Zhu Ping'an returned the gifts to everyone one by one, and then, under the urging of several Hanlin scholars, Zhu Ping'an had to smile and accept the offer to invite everyone to have a meal at the place where they had dinner last time in the evening.
Zhu Ping'an, a top scholar in his teens, was promoted to a higher rank within a few days of joining the Hanlin Academy. He became a new noble in the Hanlin Academy. Several Hanlin scholars followed Zhu Ping'an to the library, chatting and laughing, saying that they wanted to help Zhu Ping'an sort out the books and classics. Zhu Ping'an was already a sixth-rank official at this time. There were only five people in the Hanlin Academy who had a higher rank than Zhu Ping'an, including Dean Li Mo, who basically never came to the Hanlin Academy. Therefore, some people in the Hanlin Academy regarded Zhu Ping'an as a political investment.
Looking at Zhu Ping'an who was in the center of the crowd, Zhang Juzheng was calm and stood there with a smile on his face.
It has to be said that when Zhang Juzheng first heard the news of Zhu Ping'an's promotion, there was still a ripple in his heart. He originally entered the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi, which was not a formal official position. He stayed in the Hanlin Academy for three full years and worked tirelessly for three years before he was awarded the position of seventh-rank editor!
Let’s look at Zhu Ping’an. When he first came to the Hanlin Academy, he was a sixth-rank editor. Now, in just three days, he has been promoted to the sixth-rank tutor.
I worked hard for three years before I got my first official position, while others were promoted to a higher rank in just three days.
Humans are neither plants nor saints. In contrast, how can they not have thoughts in their hearts
However, Zhang Juzheng was Zhang Juzheng. There was only a slight ripple in his heart, and it was calm as water again in a second. He looked calmly at Zhu Ping'an, who was in the center of the crowd, with a slight smile on his lips.
Didn't Yuan Wei also get promoted quickly? He has a brilliant pen and is good at writing poetry.
What if I have one more poem to whet my appetite
Looking at Zhu Ping'an who was surrounded by the crowd, and his colleagues who were chatting and laughing as they headed towards the library, Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but smile:
Officialdom is full of flattery, and does not listen to the sufferings of the people. Many people are very good at singing praises, and even though the empire is about to collapse, they can still make it look like a peaceful and prosperous place.
The writings submitted to Your Majesty by everyone are all about hard work and love for the people, peace and prosperity, and a good world. But how many of these people know that the local situation is already in danger, how many people know that the local officials and the people are like fire and water, the officials use various means to extort money, and the people's resentment is about to boil. If this continues, Daxia may collapse.
But, I, Zhang Juzheng, am different.
Qingci, poetry, it's not that I can't write. It's just that I don't want to do it. I have read the books of sages for more than ten years, read thousands of volumes of good statecraft, and studied thousands of nights and nights, but I am not here to be a pen for the court.
I can see the current situation in the court clearly.
Government is based on the acquisition of talents, and the country is prosperous by appointing talents? Talents are selected based on virtue, and people are appointed based on merit? Haha, if it is really the appointment of talents, how could Yan Shifan, who has never taken the imperial examination, be the Minister of Works? As for the current head of the Imperial College, it is even more ridiculous. It is not unknown how much money was given.
This kind of situation is not a good time to stand up.
Emperor Jiajing was obsessed with alchemy, and Yan Song was timid and cautious, only wanting to avoid mistakes. After Yan Song took charge of the cabinet, the court was no longer the same as before. Many virtuous people could not display their talents, and many treacherous officials celebrated.
As long as Yan Song remains intact, what good will it do if you are promoted one, two, three, or four levels
Keep a low profile...
This is what suits you best.
Keep a low profile today and work slowly in the future. What he wants is not just a simple promotion. Zhang Juzheng turned his gaze to the gradually setting sun outside the house - the old sunset will eventually be replaced by the morning sun!
As the sun sets, the Hanlins who have worked all day are also welcoming the end of get off work, because Zhu Ping'an has been promoted to a higher rank and promised to treat him. As soon as the Hanlins get off work, they take Zhu Ping'an to the place where they had dinner last time and treat him to a good meal.
Zhang Juzheng and Gao Gong did not participate because they had other things to do in Prince Yu's Palace.
Just as Zhu Pingan and others sat down, an uninvited guest came in without being asked. However, none of the Hanlin scholars present had any objections. On the contrary, some, such as Yuan Wei, were very enthusiastic, as if they were meeting their real father.
"Haha, congratulations, Zihou. Let me fill you in with the congratulatory greetings." Yan Shifan came over with a smile on his big belly. He walked to the front of everyone's seats, patted a Hanlin sitting on the right side of Zhu Ping'an, pushed the Hanlin away from his seat, and then sat down.
Yuan Wei and others served tea and water, and asked the proprietress to add more dishes. They were very enthusiastic.
"No, no, Lord Yan, I am really embarrassing you. Lord Yan, I was unable to greet you in person. Please forgive me." Zhu Ping'an stood up from the table and bowed to Yan Shifan to apologize.
"Why call me Lord Yan? It's too formal." Yan Shifan took the tea handed to him by Yuan Wei, took a sip, and laughed.
Yan Shifan is a reckless person, and he has been arrogant for a long time. Zhu Ping'an doesn't want to offend this guy just because of his name.
"Then let's call him Mr. Donglou." Zhu Ping'an insisted.
"Okay, whatever you want." Yan Shifan laughed.
At this moment, Zhu Ping'an saw Li Mo and his group passing by the door out of the corner of his eye. They were originally planning to sit in the restaurant opposite, but after seeing Yan Shifan and Zhu Ping'an chatting and laughing, he saw Li Mo with a gloomy face. He cursed under his breath and led everyone away.
Yan Shifan should have known this. Although he did not turn his head to look, when he heard the footsteps leaving, he could clearly see that the smile on Yan Shifan's fat face became even wider.
Uh, okay, now Li Mo will completely classify me as a member of the Yan Party.
Looking at Yan Shifan's smile again, Zhu Ping'an felt that if Yan Shifan didn't do it on purpose, then it would be weird!
"Our store has recently received a new batch of mutton. I wonder if you gentlemen are interested in trying it?" The proprietress of the store walked into the private room, twisting her slender waist, and directed several maids to place plates of dishes on the table. She looked at everyone and asked with a smile on her face.
"Thank you for bringing us a few more of their signature mutton dishes." Zhu Ping'an replied immediately. After all, he was treating the guests, so he couldn't be stingy.
"Does your mutton smell bad?"
Yan Shifan looked at the graceful proprietress, his eyes lit up, he smiled, stood up and walked up to the proprietress and asked.
"If you want something smelly, I will give you something smelly. If you don't want something smelly, I won't make it for you." The proprietress' voice was full of charm.
"Haha, of course it has to be smelly, and you, the boss lady, have to cook it yourself."
Yan Shifan said with a charming smile, then patted the proprietress on the buttocks and closed his one eye with satisfaction.
"My lord, you are so annoying~" the lady boss said coquettishly, twisting her willow waist and running away shyly, "My lord, if you are like this, I will have to add more salt."
"Women are beautiful only when they are flirty, and mutton is fragrant only when it smells good."
Yan Shifan looked at the proprietress's back and burst into laughter. Then he raised his right hand that he had just clapped and sniffed it, savoring it for a long time.
"I'm telling you, Zihou, you have to taste this mutton today. It has the smell of mutton and the smell of the boss lady. This mutton is truly top-notch!"
After Yan Shifan sat down, he put his hand on Zhu Ping'an's shoulder and started to recommend him without caring about his image. (To be continued.)