Xu Fan was stunned. He only knew that his father and his second uncle did not have a good relationship, but he did not expect that there was such an old case involved.

The only thing he couldn't figure out was -

"But that was decades ago. After my father became the Prime Minister, he promoted my second uncle. In just a few years, he promoted him from the fifth rank to the third rank minister... Although he is from Nanjing, he is also a member of the Xu family. How can he destroy his own pot when he eats his father's food?"

"Yeah, I can't figure it out either. After so many years, why can't he let it go?"

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he felt his chest was no longer so stuffy. He ordered Xu Fan in a hoarse voice, "Draft a letter of resignation and explain to the emperor what your father said just now."

"Oh, yes..." Xu Fan lowered his head and responded.

According to the rules, officials who are impeached must immediately resign from their posts, regardless of their rank. Once the matter is thoroughly investigated and it is confirmed that they are innocent, the court will naturally retain them...

But how to investigate such a misfortune in the family? !

Xu Fan gritted his teeth, it is true that 'no matter how careful you are, you can't guard against a thief in your own home'!

~~

Chunsong Hutong.

Facing Ye and Zhao Hao who were full of admiration, Zhao Liben pulled up his goatee and said modestly with pride:

"In fact, I was just going with the flow. Xu Zhi and I were both in the six ministries in Nanjing. He was the right vice minister of the Ministry of Justice, and I was the right vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. We usually had a good time. Last year, during the inspection in Beijing, I suffered a big setback. His life was not easy either... He was just mediocre."

The imperial examination would not only demote officials, but also give priority to promotion to those who received favorable comments.

Although "mediocre and ineffective" will not lead to demotion, it is definitely not a good evaluation. If you are labeled with these four words, your career will be over.

"He was very dissatisfied with Lord Xu, saying that other brothers promoted and cared for their brothers, but his brother suppressed and excluded his brothers all day long, and he wanted to send him back home to farm to satisfy his desire."

"At that time, he threatened to reveal the true face of Lord Xu and make life difficult for everyone." But Zhao Liben smiled slyly and said, "This memorial was supposed to be submitted last year, but I stopped it."

"I originally intended to use this opportunity to ask for credit from Lord Xu and see if I could get my position reinstated. But he actually indulged his son and attacked my children and grandchildren again and again. Don't blame me for being rude!"

Zhao Liben slowly wiped his shiny forehead and said with a cold smile: "So I urged Xu Zhi to publish this book!"

"Your Excellency is truly worthy of being called an Excellency..." Ye was already at a loss for words, not knowing how to praise this extremely tall and majestic... old man.

"Grandpa, I understand the truth." Zhao Hao was still a little confused and asked, "But it's been more than a year, and Minister Xu should have calmed down. Why did he write a letter when you asked him to? Grandpa has something on him?"

"Grandpa never holds any evidence against others." Zhao Liben shook his head and said, "That would make people hate you."

"I only sent a message," he said in a low voice, "that the account books may have fallen into the hands of the emperor."

"Oh..." The two finally realized.

In today's Southeast upper class, the so-called "account books" specifically refer to the maritime merchant account books lost from the Lu family.

Although Xu Zhi had never seen the account books, he knew that several of his nephews were deeply involved with maritime merchants.

Otherwise, how could the Xu family, with tens of thousands of weavers producing millions of rolls of cloth and hundreds of thousands of rolls of silk a year, be sold?

Xu Zhi's family also had a lot of land, but no weavers, and he felt that he had nothing to do with maritime merchants.

He had originally planned to impeach Xu Jie, so of course he had to distance himself from him now.

~~

After understanding the ins and outs of Xu Zhi's letter, Zhao Hao finally satisfied his curiosity.

But the old man said seriously: "Don't be careless. For us, the real challenge has just begun."

"Why do you say that, sir?" Ye asked in confusion, "Lord Xu should be too ashamed to stay in the court, right?"

Although Xu Jie has not yet submitted his resignation, anything could happen.

But Xu Yifang still has a trick of 'disciple backstab' that he hasn't used yet!

With one move, there is no chance of survival...

So the three of them have already regarded Lord Xu as a retired cadre.

"It is precisely because Lord Xu is really leaving this time that the emperor's attitude towards him will definitely undergo a subtle change." Zhao Liben looked at Zhao Hao with a sad face and said:

"I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about your silly father. He beat the young minister like that. Even if he doesn't mention it, His Majesty will give an explanation to Minister Xu before he leaves."

"That makes sense." Zhao Hao nodded. Yes, all retired prime ministers are good prime ministers.

The emperor had previously disliked Lord Xu in every way, and the fundamental reason was that the old man was in the way and an eyesore.

Once Lord Xu really decides to leave, nothing will bother the emperor anymore.

With the soft heart of Emperor Longqing, the only thing in his mind was probably the goodness of Lord Xu and his guilt towards him...

How could one bear to let the prime ministers of two dynasties go back in disgrace?

At least you have to find a cheap brother-in-law to see the old prime minister off, right?

"It seems that the Second Master can't escape this disaster?" Ye couldn't help but worry.

"Well, normally speaking. He will be beaten with a stick in court and dismissed from office. Even that woman can't protect him."

The old man sighed, glanced at Zhao Hao and said, "Unless this kid can make things abnormal."

"Grandpa, you know it again." Zhao Hao sighed helplessly. He had no secrets in front of the old man.

"You and that fat black guy have been whispering these past two days, and I've heard everything." Zhao Liben gave a thumbs up and said, "I've been in the martial arts world for decades, and I've never seen such a trick!"

"I'm not playing well, I'm just playing around." Zhao Hao smiled modestly and said, "I don't know if it will be effective."

"..." Ye was confused and thought to herself, how come I couldn't understand what was being said?

~~

The next day, the three university secretaries once again led all the officials to submit a petition to retain Lord Xu.

The emperor also sent an envoy to the prime minister's residence to express his condolences, making great efforts to make the occasion a success.

But amid the chorus of voices from both the government and the public trying to retain him, there were also discordant voices.

An imperial censor named Zhang Qi suddenly jumped out to impeach Lord Xu.

He said that Lord Xu had served the late emperor for eighteen years and had flattered him with all his might regarding his cultivation of immortality; but as soon as the late emperor passed away, he fabricated the "Last Will" to accuse the late emperor of cultivating immortality and harming the country, and put all the blame on the late emperor.

It is also said that Xu Jie had been flattering Yan Song for fifteen years, and had always been flattering him, even giving his granddaughter to Yan Shifan's son as a concubine. He had never opposed Yan Song once in major or minor matters; however, when Yan Song lost the emperor's favor, he decisively took advantage of the situation and killed him.

Therefore, this person is disloyal as a minister and untrustworthy as a friend. He loses both major principles and minor ones!

Moreover, border troubles occurred frequently in recent years, and the capital even had to be under martial law for several months. However, Xu Ge Lao did not take it seriously, and only focused on building relationships and consolidating his position through lectures, without thinking about state affairs and acting arbitrarily.

Finally, Zhang Qi made a very devastating closing remark - 'People in the world only know about Lord Xu, but have not known Your Majesty for a long time'!

Of course, this is not his original creation, but a weapon that has been proven to be effective in fighting against corrupt officials.

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