Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 303 Living off one's father's legacy, dying with a son's inheritance

The distance between Zhengzhou and Luoyang was not far, and there were well-maintained official post roads. Therefore, after his family went to the prefecture to report, Zhang Jun returned to his home in Luoyang by fast horse two days later.

"What happened at home? Why are you in such a hurry?"

He dismounted, covered in dust, and asked Zhang Dai, who was coming to greet him, "Could it be that your great-grandfather and grandmother have fallen ill with some sudden illness?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai couldn't help but sigh that his father was truly a filial son, preferring to suspect that his parents' lives were in danger rather than that his wife had committed a crime.

“The matter is rather complicated, and I cannot speak frankly. Father, please go to the back room first. Your grandfather is also at home today and will tell you the details.”

He took the reins from Zhang Jun's horse and handed them to a servant beside him before speaking softly to Zhang Jun.

Seeing his serious expression, Zhang Jun's eyes narrowed again. He took a few steps into the doorway, but then turned back with a suspicious look and asked, "Did you slip up and tell people about some things in Zhengzhou?"

Seeing his suspicious look, Zhang Dai didn't bother to answer him and simply waved for him to leave.

The atmosphere in the Zhang family mansion has been quite subtle these past two days. Although the Yuan family has ordered a strict information blockade, this is not some desolate wilderness. The mansion is full of eyes, ears, and gossip. Even if those in the know dare not say much, others can always find out some things by guessing and then spread them in secret with their own speculations.

The fact that Zhang Jun, who was serving as an official in a distant prefecture, returned home in such a hurry, inevitably aroused much speculation among his family members.

“Father, I have been working diligently in the state and have had no time for anything else. This time, my family came to the state to report something urgent, but they were vague in their explanation. I had to plead with them repeatedly before the prefectural governor finally allowed them to leave, but he also told me to go and return as soon as possible!”

When Zhang Jun entered the hall, he saw his father's cold expression and his mother's unpleasant face. His heart skipped a beat. Regardless of what had happened, he first made sure that he was honest and innocent, and that he had a lot of official business to attend to!

Zhang Dai followed behind and entered. Looking at his father, he saw he was exactly like a mischievous child who had been running wild outside but now insisted on doing his homework as soon as he got home. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. "You could at least come up with a better excuse," he thought. "Everyone knows the Prefect is the most idle colonel in the entire prefecture!"

Zhang said he wasn't in the mood to complain about his son, but simply gestured for him to sit closer, then said in a deep voice, "Your wife..."

"What has she done to bother you, Father and Mother? This woman is so ignorant. Last year, before I went to the prefecture, I intended to take her with me, but she made many excuses. After arriving in the prefecture, she will need someone to attend to her needs, so she accepted the offerings from the people of the prefecture. If she makes a fuss because of this, I will go back to my house and discipline her myself. Why should I trouble you, my parents, to ask about it?"

Zhang Jun was about to bend down to take his seat when he heard his father's words. He quickly stood up again and immediately interrupted, not forgetting to glare at Zhang Dai as he spoke. He thought the boy was too outspoken, but little did he know that he was the one who had inadvertently confessed.

"Shut up and listen to what you have to say!"

Hearing that Zhang Jun was still worried about being held accountable for his personal conduct, Zhang Shuo glared at him and angrily rebuked him. Only after Zhang Jun sat down, trembling with fear, did he continue, "Your wife used witchcraft to curse and harm her family..."

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible! Who would make such a slander? How could it be! My wife wouldn't do such a thing, Father, have you investigated thoroughly? This is utterly impossible!"

Zhang Jun had just sat down when he heard this and jumped up again, his face full of disbelief, and he repeatedly denied it subconsciously.

"Would you lie to me? This wicked woman actually tried to curse Liu Lang to death! She... she's truly vicious, daring to plot against my grandson!"

Seeing her son still defending Zheng, Madam Yuan became furious and immediately spoke up angrily.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun's eyes sharpened instantly. He stared directly at Zhang Dai and asked urgently, "What have you done to anger Madam this time? Why would she... for no reason..."

Even though Zhang Dai was utterly disappointed in this man, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he heard him question him the moment he opened his mouth.

Zhang Shuo, however, grabbed his teacup and threw it at Zhang Jun, shouting angrily, "There are many in my family who hate this vicious woman. The others haven't been cursed to death, so should we thank her for her magnanimity? As the head of the family, you've ruined your family affairs, yet you blame the lesser ones! My grandson is a gifted talent destined to bring prosperity to the family. This vicious woman's actions are an attempt to cut off our family's path to prosperity. She's so wicked, I wish I could beat her to death!"

Having likely lost his power last year due to his association with sorcerers, Zhang Shuo was even more furious than Yuan Shi upon learning of this incident at home. He was so angry that he feigned illness and stayed home. If Zhang Dai hadn't earnestly advised him to wait for Zhang Jun to return home, he would have already severely punished Zheng Shi. Now, hearing Zhang Jun actually blaming his son, he was even more enraged.

"Father, please calm down, Father, please calm down... No, this is truly unbelievable, I never imagined it! Where is that woman now? I'll go ask her myself, how dare she!"

Startled by the blow, Zhang Jun jumped more than a foot off the spot. He first bowed to Zhang to apologize, and then strode angrily outside.

Zhang Shuo was still furious and did not stop him, but just watched Zhang Jun's angry back and said resentfully, "With such an inability to distinguish right from wrong, how can this fool be worthy of responsibility..."

"I'll go and take a look."

Seeing that Zhang Shuo and his wife both looked indignant, Zhang Dai stood up, took his leave, and went out.

Zhang Jun strode towards the east wing, but his speed suddenly slowed down as he approached the gate. When he reached the guards at the gate, he hesitated and turned back after much deliberation, not even daring to enter the courtyard to face Zheng Shi.

To be honest, such a person lacks any sense of responsibility when faced with problems, and is even afraid to confront difficult situations. Apart from his family background, he has absolutely no charm. But precisely because of this family background, he is still seen as shining and perfect by some people.

When he reached Zhang Dai, Zhang Juncai stopped and asked, "Is it true? How was it discovered?" "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place."

Zhang Dai was too lazy to explain further to him. Seeing that he didn't dare to ask about the important matter directly, he couldn't help but feel a little regretful that he had missed out on a good show. He wanted to see what kind of sparks would fly when the couple met.

Zhang Jun asked for something but didn't get it, so he walked silently to the back hall. Once inside, he became listless and ignored his parents' stares. He simply slumped into his seat.

"You are the head of this household. Now that this has happened, it should be resolved. Do you have any ideas on how to handle this?"

Seeing his appearance, Zhang asked in a deep voice.

Zhang Jun simply lowered his head and mumbled, "I'll listen to my parents."

Upon hearing this, Zhang was furious again and was about to glare at her when Yuan stopped him. After a pause, he said in a deep voice, "Show him all the evidence so that there won't be any confusion or disputes in the future!"

"How dare I question my parents..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun looked up and said something else.

But Zhang ignored him and simply instructed his servants to bring up all the amulets that had been dug up from the house, along with the monk and several female servants. After showing them to Zhang Jun in detail, he ordered them to be taken away.

Upon seeing this evidence, Zhang Jun's expression shifted from dejection to rage: "How dare she, how dare she play these evil spirits in my house! If this gets out, how can He Qingsheng still exist in my family... I want to divorce my wife!"

What truly terrified and angered him was not whether Zhang Dai would actually be affected and harmed by these spells, but the terrible impact that the news would have on his reputation.

"Divorce is inevitable. Now that you've returned home, I'll have my servants bring Zheng Ai and his sons here tomorrow morning to sign a divorce agreement. From now on, our two families will have no further connection. But there are a few things to be careful about. Although you're being divorced, this wicked woman must not be let go!"

Zhang said in a deep voice, and Zhang Jun's face immediately showed horror and reluctance upon hearing this: "Father wants to kill her? After divorcing her, all affection and ties are severed, why bother?"

After all, even a day as husband and wife is a hundred days of kindness, and he still had some humanity left, so he couldn't bear to directly harm Zheng.

"She harbors resentment towards my grandson and is capable of such vicious acts. If we let her go, who knows what rumors and schemes she might spread! My grandson has such a bright future; how can we let this wicked woman ruin it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shuo coldly snorted, "After divorcing her, she shall not be allowed to return to her old home. She shall be confined to a villa and spend the rest of her life in a vegetarian hall!"

"This...this is acceptable, but...but the Zheng family would never agree to this."

Zhang Jun breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing that Zheng Shi would not be killed directly, but he soon became worried about the Zheng family's attitude.

"How dare they refuse? How much honor would it bring to their family to have a woman who is fond of witchcraft, driven by jealousy and hatred, and wants to use witchcraft to murder her husband? If they bring her home, will the women in the clan still be able to find good marriage partners in the future?"

Zhang said in a deep voice.

Zhang Jun was stunned upon hearing this, then waved his hand and said, "Father, you're wrong. It's not that she's trying to harm her husband, she's trying to harm my son..."

"This is one of the reasons I summoned you back!"

Zhang Shuo frowned again and said, "It's difficult to completely conceal the matter. We must mix truth and falsehood to keep people in the dark. There are only four of us in the hall right now, so I'll tell you today. Zheng Shi was jealous of your excessive debauchery in Zhengzhou and wanted to curse and kill the woman you were dating. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with my grandson!"

Why?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jun was naturally displeased and immediately glared at him, questioning, "Even if I recruited entertainers and indulged in some pleasures in Zhengzhou, what serious crime is that?"

"It is precisely because it is not a serious crime that you are to bear the blame! If outsiders were to find out that my grandson was cursed to death by his stepmother, how would people slander him? My family's reputation would be utterly ruined! Only your wicked conduct and Zheng woman's jealousy can minimize the harm caused by public opinion!"

Zhang Shuo glared at Zhang Jun and said, "This matter arose because of your incompetence in managing your household, and you should bear the blame! I've settled the matter today, and you can forget about changing your mind again!"

"I...I...How could Father be so biased? I am Father's own son!"

Upon hearing his father's stern command, Zhang Jun was so angry that tears welled up in his eyes, filled with resentment.

"Favoritism? You may lose some of your reputation, but it won't matter much. In life, you'll enjoy your father's blessings and rise to high office; in death, your father will benefit from your son's status and receive posthumous honors! Your fate is so perfect, what is there to complain about?"

Zhang ignored his words and immediately slammed his fist on the table and shouted angrily.

(End of this chapter)