Chapter 162: The Court

Five or six days passed in succession.

The tall warships clad in iron armor wandered like ghosts along the coastal cities of the Mori Clan. Just as Zhang Yunxiu had anticipated, these few cities had become almost empty.

The Ming Army took these cities without the slightest effort.

The sea, which appeared sunny and calm, had undercurrents surging beneath it, and a more perilous, immense power was quietly brewing.

The decisive battle was about to arrive!

However, the arrival of an uninvited guest instantly shattered Zhang Yunxiu's plans.

At noon that day, Zhang Yunxiu was standing on the deck, directing the Ming Army to organize their equipment. Suddenly, hundreds of tall warships surged from behind the fleet, blotting out the sky and sun for a moment, with white waves churning.

Zhang Yunxiu looked back.

He saw a large, crimson flag hanging high on the great ship, with a large "Qi" character written upon it.

Had the Qi Family Army arrived? Zhang Yunxiu was stunned at first, then his pupils suddenly dilated, and a look of wild joy surged onto his fair face.

He hurriedly ordered his troops to bring the warships alongside to receive the two parties.

Without waiting for Zhang Yunxiu to speak, Qi Jiguang said with a heavy expression and a suppressed voice: "The Grand Secretary has had an accident; the Emperor has urgently summoned you back, nephew?"

Zhang Yunxiu's heart skipped a beat; he looked at Qi Jiguang with trembling lips and asked, "What... what happened?"

"A stroke," Qi Jiguang said, squeezing a few drops of turbid, hot tears from the corners of his eyes.

Zhang Yunxiu felt as if he had been struck by lightning; he stood there like a wooden statue. After a long while, he squeezed words out from between his teeth: "Great Marshal Qi, I leave the matters of Woguo to you."

"Mm, rest assured, nephew. This Marshal will certainly bring everyone back safely."

Half a month later.

The first light of dawn touched Beijing, and just as the city gates were opening, several fast horses suddenly galloped into Beijing.

Leading them was Zhang Yunxiu, his face covered in the dust of travel.

At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot, his face haggard, and he looked utterly dejected.

Zhang Juzheng had suffered a stroke. Judging from the news sent by Feng Bao, this stroke was extremely severe, and it was possible he would be unable to move normally for the rest of his life.

As of now, the Wanli Emperor had already allowed the Secondary Assistant Zhang Siwei to act as the Senior Grand Secretary.

This was a very bad sign.

Although his relationship with Wanli was not bad, who could guess the Emperor's mind? Thinking this, Zhang Yunxiu whipped his horse and headed straight for the University Scholar Mansion.

Arriving at the mansion, he dismounted and rushed toward the inner residence in a great hurry.

It was very quiet inside; compared to the bustling crowds of the past, the University Scholar Mansion had few visitors lately.

Whether out of good intentions or caution.

The Emperor had issued an edict forbidding others from disturbing the Grand Secretary's rest.

When Zhang Yunxiu walked into the main hall, his four elder brothers and their families were pacing back and forth in anxiety.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu return, Zhang Jianxiu, who was closest to him, immediately stepped forward and let out a long sigh of relief: "Yunxiu, you have finally returned. Father has been clamoring to see you."

The other three also nodded.

"Thank you, brothers." With a heavy nod, Zhang Yunxiu bowed to them and ran toward Zhang Juzheng's inner bedroom.

Zhang Juzheng lay on the bed, his face twisted, the corners of his mouth crooked, and saliva kept flowing from his mouth. Yuqin, who was by his side, looked heartbroken; she wiped his saliva with a handkerchief while wiping away her own tears.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Yunxiu's nose immediately soured, and his eyes turned red.

The bond between father and son, the earnest teachings.

All the events of the past surfaced before his eyes one by one.

That man who always kept a straight face, often scolded him, and possessed extreme inner pride.

Now he lay on the bed, just lying there, letting others move his body. Zhang Yunxiu's knees went weak; he straightened his body and knelt on the ground, dragging his knees forward, sobbing: "Child... child is unfilial; Father is seriously ill, yet I could not serve by your side for long."

"Wuwu... wuwu."

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu enter, Zhang Juzheng immediately became agitated.

He widened his eyes, his face flushed red, and he pointed a trembling finger at him. Because of the stroke, he could not speak and could only make indistinct sounds.

"Master, Master, please don't be agitated. The doctor said you must rest," Yuqin, who was by his side, said anxiously, trying to persuade him.

Zhang Yunxiu knelt and came before Zhang Juzheng, gave Yuqin a grateful smile, and then tightly grasped his father's hands: "Father, I know everything, I know everything. The New Policy... the New Policy."

At this, Zhang Juzheng returned to calm.

The two looked at each other; Zhang Juzheng stretched out his withered, wood-like palm, intending to pat his son's shoulder, but he could not lift it no matter how he tried.

After several failed attempts, Zhang Juzheng's face flushed red, and hot sweat broke out on his forehead.

Zhang Yunxiu gave a miserable smile, grabbed his father's hand, and placed it on his own shoulder. The father and son just looked at each other like this, saying nothing.

In an instant, it felt as if time had frozen.

I do not know how much time passed, but Zhang Juzheng's eyelids drooped, and he slowly closed his eyes.

Zhang Yunxiu let out a long sigh, slowly lowered the hand from his shoulder, and then pulled the quilt over his father to cover his body.

That evening, Feng Bao paid a visit.

Zhang Yunxiu met with him in a small parlor. The two sat opposite each other, and Feng Bao said with no small amount of worry: "Young Master Zhang, many people in the court are concerned about the Grand Secretary's condition recently. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor have even inquired personally."

"However..."

"However what?" Zhang Yunxiu asked in a low voice.

Feng Bao struggled for a moment, but gritted his teeth and said what was on his mind: "Although the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are both concerned about the Grand Secretary, their concerns are not the same."

Li Taihou is burning with anxiety, burning incense and praying to Buddha every day, secretly praying for Zhang Juzheng's health to improve.

This Emperor's display of concern is too excessive; rather than calling it concern, it is more like the joy of relief.

Since the Emperor came of age, he has felt that the Emperor has changed.

In the past, when encountering matters he was unsure about, the Emperor would choose to consult with him.

Now the Emperor deliberately avoids him, and regardless of whether the matter is big or small, he requests his opinion on everything. As someone who has spent over fifty years in the deep palace, Feng Bao knows his own situation well.

It was just that he still harbored this layer of fantasy in his heart.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded, indicating he had noted this matter, then said: "I will enter the palace tomorrow to see the Emperor; as for Li Taihou, I must ask Eunuch Feng to visit her more often, and please ensure the situation does not turn cold."

"I understand."

Feng Bao replied in a low voice.

The key to the problem now is still whether the Emperor and Zhang Juzheng, this Senior Grand Secretary, can wake up.

If he can extend his life for another ten years, he, Feng Bao, as the Inner Prime Minister, will remain as stable as Mount Tai.

If he cannot, he will only be able to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, Chen Hong and Meng Chong, and slink back home in disgrace.

Now his future is entirely pinned on the father and son of the Zhang Family.

Thinking of this, he stole a cautious glance at Zhang Yunxiu.

This person, whom he had originally viewed as a junior, had now unexpectedly become the person he relied upon; Feng Bao found it somewhat comical just thinking about it.

"Eunuch Feng," Zhang Yunxiu called out.

"Ah?!" Feng Bao exclaimed in response.

"I have a matter I wish to discuss with Eunuch Feng."

"Please speak, Young Master Zhang."

Zhang Yunxiu drafted his words in his mind, then stared into Feng Bao's eyes and said: "Regardless of whether my father can ascend to the position of Grand Secretary again this time, Eunuch Feng should retreat while at the height of success."

Upon hearing this, Feng Bao's body jerked as if stung by a hornet, and he looked at Zhang Yunxiu with a face full of disbelief.

"Eunuch Feng, you have passed the age of fifty, and you have stayed in this Inner Palace for over fifty years; it is time to leave the palace and enjoy your twilight years," Zhang Yunxiu said, ignoring the look of shock on Feng Bao's face.

Having spoken to this point, how could Feng Bao not understand?

"Does Young Master Zhang want Wei Qing to replace me?" Feng Bao asked, gritting his teeth.

"Eunuch Feng, this is the Emperor's intention, not mine."

"He is not capable."

"Why?"

"His qualifications are too shallow, but if Young Master Zhang is willing to agree to two conditions of mine, I can let him oversee the Eastern Depot in the capacity of a Drafting Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial."

"What conditions?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"Protect me so I may enjoy my old age in peace," Feng Bao said, his lips trembling slightly.

"What kind of condition is that? Eunuch Feng, please rest assured, I agree to it."

"There is one more; I want you to look after Feng Bangning, and I also want to recommend someone for the position of Managing Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace."

"Eunuch Feng, the Managing Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace is no ordinary position; they are all personally appointed by the Emperor. How could I possibly help him?"

"Hahaha, Young Master Zhang does not even hold me, the Seal-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, in his eyes; surely Young Master Zhang must have a way for a mere Managing Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace."

Feng Bao said this with a loud laugh, then stood up and left.

His face was filled with a sense of desolation.

(End of this chapter)