Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 185 A Promising Future

The sun is shining brightly and the summer breeze is blowing gently.

In the garden of the residence of Grand Secretary Zhang, Zhang Yunxiu was holding a pair of large scissors in his hands, leisurely trimming the flower bed in front of him.

Next to him, Han San was standing by with a bent waist and a respectful look on his face.

In an instant, everything seemed to stop.

There was no noise or bustle, only the sound of scissors snapping and the rustling of the breeze hitting the branches. This was the first time Zhang Yunxiu had been so leisurely in these days.

If these people hadn't blocked the door, he would have really found this interesting thing.

If that's the case, he really has to thank those students who are causing trouble outside.

"Crack. Click."

With a burst of regular pruning, the originally messy flowerbed became neat. The dazzling sunlight shone on it, nourishing the flowers in the flowerbed and making them particularly charming.

Zhang Yunxiu let out a long sigh and raised his sleeves to wipe the sweat off Kai's forehead.

Then he turned around and asked, "What's going on outside?"

Han San, sweating profusely, dared not neglect it. He took a few steps forward, clasped his fists and said, "I have already warned these students. I believe they will disperse soon."

"This matter has escalated so quickly, there must be someone behind the scenes fanning the flames, you have to investigate." Zhang Yunxiu urged expressionlessly.

"Yes, I will send someone to investigate when I get back."

"The Kong family also needs to send more people over."

"clear."

One of them gave the order and the other agreed.

Soon, Zhang Yunxiu finished telling everyone what he was going to do, and Han San on the side wished he could engrave every word in his mind.

After listening, he repeated again what Zhang Yunxiu was going to do.

After confirming that everything was correct, he left in a hurry.

At this time, Luoluo, who was wearing a green skirt, poked her head out from the small pavilion not far away and shouted to Zhang Yunxiu, "Sir, the tea is ready. Miss invites you to come up and have some tea."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and smiled, put down the scissors, and walked away.

The attic is located next to the mountain and beside the water, with rockery on three sides and only the north side close to the lotus pond. Once the wind blows, the summer breeze brings the fragrance of lotus in the pond and brings a refreshing feeling, which is quite pleasant.

Zhang Yunxiu walked up to the pavilion. Xu Ruoxi was wearing a plain dress and sitting in the north direction. In front of her was a stone table filled with cakes and fruits.

Green ivy beside them picked up the steaming teapot and carefully poured water for the two of them.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu come in, Xu Ruoxi nodded with a smile and asked her husband to sit down.

Then she covered her lips and said jokingly, "Now, the people outside have blocked the mansion, and it's not that easy for you to get out."

"Then Madam, you better be careful." Zhang Yunxiu replied with a smile, then he picked up the hot tea on the table, took a sip, and praised, "Not bad, this tea is fragrant and the water is sweet."

When Green Ivy on the side heard this, her neck turned slightly pink and her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

Xu Ruoxi saw that the little slut was in love, and smiled secretly. She pointed at Luluo and said, "My dear, this tea is the best Miyunlong tea, and this water is also taken from the best spring water in Nanjing."

"Luluo has worked very hard for today."

Zhang Yunxiu looked Green Ivy up and down. She had grown taller and fatter than two years ago.

They used to be called bean sprouts, but now they should be called small potatoes.

"Not bad." He smiled, praised her, and then waved his hand, saying, "You can go down first. Madam, I will serve you here. If there is anything, I will call you again."

When Luoluo heard the first half of the sentence, she was about to be happy, but when the second half came out, her little face instantly turned dark.

"Yes."

As soon as the little girl left, Zhang Yunxiu no longer behaved properly.

He took a step forward, hugged Xu Ruoxi's delicate body, and gave her round little face a hard kiss.

"No, no, I'm pregnant now." Xu Ruoxi stretched out her jade hand and pressed it against Zhang Yunxiu's chest.

After a month or two of Zhang Yunxiu's hard work, Xu Ruoxi became pregnant. However, because the time had not come yet, her belly had not yet bulged, and she was still no different from an ordinary woman.

Zhang Yunxiu is both proud and proud of this matter.

When he thought of Zhang Xuan's cute appearance, he wished he could see the baby in Xu Ruoxi's belly right away. So when he heard Xu Ruoxi mention "baby", his hands froze and he became more polite. Xu Ruoxi took the opportunity to hug Zhang Yunxiu's waist and leaned her head on his shoulder. After a few seconds of silence, she raised her head and carefully advised: "Husband, I know you have something big to do."

"However, since my father-in-law and the emperor don't allow you to interfere in this matter, can you just stay at home with me and the children?"

When she said this, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her beautiful eyes were already misty.

As a woman, she knew that this matter was dangerous. The Emperor and her father-in-law did not allow her husband to intervene, probably to protect him.

With her husband's royal favor, as long as nothing serious goes wrong, it will be no problem for her to enter the cabinet and become a prime minister in the future.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and rubbed his wife's head, staring into her eyes, and whispered, "I know, since my father has taken the lead in this matter, I will naturally not wade into this muddy water."

"Really?"

"What's the benefit of lying to you?" Zhang Yunxiu bent his fingers and flicked them hard on Xu Ruoxi's forehead.

Xu Ruoxi covered her forehead and cried out in pain, then looked at Zhang Yunxiu angrily and said, "You dare to bully me? Go tell Fourth Brother and let him teach you a lesson for me!"

Zhang Yunxiu coaxed and deceived Xu Ruoxi until she gave up.

It was indeed not appropriate for him to take direct action in this matter. With Zhang Juzheng taking the lead, he only had to maintain the relationship in the palace.

If anyone wants to control the world, besides the emperor, he only needs to serve two people.

One is the chief minister of the cabinet.

The other one is the eunuch who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yunxiu smiled and hugged the beauty in his arms tighter.

Room for the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

In the duty room, Feng Bao and Wei Qing were wearing dragon robes and sitting opposite each other.

Next to Feng Bao stood a fat, white eunuch who was about twenty years old.

Glancing at the young eunuch, Feng Bao squinted his eyes and shouted, "Wang An, go over and kowtow to Eunuch Wei."

Wang An took two or three steps forward, his knees softened, and he bowed to Wei Qing: "Wang An kowtows to Eunuch Wei."

"Oh, this is unacceptable." Wei Qing smiled as brightly as a chrysanthemum and said modestly, "How can I be worthy of being the godson of Eunuch Feng?"

Although the words were humble, Feng Bao could sense a great deal of arrogance in them.

Logically speaking, when Wei Qing saw me before, he had to kneel down and talk to me, and he also called himself "little one" instead of "I".

Wei Qing said this to actually remind him.

There is not much difference in status between the two.

When he thought of this, Feng Bao felt like a tiger in trouble.

However, he was an old man in the palace after all, and his emotions were not revealed. He did not pursue the arrogance in Wei Qing's words, but pointed at Wang An and said, "Eunuch Wei, this is the Wang An I told you about. Last time, Zhang Sicheng said that he would take him to the East Warm Pavilion."

"He is a handsome man and smart." Wei Qing replied with a smile.

"Did Eunuch Wei agree?" Feng Bao asked.

Wei Qing didn't say yes or no, he just took a sip of tea and said with a smile: "Eunuch Feng, you are also an old man in the palace. The eunuchs in the Qianqing Palace are different from those in other places."

"They were all chosen by the emperor himself. We may be important people in the eyes of these little guys, but we are nothing in front of the emperor."

"Brother Wei, don't be so modest. Everyone knows that you are the most popular person in front of Concubine Zheng." Feng Bao's tone softened again.

"Well, what's the point of being famous or not? He's just an errand boy."

The two of them argued with each other and performed Tai Chi.

In fact, Feng Bao himself knew what Wei Qing wanted—the power to command the Eastern Depot.

He had been running the East Factory for nearly thirty years and had already made it like an iron barrel. Without his approval, it would be a foolish dream for Wei Qing to take over the East Factory.

The reason why he wasted time like this was to get more benefits for himself.

Seeing Feng Bao not saying anything, Wei Qing's heart was beating fast. He pretended to glance at the sky nonchalantly, and then said: "Eunuch Feng, it's getting late, we have to go back quickly."

"Yes, Eunuch Wei is busy, so we won't delay you." Feng Bao squeezed his fat cheeks together and answered with a smile.

(End of this chapter)