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

Chapter 11, Third Visit to the Thatched Cottage

inside the house.

The candlelight flickered.

Zhang Juzheng remained seated, motionless, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, until his wife, Madam Gu, approached him, asking with concern, "My husband's words tonight seemed insincere. Is he worried about Grand Secretary Xu?"

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said softly, "It has nothing to do with my teacher, nothing to do with Prince Yu, and nothing to do with anyone else."

It only concerns myself.

When Zhang Juzheng submitted that memorial, he was full of patriotism. However, after the memorial entered the palace, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, and no one paid attention to it. He was somewhat disheartened. After wasting several years in the court, Zhang Juzheng suddenly realized that the Ming Dynasty was already deeply afflicted.

It is by no means something that one person or one moment can shake!

In Zhang Juzheng's view, the Prince Jing's sudden visit today was nothing more than the Prince having just left the palace and wanting to make some achievements, which is why he dug him out of the old documents.

It was just a passing fancy, don't take it seriously.

Zhang Juzheng spoke calmly, but Gu Shi heard it and felt even more worried. "My husband often says that the court is in turmoil and he only regrets wasting his years. Prince Jing's place is at least an opportunity."

The man shook his head again.

His wife didn't understand that no one could shake the current political situation, not even Prince Jing.

He didn't say much, only that tonight's conversation was just to amuse Prince Jing, and that tomorrow would be the same as always, the sun would rise as usual, the palace gates would open as usual, and everything would remain unchanged.

Zhang Juzheng was right.

At the same time, he was wrong.

The sun, the palace gates, his colleagues, the cabinet—everything was the same as always, nothing surprising. But when he returned home after his shift, he encountered a change: Prince Jing, who didn't play by the rules, was standing in front of his house once again!

When he saw this man again, Lord Zhang was completely bewildered. Seeing the man's eagerness to follow him into the house, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, is there nothing else?"

Zhu Zaizhen: Yes.

In the morning, he first studied the Book of Documents and the Great Learning with two teachers, then practiced calligraphy for an hour. He copied a copy of the text selected by the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet and sent it to the palace for review. His homework was finished, and then, wouldn't he come again?

Zhu Zaizhen spoke with such confidence and eloquence that Zhang Juzheng was momentarily stunned. By the time he had sorted out his thoughts, Prince Jing had already plopped down in his study.

The way is:

Those with thin skin will starve, while those with thick skin will overeat.

Liu Bei visited Zhu Zaizhen's thatched cottage three times, one visit after another. Zhu Zaizhen and Zhang Juzheng both lived in the capital, which was even closer. He came every day, determined to pry this man away!

Zhang Juzheng was indeed a capable man. When he saw that Prince Jing insisted on coming to his place, Zhang Juzheng simply didn't avoid him. He let him come, and he didn't want to talk about politics at all.

He starts by rambling on and on.

From the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the Warring States and Spring and Autumn Period, from poetry and prose to romance and nature, there was nothing he didn't know, nothing he didn't understand. Zhu Zaizhen came full of confidence, but as they talked, he was tricked into going somewhere else. They chatted happily and he left satisfied, but as soon as he stepped out the door, he started cursing. What a cunning Zhang Juzheng!

For several days in a row, Zhu Zaizhen suffered repeated defeats, but he became more determined with each setback, showing a certain defiance of fate. However, after many encounters, he gradually realized that this guy surnamed Zhang was really something.

Later on, Prince Jing started using the guise of recruiting people to actually come and receive cultural education...

It was later, they said.

Actually, it wasn't that long.

On February 27th, Zhu Zaizhen ended his tireless three visits to the thatched cottage, as he had other matters to attend to.

Firstly, Yang Jisheng, who had been recuperating for half a month, returned to work. The Ministry of Personnel had already issued a transfer order, and he could start his post as soon as he arrived.

this day.

The Prince Jing's mansion gained a lame Right Chief Secretary, a Right Chief Secretary whose edges seemed to have been worn down by life. He silently came to the mansion to report for duty and silently handled documents and general affairs in the office.

Zhu Zaizhen had a conversation with him and did not detect any resentment or indignation. When talking about Yan Song and the Yan faction, he no longer had the cynicism he used to have, but rather a sense of indifference and forbearance.

That's a good thing...

Secondly.

The second thing Zhu Zaizhen was going to do also happened to be related to the Yan family: Xu Jie, the second-in-command of the cabinet, formally married Yan Song, the first-in-command of the cabinet.

Upon hearing this news, Zhu Zaizhen understood what Yan Song had meant when he said, "Xu Jie is a smart man; he knows what to do next." Grand Secretary Xu indeed knew very well…

Regardless of the truth, on the surface, Zhu Zaizhen had to send a gift, since the person marrying the Xu family's daughter this time was Yan Shifan's own son and Yan Song's own grandson, not some adopted grandson.

Thirdly.

Zhu Zaizhen also went out for a stroll, but this time not to Zhang Juzheng's house, but for another purpose.

It is worth mentioning that when he was about to leave the mansion, Prince Jing no longer avoided people. In front of his two teachers, he changed into civilian clothes, called his guards, and stood with them in front of the mansion gate.

Wu Yingfeng hadn't intended to ask, but she couldn't hold back any longer. "Your Highness, you said you couldn't bear to see us so exhausted and burdened with your mistakes every day, so you went out to find talented people to share the burden... But Your Highness has been searching for over ten days now, and there's still no sign of them?"

"Terrible!"

Zhu Zaizhen switched to his usual playboy persona, spitting crudely and saying with a resentful look, "Teacher, you don't know, that person is very stubborn and won't be dealt with in a short time!"

He unfolded the paper fan in his hand and fanned himself, not knowing what was there to fan in the early spring weather. Anyway, Prince Jing said, "Teacher, don't worry. I have found another way and decided to look for other talents."

Wu Yingfeng's lips twitched. "Then I wish Your Highness a great victory and that you will soon find a virtuous and capable man."

"Don't worry, don't worry!"

Zhu Zaizhen waved his hand dismissively, "Let's go." He flicked his paper fan, signaling the guards to follow.

Five guards rushed forward, but when they passed by Wu Ang, the master reached out and stopped them for a moment.

Wu Ang said expressionlessly, "Your Highness has just left the palace and everything is new and exciting to you. It's inevitable that you'll want to find an excuse to go out and have fun. That's fine, but you should know which places you should go, which places you shouldn't go, and which places you should be careful of... right?"

Several people nodded emphatically, their faces tense.

"Countless!"

Wu Ang waved his hand, signaling to leave.

After they all disappeared into the streets and alleys, the two Wus still stood on the steps gazing at each other from afar. After a while, Wu Yingfeng said with emotion, "Alas, when the prince encounters important matters, he is calm and experienced, unlike a young man. But in ordinary times, he cannot hide his impetuous nature. Perhaps, this is the two sides that all princes who grow up in the palace have."

On one hand, they are precocious and sensitive to power struggles and interests; on the other hand, it is human nature.

Imperfect, but real.

Wu Ang: "It is precisely this authenticity that makes people feel at ease."

Wu Yingfeng: "Yes, yes!"

The two stood quietly for a while, and a cool breeze blew. Wu Yingfeng got into a sedan chair and headed east, while Wu Ang got into a sedan chair and headed west.

Meanwhile, their prince is heading south, south of the capital, which is also south of the imperial city, where the results of the imperial examinations will be released today.

The results of the imperial examination were released.