Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 70: Concealing the truth
It was the hottest time of May, the heat was oppressive, there had been no rain for a long time, and the skin-scorching hot wind was wandering around the streets of the capital.

The whole city of Beijing was like a huge oven, making people feel hot and uncomfortable.

Even in the Qianqing Palace where the emperor lived, he had to get ice cubes several times a day to barely keep the heat at bay.

On this day, the sky was covered with black cloth and the temperature had not yet cooled down. Zhang Jing, accompanied by a man with a scarf on his face, slowly walked into the small hall next to the Qianqing Palace.

It was Liang Bangrui that the emperor specifically wanted to see.

It turned out that he was really shocked when he heard that day that the emperor wanted to inspect the goods first.

As soon as he returned home, Zhang Jing held his forehead, leaned on the bamboo chair, sighed, and his face was full of worry.

At this time, the housekeeper Wang Ning walked in. Seeing that his master was worried, he couldn't help but ask what had happened.

Zhang Jing spilled the beans like a bamboo tube pouring out the truth.

After that, Zhang Jing frowned and complained, "We don't know what the emperor is thinking. He actually specifically wants to see Liang Bangrui. Tell me, if the emperor sees this tuberculosis ghost, won't everything be exposed?"

Wang Ning thought for a moment, and then began to think badly, saying, "Master, Liang Bangrui looks pretty decent except for his severe cough.

You can take him there tonight, and then you can say that he has caught a cold, and it will be difficult for the emperor to see him, and the matter will be over."

"Great, this is a good idea." Zhang Jing immediately agreed, without any worries.

Walking into the hall, the emperor had not yet arrived. Zhang Jing took a deep breath, glanced at Liang Bangrui beside him, and threatened: "Mr. Liang, whether this can be accomplished depends entirely on your performance later."

"Ahem. Don't worry, father-in-law. I know." It would have been fine if Liang Bangrui didn't speak. As soon as he opened his mouth, he felt like ants were crawling in his throat and couldn't help wanting to cough.

Zhang Jing hurriedly patted Liang Bangrui on the back, took out a cough pill and gave it to Liang Bangrui to take.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Before the two could continue talking, a shrill voice broke the silence in the hall, and Emperor Wanli, wearing a casual robe, walked in, surrounded by Wei Qing and others.

Zhang Jing did not dare to delay. He grabbed Liang Bangrui, made him kneel on the ground with his forehead touching the ground and his butt raised high.

"Get up."

Emperor Wanli sat down, waved his hand and spoke casually.

The two of them thanked him and stood up. Zhang Jing smiled flatteringly, walked forward to the front of Emperor Wanli, pointed at Liang Bangrui and said, "Your Majesty, this is the consort, Liang Bangrui, Master Liang."

"I'm Liang Bangrui, a commoner. I'm honored to meet your majesty." Liang Bangrui shouted while trying to hold back a cough.

Emperor Wanli took a quick look and saw that he was not bad in height, weight or body. But he was not happy with the white scarf on his face, so he asked, "What's wrong with your face? Is there anything shameful?"

"Oh, Your Majesty, Young Master Liang has caught a cold. I'm afraid he might infect you, so I asked him to wear this veil." Before Liang Bangrui could speak, Zhang Jing spoke first.

Emperor Wanli frowned slightly and nodded, barely agreeing with the statement.

"How does your family make a living?"

"His family is in business." Zhang Jing said without hesitation.

"I'm asking him, not you. If you dare to talk too much again, be careful that I'll beat you with a stick." Emperor Wanli glared at Zhang Jing fiercely, then suddenly turned his head to look at Liang Bangrui, urging him, "Hurry up and speak, I'm asking you a question!"

"I am a commoner. My family makes a living by doing business." Because he had to hold back a cough, Liang Bangrui's face turned red and his voice trembled with every word he spoke.

"Are you a stutterer? Why do you speak so hesitantly?" Emperor Wanli asked with his eyes squinted.

Liang Bangrui was frightened and became even more nervous. Zhang Jing, who was standing beside him, wanted to help him out, but Emperor Wanli glared at Zhang Jing, pointed at Liang Bangrui and said, "I want him to answer, not you."

"This is my first time meeting the Emperor. I am so nervous that I can't speak. Ahem."

"Take off your veil and let me see." "Your Majesty, no!" Zhang Jing's knees weakened and he fell to the ground, begging, "If the cold he has is passed on to Your Majesty, I will be blamed even if I die a hundred times."

"Pick it off just because I tell you to." Emperor Wanli urged in a cold voice.

As they spoke, two eunuchs covered their mouths and noses, walked forward, pulled Liang Bangrui a few steps away, and then took off his veil.

Emperor Wanli squinted his eyes and saw that the man had regular features, and except for being a little weak, everything else was suitable.

"Well, not bad." Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, turned his head to look at Zhang Jing and said, "You did a good job this time. Take him away. Come with me. I have something else to ask you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Bangrui's tense heart relaxed.

"Cough cough cough cough cough."

Zhang Jing stood up quickly with a cough like a violent storm, and waved his hand at the two eunuchs, saying, "Quick, quick, take Young Master Liang away, so as not to infect the emperor with the cold."

Two eunuchs took Liang Bangrui and quickly walked out of the palace.

Seeing that he had gotten away with it, Zhang Jing let out a long sigh, his fair forehead already covered with thick beads of sweat.

When he turned around, he saw the emperor with a dark face, staring at him fiercely.

"Zhang Jing, you are so brave!"

Could it be that the emperor saw through it?

Zhang Jing felt a chill down his spine, his knees bent, he knelt on the ground and begged for mercy, "I know my crime. I shouldn't have deceived the emperor and chosen Liang Bangrui as his consort. I know my crime."

Emperor Wanli waved his hand as if to shoo away a fly and pressed the issue, "What nonsense! I am asking you, how much did you spend on the 300,000 yuan wedding banquet?"

"Ah?" Zhang Jing realized it later and blamed himself for speaking too quickly. He then hurriedly said, "I am guilty. I shouldn't have lied to the emperor. I only spent 150,000 yuan."

Well, you bastard, you really are hiding something from me.

If I had not been so wise and brave, with a sharp eye, I would have been deceived by this bastard and got so much money for nothing.

Thinking of this, Emperor Wanli became furious, and when he spoke, his voice was as cold as frost.

"Where's the money?"

"In my house."

"Hand over the money to my treasury tomorrow, and the matter will be over." Emperor Wanli waved his hand and ordered in a serious tone.

"Yes." Zhang Jing nodded in response.

At this moment, a cool breeze suddenly blew, and he felt a chill running down his spine.

"Okay, let's go down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Jing responded and left.

Wei Qing, who was standing aside, stared at Zhang Jing's departing back, a gleam of light flashing in his cloudy eyes.

He knew the emperor's thoughts. The emperor was quite dependent on Zhang Jing, a man who could make money for him and help him resist Feng Bao.

So if he didn't take any action, he would make sure that Zhang Jing died without a burial place as soon as he was born.

If he reveals it now, the emperor will probably punish him at most. But if he reveals it on the day of his wedding, the emperor and the empress dowager will definitely not forgive him!

(End of this chapter)