Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 254 - 245: You’re Just Jealous That I Have a Son!

Chapter 254: Chapter 245: You’re Just Jealous That I Have a Son!

"Deputy Officer Lu, there are fourteen Governor positions available. Would you like to claim a few slots?"

Third Miss Gan looked towards Lu Qingquan with a smile brimming with charm.

Although her smile was enchanting, to Lu Qingquan, it felt almost as painful as being stabbed with a knife.

Being a Governor of a province is a fourth-rank position, after all!

God knows who is backing this woman!

"I... I... My hair loss has been severe recently, can I retire and return to my hometown?"

Third Miss Gan gave Lu Qingquan a disdainful glance, clearly unimpressed.

"You’ll stay at Xiongfeng Manor, responsible for the supply logistics in the rear."

"As for the others, to prevent any leaks of information, I’ll tell you whom to capture now, and you must proceed immediately. Do not disclose your targets to anyone. Understood?"

The many Military Chiefs present nodded.

This is an imperial edict, damn it!

Although the Town Martial Office and the Town Demon Office are both known as the Two Imperial Bureaus, accountable only to Kaihuang.

But traditionally, the Town Martial Office works on the ground according to local circumstances; it’s quite rare to be activated by an imperial edict.

Afterward, Third Miss Gan summoned people and instructed whom to capture one by one.

Finally, it was Zhang San’s turn, and Third Miss Gan said to him in a low voice, "You must certainly know Zhang Peng. Shall I entrust him to you?"

Zhang San nodded.

After all, he had seen all of Bai Yucheng’s accounts, and he knew exactly what each Governor had done. In the entire Chuan-Yu Road, Zhang San was the most informed.

"Big Sister, there’s someone named Chen Fei... I would like..."

Third Miss Gan frowned slightly; she knew Chen Fei was extremely brutal.

Originally a martial artist on the Demon Path who committed many evil deeds, he also took the opportunity to accumulate a substantial fortune.

Most martial artists at this juncture would use the fortune to purchase cultivation resources to further enhance their abilities.

But Chen Fei was different; he chose to use his wealth to buy positions and, relying on bribing his superiors, climbed the ladder step by step.

Eventually, he was even transferred to Chuan-Yu to take up a Governor position.

He even managed to remove his name from the Town Martial Office’s wanted list through Bai Yucheng.

And with such a person in office, the outcome is predictable.

He wouldn’t just fail to manage the locals properly; he even colluded with many Demon Path martial artists, who gathered around him.

So, although Chen Fei wasn’t powerful himself, he had many skilled subordinates, making him difficult to deal with.

"Big Head Wang and Wang Ziteng will both be at your disposal. Be careful!"

"Yes!"

Zhang San immediately left Xiongfeng Manor with his team to capture Zhang Peng first.

As for Wen Ruchu, he had been like a soulless shell ever since Uncle Liu’s death.

He didn’t participate in this operation of the Town Martial Office.

Of course, it wasn’t that Zhang San was deliberately depriving Wen Ruchu of the merit. He had long thought of a reason—avoiding conflict of interest.

After all, Wen Ruchu was born into the Wen Family, and within the Capital, the Wen Family held high status and power. They inevitably had relationships with some governors. If Wen Ruchu took action, it could easily cause unnecessary trouble.

When Zhang San and his men arrived at Zhang Peng’s residence, the governor was still fast asleep in his wife’s room.

It had to be admitted that even though the governor was incompetent and accepted bribes, the misdeeds he committed weren’t too egregious. If he had no other crimes, perhaps he didn’t deserve to die.

So, Zhang San was very gentle in not disturbing the gatekeepers of Zhang Peng’s residence. Instead, he led a dozen martial artists over the wall, entered Mrs. Zhang’s room, and dragged Zhang Peng out of his bed.

"What is the meaning of this? I am a governor of a province! How dare you lay hands on a high-ranking official of the Great Sui’s Imperial Court? You are truly seeking death."

Slap!

Zhang San slapped Zhang Peng, who immediately quieted down.

By this time, the panicked wife had also changed her clothes and came out of the room.

"Zhang Peng, you’re in trouble. Come with us."

Hearing these words, Zhang Peng instantly became flustered.

Clearly, this governor, who had not refrained from committing unlawful acts, felt fear before Zhang San even specified his crimes. Previously, Governor Zhang had knelt, straight and defiant, but now he crumpled onto the ground.

At this moment, hearing the commotion, the housekeeper and many family servants rushed over, and even some guards came running.

Even the wet nurse came over with Zhang Peng’s nine-year-old son in tow.

Everyone surrounded Zhang San and his group. Although no one spoke a word, their faces were fierce, clearly not intending to let Zhang San and his men leave so easily.

Seeing so many people from his household coming over, Zhang Peng regained his confidence. He straightened himself up again after initially collapsing.

It was then that Zhang Peng noticed the fiery red martial character on the clothes of these people and flew into a rage.

"You’re from the Town Martial Office! What gives you the right to arrest me? I am a Fourth Rank governor, and even your Principal Officer ranks lower than me! Do you have the authority to enforce the law?"

Hearing this, the family servants and guards also felt emboldened, and many of them picked up weapons, glaring menacingly at Zhang San and his men.

After shouting, Zhang Peng yelled toward his son, who was not far away in his wife’s arms, "Son, don’t worry, your father stands tall and upright. Nothing will happen to me."

Zhang San glanced at Zhang Peng’s son, then back at Zhang Peng.

"Just by looking at your son’s eyes, I can tell he’s quite clever. Then I look at you, playing the fool; how could he possibly be your biological child."

Hearing this, Zhang Peng got furious, roaring at Zhang San, "You’re jealous of me! You’re all jealous that I have a son! You’re jealous that I became a governor and own such a large house! You’re just envious of me..."

Zhang San coughed lightly and said softly, "Chuan-Yu Road’s Town Martial Office acts on the imperial edict to apprehend Zhang Peng and bring him to the Capital. Why the Ministry of Punishment isn’t sending people and instead, we from the Town Martial Office are here should tell you something about the severity of your crimes, Zhang Peng. Maybe serious enough to warrant death multiple times over, right? As for whether your family will be implicated, I’m not quite sure..."

Hearing this, Zhang Peng was completely dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, the lady at his side quickly called out, "Officer from the Town Martial Office, as for me... cough cough... my son is not that bird reject, Zhang Peng’s. Besides, I’ve also been planning to divorce him recently. If we divorce, his crimes won’t implicate my son and me, right?"

Zhang San replied with a smile, "No, they won’t. Once you’re divorced, you’re two separate families. Naturally, there won’t be any implications."[Note 77]

The wife immediately nodded and shouted at Zhang Peng, "Divorce, let’s divorce right now!"

Hearing this, Zhang Peng was so enraged that he fainted on the spot.

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[Note 77]Legal Trivia

The system of "divorce by mutual consent" first appears in the "Commentaries on the Tang Code," which states, "If husband and wife cannot coexist amicably and divorce by mutual consent, they shall not be sentenced." This means that if a husband and wife indeed cannot live together harmoniously, they may divorce by agreement without incurring legal liability.

In ancient times, during the era when three clans could be punished for the crimes of one, and even nine clans could suffer collective punishment, initially, if your husband’s family committed a crime, you suffered the consequences; if your maiden family broke the law, you also faced repercussions. Over time, the law evolved to define a woman’s legal status as following her husband’s, meaning that after marriage, a woman’s maiden family’s crimes had no bearing on her; she only needed to worry if her husband’s side transgressed.

However, divorce by mutual consent allowed a woman to avoid the repercussions of her husband’s crimes. In this case, it was as if she returned to her maiden family’s side. If someone in the maiden family committed a serious crime, she could still be implicated.