Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 295 - 284: Why Does the Crown Prince Want to Trip Me?

Chapter 295: Chapter 284: Why Does the Crown Prince Want to Trip Me?

Everyone watched in astonishment as Zhang San closely followed the Pharaoh out.

How could this man be so bold?

Wasn’t he afraid that the Pharaoh would turn around and slap him?

At this moment, Chief Qian, from the Town Demon Office, coughed towards Zhang San and scolded, "How can you be so disrespectful? Don’t you know that after the court session, everyone leaves according to their rank? It’s not your turn to follow right behind the Pharaoh!"

After realizing his faux pas, Zhang San gave a deliberate "Oh" and continued to follow right behind the Pharaoh, without any intention of stepping aside.

Meanwhile, Zhang San also said, "So that’s how it is, I really didn’t know. It’s my first time at court, no experience."

"Chief Qian, you too, why didn’t you remind me earlier? You always speak a beat too slow, that won’t do! Have you not realized you suffer because you always talk slower than others?"

Qian Shanxiu had indeed noticed.

Previously, if only he had spoken sooner about not prioritizing blame but resolving the issue, he wouldn’t have been so embarrassed by Zhang San.

But what irked Qian Shanxiu, even more, was that these words had come from Zhang San’s mouth.

However, although Zhang San said so, when he walked, he deliberately kept his distance from the Pharaoh.

After all, Zhang San didn’t know how to leave, and the Pharaoh wasn’t initiating conversation with him either.

Zhang San wasn’t sure whether the Pharaoh did not want to expose their relationship here or had other plans.

Thus, Zhang San slowed his pace and soon walked out of the great hall with some other officials.

However, Zhang San noticed that everyone was avoiding something as they left.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that nobody was walking through the spacious middle because someone was kneeling there — the Crown Prince who had been sent out to kneel by the Emperor.

So immediately, Zhang San approached the Magistrate of the Metropolitan prefecture and greeted him with a smile.

"You must be Magistrate Shen Wen, right? I am Zhang San, and I truly have long admired your reputation."

Shen Wen gave Zhang San a glance. Although he did not think much of him, he really dared not offend him.

The words previously said about the Crown Prince seemingly seemed to curry favor in front of the Emperor, but on closer reflection, they were secretly targeting the Crown Prince.

Now with the Crown Prince kneeling outside, Zhang San was a substantial reason for it.

So Shen Wen did not really want to talk to Zhang San, but with Zhang San coming over to talk in front of so many officials, and considering that Zhang San was on official duty and would interact with him later, he could not just pretend not to hear.

"Military Chief Zhang, I too have long admired your reputation!"

Internally, Shen Wen scoffed.

You say you’ve heard of me, yet you probably don’t even know my name, do you?

Zhang San, smiling, said, "So Magistrate Shen, you’ve admired me for a long while? Then tell me, what deeds of mine have you heard?"

Shen Wen was astonished.

Does this man even know how to make conversation?

Doesn’t he know I’m just being polite?

And do you even know my name?

Everyone knows to call Qian Shanxiu "Chief Qian," but you address me with just three words "Magistrate of the Metropolitan prefecture"?

Don’t I, surnamed Shen, deserve face?

"Ah... let’s not rush this topic, we’ll slowly... hey!?"

Before Shen Wen could finish his sentence, he saw the Zhang San walking beside him suddenly step on something, causing him to stagger.

Magistrate Shen Wen instinctively went to support Zhang San.

However, just as he had steadied Zhang San, he noticed that what Zhang San had just stepped on was actually the Crown Prince’s knee, who was kneeling on the ground.

At that moment, Shen Wen panicked.

The surrounding ministers were even more panicked.

Several ministers immediately ran over to see how the Crown Prince, who had been stepped on and had fallen over, was doing.

Shen Wen’s face turned pale with fright.

Had I known you were stepping on the Crown Prince, why would I have helped you?

"I’m closest, should I go and help the Crown Prince up?"

"If the Crown Prince notices that I didn’t help him up earlier but helped you instead, wouldn’t these small shoes be worn to death in the future?"

So, Shen Wen immediately let go of Zhang San and went over to attend to the Crown Prince.

Unfortunately, belated concern was cheaper than grass.

The Crown Prince shook off Shen Wen’s hand and then knelt down again on the ground.

Although he was punished by kneeling, as the Crown Prince, he could not lose his dignity.

At that moment, Zhang San bowed to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince sneered inwardly, "Are you trying to take this opportunity to apologize? Don’t think that I will forgive you for that!"

"Why did the Crown Prince trip me?"

After saying this, Zhang San glanced at Shen Wen and added another phrase.

"Fortunately, the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture cared about me and came over to support me immediately."

At this moment, the Crown Prince really wanted to jump up, grab Zhang San by the collar, and beat him up!

How could there be such shameless people in this world!

"It was clearly you who weren’t careful while walking and stepped on me!" the Crown Prince shouted at Zhang San with complete loss of composure.

Zhang San casually oh-ed in response.

"So that’s what happened. Sorry about that, it’s my first time entering the Imperial Palace, I didn’t notice someone under my feet. The ignorant are innocent, the Crown Prince wouldn’t take advantage of his status to trouble me, right?"

"I..."

If possible, the Crown Prince really wanted to trouble Zhang San to death.

But the Crown Prince knew, with so many ministers present, whatever he said or did would later reach his father’s ears.

"I won’t mind it."

Zhang San nodded in relief and then added, "The Crown Prince won’t seek revenge or send someone to assassinate me later, right?"

The Crown Prince grinned and said, "I’m not that kind of person."

Only then did Zhang San completely relax and he said with a smile, "Worthy of being the Crown Prince, though not at all reasonable, but still won’t bother with someone like me, a country bumpkin. Truly magnanimous."

After speaking, Zhang San turned and left, leaving the numerous greatly shocked ministers at the side.

Although the Crown Prince had previously not treated Zhang San well, the Crown Prince is a monarch and they are ministers; how dare a minister speak to the Crown Prince like this, are you mad?

Little did they know, just after Zhang San took a few steps, he muttered to himself, "It’s just that this knee is too soft, I almost fell when I stepped on it."

At this moment, the Crown Prince really wanted to find someone to lend him a sword and chop Zhang San to pieces on the spot!

At that time, at the entrance of the Imperial Palace, the Minister of Punishment, Shen Wei, followed closely behind the Pharaoh.

"Pharaoh, Zhang San today killed thirteen of my men from the Ministry of Punishment in the street, how should this matter be handled?"

Although the Ministry of Punishment had people from other groups besides those from Legalism, overall, the Ministry of Punishment was completely under Legalism.

Thus, no matter who from the Ministry was involved, it actually brought shame to Legalism.

The Pharaoh glanced at Shen Wei and said with a laugh, "You are the Minister of Punishment, naturally, it’s for you to decide. I’m old, my teeth aren’t good anymore, what else can I say. You decide for yourself."

Saying this, the Pharaoh got into his carriage.

Seeing the Pharaoh express no opinion, Shen Wei could only leave quietly on his own.

Not far outside the Imperial Palace, Zhang San was stopped by a carriage driving up beside him.

The Pharaoh lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked at Zhang San outside, "I need to invite you up, don’t I?"

Zhang San immediately jumped onto the carriage and climbed into the compartment.

Just entering, he saw the Yellow Glutinous Rice Wine and peanuts prepared by the Pharaoh.

Master and disciple met, not speaking at first, just raised their glasses and drained them in one go.

Watching the Pharaoh eating peanuts, Zhang San laughed and said, "Master, your teeth are quite good! I noticed when you were eating lamb at my teacher’s house before, your teeth don’t seem like those of an old man at all."

The Pharaoh laughed heartily and said, "Anyone who thinks I’m old and my teeth aren’t good must be a fool. Come on, let’s have another!"