Only Xu Jie and Zhang Juzheng attended the dinner, with Xu Yuanchun serving them.

Although there were only two people eating, the preparations were not sloppy at all. In addition to a few light Songjiang dishes, Zhang Juzheng was also served a number of Jingzhou specialties... and his favorite Yangtze River delicacies.

"Taiyue, try it." Xu Jie affectionately picked up a piece of puffer fish and put it into Zhang Juzheng's bowl. "This is specially prepared by a famous chef from Jingzhou invited from Songhelou. Try it carefully and see if it tastes good."

Zhang Juzheng was looking at these seafood shipped from the south as if they were poison. He twitched his lips secretly, wanting to say that he had given up smoking, but was afraid that his master would think too much.

At this critical moment, how could he be so cautious as to ruin his life? Thinking of this, Zhang Juzheng gritted his teeth, ate the puffer fish meat in the bowl, and then chewed it with a slightly ferocious look on his face.

It is said that people who are cruel to themselves will never be kind to others...

"Why, not to your taste?" Xu Jie asked curiously.

"No, I am touched." Zhang Juzheng took a deep breath, wiped his eyes and said, "My father doesn't even know what I like to eat, only Master remembers."

"Haha, for twenty years, I have treated you like my own son, how could I have forgotten your taste?" Xu Jie put another piece of Yangtze River knife fish into his bowl. "Come on, eat more."

"Thank you, Master..." Mr. Zhang almost screamed and cried out loud with emotion.

~~

After three rounds of wine, the dishes have five flavors.

A blush appeared on Xu Jie's fair face, and his words became more and more unrestrained.

He patted Zhang Juzheng's shoulder vigorously and said loudly: "Uncle, uncle, do you know what I expect of you?"

"I know. Master has always had high expectations of his disciples." Zhang Juzheng lowered his head, looking humble and willing to learn, but he felt his stomach churning.

"You don't know!" Xu Jie put more strength into his hands, patting Zhang Juzheng's shoulder again and again and said:

"When the late emperor passed away, besides me, there were three other officials in the cabinet: Li Xinghua, Guo Anyang, and Gao Xinzheng. However, I took a huge risk and excluded the three of them. I invited you to sit by my bedside and draft the "Posthumous Portrait" with you. You should understand that I have entrusted my legacy to you!"

"I dare not guess the teacher's intentions." Zhang Juzheng showed an expression of three parts surprise and seven parts touching at the right time.

"Then I will tell you clearly now. I had planned at that time that when I retired to the forest, I would definitely help you become the Prime Minister!" Xu Jie clapped his hands heavily, then withdrew his swollen palms with a lingering feeling.

"You are the next Prime Minister chosen by me for the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhang Juzheng felt that half of his shoulder was swollen. He quickly put on an expression of fear but actually pain and said:

"Master, please think twice. I have little background and am content to be the last in the cabinet. There are the two lords of Xinghua and Nanchong ahead of me. Maybe Gao Xinzheng will come back in the future. It will never be my turn to take over your position."

"Li Chunfang is the best second assistant, but he can't take the lead. He doesn't have the courage. Chen Yiqin is courageous, but he is reckless. If he were to take charge of the Ming Dynasty, the country would be in chaos in a few days."

Xu Jie commented on his two subordinates with a bit of disdain, and then said with a worried look on his face: "The only one worth worrying about is Gao Gong. But as long as I am gone, he can only stay in Gaojiazhuang obediently."

Elder Xu sighed and said, "I just don't feel at ease with him, otherwise I would have returned to my hometown to enjoy my grandchildren."

Xu Yuanchun, who was standing by, immediately had a picture in front of his eyes of himself and a few of his brothers, naked and wearing red bibs, surrounding the old man to ask for candy, amidst the festive sound of suona.

"Grandpa, Grandpa..."

'I want some candy, Grandpa...'

The disgusting scene almost made Mr. Xu vomit.

"I was planning to take your place for another two years, until you grow up and are no longer afraid of the man from Gaojiazhuang, then I can retire." Xu Jie was unaware of this, and continued to sigh, "It's too late to say anything now. I am already a man in the forest, and you can only wish for the best for yourself."

Seeing that the teacher had said so much, Zhang Juzheng could only say excitedly, "Teacher, please don't make a judgment too soon. Didn't the emperor issue another decree to retain you? He also gave you many rewards, which shows that the emperor favors you. How can you resign so easily?"

"It's hard to say what His Majesty is thinking. He has a big prejudice against me. I'm afraid he still hopes that I can make room for Gao Xinzheng as soon as possible?" Xu Jie said quietly.

"Your Majesty cannot act on his own. If he wants Gao Gong to return to the court, the officials will not agree!" Zhang Juzheng was like a cat whose tail was stepped on. Even gods could not tell that he had been planning to bring Gao Gong back to the court for nearly half a year.

As he said this, he stood up, bowed deeply to Xu Jie and said, "In order to avoid any more trouble, I will go back and join hands with the two cabinet members, the six ministries, the nine ministers, and all the officials to submit a petition to urge Your Majesty to order Master to return to work as soon as possible!"

"That's not good." Xu Jie said falsely, "Your Majesty will overthink it again."

"This is the voice of all officials, and Your Majesty must hear it!" Zhang Juzheng said firmly.

~~

Zhang Juzheng was resolute and decisive in his actions and always kept his word.

That night, he visited the two grand secretaries and persuaded them to join him in persuading the nine ministers to submit a petition.

By the morning of the third day, the emperor had received more than 200 memorials from officials in Beijing urging Lord Xu to return to office as soon as possible.

"Is this the answer Master Zhang gave me?" Emperor Longqing looked at Zhang Juzheng with some displeasure.

"Your Majesty, after much thought, the only solution now is to ask Lord Xu to come back immediately to take charge of the situation." For the sake of the overall situation, Zhang Juzheng could only silently bear the emperor's criticism.

"As long as Lord Xu comes back, the six departments will stop making trouble, and the court will naturally be able to resume normal operations."

If Section Chief Ouyang heard what Mr. Zhang said, he would probably jump up and down. We resigned to seek justice for ourselves, what does it have to do with Lord Xu? !

Unfortunately, he has already returned home, so he can only let others comment on him.

"I have already issued two imperial decrees to retain you. What else do you want me to do? Go and invite you in person?!"

As expected, Emperor Longqing believed it and tightly grasped the yellow jade ruyi in his hand, wishing he could slam the table hard.

But the frugal emperor was reluctant to even break a tea bowl, let alone get what he wanted.

"Your Majesty, please issue another decree." Zhang Juzheng sighed.

"What if he submits his resignation again? How can I not keep him?!" Longqing changed his approach and slapped the imperial desk with his hands. This didn't cost money, but it was very painful.

"People tend to think more when they get older. Your Majesty, please bear with me."

"Then who will take care of me?" Longqing raised his tone slightly, very angry.

"Of course it is you and me." Zhang Juzheng said respectfully.

"Well, forget it, I won't argue with the old man." Long Qing waved his hands gloomily and said, "Master Zhang and Teng Xiang will take care of it."

"I am ashamed that I have wronged Your Majesty." Zhang Juzheng lowered his head with a look of shame on his face.

"Master Zhang, don't be like this. How can I blame you for this?" Long Qing took a deep breath and said, "If I have to blame someone, I should blame my bad luck for having to deal with such a state elder..."

The conflict between the two sides is not a recent one. They have accumulated a lot of anger over the past year.

ps. The second update is here, please give me monthly votes and recommendation votes~~