At Zhang Chen's command, the entire northern region was swept up in a vast and mighty reform. Whether great or small, all members of the Privileged Class, landlords, and local gentry had their lands confiscated. Yet Zhang Chen never could have imagined that the first force to resist the reforms would come from the Capital Zhang Family.
Early morning.
Zhang Chen was sitting in the courtyard reading when a burst of noisy footsteps suddenly sounded outside the Prince's residence. Amid the clamor, voices drifted into his ears, making him frown. "Hm? Who is making such a racket outside?"
There was a faint edge of anger in Zhang Chen's voice. One had to know that guards watched over several miles around the Prince's residence. Idle outsiders would be driven away the moment they approached, so who would dare cause a disturbance here?
"Reporting to Your Highness, people from the Zhang Family have gathered outside. They were clamoring to come in, but we stopped them," a guard hurried forward to report.
"People from the Zhang Family? What are they doing here?" Zhang Chen raised a brow, surprise flashing in his eyes.
"What else could it be but the reforms? Since the Zhang Family came to the northern region, they have aggressively annexed land and become major landowners. With one order from you, the lands of countless Zhang Family members were taken away. Naturally, they refuse to accept it and came here to make trouble." The guard laid out the matter clearly. "The Princess Consort knew why they had come and ordered that they all be kept outside."
After hearing this, Zhang Chen frowned. "It is not right for them to keep blocking the entrance. Let them in. Whatever they have to say, they can speak to me directly."
Upon hearing Zhang Chen's