For Zhu Youxiao, Zhang Guoji was just a puppet and there was nothing much to say.
After hearing what Zhu Youxiao said, Empress Zhang looked at him with some resentment, feeling very helpless in her heart.
Empress Zhang knew that His Majesty might not know nothing, but might know something but had no way or did not want to care.
However, Empress Zhang still wanted to help her father, so she said softly, "Your Majesty, my father wants me to ask if the Imperial Household Department can start the assessment. After all, the Imperial Household Department is short of staff right now, and starting the assessment sooner will help them fill the gap."
This was the excuse Empress Zhang gave to her father.
In fact, his father's words clearly meant that he had no one to help him in the Imperial Household Department and was completely alone. This was the most important reason why those people were able to sideline him.
So my father wanted to start the assessment as soon as possible so that he could recruit a group of his own people. With his talent, he would definitely be able to deal with all of them.
Empress Zhang remained skeptical about her father's statement.
If His Majesty does not agree to her, then we can only do as my father says. I hope my father can recruit some of the people he wants, or the talents he mentioned.
Zhu Youxiao laughed secretly in his heart.
Zhang Guoji couldn't help it, but it didn't matter. The work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was almost done anyway, so he might as well get started.
I just don’t know if Zhang Guoji can continue to stay in the Imperial Household Department after this exam?
However, Zhu Youxiao would not let Zhang Guoji go because he was a scapegoat in the Imperial Household Department.
You have to know that what the Ministry of Internal Affairs wants to do is very offensive. In such a situation, you need someone with a strong head to take the blame.
Zhang Guoji, the father-in-law of the current emperor and the biological father of the queen, is a very stubborn person, just like the grandfather of Emperor Wanli.
The key issue was Zhang Guoji, whose identity was too special. Even if he made a mistake, he would not be severely punished. Even the ministers knew this.
How could you let the emperor kill his father-in-law?
Or do you want the Queen to kill her own relatives for the sake of justice?
In such a situation, Zhang Guoji is the perfect scapegoat.
Therefore, Zhu Youxiao would not let Zhang Guoji leave the Imperial Household Department until his usefulness was exhausted.
However, the assessment should indeed begin. Originally, Zhu Youxiao was hesitating whether the Imperial Household Department should start the assessment first or the Royal Academy should start the examination first.
Since the Ministry of Internal Affairs is anxious, let them start first and let Zhang Guoji test the waters.
Zhu Youxiao then took Empress Zhang's hand and said, "Since Baozhu has said so, let's do it this way. I will immediately send Chen Hong to make arrangements for this matter. It must be carried out as soon as possible and there will be no further delays. Baozhu, please rest assured."
Listening to Zhu Youxiao's words and watching his restless hand touching her belly, Empress Zhang blushed slightly.
She nodded gently, rested her head in Zhu Youxiao's arms, and said softly: "Your Majesty really loves me. Being able to marry Your Majesty is truly a blessing from my ancestors."
Seeing that the emperor and the empress seemed to be getting along, Chen Hong quickly waved his hand and asked everyone to leave.
While Zhu Youxiao and Empress Zhang were being affectionate with each other, several people were having a party at Xu Guangqi's house.
These were the three figures who represented the School of Mind in the court: Xu Guangqi, the Second Assistant Minister of the Cabinet; Shen Tingyun, the Minister of Rites; and Li Zhizao, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
The three of them sat together and all looked unhappy.
Xu Guangqi raised his head, glanced at Shen Tingyun, and said with a heavy face: "Talk to Zhenzhi about the situation!"
Zhenzhi is Li Zhizao's pen name. He was not present at today's meeting because his rank was not high enough.
Xu Guangqi just wanted Shen Tingyun to tell Li Zhizao what happened at the meeting, and then the three of them could discuss it, otherwise there would be no way to talk about it.
Shen Tingyun nodded and said with the same heavy expression: "Okay."
After agreeing to this, Shen Tingyun introduced the whole incident to Li Zhizao in detail.
After Shen Tingyun finished speaking, he sighed helplessly and said, "This is what happened. This is roughly what happened. We really don't understand why it turned out like this today."
Li Zhizao's face wasn't looking good either, because the three of them had discussed this matter before, and it was even a sure thing. They felt that His Majesty would definitely favor their faction.
If he gets the qualification to lead this time, then his school is bound to take off.
But I didn't expect that things would turn out like this. All three of them were in a bad mood.
At this time, Xu Guangqi, who was sitting on the main seat, said quietly, "When I was in front of the emperor today, I already realized that something was wrong. It seems that we are being targeted, and it's not just one group of people, but I just don't know what's wrong."
"In fact, I still don't know what's wrong or what happened. But it's no use dwelling on it now. His Majesty gave the task to Huang Kezun, which caught us off guard. What we should do next is crucial, and no one knows what Huang Kezun is going to do."
"Actually, there are already clues." Shen Tingyun said on the side: "If there is any news coming out these days, then we will know what he is going to do. We don't know when he changed his belief in Xunzi."
When he said the last sentence, Shen Tingyun had a mocking look on his face.
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