Chapter Seven: Wei Zheng of the Thunder Department, and the Habitual Offender, the Seventh Princess!

Chen Fan nodded. He had explained it so clearly that it was only natural Dazhuang understood.

Dazhuang nodded repeatedly and replied,

"Don't worry, Ah Fan. I get it. I definitely won't say a word!"

Chapter Seven: Wei Zheng of the Thunder Department, and the Habitual Offender, the Seventh Princess!

"With our status, there's no way we can report something like this through the proper channels.

We don't even know how many of their people are in the government, from top to bottom.

So the only way is to bring it before the court and make sure everyone knows!"

Chen Fan looked at Zhang Tianshou with shining eyes. Among their group,

only the daughter of the Zhang Clan of Qinghe had a way to get a message before the throne.

Most importantly, it would make the court take notice of Qingshi Town and Zhao Family Village.

That way, everything he was doing in Zhao Family Village

would reach Li Shimin's ears in no time.

With the attention of this Son of Heaven,

Chen Fan could finally set his mind at ease and get to work as much as he pleased.

As long as he earned enough merit, he believed the wise and mighty Emperor Taizong of Tang

wouldn't be stingy with titles and rewards.

And then, would he be short on beautiful wives and concubines, grand mansions, and shops?

"This..."

Zhang Tianshou looked troubled. Getting a message before the throne was possible,

but the throne she could reach was in the Heavenly Court, not Great Tang!

She could use the Zhang Clan of Qinghe's name if she wanted.

If necessary, she could simply reveal her true identity. She didn't believe the Zhang Clan of Qinghe would dare disown her.

But when it came to the political struggles of Great Tang's court, she was powerless.

Seeing Zhang Tianshou's troubled expression, Chen Fan hurriedly said,

"First Madam, don't worry. I know women like you don't get involved in politics.

I won't make things difficult for you. As far as I know, the current remonstrance official, Wei Zheng, is an upright man.

You can pass the information to Wei Zheng's wife, and she can submit it to the court!"

Chen Fan did intend to join forces with the Zhang Clan of Qinghe.

But he was still weak. Naturally, he couldn't draw the Zhang Clan of Qinghe's attention yet.

Besides, Lady Zhang's identity wasn't suited to contacting court officials.

But court officials had wives and daughters, too.

Great Tang was vast, but there were only so many high-ranking officials and powerful clans.

Lady Zhang only needed to pass along a message in private. After a couple of handoffs, it would reach its destination.

What happened after that would be a matter between Li Shimin and the powerful officials.

What did it have to do with a nobody like him?

In any case, once the information reached the court, Qingshi Town would leave an impression on countless nobles and powerful people.

With the various factions keeping one another in check, and with all the knowledge he had,

as long as Li Shimin wasn't a fool, he would definitely protect him.

"You mean Wei Zheng? No problem. Leave it to me!"

Zhang Tianshou was still frowning, but Xiao Qi suddenly thumped her chest and promised.

Zhang Tianshou glared at Xiao Qi and scolded her,

"Xiao Qi, mind your manners. Great Tang's Human Dao Dragon Qi is at its peak..."

"Elder Sister, trust me. Wei Zheng will be no problem at all!"

Xiao Qi tugged at Zhang Tianshou's sleeve and gave her a knowing look as she sent a sound transmission.

"Elder Sister, I know Wei Zheng. He used to be a clerk in the Thunder Department.

Now he serves as an official in Tongming Hall. We can send him a message directly from the Heavenly Court and bypass the Human Dao Dragon Qi!"

"You're sure?"

Zhang Tianshou was stunned. There were so many officials in the Heavenly Court, and although she knew quite a few,

she certainly didn't know every immortal and deity there.

"Wait, how do you know Wei Zheng?"

The Seven Fairies might have gone their separate ways at times, but they were usually together.

So how did Xiao Qi know Wei Zheng when she herself had never heard of him?

"Ugh, don't ask! That big-bearded Wei Zheng is awful!"

Xiao Qi's face filled with annoyance as she remembered the embarrassing things Wei Zheng had caught her doing.

The Thunder Department was in charge of the heavenly laws and regulations, and it also had a hand in the Heavenly Court's judicial affairs.

As a clerk in the Thunder Department, Wei Zheng naturally had some authority to enforce the laws.

And she, the Seventh Princess of the Heavenly Court, was always getting into little scrapes, even if nothing serious.

Naturally, she had become a target for Wei Zheng, who couldn't stand the slightest infraction and liked to make an example of people.

The key was that Wen Zhong, the Thunder Department's Heavenly Venerable, was a tough character, too.

So Xiao Qi had gone head-to-head with Wei Zheng time and again, and she had never won.

That was how she had gotten to know him.

Whenever Zhang Tianshou went to the Thunder Department to bail someone out, she dealt with the Thunder Department's Heavenly Lord.

Besides, Zhang Tianshou knew exactly what her younger sister was like.

She wouldn't give a clerk a hard time for arresting someone, so of course she had never learned Wei Zheng's name.

But Zhang Tianshou wasn't a fool. On the contrary, she was very clever.

"A Thunder Department clerk transferred to become an official.

No wonder you were clinging to Father all the time back then!"

Zhang Tianshou understood at once and gave Xiao Qi an exasperated look.

Chen Fan had no idea what secret signals Zhang Tianshou and Xiao Qi were exchanging. He only glanced at the sky.

"First Madam, it's getting late. You should head back and get some rest.

Shall I come get you tomorrow and take you to Zhao Family Village?"

By then, the sun had already set.

If they didn't go back soon, the village chief would probably come looking for them with a group of people.

"Go back? No need. I'll just stay at your house!"

Zhang Tianshou waved her hand and said it as casually as could be.

Chen Fan was dumbfounded. Were girls these days really this bold?

The Seven Fairies had spent so long in the Heavenly Court, and they had only been in the mortal world for a few days.

They had no idea what the rules in Great Tang were like now.

When Zhang Bairen became an immortal, it had been the time of the Western Zhou and the Spring and Autumn period.

Back then, etiquette was a set of rules only the nobility followed.

Ordinary people didn't bother with all that etiquette.

If two people hit it off, they might even share a bed that same day.

So, as Zhang Tianshou saw it, Chen Fan was already her friend.

Staying overnight at a friend's house was perfectly normal!

As for relations between men and women—

Zhang Tianshou thought that the heavenly laws forbade romances between immortals and mortals!

Dazhuang and Scholar Dong stared at Zhang Tianshou in shock.

Just like that? So direct?