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

"Your subject, Zhang Xuanling, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Zhang Xuanling was helped in by Eunuch Xi, looking disheveled.

"Minister Zhang, please rise."

Behind the dragon throne, Empress Chu Lingyu, dressed in a golden dragon robe, exuded nobility and authority. The wide dragon robe could not conceal her stunning figure and long, straight, beautiful legs.

Zhang Xuanling swayed as he stood up, bowing his head respectfully inside the hall, as if awaiting his fate.

The Empress suddenly asked, "Lord Zhang, how many sons do you have?"

"Ah..." Zhang Xuanling looked up, paused for a moment, and looked completely bewildered.

After the show of force, shouldn't there be thunderous wrath? Why are they chatting like old friends?

Zhang Xuanling was even more bewildered and hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, three."

Immediately, Zhang Xuanling realized something and quickly corrected himself: "No, it's four."

"My fourth son is unruly by nature. Three years ago, he even humiliated a respectable woman and was personally sent to prison by me."

The empress's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes turned colder.

It seems we need to give Zhang Xuanling a good talking-to.

Even now, they still dare to deceive the emperor.

"Lord Zhang, why have I heard that your fourth son went to prison to take the blame for your eldest son?"

Zhang Xuanling broke out in a cold sweat and shouted, "Your Majesty, this is a rumor, it cannot be believed!"

Now that things have come to this, regardless of how the Empress found out, Zhang Xuanling has no choice but to deny it to the death, otherwise he would be guilty of deceiving the Empress.

The Empress did not intend to kill him. Zhang Xuanling was quite capable and a competent minister, so naturally she would not harm him because of these old grievances.

But we must get him to adjust his attitude today.

"Oh, does Lord Zhang think my night watchmen are all good-for-nothings?"

"Or is it that Lord Zhang wants to wait until I present the evidence to you before he will admit it?"

The empress's cold voice already carried a hint of anger.

Large beads of cold sweat dripped from Zhang Xuanling's forehead. He quietly wiped them away, silently analyzing the Empress's intentions.

What exactly does Your Majesty mean?

If they wanted to deal with me, they wouldn't have summoned me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation; the Night Watch would have come directly to my door to arrest me.

It must be that His Majesty found out about my taking the blame, and he was angry that I had deceived the Emperor, so he wanted to teach me a lesson.

Zhang Xuanling was able to rise to the position of Vice Minister of Revenue because he had a knack for understanding the emperor's intentions.

"Your Majesty, I confess my guilt!"

"I believed that was merely a family matter and dared not disturb Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

Once he confessed, the Empress's goal was achieved.

"Minister Zhang, although this is a family matter, it is a fact that you have disregarded the laws of the court. Considering this is your first offense, you are hereby fined half a year's salary as a warning to others."

Zhang Xuanling secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had guessed correctly; the Empress was merely using this opportunity to give him a warning.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"

"Minister Zhang, your actions have led me to believe that your fourth son is of low character, which is why I broke off the engagement with him."

"From now on, you shall make amends to him on my behalf!"

Zhang Xuanling was startled. His fourth brother had severed ties with him. How could he make amends?

Okay, I'll agree first and then we'll talk about it later.

"I obey your decree!"

The Empress waved her hand: "Step down!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave!"

Zhang Xuanling bent over and walked backwards away.

As Zhang Xuanling crossed the threshold of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he felt as if he had seen the light of day again.

Thankfully, it was a close call!

However, why did His Majesty suddenly start investigating matters from three years ago?

It must have been that good-for-nothing fourth brother who complained.

Hmph, that ingrate! I've wasted so many years raising him.

Zhang Xuanling was furious and wanted to find Zhang Ping'an immediately and teach him a lesson.

As for the Empress's instructions to him, he had long since forgotten them.

A carriage stopped outside the palace gate, and Zhang Xuanling lifted the curtain and got in.

Before long, they returned to the Zhang residence.

As soon as Zhang Xuanling entered, he heard Zhang Qi's wailing: "Father, you must do justice for me!"

Seeing that half of Zhang Qi's head was wrapped in white cloth and he looked miserable, Zhang Xuanling couldn't help but frown.

"What happened to you? Did you get into a fight again?"

Zhang Qi looked aggrieved: "Father, it was Zhang Ping'an. He stole our money and went to Zuixianju. I went up to confront him, and he beat me up. He almost bit off my ear! Father, you must stand up for me!"

It's that good-for-nothing fourth brother again!

Zhang Xuanling was furious: "Let's go to the Prime Minister's residence."

The Left Prime Minister's Residence.

All the servants were summoned to the backyard.

Madam Su Xiu'e sat on a rosewood armchair and began to give a speech.

"I've summoned you here because I have something to tell you."

"The son-in-law brought in by the Prime Minister's family to bring good fortune to the young lady is not your real son-in-law. Once the young lady recovers, he will be gone."

"During his time at the Prime Minister's residence, you should treat him like a servant. Remember that?"

The maids and servants bowed their heads and replied, "Understood!"

Lanxiang felt a little uncomfortable. The young master was a good man, and he didn't mind that the young lady was seriously ill. Now that the young lady was better, he wanted to drive him away. Wasn't this like crossing the river and burning the bridge?

However, she could only feel indignant on Zhang Ping'an's behalf in her heart.

"Everyone, disperse!" Su Xiu'e stood up, covered her nose, and walked towards Lu Chongyang's study.

"These servants, they smell awful all the time, don't they ever bathe?"

Zhang Ping'an limped back to the Left Prime Minister's residence. Just as he was about to enter, he was pushed to the ground by two guards.

"Where did this beggar come from, daring to trespass into the Prime Minister's residence!"

Zhang Ping'an silently got up from the ground and said with a forced smile, "I'm not a beggar, I'm your son-in-law."

"Oh, so it's the young master! Young master, what's this...?" The two guards looked Zhang Ping'an up and down, and smiled contemptuously.

Zhang Ping'an bluntly stated, "I was beaten up; please excuse my poor performance."

After saying that, Zhang Ping'an lowered his head and tried to enter the gate.

"Wait a minute, the main gate is for distinguished guests. You should go in through that gate." A guard stopped him again and pointed to the small gate in the wall next to him.

This door was usually for servants.

Zhang Ping'an clenched his fist secretly, then smiled slightly: "Okay."

Behind them, the guards' mocking laughter could still be heard.

"No wonder the madam looks down on such a good-for-nothing, I despise him too."

Zhang Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly. It seemed that the Prime Minister's residence had already made its choice.

I just don't know what my wife is thinking.

Back in the room, Lanxiang saw Zhang Ping'an's miserable state and immediately asked in surprise.

"Young Master, did you get into a fight?"

"I'll go ask the lady for some wound medicine."

Zhang Ping'an spoke up to stop her, saying, "Sister Lanxiang, there's no need. It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

"Is there anything to eat at home? I'm a little hungry."

"Oh, yes, I'll go to the kitchen and get it for you."

Although the lady had given instructions, Lanxiang still regarded Zhang Ping'an as her son-in-law.

A moment later, Lanxiang brought over some leftover food and steamed buns.

"Young master, these are all that's left. Please don't mind them."

Zhang Ping'an immediately wolfed down the food: "Don't mind, I'm starving."

"Young master, have some water, don't choke." Lanxiang felt uneasy watching from the side.

It's hard to believe that the son-in-law of a high-ranking official's family would be so hungry.

Just as Zhang Ping'an finished eating a steamed bun, a furious shout suddenly rang out from outside the door.

"Zhang Ping'an, you bastard, get out here!"