Chapter 279 Family Matters
The lights in Xu's mansion were bright, but there were only a few people in the entire main hall.

"Sir, everything is fine in the mansion. These are the accounts."

"The thirteen manors in the suburbs of Beijing can pay 3,600 taels of silver every month."

"There are thirty-five shops in the city, earning more than twenty-seven thousand taels of silver every month."

"Your Majesty and Concubine Duan receive various rewards every month, which are enough to cover the expenses of the mansion."

"In addition, His Majesty showed mercy and sent someone to give Zhong'er a contract when he was one year old."

"contract?"

Xu Mujun asked curiously: "What kind of contract is this?"

"A contract for 10% of the shares of the First Steel Plant."

Zhong Chun hesitated and said, "The First Steel Factory was established by Your Majesty five years ago. It mainly produces steel. Every year, the stock distribution alone earns more than 300,000 taels of silver..."

Xu Mujun sighed and said, "Your Majesty, I will never forget your great kindness!"

"It won't be long, Zhong Chun, take Zhong'er down to rest."

"Yes."

Zhong Chun stood up, but did not leave. Instead, he whispered, "Ying'er, take the young master down to rest."

"Yes! Madam!"

The maid Ying'er agreed and left with the yawning Xu Jingzhong.

After all, Xu Jingzhong was only a three-year-old child and was already very sleepy.

But even so, he still insisted: "Grandpa, Zhonger will come to play with you tomorrow, you promised to teach me martial arts~"

"Don't worry, Zhong'er, Grandpa will be waiting for you tomorrow!"

Xu Mujun turned and looked at Zhong Chun and said, "Zhong Chun, is there anything else important?"

Zhong Chun knelt down and said, "Father, this matter concerns the future of our Xu family. Please ask the attendants to leave."

"You all go on."

Xu Mujun glanced at Zhong Chun and raised his hand.

"Yes, General!"

The housekeepers, guards, and others who were waiting nearby all retreated.

Even Xiong Gang stood up and said, "Brother Xu has something important to deal with, so I will take my leave first."

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Bear."

"But Brother Xu, I hit it off with your grandson right away. When he turns five, I will personally test his spiritual roots."

Xiong Gang said: "If Jingzhong has spiritual roots, I hope to accept him as a disciple of my Wanshou Wujiang Sect. How do you think?"

Xu Mujun hesitated and said, "Zhong'er is Xu's grandson, but he is also from Dayu. I have to report this matter to His Majesty before making a decision."

"Ugh……"

Xiong Gang shook his head and said, "Xu Mujun, you are really... pedantic and foolishly loyal!"

After saying this, he turned around and left Xu's house without caring about the expressions of the two people.

Xu Mujun also sighed: "Zhong Chun, finish your talk."

"Yes, father-in-law!"

Zhong Chun organized his words and said, "Since the eunuch was appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army by His Majesty three years ago, many clansmen have been recruited to the mansion."

"And, moreover, you took the initiative to remove the armor and the disabled soldiers under your command and asked them to get official positions. Many of our clansmen were also rewarded for this."

"Most of the tribesmen are able to abide by the law and live a stable life."

"But... there are also many members of the clan who rely on the name of my General's Mansion to bully the common people, and the government also favors those members because of the power of the General's Mansion."

"In the past two years, some of my Xu family members have caused a lot of trouble in the capital, but they were all suppressed by the government. My daughter-in-law and I also spent a lot of money to appease the victims."

"But the reputation of my general's mansion has also been cursed by the people of Beijing because of these unworthy descendants..."

Xu Mujun took a deep breath and said, "This matter... I can also think of it."

"How many people are there?"

Zhong Chun hesitated and said, "In fact, the things that the disciples of the clan did were not very serious. They were just not doing their jobs properly, being idle, and spending their time drinking and partying."

"In serious cases, it's just opening a casino, gang fighting, or jealousy."

"But some people have committed murders..."

"Huh? Murder!"

Xu Mujun's pupils shrank slightly and he said, "Who is it? Tell me in detail!"

"Yes...father-in-law."

Zhong Chun whispered, "In the twelfth year of Zhengyong, the eldest grandson of the eldest uncle, Xu Jinghong, got drunk in Yuhuafang and beat a scholar who was going to Beijing to take the imperial examination to death."

"There are witnesses and evidences for this matter. At that time, my daughter-in-law thought Xu Jinghong would be convicted for this, but I don't know what my uncle did, but he was spared the death penalty and only sentenced to exile." "There is also a branch disciple, Xu Zhanbing, who also got drunk and fought with others in the street, killing innocent passers-by, and was also sentenced to exile."

"But he still returned to the capital under the protection of the elders of the clan. Three days later, the victim's house caught fire and all five members of the family were burned to death..."

"boom!!!"

Before Zhong Chun finished speaking, Xu Mujun slammed the table, smashing the entire table into pieces.

"Damn...!"

At this moment, Xu Mujun was like an angry lion.

"The people in our clan are so bold!!!"

Zhong Chun smiled bitterly and said, "Eunuch, these are just the things on the surface."

"What my daughter-in-law is afraid of is that someone is involved in the fight for the throne..."

"Seize the direct descendant?"

Xu Mujun gritted his teeth and said, "Are they all idiots?"

"Your Majesty is in the prime of his life, and now he has embarked on the path of cultivation. He can control the court for at least a hundred years!"

"Besides, your majesty has the eldest prince, who must be the future crown prince of Dayu."

"Are all the people in the clan idiots? Why are they fighting for the throne at this time?!"

Zhong Chunye smiled bitterly and said, “My daughter-in-law doesn’t know what they are thinking, but many people have secretly gathered around the Second Prince and have vaguely won over many people.”

"The Second Prince...Wu'er!"

Xu Mujun let out a long sigh, he knew what his daughter was thinking.

Whatever you want to do, you have to be the first.

I just don't know whether this matter has anything to do with Qingluan.

"Is this matter... related to Concubine Duan?"

Zhong Chun shook his head and said, "This... my daughter-in-law doesn't know, but I know that many people in the military have contacted you many times."

"Big brother..."

Xu Mujun has three brothers. The eldest brother, Xu Muwen, was the prefect of Fanyang in Youzhou. Now he is the governor of Youzhou and a powerful official.

Xu Muwen also had four sons and three daughters. The others were of ordinary qualifications and each held official positions.

However, the fourth son, Xu Qilin, was diligent in military affairs and had superb martial arts. He always followed Xu Mu's army in battles.

Now he is one of the four generals stationed at Heishan Pass, and he also controls a part of the Longxiang Army.

The third brother, Xu Mujiang, was also a soldier, but unfortunately he had been killed in the attack on South Vietnam more than 40 years ago.

My fourth brother, Xu Mushan, is neither good at literature nor martial arts, and can only be regarded as a person who can maintain the status quo.

But among his grandsons, there emerged Xu Fengxiong, the youngest phoenix of the Xu family!

At the age of fifteen, his martial arts skills had already reached the first level.

He was even found to have a golden spiritual root at the Spirit Testing Ceremony half a year ago, and was immediately taken into Yuelong Palace by His Majesty.

The fourth branch of the Xu family was the most popular branch at one time, attracting countless people's attention.

Xu Mujun closed his eyes slightly, and after more than ten breaths, he slowly opened his eyes.

He said in a deep voice: "Zhong Chun, does His Majesty know about this?"

Zhong Chun lowered his head and said, "I know."

"You told me?"

"Do not……"

Zhong Chun shook his head and said, "Since my daughter-in-law has married into the Xu family, she is a member of the Xu family. Besides, you, father-in-law, have already said so last time."

"This matter was told to my daughter-in-law by the Shadow Guard."

"What are your instructions, Your Majesty?"

"No, His Majesty just said that these are your family affairs, so you are the master."

"Housework, housework..."

Xu Mujun sighed and said, "How can we talk about state affairs when family affairs are not stable?"

"I just wanted my people to serve the country, but I didn't expect there were so many corrupt officials among them."

"It's really... I am so disappointed!"

"Send a message to the elders. I want to hold a clan meeting!"

"Yes... Your Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)