Just when Hu Zongxian was still sighing for Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou's good luck, he only heard a sharp voice sound.

"Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has arrived!"

As soon as the words fell, the Imperial Palace, which was still extremely noisy before, instantly quieted down, and the original palace Yanle also stopped.

Everyone stopped talking, looked at their noses and noses, and waited quietly for the arrival of the emperor and the empress.

After a while, I saw Jiajing holding the hand of Empress Shen and stepping into the Imperial Palace, while Lu Fang followed Jiajing step by step as usual.

At this time, Jiajing was wearing a yellow dragon robe, and the queen Shen on the side was wearing a phoenix crown, a yellow coat, and a dark blue veil, exuding a graceful and luxurious, motherly temperament.

Subsequently, I saw the civil and military officials in the Imperial Palace, as well as the clans and nobles kneeling on the ground one after another, saying in unison.

"The ministers knock on Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live long live, long live the queen, long live the queen!"

After Jiajing and Shen came to their respective positions, I saw Jiajing sweep his gaze from the civil and military officials on the scene, as well as the clan and nobles, waved his hand, and said loudly: "Well, get up!" ”

"Your Majesty, Empress Xie!"

After this, everyone slowly got up from the ground, their faces full of awe.

Because of this banquet held in the Imperial Palace, the emperor and the empress will be present in person, so no one dares to slack off, the officials are all wearing court clothes, and the clans and nobles are also wearing their own chapter uniforms.

Afterwards, a maid soon stepped forward and brought all kinds of steaming delicacies to the table in front of everyone, and poured wine for everyone, and the whole process went smoothly and could not find any fault.

When they had done this, they saw the maids retreat to the side, motionless, like sculptures.

Then, I saw Jiajing give a look to the Shen family on the side, then picked up the wine glass on the table, glanced over the many civil and military generals below, as well as the nobles of the clan, and said loudly.

"I can have the current situation, all of you here, diligent, hard-working, honest and hard-working, all of you are my ministers!"

"Your hard work, I see it in my eyes one by one, I hope you can not forget your original intention, serve the country with all your heart, and make the Ming Dynasty great again, I am here to give you a glass with the queen!"

"The queen is not strong enough to drink, so she replaces wine with tea!"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he raised his head and drank all the wine in the cup, and the Shen family on the side did the same, drinking the tea in the cup.

Seeing this, everyone in the Imperial Palace got up from their seats one after another, returned the salute to Jiajing, and after that, drank all the wine in the cup.

Like last time, Jiajing drank a total of three glasses of wine, and then left the Imperial Palace with Shen on the grounds that he was not strong enough to drink.

After all, if the emperor and empress were always present, the civil and military officials, clansmen, and nobles who participated in the banquet would also feel uncomfortable.

And the purpose of Jiajing to hold this banquet is to let the civil and military officials take this opportunity to relax before the year, and since the wine has been toasted, it is time to leave.

Zhu Zaikun had expected this, and he had to stir up the atmosphere next.

Immediately, I saw him pick up the wine glass, get up from the seat, face everyone, and said in a deep voice: "Lonely here, I salute you, you have worked hard for a year......"

After Zhu Zaikun finished his speech and drank all the wine in the cup, the original palace swallow music sounded, and the dancers of the Teaching Workshop Division also danced softly again, and the atmosphere of the scene gradually became warmer.

There are constantly officials running to toast Zhu Zaikun, and the rest of the people are pushing cups and changing lamps.

……

At this time, Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo, pulled Zhang Rong, the Duke of the British, and Xu Yande, the Duke of Dingguo, to talk about what they had seen before.

"When I came back before, I accidentally found a handsome talent for my Ming, as well as a general!"

Seeing that Zhu Xizhong, the Duke of Chengguo, said so mysteriously, Zhang Rong, the British Duke on the side, and Xu Yande, the Duke of Dingguo, were full of curiosity on their faces.

You must know that in Daming, there are no more than one person who can get Zhu Xizhong's evaluation.

Then, I saw Zhang Rong raise his eyebrows, look in the direction where Zhu Xizhong was, and asked, "Oh, who is it?" ”

Zhu Xizhong didn't mean to hide it, and responded without thinking: "One of them is called Qi Jiguang, and the other is called Yu Dayou!" ”

After Zhang Rong learned the news from Zhu Xizhong's mouth, there was not much surprise on his face, he nodded, and said slowly: "I have heard the names of these two people, and earlier, together with Hu Gelao, he led the army to exterminate the Japanese invaders entrenched in the southeast coast of my Ming Dynasty!" ”

"In addition, he also led the army to quell two rebellions, one in Fujian and one in Jiangxi!"

"This time, it seems that Hu Ge Lao personally recommended them to His Majesty and let them be in charge of military training!"

After listening to Zhang Rong's addition, I saw Zhu Xizhong nodding and continuing: "Well, that's right, when I passed by before, these two were discussing ways to deal with Tatars in the coming year!" ”

"I agree with some of the points they put forward, that to deal with cavalry, we should mainly use the car battalion, and then supplement it with firearms!"

"It's a pity that I didn't have enough time to continue chatting!"

When Zhu Xizhong said this, his face showed a little regret.

Zhang Rong on the side took in the expression on Zhu Xizhong's face, and said with a smile: "It's not easy, find a time another day, make an appointment with them to the house, and ask if it's okay?" ”

When Zhu Xizhong heard Zhang Rong's words, a trace of hesitation flashed on his face, and he said peacefully: "Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou were brought up by Hu Gelao, will it look ...... if I do this?"

Before Zhu Xizhong's words were finished, he was impatiently interrupted by Xu Yande on the side: "What are you afraid of, it's a big deal to inform me in advance!" ”

"Well, that makes sense, come on, let's drink!"

"Here, cheers!"

……

On the other side, Yan Song listened to the noise coming from his ears, and his face was full of helplessness.

At this time, Yan Shifan was pulling the high arch to fight for wine, and he had a posture of not getting drunk and not returning.

"Xiao Ge Lao, you are already too drunk, don't hold on, let's admit defeat as soon as possible, if you get to know each other and admit defeat as soon as possible, maybe I will raise my noble hand and let you go, otherwise, I will truthfully fulfill the gambling contract!"

"Hiccup, it's just a gamble, what are you afraid of, and I'm not drunk at all, it's just that everything except me is shaking around!"

After burping a wine, Yan Shifan looked in the direction where Gao Gong was located with drunken eyes, and said so.

Compared with Yan Shifan, Gao Gong is not much better, at this time Gao Gong's face is flushed, his eyes are wandering, if he didn't barely support his body with one hand, I'm afraid Gao Gong would have fallen long ago.

After Zhang Juzheng clinked glasses with Hu Zongxian, he raised his head, drank all the wine in the cup, and asked instead: "Hu Ge Lao, do you think which of them will win?" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard this, after carefully observing the demeanor of the two, he shook his head and turned to speak: "It's hard to say, now they are all holding their last breath, it depends on who can't support it first!" ”

Seeing this situation, Yan Song on the side stroked his forehead helplessly, and said to himself silently: "This Yan Shifan clearly regards what I said before as a deaf ear. ”

At this moment, I only heard Xu Jie's voice from the side: "Elder Yan Ge, let's have a drink too!" ”

When Yan Song heard this, he followed the prestige, only to see that Xu Jie, who was not far away, had already picked up the wine glass, and his face was full of warm smiles.

"Come, let's have a drink too!"

After Yan Song finished speaking, he picked up the wine glass, touched it with Xu Jie, then raised his head and drank the wine in the glass.

After the two of them drank all the wine in the cup, they saw Xu Jie withdraw his gaze and ask with emotion: "Elder Yan Ge, how long have we been working together?" ”

Yan Song heard Xu Jie's words, and after thinking about it for a long time, he shook his head and responded: "People are old, confused, and can't remember clearly!" ”

When Xu Jie heard this, he glanced at Yan Song, and then said unhurriedly: "I am the thirty-first year of Jiajing's cabinet, and so far, we have been working together for ten years!" ”

After Yan Song learned the news from Xu Jie's mouth, he also sighed with emotion: "This blink of an eye, ten years have passed!" ”

After this, I saw Yan Song withdraw his gaze from Xu Jie's body, and after a moment of conversation, he followed up and said: "Elder Xu Ge, I have read some books recently, and I have a lot of insight!" ”

When Xu Jie heard Yan Song's words, his face was full of interest, and he asked, "Oh, what does Elder Yan Ge realize?" ”

Facing Xu Jie's gaze, Yan Song had no intention of concealing it, and after thinking for a while, he followed up and spoke.

"Sometimes this person can't just walk forward vigorously, he has to stop from time to time and pay attention to his feet, so as not to accidentally trip over the stone and then fall on his heels, what does Xu Ge think?"

After Yan Song finished speaking, he picked up the chopsticks, picked up the dishes with chopsticks, put them in his mouth, and savored them.

Xu Jie naturally heard the off-string sound in Yan Song's words, and in his opinion, the meaning that Yan Song wanted to express couldn't be clearer.

Yan Song's meaning is to let him control the family behind him, and when the time comes, don't be implicated.

"This Yan Song, how could he be so kind to remind me, is it possible, what other intentions does he have?"

Then, I saw Xu Jie come back to his senses, look in the direction where Yan Song was, and said respectfully: "Thank you Yan Ge for reminding me, I will pay attention!" ”

Yan Song was noncommittal to Xu Jie's words, just nodded and didn't say anything.

After that, Yan Song focused all his attention on Yan Shifan and Gao Gong not far away.

At this time, Yan Shifan and Gao Gong's wine fight was coming to an end, and after drinking the last glass of wine, both sides poured on the table at the same time, unconscious.

"Looks like it's a draw!"

Seeing this situation, Zhang Juzheng on the side showed a helpless look on his face, shook his head, and then spoke.

When Hu Zongxian heard this, he drank all the wine in the cup, and then responded: "Yes! ”

……

Forbidden City, Manna Palace.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Jiajing and Shen immediately returned to Ganlu Palace.

At this time, in the room, all kinds of delicacies were set up on a table, and it was still steaming.

"It's still Lu Fang thoughtful, let the imperial dining room prepare such a table of dishes in advance, otherwise, I will be hungry!"

Looking at this table full of dishes, Jiajing couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

At this moment, I saw that Shen's face was full of excitement, and he looked in the direction where Jiajing was expectantly, and asked, "Your Majesty, how did the concubine behave just now?" ”

At this time, the Shen family had already changed into the usual clothes that he wore on weekdays, and this dress just rightly set off the Shen family's bumpy figure.

Hearing this, Jiajing glanced over Shen's body, and after pondering for a while, he commented: "If you have a full score of ten, let's score about eight!" ”

After hearing Jiajing's evaluation, Shen immediately stepped forward and took Jiajing's hand, shaking it from side to side: "Why not ten, you know, the concubine is the first time to participate in the ......"

Because the distance was too close, Jiajing could even smell the faint fragrance on Shen's body.

Seeing this, Jiajing gently took Shen into his arms, gently stroked her smooth face with his hand, and said with a smile: "The remaining two points will not be able to give an evaluation until after tonight!" ”

After Jiajing finished speaking, without waiting for Shen's reaction, he picked him up and walked to the back room.

At this time, Shen had already blushed, and gently patted Jiajing's chest with his hand, and muttered, "Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, you haven't eaten yet! ”

"It's okay, you won't need it later!"

Subsequently, under an exclamation, the house was full of spring, and the scene was not enough for outsiders.

……

Gradually, late at night, the banquet held in the Imperial Palace was also coming to an end, and everyone left the table one after another, and this banquet can be described as a joy for the guests and hosts.

At this time, where the sedan chair was parked, Zhang Juzheng and Hu Zongxian glanced at each other, with a helpless look on their faces.

There is no other reason, Zhang Juzheng supported the unconscious Gao Gong, and Hu Zongxian supported the drunken and hazy Yan Shifan, both of them felt a trace of sympathy from each other's circumstances.

Compared with Zhang Juzheng, Hu Zongxian is obviously much luckier, after all, Yan Shifan is not as heavy as Gao Gong.

Just supporting the high arch from the Huangji Hall all the way to here consumed most of Zhang Juzheng's physical strength.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have to send Gao Ge Lao home, so I will take a step forward to leave!"

"Hmm."

After Zhang Juzheng finished speaking, with the help of the sedan chair man, he helped the drunk and unconscious Gao Gong into the sedan chair, and then left in the sedan chair.

After Zhang Juzheng left, he saw Xu Jie's gaze retracted, turned around, arched his hand to Yan Song and Hu Zongxian respectively, and then said: "It's not too early, I will also take a step forward to leave, take care!" ”

"Xu Ge walks slowly!"

Because Hu Zongxian was still supporting the drunken Yan Shifan, he could only nod his head.

After Xu Jie left in a sedan chair, he saw Yan Song retract his gaze, glanced at Yan Shifan's body, and had an expression of hatred on his face, and then said: "Ruzhen, help the teacher bring back this unfinished thing!" ”

"Yes, Teacher!"

After Hu Zongxian responded, he and the sedan chair man helped Yan Shifan onto the sedan chair.

Then, I saw three sedan chairs of different colors, marching in the direction where Yan Fu was located.

……

After the sedan chair stopped, I saw that the slave who had been waiting here stepped forward and carefully helped Yan Shifan down from the sedan chair.

After helping Yan Shifan down from the sedan chair, I saw the maid on the side step forward and take Yan Shifan from the hands of the slave.

I saw Yan Song turn around, look in the direction where the maid was, and ordered: "Take him to the room to rest, and tell the kitchen to make a few bowls of decanting soup!" ”

"Yes, sir!"

Regarding Yan Song's words, those maids naturally did not dare to disobey, only to see him leaning down and responding respectfully.

After that, I saw Yan Song enter the study with the support of Hu Zongxian.

At this moment, the charcoal fire in the study is burning vigorously, which makes people feel sleepy.

Soon after Yan Song and Hu Zongxian entered the study, a maid soon stepped forward and brought a bowl of steaming tea for each of them.

Then, I saw Yan Song pick up the teacup, and after taking a sip, he looked in the direction where Hu Zongxian was, and took the lead in provoking the topic: "Ruzhen, I don't know if you have received the couplet sent to you by the teacher earlier?" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard Yan Song's words, he immediately smiled and quipped: "This is natural, teacher, you can give a big gift to your students!" ”

"The student heard that there was a wealthy merchant who was willing to pay a high price of 400,000 taels of silver to buy your Mobao!"

"You sent someone to send three couplets to the students, and when converted, this is a full 1.2 million taels of silver!"

After listening to Hu Zongxian's words, Yan Song couldn't help but have a slight smile on his face, only to see him stroke his beard and say slowly: "Ruzhen, when you achieve the position of a teacher, your Mobao can also be sold at this price!" ”

When Hu Zongxian heard this, he shook his head, and said without thinking: "Teacher, the student is already very satisfied to be able to enter the pavilion, and I don't want anything else!" ”

When Hu Zongxian said this, he paused for a moment, and then continued: "What's more, even if you step down from the position of the first assistant of the cabinet one day, in front of the students, there are Xu Jie, Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Xiao Ge Lao!" ”

When Yan Song heard Hu Zongxian's words, he couldn't help but be silent for a moment.

In the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, if you are talented, have excellent political achievements, and have made great contributions to the imperial court, plus if you have nobles to support you, it is not difficult to ascend to the sky in one step.

Hai Rui is a living example, he was promoted from a small county magistrate all the way to the right capital of the Inspectorate, and the speed of his promotion is jaw-dropping.

But no one can find any fault, after all, Hai Rui not only has outstanding political achievements and blameless private life, but also dares to personally lead the troops, surround the families of the four saints and three sages, and bring a full 80 million taels of silver to the imperial court!

The cabinet is different, and the people who can join the cabinet are not ordinary people.

Therefore, the cabinet is a place of extreme seniority, only when the people in front fall, or leave, the people behind have a chance to take office!

After being silent for a long time, I saw Yan Song raise his head, look in the direction where Hu Zongxian was, and asked, "Not long ago, you must have heard the conversation between me and Xu Jie, right?" ”

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere in the room instantly cooled down.

After a long time, I saw Hu Zongxian raise his head, nodded, and said in response: "Hmm." ”

Yan Song took in the expression on Hu Zongxian's face, and after pondering for a moment, he asked, "Are you curious, why do I remind Xu Jie?" ”

Facing Yan Song's gaze, Hu Zongxian didn't mean to hide it, nodded, and turned to speak: "Well, yes." ”

Just when Yan Song wanted to explain, he only heard a 'squeak', and the door of the study was pushed open, and he saw two maids walking in with decanting soup.

Afterwards, Hu Zongxian took the sobering soup from the maid's hand and asked, "What about the old Xiaoge?" ”

When the maid who was asked by Hu Zongxian heard this, she immediately leaned down and responded respectfully: "The little pavilion elder has already sent it over!" ”

After learning the news from the maid's mouth, I saw Hu Zongxian nodding and taking a sip of the decanting soup in the bowl.

……

After the maid left, I saw Yan Song withdraw her gaze, a slight mockery appeared on her face, and she asked coldly: "Ruzhen, in your opinion, what is the relationship between me and Xu Jie?" ”

"The relationship between each other is incompatible, and I can't wait to get rid of each other!"

When Hu Zongxian heard this, he looked directly into Yan Song's eyes and responded without thinking.

Yan Song seemed to have expected Hu Zongxian's answer, but he shook his head and continued to explain: "Yes, the relationship between me and Xu Jie is indeed as you said, water and fire are incompatible, and I can't wait to get rid of the other party as soon as possible!" ”

When Yan Song said this, he changed his words and continued: "But in other words, Xu Jie and I can be regarded as a relationship of both glory and loss, and none of us can do without anyone!" ”

"If Xu Jie falls, I won't be able to do it as the first assistant of the cabinet, on the contrary, if I fall, Xu Jie will not be able to sit in the position of the first assistant of the cabinet!"

When Yan Song said this, the mockery on his face was even worse, and he said to himself: "Now it seems that it is really a creation and a trick, Xu Jie and I have been fighting for most of our lives, and we obviously hate each other in our hearts, but no one can do without each other!" ”

After listening to Yan Song's explanation, I saw a look of surprise on Hu Zongxian's face, and immediately, I saw him muster up his courage and asked: "It is precisely because of this that you will take the initiative to remind Xu Jie...... teacher."

When Yan Song heard this, he raised his head and glanced at Hu Zongxian, and said unhurriedly: "Yes, maybe there is also a selfishness of the teacher, the teacher and Xu Jie's fight for most of his life, I don't want to see him implicated like this......"

Then, as if he had suddenly thought of something, Yan Song stopped the topic abruptly, and then said: "Okay, it's not early, Ruzhen, you should go back and rest early!" ”

"Yes, teacher, you take a break early, and the students will leave!"

"Hmm."

After that, I saw Hu Zongxian get up from the seat, arch his hand to Yan Song, and turn around and leave the room. (End of chapter)