Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 48: First Meeting with Feng Bangning

The days are short in late autumn, and it becomes completely dark as soon as the hour of You arrives.

The Yilan Tower located on Fugui Street has long been ablaze with bright lights and filled with fragrant mist. However, unlike the prosperity and bustle of the past, the Yilan Tower today seems a little deserted.

In the private room upstairs, Xu Jue sat opposite someone.

The man was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, tall, with a face full of flesh and a dark and oily face. Although he was wearing gorgeous clothes, he still couldn't hide his fierceness and ruffian spirit.

It was Feng Bao’s nephew, Feng Bangning.

He is a bad guy who fawns on the powerful, has pus on his feet, sores on his head, and digs holes that are full of maggots and rot.

Relying on Feng Bao's power, he bullied men and women in the capital and harmed the people.

Normally, due to Feng Bao's reputation, the people in Beijing did not dare to say much.

As a result, he became more and more arrogant and domineering, which led to the incident of beating up a police officer. That scene really scared him.

Several times, he thought he would have to explain himself, but he never expected his uncle to do something in the end.

He was safe and sound, and could go to the Qinhuai River to enjoy the flowers and the moon.

After this incident, he also understood a truth - as long as you have power, it is easy to make clouds and rain with a flip of your hand.

In order to thank Zhang Yunxiu, he asked Zhang Fu to invite him several times, but Zhang Yunxiu never came, which made him extremely embarrassed.

Xu Jue was hosting a banquet today, and he followed along with a shameless look on his face, just to build relationships.

"Young Master, please don't mention that Wanping incident again later, so as to avoid upsetting Zhang Yunxiu." Xu Jue couldn't persuade the young master, so he smiled and reminded him again.

"I know, I know." Feng Bangning waved his hands impatiently and muttered, "You've said it eight hundred times. Now he is the one begging us, not us begging him. You're making me act like a concubine."

Xu Jue smiled awkwardly and said no more.

While waiting, there was a hurried sound suddenly coming from downstairs. Xu Jue stood up, ran to the window and looked down.

It was Zhang Yunxiu who led Zhang Fu and Han San to the banquet.

"Mr. Zhang is here." Xu Jue turned his head and called out to Feng Bangning, urging him, "Let's go and greet him."

As Xu Jue said this, he walked out of the private room, but Feng Bangning stood still and just kept drinking at the table.

What? Do we have to go and greet him?

So what if your family is the Prime Minister? Our uncle is still the Prime Minister.

Seeing Feng Bangning's expression, Xu Jue didn't force it. He turned around and walked down the stairs with a thump.

Xu Jue went to the bottom of the building to meet Zhang Yunxiu. He bowed and said apologetically, "Oh, Mr. Zhang, I'm sorry. I was very busy the past few days and only had time today. I'm really sorry. I'm sorry."

Cursing the old fox inwardly, Zhang Yunxiu replied with a smile: "No, Eunuch Feng is such a big shot, he has a lot of things to do, so you are a housekeeper, so you are naturally tired, unlike me, an idler, who has nothing to do after eating and wanders around in the capital."

"Who dares to say you're idle?" Xu Jue raised his eyebrows and said with a bit of anger, "Everyone knows that you're doing errands for the emperor. The most tiring job in the world is doing errands for the emperor."

It is good to know.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded. Seeing Xu Jue's trickery, Zhang Fu at the side couldn't help but joked, "Brother Xu, our young master came here with an empty stomach. Is this your way of entertaining guests?"

"Oh, look at my memory." Xu Jue slapped his forehead and while ordering the dishes to be served, he led Zhang Yunxiu and the other two up to the attic.

Before he entered, a bull roared from the attic: "Brother Zhang, you are finally invited by us. It is not easy to see the emperor."

Zhang Yunxiu frowned, and then saw a man with a dark face walking out of the private room.

"This is our master's nephew, Feng Bangning. Young Master Zhang should know him." Xu Jue pointed at Feng Bangning and said, then pointed at Zhang Yunxiu and said, "Young Master, this is the young master Zhang Yunxiu I told you about."

"I recognize you." Feng Bangning squeezed his fat into a ball, and hooked his arm around Zhang Yunxiu's shoulder in a familiar manner, half complaining and half joking, "Brother Zhang, I've been looking for a chance to thank you, but you're so busy that you never give me a chance." "Don't worry about it today. I've arranged everything for you, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Zhang Yunxiu looked unhappy, but thinking that he still had to ask Feng Bao for help, he had to hold back his nausea and walked into the box with him.

Zhang Yunxiu sat facing south, while Feng Bao and Xu Jue sat opposite him.

Zhang Fu and Han San stood on both sides of the host, like two door gods.

After a few simple pleasantries, Zhang Yunxiu got straight to the point and said, "The Emperor will need to see the cash by the end of this month at the latest. Butler Xu, there are only about 20 days left, so we have to hurry up."

"It's not that we're trying to shirk responsibility, but these merchants won't give up until they see the rabbit. We can't just rob them." Xu Jue smiled and practiced Tai Chi.

"It's not robbing, it's selling." Zhang Yunxiu corrected seriously.

"No matter what, when ordinary people buy and sell things, they always insist on exchanging money for goods. You..." At the end, Xu Jue stopped talking.

Although he was able to help Zhang Yunxiu raise payment for the goods, he was not in a hurry to express his opinion.

Firstly, my own advantages are not obvious.

Secondly, the master has instructed that we should whet the appetite of this young man and dampen his arrogance.

Zhang Fu saw that Xu Jue was like two different people. He frowned and couldn't help complaining, "Brother Xu, you are wrong. Last time when we were drinking together, you promised to do it."

"How can you take seriously what someone says when they're drunk?" Xu Jue said shamelessly.

"Then you drank alcohol today too." Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and joked with a smile.

"Mr. Zhang, I didn't say I won't help you, but this is indeed a bit difficult." Xu Jue raised the wine pot and poured a glass of wine for Zhang Yunxiu, staring into his eyes and said, "I want to know what benefits we can get from this matter."

"It's just a favor from me." Zhang Xu said without any joy or sadness.

"Mr. Zhang, if you want to deal with this matter, we have to roll up our sleeves, open our voices, and spend real money. Isn't that a bit much, huh?" Xu Jue brought the wine glass in front of him.

"Brother Xu, there's no point in saying that." Zhang Fu's eyes widened as he interrupted, "Don't you know what kind of person our young master is? If I accept your favor, will I get less benefits from you in the future?"

Han San also nodded and said, "I am a rough man, but I also know what kind of person you are. You will never let your friends down."

"Hahaha" Xu Jue laughed loudly, handed the wine glass to Zhang Yunxiu, and said: "I am just joking with you. Don't say that Master Zhang is giving you benefits. Even if he doesn't give you benefits, I have to help you."

"Then thank you very much, Butler Xu." Zhang Yunxiu took the wine glass with a smile and drank it all in one gulp.

At this time, Feng Bangning, who had been silent, gave Zhang Yunxiu a thumbs up and said with a smile, "Brother Zhang really has a big appetite. Come on, come on, eat the food. If you don't eat the food, it will get cold."

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

"The moonlight is just right tonight. I'll take you to a nice place." Feng Bangning raised his eyebrows and smiled wickedly.

"Where?" Zhang Yunxiu asked for Feng Bao's sake.

"You'll know once you go."

The moon was rising over the tower. Several people came to the outside of Yilan Tower facing the bright moon. Feng Bangning burped and was about to speak.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed out from the side, took out a dagger in his hand, and stabbed Feng Bangning.

Feng Bangning was startled, dodged sideways, grabbed the man's wrist and took away the dagger.

Han San was quick and kicked the assassin in the calf. The assassin screamed "Ah" and fell to his knees.

"Let me go, let me go, I'm going to kill you!"

(End of this chapter)