The person who came was Xu Jie.

Today, Lord Xu is still wearing women's clothes... Bah, no. He is wearing a long Taoist robe that has turned white from starching, and a square scarf that is half-worn and half-new on his head. He looks like an unsuccessful teacher. How can he have the demeanor of a state elder?

Hai Rui knew that he was here to gain sympathy, so he naturally did not point it out.

After all, the other party has done him a great favor. Official business is official business, and he should still maintain respect in private.

Hai Rui respectfully welcomed Xu Jie into the flower hall, gave the main seat to Xu Jie, and sat on his right. He asked the old gentleman if he was well and how he was doing.

Xu Jie naturally would not say yes. He first sighed with a sad expression, "The world is unpredictable and people are fickle", and then wiped his tears to thank Hai Rui.

"I have suffered misfortune in my old age and have lost all my face. Fortunately, Ruxian came to my rescue. I am here to express my gratitude to Ruxian."

"Mr. Cun Zhai, you are too serious. The imperial court has its own laws. No matter whose house it is, we cannot surround it at will." Hai Rui smiled but did not appreciate it.

"You are kind and do not expect anything in return, which is really the style of an ancient gentleman. However, I have long remembered your deep friendship." But Xu Jie insisted on moving forward, and said with admiration:

"I take out the two letters that Ruxian wrote to me when I have nothing to do and read them. Every time I read them, my eyes fill with tears and I sigh that there is no other gentleman in the world who is as grateful and repays kindness as Ruxian."

Hai Rui's face turned red when he heard this. He had indeed written two letters to Xu Jie, and both were quite corny.

One letter was about his trip to Jiangxi to reunite with his mother last year. Xu Jie had people give him generous travel expenses and treated him well at the post station along the way, so that his family could reach Nanjing without suffering. Hai Rui naturally wrote a letter to thank Xu Jie.

Moreover, without Xu Jie, he would have died in the imperial prison long ago. Without Xu Jie, how could he have been promoted step by step after being released from prison and become a fourth-rank official in less than a year?

Therefore, Hai Rui was always grateful to Xu Jie. During the cabinet crisis in the first year of Longqing, he clearly stood on Xu Jie's side and confronted Gao Gong...

So in that letter, he respectfully called him "old gentleman", thanked him for his gift, and said that on his way back and forth, he heard officials and civilians all praising the old gentleman as "Yi Fu Zhou Zhao". He also flattered him and praised him for "harmony between yin and yang, and turning the world around".

The other letter was written when Xu Jie retired. At that time, Hai Rui had already taken office as the Tongzhengsi of Nanjing and knew what the Xu family had done in Jiangnan. But he still wrote a letter to express his condolences, and did not mean to ignore the fact that the Xu family had left.

This is also the reason why Lord Xu feels confident. Hai Rui, you can't slap yourself in the face, right?

Hai Rui was indeed a bad person. Who doesn't have some dark history? It would be too embarrassing if someone brought up the fact that he flattered his leader.

"Have some tea, have some tea..." At this time, Hai An offered some tea, and Hai Rui encouraged them to drink it to hide their embarrassment.

Xu Jie felt relieved when he saw that Hai Rui had not yet mastered the art of being thick-skinned.

After taking a few sips of the fragrant tea, he said with a guilty look on his face: "The Han family is more or less responsible for this incident. It's because I have been an official for many years and neglected to discipline my family, allowing them to mess around. It's really wrong."

"Don't worry, Master Cun Zhai. You are you and they are them. I won't confuse them." Hai Rui consoled him, "Besides, those black sheep who ruined Master Cun Zhai's reputation will only cause trouble if they are kept. It is better for me to clean up the mess for Master Cun Zhai and preserve your reputation."

"Alas, it's not that simple..." Xu Jie thought to himself, this is what I'm afraid of, and waved his hands hurriedly, "For so many years, you have been in me and I have been in you, I'm just afraid that pulling up the radish will bring out the mud."

Hai Rui was somewhat displeased when he heard this. He wondered how Lord Xu could become so stupid after his retirement. He was openly asking him to bend the law for personal gain!

So he pondered in silence.

Seeing that he seemed unhappy, Lord Xu couldn't help but shed tears. He stood up with the help of the armrest and pretended to kneel down to Hai Rui.

"Mr. Cun Zhai, you must not do this." Hai Rui quickly stood up and rushed to support Lord Xu.

"I am old now, and I dare not ask for anything else. I just hope that my children and grandchildren can be safe and sound, and that my family can be together." Elder Xu said with tears in his eyes:

"I hope Ruxian will show some mercy to the Xu family for the sake of our friendship."

"Master Cun Zhai, please take a seat first." Hai Rui pushed Elder Xu back to his seat and frowned, saying, "You have really given me a big problem..."

When Lord Xu heard that there was a way, he wiped his tears and said, "I know this goes against Ruxian's integrity. I would rather die than cause this trouble to Ruxian. But in the afterlife, I really can't face my parents... If they ask, Xu Jie, how did you destroy our family? How should I answer!"

As he spoke he burst into tears, and some of his words were genuine.

Seeing Lord Xu crying, making a scene, and kneeling down like a woman, Hai Rui felt extremely fed up and could only say in a low voice, "It's not like this matter can't be discussed."

"Oh?" Xu Jie peeked with tearful eyes. Seeing that there was a way, he quickly said, "If Ruxian has any request, just tell me. I will definitely do it."

"How about this," Hai Rui said after a long breath, "I will give Master Cun Zhai three days for the Xu family to come up with a plan to return the land and get rid of the family name. If it is feasible, this court can be closed."

"I understand." Xu Jie nodded in satisfaction, then stood up tremblingly, bowed deeply to Hai Rui and said, "On behalf of the entire Xu family, I would like to thank the Minister for his love and care."

"Mr. Cun Zhai, you are too kind." Hai Rui suppressed his nausea and helped him up.

"Then I will not disturb the Prime Minister anymore. I will go back and do it right away." After getting what he wanted, Lord Xu did not stay and said goodbye to Hai Rui and returned home.

Hai Rui sent him to the backyard, and Lord Xu expressed his gratitude reluctantly before getting on the sedan chair carried by four people.

~~

As soon as Xu Jie sat in the sedan chair, he no longer looked like the old, foolish and pitiful man he had just been. There was no expression on his face, as if he was an actor leaving the stage after the curtain call.

The strength of veteran actors should not be underestimated.

Hai Rui looked at Lord Xu's sedan chair, which was trembling as it walked out of the back door of the headquarters, and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Today's conversation was apparently about the siege of Xu's residence the day before yesterday, but in reality it was Xu Jie pleading with him for leniency in the Lin Run case.

Yes, Hai Rui was indeed very grateful to Lord Xu. But let's be honest, how could he bend the law because of personal feelings?

Besides, Lin Zhongcheng is still looking at him...

After a long time, Hai Rui returned to the signing room, where Niu Chenshi was already waiting.

"Old cow."

"Du Gong." Niu Chenshi replied softly.

"There will be no court sessions these days." Hai Rui ordered in a deep voice.

"Yes." Niu Chenshi responded, thinking that it seemed that Lord Xu had put a lot of pressure on Lord Hai. He then asked, "Then shall we file a lawsuit tomorrow?"

Hai Rui looked at him strangely and said, "Our court only said that there will be no court session tomorrow. When did you say that there will be no prosecution? We are accepting lawsuits."

"I was mistaken." Niu Chenshi laughed awkwardly and thought to himself, what was he thinking? How could a sea warrior understand human nature?

ps. This is the first of three consecutive updates. Please give me your monthly votes!