Zhu Ping'an and the other two did not stay in Xu's mansion for too long. They left after getting familiar with the place. On the one hand, it was because other new tribute scholars had come to pay a visit, and on the other hand, it was because Xu Jie, Zhang Juzheng and Yang Jisheng obviously had something to discuss.
"A man with lofty aspirations is not content with what he has already achieved. Wherever he goes, he never forgets to learn. Therefore, his origins are profound and his roots are great, which cannot be achieved by those who are narrow-minded and superficial."
Before leaving, Xu Jie encouraged Zhu Ping'an and the other two to set high goals and study hard, and his encouragement was evident in his words.
After leaving Xu's house, Zhu Ping'an and the other two went straight to Yan Maoqing's house. On the way, they talked about Zhang Juzheng and Yang Jisheng in Xu's house. They had the same feeling about Yang Jisheng, but their feelings about Zhang Juzheng were slightly different.
"I feel that Zhang Juzheng is a cunning person and it is difficult for people to get close to him." Wang Shizhen expressed his feelings about Zhang Juzheng.
"Oh, why do you think so?" Zhu Ping'an asked with interest.
"As for being cunning, when I asked Xu about the poetry societies in the capital at Xu's house, he didn't show any expression on his face and he tried his best to recommend several poetry societies to me. However, there was a look of contempt in his eyes. Even though it was fleeting, I was sure I was not mistaken." Wang Shizhen said softly as he recalled the scene at that time.
"Wensheng, you must be dazzled. I don't think it's a big deal. Although Zhang Juzheng doesn't talk much, he always gets to the point when he speaks, and he doesn't seem to be arrogant. From what I've seen today, I don't see any scheming in him." Zhang Siwei shrugged slightly.
"Zihou, what do you think?" Wang Shizhen ignored Zhang Siwei and turned to ask Zhu Pingan.
"Zhang Juzheng is a man of great cunning and scheming, and his future is limitless." Zhu Ping'an whispered the historical evaluation of Zhang Juzheng.
"Ah?" Zhang Siwei was a little surprised. He was a little surprised when Wang Shizhen said that Zhang Juzheng was cunning just now. Now Zhu Ping'an actually said that Zhang Juzheng was very cunning and the kind that was unpredictable. So he was even more surprised.
Wang Shizhen was the same. He just felt that Zhang Juzheng was cunning, but he did not have such a positive view on Zhang Juzheng's future development.
"It is not easy for someone to gain the attention of Master Xu. He speaks little, but every word he says hits the nail on the head. How could he be shallow? The Hanlin Academy is a place where people are expected to be prime ministers. This person must not be underestimated." Zhu Ping'an explained slowly.
"Hehe, I'm not sure about Zhang Juzheng's future, but Zihou will definitely have unlimited potential. After the palace examination, Zihou will also be admitted to the Hanlin Academy. I believe that with Zihou's ability and means, his future will be bright. Hehe, don't forget to take care of me and Wensheng in the future." Zhang Siwei joked with a smile.
"Haha, we have to hold on to Zihou's thigh tightly." Wang Shizhen also said with a smile.
"If you want to hold my thighs tightly, you have to coax me well." Zhu Ping'an was very cooperative. He pretended to be very arrogant and walked sideways like a crab.
"Alas. It's a pity that we don't know how to coax people." Zhang Siwei sighed exaggeratedly.
"That's right, I can never coax people well." Wang Shizhen also sighed and looked at Zhu Ping'an's hands. He said that he wanted to cling to him, but his ability to coax people was zero.
"Actually, I'm easy to please. If you don't have the stars, you can just give me a few hundred taels of silver to fool me..."
Zhu Pingan stretched out his paw, made a motion of counting money, squinted his eyes, and smiled obscenely.
Pfft...
Wang Shizhen and Zhang Siwei couldn't help but burst into laughter. Zihou looked simple and honest on the surface, but he was actually smart enough to sell you out and let him count the money. He was also humorous, which made people feel happy and close to him.
The three of them chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at Yan Maoqing's residence.
Although Yan Maoqing's mansion was not as luxurious as Yan Song's, it was much more luxurious than Xu Jie's. A black nanmu plaque with golden threads hung on the top of the bright red lacquered gate, with two large characters "Yan Mansion" inscribed on it in a flamboyant style.
In the history of the Ming Dynasty, there are many figures who are famous throughout the ages, but there are also many treacherous people who are infamous for eternity. Yan Maoqing is one of the brightest ones among them.
Yan Maoqing, courtesy name Jingxiu, was from Dong'an Village, Quangang, Fengcheng. He was the most famous of the cronies of Yan Song, a notorious traitor in the Ming Dynasty. He was famous not only for his support of Yan's father and son, but also for his greed. He "made a brocade quilt for the toilet and a white gold urinal" and "made a colorful sedan chair and had twelve women carry it." He was a person of extravagance. Hai Rui, a famous upright official in the Ming Dynasty in "Hai Rui Dismissed from Office", was dismissed because of a dispute with him.
With great interest, Zhu Ping'an followed Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen to the door of Yan Maoqing's mansion and delivered the gate card.
Not long after, the doorman came saying that the master wanted to see them, and Zhu Ping'an and the other two followed the doorman into the Yan Mansion.
The layout of the Yan Mansion is full of luxury, with white walls surrounding it and green willows hanging all around. There are paths connecting the courtyards, dotted with rocks, a garden with a pool, three gatehouses with hanging flowers, and corridors on all four sides. The entire Yan Mansion is magnificent.
Yan Maoqing received Zhu Pingan and others in the study. There was no outsider in the study except Yan Maoqing. Zhu Pingan and the other two bowed and paid respects according to the rules.
"No thanks, no thanks. Look at you guys, why are you bringing such things here? What are you doing, Old Zhang? Didn't I tell you many times that you are not allowed to accept gifts..." Yan Maoqing sat in his seat without moving. He raised his hand to let Zhu Ping'an and the other two stand up. After seeing the gift boxes presented by Zhu Ping'an and the other two, he put on a stern face and began to lecture the doorman who led Zhu Ping'an and the others to the study.
Yan Maoqing said a lot, and the translation is roughly like this: I, Yan Maoqing, have repeatedly emphasized in and outside the government that we should not accept gifts. I have said it several times. As leading cadres, we must be honest and upright, have a decent style, endure hardships first and enjoy later, and inherit and carry forward the fine tradition of hard work and simplicity. We must be worthy of the emperor and the people, we must be frugal, we cannot enjoy extravagance, and we must not waste money... ...
Anyway, when Yan Maoqing talked about it, it was as if he was eating steamed corn bread and reminiscing about the good old days.
Yan Maoqing is a good actor. If Zhu Ping'an hadn't known what kind of person Yan Maoqing was, he would have almost been fooled by Yan Maoqing's acting skills of reminiscing about the past. It's a pity that this person is not an actor.
"It won't happen again, it won't happen again..."
After Yan Maoqing recalled the past and thought about the present, he said several times that it would not happen again, and then he pushed the gift box sent by Zhu Pingan and others to the side of the table without leaving a trace, and then looked at the gift box without leaving a trace. However, when he found that what Zhu Pingan and the other two sent were all ink, Yan Maoqing showed obvious disappointment and disdain.
Yan Maoqing is well-informed. What's wrong with a pool of Chunlu ink? If he wants a few boxes, Luo Wenlong can give him a few boxes! Luo Longwen, the lackey beside Yan Shifan, is an expert in making ink. This pool of Chunlu ink is made by him. Last time, that kid rushed to give him more than ten boxes, and they are still in the warehouse.
Then, our comrade Yan Maoqing, who was honest and upright and remembered the good times, looked as if he owed him several hundred taels of silver, especially to Zhu Ping'an. After a while, he quickly sent Zhu Ping'an and the other two away on the pretext that he had government affairs to deal with, and he was too lazy to even say any parting words of encouragement. (To be continued)