As Sima Lin and Zhang Chao spent nights setting up their plans, a different rumour about the Zhang clan was sweeping up the streets, courtesy of nosy housekeepers watching the Emperor’s entourage enter the Zhang residence and leaving with Zhang Tie at his side.

“It must be a crime!” Some of them said, but Zhang Tie wasn’t in chains and Zhang Chao could be seen eating with Sima Lin from time to time as well. That wasn’t the treatment that someone under investigation will be like.

“Perhaps they approached the Imperial Family for assistance because they are suffering?” Another servant mused. However, as the lower ranked ones murmured in agreement, the lords and merchants knew better. There was no way in hell that the royal family will bail out a small suffering family under any circumstances whatsoever. There must have been something that made a big difference that captured the Imperial Emperor’s favour.

Then, amongst themselves, the merchants and nobles debated.

“Could it be a city or region wide public project that the Zhang clan is spearheading and levying the household under them for? “One mused, but the others shot down the idea quickly. There were far bigger families to levy for any public project. Throughout the country, households can be levied as a form of tax payment for large construction projects such as building cities, or even building dams.

The merchants however, were aware of the huge quantities of purchase in certain materials that made no sense. Bamboo is understandable. However, why were they ordering so many custom made large wooden basins? What were they for? No construction or pet project works out this way.

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Then, an Imperial purchase in the coming days for a massive series of warehouses in the city, which were promptly given to the Zhang family and the various clans almost coughed up blood after their household sizes were cut and the news that the young boy was the one who got promoted and had all their households assigned to him. Moving about, Zhang Chao was surrounded by eagle eyed soldiers as well, that bore the emblem of the Imperial Ever Victorious Army, with soldiers’ hands on their weapons as they eyed any potential threats to the young man and his family.

Some of the martial artistes that the Zhang clan employed to protect the trade routes from bandits and demonic attacks had helped to guard the house. However, most of them have now been reassigned for more work and the household is almost completely replaced with Imperial soldiers guarding. A scaffolding has been raised behind the Zhang household wall, with soldiers carrying bows and arrows keenly observing anyone nearing the house.

Meanwhile, tonight, for dinner, Zhang Chao had used just a tiny bit of the clan’s newfound wealth to lay out the most lavish meal, for not just his family, but for the servants and everyone the clan employed, as well as paying off all their back pay and giving them a huge bonus.

As Zhang Tie raised the cup of rice wine from the Linyu Tavern that they had never been able to afford, he looked at the contents of the cup, smiling softly.

“My son is the best.” He muttered under his breath as he downed the cup, a tear quietly rolling down his cheek as he watched the eager employees devouring their dinner spread.