Although reluctant, Emperor Longqing still issued an edict to retain him on the same day.

Because it was an imperial decree directly given to the minister himself, it did not need to go through the six departments, and Lord Xu received the imperial edict.

Seeing Emperor Longqing's earnest words asking the Prime Minister to put the country first and not "abandon me", the young cabinet minister laughed out loud.

He felt alive again!

Not only has the swelling in his eyes basically subsided, leaving only two bruises the size of copper coins, but after his father returns to the cabinet, he can do whatever he wants to Zhao Shouzheng!

He wanted to let everyone in the world see what would happen to those who hurt the young elder? !

~~

In the Princess's residence, Zhao Shouzheng was lying lazily in the water pavilion, looking at the rippling waves and mandarin ducks playing in the water, while eating lychees peeled by the Princess herself. He felt so comfortable.

Today, the princess finally managed to send Li Chengen away... and let him and Li Mingyue go to Zhang Juzheng's residence to study science... and finally got the chance to be alone with Zhao Lang.

"How can there be such a blind child? He won't go out even when I tell him to!" The eldest princess snuggled up to Master Zhao and clumsily peeled off the shell of a lychee with her fingernails.

"Hey, don't say that about Cheng'en. He just likes to play with me." Zhao Shouzheng spoke for the young master, "Zhao Hao and I have never been able to play together."

"You two look like father and daughter." The princess smiled and put the white lychees into Zhao Shouzheng's mouth.

"Ah..." Zhao Shouzheng chewed vaguely and sighed: "I don't know what changes will happen after Lord Xu returns?"

Mr. Zhao is not really heartless. As a fugitive, he naturally keeps an eye on what is happening outside.

"Don't be afraid, Zhao Lang. Even if Lord Xu has ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to come to my house to arrest people!" The princess smiled faintly and said, "Just stay in the house with peace of mind."

Well, it’s best not to go out for ten years…

"I'm worried about my family." Zhao Shouzheng scratched his head and said, "If they can't find my people, I'm afraid they will attack Zhao Hao, my disciples, and my...

"Hmm..." The princess didn't dare to talk big anymore. After thinking for a moment, she said, "How about this? I'll go to the palace tomorrow and talk to my brother. As long as he can say something, Lord Xu won't... do anything too much."

After saying that, they both sighed. Even if the emperor spoke, they could only hope that Lord Xu would show mercy.

Oh, it’s such a headache!

~~

Lord Xu didn't dare to make trouble this time and wrote a letter of thanks overnight.

He got up before dawn the next day, washed and dressed with the help of his maid, put on his dragon robe and jade belt, then took the folded-corner fu hat and put it firmly on his head.

After taking a deep look in the mirror and seeing the calm and wise first-rank official, Lord Xu withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and walked out of the main hall with the help of his grandson.

In the yard, a large sedan chair with eight bearers had already been prepared, and the bearers were kneeling on the ground waiting for Lord Xu to get on.

Xu Fan also came out to see him off. While helping his father lift the curtain of the sedan chair, he said worriedly, "Father, please deal with a few important matters first. I will deal with the rest as soon as the bruises on my face are gone."

Then he asked Yuanchun to take good care of his grandfather for him, and to keep her eyes open and not make mistakes when helping him read memorials and copy bills.

If you make a mistake in writing a word, you will be whipped!

This made Xu Yuanchun so nervous that she almost fainted when she entered the palace.

"Yuanchun, don't panic." Seeing this, Lord Xu encouraged her gently, "Your father is just anxious. Don't pay attention to him. There is a long time to go. Just learn slowly."

"Yes, grandpa." Xu Yuanchun's face finally showed some color.

Xu Jie did not return to Wenyuan Pavilion directly, but went to Qianqing Palace first.

At that time, Emperor Longqing had not yet gotten up.

To be precise, the emperor read all night last night.

Upon hearing that the Prime Minister had arrived, Longqing hurriedly hid the newly acquired "Jin Ping Mei" under his pillow and covered it with a quilt.

Then he thought, Lord Xu is not a eunuch, so how could he enter his bedroom?

Only then did he feel at ease and let Feng Bao help him wash and dress neatly to meet the Prime Minister.

After Xu Jie knelt down and paid homage, Longqing ordered Feng Bao to help the Prime Minister up and gave him a seat.

Lord Xu then presented a letter of thanks, saying that Your Majesty had shown such great favor that he was overwhelmed and would do whatever Your Majesty wanted despite his old age.

Longqing was originally in a good mood reading, but when he saw Xu Jie's old face, he couldn't help but think of what Zhang Juzheng said yesterday.

"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..."

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

Thinking of this, the emperor couldn't help but feel bored, and after not sleeping all night, he felt tired. He didn't even bother to ask the old man if he had breakfast.

After the thanksgiving, an awkward silence fell in the warm room.

The emperor was uncomfortable, and Xu Jie was even more uncomfortable.

The emperor looked listless with his eyes closed, as if he had been greatly bullied.

The old man felt like he couldn't breathe and felt discouraged.

But thinking that he still had so many things to do and so many people to arrange, he could only cheer up and try to ease the relationship with the emperor.

"Last autumn, Your Majesty intended to visit Shanglin Garden, but at that time Nanhaizi was a desolate place, the palace was not well managed, and the grass and trees were withered in late autumn, so there was really nothing to see. This old minister and my colleagues advised Your Majesty to slow down."

After a pause, Xu Jie forced a smile and said, "It is now April, the height of spring, the flowers and trees are flourishing, and the management of Shanglin Garden has begun to show results. Your Majesty, why don't you go to Nanhaizi to relax?"

"Oh?" Long Qing was delighted when he heard that, but then he shook his head and said, "I have not been in the mood for traveling recently, and I just want to study hard."

"Is that so? Studying is good, studying is good..." Xu Jie's heart sank. He and the emperor had argued countless times over the matter of the imperial tour. Normally, Longqing should be overjoyed when he gave in this time.

Could it be that Your Majesty is already treating the person the wrong way?

Xu Jie quickly calmed himself down and added, "Your Majesty has always wanted to build a summer palace. Do you have a favorite location?"

"Forget it. Isn't the treasury empty? I was scolded like a dog for lighting an Aoshan lantern. I'd better not seek scolding for no reason." Longqing touched the top of his head, still showing no interest.

"It's okay. Your Majesty is already very frugal. He just wants to build a house to escape the summer heat. It's not excessive at all. If anyone dares to say anything more, I, this old minister, will criticize him severely." Xu Jie forced a smile.

"I appreciate your kindness, Lord Xu, but I just issued the "Edict on Prohibiting Extravagance" in February, and I cannot be the first to violate it." Emperor Longqing yawned and stood up and said, "Lord, don't worry about me, just take care of the government."

Xu Jie quickly stood up, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

Why don't you even care about the palace? Are you going to hold a national beauty pageant for you?

If he really said this, Emperor Longqing would have to sit down and have a good talk with him.

Unfortunately, Lord Xu is a man of dignity. Proposing to help the emperor build a palace is already the limit for him. How could he take the initiative to talk about a beauty pageant?

At most, I can hint to the Imperial Household Department in the future that the Cabinet has no objection to Your Majesty expanding the harem...

~~

It was not until he came out of the Qianqing Palace that Lord Xu took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Looking back at the palace behind him, he could not help but sigh that it was easy to break something but difficult to repair it.

It is even more difficult to restore it to its original state.

Forget it, let’s go back to Wenyuan Pavilion first and stabilize our basic base.

ps. Third update, please give me monthly tickets and recommendation tickets~~~