The New Emperor and Jin Chang's Mouth

Zhang Xuezhou, who wasn't an official, was hard to find; nobody knew where he was.

But Zhang Xuezhou, who had become an official, was very easy to find.

The new emperor tried various methods to test Zhang Xuezhou's physiognomy skills, but he never expected that when he arrived at the East Sima Gate of Yang Mausoleum by carriage, he wouldn't even be able to enter the gate.

"This is outrageous! My decree can be issued anywhere in Chang'an City, yet you refuse to let me enter through the Sima Gate!" the new emperor roared.

I urge you to go back right away!

Song Dongjia and Zhu Yuncheng were on duty in the morning. After eating roasted rabbit with Zhang Xuezhou for several days, their complexions had improved considerably.

Eating meat would strengthen the body, and everyone was having a great time eating and drinking with Zhang Xuezhou.

Especially now that Zhang Xuezhou is leading Ma Yuan on patrols to catch rabbits, they just have to wait to eat, saving them the trouble.

This is the kind of retirement life they envisioned.

In the past, Song Dongjia was somewhat impatient with people, and those who were not qualified to pass would simply be left standing at the city gate as Zhang Xuezhou had instructed. But now he was much calmer and was even able to exchange a few words with the other party.

"It's good to go back," Zhu Yuncheng nodded and said, "Don't think that just because you're a marquis, you're safe. If our boss catches you breaking into Sima Gate, even if you're a marquis, you won't be in a good place!"

"Outrageous! I refuse to believe you can make my life miserable!"

The new emperor was kicking the gate below the city wall and shouting.

"Summon your official in charge of public transport out here. I want to see how he makes things difficult for people!" the new emperor shouted.

"Our boss is too busy to see you right now!"

Song Dongjia thought about Zhang Xuezhou, who had to catch rabbits three times a day, and figured that Zhang Xuezhou, who hadn't caught any meat for breakfast that morning, had no chance of coming back.

"This is outrageous! Your Chief of the Imperial Carriages must be absent from your post right now. I'm going to the court to report this!" the new emperor shouted.

"Go ahead, go ahead!"

Song Dongjia ignored the threat.

As long as the other party didn't break through the city gate, they would just argue with them, but they simply wouldn't open the gate.

As for the other side submitting a memorial, it's useless. They are patrolling on the orders of the imperial court and are not afraid of anything like dereliction of duty.

"I..."

The new emperor stood beneath the city gate and shouted.

He never expected that he wouldn't even be able to get through the front door.

It was always others who went through great lengths to see him; the new emperor had never encountered such a situation before.

He came with great interest, only to leave disappointed.

"You wait!"

After making a polite remark, the new emperor decided to send someone to the Office of the Commandant of the Guard to investigate the recent official career of the Grand Master of the Imperial Carriage at the East Sima Gate.

Then he also wanted someone to go to the Ministry of Revenue of the Office of the Jingzhao Intendant to check where this guy had bought the property.

If he manages to find fault with this official, the new emperor might summon him and make him wait in the palace for a whole day.

As a young man, the new emperor realized that he was indeed lacking in composure, but he was in a bad mood at the moment and just wanted to vent his anger on the spot. He was too lazy to hold back the anger that prevented him from even entering the Sima Gate.

He waved his sleeve and spat, then rode back to Chang'an City in the same carriage he had come in.

"What marquis?"

"We were standing on the city wall, so we couldn't see the token in his hand clearly, nor did we know what kind of marquis he was!"

"Is it really the Marquis?"

There are tens of thousands of officials, both high and low, in Chang'an City, but the Marquis only has a few hundred people under his command.

These marquises had mansions in Chang'an City, but each also had their own territory, so they did not reside in Chang'an City for long periods.

Zhang Xuezhou couldn't investigate officials, but he could make some judgments about those who were granted titles.

"Make today's official documents more detailed!"

Zhang Xuezhou glanced at Jin Chang, who was coughing in a distant corner, and told Jin Chang to be more detailed when writing official documents.

The high-ranking officials are simply looking for faults with him in his official duties, but since he does his job perfectly, it's difficult for them to find fault with him.

Of course, finding fault isn't entirely a bad thing. Zhang Xuezhou was looking to be transferred to another post at the moment, and it would be even better if the other party really had the ability to demote him by one rank and get him out of this mess.

I'm just afraid you're not capable enough!

Zhang Xuezhou considered his options and ultimately decided not to take the other party seriously.

The Imperial Carriage Commander was that powerful; not only could a marquis not enter Yang Mausoleum through the East Sima Gate, but even the Prime Minister Dou Ying could not enter without a warrant.

If everyone could just come and go as they pleased, the Imperial Carriage Attendant at the palace would have been replaced by many different people long ago.

Their positions were indeed very secure; they could only be transferred if they offended the emperor.

"If only I could be the Imperial Carriage Attendant of the West Sima Gate, South Sima Gate, or North Sima Gate!"

Yang Mausoleum East Sima Gate is closest to Chang'an City and is the most likely to encounter these kinds of disputes. The other three Sima Gate are much quieter, and you might not see a wandering marquis for three to five years.

Zhang Xuezhou made a complaint, then looked at everyone.

"Ma Yuan's cough has gotten quite bad lately, he needs to get some treatment. For the next period of time, Song Dongjia will be in charge of delivering documents," Zhang Xuezhou arranged.

"Only!"

Song Dongjia agreed, and then he and Zhu Yuncheng happily followed Zhang Xuezhou to barbecue.

If nothing unusual happened, their lives at East Sima Gate would be just as carefree.

Moreover, Yang Mausoleum has indeed become quiet recently, with only craftsmen coming and going. Not only has nothing unusual been found at the East Sima Gate, but the other three Sima Gate are also quiet. Even the patrolmen of the imperial mausoleum have not encountered any targeting.

It was as if the nightmare from before had completely ended; they hadn't heard a single thing for the past ten days.

Their lives have improved since they got a new boss.

Moreover, Zhang Xuezhou received everyone's salary, which made their tight budget much easier.

Once Yang Mausoleum is completely quiet, everyone can rely on the imperial court for their old age and have no worries about food and clothing until they die of old age.

For ordinary people, having a low-risk, paid, and leisurely job that can support the whole family is indeed a lifelong dream.

"Don't cause trouble!"

Zhang Xuezhou will be returning to reality tomorrow, and he has made arrangements for things at this time, and he can't help but repeatedly warn Jin Chang.

"I am a respectable and upright gentleman..."

I'm very afraid of gentlemen!

"It seems you have a great misunderstanding about what a gentleman is!"

A virtuous person may possess noble character, but there is a distinction between genuine and false virtues; a petty person, on the other hand, cannot be distinguished between genuine and false virtues.

It's hard to guard against honest people, but it's easiest to guard against scoundrels.

Seeing that Zhang Xuezhou didn't believe his nonsense at all, Jin Chang had no choice but to raise three fingers again.

"If you cause trouble, I'll be childless," Jin Chang said.

"Then I believe you!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded, and only after the carriage returning to Chang'an City entered the city gate did he part ways with Jin Chang.

"No descendants... I never intended to have any!"

After watching Zhang Xuezhou enter the city and leave, Jin Chang muttered something.

He and Zhang Xuezhou had established a relatively sound agreement, but if a major opportunity arose, he wouldn't care about any agreement at all.

He wasn't afraid of swearing Curse, since he never wanted the trouble of having offspring.

Among the Sacred Land in the Three Realms, the main focus is on self-cultivation, and very few people have children. Jin Chang indeed had no such thoughts.

His true desires were to seek power, longevity, immortality, and secret realms.

If Zhang Xuezhou asked him to swear an oath on this matter, Jin Chang felt he would indeed be honest and dutiful, as for oaths about descendants and such, to hell with them.