Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 123 Duke Wei's Mansion
In March in the south of the Yangtze River, the grass is lush and the birds are singing. The spring days are warm and the breeze is gentle. The charming spring scenery makes the entire southern land more charming.

Under a four-cornered eave in the back garden of the Xu family mansion, Zhang Yunxiu, wearing a green Chengzi square scarf and a bean green long gown, was sitting at a stone table under the pavilion.

Xu Ruoxi had a shy look on her face, and was wearing a moon-white pleated skirt with scarlet details.

She wore an amber Ruyi hairpin on her head, with a white jade bead at the end of the hairpin.

When illuminated by the sunlight, it emits a dazzling light.

She has white teeth, red lips, a graceful demeanor, and a pair of big eyes that are as clear as a summer spring. Just one look at her and all the annoyance in my heart will disappear completely.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but take a few more glances. Xu Ruoxi clenched her hands, turned her face to the side, and asked angrily, "What are you looking at?"

"Now that you're here, why don't you let people see you?" Zhang Yunxiu grinned, walked around to Xu Ruoxi, sniffed the fragrance on her body, looked around, and saw that the surroundings were quiet and no one was disturbing them.

My courage suddenly grew.

He opened his arms and hugged Xu Ruoxi into his arms.

"Ah?!" Xu Ruoxi's body trembled, and she felt as if her chest was blocked by a ball of fire, and the man's breath went into her nostrils along with the wind.

She jumped in surprise, waving her fists wildly, hitting Zhang Yunxiu's chest, and exclaimed, "Let me go, let me go, someone will be here soon."

"What's wrong with someone coming over? I'm just hugging my own wife, so maybe no one will mind?" Zhang Yunxiu pursed his lips and hugged the beauty tighter with his big hands.

"You...you are a hooligan." Xu Ruoxi said with a red face.

"Whatever you say, I won't let go."

"You're a bad guy."

"Yes, keep scolding me."

Zhang Yunxiu's mouth grinned in enjoyment, and he thought of the affection Xu Ruoxi had expressed in their letters. He couldn't help but tease her, "Ruoxi, who told me to come to Huating to see her as soon as possible in the letter?"

"Why, now that I'm here, you regret it?"

Xu Ruoxi's body felt hot, and a blush crept up her snow-white neck. She paused, tilted her head and muttered, "I just let you watch, I didn't let you touch me."

"Then I'll hold you and watch you." Zhang Yunxiu laughed and turned Xu Ruoxi's head towards him.

The two looked at each other, and Xu Ruoxi clearly felt Zhang Yunxiu's hot breath hitting her cheek.

Zhang Yunxiu looked at the beauty's oval face and lacquered red lips.

His Adam's apple moved, he swallowed, then lowered his head and kissed her red lips.

Xu Ruoxi's ten toes curled up into a ball, her palms sweating, and her heartbeat like a drumming sounded beside her eardrums. She slowly closed her eyes, raised her neck, and showed a look of waiting for you to pick her.

"Hey, brother-in-law, are you here?"

There was a crisp sound, and Zhang Yunxiu and Xu Ruoxi let go of each other as if they had been electrocuted, and turned their backs with red faces.

Zhang Yunxiu stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the scenery, while Xu Ruoxi pretended to be nonchalant and boiled water and made tea with shaking arms.

At this time, Zhu Ling twisted her body and walked in with a smile. She turned her head and glanced at the two of them, and said in a soft voice: "Brother-in-law, Ruoxi, we are here at the right time."

"Oh, just in time." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and pointed at the tea on the table and said, "This is the Miyunlong tea given by the emperor. I brought some for Ruoxi to try this time."

"Oh, then we're in for a treat." Zhu Ling smiled and sat down next to Xu Ruoxi.

Xu Ruoxi was still in the nervousness from just now and hadn't come back to her senses. Her hands were shaking as she poured water for Zhu Ling.

As hot water is poured into the teacup, steam rises from the Miyunlong tea, and the steam, carrying with it the fragrance, rushes out of the teacup violently.

Zhu Ling smiled at her sister, picked up the teacup, and blew some cool air gently.

Then, he tilted his head back and swallowed the Miyunlong tea.

"How is it?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"Well, this Miyunlong tea is indeed the best of the tribute teas. It is sweet, mellow and has an endless aftertaste." Zhu Ling closed his eyes and savored the taste for a while, then put down the teacup and said with a smile.

"Yes, the emperor only rewarded us two kilograms in total." Zhang Yunxiu agreed with a smile.

"Brother-in-law, this top-quality Miyunlong tea only produces 100 kilograms a year. The fact that you can get two kilograms shows the emperor's trust in you." Zhu Ling replied with a smile, and did not forget to flatter Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't want to talk about wild cotton with her, so he just asked, "Sister-in-law, what do you want from me?"

"No, I'm not busy. I just passed by and saw you two in the garden, so I came in to take a look." Zhu Ling waved his hands repeatedly, and suddenly his face turned serious, teasing, "What's wrong? Can't I come to see you if I have nothing to do?"

"Oh, since sister-in-law has nothing to do, Yunxiu is a little tired, so let's go down and rest first."

Zhang Yunxiu said, and turned to leave. Zhu Ling was anxious and shouted at the top of his voice: "Brother-in-law, please stay. We came to see you. We really have some small things for you to do."

Xu Ruoxi, who was leaning her head aside, suddenly interrupted and said, "Sister-in-law, he just arrived today, he must be tired.

We can talk about it tomorrow if there is anything."

"Tomorrow is also fine. It's Xu Weizhi, the young master of the Duke of Wei's mansion, who happens to come to Huating and wants to meet you, my brother-in-law." Zhu Ling smiled and said generously, "I wonder when you are free, my brother-in-law?"

Before Zhang Yunxiu could speak, Xu Ruoxi became anxious and asked, "Sister-in-law, our family has nothing to do with the Duke of Wei's Mansion, so why would the young master of the Duke of Wei's Mansion come to Huating?"

"Huating is not ours. We come here because we love you." Zhu Ling glared at her silly sister and said playfully, "Ruoxi, you are too overbearing. You don't even allow people to come to Huating."

"Does it mean that whoever passes through Huating in the future will have to consult you about the rules?"

"Sister-in-law." Xu Ruoxi said coquettishly with a red face.

Of course she knew that the people from Duke Wei's Mansion came to her house to ask for something.

She had not wanted to get involved in this matter before, but she did not expect those people to still not give up and set their sights on her sister-in-law.

He looked up at Zhang Yunxiu and saw that he had a blank expression on his face.

Xu Ruoxi's body tensed up, her heart in her throat, fearing that he would look down on her.

After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, Zhang Yunxiu suddenly grinned and said, "Since they are the young masters of the Duke of Wei's Mansion, it is time to meet them. How about this, let's meet them tomorrow." "Okay, then let's arrange it right away." Zhu Ling smiled, twisted her waist, turned around and walked away, jokingly saying, "You guys continue, you guys continue, let's go tell those female relatives not to come here to disturb your fun."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Ling disappeared quickly as if he was riding on a whirlwind wheel.

Zhang Yunxiu wanted to rekindle their relationship, but Xu Ruoxi took several steps back, saying angrily, "It's all your fault, you big rascal. Now my sister-in-law knows about this. She will definitely laugh at me when she goes back."

"Let her smile. I didn't kiss her just now, so let me kiss her." Zhang Yunxiu was shameless and took a step forward to hug the beauty.

"Don't come over here, I'll do it myself." Xu Ruoxi hummed with a trembling voice.

"do it yourself?"

Zhang Yunxiu was stunned. Before he could react, Xu Ruoxi flew up like a wild goose and flashed in front of him.

Then, she closed her eyes tightly, tiptoed, and gently touched Zhang Yunxiu's cheek. Zhang Yunxiu felt a wetness on his cheek, and subconsciously hugged his hands.

Xu Ruoxi was prepared and retreated quickly.

Zhang Yunxiu's embrace was in vain, and when he tried to launch another attack, Xu Ruoxi smiled slyly, turned around and ran away, leaving only a faint voice: "Okay, I'll let you take advantage of me enough today."

"Oh." Zhang Yunxiu looked disappointed.

I originally wanted to give this little girl a wet French kiss and suck her hard.

Unexpectedly, this little girl has become so smart now.

Smiling and shaking his head, Zhang Yunxiu sat back down and admired the scenery alone.

My mind unconsciously started thinking about the affairs of Duke Wei's Mansion.

The Duke of Wei's family has been based in Nanjing for generations and are descendants of Xu Da, one of the six founding dukes.

As the right-hand man of Emperor Hongwu, Xu Da was highly trusted by the emperor, and his eldest daughter was married to Emperor Chengzu as empress.

Later, when Emperor Chengzu was suppressing the rebellion, Xu Da's eldest son, Xu Huizu, Duke of Wei, chose to stand on the side of Emperor Jianwen.

Xu Da's third son Xu Zengshou chose to bet on Prince of Yan Zhu Di.

Xu Huizu sacrificed his own brother's life for the sake of justice.

After Emperor Chengzu succeeded in his campaign, Xu Huizu was imprisoned, while Xu Zengshou, a meritorious official in the campaign, was granted the title of Duke of Dingguo. Zhu Di, thinking of the Empress and Xu Da's reputation, did not abolish the title of Duke of Wei.

Therefore, the lineage of Duke Wei had the saying of having two dukes in one family.

Among all the nobles of the Ming Dynasty, no one could match him except the lineage of Zhang Yu, Duke of Ying.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't neglect such a giant in Jiangnan. But he couldn't be too anxious, because the more anxious a person is at the negotiation table, the more miserable he will lose.

He had to find the right balance so as not to let the people in Duke Wei's Mansion feel that he was too anxious, nor to let them feel that he was indifferent.

After figuring this out, Zhang Yunxiu grinned and slowly walked out of the pavilion.

At the end of the next day.

In the Xu family hall.

Xu Yuanchun was neatly dressed and sat in the main seat with a smile on her face. On her left, Zhang Yunxiu sat in the armchair with a calm and composed look, neither happy nor sad.

Glancing at Zhang Yunxiu, Xu Yuanchun smiled and explained, "Brother-in-law, when I was in Nanjing, I also met Xu Weizhi, the young master of the Duke of Wei's mansion, a few times.

He has a handsome face, is elegant and polite, and is definitely not a playboy, you can rest assured about that."

"Well, can the people that brother makes friends with be playboys?" Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile on his face, not caring at all.

"The people from Duke Wei's Mansion are causing a lot of trouble this time." Xu Yuanchun nodded and gave Zhang Yunxiu a shot of prevention first.

"What trouble?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"Wang He, a member of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, impeached the Xu family father and son, saying that they were visiting prostitutes."

Visiting prostitutes, what’s the big deal?

If visiting prostitutes is a serious matter, then wouldn't all the officials in Nanjing be investigated thoroughly?
Zhang Yunxiu was confused and puzzled.

"He and his son went to have sex together, and they were caught and impeached. Now the prime minister is rectifying the administration of officials, and he has run into the crossfire. The court wants to make an example of them."

Seeing that Zhang Yunxiu was puzzled, Xu Yuanchun smiled awkwardly and spoke in a low voice.

hiss.
Good guy, they even went to visit prostitutes together.

The two brothers have a lot of fun.

There is still one person who can’t order, right?

"This is something that goes against the moral code, and the court is now trying to crack down on this trend. I'm afraid it's not a good idea for me to intervene." After knowing the whole story, Zhang Yunxiu responded in a low voice with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Brother-in-law, you are too modest. These two haven't committed any heinous crime. As long as the prime minister suppresses this matter, the young master will reward them handsomely." As Xu Yuanchun spoke, a beam of light shot out from his eyes.

This is exactly what Zhang Yunxiu was waiting for.

In fact, this matter can be big or small.

Some things are not as heavy as a few ounces if they are not weighed on a scale, but even a thousand pounds of weight cannot weigh them down if they are weighed on a scale.

"I'm not asking for the Duke's thanks, but this matter is indeed a bit tricky. After I return to the capital, I will discuss it with my father and then make a decision."

Zhang Yunxiu did not say everything he said, as he could not let Xu Yuanchun feel that this matter was too easy.

Xu Yuanchun was also an old fox, so he knew all these things. He just cupped his hands and said, "Brother-in-law, don't worry. As long as you are willing to help, no matter whether the matter succeeds or not, the man in the Duke of Wei's mansion will definitely accept your favor."

As he was speaking, someone came down to report that the young master of the Duke of Wei's mansion had arrived.

"Look, the protagonist is here." Xu Yuanchun pointed outside and smiled, motioning Zhang Yunxiu to sit down, and he went out to greet him personally.

(End of this chapter)