Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 197 Wanli was rejected! It’s all a routine!
His Majesty the Emperor was angry. Shen Yiguan and Shen Li, the first and second ministers of the cabinet who did not really want to leave, ended up having to step down.

Although Shen Yiguan was not willing to end his political career like this, he was happy at the thought of pulling down Shen Li too!
Moreover, he has also trained a successor for himself. I guarantee that one day, he will be able to return to the court and shine again!
Shen always left with hope, but Shen Li did not have such good luck. He knew very well that if he left, he would never come back again.

Shen Li also discovered that he was just a stepping stone on the road to advancement of the Donglin Party, and the road paved by his stepping stone happened to be paved for Guo Zhengyu, whom he trusted most.

Shen Yiguan left, and Shen Li also left. Two people left the cabinet at once. The cabinet minister Zhu Geng, who was just used to make up the numbers, naturally became the chief minister of the cabinet.

Facts have proved that Zhu Geng may really be a truly honest person. He is even more honest than the previous honest person, Zhao Zhigao.

After being scolded, Zhao Zhigao still knew how to complain to the Emperor. Although Zhu Geng did the same, the Emperor ignored him completely.

So, he had no choice but to endure it.

However, there is no use being patient. As a Zhejiang native, Zhu Geng will still be considered a member of the Zhejiang Party even if he does not have a particularly clear position.

Therefore, he could not escape the crazy impeachment and abuse from the Donglin Party members.

Zhu Geng, who was over sixty years old, was unable to fight back when he was scolded. Perhaps because of his age, the chief minister of the cabinet actually cried when he was scolded by his colleagues in full view of the public.

In the end, it was Shen Shixing's son Shen Yongmao who received the envoy.

Zhu Yijun was too lazy to care. Anyway, it didn't matter if there were people in the cabinet. These cabinet ministers couldn't help him, the emperor, withstand the rain of gunfire.

Zhu Yijun miscalculated. Shen Shixing, who thought he would come back willingly and continue to be loyal to him if he waved casually, changed.

However, the envoy sent by His Majesty the Emperor could not even meet Shen Shixing.

"Chen Ju, why do you think people become so fast? Mr. Shen was not like this before." Zhu Yijun asked such nonsense.

The chief minister of the cabinet and the only minister in the cabinet was scolded and cried by his subordinate officials in full view of the public, and it soon reached the ears of Emperor Wanli.

……

Qianqing Palace.

I would like to think so, but Zhu Yijun is still the emperor after all. Even if it is to allow the imperial court to continue to function, he cannot completely sit idly by.

And Zhu Yijun also predicted that in the near future, Zhu Geng would definitely make trouble and resign from Shangshu!
In other words, there will be no one in the cabinet again.

"Yes, dead people never change." Zhu Yijun murmured with a wry smile:
"Perhaps only dead people like Zhang Juzheng will not change..."

His Majesty the Emperor personally sent an envoy to Changzhou to ask his Mr. Shen to re-emerge and return to the court to serve as the chief minister of the cabinet.

If there is no Shen Shixing, then Wang Xijue will be the one.

The dignified chief minister of the cabinet was scolded and cried by his subordinate officials in public. This was not only the incompetence of the chief minister, but also the incompetence of the emperor.

Wang Xijue is always willing to come back. After all, he shouted in public at Lao Zhao's house——

The once gentle and considerate Mr. Shen has changed, and he no longer wants to see him. The once obedient and sensible man himself has also changed, because he has grown up as an emperor.

——Let Shen Shixing return to Beijing!
……

It is said that Shen Shixing was ill. The man who claimed to be ill described himself as slovenly, haggard and untidy, and was ashamed to see an envoy sent by the emperor.

When he thought of this, Zhu Yijun suddenly became dizzy, but soon he calmed down again.

I don't know which link went wrong, but the secret edict given by Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun to Wang Xijue was inexplicably leaked.

Chen Ju thought for a while and gave a broad and vague answer: "Your Majesty, as people age, there will always be some changes."

Zhu Yijun's first reaction was to laugh in anger.

Zhu Yijun knew that Shen Shixing was pretending to be ill. He even knew that Shen Shixing himself was in the capital and not in his hometown in Changzhou at all.

……

——"Zhang Juzheng, just wait, I will come back again!"

Chen Ju thought for a while and once again gave a broad and vague answer:
"Back to your lord, dead people never change."

"Forget it, if there is no one in the cabinet, then there will be no one."

The news quickly spread back to the capital. Emperor Wanli felt extremely unhappy when he learned that Shen Shixing refused to return to the capital because of illness.

At present, the only person who has learned the news due to the leak is Guo Zhengyu, a member of the Donglin Party.

Zhu Yijun knew everything. He knew that his Mr. Shen would not forgive him as a student, let alone his father.

Shen Shixing was already so ill that he was naturally unable to return to Beijing and take up the post of chief minister of the cabinet.

However, Zhu Yijun was not willing to believe it.

"Ah? Your Majesty? What did you say? I didn't hear you clearly." Chen Ju's old hearing problem seemed to have recurred.

……

Zhu Yijun glanced at Chen Ju and said helplessly: "I said, Mo Mo, I want to write a sealed edict to Wang Xijue."

However, when he smiled, he couldn't laugh anymore.

"Chen Ju, what are you saying about talents who can't change?" Zhu Yijun asked another nonsense question.

After thinking about it for a while, Zhu Yijun finally made a decision.

In the twenty-fourth year of Wanli, July 20th.

"Yes, as we grow older, people will change..." Zhu Yijun didn't know that not only Shen Shixing was changing, but he himself was also changing.

At the same time, Ciqing Palace.

The heat in the capital in July is unbearable.

Crown Prince Zhu Changluoxu was too frugal, or perhaps his living conditions did not allow it.

On this hot day, the ice cubes used to cool the palace are only a few small pots.

Zhu Changluo was so hot that he was sweating slightly, but as he was a prince, there were inevitably palace attendants by his side to fan him.

The lecturers were at least closer to the prince, so they could enjoy some cool air.

But the companions, who were far away from the prince and separated by screens one after another, did not feel so comfortable.

Young men who are used to being pampered and pampered, how can they bear this hardship? They are all so hot that they want to find excuses to take leave.

Occasionally, it's okay to ask for a day or two, once or twice.

But after so many incidents, no one knew whether the emperor and the prince were happy or not. Guo Zhengyu, the prince's most trusted lecturer, was unhappy anyway.

Mr. Guo was unhappy. Guo Zhengyu, who had always had a bad temper, was not a person who could endure his temper.

After the lunch break and before the prince came to class, Guo Zhengyu scolded his fellow readers collectively!
"The prince's golden body and jade body can endure the heat and study hard, why can't you, my companion, endure it?
All of them are lazy and lazy, and they all just want to waste their wealth! How could we know that wealth cannot only come from outside, but also from within?

The grace of the emperor and the saint has given you a great opportunity to study with the prince. This is something that many officials and disciples cannot ask for!
Not only do you not want to make progress and are interested in learning, but you have repeatedly refused to ask for leave, which makes your parents and ancestors in your family ashamed! "

Guo Zhengyu’s scolding was actually very dirty. When translated, it probably means——

——Prince, he is already a prince and he still works so hard! And you guys are just a bunch of old trash! Are you worthy of your parents and ancestors for being so lazy?
The companion readers were so scolded that they dared not say anything on the surface, but in their hearts they were scolding Guo Zhengyu's mother.

After all, Guo Zhengyu is the teacher of the future emperor, so he cannot be offended.

Guo Zhengyu continued to scold him for a long time, and when he was about to run out of words to scold, someone came up to break up the fight.

"Okay, good life, they are all still young, don't get angry with a bunch of kids, it will be your fault if you don't give them permission next time."

Ye Xianggao's tone was humble and his attitude was gentle. As the prince's lecturer, this was not the first time he tried to break up a fight.

How could Guo Zhengyu not know the twists and turns in Ye Xianggao's heart? However, he didn't even bother to play tricks with a double-dealer like Ye Xianggao, and only said:
"You will be the good guy every time, okay?"

After Guo Zhengyu left, the humility on Ye Xianggao's face froze for a moment, but he quickly adjusted it again and said to the students with a slight seriousness:

"Don't make Mr. Guo angry again in the future. It's better this time, and I'll get scolded too!"

After that, Ye Xianggao left solemnly but helplessly, looking like a good teacher trying to help his students but ended up harming himself.

Seeing Ye Xianggao who had to "voluntarily commit himself" even if he "died heroically", many young men sighed in their hearts - "Mr. Ye is still righteous!"...

The prince finally arrived and it was time for class.

With the screen as a barrier, the companions returned to their lazy state, fanning themselves, and there were many people talking and secretly cursing Guo Zhengyu in private.

Almost as soon as Zhang Chonghui sat down, Yang Chunyuan on the side came over and fanned himself with his storybook while whispering:

"What a fool, he is so arrogant just because he may be a cabinet minister! Look at his triumphant look, people who don't know think he is the chief minister of the cabinet!

And Mr. Ye is really stupid. He didn't come out to speak. Mr. Guo almost finished scolding him before he came out to scold him. What's the difference between taking off his pants and farting! "

Yang Chunyuan didn't know whether it was because of heat or anger, but his originally fair and handsome face turned red. It was hard to imagine that such a face could actually say such words.

"You said Guo Zhengyu is going to join the cabinet?" Zhang Chonghui asked calmly, fanning himself gently.

"I said it's possible, it's possible!" Yang Chunyuan emphasized again and again and then said:
"Isn't there only one elder Zhu Ge left in the cabinet now? I heard that a few days ago, that elder was blocked in Wenyuan Pavilion by a group of civil servants and couldn't get out. In the end, he was made angry and cried in public. !

I think if this continues, Mr. Zhu Ge will not be able to serve for long, and the cabinet must not add more people. Judging from the current situation, Mr. Guo is so favored by the prince that it is not a matter of time before he joins the cabinet. "

"That's right." Zhang Chonghui didn't seem to be interested in this topic, and just casually agreed: "That's right."

Seeing Zhang Chonghui's cold reaction, Yang Chunyuan had no intention of talking about this topic anymore, and instead talked about the storybook in his hand.

"This is a story that has become popular recently. It's so funny. Do you want to take a look?"

Zhang Chonghui shook his head. Just when he was about to refuse Yang Chunyuan's kind recommendation, he heard the other party say:

"This story is called 'Du Shiniang Sinks the Treasure Chest in Anger'. It tells the story of the stupid love between two idiots. You really don't want to read it?"

"Du... Shiniang?" Zhang Chonghui frowned.

"Yes, Du Shiniang." Yang Chunyuan seemed to always have endless things to say. He was filled with the desire to express himself, so he simply told the whole story in one go, saying:

"Let's just say that there was a top prostitute named Du Shiniang, who was beautiful, talented and had countless suitors.

But suddenly, as if her brain had been kicked by a donkey, she fell in love with a pretty boy named Li Jia, and then..."

As the story progressed, Zhang Chonghui's frown became more and more relaxed. After Yang Chunyuan finished speaking, he asked:
"It couldn't have been written by Feng Menglong, right?"

"I don't know." Yang Chunyuan shook his head and said:

“When I went to a bookstore to read a book I had written, the store happened to recommend this, so I stopped by to buy it.

To be honest, I think this story is stupid as hell. Du Shiniang has been a prostitute for so many years!

A thousand-year-old fox who has seen so many men would be tricked into being like that by a pretty boy? There is absolutely no logic at all!

I even have to wonder if someone has offended the book writer and deliberately compiled such a stupid story. "

Zhang Chonghui: "..."

Yang Chunyuan kept chattering like this in a low voice all afternoon, from scolding Guo Zhengyu at the beginning, to scolding him later, and finally stopped scolding him in the end. After all, school was about to end.

"Brother Zhang, do you want to go for a drink tonight?" Yang Chunyuan invited again, and he specifically added:
"This time we are really drinking. It's just the two of us, not Feng Youlong or anyone else."

"No." Zhang Chonghui refused: "Tomorrow is my birthday, I have to go back early today, and I won't be coming tomorrow."

"What? Your birthday is tomorrow?" Yang Chunyuan was shocked: "Isn't it already the beginning of May for you?"

"Oh, I remembered it wrong." Zhang Chonghui said calmly: "Actually, tomorrow, July 21, is my real birthday."

"Then you are younger than me!" Yang Chunyuan became even more excited: "I have called you brother for several months! Now tell me, you are younger than me?"

"Hmm..." Zhang Chonghui thought for a while: "Isn't this good? You look younger than me."

Yang Chunyuan: "..."

"Youth is a blessing." Zhang Chonghui said with a sincere face: "Renfu, I will give this blessing to you. You must not shun my kindness. I am doing it for your own good."

Yang Chunyuan scratched his head and seemed to think it made sense.

"Hmm... Okay. But as soon as Mr. Guo finished scolding us, you went to ask for leave. Aren't you on your way to death?"

"It doesn't matter, I have a solution."

……

Time passed by and it was the next day.

In the twenty-fourth year of Wanli, July 21st.

On this day, Zhang Chonghui did not come to the East Palace.

Looking at the empty seat next to him, Yang Chunyuan let out a long sigh. After all, except Zhang Chonghui, no one wanted to talk to him.

The other fellow readers were also wondering, how did Zhang Chonghui get the leave?

It turned out that Zhang Chonghui didn't ask for leave at all, he just skipped class.

Guo Zhengyu was angry when he heard the news. He thought he had just finished training yesterday, but Zhang Chonghui dared to skip class today!

This is not intentional! ?

For a moment, Guo Zhengyu was angry and excited at the same time!
Angry, Zhang Chonghui dared to challenge his majesty so blatantly!
Excitedly, I finally caught Zhang Chonghui's handle and could drive this scourge out of the East Palace!
However, things are unpredictable. Just when Guo Zhengyu was about to use the so-called East Palace regulations to force Zhang Chonghui away, the arrival of a letter made him sweat instantly...

The reason why Guo Zhengyu was sweating was because the handwriting on this letter was almost exactly the same as his!
However, this is not the point. The key is that the content of the letter is actually "leaked" to only himself. The emperor secretly ordered Wang Xijue to return to Beijing!
Looking at the end, there is a three-character signature on the letter - Zhang Minghe.

Guo Zhengyu didn't know who this 'Zhang Minghe' was who bluntly stated in the letter that he wanted him to come personally to deliver birthday gifts, but he could roughly guess...

After all, not long ago, he heard Yang Chunyuan shout that the reason Zhang Chonghui didn't come today was because he was celebrating his birthday at home...

……

In the evening, at the entrance of Zhao Mansion.

Yang Chunyuan, who came to celebrate Zhang Chonghui's birthday with generous gifts, met Guo Zhengyu, who had a dark face but also brought gifts.

"Hey, Mr. Guo, why are you here too?" Yang Chunyuan came forward to say hello enthusiastically, and asked with concern:
"Why do you look so ugly? Could it be that you are sick?"

Guo Zhengyu didn't want to talk to this superficial and insincere student, so he nodded casually and stopped talking to him. After letting the attendant hand over the gift, he went straight into the Zhao Mansion.

……

After entering the Zhao Mansion, Guo Zhengyu, guided by the Zhao family's concierge, quickly found Zhang Chonghui who was practicing calligraphy in the study.

"You really work hard!" Guo Zhengyu sneered as soon as they met.

Guo Zhengyu originally wanted to scold Zhang Chonghui a few more times, but when he recalled the contents of the letter that were written in the same handwriting as his own, he could only forcefully swallow the sarcastic words, and defensively, he deliberately asked in a cliché:
"Who told you? Uncle Gu? Or Ye Jinqing?"

Looking at Guo Zhengyu who was suppressing his nerves and pretending to be calm, Zhang Chonghui gently put down the langhao pen in his hand and said with a confident chuckle:
“You should ask, not who told me.

You should ask, what else do I know?

In other words, you don’t know anything yet. "

Guo Zhengyu's eyes widened immediately. He looked at Zhang Chonghui in disbelief, looking at the other person's calm smile that seemed to know everything. Without any defense, he blurted out:

"Could it be that Zhang Cheng...?"

When the words came out of his mouth, Guo Zhengyu realized that he had spilled the beans because he was too excited. He hurriedly shut up, but it didn't help!

"Hahaha!"

I saw Zhang Chonghui laughing and standing up, suddenly enlightened, jokingly said:

"Yu Zhengguo, you are still so stupid. In fact, I don't know anything. I lied to you!

But I know it all now! "

(End of this chapter)