In the afternoon, Zhu Ping'an saw Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen off from Zhu's house, as they both had to go to work at the government office.
Before leaving, the two men kept praising Zhu Ji's "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" and despised Zhu Ping'an's self-righteous behavior. It was not until Zhu Ping'an expressed his willingness to give them permanent free meals at Zhu Ji that the two men said, "This child is teachable," and left with satisfaction.
In the evening, as the sun was setting and the sky was filled with clouds, Zhu Ping'an, Liu Mu and Liu Dadao rode their horses back to the Linhuai Marquis Mansion.
When Zhu Ping'an dismounted and walked into Linhuai Marquis' Mansion, Zhang Juzheng's Mansion, which was several miles away from Linhuai Marquis' Mansion, also welcomed a guest.
The visitor had a square face, was over 30 years old, and was dressed simply. He was so plain that when Zhang Juzheng's doorman saw him, he wanted to send him away.
"Please take my visiting card to see your master."
When the plain-looking man with a square face was about to chase the doorman away, he took out a visiting card from his bosom and handed it to the doorman, asking him to take the card to see Zhang Juzheng.
"Who are you? Why should I listen to you?" Zhang Juzheng's doorman took the visiting card, glanced at the simple man with a square face, and did not move.
"Your master and I are of the same age."
The plain square-faced man smiled slightly, "Haha, don't worry, I'm not here to ask for money from you."
same year?!
That means he passed the imperial examination in the same year as my master, which means he is an official?! The concierge looked at the plain man suspiciously, why can't he tell that he is an official at all
"Then you wait."
The concierge was suspicious, but after hearing the square-faced man claim to be Zhang Juzheng's classmate, he still went to find Zhang Juzheng with the visiting card. He thought, what if he is really my classmate? I can't let him down. But if it turns out that you are just kidding me, then wait and see how I will deal with you when I get back.
When the doorman went to Zhang Juzheng with the visiting card, Zhang Juzheng was playing chess in his study. The person he was playing against was his third concubine, Xiao Liu.
"Master, let's make a deal. You have to let me have the chariots, horses and artillery this time."
Xiao Liu spoke in a baby voice, blinked her big watery eyes at Zhang Juzheng charmingly, and said coquettishly.
Xiao Liu was only sixteen years old, at the age of being very tender. She was fair, pretty, lively and lovely. She also had a habit similar to Zhang Juzheng, which was that she particularly liked to use incense, and was very much favored by Zhang Juzheng.
"Haha, this time I will not only let you have chariots, horses and cannons, but I will also let you take three steps first, so that someone won't say that I am bullying you again." Zhang Juzheng laughed, held up Xiao Liu's chin with a folding fan, and joked.
"My lord, you are so heroic that I feel ashamed that I am not as good as you." Xiao Liu pretended to be delicate, with a charming look on her face, and said in a coquettish voice.
"hehe."
Zhang Juzheng smiled brightly, took back the folding fan, and with a flick of his wrist, the fan suddenly opened up. His movements were graceful and his posture was super handsome.
Xiao Liu, who was standing across the chessboard, gave Zhang Juzheng a fanciful look at the right moment, which made him feel that life was more fulfilling and his prime years were better.
"Master, if I win this time by chance, what reward will you give me?" Xiao Liu said coquettishly.
"Tell me what you want." Zhang Juzheng asked with a smile, fanning himself gently.
"My master drew my sister's eyebrows yesterday morning. After he finished, her eyebrows were like a crescent moon. I was so envious the whole day. I don't care. If I win this round by chance, my master will have to draw my eyebrows for me too tomorrow morning." Xiao Liu puffed out her cheeks, twisted her body, and acted like a jealous person.
When Xiao Liu twisted her body, she deliberately shook her upper body with a large amplitude, and her chest swayed like waves, instantly attracting people's attention.
Xiao Liu's innocent, jealous, and charming look made Zhang Juzheng's appetite grow. He was itching to eat Xiao Liu first after finishing the game of chess...
"Okay. As long as you win, I will draw your eyebrows. But what if you lose?" Zhang Juzheng narrowed his eyes and looked at Xiao Liu, and asked with a smile.
"If I lose, I... I..."
Xiao Liu pretended to be innocent and thought for a long time, then stretched out her hands to cover her face. A shy voice came out from between her fingers, "I will do whatever you want..."
"Haha, okay." Zhang Juzheng smiled and fanned himself. Looking at the shy Xiao Liu, his eyes became more and more fiery.
"Master, I will leave first."
When Xiao Liu saw Zhang Juzheng's cannibalistic look, she felt very pleased with herself. She lifted her hair and picked up the chess piece with her index finger raised.
"I ate your horse, then ate your taxi... Hehe, I ran away again..."
Xiao Liu could make three moves first. The first step was to use the cannon to directly capture Zhang Juzheng's only horse. Then she captured Zhang Juzheng's soldiers through the elephant. Then she withdrew the cannon to her own side. She was so proud that she was shaking with joy.
"Haha, it's time for me to go."
Zhang Juzheng didn't care at all about losing a horse and a soldier. He remained calm and confident, looking at Xiao Liu with a smile.
Dongdong...
Zhang Juzheng picked up the chess piece and was about to put it down when he heard a knock on the door.
"master."
Along with the knock on the door, there was also a voice asking for instructions.
As soon as Zhang Juzheng heard the voice, he recognized it as the doorman Liu Si. Liu Si was Zhang Juzheng's fellow townsman and also the cousin of Zhang Juzheng's housekeeper You Qi.
"Come in, what's going on?"
Zhang Juzheng put down the chess piece and looked towards the door. If it was someone else, he would definitely lose his temper if they disturbed his interest at this time, but for Liu Si and You Qi, Zhang Juzheng held back.
"Master, there is a man outside the door who claims to be your age and wants to see you. This is his visiting card."
After getting permission, Liu Si walked in, holding the visiting card in both hands and reported to Zhang Juzheng. He caught a glimpse of Xiao Liu, who was wearing thin clothes opposite Zhang Juzheng, and lowered his head even more, not looking around, only looking at his toes.
When Xiao Liu saw Liu Si's quail-like look, she couldn't help but cover her lips and giggle.
Amid Xiao Liu's giggles, Liu Si's head drooped even further, almost folded in half.
After Zhang Juzheng took the visiting card, he first turned his head to look at Xiao Liu. Xiao Liu stuck out her pink tongue, stretched out her hands to cover her mouth, and said no more.
"Yang Jisheng, a villager from Didao!"
Seeing that Xiao Liu had behaved himself, Zhang Juzheng turned around, looked at the visiting card in his hand, and immediately stood up from his seat.
"Come on, please come in."
After Zhang Juzheng stood up, he gave Liu Si instructions. After giving the instructions, Zhang Juzheng changed his mind again, "Forget it, I'll go myself."
Seeing that Zhang Juzheng attached so much importance to the visitor, Liu Si could not help but feel scared. Fortunately, he did not insist on driving the visitor out.
"I lose this round. You go back to the backyard first." Before leaving, Zhang Juzheng turned his head and said to Xiao Liu, then turned around and strode out.