"I always feel like something is missing in my life."

On the last day of March in Jiangnan, the spring rain silently moistened the earth, falling on the Hua Garden pavilion, gently like the soft waves of lovers gazing at each other. Beneath the pavilion, a couple lay on two very comfortable chairs, talking.

Haitang looked at Fan Xian and shook her head, saying, "Your life has been quite complete. What regrets could you possibly have?"

Fan Xian pondered his past life. It was indeed a life of spirited vigor and reckless abandon. He had money, power, and people. Every enjoyment others could have, he had. Every enjoyment others couldn't achieve, he still had. But for some reason, he was never quite satisfied. He believed he knew how one's life should be spent, but as he lived it, the unnamed yearning in his heart grew heavier.

It had nothing to do with ideals or humanitarianism, those illusory things. He said with a bitter face, "There was once an emperor who, in his senility, reflected on his past and claimed to have ten great achievements, calling himself the 'Ten Complete Elder'... Of course, that emperor was a muddlehead in his youth too. He was an emperor, much more arrogant than I am. But I don't want to be a muddlehead, and I don't believe there truly is such a thing as 'Ten Complete' in this world."

"Do you want to be emperor?" Haitang asked with a teasing smile, uttering a question that no one around Fan Xian, not even his closest confidant Wang Qinian, would dare to ask.

Haitang found Fan Xian to be a remarkable person. Hearing a Northern Qi citizen ask such a treasonous question, he didn't even attempt to hide his thoughts but instead fell directly into deep contemplation. If outsiders saw this, they would surely think Fan Xian harbored disloyal intentions.

"Being emperor is too tiring," Fan Xian said with a headache. "Your emperor, my emperor, they seem to live comfortably, but it's exhausting and draining. There's really no point."

Haitang smiled slightly, puncturing his pretense: "I think you're finding being an imperial envoy is hardly less stressful than being an emperor."

Fan Xian smiled wryly, "An emperor must be able to watch ten thousand people die before him without flinching. I truly can't do that."

Haitang was slightly surprised, "Haven't you always claimed to be ruthless in front of me?"

"Killing a dozen people, killing a hundred people, I can bring myself to do it," Fan Xian said seriously. "But to truly swim in a sea of blood, I don't know if I have the ruthlessness for it."

"So-called quantitative change leads to qualitative change, as I've told you before."

He waved his hand, not wanting to continue this boring topic, and lay back in his chair, carefully listening to the subtle sound of the spring rain nourishing the earth.

The pavilion gradually fell into silence.

…

…

After a while, an official of the Overwatch Council, dressed in lotus-colored robes, silently appeared at the rear entrance of Hua Garden. The rain had soaked his official uniform, giving him an aura of chilling coldness. It was Deng Ziyue, who had just arrived from Kyoto.

Haitang smiled and said, "It seems you're going to be busy again, continuing to plan how to kill fewer people." After saying this, the young woman didn't wait for Fan Xian to reply, and naturally put her hands into her large pockets, dragging her feet, swaying her waist, and left the pavilion with her village girl's gait.

Fan Xian smiled as he watched Haitang's departing figure. In the misty rain, she swayed away lightly. The raindrops dampened the hair at her temples. It seemed this girl hadn't used the true qi of the Heavenly One Path. So-called closeness to nature was indeed natural, but her feet in cloth shoes weren't stained by the water on the ground, so she must have still been using some tricks.

Deng Ziyue waited for Haitang to leave before silently entering the pavilion, saying, "Just like yesterday, the court is still entangled in those Qing laws. Although Song Shiren is sharp-tongued and hasn't been at a disadvantage in court, there's been no substantial progress. As long as the Suzhou government clings to the Qing laws, and Xia Qifei has a will in hand, it's impossible to win this lawsuit."

Fan Xian nodded, indicating that he understood, and then fell into contemplation.

Today was the last day of March, and the Ming family property case, which had caused a sensation in Jiangnan, had already been going on for four days. After the storm of the first day, the subsequent trials had fallen into a stalemate. Although this was expected by Fan Xian, he was still a little impatient from having to listen to the reports of his subordinate officials every day.

On the first day of the court session, Song Shiren skillfully used the will to confirm that Xia Qifei was a descendant of the Ming family. This news immediately spread from Suzhou throughout Jiangnan. Now everyone knew that the Ming family's Seventh Young Master had returned to life and was competing with the Ming family's eldest branch for the family property.

However... the Qing laws were based on the spirit of the scriptures, and the eldest son's natural right to inheritance had long been deeply rooted in people's hearts and clearly written in the legal provisions. It seemed that the will had already played its historical role, and it was difficult to provide much help for Xia Qifei's wishes.

If Xia Qifei wanted to reclaim the Ming family's vast property, it would be equivalent to overturning the rules that people had followed for thousands of years. And this rule was so powerful that it couldn't be overturned by one person. Not only could Fan Xian not do it, but even the Qing emperor was probably wary. If this case broke the eldest son's natural right to inheritance, the impact would be too great...

Fan Xian frowned, suddenly thinking of a very strange thing. If the Ming family's property lawsuit continued to expand, leading to a great debate on the liberation of thought, what about the natural status of that Crown Prince in the palace?

He gasped. This plan was drafted by Yan Bingyun and approved by Chen Pingping. That cunning old cripple couldn't have failed to consider the subsequent impact of this matter. Could it be that… the old cripple had received secret instructions from the emperor, and was starting to shake the public opinion surrounding the Crown Prince's natural inheritance?

The Ming family's affairs in Jiangnan were big, but if they affected Kyoto, then things would become even bigger, so much so that Fan Xian didn't want to see this situation at all. Although, because of his mother, Fan Xian couldn't just watch the Crown Prince ascend the throne and the empress who wanted to kill him become the Empress Dowager, in the current situation, directly provoking the Crown Prince might lead him to abandon his past grudges and unite with the Eldest Princess and the Second Prince – Fan Xian didn't want to see such a result for the time being.

Fan Xian fell silent. His original instruction to Song Shiren was to try to drag out the lawsuit, making the case as sensational as possible, the bigger the impact, the better. Now he realized that behind this matter was hiding some of the old cripple's thoughts.

He trusted Chen Pingping, but… Chen Pingping always seemed to be protecting him for some reason, and hadn't revealed many things to him. And Fan Xian was someone who was very willing to learn to understand the situation and control it.

"It seems that after the Ming family's affairs temporarily quiet down, I really need to go to Wuzhou," he sighed. He increasingly felt that his father's arrangement for him to go to Wuzhou to see his father-in-law was such a wise decision. It seemed that his father had long known that he would have some doubts about the situation in the court, and now that he was far away from Kyoto, the only one who could truly help him solve the problem face-to-face was that Prime Minister.

Deng Ziyue couldn't guess Fan Xian's true worries, but he could also see that the Director had some different ideas about the Ming family's property lawsuit. He frowned and asked for instructions: "Should we let Song Shiren settle the lawsuit? Anyway, Xia Qifei has now been confirmed as the Ming family's Seventh Son. In a few days, the Overwatch Council can come forward and let him offer sacrifices to his ancestors and return to the clan. According to Qing law, the Ming family must give him some share, although those shares are not very significant, but it has also achieved your previous goal of successfully entering the Ming family."

Fan Xian listened to Deng Ziyue's analysis, feeling slightly comforted. It was indeed nice to have a confidant by his side, but he didn't answer his question. Instead, he asked carefully, "How is the arrangement for the Fourth Bureau to arrange a meeting between Xia Qifei... oh, now he should be called Ming Qingcheng, how is the arrangement for Ming Qingcheng to meet with the Ming family's Fourth?"

Since Xia Qifei wanted to be like a thorn in the Ming family's throat, of course he had to collude with some dissidents within the Ming family. Fan Xian didn't have a very detailed understanding of the dark dealings of wealthy families, but he didn't know how many times he had watched Hong Kong TVB dramas in his previous life.

Deng Ziyue reported: "We've already made contact. Xia Qifei will meet with the Ming family's Fourth at the beginning of next month."

Fan Xian nodded, and then began to talk about the previous question, gently biting his itchy inner lip, and said calmly: "Still let Song Shiren continue to fight, keep fighting this lawsuit! The more sensational it is, the better... Even if we can't win, we can't lose! Put pressure on the Suzhou government, don't let them forcibly close the case, keep fighting until the gentry and common people all over the world start thinking about that question!"

Deng Ziyue raised his head and said with slight astonishment: "Sir, what question?"

Fan Xian realized that he had slipped up, smiled, and after thinking for a while, he didn't intend to hide it from this confidant in front of him, and said: "Let everyone in the world start thinking about whether the eldest son is naturally entitled to inherit the family property."

Deng Ziyue, who was now the director of the Qinian Group, understood everything about Fan Xian very clearly. Hearing what the Director said, he pondered for a moment, and tasted the meaning of it. Greatly shocked, he clasped his fist and dissuaded him: "Sir, this is not allowed... If you let the court in Kyoto suspect you of... that, it will not end well."

Fan Xian lowered his eyes slightly and said: "Ziyue, you seem to have forgotten my identity. My surname is Fan, don't worry too much. As for suspecting me... I'm afraid the nobles in the palace will only suspect that I, as their teacher, have exceeded my duties."

He had already figured it out. Anyway, he would have to face the Eastern Palace sooner or later. At this time, he would first follow Chen Pingping's intentions and prick at the other party... Anyway, with his current power and status, as long as he didn't rebel, no one could do anything to him. What's more, even if someone thought he was creating this public opinion for his own future, more people should think that Fan Xian was making arrangements for the Third Prince.

"Don't report this matter to Director Chen," Fan Xian ordered: "It's just a small matter."

Deng Ziyue couldn't hide his fear at all. He thought with a wry smile that the propaganda offensive for seizing the throne had officially begun. Was it still just a small matter?

Fan Xian didn't know what he thought of, and suddenly laughed: "Song Shiren is just a litigator, can he really be the fulcrum for levering the Earth? Perhaps I've overcomplicated this matter. Arguing about Qing law in court probably doesn't have much to do with the old rules of the world."

Deng Ziyue didn't understand the words "Earth" and "fulcrum," but he guessed the general meaning and replied with a wry smile: "That Song Shiren met Chen Bochang, it can be said that a general met a good opponent. The two sides are fighting with sparks flying, and they are not just going around in circles on Qing law... If the content they are arguing in court really spreads, I'm afraid it will really make people think more about that question."

Fan Xian became interested: "Oh? Then I have to go and see. Go and call the Third Prince and Da Bao. Later, the whole family will go to Suzhou Prefecture to see the excitement."

Deng Ziyue wryly accepted the order.

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Under the adornment of fine rain, three all-black carriages left Hua Garden and slowly drove towards the street closest to the Suzhou Prefecture government office. The Hua Garden group was going for lunch. At this time, the Suzhou government was also temporarily resting, so everyone was not in a hurry.

Although it was the food street closest to the Suzhou Prefecture government office, it was actually still a bit far away. Sitting on the third floor of the Suzhou branch of Xinfeng Pavilion, Fan Xian stood leaning on the railing, looking at the direction of Suzhou Prefecture through layers of rain, and said angrily: "I'm not a telescope, how can I see the excitement?"

Deng Ziyue had previously sent someone to book the floor, and was now arranging the defenses. Hearing the Director's rebuke, he couldn't help but smile wryly and said: "Director, this is already the closest... Although it is said to be a family outing to see the excitement, but it is not good to drive three large carriages to the Suzhou government office, alarming the government and shocking the people, it is really not good."

Fan Xian sighed and said: "If I had known this, I would have eaten Yang Jimei's chef at home, why bother to come out in the rain."

As he was talking, someone tugged at the corner of his clothes. He looked back and saw that it was the adorable Da Bao. He couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Da Bao, what's wrong?"

Da Bao grinned and said: "Xiao Xian... this... also... has Jie Tang Bao."

Da Bao pointed his thick fingers at the table, where a steamer basket was placed, with a single large white steamed bun inside, steaming with heat, and a fresh fragrance gradually overflowing.

Fan Xian sighed, sat next to Da Bao, and while using chopsticks to separate the hot steamed bun, he took a spoon and scooped the soup from the bun into Da Bao's bowl, and said with a smile: "This is also Xinfeng Pavilion, but it's the Suzhou branch."

The Xinfeng Pavilion manager, who had been carefully serving by the side, quickly said ingratiatingly: "Yes, Young Master Lin, although Jiangnan is far away, the taste is no different from Kyoto. Please try it."

Da Bao mumbled a few unclear words and began to attack the steamed bun in front of him, leaving the manager out in the cold.

Fan Xian was a little curious and asked: "Manager, how can you call out the words 'Young Master Lin'?"

The manager chuckled twice and said flatteringly: "Director, what are you saying? In the Kyoto main store, you often brought Young Master Lin to eat at Xinfeng Pavilion. This is a great honor for our store. The old manager always mentions this matter with great pride and admiration. Although I often stay in Suzhou, I also know the origin of your relationship with our Xinfeng Pavilion, how dare I not serve you wholeheartedly?"

Fan Xian personally managed a place in Kyoto, and the closest place to an office was Xinfeng Pavilion, so he often took Da Bao to eat their Jie Tang Baozi. At that time, the world's custom was that whenever powerful people ate, they would make a big show, holding a large banquet. There were really not many people of Fan Xian's status who were so interested in Jie Tang Baozi and Zha Jiang Mian. Therefore, although Xinfeng Pavilion's taste was extremely good, because of its home-style, even if it opened three branches in Qing Kingdom, its reputation was high, but its business had always been ordinary.

It was not until later, because it often received Fan Xian and Lin Da Bao, that Xinfeng Pavilion gradually improved its grade in Kyoto, attracting countless students and scholars who wanted to sit in the seat that the Poet Immortal had once sat in, and to taste the steamed bun that Xiaofan was thinking about, which made the old manager of Xinfeng Pavilion overjoyed.

This manager of the Suzhou branch naturally knew that Fan Xian was his distinguished guest, and of course, he was full of flattery, and he was especially attentive to spread some seasonings to remove the fishy smell, which made Fan Xian extremely comfortable. For a time, even the depression of not being able to see the show in Suzhou Prefecture was mostly dissipated.

...

...

Fan Xian was eating noodles, Da Bao was gnawing on steamed buns, but the Third Prince was eating a bowl of Tangyuan with a stability that was extremely inconsistent with his age, Si Si led a few little maids to drink two bowls of porridge, and then stood under the eaves, watching the rain falling from the sky, reaching out of the eaves to catch it, laughing happily, so lively.

Fan Xian never cared much about his servants, so these maids were very lively. Listening to the laughter behind him, his mood also improved. He waved his hand and summoned Deng Ziyue, saying: "Suzhou Prefecture should have started already, send someone to listen, it is best to copy some to see."

Deng Ziyue nodded and went to arrange manpower.

Fan Xian waved his hand again to let Gao Da and several Tiger Guards go to eat next door, and then turned back to continue the work of the bowl of noodles, which naturally could not avoid robbing a piece of minced meat from Da Bao's plate again, Da Bao still did not make any noise as usual, the big man expressed his little resentment.

Haitang didn't know where she had gone. At this time, in the Xinfeng Pavilion, there were all Fan Xian's subordinates, servants, and relatives. He was relaxed and happy to enjoy the rain, picking up the white noodles, and throwing all the thoughts in his heart away.

Discovering that Da Bao had finished eating, Fan Xian asked gently if he wanted more, Da Bao shook his head, and Fan Xian took out a handkerchief from his arms and carefully wiped the oil stains from Da Bao's mouth.

The Third Prince looked at this scene and felt a little surprised, a strange look flashed in his eyes.

The Tiger Guards at the next table were also stunned.

Fan Xian's care for Da Bao was well known to the world, but when they really saw this scene, there were still many people who could not associate this Fan Xian with the ruthless and sharp-witted power minister of the Overwatch Council. In the past, when eating at Xinfeng Pavilion, this scene had once moved Deng Ziyue and touched Mu Tie. Today, those Tiger Guards and the Third Prince may also have some new views on Fan Xian.

It was definitely not simply "love the house and its crow" to be so attentive to a demented brother-in-law. Although Fan Xian really loved and respected his wife - if these expressions in the details were all actions used by Fan Xian to disguise himself and to buy people's hearts, no one would believe it. To do it sincerely like this for many years, that person, if he was not a great villain, was a great saint and great sage.

And which one was Fan Xian?

...

...

In the rainy season in Jiangnan, it is never possible to produce the saying that spring rain is as precious as oil, so the fine rain is getting bigger and bigger, and God unreservedly nourishes and irrigates the earth.

Fan Xian squinted his eyes and looked at the rain outside the eaves, but his mind had turned to other places. The court report said clearly that the precipitation in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River this year was not very abundant. Although it would have some impact on the re-cultivation of those disaster areas, at least there was no need to worry about the terrible monster of the spring flood for the time being. In this way, the matter of repairing the river works can proceed smoothly. At this time, Yang Wanli should have just arrived in Kyoto to report, and it will probably take some time to get to the River Transport Governor's Office.

As for the silver needed for the river works... this year's internal treasury bidding was 80% more than in previous years. The number on the surface had been sealed in the treasury, and after a series of complex procedures, it began to be transported to Kyoto, first entering the internal treasury, and then being taken out of the imperial treasury by the emperor's imperial decree, and then sent to the River Transport Governor's Office.

And in secret, with the full cooperation of the Overwatch Council and the Ministry of Revenue, and after the careful accounting of the old officials sent by Fan Xian's father, a large sum of silver had begun to be sent directly to the river transport needs through different channels, and the names used had also been prepared. In this large sum of silver, a part was the share squeezed out of the internal treasury bid silver and the money stored in the Transportation Department, and a large part was the silver that Fan Xian had temporarily borrowed from the Little Emperor of Northern Qi through Haitang.

Anyway, those silver were stored in the Taiping Qianzhuang, and Fan Xian would use them first, as for the return... that would have to wait until Xia Qifei and Fan Sizhe in the north had opened up the link, and slowly returned them with the goods smuggled from the internal treasury.

...

...

Although Fan Xian had done enough to cover up these matters, and the matters related to the Northern Qi Emperor were even more tightly covered up, and he would never let the Kyoto court in Qing Kingdom hear any rumors, Fan Xian had already mentioned the matter of transporting silver to the river transport in the secret memorial to the emperor. Fan Xian had no selfish motives in this matter, he did not pocket an ounce of silver, and the whole matter was operating secretly, and Fan Xian could not invite a few strands of love for the people from this matter... all the benefits created were all obtained by the Qing people, and ultimately, the emperor got the benefits, and the emperor naturally acquiesced to this matter.

Now, the only question that Fan Xian needs to explain to the old emperor is - how did he get his hands on this large sum of silver.

Since the big gold owner of the Northern Qi Emperor cannot be said, a very good reason is needed. Fan Xian had already made arrangements for this matter at the beginning of the planning. A part was attributed to the bribes earned from official operations in the past two years, a part was attributed to the benefits gained from subverting the Cui family a few years ago, and a part was attributed to the exploitation of the land in the internal treasury transfer department after going to Jiangnan.

If there is still a discrepancy when accounting with the emperor in the future, Fan Xian still has the last trick, which is to say that the silver was left to him by Wu Zhu.

The emperor will probably not go to Wu Zhu to confront him. If the river transport is really good, maybe the emperor will be happy and use this year's rich internal treasury bid silver to return a part to Fan Xian.

Regarding the Ming family, Fan Xian naturally also has back-up arrangements. The investigation work is slowly progressing, but it is currently covered up by that dazzling lawsuit. And for Fan Xian, dealing with the Ming family is indeed a long-term job. He can only gradually nibble away at it. If the methods are too fierce and the Ming family is too oppressed, affecting the stability of Jiangnan, I am afraid that Xue Qing, the governor of Jiangnan, will be the first to stand up and oppose it.

For the rule of the dynasty, stability has always been the requirement that overrides everything.

The survival of the Ming family does not actually depend on the lawsuits in Jiangnan, but on the struggles in the palace in Kyoto. If the masters of the Ming family - the Eldest Princess and the princes - fall in the struggle for power, the Ming family will naturally have difficulty protecting their basket of eggs. If Fan Xian loses, the Ming family will naturally raise their eyebrows again, and Xia Qifei will once again be like a lost dog fleeing everywhere.

If Fan Xian and the Eldest Princess still maintain the current state of neither up nor down, then the Ming family will only be like this, being oppressed by Fan Xian to eke out their lives, but will never collapse suddenly, living stubbornly and humbly, struggling and waiting.

"Sir."

A soft shout pulled Fan Xian out of his contemplation. He shook his head a little drowsily, and then realized that the sky outside was much darker than before, not only because the rain was heavier, but also because the day was late. He then realized that he had spent so much time thinking. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that Haitang was right, his life was no easier than the emperor's.

Taking a look at Si Si, who was already tired of playing and was napping on the railing, Fan Xian signaled a little maid to put a piece of clothing on her, and then took a look at Da Bao, who was twisting uncomfortably with the Third Prince, and then cheered up, took out the addiction of watching a play, and said to Deng Ziyue: "How is it over there?"

Deng Ziyue smiled and handed the paper in his hand, and leaned to his ear and said: "This is the on-the-spot debate... Sir, do you want the Eighth Division to put these debates together and publish them to the world?"

This was a very poisonous and bold idea. It seemed that Deng Ziyue had finally recognized Fan Xian's idea, and knew that the Overwatch Council could no longer maintain its neutrality in the matter of seizing the throne, as it had in previous years.

Fan Xian laughed and scolded: "It's just rumors, that's all. If this is printed into a book, wouldn't the palace hate me to death?"

Hearing the words "palace," the Third Prince on the other table looked over here. Fan Xian pretended not to see it, and sighed: "Speaking of the Eighth Division... there are too few people in Jiangnan, and that matter has not had any effect until today."

This was talking about the action of publicizing Xia Qifei's story in Jiangnan. Fan Xian originally thought that with the Eighth Division starting, he could fight the Second Prince without any ability to fight back in the rumor war in Kyoto. Now, with Xia Qifei's tragic story of losing his mother and being driven out as the script, and the judgment of Suzhou Prefecture as evidence, he could have made a splash in Jiangnan, destroying all the good-person images that the Ming family had created over the years. He did not expect that the Ming family's strength in Jiangnan was really deep. The Eighth Division had too few people in Jiangnan, and the Ming family also sent many storytellers outside to shout, anyway, they just linked this property lawsuit with Xia Qifei's underworld background and the conspiracy of the adults in Kyoto.

In comparison, Fan Xian's reputation was much worse. Although the people of Jiangnan believed that Xia Qifei was the Ming family's Seventh Son, they all believed that the reason why Xia Qifei suddenly jumped out this year was because the officials of Kyoto, represented by Fan Xian... wanted to oppress the good people in Jiangnan.

Fan Xian found it funny when he thought of this. It seemed that Ming Qingda, the Ming family master who had been pretending to be sick in bed, really had a very detailed understanding of his style of behavior, and the response methods and speed were also extremely accurate and fast. Ming Qingda was indeed not simple.

With the general trend in hand, it was not in Jiangnan, so Fan Xian could easily regard the dispute with the Ming family as a game. He did not have too much hostility towards Ming Qingda, but rather a faint admiration. After he read the paper presented by Deng Ziyue, he could not help but laugh out loud.

There are many wonderful people in Jiangnan, and Song Shiren, who came from Kyoto, is not bad either. The lawsuit in this Suzhou Prefecture has gradually deviated from the scope of Qing law, and has begun to develop in the direction that Chen Pingping hoped. The two sides cited scriptures and claimed to be from the former Wei Dynasty, and clasped their fists and said Zhuang Dajia. Where is it like a lawsuit, for the concept of eldest son inheritance that is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, the two sides are like opening a pre-exhibition lecture!

Fan Xian shook his head with a smile, and a scene of a tense but absurd trial in Suzhou Prefecture seemed to appear before him.

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On the public hall of Suzhou Prefecture, the debate was still going on. This was already the fourth day. The main combatants on both sides were a little tired after repeated use of their brains, so the intervals between the opening of the hall were also much longer than on the first day. Before they could say much, someone would take the lead in requesting a rest.

The Zhizhou of Suzhou also understood that Xia Qifei's side wanted to drag it out, but he had no choice. He had already received an oral instruction from the Imperial Envoy, telling him to handle the case fairly and not to close the case randomly... Since he could not close the case randomly, he had to let the two sides in the hall debate.

But... one Song Shiren, one Chen Bochang, were both famous speakers. Letting them debate, I am afraid that they could say it for a whole year!

The Zhizhou of Suzhou also saw it clearly and took it lightly, so whenever the two sides requested a rest, he would allow it with a smile, and also ordered the yamen servants to bring stools for both sides to sit on, and he would not be short of things like tea and water.

Ming Lanshi sat on the stool with a livid face. These days, this Ming family young master was also dragged down miserably. He couldn't help with the family business at all. Those uncles were purely useless wastes. However, after the internal treasury bidding, the matter of purchasing goods from northern Fujian required important figures in the clan, so the father, who had been claiming to be ill in bed, had to stand up again to preside over these matters.

The Ming family knew that the Imperial Envoy wanted to disrupt their family's formation with this lawsuit, so that their family would be a little overwhelmed in the internal treasury market. However, the Ming family did not have any good way to deal with it, so they had to accompany the other party all the time... Anyway, looking at the situation, the lawsuit might have to be dragged on for a year, but it would be good if they did not lose.

At this time, it was the Ming family's turn to speak. Chen Bochang, a famous litigator in Jiangnan, looked a little pale. It seemed that he had spent a lot of energy these days. He took a hot towel from his student's hand and wiped his face hard, cheered up again, walked to the hall, and said solemnly:

"The ancients said that there are five relationships - affection between father and son, righteousness between ruler and minister, distinction between husband and wife, order between young and old, and trust between friends. Sir, since Mr. Xia has been identified as the Ming family's Seventh Young Master, but the affection between father and son has no two ends with the Ming family's eldest son..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Shiren on the other side had already interjected in a strange tone: "It's not Mr. Xia, it's Mr. Ming, don't say it wrong again, otherwise after the case is over, Ming Qingcheng, the Seventh Master Ming, can continue to sue you."

Song Shiren's face was not very good either. His eyes were a little sunken. He came to Jiangnan alone this time. He didn't have time to bring all his bookboys and students. Although there were scribes from the Overwatch Council to help, it was always difficult to find evidence and scriptures that were beneficial to him in the pile of old papers. The other party was a local litigator, and he didn't know how many people were helping him behind him, so after fighting for four days in a row, even the world's number one litigator could not hold on.

Listening to Song Shiren's words, Chen Bochang was not in a hurry either. He smiled and bowed to Xia Qifei to apologize, and continued: "But the four words 'order between young and old' have to be carefully considered. Since Ming Qingda, the Master Ming, is the eldest son of the eldest son, of course he has the right to dispose of the Ming family's property."

He continued to say loudly: "The Book of Rites has four systems of mourning clothes, the sky has no two suns, the earth has no two masters, the country has no two rulers, and the family has no two honors."

Chen Bochang became more and more energetic as he spoke, and his voice became more and more impassioned: "It has been like this since ancient times, how can it be slightly changed? Qing law has long been set, why should Mr. Xia... Ming continue to entangle in this? Please, sir, make a decision as soon as possible."

Song Shiren stood up with some difficulty, smiled in Xia Qifei's concerned eyes, walked to the hall and said proudly: "The so-called family property is nothing more than the two words 'inheritance' and 'division of property'. Mr. Chen's previous words, I have no objection to them, but inheritance is one thing, and division of property is another. The old Master Ming also had a title of nobility in those years, and now it has been inherited by Ming Qingda. Mr. Ming Qingcheng has no doubt about this, but inheritance only talks about size and嫡庶, and division of property has another saying."

Chen Bochang said with slight anger: "Inheritance is the guarantee of division of property, the position is clear, and the right of division of property will naturally emerge."

Inheritance and division of property are the two most important parts of inheritance. Song Shiren sneered and said: "But the division of property is the basis of inheritance, you said Qing law before, and I will also say Qing law!"

He clapped the golden fan in his hand and said loudly: "Qing law edited the note, the 34th small article clearly states: family affairs are governed by the elders, and family property is public property! My employer has no opinion on family affairs, but this family property is public property, of course it should be carefully analyzed. As for how to analyze it, since there is the will of the old Master Ming here, of course it should be based on the former elder!"

Chen Bochang was angry, how could there be such a rigid reason to separate inheritance and division of property?

"Qing law also says: if the cohabiting elders should divide the family property unfairly, their crime will be punished according to the rules of the younger generations privately using the family property, the second ten thousand strings of cash, twenty strokes of the staff!" Song Shiren coldly looked at Ming Lanshi, and said word by word: "My employer was driven out of the family since he was a child, does this count as deliberately unfair? If it is twenty thousand strings of cash and twenty strokes of the staff... the Ming family has more than two hundred thousand strings of cash? I see how many butts the Ming family has that can be beaten!"

Ming Lanshi stood up in great anger.

But Song Shiren changed direction again, smiled and bowed to the Zhizhou in the hall, and then said: "This is Qing Huidian, Ministry of Punishment, the subordinate privately used the property, the article recorded in the comment, sir, you also came from a law department, you should know that the words of the people are not wrong."

Without waiting for the Ming family to respond, Song Shiren said proudly again: "Speaking of law, I still have one, Qing law has clearly stated in the comments on marriage, that if they live together, they should be divided, and those who are not fair will be counted, and the stolen goods will be reduced by three grades! What crime is this? This is a serious crime of theft."

Chen Bochang narrowed his eyes and greatly admired this litigator from Kyoto. A simple and incomparable family property lawsuit was forcibly cut into two aspects, inheritance and division of property, and then like a monkey, he jumped back and forth in this gap, approaching step by step. Although he firmly stood on his position with the Qing law scriptures, he really could not imagine that the other party would remember the small articles of those laws many years ago so clearly.

The Qing laws that Song Shiren said just now were all things that the court forgot to change when it revised the laws. I am afraid that they had already disappeared in some dark places of the book pavilion where even the mice were too lazy to pick them up. At this time, they were so carefully found by the other party, and they were used openly in the court - this litigator is really powerful!

Song Shiren'