Lady Zhang followed Prince Fu through the mansion, with Zhou Kuang leading three soldiers who discreetly protected them from the rear, even within the Zhang Mansion, they did not relax.

Lady Zhang tentatively asked, "Prince Fu, you just returned to the Imperial Capital and came to see Chen Ji, is there anything urgent?"

Prince Fu suddenly stopped at the ceremonial gate, turned and looked at Lady Zhang: "I heard that Chen Ji was stripped of his title and is idle at home, has he mentioned any plans for the future?"

Lady Zhang frowned, she detected Prince Fu's underlying intention; he was here to recruit Chen Ji.

She knew what Chen Ji had done and was aware of his abilities, but ever since Chen Ji returned to the Imperial Capital, he first led the Yulin Army into a brawl with ruffians, uncovering the Wang Family's treasonous case of hoarding crossbows.

Then, during the Xiangshan Spring Hunt, he was accused of attempting to assassinate the Crown Prince and was posted on a wanted bulletin. The court issued only a few such bulletins throughout the year, yet within three months of returning to the Capital, Chen Ji already had one.

Later, he caused a commotion on the day the top scorer paraded through the streets.

Exiled to Chongli Pass as Night Patrol, he also faced public condemnation when receiving the Jing Dynasty Envoy.

In just a few months, Chen Ji forcefully crossed Anding Gate twice.

Lady Zhang knew that Chen Ji had a talent for getting away unscathed, but this son-in-law acted too recklessly; he might lose his life by chance.

If Chen Ji could calm down and refine his temperament, he might become a great talent, but now is not the time.

Nor should he be involved in the struggle for succession.

Lady Zhang said slowly, "Replying to Your Highness, my intention is for him to focus on academics or benefit from family influence to enter the Imperial Academy Examination for three years, and then receive a real position for experience."

Prince Fu raised an eyebrow and continued inside: "Studying takes five to six years, even entering the Academy requires three years before external placement. Someone like Chen Ji would waste three years in the Academy; it's better if he helps me with tasks."

Lady Zhang politely declined: "Your Highness overestimates him; I still hope he follows the path of Imperial Examination."

As they spoke, a servant chased from behind: "Madam, there's someone at the door again for New Year's greetings, claiming to be the second master from Duke Cheng Mansion, bringing two trays of New Year gifts."

Lady Zhang was puzzled: "Duke Cheng Mansion?"

The servant reminded: "Madam, didn't the son-in-law just trample Duke Cheng Mansion's…"

Lady Zhang sternly said: "What nonsense, I don't care how others speak, but Zhang Mansion's people should not say such things…They are just here for New Year's greetings?"

Right then, Prince Fu said without looking back: "Madam, they are here to recruit Chen Ji; Duke Cheng has endured until now and seems unable to restrain his desire. I know you want Chen Ji to conceal his talents, but such a person is unable to hide. Kindly tell Duke Cheng Mansion they cannot afford Chen Ji, best to abandon such thoughts early."

Lady Zhang returned to the Zhang Mansion gate, but standing outside were not only people from Duke Cheng Mansion, but also several young scholars.

In the bitter cold winter, the young scholars wore thin clothes, shivering with cold, each carrying a basket containing homemade rice cakes, wheat cakes, eggs, peanuts, and other miscellaneous items.

Lady Zhang hesitated: "You are…"

The young scholars stepped forward with cupped hands: "We're here to give New Year's greetings to Mr. Chen Ji."

Lady Zhang asked puzzled: "Are you his acquaintances?"

The young scholars promptly shook their heads: "No, no, no, Mr. Chen doesn't know us. We're here to show gratitude for his kindness."

Lady Zhang was even more puzzled: "Kindness?"

A young scholar explained: "Madam may not know, we of humble backgrounds find studying difficult, a single book on canonical texts costs several taels of silver, we can't afford them, and can't fully read the Six Classics. But Mr. Chen publishes the Capital Morning News, original explanations worth several taels of silver can be seen on the newspaper for a few coins, it's a grace of recreation, we wish we could repay it."

Lady Zhang stood motionless at the door, before she could speak, another tenant-like man arrived with a basket of eggs, claiming gratitude to Chen Ji for checking Li's Pawnshop, saving his family from disaster.

After speaking, the tenant placed the eggs down and left.

Slowly, over a dozen people came to give New Year's greetings at the Zhang Mansion gate, all bringing items like preserved meat and eggs.

The Zhang Family hadn't received such 'humble' New Year gifts for a long time, Lady Zhang remained silent for a while, instructing the servant: "Take them to the backyard, don't waste them."

...

...

Inside the Zhang Mansion's main hall, imperial physicians were drinking tea and having snacks, discussing in quiet voices: "The tea in the cabinet minister's home tastes better than what is in the Imperial Hospital…"

The Hospital Director rolled his eyes: "Nonsense, this is authentic Lu'an Gua Pian, one tael of tea is worth one tael of gold, how can our Imperial Hospital's inferior tea compare?"

Zhou Fangping held a piece of date paste cake, took a bite, and said ambiguously, "You all say, Mr. Chen is really going to live in the Zhang Mansion from now on, isn't he becoming a live-in son-in-law?"

The Hospital Director glared at him: "Just eat your pastry, why do you have so much nonsense?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Liu Zhubu whispered beside him: "I've heard Mrs. Zhang is notoriously formidable. With Mr. Chen moving in, his days might be hard."

The Dean set down his tea cup, speaking leisurely: "What do you guys understand? If Mrs. Zhang really looked down on Mr. Chen, would she let us sit here drinking tea and eating pastries? Besides, what kind of person is Mr. Chen? He's someone who bravely endured ninety imperial punishments at the Imperial Palace Gate and dared to drag the Imperial Censor to death on the street. If he didn't want to, who could force him to become a son-in-law?"

Zhou Fangping muttered quietly: "Lately, the gossip around is that our Imperial Hospital has allied with the Eunuch Party and become their hawks and dogs. You're not visiting the Minister of the Ministry of Rites for the New Year, but rather running to Chen Ji. I bet soon enough, all of the Imperial Capital will say we're part of the Eunuch Party."

The Hospital Director snapped, "It was you dawdling this morning that delayed us, and so what if it's the Eunuch Party? The Qi family claims to be the Pure Stream, but did they handle the matter when we spoke to them about Ye Yan taking bribes and extortion? Did they help when we reported the adulteration of medicinal materials? In the end, it was the Eunuch Party. If you have that much backbone, you never should have given Ye Yan gifts back then."

Zhou Fangping shrugged his neck: "I just think it's not good to be known as part of the Eunuch Party."

At this moment, Prince Fu strode in, wearing a black official robe adorned with nine emblems including dragons, mountains, blooming insects, flames, Zongyi urns, algae, ground rice, brocade, and bronze. His shoulders and chest are emblazoned with four coiled dragons, exceedingly mighty.

The Hospital Director instinctively stood up: "Prince Fu has returned to the Capital?"

Zhou Fangping, skeptical and uncertain: "Prince Fu... is also part of the Eunuch Party?"

The Hospital Director slapped the back of Zhou Fangping's head: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Upon entering the main hall and not seeing Chen Ji, Prince Fu respectfully inquired: "Gentlemen, where is Chen Ji?"

The Hospital Director quickly returned the salute: "Your Highness, Mr. Chen has not arrived yet."

Prince Fu nodded, casually found a chair to sit down, and waited quietly like an ordinary guest, not urging.

The Hospital Director and the Dean exchanged glances, simultaneously rose to bid farewell to Prince Fu, and hurriedly departed with the Imperial Physicians.

Zhou Fangping reluctantly took two more pastries: "What's the hurry, I haven't eaten my fill yet."

The Hospital Director retorted, "Eat, eat, that's all you know to do. Prince Fu returned suddenly today, came straight to Mr. Chen, and surely has important matters to discuss. Affairs relating to the struggle for succession, are these things we can eavesdrop on? How many lives do you have to listen to such matters? Move quickly!"

Prince Fu sat in the main hall with eyes closed, while Zhou Kuang stood outside with men guarding the door.

Half an hour later, footsteps sounded outside, and Prince Fu opened his eyes, seeing Chen Ji's silhouette, finally showing a faint smile: "Everyone says men become more stable after marriage, but I see no change in you."

Chen Ji stepped over the threshold, sizing up Prince Fu: "Your Highness seems like a different person compared to when you left."

The present Prince Fu appeared much darker, his cheekbones protruding, his whole figure thinner.

There was less frivolity and amusement on Prince Fu's face, replaced with more solemnity and weathering, finally acquiring some traces of a prince's dignified appearance.

Prince Fu sighed: "When I was in the Capital, I thought this world was peaceful with singing and dancing all around. Only after leaving the Capital did I realize the weight of 'peace.' The people suffer, the soldiers suffer, and even I, a prince, face many unavoidable matters. In the past six months, I have learned more than in twenty years in the Capital. At least now, I know how much army food remains from the Ministry of Revenue to the soldier's household, know whether a soldier's pay is enough to support a whole family, know the kind of life the people lead, know what 'starving corpses everywhere, nine-tenths of houses empty' means."

Chen Ji mused: "Your Highness is referring to the people of Henan Province affected by the floods?"

Prince Fu shook his head: "It's more than just Henan Province; the misfortune from officials exceeds misfortune from floods."

Chen Ji sat opposite Prince Fu: "Your Highness speaks to me of this to move my compassion, hoping I'll work for you?"

Prince Fu chuckled: "Is it that obvious?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "I just got married and am not planning on working yet."

Prince Fu, undeterred, smiled and said: "I am not asking you to work for me... It's just that everyone knows Official Xu's time is running out, yet the Grand Secretary position remains undecided. Everyone thinks Official Hu and Official Chen have the most hope, but Lord Zhang won't easily give up. As his son-in-law, don't you plan to help your father-in-law? Your Majesty cares about two things: personnel and money. Whoever handles these two matters well will become Grand Secretary. If you can head south to settle the Eight Great Merchants and collect the salt tax, the position can only belong to Lord Zhang."

Chen Ji shook his head again: "Your Highness overestimates me. The Eight Great Merchants have deeply embedded roots; how can I tackle them? Your Highness just returned to the Capital, maybe you'd better first enter the palace to meet His Majesty, who surely wishes to see you."

Speaking of entering the palace to meet His Majesty, Prince Fu's expression darkened yet he spoke of other things: "His Majesty wishes to see me? Not necessarily. After learning in Jinling that my mother was victimized, I intended to return to the Capital immediately, but Zhou Kuang and others, daring beyond measure, tied me up in the house for three days and nights, claiming a vassal prince cannot return without imperial orders; coming back meant treason. The Crown Prince and Consort Xue knew I acted impulsively, knowing that if I returned, I would fall into their plot. Those three days, I wished I could return to the Capital and personally deal with the Crown Prince..."

Chen Ji remained unfazed: "And now?"

Prince Fu chuckled: "Now, I only wish to take away what the Crown Prince values the most."