Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 221 Zhao Yong
That night, Zhang Chongrui finished washing up and, with the help of his maid, went back to his small bed to sleep.

Pulling the quilt over my body, I stared with my big eyes rolling, thinking back to everything that happened during the day.

Somehow, he always felt uncomfortable.

Why doesn’t my father like me?

It seemed that my father had never treated me the same way he treated my sister.

As I was thinking, I suddenly heard the door open.

A strange yet familiar figure walked in from outside. Zhang Zhongrui got out of bed instantly and knelt upright on the bed: "Son, meet your father."

After saying that, he pretended to get out of bed.

Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand, motioning him to sit back on the bed.

Glancing up and down at his son, Zhang Yunxiu felt a pang in his heart when he saw the maturity in his son's features. He couldn't help but feel a strong sense of guilt.
Children of this age.

This should be an age of innocence and carefreeness.

He was forced into this state by those feudal etiquettes.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Zhang Yunxiu moved a stool and sat down in front of the bed. "I heard from your mother that you will be starting your education in a few days. I want to know if this is your idea or your mother's."

Zhang Chongrui was stunned.

He opened his mouth to express his thoughts, but when he saw his father's eyes, he was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so his cheeks turned red with anxiety, and he rubbed his hands, not knowing what to say.

"Say what you think."

"That's what my mother thought."

Zhang Chongrui glanced at his father and said timidly with his head tilted.

"Then do you want to go?"

"Do not want to."

"If you don't want to, then don't go."

"Really?!" Zhang Zhongrui suddenly raised his head, his face full of excitement and agitation, but suddenly he felt something was wrong and kept trying to make excuses for himself: "My father, I, I'm not, I'm going, I'm going."

"Are you afraid of me?" Zhang Yunxiu asked with a warm smile.

Zhang Chongrui nodded, then shook his head, with a stiff expression on his face.

Somehow, he was able to handle other adults with ease, but when he saw his father, he couldn't stop shaking.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Yunxiu smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He slowly took out a small rosewood box from his arms, and then slowly opened it. Inside was a finely crafted brush.

Gently handing it to his son, Zhang Yunxiu said softly: "This is for you. Your grandfather gave it to me. I have never been willing to use it. You have to keep it well for me."

Zhang Zhongrui took it with trembling hands, as if he had found a treasure, and quickly knelt on the edge of the bed to thank him: "Thank you, father!"

"There's no need for such polite words between father and son."

"Yes."

Zhang Chongrui answered respectfully.

Seeing his son's obedient appearance, Zhang Yunxiu wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say: "Well, go to bed early. If you don't want to go to the enlightenment, I will talk to your mother."

After that, he turned around and left.

Zhang Chongrui lay on the bed with his head tilted, and did not dare to raise it until his father walked away. Looking at the brush given by his grandfather, his young face showed a bright smile.

He had been told this since he was born.

His grandfather was a great hero, but he was still young and had never seen him. Zhang Chongrui was overjoyed to receive the gift from his grandfather today, and his heart felt like he had eaten honey.

He closed the small box and put it aside, then rolled over on the bed twice before hugging the small box with excitement and falling asleep.

Zhang Yunxiu returned to the bedroom. The lights were still on and Xu Ruoxi was leaning against the head of the bed, reading a book in her hand.

As soon as she saw Zhang Yunxiu come in, Xu Ruoxi closed the book and asked hurriedly, "How is it?"

"Not bad, I'll give the things to him." Zhang Yunxiu said, took off his clothes, blew out the candle, and climbed onto the bed.

Xu Ruoxi leaned closer to her husband's arms, her face filled with happiness as she said, "That's great, my husband. I really want to see Ruier grow up quickly, pass the imperial examination, and then get married and have children."

"That person is not a crop, so he can't grow at will." Zhang Yunxiu muttered.

Xu Ruoxi did not respond to this, but smiled lightly and directed the conversation to Zhang Yunxiu: "My husband, now Songjiang Prefecture is back on track, and the fleet you sent out is returning one after another.

Isn't it time for you to calm down and think about your own affairs?"

"What's the matter with me?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"You said you had a good job in the Hanlin Academy, but you had to go to the Ministry of Works to be a doctor, dealing with those craftsmen all day long." Xu Ruoxi was unhappy, frowning and expressing her inner dissatisfaction, "You could have moved up by staying in the Hanlin Academy, but you had to mess around."

Zhang Yunxiu was speechless.

The Langzhong of the Ministry of Works was a fifth-rank official, and although his rank was not high, he was the contractor in charge of the entire country. He had countless engineering teams and craftsmen under him, and such a position had great financial prospects.

Xu Ruoxi didn't care about the money prospects. As a woman, she only knew that this job was not noble enough. It would not be easy to get promoted in the future. She was concerned about her husband's future and her son's future.

She had to persuade her husband.

"My dear, you have been the Minister of Industry for three years. It is time to move to another position."

"Where are you moving to?"

"I heard from Shen Yongmao's wife that a deputy censor-in-chief of the Censorate is about to retire. Your husband is qualified for the position, both in terms of qualifications and status."

The Chief Censor was an official of the fourth rank.

From fifth rank to fourth rank.

Although there was only one rank difference, it was like a natural barrier that separated countless people. According to the Ming Dynasty system, only officials of the fourth rank and above could wear scarlet robes.

Among the six departments.

The Shangshu is the second rank, the Shilang is the third rank, and the Langzhong below is directly the fifth rank. There is no fourth rank official.

Therefore, powerful officials like these fourth-rank officials are highly sought after by everyone in Beijing.

"You are so greedy. I wonder how many people are eyeing this position." Zhang Yunxiu patted his wife's arm gently.

"It's obviously your business, how come I'm greedy?" Xu Ruoxi suddenly stood up with an unhappy look on her face, "It's as if I'm the one who should take on this job."

Zhang Yunxiu knew that he had said something wrong, so he patted his lips twice to try to calm the man down. Then he murmured to himself, "How high is this position? That's really high."

Listen and listen.

Xu Ruoxi heard that her husband seemed a little tired of officialdom, and when she thought of him running around, her heart ached.

She slowly lowered her body, and once again leaned her delicate body against her husband's arms, and hummed obediently: "If you are tired, just tell me, I will accompany you to relieve your boredom."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded, which was considered as his agreement.

The two hugged each other tightly, feeling the smell and temperature of each other's bodies, and fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning.

Zhang Yunxiu got up from the bed, put on his clothes, and washed up in a hurry. He came to the small hall and sat down. At this time, Han San led a grown-up young man and strode into the inner hall.

"Zhao Yong has met Mr. Zhang."

(End of this chapter)