My father, during the Jiajing era, ensured that every household was clean and tidy.

Master Zhang had naturally heard of this friend, and even if he hadn't, he had to pretend to, because the visitor introduced himself as belonging to a different school:

Disciples of the two Wu brothers.

With two Wus and the description of the young man's appearance given by the servant, Zhang Juzheng easily guessed who the visitor was. Under these circumstances, mistaking him, a seventh-rank Hanlin compiler, for a sixth-rank Hanlin compiler became insignificant.

A moment later, Zhang Juzheng strode out. A quick glance confirmed it was indeed Prince Jing. Taken aback, he immediately tried to bow, but Zhu Zaizhen beat him to it, saying, "Hehe, Brother Zhang, how have you been!"

Upon hearing this...

Then look at Prince Jing and his entourage, they are all in casual clothes.

Zhang Juzheng vaguely understood what was going on. He cupped his hands in greeting and politely led the way inside, saying, "Please come in quickly and have some tea."

Seeing this, the servant realized he had almost caused trouble. He shrank back and ran off to make tea.

On the other end.

Zhang Juzheng was in front, and Zhu Zaizhen was behind. Prince Jing walked and observed, both admiring the elegant residence and the famous Zhang Taiyue, who looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a well-proportioned figure, a calm demeanor, and a neatly groomed beard.

As his name suggests, this was the first impression Zhu Zaizhen had of the rising star of the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Highness, please have some tea."

"it is good."

"Your Highness, is there something important that you have come to visit so suddenly?"

"There is indeed something."

Inside the hall, the two sat facing each other. Zhu Zaizhen looked at Zhang Juzheng with a smile and said, "I've come all the way to your house, so it must be important."

If Yang Jisheng was a fig leaf that Zhu Zaizhen casually grabbed, then Zhang Juzheng was the corner that Zhu Laosi (Zhu Zaizhen) had been planning for a long time and was determined to undermine; he was the pillar that Zhu valued!

Before coming, Zhu Zaizhen had inquired that when Zhang Juzheng entered the Hanlin Academy and was selected as a probationary official, Xu Jie served as his instructor, and thus they had a teacher-student relationship. However, Zhang Juzheng and Prince Yu had no connection whatsoever.

Like Zhu Zaizhen, his third brother also has two teachers now, one named Chen Yiqin and the other named Gao Gong.

No Zhang!

Here comes the opportunity.

Moreover, Yang Jisheng had already pledged allegiance to the government, setting a precedent. When Zhu Zaizhen looked at the title of "Xu Jie's disciple" again, he was not only not intimidated, but also felt that it was nothing special.

As the saying goes:

With a good hoe, even the toughest corner will fall down!

Once this thought arose, his unbearable hunger could no longer be contained, and soon, Zhu Zaizhen arrived at Zhang Juzheng's door.

On his way here, someone had already made up his mind. He wanted to emulate Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage and perform the same saga of King Jing's three prostrations to Mount Tai!

This official can be taken down in no time!

Now let's talk about it.

While Prince Jing was busy calculating, Zhang Juzheng, unaware of the danger, was still concerned: "If it's something important, just send someone to deliver the message. How can Your Highness travel incognito? Is Your Highness safe...?"

"It's alright."

Zhu Zaizhen laughed and said, "I travel with five guards, and a squad of Imperial Guards follows behind, so there's no need to worry about safety."

The guards were brought by Zhu Zaizhen himself, while the Imperial Guards appeared on their own after he left the mansion. They didn't try to hide their identities and took the initiative to come forward and reveal them. Zhu Zaizhen didn't mind and generously told them to stay close.

After hearing this, Zhang Juzheng felt somewhat relieved and then asked, "What business does Your Highness have? Please feel free to give your instructions."

Zhu Zaizhen, holding his teacup, spoke frankly: "Not long ago, I saw a memorial entitled 'On Current Affairs,' which mentioned many of the current problems in the Ming Dynasty and reform measures. I was quite interested in it, so I came to ask the author for advice."

A Discussion on Current Affairs?

Zhang Juzheng leaned back slightly, his eyes changing slightly. Prince Jing had actually come for a memorial he had submitted several years ago, and judging from his tone, it wasn't for public good, but for private gain...

Thinking of this, Zhang Juzheng began to re-examine the young prince in front of him, and his previous official attitude gradually changed.

Zhu Zaizhen sat calmly and composed.

Let him look.

After all, his words just now were the same as Liu Bei's question, "The world is in such a state, what plan should be made?" If nothing unexpected happens, what follows should be Zhuge Liang's: I have a plan to divide the world into three!

Zhu Zaizhen didn't need Zhang Juzheng to divide the country into three parts for him; he only needed Zhang Juzheng to help him seize the country and then rule it.

He doesn't ask for much.

However, just as Prince Jing was looking forward to a lively discussion and a joyful exchange between the emperor and his ministers, Zhang Juzheng said, "I am ashamed. My memorial discussing the long-standing problems was nothing but youthful folly, full of errors and omissions. It should not be taken seriously. I have failed to live up to Your Highness's expectations."

Ok?

Zhu Zaizhen raised an eyebrow. "Lord Zhang, you're not just trying to fool me, are you?"

Zhang Juzheng replied with shame: "How dare I deceive Your Highness? That memorial was indeed the arrogant and reckless words of a young man. Now that the Holy Emperor is in power and wise ministers are by his side, even if the Ming Dynasty has some problems, they are nothing more than minor ailments. How could there be any major disaster? I was just exaggerating."

It's confirmed.

I'm just fooling myself.

Zhu Zaizhen knew halfway through the conversation that he was being made fun of, but even though he knew it, he couldn't point it out or utter a single word in rebuttal.

The phrase "a sage ruler reigns" is a timeless political correctness that no one can refute.

Zhu Zaizhen said with a forced smile, "So, you're saying that suppressing the imperial clansmen, reforming the bureaucracy, and changing the finances are all just empty talk?"

"That's right."

"All this talk of reform is nonsense!"

"Absolutely true."

Zhang Juzheng's answer was serious and flawless. If Zhu Zaizhen hadn't shot the arrow first and then drawn the target, and hadn't known his background very well, he might have been fooled by this guy!

Although he didn't know why Prince Jing was gritting his teeth, Zhang Juzheng didn't ask. He continued talking to himself: "I am an editor in the Hanlin Academy and deal mostly with historical records and documents. I know nothing about current affairs and dare not speak about them. If Your Highness insists on asking something today... I can only say some idle gossip among my colleagues about Your Highness. It is not something that can be discussed in public."

"Is that so?" Zhu Zaizhen enjoyed watching him spout nonsense with a straight face, and followed up, "Then I must hear what kind of gossip it is?"

"..." Zhang Juzheng paused for a moment, "During the tea break today, my colleagues talked about that Lord Yang, and then about the incident where the Prince's carriage was stopped. The Prince, with his great filial piety, forgave the offender, and everyone praised him, saying that Prince Jing has the virtues of an ancient benevolent person."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zaizhen slightly toned down his sneer.

The positive aspects have been corrected.

You should know that he saved Yang Jisheng for the sake of his reputation. He didn't expect his reputation to get better, he just hoped it wouldn't get worse. Unexpectedly, the effect seems to be somewhat beyond his expectations.

Hanlin Academy...

Thinking of this, Zhu Zaizhen said to the Hanlin compiler in front of him, "Lord Zhang, I particularly enjoy these kinds of idle gossips. Why don't you elaborate a bit more?"

Zhang Juzheng was not stingy.

They talked for half an hour, until it was late and they had to head back home. Only then did Zhu Zaizhen get up, satisfied.

It wasn't that he enjoyed listening to flattery, but rather that the Hanlin Academy was the absolute high ground of public opinion in the Ming Dynasty! Even a slight positive impression from those Hanlin scholars was invaluable.

but.

Once outside the Zhang family's gate, the cold evening wind made Zhu Zaizhen suddenly realize: What was I here for today?!

I turned around again.

The gate behind them was tightly shut.

Hey!