Volume 1 Chapter 69: Little Brother Becomes Big Brother

  After Hong Jong-u successfully assassinated Kim Ok-gyun, he was regarded as a meritorious minister by the imperial court. Not only did the imperial court not hold his father Hong Yeong-sik's past against him, but King Gojong himself summoned him to grant him an official position. According to the Korean system, one had to pass the civil service examination to enter officialdom. Hong Jong-u had been abroad for many years and had never taken the civil service examination, so he could not be granted an official position. Therefore, the imperial court specially held a civil service examination for him, and Hong Jong-u passed with honors, being appointed as Vice Compiler of the Office of Royal Records (Hwangmun'gwan) and concurrently serving as Deputy Commander of the Palace Guard. One person holding both literary and military positions, favored without limit!

  Today, Jin Shu suddenly saw the murderer of her father at the city gate. She was so grief-stricken and indignant that if Zhou Xianzhang hadn't held her hand tightly, she would have rushed up to fight with Hong Zhongyu to the death.

  "Damn it! How can he betray his sworn brother like that?! This is what kind of big brother?! Zhen'er, I'll definitely kill Hong Zhongyu that son of a bitch! To avenge your father!"

  Feng Guozhang's face was awkward: "This, betraying sworn brothers, is indeed unrighteous. However, Brother Xianzhang, I didn't betray you. When I left, I still tipped you off..." Feng Guozhang had made a bet with Zhou Xianzhang about his head and that of the Jin dynasty. Speaking of it, it was completely consistent in nature with Hong Zhongyu's actions.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang smiled and said: "Rou'er, this is my elder brother Feng Guo-zhang. He's a good big brother, very righteous, not the kind of big brother who would sell out his little brothers."

  Jin Xiu curtsied deeply towards Feng Guozhang: "Hello, Brother Feng."

  Feng Guozhang's face turned bright red: "Alright, alright, it's all fine. Hey, Zhou Xuan Zhang, what's going on with you and Jin Shu? I heard that the Joseon royal court is arresting Kim Ok-gyun's wife and daughter everywhere, and it seems like the Japanese are also involved, how dare you bring his daughter to the capital?"

  Zhou Xuan Zhang, in front of his elder brother, no longer hesitated and recounted how he had helped Liu Bu Chan and Jin Zhen escape, coincidentally met Jin Yu's mother and daughter at the Nine Linked City, followed Zhang Xun into the imperial court, nearly became a ghost under the knife in the Sealed Soul Valley, went to Beijing to retrieve the remains of Jin Yu for his brothers, and encountered Japanese people when opening the city.

  Zhou Xuan Zhang finished speaking, Feng Guozhang sighed: "Damn it, I didn't expect that old man from Shanxi to be so righteous. I underestimated him, he saved you and ruined his own career! Even if Guan Yu were reborn, he wouldn't be any better than this. I'm not as good as him, brother, neither are you..."

  Feng Guozhang criticized Zhou Xuanzhang, and Jin Yu was unhappy: "Brother Zhou could have returned to the country safely, but he risked his life to come to Beijing to save his brothers. He is a great hero! In what way is he inferior to that old man?"

  Feng Guozhang's face turned red as he said, "Yes, Jin Xiu is right. Not only Zhou Xuan Zhang, but also Miss Jin Xiu, for the sake of her father's remains, risked her life to enter the tiger's den. She is truly a filial daughter. You are all better than me, Feng Guozhang. I'm just a big brother who uses my brothers' heads as bets with others. What kind of big brother am I?"

  Jin Shu felt embarrassed: "Brother Feng, in order to help us Koreans fight against the Japanese pirates, you also risked your life to come to Beijing. You are a great hero too, and I admire you very much."

  "Am I also considered a great hero?" Feng Guozhang asked.

  "Alright then!" Jin Xiu nodded solemnly.

  Feng Guozhang's face lit up with joy: "Since you all say so, I won't be modest anymore. However, I Feng Guozhang still feel guilty towards Brother Xianzhang. This big brother has a conscience, it's better to do this, from now on, let Brother Xianzhang be the big brother, and I'll be the younger brother!" Feng Guozhang said, rushing towards Zhou Xianzhang and kowtowing.

  "This won't do!" Zhou Xuan Zhang pulled Feng Guozhang back: "Big brother is big brother, I'm younger..."

  "Feng Guozhang shouted loudly: 'Young in years, high in vision!'"

  Zhou Xuzhang was about to make excuses when he heard Feng Guozhang shout loudly: "Come on! Carry Zhou Xuzhang over to the master's chair!"

  Yu Guangxin, Li Guoge and Xin Delin, three students of the Tianjin Martial Arts Academy, responded with a loud "yes" and rushed forward, pinning Zhou Xuanzhang inside the sedan chair.

  Feng Guozhang rushed to Zhou Xuanzhang, knelt down on the ground and knocked three loud heads: "Big brother is above, little brother Feng Guozhang is willing to go through boiling water and fire for big brother, without hesitation!"

  Zhou Xuzhang's hands and feet were pressed by Yu Guangyan and others, unable to move, and had to accept Feng Guozhang's big gift.

  At first, Feng Guozhang forced Zhou Xuanzhang to be the big brother, now he is forcing him to be the little brother again, this is also too undemocratic!

  These days are chaotic and tumultuous, being the eldest brother is not easy! Zhou Xuan Zhang had a bitter expression, but Jin Xiu was laughing "heh heh heh" uncontrollably.

  Feng Guozhang glared fiercely at Jin Shu, and Jin Shu was so frightened that she lowered her head.

  But then, Feng Guozhang rushed towards Jin Yu and bowed his hands, saying seriously: "Sister Jin Yu, Zhou Xuan Zhang is my elder brother, so you should be my sister-in-law. According to reason, I should pay respects to my sister-in-law with a big gift, but since you haven't entered the door yet, it's not in line with etiquette to pay respects now. Old Man Jin is very particular about this, therefore, I won't pay respects for now, and I hope sister-in-law can understand."

  Feng Guozhang was also a frustrated scholar, although he had been a soldier for several years, his mind was still filled with the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues. When he saw Zhou Xuanzhang holding Jin Xiu on the way, according to moral norms, Jin Xiu was considered to have lost her chastity to Zhou Xuanzhang, and she could only marry Zhou Xuanzhang for the rest of her life.

  Jin Shu's small face had already turned into a bright red apple.

  Park Yong-ryeol let out a cold laugh: "I think Jin Shu probably won't have the chance to get married."

  It was only then that everyone remembered that Park Yeong-ryeol was a high-ranking official of the Joseon Dynasty, the vice-captain of the palace guard, and in his presence, Kim Soo was a prisoner!

  Zhou Xuan Zhang said: "Pu Fu Tong Ling, aren't you going to capture Jin Shu and bring her back?"

  "Zhou Xianzhang, it's my duty, please forgive me." Park Yong-ryeol said.

  "Feng Guozhang angrily said: 'Park Yong-ryeol, I, Feng Guozhang, came to help you with my head held high, and you actually dare to arrest my sister-in-law!'"

  Park Yeong-ryeol rushed to Feng Guozhang, made a fist and said: "Feng classmate is wrong, she is not your sister-in-law, she has not passed the door yet. And she is indeed my Korean imperial prisoner! And this Zhou Xuan Zhang wants to assist the imperial prisoner in the execution ground, the crime is the same as the imperial prisoner!"

  "Park Yong-yeol, you son of a bitch, even my brother is going to be arrested!" Feng Guozhang shouted.

  "Feng Tongxue, as long as Zhou Xuanzhang changes his ways and draws a clear line with Jin Shu, I can also show some leniency..."

  "Let your mother's stinky fart!" Feng Guozhang angrily said: "Park Yong-ryeol, you don't even look at yourself, what qualifications do you have to show mercy to me? Your big brother is about to lose his life, and it's all up to us to save him. You still want to catch my elder brother and sister-in-law! If I leave now, you and the big brother will be waiting for your heads to roll!"

  Park Yeong-ryeol sneered: "Feng Guozhang, you're a clever man, and I'm not stupid either! You intervened to save the Daewongun only because you wanted to take him to Pyongyang and establish a pro-Qing dynasty government! Everyone is just using each other! However, I must tell you that the Daewongun and Kim Ok-gyun are sworn enemies. If you want to form an alliance with Kim's family, we can only go our separate ways! At worst, I'll lose my head - I'm not one to fear death!"