Section 1, Court Staff.

Under the scorching sun, the smell of urine began to spread

There was no wind and no sound around; the young officials watched the eunuchs performing those trivial actions, and their expressions inexplicably grew tense

Before coming, he drank a lot of water; otherwise, on such a hot day, urinating would be a very difficult task

On the brick ground, a group of officials from the Donglin faction, dressed in blue official robes, are standing. To the left, there is a row of eunuchs, and to the right, the Jinyiwei are equipped with embroidered spring knives. Behind them stand many prison guards wearing shorts and holding wooden sticks

"You should go home; why follow them and make a fuss? If you want to get promoted, this is not the way to do it," the eunuch in the python robe said with a cold laugh.

Ms. Wu was dressed in an old Confucian gown, with an oval face and a pointed chin. She was only in her twenties; when she married Zhang Wen's father, she was still a little girl. It is said that in that year, a severe drought struck her hometown, leading to a famine where people resorted to cannibalism. Just as her neighbors were about to cook her, a friend of her late father happened to pass by and exchanged a dou of rice for her.

The young officials, upon witnessing the gruesome scene before them, all turned pale, yet each one feigned bravery. After all, receiving a beating could earn them a reputation for integrity and courage in politics, and even secure a place in history, which is always a shortcut.

Shen family

Hurry up, carry me back

Zhang asked about the patch on his belly, which was a bright red color, and he was wearing a blue robe. The surrounding young officials were all dressed in blue, and he felt very safe blending in among them

With no avenue for appeal, Zhang Wen felt that the power of officials was the only force strong enough. After countless lonely sleepless nights, he became a successful candidate in the imperial examination at the age of eighteen

Ah! Laifu trotted happily towards the woodshed, looking like such a naive and easily satisfied young lad

Zhang Wen was about to kill the entire Li family with a knife, but ended up getting beaten and thrown out. What are you even worth!

This attendant, named Laifu, is a member of the Li family and a librarian. Zhang Wenzheng only confirmed that the Li family was wary of him after accidentally learning about Laifu's background

After all, the assassination of the officials has a significant impact. It is better to first exile them, sending them to their own territory. Killing a few people in Zhejiang is akin to crushing an ant; if they die, so be it.

These bearers are not Zhang Wen's people, as he cannot afford them. Zhang Wen usually walks to the yamen. Over the years, he has studied and then became a powerless and insignificant official in the capital, living off his family's wealth until it was completely depleted.

Cao An reminded: "Shaoxing Prefecture"

The eunuch in the dragon robe coughed twice while covering his mouth with a handkerchief, then walked over, and the young eunuch beside him, holding a whisk, hurriedly supported the eunuch in the dragon robe

Hmph! The eunuch in the python robe had an angry expression as he looked at Han Kuang and said: "Who taught you to say that? Who instructed you to come here?"

The officer of the Jinyiwei stepped forward with a stick, glanced at the two pairs of boot tips of the eunuch in the python robe, which were angled outward in a V shape. He then swung the stick and struck Han Kuang's backside three times with a loud "crack," quickly turning his bare white bottom red.

Zhang's face was pale, and he seemed to feel as if a thousand disdainful eyes were staring at him, making him feel as exposed as if he were standing naked in a bustling market

He only uttered two words, and Zhang collapsed to the ground, his face pale and his hands and feet trembling

Zhang Wen sat in the sedan chair, closed his eyes, and the faces with mocking and disdainful expressions appeared in his mind again

The eunuch in the python robe took a few steps and finally approached the foremost official, sharply asking: "Han Kuang, I will ask you once more, why is it not raining today?"

The official beside him angrily scolded, "Useless thing!" "Afraid of death and greedy for life! A treasure of the present world!"

One of the porters accepted the copper coins and said, "Alright, in the future, for any business, the master can just send someone to the alley to speak a word with the bookkeeper and it will be settled"

"Be careful, Second Ancestor, don't step on anything dirty." A sarcastic voice interrupted Zhang Wen's thoughts

If I am not mistaken, he will soon be demoted to a local position such as a county magistrate or deputy magistrate. Naturally, the bigwigs of the Donglin Party will not allow him to occupy a position as a court official any longer. With a morally corrupt justification, he can be dismissed. In this way, he will be able to extricate himself from this murky situation

Han Kuang, with a square face and an expression of righteousness, raised his head and said: "The mining tax officials are rampant, leaving the people in despair; petty individuals occupy the halls of power, colluding with the powerful, taking advantage of the inspections in the capital to drive out the upright. This provokes the wrath of Heaven, leading to drought warnings..."

Zhang Wenzhan, trembling with fear, got up from the ground, lowered his head, and left the Meridian Gate amidst vicious curses. Just a few steps away, he stumbled and fell flat on his back. The eunuchs could no longer contain themselves and burst into a fit of laughter.

Cao An is an old servant left behind by Zhang Wen's ancestors

Zhang Wen immediately confirmed his previous speculation; even without today's incident, he would still have been exiled from the capital.

The voice of Laifu said: "Fortunately, they did not hit the employer"

The eunuch's feet are shaped like an outward eight, which leaves a way out. After all, Han Kuang is a member of the Censorate, so killing him would not be advisable

In the forty-fifth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, in August, the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, with its double-eaved roof covered in glazed tiles, seemed to be emitting blue smoke under the scorching sun. There was not a breath of wind in the air, and the entire world felt like a great furnace. By now, it had been more than three months without a single drop of rain.

Wu turned and walked into the kitchen. At that moment, Cao An whispered, "This morning, when Jinfu went out to buy firewood, he went to the Shen family's pawnshop."

At least this upright Han Kuang, Zhang Wen can confirm, is in cahoots with those people. This time, the afternoon and the library gate's death protest was led by Han Kuang, as the mining tax severely harmed the interests of merchants. Coincidentally, during a drought, they seized the opportunity to voice their grievances against the tax officials. On one side, they pretended to be righteous and noble, while on the other, they feigned selflessness. However, Zhang Wen clearly understood what they were up to.

At that moment, a eunuch dressed in a python robe and wearing a cap with a sharp peak emerged from the corridor. He walked to the platform in the north and coldly surveyed the officials before him. After a while, the eunuch raised his head, shielding his forehead with his palm, squinting at the sun overhead, and took out a handkerchief to wipe his beardless, loose chin.

"Good, good." The eunuch in the python robe gently wiped his chin with a handkerchief, "... the court staff, I suppose."

There are a total of four people in the household: Zhang, his stepmother Wu, a follower, and an old servant

Now, only Zhang Wen remains as the sole male in the Zhang family. Wu Shi could not help but feel extremely anxious, fearing that something might happen to Zhang Wen, leaving her without support. At this moment, seeing that Zhang Wen was unharmed, she walked in with a joyful expression and said: "Eldest son, quickly go take a bath. Tonight, we will have stewed meat."

The sedan chair turned into the bluestone alley and arrived at the doorstep, where the steward, Cao An, was already waiting outside. He quietly asked Lai Fu, "How is the young master's injury?"

The lively scene around him seemed to lift his spirits as well

He hurriedly got up in a fluster, and after a quick run, he exited the Forbidden City through the East Gate and the Chengtian Gate. Outside the city gate, several people were pouring urine into Han Kuang, who had just been beaten, as it was said that this could revive someone after being caned.

Sweat dripped down Zhang Wen's cheeks onto the brick floor, not from fear, but because the weather was too hot. He found it quite strange that, in this moment of carnage before him, he felt not a trace of fear in his heart

Stepmother Wu was joyfully watching Zhang Wen, saying, "Darlang, quickly jump over this fire with the *Tushu*, to dispel the bad luck."

Han Kuang, with a stern expression, said word by word: "I am an official of the Ming Dynasty, speaking my own words, fulfilling my own duties, do I need someone to teach me!"

Cao An's voice was filled with doubt: "Oh..."

Today at the Meridian Gate, Zhang Wen has made his final effort. Zhang Wen hopes that they will not hastily execute such a cowardly person. After all, it is not easy for a successful candidate to lose control in public, and it is even more difficult to voluntarily give up the protection of the imperial edict that spares officials from execution.

The jailer immediately pounced, pinning Han Kuang to the ground, binding him with burlap from the shoulders down, and tying his feet with rope. People from all sides held him firmly, leaving only his buttocks and legs exposed, preparing for the punishment of caning

Upon assuming office, I realized that the Li family was not merely a prominent merchant; they were far more powerful than Zhang Wen had imagined. Zhang Wen believed that the Li family and several other clans were either closely connected to many court officials through mutual interests or had their offspring serving in the court. Additionally, there were some merchants (who were generally also landowners) that were dependent on them, and those merchants each had their own connections, forming a deep-rooted network.

Zhang Wen stepped out of the sedan chair without saying a word and directly entered the courtyard gate

A young man saw Zhang and hurried over, falling to the ground with a thud, he lamented: "Master, you have finally come out. I found a doctor and even collected some boy's urine... Master, did they not beat you?"

Zhang Wen, having attained an official position, not only failed to exact revenge but also aroused the suspicions of the Li family. Perhaps Zhang Wen would not even know how he met his demise. When they scornfully remarked, "What are you even worth?" it was not mere bravado; in that moment, Zhang Wen realized how naive he truly was

Thank you all for your hard work, please take a moment to enjoy a cup of tea. Cao An took out some copper coins

After a while, he lifted the curtain of the carriage and glanced at the scene outside. The street was bustling with activity, featuring white walls and green tiles, a bluestone pavement, and intricately carved buildings. The courtyards were deep and serene, while various stalls selling snacks, accessories, clothing, and vegetables added to the lively atmosphere

She was in despair, calling out Zhang Wen's name, crying out, feeling so helpless that she leaped into the dry well... The fragrance dissipated, and the jade shattered

At this moment, in a daze, he seemed to return to the past, as if he could see his cousin Xiaowan being torn at by a group of men, was she also feeling this kind of shame and anger?

The Jinyiwei struck three blows, and the jailers rushed in to continue the assault, causing blood and flesh to fly in all directions, a sight too horrific to behold. Han Kuang's head struck the ground, dust filling his mouth, his beard completely worn away, his face contorted in pain. Yet, gritting his teeth, he did not let out a single cry of anguish; one must admit he was a tough man.

The eunuch in the python robe couldn't help but laugh, "We never said we were going to hit you, yet you are so frightened..."

Zhang looked terrified, unable to utter a single word

Upon entering, the courtyard with two entrances appears somewhat spacious, presenting a scene of a family in decline

Lift the sedan! With a shout from the sedan bearers in front, the four men steadily raised the sedan.

The eunuch in the python robe said: "Zhang, ask..."

Will the Li family remove themselves from the list of potential risks because of this? Zhang shook his head, feeling that it was still far from sufficient

Standing beside them, Lai Fudun immediately broke into a broad smile. Cao An laughed and said, "Little rascal, look at how happy you are. Why don't you hurry up and chop some firewood? Otherwise, there won't be any for you."

Zhang Wen directly got into the sedan chair to avoid being detected by these servants and being looked down upon once again.

Han Kuang stood tall and resolute, exuding an aura of righteousness. He stood straight, embodying a spirit of integrity that even Zhang Wen found him to appear larger than life, and he was almost moved by Han Kuang's sense of uprightness, had he not been aware of Han Kuang's true background

At that moment, the surrounding officials suddenly frowned and looked at Zhang Wen and the gray-white brick floor beneath him. A stream of urine flowed from the hem of Zhang Wen's long robe onto the dry gray-white bricks, causing the color of the bricks to darken immediately