Tempers Flared
Wu Zong sighed, "Alright. I can't make things difficult for you, sir, over a mere estate. You can decide what to do."
Zhang Changshen, worried that Kang Shilin and Wu Zong might misunderstand, and said, "Why don't you come along too?"
Wu Zong understood Zhang Changshen's meaning: if everyone acts openly and honestly, there will be fewer misunderstandings and suspicions, and the relationship between superiors and subordinates will be more harmonious.
He didn't refuse and went with Zhang Changshen to the reception hall in front.
After exchanging greetings and pleasantries with Fu Yunlang and taking their seats, Zhang Changshen sized up Fu Yunlang before getting straight to the point. "What brings you here, Young Master Fu Er?"
Fu Yunlang cupped his hands in greeting. "I heard that you have some farmland and shops under Wei Qiu's name that you wish to sell, so I came to inquire. If you have any unsold farmland or houses, our household hopes to purchase them."
Even though he had already guessed the purpose of the visit, Zhang Changshen still couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.
He glanced at Fu Yunlang and smiled faintly, "It's really unfortunate, Young Master Fu Er, you're late. All the land and houses under Wei Qiu's name have already been sold. I'm truly sorry."
"Sold out? That can't be!" Fu Yunlang exclaimed in astonishment. "I heard there's still a farm in Beining that the adults haven't sold yet."
He obtained this information from a friend at the Court of Judicial Review by giving a generous gift. That person sent a message to him at noon, saying that he had spoken up too late, and everything else had already been sold, with only one farm remaining.
Zhang Changshen's eyes turned cold. "Is Young Master Fu Er questioning my character?"
"No, no, how could I dare?" Fu Yunlang chuckled awkwardly.
He was young before, and he never had to get involved in anything at the manor. Now that his elder brother had finally given him a task, he was unwilling to be sent back in such a disgraceful manner.
He asked, "May I ask who bought this estate?" Worried that Zhang Changshen would give him a cold shoulder again, he quickly explained, "As you know, sir, our household doesn't own any land in the capital. Moreover, our expenses are high, and the harvests in the north are uncertain, so we've come to you to purchase some."
"If I know who bought this estate, I can privately talk to him and see if I can buy it at a higher price, or exchange it for shops."
Zhang Changshen did not want to offend the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence. Besides, the fact that Zhao Ruxi had bought the estate could not be kept secret. When she went to the Beining County to transfer the ownership, Fu Yunlang would find out immediately.
"It's Miss Zhao from the Earl of Huanping's Residence. Like Lord Wen Chengyu, she's a victim, having been switched at birth by Lady Wei. A perfectly good young lady from a wealthy family had to endure more than a decade of hardship. That's why I sold this remaining estate to her."
He glanced at Fu Yunlang: "Second Young Master probably knows that the property sold by our Court of Judicial Review will be sold to the aggrieved parties first."
Fu Yunlang's expression darkened.
If it were anyone else, he would have taken his leave by now. After all, even if he was naive, he knew he couldn't afford to offend Zhang Changshen for the sake of a farm.
Upon hearing that Zhao Ruxi had bought the estate, a surge of inexplicable resentment welled up within him.
The appearance of this woman not only caused many twists and turns in his marriage with Zhao Ruyu, but she also repeatedly refused Abundant and Prosperous Pavilion's invitations, causing Abundant and Prosperous Pavilion's business to plummet.
Fu Yunlang lived to be fifteen, and thanks to his mother's protection, he had always lived a smooth and easy life. His only unhappiness was that his older brother was too outstanding, and others could only see the older brother and not him.
He is now working hard to learn how to manage household affairs and to prove himself to his father, brothers, and outsiders. However, what repeatedly frustrates him is this Fifth Miss Zhao.
Now, all he's doing is buying a manor, and this person is already trying to take it from him. If he had bought it earlier, it wouldn't have mattered, but the manor was still there at noon, and in just an hour or two, she snatched it away. Fu Yunlang is truly unwilling to accept this.
"Minister Wen Wen's side be. What kind of aggrieved party is the Earl of Suiping's Residence? Isn't Lady Wei the second wife of the Earl of Suiping's Residence? Her identity is that of the Zhao Family, not Wei Family."
Zhang Changshen frowned, his face darkening. "Is Young Master Fu Er here to instruct me on how to do things?"
"No, no, no." Fu Yunlang was startled and stood up, bowing to Zhang Changshen. "This humble one is ill-mannered; please forgive me, Lord Zhang."
"Then what do you mean?" Zhang Changshen wasn't about to let him off the hook.
To be honest, everyone would give Marquis of Pingnan some face for his meritorious service in guarding the border. But civil officials and military officials have always been at odds. If a military official has a high status, the civil official has to be humble and subservient, and vice versa.
This is also the fundamental reason why Zhang Changshen did not agree to Fu Yunlang's request.
Zhao Ruxi painted portraits for the Court of Judicial Review and also promised to teach the people Court of Judicial Review painting skills, so she was practically one of their own. It's easier to talk to family; if she didn't get it this time, she could always give it to them next time.
He has no shortage of these items for sale. If he doesn't have any now, he can always save one for Zhao Ruxi next time he comes across them.
It's not worth going up against the powerful Marquis of Pingnan's Residence for such a small estate.
But Zhang Changshen simply didn't want to give the Marquis of Pingnan that kind of face.
If the estate were still unclaimed, that would be one thing. But they'd already promised to sell it to someone else, and now that the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence's Marquis of Pingnan's Residence has come to ask for it back, he's taking back what he promised to them. Does the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence have that kind of audacity? What will the civil officials think of him? Does Zhang Changshen have no dignity?
Although Zhang Changshen, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was only Principal Third Rank official, not as high-ranking as the Marquis of Pingnan, a first-rank general, the ranks of military officers were always inflated. Even though he was a third-rank civil official, his status was no lower than that of a first-rank military officer.
Furthermore, while military generals defend the borders, the Dali Court of Judicial Review also maintains internal peace within the Great Jin, contributing significantly as well. So, who has greater merit, and who is more noble?
Fu Yunlang was also annoyed by Zhang Changshen's aggressive attitude.
A fifteen-year-old boy is like a newborn calf, fearless and unafraid of tigers. He also knew why his father had been unwilling to buy land and houses from the Court of Judicial Review all these years—it was because he was unwilling to bow down to civil officials. He preferred to spend a lot of money to buy expensive properties on the market.
As long as you can afford the price, you can still buy shops in the capital and estates in Beining.
In this world, there are always spoiled brats who "don't care about selling their parents' property." When their parents die, their first thought is that no one will take care of them anymore, so they sell some of their assets to have some fun.
Although Fu Yunlang was young and had never been involved in household affairs or court matters, he had often heard his father and elder brother lament the awkward position of military officers in the court. He guessed that his elder brother's mention of this matter was a test.
Because the border regions have become increasingly unstable in recent years, and after achieving numerous military exploits, he wanted to test whether the civil officials in the court had changed their attitudes toward military generals.
The fact that the eldest brother didn't step forward himself, but instead sent him, shows how far he was testing the waters.
Anyway, if things are not done well, it's just that the child is ignorant, the military officer won't lose face, and the conflict won't escalate. But if the elder brother comes forward to buy the land and houses, and Zhang Changshen refuses outright, the military officer will lose face big time, and the civil officials and military officers will be at odds again.