Chancellor.

Moreover, to become a palace attendant, one had to be a eunuch.

Therefore, Zhang Ping'an can only be promoted to the sixth-rank Golden Guard level at most.

Zhang Ping'an's original plan was to prepare for officialdom, but he didn't want to take the imperial examinations, as he wasn't cut out for it. However, he could become an advisor to the Empress, and ideally, become the Grand Preceptor, a position on par with the Left Prime Minister.

But who is this Princess Zhaoyang? And why did she recommend me?

Zhang Ping'an didn't remember ever seeing any princess!

"My lord, please convey my gratitude to Her Highness the princess for her kindness. However, I am of meager ability and fear I am not up to the task of the Night's Watch."

Ok?

The three people in the lobby all looked at Zhang Ping'an with surprise on their faces!

"So you're refusing?" Zhao Qianshan stopped and looked at Zhang Ping'an with a strange expression.

He really didn't understand what right Zhang Ping'an had to refuse.

"Zhang Ping'an, you'd better think this through. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Wang Qisheng nudged his arm, quietly reminding him.

Zhou Weidong quickly whispered, "Zhang Ping'an, although the Night Watch Iron Guards are not of high rank, we are directly responsible to His Majesty and supervise all officials. We have great power, so don't underestimate this position."

Zhang Ping'an bowed and said, "I understand your good intentions, but I am really not suited to be a night watchman."

"This..." The two could only look at Zhao Qianshan.

Zhao Qianshan's expression was somewhat cold: "Since you look down on the Night's Watch, I won't force you."

"see a visitor out."

Zhou Weidong sighed; he knew his boss was angry. "Young Master Zhang, please!"

The two escorted Zhang Ping'an to the gate. Just as Zhang Ping'an was about to speak, Wang Qisheng quickly interrupted him, saying, "Hey, let's make this clear first, the money was given voluntarily by you, so we can't ask for it back."

Zhang Ping'an rolled his eyes at this guy: "Brother Wang, don't worry, consider that silver as a gift for your daughter's first meeting."

Wang Qisheng immediately beamed and gave a thumbs up: "Generous."

"Alas, what a pity, I won't be able to work with a wealthy person like Young Master Zhang anymore."

Wang Qisheng didn't know whether he felt sorry for Zhang Ping'an because of his wealthy status or because of Zhang Ping'an himself.

At this moment, an ordinary yamen runner whispered something in Wang Qisheng's ear.

Wang Qisheng gave a strange smile: "Ping An, it seems you have a good character. Several of your classmates from the academy beat the drum to plead for you earlier, and now they've been arrested and thrown into the Night Watch dungeon. Do you want to go see them?"

Zhang Ping'an was slightly taken aback; this was something he hadn't expected at all.

I've known those guys for less than three days.

Compared to the original owner's family and the ungrateful Prime Minister's mansion, Zhang Ping'an felt a warm glow in his heart.

"Thank you for informing me. Please tell your colleagues not to make things difficult for them!"

"Don't worry, we Night Watchmen are all about evidence when we investigate cases. We won't wrong an innocent person." Zhou Weidong said with a cold expression, seemingly very angry that Zhang Ping'an refused to join the Night Watchmen.

He felt that Zhang Ping'an looked down on the night watchmen.

Zhang Ping'an gave a wry smile, offered no explanation, and followed the constables to the prison to retrieve the person.

The Night Watch's dungeon was eerie and terrifying, filled with the stench of dried blood.

A constable fiddled with various instruments of torture on the table, occasionally letting out a cold laugh at the three people in the prison.

Hao Shuwen was so frightened that he was paralyzed, clinging to Chen Zhishi's leg and unable to stand up.

Wu Yuan also swallowed hard. Although he had long heard that the instruments of torture in the Night's Watch prison were the best in the world, he did not realize how shocking it was after seeing them with his own eyes.

Even the usually calm and proud Chen Zhishi turned pale and his body trembled involuntarily.

"Tell me, who sent you to cause trouble?"

The constable casually picked up the red-hot branding iron and walked toward the three men with a cold expression.