On the main table in the main hall of Gao Mansion.

Zhang Rong didn't expect that he would become a "chicken". He was dumbfounded by the sudden question and didn't know how to answer it.

"Well...how can that be compared with today? No matter how many people go, they are just ordinary guests. Today, all the ministers and heroes gather together." After a long while, he finally uttered a sentence.

"Haha, I heard that Zhao Hao took on five wives at the same time, and he wasn't afraid of being overwhelmed." Gao Gong stroked his stiff beard and said half jokingly and half seriously, "This young man just doesn't know how to be moderate. Doesn't he understand the principle that happiness cannot be enjoyed to the fullest? Can he serve five wives?"

"Yes, yes, he is still young." The ministers nodded one after another, but they were secretly envious in their hearts. It should be possible... It's good to be young.

The content of eavesdropping is an excellent topic of conversation for people after dinner. Any excessive words or actions in the bridal chamber will inevitably spread, and the popularity will not diminish for more than a month.

The news that Master Zhao entered the bridal chamber five times from noon to midnight and each time he was vigorous and energetic had already spread throughout the capital. Only a serious leader like Gao Gong would not dare to spread such gossip to him.

Therefore, the guests at each table in the hall all looked a little strange, after all, Mr. Zhao was now most praised for his ability in that aspect. But Gao Ge Lao was worrying about him here, and they had to cooperate in making fun of a man who was regarded as the Lao Ai of the Ming Dynasty, which was really a bit of self-humiliation.

Gao Gong also noticed that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, and couldn't help wondering, "Why, can that kid handle it?"

"That's right." Liu Ziqiang, the Minister of Justice, whispered to Gao Gong what he had heard from the eavesdropping: "It is said that the young Zhao went in after noon... just like Zhao Zilong went in and out seven times at Changbanpo, or like Guan Yu passed through five passes and killed six generals... until midnight, the battle was still going on, and all the eavesdroppers were exhausted..."

"I'm so tired, is that kid an animal?" Gao Gong was shocked and even felt a little ashamed. This made the stubborn Gao Gong very angry, and he snorted, "As expected, like dragons, like phoenixes, like phoenixes, and the offspring of mice can dig holes! This is all the Zhao family can do..."

Many people immediately showed a look of surprise. Gao Gong suddenly realized that he had said something wrong, so he glared at Liu Ziqiang and cursed: "Hey... You are a great chief prosecutor, but you are always bothering me with trivial matters. You specially come here to inquire about these dirty things. Do you still have the face to do that?"

"Hey, I don't want to lose face, I got it?" Liu Ziqiang was embarrassed, but he smiled awkwardly. He was a fellow Henan native of Gao Gong, and they had a very good relationship. But in the first year of Longqing, he stabbed Gao Gong in the back, which made Gao Gong lose face. Later, when Gao Gong made a comeback, he shamelessly went to his house to apologize. Although Gao Gong despised him, he chose to forgive him because there was no one else to use at that time.

But from then on, he became Lord Gao's spittoon... But Lord Liu was not ashamed of it, but proud of it. After all, the spittoon was also an indispensable personal item for the master.

~~

However, after this incident, Gao Gong lost interest in continuing to knock. He glanced at the empty seat and said, "It seems that Lord Zhang is not well yet, so he can't come today."

Then he ordered Gao Cai, "Let's start the meal..."

"Lord Zhang has arrived!" Unexpectedly, a drawn-out voice was heard from outside.

"Oh?" Gao Gong smiled with satisfaction and said, "You're here?"

In the Gao Mansion, many officials came out of the dining room and saluted respectfully to Lord Zhang.

Zhang Juzheng was wearing a well-cut purple silk gown with round flowers, a dark cloak, a fluttering scarf with two legs hanging down his back, and a pair of tortoise-shell brown glasses on his nose, looking indescribably leisurely and wealthy.

Under Gao Chao's attentive guidance, he walked into the main hall of Gao's mansion with steady steps. After entering, he did not take off his sunglasses and bowed to Gao Gong, saying, "Please forgive me, Prime Minister. I am late."

"Hey, uncle, what are you talking about? You were injured for me, so I wouldn't blame you even if you didn't come." Gao Gong happily stood up and greeted him, "Of course it would be better if you came. Please take a seat quickly. I'm waiting for you."

"It is better to obey than to be respectful." Zhang Juzheng stood up and bowed to the ministers, saying, "Sorry for waiting for you all."

"Please take a seat, Mr. Zhang. We have just arrived as well." The officials were also very polite. They were afraid of Gao Gong, and they were also afraid of Zhang Juzheng.

If we compare all the ministers in the court to a deck of cards, these two kings, big and small, can control them all.

After Zhang Juzheng took his seat, the birthday banquet began, and all kinds of flattering words came flooding in, with people vying to show their flattery.

Gao Gong dealt with three rounds, and Gao Cai, Tanyu and others took over the drinking urging from the crowd at the right time.

After taking a few bites of food and burping, Gao asked Zhang Juzheng with a smile, "Taiyue, why are you here so late? This doesn't seem like your style."

"Alas, my daughter is going to return home today." Zhang Juzheng sighed, "In Jingzhou, we return home the day after marriage. There are some complicated rules to go through, so it's delayed."

"Oh, is that so?" Gao Gong couldn't help but apologize, "Then have a drink and go back quickly."

"It's okay. I get so angry when I see that karma. It's better to hide." Zhang Juzheng said with a stern face.

Gao Gong was not surprised, because from the very beginning, Zhang Juzheng was very dissatisfied with Zhao Hao's performance, and it was even he who mediated the marriage.

But Gao Gong always felt that now that the matter was settled, the son-in-law was also half a son, so Uncle Zhang’s attitude should change, right?

So when he saw Zhang Juzheng was eager to distance himself from Zhao Hao, he was both happy and a little unsure, thinking, is this guy playing me?

Thinking of this, he quickly glanced at the number one lackey sitting at the opposite table, and Han Ji understood what he meant. He stood up and said to Gao Gong with a smile: "The younger generations of the Hanlin Academy have all written birthday poems and sent them to the disciples to wish the teacher a happy birthday."

Although Han Ji was like this, he had also been a student in an academy. It was during that time that he and Gao Gong, who was a teacher at the Imperial Academy, formed a deep teacher-student friendship.

"Oh, really?" Gao Gong smiled and said, "Take a look at it and see if there are any outstanding writers in this year's collection."

"Without a birthday poem, I can't present it to the teacher." Han Ji said with a sad face.

Birthday preface is a kind of applied writing style that emerged in the Ming Dynasty. In this era, scholars liked to show off their talents and knowledge, and the people also regarded birthday poems and lyrics as the most precious birthday gifts.

Generally, after people finish writing poems, they compile them into a book and give it to the birthday person for safekeeping. The book needs a preface, which is the birthday preface. The birthday preface is the first and most important thing, and gradually it becomes more important than the birthday poem itself...

"What's the difficulty?" Gao Gong said with a smile, "What this room lacks the most is people who have passed the imperial examinations and are well-educated. Whoever you think is suitable, just ask him to write the preface."

"In terms of status and talent, it must be Mr. Zhang." Han Ji also laughed.

Zhang Juzheng saw that the master and his apprentice were in sync and had gotten themselves into trouble. He could not help but get furious! He secretly cursed these bastards for going too far!

With his talent, it would be easy for him to write a birthday preface. But this kind of thing cannot be written casually!

Because it is a licking article.

If he licked too lightly, Gao Huzi would feel uncomfortable. If he licked too hard, he would feel sick.

Bu Gu was, after all, a cabinet minister of the first rank. It didn't matter how he flattered his superior in private. But how could he do that in front of all the ministers? And he had to write about it. This was a public execution!

But he had already cultivated to the realm of "the wrath of a saint is not on his face", and he could still maintain a smile and said: "Bring it to Bu Gu to read and think about it."

"Thank you, my husband!" Han Ji happily presented the handwritten collection of poems.

This was what he had discussed with Gao Gong last night. As long as Zhang Juzheng came, he would let him write this birthday preface to test his attitude. It didn't matter if Zhang Juzheng flattered him against his will, because they would print thousands of copies and sell them later, and all the civil and military officials in the court would have to pay for it.

By then, everyone will have a copy of the book, and the first page will be Zhang Juzheng praising Gao Ge Lao. How will Zhang Taiyue continue to sit on the fence in the future?!

~~

So at the following banquet, Zhang Juzheng pretended to flip through the fart-smelling poetry collection, but his mind was racing, trying to find a strategy for dealing with the situation.

Just when he was about to use the excuse that his eyes hurt and couldn't see the words clearly, and was preparing to go home to discuss it with the source of all evil, he suddenly heard shouting and cursing outside, followed by the sound of smashing and smashing!

“What’s going on?!” Gao Gong’s face turned dark instantly. Someone actually dared to act wildly at his birthday party?

"I'll go and take a look!" Gao Cai ran out quickly and saw the guests also running towards the front yard following the sound.

"Make way, let me pass!" Gao Cai shouted, and finally separated the crowd of onlookers and came to the front yard in public.

When he saw the various gift boxes piled up like a mountain in the yard, all smashed to pieces, and countless antique paintings and calligraphy, jade treasures broken all over the floor, Gao Cai's eyes almost popped out!

"Who did this?!" He suddenly raised his voice and shouted with resentment: "You want to die, right?!"

"I did it. Do you want to kill me?!" Then an angry voice came from the pile of gifts.

However, the guards in the mansion not only did not arrest the man, but also carefully moved the box away, as if they were afraid of hurting him.

Even Gao Cai was stunned and stammered, "Big...Big Brother?"

"It's the master." Then a man who was moving boxes stood up. It was Shao Fang who went to the south to pick someone up.

"He, what's wrong with him? Is he sick again?" The anger on Gao Cai's face disappeared, replaced by anxiety.

The eldest brother is like a father, and this is no joke. Their father died early, and Gao Jie took on half of the father's responsibilities, so his younger brothers, including Gao Gong, respected him very much.

"He was fine at first. The Jiangnan Hospital said he was basically fully recovered. He was talking and laughing all the way, and nothing unusual happened when we entered Beijing and walked up West Chang'an Street." Shao Fang also looked as if he had seen something strange. "But once we entered Shichang Street, the master suddenly got angry. He had his big Guandao brought over, and then he drove everyone outside away with the sword raised. Then he rushed in again, banging and hacking at the piled-up gift boxes, and ended up burying himself underneath them by accident."

“Is that so?” Gao Cai nodded and breathed a sigh of relief, then he bowed to the guests who were watching the fun and said, “My eldest brother has a brain disease, please forgive me…”

The guests were about to open their mouths to comfort him, but they saw the tall old man rushing out from the pile of gift boxes, with one hand tied around his long beard and the other holding a large Guandao, roaring: "I am not sick, you are sick! Where is Gao Gong? Let him get out and see me. If he really wants to be Yan Song, I will kill him with a sword for the ancestors of the Gao family and eliminate this harm for the country! It will also save our ancestors from embarrassment in the future!"

ps. Post first and correct typos later.