Chapter 105: Director Zhang, are you satisfied with this arrangement of mine?

Hiss.

So painful.

The next morning, a wisp of cold wind broke into the room through the window, and Zhang Yunxiu sat up from the bed, swaying.

The pain of a hangover, coupled with a low mood, made him look somewhat haggard.

Staring blankly on the bed for about ten minutes, Zhang Yunxiu finally came to his senses.

Glancing out the window, the heavy snow had already stopped, and the dazzling sunlight spilled onto the snow-white roof, forming patches of golden light spots in a scattered and orderly manner.

Zhang Yunxiu took a deep breath, rubbed his face, and slowly moved his body to get out of bed.

A short while later, Zhang Fu outside brought in a basin of hot water for Zhang Yunxiu to wash up.

Picking up a towel to wipe his cheeks, Zhang Yunxiu tilted his head and asked Zhang Fu, "Yesterday, how did I get back?"

"You don't remember?" Zhang Fu asked cautiously.

"Remember what?"

"Nothing, yesterday it was this servant who helped you back to your room."

Strange.

This guy definitely has something he is hiding from him.

Zhang Yunxiu scanned Zhang Fu suspiciously, carefully recalling in his mind what had happened yesterday.

Yesterday, he knew that Zhao Yong was in grave danger, so he dragged his fourth brother to drink a few more cups.

Then he sat in a carriage and swayed his way back.

Then, then there was no then.

"Forget it, if I can't think of it, I won't think about it; let's eat first." After racking his brains for a long time, Zhang Yunxiu still could not remember what happened last night, so he shook his head, threw the towel into the copper basin, and stepped out of the bedroom.

Walking a few steps to the dining hall, Zhang Juzheng was sitting inside alone, drinking millet porridge to nourish his stomach.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu enter, without waiting for him to salute, Zhang Juzheng stood up first and sneered, "Yo, isn't this Director Zhang? Why, do you have any orders or instructions for me today?"

"Cough, cough."

Zhang Yunxiu's vision went black, and he almost stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Father, what are you saying?"

"How could I be worthy of being your father? You are so imposing, even saying you want to drive all your concubines away." Zhang Juzheng remained unrelenting, blowing his beard and staring, "Tsk tsk, or how about you take charge of this household?"

After this "pointing out" by Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Yunxiu's dead memories began to attack him.

Being drunk is not scary; what is scariest is having someone help you recall it.

He glanced at the dark-faced Zhang Juzheng, thinking that since it was already done, he might as well go all the way, so he slapped the table and shouted, "It was me who said it, so what? You, in order to curry favor with the Empress Dowager, do not hesitate to treat human life like grass, and I can't even say anything about it, right?!"

"You brat, you brat, I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son."

Zhang Juzheng stamped his foot and pointed at Zhang Yunxiu, cursing.

Zhang Yunxiu took a step back, just about to retreat past the threshold, when he suddenly felt a great force seize him.

He hurriedly looked back and saw it was his fourth brother. "Fourth Brother!"

Zhang Jianxiu gave him a smile, then bowed to Zhang Juzheng and knelt down, saying, "Father, please give this child three months. If this case is not cleared up within three months, then that is just the fate of that boy Zhao Yong."

"After all, if the case is closed hastily and there are any errors later, wouldn't that ruin your reputation and the Empress Dowager's reputation?"

"Yes, Father, three months. If this child cannot clear this matter up in three months, then whether Zhao Yong lives or dies, this child will absolutely not interfere." Gratefully glancing at his fourth brother, Zhang Yunxiu also knelt on the ground and chimed in.

Zhang Juzheng closed his eyes tightly, a trace of relief appearing on his face.

"Fine, three months it is, so others won't say I treat human life like grass." Zhang Juzheng said coldly, then suddenly opened his eyes, looked at Zhang Yunxiu, and asked, "How about it, Director Zhang, are you satisfied with this arrangement of mine?"

Zhang Jianxiu widened his eyes, looking at his fifth brother in complete disbelief.

Is your status already this high now?

"Satisfied... satisfied." Put on the spot, Zhang Yunxiu could only shrink his neck and give a sheepish smile.

The two brothers bid farewell to their father and walked out of the dining hall. At this time, snowflakes were drifting in the sky again. Zhang Jianxiu stretched out his palm to catch the falling snowflakes, letting the chill soak into his hand.

"Let's go, walk with me." Glancing at his younger brother, Zhang Jianxiu grinned.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded, then walked through the snow with his elder brother.

The bone-chilling wind hit their faces, and their cheeks were frozen red. Zhang Yunxiu was much more sober and couldn't help asking, "Why have you changed your temperament?"

"Why? You are allowed to have youthful hot blood, but I am not allowed to be hot-blooded for once?" Zhang Jianxiu asked back playfully.

He was able to make this decision only after intense ideological struggle.

He still remembered that before his father-in-law Wang Zhigao resigned, he warned him to have more youthful hot blood and less of the old-fashioned ways of an old man.

He even used the remonstrating official Yang Jisheng from the Jiajing Era as an example.

This man was a successful candidate in the imperial examination in the 26th year of the Jiajing Era and belonged to the same cohort as his own father.

In the 32nd year of the Jiajing Era, he was imprisoned for impeaching Yan Song and was sent to the Ministry of Justice to be tortured. Wang Zhigao, who was then only a director in the Ministry of Justice, saw that he was pitiful and sent him snake gall to help him alleviate some of the pain.

Yang Jisheng immediately refused in stern terms, saying, "I, Jisheng, have my own gall, why would I need a boa constrictor's!"

After hearing this, Zhang Jianxiu felt a surge of heat rush straight to his crown.

The snow in the air grew heavier, and in no time at all, their shoulders were piled with snow.

Zhang Jianxiu patted the snow off his shoulders and reminded him, "However, don't be too happy too early; we only have three months."

"The most urgent thing now is to find a witness. If we can't find a witness, Zhao Yong will also find it hard to escape this disaster."

"Mm, I have already sent Han San to look for one. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find that person," Zhang Yunxiu said in a steady voice.

"That is one aspect; the other aspect is that you must first let someone probe the Empress Dowager's stance. Otherwise, if we fire this shot blindly and the Empress Dowager is left unable to step down, you and I will be the ones to suffer the consequences," Zhang Jianxiu reminded him again. Zhang Yunxiu nodded and replied, "Don't worry, I will enter the palace tomorrow to see the Emperor."

"The Emperor won't do."

"Then who will?"

"Feng Bao."

Zhang Jianxiu spat out two words; Feng Bao had been in the Inner Palace for fifty years and also managed the Eastern Depot, so to Empress Dowager Li, Feng Bao was no ordinary servant, but her "literary strategist."

If Feng Bao were willing to help, it would definitely be twice the result with half the effort.

"Fine, then I shall go to Feng Bao's residence right now to sound out this old Eunuch." Zhang Yunxiu also felt his fourth brother's words made sense, so he nodded and agreed.

The two conversed for a while longer, then each went about their business.

That evening, a carriage slowly pulled up to the entrance of Feng Bao's residence; as the carriage curtain was lifted, Zhang Yunxiu bent over and poked his head out from inside.

Stepping onto the icy, snowy ground with one foot, he walked quickly toward the main gate.

The guards recognized Zhang Yunxiu and did not stop him, letting him inside.

When he walked into the backyard, inside the main hall, Feng Bao was leaning against a Grand Tutor chair, looking sideways with his eyes at Xu Jue, who was standing with his hands hanging down.

Xu Jue sensed his master's gaze and hurriedly stepped forward, saying respectfully, "Master, Young Master Zhang will be here momentarily."

"So he's coming, so he's coming; do I have to go out and welcome him?" Feng Bao said with an arrogant look on his face.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare; that is not what this humble one meant."

"Then what is it you mean?"

Faced with this question, Xu Jue dared not answer, bowing his head to look at the tips of his own shoes.

"Enough, enough, I can't be bothered to bicker with you." Feng Bao waved his hand, sat up straight all at once, and asked in a lowered voice, "You keep a good watch on that woman for me; apart from me, I do not allow anyone else to know."

"Understood, understood." Xu Jue nodded like a pestle pounding garlic.

"Fine, go outside and see where Zhang Yunxiu has gotten to." Feng Bao flicked his palm; Xu Jue received the order, walked forward two steps respectfully, and then bumped into Zhang Yunxiu, who was already standing at the doorway.

"Steward Xu."

"Oh my, Young Master Zhang, you have finally arrived."

The two exchanged pleasantries, and Xu Jue, with a smile on his face, led Zhang Yunxiu into the main hall.

At this moment, Feng Bao also sat up straight; he nodded and smiled at Zhang Yunxiu, signaling for him to sit on his left-hand side.

"Young Master Zhang, where have you been going to make a fortune lately?" Feng Bao asked teasingly.

"What fortune? This young one has been worried to death lately; even a few hairs have turned white." Zhang Yunxiu did not take the bait and went straight to the point, "I hope the old Eunuch can save a life and help a friend of mine."

Although Feng Bao knew what Zhang Yunxiu was there for, he still asked with feigned surprise: "What matter is it? Could it be that even Grand Tutor Zhang cannot resolve it? Tell me, is there anyone else in the Great Ming with such great ability?"

"There really is." Zhang Yunxiu accompanied him with a smile.

"Who?"

"Empress Dowager Li."

"Ah, your friend has provoked Empress Dowager Li?" Feng Bao feigned shock and said with a tremble, "Since it is offending Empress Dowager Li, then you come to find me; I am but a servant, and I cannot help with anything."

"Eunuch Feng is being modest; you are the number one favorite by Empress Dowager Li's side, her 'literary strategist'." Zhang Yunxiu turned to the side and smiled, taking the opportunity to flatter Feng Bao.

"What 'literary strategist'? That is just something people outside are spreading blindly; it doesn't count, it doesn't count." Feng Bao was modest on the surface, but inwardly he was extremely pleased.

Although the little Emperor was now on guard against him, he could still get a word in where Empress Dowager Li was concerned.

After a moment of silence, Feng Bao frowned and asked, "Is Young Master Zhang's friend named Zhao Yong?"

Zhang Yunxiu nodded.

"Then that is troublesome indeed." Feng Bao let out a long sigh, stood up from his chair, paced back and forth in the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, and then said, "Master Yiru, the abbot of Zhaoning Temple, has always been on friendly terms with Empress Dowager Li."

"You know that the monk who was beaten is dead now, don't you?"

"I know."

"That is where the trouble lies; a life must be paid for with a life, and debts must be repaid with money. Empress Dowager Li is the least tolerant of sand in her eyes."

"But he had a reason for beating the man, and besides, his death might not necessarily have been caused by Zhao Yong." Zhang Yunxiu stood up and followed Feng Bao, originally wanting to say, "When Feng Bangning provoked and beat people, he was only dismissed from office."

But as soon as he thought of the relationship between Feng Bao and Feng Bangning, he swallowed the words back.

It is truly laughable when you think about it.

Feng Bangning is a bastard who beat a court official, yet a whole crowd of people wanted to protect him.

Zhao Yong punished evil and promoted good, yet a whole crowd of people wanted to put him to death.

"Young Master Zhang, I must also advise you; sometimes, when a matter is past, it is past." Seeing Zhang Yunxiu stunned, Feng Bao's fair, clean skin twitched as he said in a shrill voice, "It is just like excrement that has already formed a crust; it actually doesn't stink anymore. If you insist on poking it with a stick, in the end, the one who will stink is only yourself."

"That is not necessarily true; if I poke it in another direction, who knows who might end up stinking." Zhang Yunxiu met Feng Bao's gaze and said with firm conviction.

A cold glint flashed in Feng Bao's eyes at these words; he was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed out loud: "Hahaha, good, good, good! Since Young Master Zhang is so confident, then I will not try to persuade you further. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"Go and sound out Empress Dowager Li's stance."

"Fine, I will help with this favor."

Feng Bao generously agreed.

"Eunuch Feng, rest assured; whether the person can be saved or not, I will certainly not forget this favor."

(End of this chapter)