Chapter 0007: Ascending to Hear the Heavenly Voice

Father..." Fang Jifan cautiously probed, "Stop mentioning our ancestors all the time..." He shrank his neck, "I always feel a chill in the air."

Bang

During the meal, the two fathers sat on long benches. Fang Jifan was afraid that Fang Jinglong would hit him, so he deliberately moved a little further away. As for the food, it was naturally not very good either. Deng Jian stood carefully behind Fang Jifan, being very cautious.

Zhu Houzhao had never seen his father so enraged. Upon hearing that he had to copy "On the Refutation of Treachery" twenty times, his heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. Who had he offended? Yet he hurriedly nodded like a garlic pounder: "I, your son, will obey the command..."

Fang Jinglong shot him a glare, then turned to Deng Jian

But today, he discovered that his father had become as hard-hearted as iron. In the face of his tearful eyes, he still maintained a stern expression and shouted harshly: "Usually, it is because I have spoiled you too much. If I continue to indulge you today, in the future, you will be even worse than the sons of the Fang family. He has lost his ancestral heritage, but when I pass away, you will lose the country and the people. You are no longer a child, yet you still act so thoughtlessly. How can I be at ease? Within three days, copy 'On Debating Treachery' twenty times. I will personally inspect it. If you attempt to be sly or cheat, I will not be lenient!"

The eunuch, caught between laughter and tears, said: "It is said that... it is said he was driven mad by his son. The Marquis of Nanhe is away at war, while his son Fang Jifan has sold off the entire estate of the Fang family. And that's not all; he even sold every last bottle and jar in the house. Your Majesty, this is akin to a son selling off his father's land, which, in the words of common folk, is the behavior of a prodigal son. Not only that, he used all the money he obtained to buy ebony. Upon hearing this dreadful news, the Marquis of Nanhe was so enraged that it affected his health. He also heard that not only had the ancestral property been sold, but even the family heirlooms..."

Zhu Houzhao pondered for a moment and finally grasped the essence of it

The Emperor Hongzhi furrowed his brow and said: "Such treachery and wickedness, unheard of before, is truly pitiful for the Duke of Nanhe. He is out fighting battles, contributing great achievements to the court, yet his own household is in turmoil. At the beginning of human nature, it is inherently good; this is the result of excessive pampering. Issue an edict..."

At this point, being extravagant has become instinctual; one must not forget one's roots in life

Mr. Fang, are you deceiving me? Will there still be good days ahead?

The Hongzhi Emperor, surprised, exclaimed: "Fainted? He is in the prime of his life and a valiant general, having just returned victorious. What on earth has happened?"

Zhu Houzhao suddenly felt a prickling sensation on his back, just as he was about to feign a pitiful demeanor. However, Emperor Hongzhi unexpectedly said sternly: "You are the Crown Prince; can the Crown Prince neglect his studies? After studying the arguments against treachery for so long, you still cannot recite them. How can you face your ancestors?"

Fang Jifan was startled by the noise, with leaves of vegetables still in his mouth. His handsome face instantly turned pale, as he thought that this time his father had gone mad and was about to hit someone

Deng Jian was also surprised: "Young Master, you called for Father again... Is it..."

He bared his teeth and said, "Old man, are you still going to let people eat or not?"

Looking up, one could see that Fang Jinglong had indeed slammed the chopsticks onto the willow wood table. He then tilted his head back, his nose slightly red, displaying a rather sorrowful expression, with his eyes slightly moist. He sighed and said: "I am sorry, ancestors."

The imperial physician has arrived at the Fang residence. In fact, Fang Jinglong merely fainted from shock and soon regained consciousness. However, his gaze was somewhat vacant as he contemplated the empty family estate, which had been exchanged for a pile of ebony, now merely stacked in the backyard. This general, who had once commanded the southern campaigns, suddenly felt despondent.

Fang Jifan felt an intense desire to tear apart this grandson Deng Jian. So what if I call him father? He is indeed my father

Zhu Houzhao, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle, almost bursting into laughter, as he relished the misfortune of others

Fang Jifan felt a mix of anxiety and confusion, and could only let out a quiet sigh. He thought to himself, do not rush; once the price of ebony skyrockets, I will surely redeem all the properties, no, I will buy the best ones.

However, at that moment, he unexpectedly felt his father's gaze piercing through him like a sword. Zhu Houzhao was taken aback and raised his eyes, meeting his father's gaze. He then noticed that the look, which should have been filled with affection, was instead tinged with a hint of murderous intent

Zhu Houzhao hurriedly squeezed out tears and sobbed: "Yes, yes, I, your son, dare not do so again"

The Emperor Hongzhi rose to his feet, took a few steps in the warm chamber, and pondered aloud: "Order the imperial physician to treat the Duke of Nanhe. Furthermore, his son Fang Jifan, who is unlearned and lacks discipline..." The Emperor was evidently enraged, his face showing signs of fury. Just as he was about to impose a severe punishment, he reconsidered and sighed: "Enough, if a son is not taught, it is the father's fault. The Duke of Nanhe has recently achieved military merit, and now he is suffering this calamity. If I were to punish his son again... it would only cause him further distress. The examination is approaching, so let this son participate in the examination."

The noble sons of the Ming Dynasty were almost all required to hold official positions, a rule that has been in place since the reign of Emperor Taizu. After all, although the titles in the Ming Dynasty were hereditary and unchangeable, the salaries were not high. For instance, Fang Jinglong received three salaries: one from his title as the Earl of Nanhe, one from his current official position, as he was serving in the military as the Deputy Commander of the Five Armies Command, and the last one was based on military merit. Upon his return from the southern expedition, he would certainly receive rewards.

The Hongzhi Emperor did not prohibit the Dao: "Could there really be such a person?"

Before long, the eunuch returned and said: "Your Majesty, it is not good, it is not good. The Ministry of Rites has sent someone to inquire with the Fang family, and they said that the Earl of Nanhe... has fainted..."

Upon careful consideration, it is best to refrain, as I truly do not wish to be taken by the doctor for research again

Emperor Hongzhi's expression immediately darkened: "Even if it means binding, it must be done."

What is referred to as proofreading is not truly proofreading

The Hongzhi Emperor's expression slightly softened, yet he still maintained a stern face: "Go to the Zhan's Office to study, and stop being an eyesore here."

Fang Jinglong is not particularly thin-skinned, yet every time he thinks of this, he wishes to find a crack in the ground to hide in

Zhu Houzhao, sitting quietly with his head lowered as if in reflection, perked up at the sound of someone fainting, his eyes sparkling with excitement. However, as soon as his gaze met that of his father, he hurriedly lowered his head again, as if he had made a mistake.

The eunuch quickly responded, hesitating for a moment: "In previous years, Fang Jifan was unwilling to go for the review."

The eunuch appeared fearful that Your Majesty might not believe him: "Your Majesty may not be aware, but the heir of the Duke of Nanhe, Fang Jifan, is notorious in the capital for being a spendthrift. Since childhood, he has refused to study, spending his days idly, indulging in drinking, gambling, and all manner of vices, excelling in each. His infamous reputation has long been established. As the only son of the Duke of Nanhe, he has always been spoiled by his father, which has led him to act without restraint. Everyone in the capital is well aware of him..."

It is truly embarrassing, I have lost all face, selling off my father's land, it seems I have no face left to live. ... Even His Majesty has learned of this, and has sent the imperial physician ...

However, if one does not participate in the proofreading, there will be no assignments, and one can only rely on the salary from their noble title to make a living. What the noble youths value the most is precisely this. Almost all the noble youths in the capital, as long as they have any prospects, either serve in the Twenty-Six Imperial Guards, or work in the Ministry of Rites, or are in the Military Governor's Office. Yet, someone like Fang Jifan can only live a life of idleness.

The eunuch received the decree and hurried away

Fang Jinglong wanted to say something, pursed his lips, looked at his son, and melted again, unable to help but affectionately say: "Jifan, you never seem to grow up. Our Fang family has been blessed by our ancestors, and you have never liked studying or practicing martial arts since you were young. I do not care at all how others view this, but sometimes, when I see the sons of other nobles participating in the military review and receiving assignments, I can't help but feel a bit envious. This year, the time for the military review has come, and when I returned to the capital, I was still thinking how nice it would be if Jifan could try his luck. But who would have thought that upon returning, I would find you selling the family estate? At that moment, I lost all hope. Now, I only wish for your illness to be completely cured, never to relapse, and to live a safe and sound life. In the future, even if you inherit a title without any assignments, it will not matter."

... ...

To dispatch, one must go through a review, and the review is an examination, an examination for the nobility