Master Zhao, who had always been calm and composed, was finally aroused by the three men's words.

He picked up the wine cup and drank it down, then wiped his mouth and said, "Tell me, what should I do?!"

"First of all, the imperial recommendation should be made at the end of the year. During this month, you must not make radical remarks or cause controversy..." Zhao Jin, as a senior official, offered valuable advice:

"Specifically, it means not taking a clear stance on anything."

"I understand. As long as you express your opinion, you will inevitably annoy those who disagree with you." Zhao Shouzheng said confidently, "This is your uncle's strong point! I'm not bragging, but no one knows how to be ambiguous better than me."

As he said this, he put his arm around Zhao Hao's shoulders and said proudly, "I have already applied the 'Dad Takes Mother Effect' that my son taught me to perfection!"

"Also, the most important thing is that you must not make any mistakes." Zhao Liben snorted, "I'm not worried about anything else, but I'm afraid that you'll keep going to places you shouldn't go. If you cause a scandal now, forget about dreaming of becoming a cabinet minister!"

"That's not difficult at all." Zhao Shouzheng hurriedly said with a smile, "My son will definitely come home after get off work and won't go anywhere!"

"On the basis of not making mistakes, you must also take the initiative." Zhao Hao continued: "Father should go visit father-in-law in the next two days. You haven't shown up since he fell ill."

"I would also like to visit my in-laws, but the part of his body where he's sick...well, isn't it because I'm afraid that he'll be embarrassed?" Zhao Shouzheng scratched his head.

"It doesn't matter. I asked someone to dig a hole in his ass so that my father-in-law can turn things around." Zhao Hao smiled bitterly and said, "If my father wants to join the cabinet, he must first pass the test of my father-in-law. If it were someone else, I would directly recommend him, but since it's my own father, I can't say anything."

"That's right. Although it is said that we should promote people of good character regardless of their relationship, Mr. Zhang knows exactly what kind of person your father is." Zhao Shouzheng also smiled bitterly and said, "If you open your mouth, it will seem as if all the things you did before were just to help your father get to the top."

"Of course." Zhao Hao nodded repeatedly. It was not easy for him recently. He first kept vigil for Zhang Wenming, and then attended to Zhang Juzheng's illness. He was really a filial son and grandson to the Zhang family. If Mr. Zhang thought that his motives were not pure, wouldn't all his efforts be wasted?

"Well, we have to show our face to Zhang Jiangling now." Zhao Liben agreed, "First, we have to make him remember you, otherwise everything will be in vain."

"Hey, hey..." Zhao Shouzheng forced a smile and nodded. "Okay, I'll go tomorrow..."

"You can't just make him remember you." Zhao Jin continued, "You have to make a deep impression on him and improve his favorability towards you in the short term. This is the only way to be safe. After all, there are too many people trying to squeeze into the cabinet."

"Well, Wang Chonggu stepped down at this time and gave the position of Minister of War to Zhang Xianggong's people. He also wanted to push Wang Jiaping at the same time." Zhao Liben took two puffs of his cigar and said, "Lao Xier is still ruthless. He couldn't help Zhang Siwei, so he wanted to let Wang Jiaping take over."

"Wang Duinan is still a long way behind me." Zhao Shouzheng gained confidence when he heard that his classmates all had the same idea.

"What a pride you have! I'm just telling you to cheer up and be careful not to lose the opportunity!" Zhao Liben said, patting his head.

"Uh..." Zhao Shouzheng shrank his neck and asked nervously, "Then how should my son talk to his in-laws to leave a deep impression on them?"

"Simple, talk less and ask more." Zhao Liben said calmly: "Remember, Zhang Xianggong does not need colleagues, he only needs loyal subordinates. So you have to put yourself in the right position and ask more questions in a requesting attitude, and he will naturally realize that you are the right person."

"Remember, the most important question is - 'What can I do for my in-laws, no matter it is official or private.'" Zhao Hao also gave his father some advice:

"Father-in-law will definitely ask you, don't you usually dislike standing out?"

"Yes..." Zhao Shouzheng asked anxiously, "How should I answer?"

"Just say that you used to think you could be lazy because your in-laws were around, but now that I see you like this, I know I was wrong." Zhao Hao waved his fist and said, "I have to stand up and share the worries of my in-laws!"

"That's all I have to say. Don't say anything more." Zhao Liben said worriedly, "Zhang Jiangling is very smart. He already understands your thoughts. Too much is as bad as too little."

"Hey." Zhao Shouzheng nodded quickly, took out a small notebook and wrote down everything, and asked, "Is that it?"

"How can it be that simple? This is the selection of cabinet ministers. No matter how nepotistic they are, they can't pick a fool." Zhao Liben said, "Although you have made some achievements in the local area, you have been muddle-headed for more than five years since you came to Beijing. Zhang Jiangling must test you to see whether it was your own ability or your son's ability that mattered."

"Alas, this is the disadvantage of being in-laws." Zhao Shouzheng said depressedly: "They know everything about you."

"How will that test Second Uncle?" Zhao Jin asked.

"What else can be done in such a short time? Either the officials accept his compromise plan, or the problem of those five people is solved." Zhao Liben snorted and said, "There will be no other way."

"In fact, these two questions are the same question." Zhao Hao continued: "As long as those five people admit their mistakes, the other officials will have nothing to say."

He lowered his voice and said, "Those five people have become a thorn in my father-in-law's side. Beating them will do no good and will only intensify the conflict. Letting them go will also damage the Prime Minister's authority. Father might as well agree to it right away to avoid letting others get ahead of him."

"Great!" Zhao Jin clapped his hands and said, "The government and the people are working together to rescue the five gentlemen who wrote the petition. If Second Uncle can rescue them, at least he can be spared from being beaten in the court, but he can show his face in front of the court! And it also perfectly fits your image as the patron saint of all officials."

"Well, having a strict father is enough. I'm sure everyone wants more loving mothers in the cabinet." Zhao Liben nodded in agreement and said, "That way we can get by."

"Well, it seems like I've become an old lady." Zhao Shouzheng said with a wry smile.

The Zhao family burst into laughter, and even the old man couldn't help laughing. No one was worried. How could they make those five people admit their mistakes?

~~

The next day, Zhao Shouzheng and Zhao Hao took a car to Dashamao Hutong.

Although he had said everything that needed to be said last night, Mr. Zhao's palms were still sweating. He sighed awkwardly and said, "In the past few years, every time I met with my in-laws, I felt like he could see through my heart. It was okay when there were many people around, but I was really scared when I met him alone..."

"Don't be afraid. We arrived at noon on purpose because the effect of the medicine has just worn off and he is half awake and confused, so it is easiest to deal with him," Zhao Hao said softly.

"Oh, so that's it." Zhao Shouzheng was relieved and looked at his son eagerly and said, "You really don't want to go in?"

"Of course. If you just look at me when I go in, you'll be exposed." Zhao Hao encouraged his father, "If you're really unsure, just treat him as an old man..."

"Good fellow, my in-laws have become my father." Zhao Shouzheng laughed at himself. But this method was really ruthless, and he immediately found the feeling.

After the carriage entered the prime minister's residence, Zhao Hao went to the front yard to take over from Mao Xiu. Things like vigil, if it lasts for a long time, will always become a shift system...

Zhao Liben went to visit Zhang Juzheng.

There was no need for the in-laws to make an appointment and communicate with each other in advance. Sixiu led him directly into Zhang Juzheng's bedroom.

Mr. Zhang was covered with a quilt, lying on a bed with a hole in it. Perhaps the effect of the drug had just worn off, his eyes were dazed and listless, just as Zhao Hao said, he did not have the terrifying deterrent power he usually had.

"My dear relatives... please sit down..." Zhang Juzheng raised his hand slightly.

Sixiu quickly brought a chair over, and Zhao Shouzheng sat down after thanking him. He burst into tears before he even opened his mouth. "I didn't expect my father...my father-in-law is so seriously ill..."

Although Zhang Juzheng didn't understand why he burst into tears so quickly, he was still deeply moved and said, "Don't be sad, my dear. It's all my own fault. Fortunately, everything will be over soon."

"Ah, what's going on?" Zhao Shouzheng looked surprised.

"Why didn't Zhao Hao tell you?" Zhang Juzheng asked curiously. If someone else did this, he would think they were playing him. But based on Mr. Zhang's understanding of his in-laws, this fool would not do that.

"My son didn't say anything?" Mr. Zhao, who has been an official for ten years, has mastered the art of pretending to be ignorant.

"He is quite tight-lipped." Zhang Xianggong smiled faintly and said, "The emperor has already relented. After the wedding, Bu Gu can return home to bury his father."

"Oh, so that's it. It's not easy to be my in-laws." Zhao Liben continued to imagine Zhang Juzheng as his biological father, his eyes reddened again as he said, "I told them that you didn't want to take my love away, but the emperor wouldn't let you go. But those people just don't think well of their husband..."

"I'm glad that my in-law understands me." Zhang Xianggong felt warm in his heart. He knew that many people had come to Zhao Shouzheng before, hoping that his in-law would persuade them. But they were all rejected by Zhao Shilang, who also advised those young officials to read more and not to rashly express their opinions on government affairs.

After reading the report from the East Factory, Zhang Juzheng was still very grateful, so he was so polite to Zhao Shouzheng.

The two sighed for a while, and Zhao Shouzheng asked, "I wonder if there is anything I can do for you, my dear? Please tell me what you want, no matter it's official or private."

"Oh?" Zhang Juzheng looked him over and said, "Remember that my in-laws usually say that a hundred words are always right, but silence is worse than silence?"

"That's because I feel that I am too inexperienced and I'm afraid that if I say too much, I'll make too many mistakes and bring shame to my in-laws. Besides, I always feel that I can be lazy when my in-laws are around." Zhao Shouzheng took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears and said,

"Now that I see my in-laws like this, I know I was wrong." He said as if he had made a great decision: "It is said that brothers fight together to fight tigers, and fathers and sons fight together in battle. I have to stand up and share the worries of my in-laws!"

"Very good, very good..." Zhang Xianggong looked deeply into Zhao Shouzheng's eyes. A man in his forties with such pure eyes was enough to explain everything. He couldn't help but smile with emotion:

"Bu Gu's name is Ju Zheng, and your name is Shou Zheng. It really is God's will."