Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 163 Responsibilities
Inside the house, it was dark and gloomy.

The sunlight coming through the windows formed beams of light in the air and sprinkled on the marble floor, alternating between white and yellow, and for a moment the house had a rare warmth.

On the nanmu silk tent inside, Zhang Yunxiu opened his eyes with a tired face.

Look around.

Zheng Xier was wearing a red long dress. She was sleeping soundly with her hands on the edge of the bed, half of her face exposed.

A ray of sunshine hit her fair cheek, moisturizing her and making her even more charming.

very nice.

Zhang Yunxiu felt warm in his heart, and couldn't help but reach out to touch Zheng Xier's pretty face. When he came back yesterday, he felt exhausted both physically and mentally, and fell to the ground with his eyes black.

While he was still dazed, a soft and warm body supported him.

When I woke up again, I was already on this big bed.

I think it must be because Zheng Xier has been accompanying him patiently.

Perhaps she felt the warmth of the big hand, Zheng Xier moaned and slowly opened her pair of twinkling almond eyes.

The two looked at each other, and Zheng Xier was the first to scream, "Husband, you're finally awake. You almost scared me to death yesterday!"

As she spoke, Zheng Xier burst into tears of joy, and the thick mist soaked her eyelashes.

Zhang Yunxiu felt distressed when he saw this, and he hugged Zheng Xier into his arms, patted her shoulder and comforted her, "My husband is fine, my husband is fine, I will go out less in the future and stay at home with you."

Zheng Xier, however, was full of disbelief.

She knew that her husband was naturally restless, and she didn't expect to keep him by her side forever. As long as Zhang Yunxiu could think of her, that was enough.

Thinking of this, she leaned her head towards Zhang Yunxiu's arms.

Feeling the warmth of the beauty, Zhang Yunxiu's breathing became heavier and his calm breathing turned into panting.

Zheng Xier's cheeks flushed, thinking that he was up to no good, and she moved her hands to unbutton her clothes, but Zhang Yunxiu grabbed them and shook his head, saying, "That's it, just let me hold you, I have something else to do later."

Oh.

Zheng Xier nodded obediently, took off her embroidered shoes, and leaned her whole body onto the bed.

The two of them just hugged each other without saying a word, with mottled light and shadows casting on them.

It's warm and comfortable.

Yesterday was probably the most sound sleep Zhang Yunxiu had ever had.

He slept from dusk till the next evening. Zhang Yunxiu had never experienced such a chaotic feeling of not thinking about anything and not doing anything since he came to the capital.

He is too tired.

But he knew he couldn't rest.

Zhang Juzheng fell, and this short man has now become the mainstay. In order to protect his family, he had to withstand the pressure and continue to move forward. Xier, Ruoxi, all the brothers
He has too many people to protect.

He now finally understood the pressure Zhang Juzheng had faced before.

"Xier." After a long silence, Zhang Yunxiu suddenly lowered his head and called out.

"Yeah." Zheng Xier raised her head and looked at her husband.

"You are so nice and beautiful."

"Why are you saying this, my husband?"

Zheng Xier's face was slightly pink. They were an old couple, so why were they still saying these things?

However, Zheng Xier discovered that after her husband came back this time, he smiled less and looked calm instead.

She saw it all and was anxious. Her husband was only a young man in his early twenties.

It should be a romantic place with beautiful women and wine as companions.

As a result, he seldom indulged in it, and the two of them had sex only five or six times a month at most.

This is very rare for someone of his age.

Zhang Yunxiu forced a smile and did not answer him directly. Instead, he straightened Zheng Xier's messy hair and said softly, "Okay, it's time to get up. If you sleep any longer, you'll become a fool."

After quickly washing up and having dinner, Zhang Yunxiu finally regained some energy.

He first came to Zhang Juzheng's bedroom to visit his father, and then walked to the compartment next to the bedroom.

Inside, Zhang Jianxiu was sitting upright at a dark round table.

Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward, and Zhang Jianxiu pulled out a stool for him to sit on. The two of them sat around, and Zhang Yunxiu got straight to the point: "I went to the palace yesterday, and the emperor was fine, no major problems."

Zhang Jianxiu nodded and gritted his teeth and said, "Zhang Siwei has made some moves. He promoted Wang Xijue and Qiu Chu, who were kicked out to Nanjing by their father, back to Beijing."

At first, when his brother told him that Zhang Siwei had evil intentions, he didn't believe it.

Now that his father has just fallen ill, and Zhang Siwei has been in charge of the cabinet for less than a month, he has transferred officials so frequently.

The heart of a tiger and a wolf has long been revealed.

Zhang Yunxiu was not panicked or dissatisfied. He waved his hand and told his brother to rest assured: "Before returning to Beijing, I was also worried. But after returning to Beijing, I am not worried at all."

"Oh? Tell me about it?" Zhang Jianxiu was surprised by his brother's calmness and moved his stool towards him.

"The emperor needs to make money, and I can help him make money. Also, he can't compete with the officials directly, so he has to push someone out to compete with the officials on his behalf."

"Are you that person?"

Zhang Yunxiu nodded confidently.

He had the help of Wei Qing and Concubine Zheng in the inner palace, and he could inherit Zhang Juzheng's political legacy outside. Most importantly, the emperor needed a friend, a friend who could help him.

The two are of similar age and can play together.

My father is good at planning for the country but poor at planning for himself.

I first plan for myself and then for the country.

The reason is very simple. If you can't even protect yourself, how can you realize your political ideals?

Zhang Jianxiu's worries were relieved when he heard his brother's words. He said with emotion, "Now, even I have to rely on you. When you become rich in the future, you can't ignore us, your poor brother."

"Look at what you said. Am I that kind of person?" Zhang Yunxiu curled his lips and said, "The most important thing now is when my father can recover. As long as he recovers, the Zhang family can rest assured."

"Yes, father's illness came too suddenly." Zhang Jianxiu nodded in agreement.

But it was not surprising. My father was already over 60 years old, and it was natural for him to have such a disease. Fortunately, my fifth brother had foresight and had already invited a doctor to treat him and asked him to cultivate his character.

Otherwise, it's not just a stroke.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jianxiu felt a surge of fear and couldn't stop sweating on his back.

The two brothers then explained some things. At this time, the eldest brother Zhang Jingxiu walked in. The two brothers hurriedly stood up and called him "Big Brother".

Zhang Jingxiu nodded, motioned for the two to sit down, looked at Zhang Jianxiu and said, "Jianxiu, you have also been guarding here for a whole day, go down and have a rest. I will guard father tonight."

"That won't do. I'm supposed to be the one looking after father today." Before Zhang Jianxiu could answer, Zhang Yunxiu refused.

"You've been traveling a long way, so you should take some rest. I'm the eldest son, so I naturally have to shoulder more responsibilities." Zhang Jingxiu put on a serious face and put on the authority of an elder brother. "Could it be that my words as the eldest brother are useless?"

Zhang Jianxiu and Zhang Yunxiu looked at each other, bowed, and walked out.

(End of this chapter)