The next day was the day when Lord Xu invited Zhang Juzheng to dinner.

Mr. Zhang, just like Zhao Hao yesterday, dressed up carefully before going out and asked his wife to put on smoky makeup... to look more haggard.

Looking at the obvious dark circles under his eyes in the mirror, as if he hadn't slept for several nights, Zhang Juzheng nodded with satisfaction.

"Master, please be careful. You can't cry on this makeup." Gu used a powder puff to pat his face yellow while reminding him carefully, "Otherwise it will be ruined."

"Oh?" Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but think of the young lady he had let down when he was young, and her clown face when she was sad and crying, and he couldn't help but shudder.

Today’s trip to Xu’s house made me cry like rain.

I really can’t imagine what it would be like to cry my face off in front of my master.

No Valley, no opera...

"Wipe it." Mr. Zhang's beard curled up.

~~

When Zhang Juzheng arrived at Xu's house, he saw Xu Yuanchun already waiting for him at the door.

"Welcome, uncle." Xu Yuanchun was very respectful and helped Zhang Juzheng out of the car.

"Yuanchun, didn't you go to the Imperial College?" Zhang Juzheng had a good impression of Xu Ge Lao's grandson. At least this kid didn't have any bad intentions.

It's just that I tend to be distracted sometimes and don't look very smart.

"Uncle, there has been unrest at home these days, so I asked for leave from the professor." Xu Yuanchun replied and led Zhang Juzheng into the back house.

"Grandpa has not been in good health recently, otherwise he would have come to greet Uncle in person long ago." Xu Yuanchun explained in a low voice and was about to lead him to Xu Jie's bedroom.

"Go see your father first." Zhang Juzheng said softly.

"Okay." Xu Yuanchun took him to Xu Fan's residence.

When he arrived at the door, Zhang Juzheng saw Xu Fan lying on a soft chair, basking in the sun inside the door.

"Who's here?" Xu Fan struggled to open his eyes a little, adjusted his gaze to the person's face, and then said with an 'oh': "Brother Taiyue."

"Yes, father, Uncle Zhang is here to see you." Xu Yuanchun quickly helped Xu Fan sit up, then propped up the back of the recliner.

Zhang Juzheng looked at Xu Fan's bell-like eyelids and couldn't help but sigh: "Young cabinet minister has suffered."

"It's much better now. It was swollen like a peach two days ago and I couldn't even open my eyes." Xu Yuanchun introduced crisply.

"Ahahaha..." Xu Fan seemed to have been drained of all his energy. He looked depressed and weak, with no trace of the arrogant and domineering young minister he used to be.

He grabbed Zhang Juzheng's hand and cried, "Brother Taiyue, you have to help me. That beast named Zhao beat me up like this and even spat on my face...hahahaha..."

Zhang Juzheng had not expected that the number one scholar could completely destroy the arrogant young cabinet minister with just a few punches.

It seems that the physical damage is secondary, the main thing is the mental damage of 100,000 points.

It's so embarrassing.

Being an official is all about dignity. If it were any other official, being beaten to the ground in front of all the officials and having spit on his face would be too shameful to face the public. Even if the court dealt with the attacker, he could not go back to his original office and could only seek transfer to another place and start over.

Not to mention the young cabinet minister who was extremely concerned about his reputation. It would make him suffer more than killing him.

"Brother Taiyue, you must help me vent my anger." Xu Fan touched his chest and said, "Otherwise, I will suffocate to death..."

"Don't worry, young minister. The court will handle this matter impartially." Zhang Juzheng quickly expressed his opinion.

"Fuck impartiality!" Xu Fan didn't believe his carelessness. "I asked Dong Xuanzai yesterday, but he still hasn't caught the guy surnamed Zhao!"

"We have been searching with all our might. As soon as we find him, we will arrest him and punish him immediately." There is nothing we can do if we can't find him.

"The capital is so big, if he hides on purpose, how can we find him like a needle in a haystack?" Xu Fan stared with his eyes wide open, trying to express his anger.

"Arrest his family members. If he doesn't show up, throw them all in jail!"

"His family members all have honors. This is such a big deal, and there are so many eyes watching. It's not easy for the Ministry of Justice to arrest people at will." Zhang Juzheng sighed and said, "Young cabinet minister, rest assured. I will notify you as soon as there is any news."

After saying this, he stopped paying attention to the young elder who was suffering from a severe stress reaction after his injury, and went to the bedroom of elder Xu to pay his respects.

~~

When he arrived at the steps, Zhang Juzheng saw Xu Jie standing at the door with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face.

He looks so energetic, how could he look sick at all?

It seems that being bedridden due to illness is just a matter of need.

"Master." Zhang Juzheng took two quick steps and bowed deeply to Lord Xu.

"Hahaha, uncle, please stop being polite." Xu Jie laughed loudly, "How come you are free today and come here so early?"

"The Master has invited me, so I dare not neglect it." Zhang Juzheng replied respectfully. In fact, the cabinet is very idle now, and there is no work to do even if they want to...

"Alas, I've told you so many times. Now you are a first-rank official and a minister of the Dongke Academy. Don't behave like a junior anymore." Xu Jie walked down the stairs with a kind face and helped Zhang Juzheng up.

"Everything I have is thanks to my teacher." Zhang Juzheng said more respectfully, "Without my teacher, there would be no Shuda today. It has nothing to do with Shuda's status."

"Oh, aha..." Xu Jie looked deeply at his most respected student, as if he wanted to see from his face how much sincerity there was in his words.

Of course, it was very impressive. The admiration on Mr. Zhang's handsome face could melt anyone's heart.

"Let's go in and talk." Xu Jie patted Zhang Juzheng on the shoulder, thinking that he had become a disciple.

Zhang Juzheng helped Xu Jie into the study, first helped the teacher sit down on the armchair, and then sat upright at the bottom.

"Ever since the Prime Minister resigned, I have been wanting to invite the two Grand Secretaries to come and pay my respects, but there have been so many things going on in the court recently that I have never been able to find the time."

"I can't blame you. It's because I gave up my responsibility that the court has been in so much trouble." Xu Jie said with a guilty look on his face, "I thought you three would be fine, but I didn't expect it was a little too early."

"Master, what you said is wrong. It's more than a little early." Zhang Juzheng sighed inwardly. The teacher was really anxious. He went straight to the point right away. He hurriedly replied with ten times more shame:

"When the master was around, I didn't think it was that difficult to handle state affairs. But now that the master is gone, I know that discussing the principles of governing a country and balancing yin and yang are not that simple."

"Hahaha, you just know it, Taiyue." Wasn't Xu Ge Lao waiting for this sentence when he made such a scene? Regardless of whether Zhang Juzheng was sincere or not, being able to say this sentence would mean that he had achieved his goal.

Forced by the situation, Lord Xu's conditions for returning to work were lowered again and again, so he was easily satisfied.

"Life is peaceful and quiet on weekdays, but it's just that someone is carrying the burden for you..." The wrinkles on Lord Xu's face were smoothed out a lot.

"Yes." Zhang Juzheng accepted the advice sincerely and said, "Master, it is far from the time for us to let go. We still have a lot to learn."

"Alas, I am old but powerless. Since this spring, I have trouble sleeping every night, feel dizzy all the time during the day, and my energy is getting worse day by day..." Lord Xu said with a flushed face.

ps. The first update is here, please give me monthly tickets and recommendation tickets~~