A son who doesn't resemble his father? Love you, old man, see you at Xuanwu Gate!

Chapter 241 Salvation
With heavy snow blocking the doors for days, it's the perfect time to stay indoors during the winter. Friends and neighbors gather together to while away the cold days, chatting idly.

In wealthy families, the head steward would urge the servants to constantly clear the snow from the courtyards, gates, and carriage yards.

Chang'an was different from other places. There were many princes and noblemen who were not content with being alone. So they dressed in all kinds of fine clothes and drove luxurious carriages, roaming freely through the streets and alleys.

Occasionally, when encountering familiar playboys or visiting the mansions of those close to their families, they would chat and laugh as they came and went, creating a different kind of scene in the icy, desolate, and frigid city of Chang'an.

In this joyous and peaceful atmosphere, a light carriage rumbled into Chang'an City.

With a mulberry wood body and iron wheels, it was light yet sturdy enough to be pulled by a single horse. According to official etiquette, such a carriage should be pulled by two horses and a dedicated driver. However, the wealthy and powerful, who had neither official titles nor noble ranks, sought both speed and fashion when traveling. So they simply made the carriage even lighter, relying on the weight of one person and the strength of one horse. Any more would make it cumbersome. It became very popular in the capital region.

Dressed in red, Duke Ying raised his whip high, and his chariot moved nimbly along the road, rumbling and speeding without bumping or jolting. Gentlemen passing by couldn't help but exclaim, "What a playboy!"

And so, the carriage went straight to the former residence of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the former residence of the Marquis of Pingqu, now the Zhou residence.

It went unnoticed by anyone.

Looking at this ancient-style mansion, Duke Ying couldn't help but sigh that a noble family's prestige was not something that could be achieved overnight.

Zhou Bo was one of the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty.

Under the Qin court, he made a living by weaving and making silkworm rearing tools. When there was a funeral in his village, he would play the flute and sang funeral songs to help people with the funeral arrangements. He also served as a warrior who could draw a strong bow.

When the Qin Dynasty uprising broke out, Zhou Bo followed Emperor Gaozu as a court official. He made outstanding contributions in the anti-Qin war and the Chu-Han Contention, and was successively appointed by Emperor Gaozu as the Tiger General and the Marquis of Might.

After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, Zhou Bo followed Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang in leading troops to quell rebellions several times. For his merits, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiang and appointed Grand Commandant.

Zhou Bo gained the trust of Emperor Gao with his simple and strong character and was considered the person who could ultimately bring peace to the Liu family.

After Zhou Bo returned from suppressing the rebellion of Lu Wan, the Prince of Yan, Emperor Gao died, and he then served Emperor Xiaohui as a marquis.

After Emperor Gao died, Empress Lü plotted to seize power. In the eighth year of Empress Lü's reign, Zhou Bo and Chen Ping devised a plan to unite with other princes to eliminate the Lü clan and jointly enthroned Liu Heng, the Prince of Dai, Emperor Gao's son. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, Zhou Bo served as chancellor twice. After his death, his eldest son, Zhou Sheng, inherited the title of Marquis of Jiang and died six years later.

Fortunately, his second son, Zhou Yafu, was exceptionally intelligent, honest, and made outstanding military achievements. As a result, the Zhou family was granted the title of Marquis of Tiao and rose to the position of Chancellor of the Han Dynasty.

Later, Zhou Yafu became involved in the matter of deposing and establishing the crown prince, which aroused the suspicion of Emperor Xiaojing. Not long after he was dismissed from his post as prime minister, Zhou Yafu's son secretly purchased 500 sets of armor and shields from the Imperial Workshop to prepare for his father's funeral. He was reported to the authorities, but Zhou Yafu refused to accept the accusation and went on a five-day hunger strike, vomiting blood and dying. The Marquis of Tiao died in one generation.

Then, Zhou Bo's third son, Zhou Jian, was granted the title of Marquis of Pingqu. He died in the fourth year of Yuanshuo. His son, Zhou Jiande, inherited the title and served as Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the winter of the second year of Yuanshou, on the table of gold and white deer skin, the emperor stripped him of his title and sentenced him to hard labor in Shuofang County.

It can be said that the Zhou family twice saved the Han Dynasty from collapse, but under the rule of the cruel and ungrateful Liu family rulers, their later years were bleak.

Signs of decline and decay gradually appeared.

No one could have imagined that His Majesty would one day turn to the Zhou family for help, hoping that the Zhou family could once again save the Han Dynasty from collapse. It was truly a cruel twist of fate.

When Duke Ying arrived at the front of the large tiled house, he saw a large stone gate wide open, with six Zhou family guards standing proudly outside.

Upon entering, the room was dark, as if it were night. It turned out that there were no windows in the room, and it was very deep. If it weren't for the flickering oil lamp that emitted soot, it would be difficult to see anything.

Duke Ying met Zhou Gong, the fourth patriarch of the Zhou family, the great-grandson of Zhou Bo and the grand-nephew of Zhou Yafu. "Ying Quan greets Marquis Pingqu."

"The Marquis of Pingqu?"

Zhou Gong's appearance was like that of his great-uncle stepping out of a painting, but he lacked the murderous aura and had more of a teasing tone. "If Duke Ying is looking for my father, he should go to Shuofang County. With His Majesty's help, he can repair the Great Wall during the day and patrol at night. He won't be hard to find."

"Why must Marquis Pingqu do this? It is merely a trial bestowed by His Majesty. When the old Marquis returns, it is not impossible for the family to have two marquises." Duke Ying said, cupping his hands.

In order to gain the support of this ancient meritorious family, His Majesty offered them great benefits. The restoration was successful, Zhou Jiande was pardoned and his title was restored, and even Zhou Gong was granted a title.

"Two marquises from one family?"

Zhou Gong burst into laughter and said, "I'm afraid it's a family with two monkeys, isn't it?"

For generations, the Han emperors treated the Zhou family like monkeys, pleased when they needed them and displeased when they didn't. The Zhou family's marquis titles were ended in Your Majesty's hands. At this time, the solemn promises seemed so ridiculous.

"Speak, what does His Majesty want with the Zhou family? To assassinate the King?"

"Lord Pingqu is ignorant of reason! His Majesty is determined to accomplish great things and wants to use the Zhou family to restore the glory of his ancestors. The opportunity is right in front of us, yet Lord Pingqu is mocking and ridiculing us. Does Lord Pingqu have no respect for His Majesty at all?" Duke Ying couldn't help but shout.

Zhou Gong burst into another long laugh. "Your Excellency Ying is a disciple of a great Confucian scholar. Isn't this a clever scheme to trap and harm people? If the Zhou family had no respect for His Majesty, how could you have entered my residence?"

Duke Ying's face turned cold, and he returned to the original topic, "Since that's the case, Marquis Pingqu, listen carefully. His Majesty has been restored to the throne and is willing to make an agreement with all the tribes, in accordance with the ancestral system of Emperor Gaozu, to 'jointly establish the world with the heroes and virtuous officials of the world' and restore the Han Dynasty, unchanged for thirty years. Marquis Pingyang, do you have anything else to say?"

Zhou Gong sat up abruptly, looked at Ying Gong, and smiled coldly, "Restore the ancestral system of Emperor Gao? With His Majesty's... who would believe it?"

He almost blurted out the words "offense," but fortunately, Zhou Gong came to his senses in time, paused for a moment, and raised a question.

Let alone empty words, even if there is an imperial edict, as long as it is not made public and known to the whole world, if His Majesty dares to say it, I'm afraid no fool in the world would dare to believe it.

"What if there's a blood pact with His Majesty?"

"Nothing is possible..."

The word "letter" remained unspoken. Zhou Gong was stunned, then, regaining his senses, asked, "What did you say?"

There are beliefs in witchcraft and secret incantations in the world. To prevent curses, dragon blood is never seen in the world. Is Your Majesty willing to use blood as a token of faith?

Duke Ying stepped forward, presenting a piece of white sheepskin with both hands. As it was unfolded, a blood-written inscription was clearly visible. When the oil lamp was brought closer, it revealed a name that Zhou Gong was very familiar with. As Zhou Gong examined it, Duke Ying put away the blood oath and smiled, "Marquis Pingqu, can you believe me now?"

"With a blood pact as proof, how could I not believe it?"

Zhou Gong's eyes underwent a subtle change, hidden in the deep darkness of the room, unseen by anyone. "Whatever Your Excellency commands, my Zhou clan will obey without question."

"Therefore, I request that Marquis Pingqu take his uncle as his role model, become His Majesty's general, unite and lead the righteous armies of all tribes, and save the Han Dynasty once again..."

(End of this chapter)