When the lamps were lit, Gu Shaoyu returned.

Xie Zhaozhao then told him about it.

Gu Shaoyu blinked and said, "You and Zhang Yanyan are very close?"

“Yes, we’re very close friends,” Xie Zhaozhao said. “However, if this affects your future, or if His Majesty has other ideas, then so be it. A family like the Zhang family can’t be without rules. For the Fourth Young Master Zhang to be so outspoken is really courting death. We can’t ruin our own futures to be his scapegoats.”

Seeing that she understood, Gu Shaoyu said, "This matter is easy to resolve, but Zhang Hexuan will inevitably suffer some hardship."

Zhang Hexuan, the fourth son of Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Personnel, is a top student at the academy and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, is very likely to be the top scholar in the next imperial examination.

He's a bit radical, but he's definitely a talented person.

Xie Zhaozhao said, "If we can save his life, let alone suffer, Zhang Yanyan said that the Zhang family would be willing to expel him from the clan."

Gu Shaoyu said, "Pack your things and come with me to the Zhang family."

Xie Zhaozhao knew that Gu Shaoyu planned to help Zhang Hexuan.

He must have done this for her sake, simply because Zhang Yanyan is his best friend.

She didn't make a fuss and accepted his help.

But I am extremely grateful.

They helped Gu Shaoyu change into a set of casual clothes and wiped the sweat from his forehead with a cloth.

Gu Shaoyu held her hand and said, "Don't feel indebted to me. These matters of the court are within my duties."

“But you don’t need to handle this kind of thing yourself.” Xie Zhaozhao naturally understood that this was because Gu Shaoyu cared about her and extended that care to her friends. He helped her friends because he loved her.

"We're husband and wife, let's not talk like strangers. Let's get ready and go, it'll be curfew soon."

Xie Zhaozhao and Gu Shaoyu quickly got ready and instead of driving her two-wheeled carriage, they took an inconspicuous carriage that could be seen on the street.

Gu Shaoyu didn't ride a horse either; he sat in the carriage with her.

They soon arrived at the Zhang residence.

At the gatehouse, Mo Yan, who was driving the carriage, told the gatekeeper that Grand Secretary Gu and his wife had come to visit.

Before long, the main gate opened, and Minister Zhang and the old lady of the Zhang family came out to greet them. The carriage went directly into the mansion, and the main gate was immediately closed again.

Minister Zhang and his wife both knelt down to pay their respects to Grand Secretary Gu and Xie Zhaozhao.

Minister Zhang knelt for an entire afternoon before His Majesty sent him back, his legs still trembling.

Gu Shaoyu said, "Minister Zhang, please stop kneeling. I came here because my wife is worried about Miss Zhang of your family, so I came to inquire about your son's affairs."

Minister Zhang was about to kneel again when Xie Zhaozhao spoke up: "Minister, please don't kneel. It's important to talk about the matter at hand. Curfew is about to begin, so let's deal with this first before discussing anything else."

When Zhang Hexuan was summoned, he had already been severely beaten. He knelt down and answered the questions, still trying his best to maintain his manners. He did not make any excuses and told everyone how he had gotten himself into trouble because of what he said.

Gu Shaoyu was very satisfied; being willing to take responsibility meant having a sense of duty.

“The western Yuzhou region has barren land and fierce people. It lacks a capable prefect. If you are willing to go there to gain experience, I can help you arrange it.”

Gu Shaoyu said, "However, since you are a commoner, it is impossible for you to be given a fifth-rank prefecture right away. You will have to start as a seventh-rank county magistrate. After three years of official assessment, if you pass, I will allow you to be promoted. If you can achieve extraordinary merit, I will transfer you back to the court and give you a third-rank official position."

Upon hearing this, Minister Zhang and his wife immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

Zhang Yanyan's mother even kowtowed until her head was bleeding.

Zhang Hexuan touched his head to the ground, prostrated himself on the ground, and said with a sob, "I will never forget the kindness of the Grand Secretary in giving me a second chance in my life."

Xie Zhaozhao listened from the side, her eyes reddening.

This is truly a life-saving grace!

Given that Zhang Hexuan was still a commoner and had caused a great disaster, let alone giving him a seventh-rank county magistrate in charge of Yuzhou, even if he were given a low-ranking menial job in Yuzhou, he would be eternally grateful.

Not to mention, they even promised him that as long as he made meritorious contributions, he could be transferred back to the imperial court and become a third-rank official, a position his father had worked his whole life to achieve.

Seeing that the Zhang family was completely satisfied, Gu Shaoyu said, "Since you have agreed, then this is how it will be handled. The appointment letters will be issued in the next two days. Pack your things as soon as possible and leave the capital."

Minister Zhang, who was the Minister of Personnel, had a list of officials in his mind. He hesitated and said, "Prefect Ying of Yuzhou is still in office. If my son goes there, how can the other party be willing to give up his post?"

Gu Shaoyu paused slightly, and the hearts of Minister Zhang, Madam Zhang, and the old lady were in their throats.

Xie Zhaozhao was on tenterhooks. Had Gu Shaoyu not considered this possibility? He had already given permission; what were they going to do now?

Seeing that everyone's expressions had changed, Gu Shaoyu said, "You don't need to worry about it. I will find a way to handle this. You just need to hurry up and go."

Upon hearing his words, the Zhang family knew that he must be in a difficult position and would have to go to great lengths to mediate. Their feelings of guilt and gratitude deepened.

The old lady pointed to the sky and said, "The Zhang family will be grateful to the Grand Secretary and his wife for all eternity. If anyone disobeys them, may they be punished by both gods and men."

Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao left the Zhang family. Zhang Yanyan, because it was not appropriate for a young lady to show her face in front of men, did not come out.

The Zhang family expressed their deepest gratitude, practically bowing at every step as they saw them off from the Zhang residence.

Xie Zhaozhao remained silent the entire way. Curfew was approaching, and people on the street were hurrying about.

Upon arriving at Qingpu Courtyard, Xie Zhaozhao said with tears in her eyes, "You've gone to so much trouble, Grand Secretary..."

Gu Shaoyu quickly wiped away her tears: "Why are you still upset? I arranged this for him because of you, and I think it's pretty good. Are you not satisfied?"

He teased her on purpose, which moved Xie Zhaozhao even more.

"I...I regret it so much..." I will never take on such a job again.

"Regret what? Don't feel bad for me. I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time." Gu Shaoyu said with a smile. "This is a good thing. Didn't you see how grateful the Zhang family was to me? You don't know, Minister Zhang really is Prince Qi's man."

Gu Shaoyu's idea was to take this opportunity to win over Prince Qi's people and hearts to His Majesty's side, which was a great thing.

"Ah, Prince Qi isn't going to save him?"

“Prince Qi knows that the court intends to suppress the clans, so whenever the court targets the clans, he immediately distances himself from them. Today, when Minister Zhang got into trouble, not a single person came forward to help; everyone was afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.”

If we give Minister Zhang a hand now, he will surely be loyal to us in the future.

However, Zhang Hexuan's matter is also difficult to handle; if things go wrong, he himself will get involved.

Gu Shaoyu said, "I'm going to do this, what do you think—"