Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 292 Wang Mang Separates from the Wang Clan! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Zhai Fangjin was the chancellor during the final years of Emperor Cheng's reign. He was a representative of the corrupt Confucian scholars of the Han Dynasty, utterly incompetent in handling state affairs, but adept at framing his colleagues, thus accelerating the demise of the Western Han Dynasty.

Historically, Zhai Fangjin did not initially gain favor and remained a lowly advisor in the court, a position that was neither particularly important nor well-known.

When Chen Tang and Gan Yanshou returned from the Western Regions, Kuang Heng began to join forces with court officials to suppress them. Zhai Fangjin saw an opportunity and fiercely criticized Chen Tang in court. Even after Old Gan and Brother Tang were ennobled by Liu Shi, he still relentlessly attacked them like a mad dog. Kuang Heng saw this and regarded him as a confidant.

When Emperor Cheng ascended the throne, he cooperated with Kuang Heng to demote Chen Tang to a commoner. Later, when he became prime minister, he continued to deal with Chen Tang, and the brain-dead move of demoting Chen Tang to Dunhuang was Zhai Fangjin's masterpiece.

Besides Chen Tang, Chen Tang's devoted followers, including Shao Fu Chen Xian, Si Li Xiao Wei Chen Qing, Si Li Xiao Wei Juan Xun, and Wei Wei Feng Xin, were all framed by Zhai Fangjin.

This guy is like a venomous snake, vengeful and relentless. If he sees someone who doesn't get along with him crossing the line, even if it's just a little bit, he'll make them suffer to the death... To be honest, he was born in the wrong era.

If they had been born during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian or in the later years of Zhu Yuanzhang, they would definitely have been among the most notorious cruel officials.

Zhai Fangjin was extremely despised by historians. Ban Biao and Ban Gu of the Eastern Han Dynasty wrote a biography for him in the Book of Han, but there was not a single good word about him. Instead, they listed in detail all the court officials he had framed.

One reason was disdain for Zhai Fangjin. Another reason was that when Ban Biao was writing history, his son Ban Chao was wreaking havoc in the Western Regions. The father and son never met again in their lifetime. When Ban Biao thought of his son Ban Chao from Chen Tang, he couldn't help but feel more sympathy for him.

Therefore, although Chen Tang had his flaws, his overall reputation was very high. The people who framed him were all recorded by Ban Biao and Ban Gu.

This was done both to discredit the corrupt scholars who framed the meritorious official and to warn the officials of the Eastern Han Dynasty that if they dared to frame Ban Chao and erase his achievements, they too would be recorded in history and be infamous for eternity.

Looking at Zhai Fangjin's smiling face, Lao Gan's murderous intent surged, but he remained outwardly calm:
"Is this really true? Chen Zigong is indeed ambitious, but he is favored by the gods and should not be acted upon rashly. Ziwei, you can invite some more court officials. If you want to overthrow Chen Tang, you must gather more people."

He originally wanted to summon divine lightning to strike Zhai Fangjin, but then he felt that it would be too easy on the other party. He should take this opportunity to expose all the hidden enemies in the court.

Summoning a divine thunderbolt is no easy feat, so it's worth it to accumulate a whole bunch!

To be honest, Lao Gan really learned bad habits from Chen Tang. He's incredibly composed and has top-notch acting skills when it comes to using underhanded tricks.

Zhai Fangjin was surprised that he could persuade Gan Yanshou so easily. He bowed deeply and felt like he had met a kindred spirit. He was very happy... Unfortunately, he was happy too soon.

Old Gan had already dug a huge... grave for him in his mind!
When he ordered Zhai Fangjin to gather accomplices, the scene at the Prince's mansion was quite different.

Wang Feng's nephews and nieces gathered together and secretly broke into Wang Mang's residence, stealing the flashlight that Chen Tang had given them... Although Wang Feng had repeatedly warned them not to provoke Wang Mang, his nephews and nieces did not listen, thinking that Wang Mang's things belonged to the Wang family, so what was wrong with taking it and playing with it?
Ever since Wang Mang's father, Wang Man, passed away, they had always maintained this attitude towards Wang Mang.

Bad kids can't stand seeing others study hard.

In the past, Wang Mang would have humbled himself and begged them to return the flashlight if he encountered such a situation. But ever since Chen Tang said that he would not raise cowards, Wang Mang has changed.

Upon learning that his flashlight had been stolen, he told his widowed mother and sister-in-law to pack their belongings, then grabbed a wood-chopping knife and stormed out of the house, heading straight for Wang Tan's son, Wang Ren.
Where is my flashlight?

When Wang Ren saw the wood-chopping knife in Wang Mang's hand, he sensed that things were getting serious. However, being used to being bossy, he habitually retorted sarcastically:
"How am I supposed to know if you don't put your things away properly? Who are you trying to scare with that broken knife? Come on, if you've got the guts, go ahead and chop it off my head!"

He was certain that nine-year-old Wang Mang wouldn't dare to actually cut him down, but he forgot that this little guy was now Chen Tang's godson, and with Chen Tang backing him up, there was nothing he wouldn't dare to do.

Sure enough, when Wang Ren said to chop him on the head, Wang Mang really swung his woodcutter's knife and chopped heavily at Wang Ren's head. Wang Ren was so frightened that he quickly dodged, but half of his ear was still cut off.

"Ahhhhhh!!!! You beast, how dare you hurt me?"

Wang Ren screamed in agony, but his words, "You beast!" ignited the cruelty within Wang Mang, who swung his wood-chopping knife and struck Wang Ren hard across the face with the back of the blade.

"My father's body is barely cold, how can you humiliate me like this?"

"You stole what my godfather gave me and then refused to admit it. How did I offend you?"

"If you don't return my flashlight today, I'll tear you to pieces!"

"..."

A nine-year-old child first lost his father, then his older brother, and the family's land was inexplicably taken over by the royal palace, requiring him to ask for all expenses.

Although Wang Feng tried his best to maintain the family, there were always areas he couldn't attend to. The sensitive Wang Mang had already experienced this kind of differential treatment many times.

Now, facing Wang Ren who had called him a beast, he could no longer suppress his murderous intent. He raised the woodcutter's knife with both hands and swung it down on Wang Ren's head. By the time people nearby arrived, Wang Ren was already a bloody gourd, only able to cry for help... Fortunately, he didn't use the bladed side to chop, and Wang Mang was weak; otherwise, Wang Ren's head would have been chopped to pieces.

When Wang Tan arrived and saw his son's miserable state, he kicked Wang Mang so hard that he fell over.

But Wang Mang showed no reaction whatsoever. He got up from the ground and said to the Wang family:
“Give me back my father’s land deeds and my godfather’s flashlight. From this day forward, I will leave the palace and never return.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Tan kicked him again:
"These are all Wang family's possessions, what does it have to do with you? Go back and reflect on your actions!"

After saying that, he gave orders to the rest of the family:
"For the next three days, anyone who dares to give him a bite to eat will have their legs broken!"

Wang Mang returned to his small courtyard without a word, completely unconcerned about the bloodstains covering him, and knelt down to kowtow to his mother and sister-in-law:
“I am incompetent and have failed to reclaim my father’s land. I ask that my mother and sister-in-law come with me and settle you in before I come back to claim it.”

Since there was no carriage at home, he slung his bundle over his shoulder, led his mother and sister-in-law out of the Prince's mansion through a side gate, walked across two streets, and arrived at the General's mansion. He knelt down at the entrance and kowtowed.

"Your unworthy son, Wang Mang, has come seeking refuge. I beg my godmother to take me in!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Tang's wife, Zhang, rushed from her house to the front gate. She was shocked to see Wang Mang covered in blood.
"Child, are you hurt? Come in quickly!"

The Left General's residence was very large, divided into several courtyards. The front was the office space for the General's Chief Secretary and other officials, and there were many living quarters.

Zhang had a small courtyard prepared and arranged for Wang Mang's family to move in.

Then she took a towel and wiped the blood off her godson's face. When she learned that Chen Tang's flashlight had been taken away by the Wang family without reason, Zhang was very angry and asked the general's mansion to invite Liu Xiang, the Grand Minister of the Imperial Clan, and Gu Yong, the newly appointed Imperial Censor, to come and discuss the matter.

Liu Xiang was having dinner at home when he heard that the wife of the Left General had summoned him. He was a little puzzled, but he still went with his son Liu Xin. When he arrived, Gu Yong had just dismounted.

After exchanging greetings, the two entered the Left General's residence together.

When they first heard that Wang Mang was fighting with his cousin Wang Ren, none of them paid much attention. But when they heard that the flashlight Chen Tang had given them had been confiscated by the Wang family, Gu Yong and Liu Xiang were furious.

“The gifts bestowed by General Zigong came from the celestial realm. Now, the Wang family has shown contempt for the immortals and for the current Left General. Their crime deserves death!”

"That's only right. Wang Feng prides himself on his brotherly love and respect, yet he has now seized land forcibly. I will impeach him at the morning court tomorrow!"

As the two adults were discussing, Liu Xin, who was secretly eating millet crisps nearby, spoke up:

“For such a trivial matter, impeachment will only lead to nothing. It would be better to have my brother Mang go to the Chang’an County Government Office to beat the drum and appeal for justice, so that all the people in the city can come and watch, thus escalating the matter and resolving the problem.”

Impeachment in the imperial court is usually met with a few perfunctory remarks that quickly pass.

However, if one were to go to the county government office to plead for justice and ask the magistrate to uphold fairness, the matter would quickly become a hot topic in Guanzhong and even the entire Han Dynasty.

Wang Man's body was barely cold when her land was seized by her younger brother, her son was driven out of the house, and she was left all alone and helpless. This tragic drama is definitely a favorite among onlookers.

Liu Xin clearly wanted to get involved in this matter and volunteered to write the complaint.

Gu Yong felt it was somewhat frivolous, but he had to admit that if things escalated too much, the Wang family would face disintegration, and there would never be another day with five marquises.

No matter where Wang Feng climbs to, this incident will always be a disgrace to him.

As for Wang Tan, Wang Chong, and the like, they should just go home and farm. If they dare to show their faces in the court, the petitions from the censors will pile up higher than their graves.

He seized his elder brother's land, allowed his children to bully the adopted son of the Left General, and even called him a beast... What kind of family could raise such a child?

After Liu Xin finished writing the complaint, he realized it was already dark and the yamen had closed for the day. He would have to come back tomorrow if he had any questions.

However, he did not remain idle. He wrote several more letters and had them delivered to Crown Prince Liu Ao and General Gan Yanshou by the Left General's office, informing them of the matter and asking them to help create momentum.

Under the bright fluorescent lights, Gu Yong and Liu Xiang also wrote letters to Prime Minister Wang Shang and Imperial Censor Feng Yewang, also to build momentum for tomorrow's lawsuit.

Meanwhile, inside the Hunyuan Palace, Zhou Yi finished eating the stir-fried noodles with shredded pork made by Wu Meiniang herself. He casually flipped through his black notebook and was then drawn to a newly added merit point:
[Wang Mang broke away from the Wang clan, causing a significant shift in the Western Han timeline; merit +20]

Good heavens, Chen Tang isn't in Chang'an, so how come there's a new development here?
Is Wang Mang really going to become a model youth who embodies the Five Stresses and Four Beauties?
(End of this chapter)