The cold wind was biting.

Chen Ji's words still echoed in everyone's ears: "Why doesn't Lord Xu enter the cabinet? Does he not like it?"

Xu Chuanxi was a scholar of the 18th year of Jianing, later taking the Imperial Examination in the Imperial Capital, where he failed, and entered the Imperial Academy to wait for a vacancy.

He stayed at the Imperial Academy for three years, and when the term ended, the Xu Family in Jinling donated eighteen thousand taels of silver for him to return to the south and start as a county magistrate, slowly working his way up to Jinling Prefect.

Now, being promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Justice was an unexpected joy.

As for entering the cabinet, that was something Xu Chuanxi didn't even dare to dream of.

He clasped his hands over the leather belt of his official robe, slightly raised his chin, and looked at Chen Ji with a sidelong glance: "Is this the new son-in-law recruited by the Zhang Family? Rumor has it that he failed to cling to the Qi family and was publicly rejected by them. The things other families don't want, your family treats as treasures and brings him into the Zhang Family... The Xu Family is not a place for you, get out."

Zhang Xia was about to retort when Chen Ji grabbed his wrist.

Chen Ji looked at Xu Chuanxi and spoke leisurely: "I didn't expect Lord Xu to have such a strong sense of territoriality, he's quite the hand at guarding the house. When no one's around, he should walk with four legs, right?"

Xu Chuanyin from the Huqiu Xu Family angrily rebuked: "Young brat, insulting court officials as dogs? What is the crime?"

Chen Ji turned to him in surprise: "And this is…?"

Zhang Xia whispered: "Xu Chuanyin."

Chen Ji asked again: "What is his position?"

Zhang Xia shook his head: "Resigned and returned home in the 22nd year of Jianing."

Chen Ji nodded, smiling and remarking to Zhang Xia: "Strange, how can one have such a great air of authority but no position at all?"

Xu Chuanyin's face froze.

Xu Chuanxi squinted his eyes: "Is all you can do just quick words? How can a eunuch party that harms the country be fit to be in the Xu Family?"

Chen Ji's smile faded, his eyes lowered: "Lord Xu, the last person who spoke to me like this was Qi Xianzun."

Xu Chuanxi suddenly held his breath.

Before he could catch his breath, Chen Ji continued: "Also Yang Zhong, Yuan Wang, Qi Zhong..."

Xu Chuanxi's hands suddenly tightened around the leather belt, remaining silent.

Chen Ji spoke calmly: "Lord Xu just returned to the Imperial Capital, perhaps you've missed some things, but you can take the time to ask Lord Yang in the capital, he's been around."

The Xu Family members stood in front of Du Mei Hall, all looking at Chen Ji behind Mrs. Zhang, who was standing with his head down, looking thin and unimposing, yet his spirit was fierce.

Walking like a sick tiger, standing like a sleeping eagle.

Not truly sick, nor truly asleep, ready to strike at any moment.

Yang Zhan looked at Chen Ji, his Qilin Embroidery had long been taken back by the court, yet it seemed to still be worn on him.

The aura of authority lingered.

Chen Ji looked up at Xu Chuanxi: "My father-in-law is at least a Wenhua Hall University Scholar who entered the cabinet, my mother-in-law even holds a second-rank title, equal to a third-rank official in the capital. You all attack openly, bullying with numbers… Axia, according to the Daning Law, how should they be dealt with?"

Zhang Xia calmly replied: "According to the Daning Law, insulting someone with titles above third-rank is considered an offense enough to ask for punishment, with a hundred-pound large cangue for public display for thirty days."

Suddenly, there was silence in front of Du Mei Hall.

Mrs. Zhang felt the warmth from the copper hand warmer within her large cloak. She turned to see Chen Ji and Zhang Xia echoing in agreement, as if seeing the two for the first time again.

In the past, when people mentioned how Chen Ji toppled the Qi family in the court hall or Zhang Xia stormed the White Tiger Festival Hall, she listened as if hearing a story. Now the characters from the story seemed to overlap with the people in front of her.

At this moment, Xu Chuanxi appeared to smile and said: "What bold words, I almost thought you hadn't been stripped of your title by His Majesty. You've made a grave mistake, yet feel no remorse, and take pride instead of shame..."

A voice came from outside Du Mei Hall: "Why so lively today?"

Chen Ji turned his head, seeing Zhang Zhuo coming hand in hand with a man in his thirties, still followed by Zhang Zheng. The man looked intoxicated, with traces of red lipstick on his face and collar.

Zhang Xia quietly explained to Chen Ji: "This is my uncle Xu Shu."

Chen Ji curiously asked: "Shouldn't he be called uncle-in-law?"

Zhang Xia lowered his voice: "He doesn't consider himself part of the Xu family."

As the two approached, Mrs. Zhang's gaze bore into Zhang Zhuo's face: "Didn't you go to the Changping Supervisory Warehouse?"

Zhang Zhuo's gaze was evasive as he chuckled, "Let's talk at home, let's talk at home... As for Chen Ji, I said it back in Luocheng City, with this lad around, Axia won't suffer any loss."

Mrs. Zhang did not respond directly. Instead, she said blandly, "Axia, later send someone to bring in the old tailor from Liu Ji's. It's almost New Year, and you both should have some new clothes made. Wearing washed-out clothes all day, outsiders really think he's a live-in son-in-law of the Zhang family, and they might say the Zhang family bullies others and is stingy."

Zhang Xia hesitated, then smiled and agreed, "Alright."

While speaking, Xu Shu came in front of Zhang Xia, his drunken eyes blurred, "Hey, isn't this my big niece? I was too drunk at Miss Yan Xiu's yesterday and accidentally missed your wedding..."

He fished around in his sleeves and pulled out a golden hairpin, slantingly inserting it into Zhang Xia's hair, "This was from Miss Yan Xiu...was it Miss Yan Xiu or Mei'er? Anyway, someone gave it to me, just right to give you as a wedding gift. By the way, could you help me teach the Mathematics Class at the Imperial Academy for a while? That bothersome Supervisor keeps pestering me, making it impossible to drink peacefully."

"Sure," Zhang Xia helplessly took the hairpin out of her bun.

As she was about to return it to Xu Shu, she saw he had already moved to Chen Ji, getting close to inspect Chen Ji. They were face to face, close enough for Xu Shu's alcohol breath to waft onto Chen Ji's face.

Xu Shu examined Chen Ji, and Chen Ji was also sizing up Xu Shu.

This person had extremely handsome features, almost appearing feminine; even taking on a role of a Qingyi actor might suit him.

Being part of the Buddhist Sect, yet dressed splendidly like a noble, wearing a Wave Ridge Official Hat, a sky-blue robe, with a fine jade tied at the waist.

Xu Shu drunkenly said, "Are you Chen Ji? Better treat my big niece well, otherwise I'll send you to the Life Robbing Platform to rob ten years of your life."

Chen Ji raised his eyebrow.

Life Robbing Platform?

What kind of Official Gateway is this?

Not far away, Xu Chuanxi frowned at Xu Shu, "Drunk so early in the morning, what kind of conduct is this?"

Xu Shu staggered, impatiently looking back, "What's the fuss? I'm just drunk in a dream. My rank is much higher than yours, show some respect."

...

...

At that moment, the door curtain of Du Mei Hall was lifted from inside, and a middle-aged scholar gazed outside, seeing Zhang Zhuo's red official robe, and called out, "Lord Zhang, the Official has been waiting for you for quite a while. Come in quickly."

Xu Chuanxi asked, "Why call only him in?"

The middle-aged scholar glanced at Xu Chuanxi, "The Official wants to discuss the court's situation, of course, he sees Lord Zhang first. Once you're in the cabinet, the Official will call you both in together."

Xu Chuanxi's expression darkened.

Zhang Zhuo looked at Xu Shu, "Going in to meet the Official?"

Xu Shu waved his hand hastily, sobering up a bit, "You go by yourself, he doesn't want to see me, and I don't want to see him either. Meeting me might stir up his sad memories, and he might just go off and die."

Zhang Zhuo frowned, "How much longer does the Official have?"

Xu Shu thought for a moment, "Three months left."

Zhang Zhuo looked around at the dozens of Xu Family members present at Du Mei Hall, quietly asking, "Only three months left? Isn't there a way to extend it further?"

"It's already been extended for long enough. If the monks from Yuanjue Temple knew what I did, they would come bother me again," Xu Shu looked at the curtain, "Clinging to power forcibly staying in the world makes each day unbearable, why not seek relief sooner?"

Zhang Zhuo said no more, turned, and walked inside, patting Chen Ji's shoulder as he passed.

The people in the yard scattered in small groups, some heading to the corridor, others whispering in corners, occasionally glancing at Chen Ji's side.

Xu Shu staggered and looked at Chen Ji, "I heard you're good at drinking?"

Chen Ji chuckled, "Not bad."

Xu Shu patted his shoulder, "Accompany me for a drink sometime... I heard you were the Landlord of Meihua Ferry Crossing? Are you familiar with Liu Xingshou, could you introduce me? If she sees me, she'll surely give me a golden hairpin."

Mrs. Zhang angrily said, "How can you guide a nephew-in-law to the Eight Great Hutongs? If so, don't come to our Zhang Family anymore."

Xu Shu shrank his neck, "Understood, understood."

He looked at Chen Ji, raising his hand to rub his Taiyang acupoint, "I've given Axia a gift, can't neglect you, what should I give you..."

However at this moment, the curtain was lifted again.

Zhang Zhuo called to Xu Shu, "Come inside, the Official wants to see you."

Xu Shu froze slightly, then turned and walked towards Du Mei Hall.