Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 37 It’s over
The candle flame flickered, emitting a bright yellow light.

The smoke curls up, wafting circles of refreshing fragrance.

Zhang Juzheng was wearing a green Taoist robe and half leaning on the pearwood chair in the study, with a wrinkle between his eyebrows.

It wasn't just because of Feng Bao's matter, but more because of the confusion from his old friends.

He and Wang Zhigao were from the same hometown and were relatives, and they used to be close comrades-in-arms. But now they were like strangers, and they were almost at the point of fighting.

Just as I was thinking about it, there was a knock on the door.

"Father, I have something to ask you."

"Come in."

Zhang Juzheng sat up straight and shouted.

With a "click", the door slowly opened and Zhang Yunxiu stepped in.

Seeing his father sitting upright in the reclining chair, Zhang Yunxiu bowed first. Zhang Juzheng glanced at his son and asked, "What's the matter?"

"County Magistrate Zhao did commit suicide. The county magistrate, the county chief clerk, and the coroner can testify to this." Zhang Yunxiu said as he handed over Han San's investigation results.

Of course, Zhang Yunxiu chose to conceal the matter of the three bows, and only said that County Magistrate Zhao died because he could not bear the humiliation and was weak and sickly.

Zhang Juzheng may have known that his subordinates were playing tricks, but he pretended not to know.

Why would he want to blow up this cesspool?
Zhang Juzheng took it, glanced at it, and covered the paper on the table again. He looked at Zhang Yunxiu and said, "Don't worry about this matter. Prepare well for the provincial examination. If you fail the provincial examination, I will punish you!"

"Yes!" Zhang Yunxiu lowered his head and responded respectfully.

"Go down." Zhang Juzheng said, waving his hand as if to drive away a fly.

After bowing to his future father again, Zhang Yunxiu strode out of the study.

Two days later, all the major government offices in the capital received such a report.

"Wanping County Magistrate Zhao Lin was weak and sickly, and after being beaten by Feng Bangning, he could not bear the humiliation and chose to die.

Feng Bangning, deputy commander of the Jinyiwei, resisted the imperial court's laws and assaulted an imperial official. His crimes are extremely serious and he is now dismissed from his post.

Inside the Hanlin Academy, all the Hanlin scholars were furious.

One of them crumpled the imperial report into pieces, gritting his teeth and shouting, "How can this be justified? How can this be justified? The eunuch party killed an official appointed by the imperial court, and now they are falsely accusing Zhao County Magistrate of suicide. How can this be justified?"

"That's right, we must not let County Magistrate Zhao's blood be shed in vain, and severely punish the murderer!"

"If you have blood in your veins, follow me to the Meridian Gate to let Zhang Juzheng and that damned eunuch know that they are not the only ones who have the final say in this world!" The atmosphere in the Hanlin Academy was extremely high, and many Hanlin scholars were filled with righteous indignation, as if the person who died was their own father.

As they were talking, a dozen Hanlin scholars walked out of the yamen and headed straight for the Meridian Gate.

Along the way, officials from various government offices continued to join in, and by the time they arrived at the Meridian Gate, there were already hundreds of people gathered.

At the Meridian Gate, the East Depot's guards had already received the intelligence, and more than a hundred sturdy men were standing there.

At the front, Xu Jue stared at these sour people with disdain.

The two groups of people faced each other, and a young man from the civil officials' side walked out and shouted, "Quickly get out of the way. We need to go to the palace to meet the emperor. Can you afford to delay something important?"

Xu Jue smiled, took two steps back, and waved his big hand forward.

More than a hundred fully armed bandits pressed forward.

"Anyone who enters the Meridian Gate without permission will be treated as a treasoner!"

Some officials were frightened when they saw this scene and quietly took two steps back.

There were also some hot-blooded young officials who gritted their teeth and pushed forward, saying, "Who do you think you are? How dare you forge an imperial decree?"

Xu Jue pointed at the man and said with a smile, "Your name is Li Xiang, right? You are a Jinshi in the fifth year of Longqing, from Puzhou, Shanxi, and you are currently serving as a Jieshizhong in the Ministry of War."

"Yes, so what?"

"It's nothing, I just want to remind you that it's okay to make trouble here today, but you have to be careful afterwards and don't let us find any mistakes."

"You dare to threaten us?" Li Xiang shouted with his neck red.

However, the crowd's momentum softened. As an official, who dares to guarantee that he is clean? Who doesn't have some welcoming and seeing off? Being targeted by these Dongchang thugs who dig holes and breed maggots, don't expect a good future.

But the atmosphere had reached this point and they could not retreat, so the two sides were deadlocked at the Meridian Gate.

The sun was high in the sky and the weather was getting hotter. Many officials were weak and felt dizzy.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise broke the silence: "A wasp, such a big wasp."

"what"

"Get lost, get lost"

Screams were heard one after another, and a swarm of bees appeared in front of the Meridian Gate, stinging the officials and guards without distinguishing between friend and foe.

In a moment, the scene became chaotic.

The officials covered their faces and ran away like wheels, driven away by the unfilial barbarians. They looked so anxious that they only wished their parents had given them two fewer legs.

The chaos lasted for two quarters of an hour before finally returning to calm.

That afternoon, the news that Wuqing Earl Li Wei was conferred the title of Marquis spread like wildfire.

Now, all the officials in Beijing were in an uproar again, clamoring to go to the Meridian Gate to ask for orders.

Unfortunately, these censors suffered heavy casualties in the morning.

By the afternoon, there were few responses.

This matter has been concluded.

Zhang Yunxiu leaned against the window, looking at the burning red sky, with a smile on his face. He heard the news that his father had granted Wuqing Bo the title of Marquis, and the heavy stone in his heart finally fell.

If my father goes against me again this time, the relationship with the Empress Dowager's family will become extremely bad again.

This way, Zhang Siwei gets a good deal.

This is a poisonous snake. It is usually docile and well-behaved, but it will take people's lives at critical moments.

He is now disguising himself very well. Although he is only the second assistant, he obeys Zhang Juzheng's orders and acts like a loyal supporter.

Fortunately, Zhang Juzheng's health is much better now, and his relationship with the young emperor is very good.

Just as he was thinking about it, Zhang Fu stepped into the room and said softly, "Sir, since Feng Bangning is safe and sound, we are hosting a banquet in Yilan Tower to express our gratitude. You are invited to attend the banquet."

Von Bonning?
Zhang Yunxiu's face was filled with disgust, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, don't you see we still have to prepare for the autumn exam? In the remaining months, we won't see anyone except when summoned by the emperor."

"What about Zheng Guotai?" Zhang Fu asked carefully again.

"Didn't you hear clearly? He won't see anyone except the emperor!" Zhang Yunxiu raised his voice and added, "If there is something he can't solve, just ask him to find Han San."

If we seek unity through struggle, then unity will survive; if we seek unity through compromise, then unity will die.

He couldn't just keep accommodating Zheng Guotai.

He must know who is his master.

Don't think that your sister is so great just because she has become a concubine. If she is sensible, she should know that if she wants to climb up, she has to rely on herself.

Zhang Fu was delighted to hear the young master's instructions.

He was quite displeased with Zheng Guotai, who relied on his sister's success and looked down on him.

Now our young master is giving this guy a warning, let’s see how rampant you can still be.

After figuring this out, Zhang Fu walked out with a smile.

Zhang Yunxiu walked back to his desk and took out his book to review. In the following months, Zhang Yunxiu kept reading, reciting and studying morning and night, and felt that his knowledge had greatly improved.

The autumn wind is blowing, but the city of Beijing is not lonely and bleak in autumn. Instead, it becomes more and more lively.

The triennial provincial examination has begun!

(End of this chapter)