"Good morning, senior brother. I'm sorry for coming here uninvited. I hope you can forgive me." Zhu Ping'an smiled and bowed to Yang Jisheng.
"Haha, Zihou, why are you being so polite to me? It's rare that someone doesn't mind my humble home being so simple. Please come in." Yang Jisheng smiled and bowed in return, then patted Zhu Ping'an's shoulder gently and invited him in.
After entering the yard, the two men exchanged a few brief greetings, and then Yang Jisheng invited Zhu Ping'an into the main room.
The hall was very simple, with only tables and chairs. Yang Jisheng must have been having breakfast just now, and the breakfast on the table had not been cleared away. There was a bowl of porridge, a plate of pickled radish, and a nest of coarse grain steamed buns, nothing else, that was all.
It was hard to believe that this was the breakfast of a fifth-rank official. The breakfast of ordinary people in the capital was much richer than this. Zhu Ping'an knew that this was because Yang Jisheng sent all his meager salary back to the academy he founded when he was exiled to Didao to subsidize the meals of local students.
In addition to the spare bowls and chopsticks on the table, there were two sets of used tableware. One set was used by Yang Jisheng, and the other set should be Mrs. Yang's. Mrs. Yang must have heard someone visiting just now, so she went to the bedroom to avoid suspicion.
This is the etiquette system of feudal society.
When a male guest arrives, women should avoid him.
Zhu Ping'an had long been accustomed to and adapted to this code of conduct in feudal society and was used to it.
"Zihou, you came so early, you probably haven't had breakfast yet, right? If you don't mind, why don't we have breakfast together?" Yang Jisheng invited, "But my breakfast is a little simple, I'm afraid Zihou won't be used to it."
"Haha, Senior Brother is right. Ping An really hasn't had breakfast yet. Senior Brother, I can't refuse your kindness, so Ping An won't be polite." Zhu Ping An laughed, not pretending to be polite at all, and sat down directly. He took out a spare bowl and served himself a bowl of porridge, saying, "What's simple or not? Ping An comes from the countryside. When he was a child, his family couldn't even fill their stomachs when the harvest was poor. How can there be anything that he can't get used to eating?"
Zhu Ping'an acted naturally, not at all artificial, and the smile on Yang Jisheng's face became even more real and natural.
"Well, this radish is delicious. It goes perfectly with porridge. It's really a match made in heaven. Senior brother, you are in for a treat." Zhu Ping'an picked up a pickled radish with chopsticks and put it into his mouth. It was crisp and refreshing, and made a "crunching" sound when he chewed it. It was sweet and sour, and fragrant. He ate it with relish, and then drank a mouthful of porridge. It was such a pleasure. Zhu Ping'an praised it highly.
Zhu Ping'an was not really complimenting him; it was truly delicious. It tasted different from the pickled radishes his grandmother made, but both were delicious.
"Haha, this radish was pickled by your sister-in-law. It goes best with porridge. I can't live without it every day. I'll ask your sister-in-law to prepare a jar for you later." Yang Jisheng said with a smile and promised to prepare a jar for Zhu Ping to take away.
"Thank you, senior brother." Zhu Pingan expressed his gratitude profusely.
"It's just a pickled radish, not worth much money, why are you being so polite. Oh, by the way, I wonder what brings you to ask me so early in the morning?" Yang Jisheng smiled and shook his head, then turned the subject to the main topic.
"Even if senior brother doesn't ask, Ping'an will tell it too." Zhu Ping'an put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hands and replied with a serious face.
"Oh, Zihou, what advice do you have? I'm all ears." Seeing this, Yang Jisheng also put down his bowl and chopsticks.
"Brother, are you going to impeach Lord Yan Song?" Zhu Ping'an looked up at Yang Jisheng and asked softly in an affirmative tone.
Zhu Ping'an's voice was very soft, almost inaudible, but to Yang Jisheng, it sounded like a thunderclap.
"Zihou, who told you that?" Yang Jisheng's face changed in an instant.
Could it be that the news has leaked? !
It shouldn't be.
I have done a good job of keeping my secrets.
I only told Zhang Juzheng and three other trusted people about my plan to impeach Yan Song. Although Shuda and the others did not sign the letter, based on their character and my understanding of them, they would never tell this news to anyone else, otherwise I would not have told them the news.
How did Zihou know that? !
If the news leaked out, it would be a big problem. I originally wanted to catch Yan Song off guard. If Zihou knew the news, then Yan Song would be more likely to have known the news by now? How could I catch him off guard
This was a matter of great importance, so Yang Jisheng couldn't help but be nervous.
"Ping An was unsure at first, but now he is sure." Zhu Ping An sighed, "Brother, don't be nervous. No one told Ping An. Ping An guessed it himself. Yesterday, at the birthday party for Master's wife, Brother, he fasted and didn't eat meat or wine. Later, he heard Brother ridicule Uncle Da for being prudent and self-protective. Wensheng and Ziwei said that Brother had something important to do the day after tomorrow, so he fasted... ... Ping An drank too much at the birthday banquet and felt dizzy. He didn't think much about it at the time. Later, when he returned home and took a bath, he felt a little more drunk. Thinking of what his senior brother did at the birthday banquet, he was suddenly surprised and broke out in a cold sweat. If it weren't for the curfew, Ping An would have visited his senior brother last night. Ping An knew that his senior brother had not performed any sacrifices or ceremonies at home recently. He remembered that before his senior brother submitted a petition to impeach Qiu Luan last year, he also fasted for three days to impeach him with the intention of dying. Before, when his senior brother impeached other officials, he had never been so strict. Only when he impeached a powerful person like Qiu Luan did he fast to show his intention of dying. In this way, the scope was narrowed a lot. In addition, Ping An knew his senior brother well. He knew that his senior brother was usually dissatisfied with Yan Song's actions, so Ping An had such speculation. In fact, Ping An was also guessing before his senior brother just spoke. But now it is certain."
"He can see the big picture from the small details. He is worthy of being called Zihou."
So that's how it is. Yang Jisheng breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this and was full of admiration for Zhu Ping'an's keen sense of smell.
"Senior Brother, Ping'an came here today for this matter." Zhu Ping'an looked up at Yang Jisheng with a serious expression.
"I wonder what advice Zihou has? Sheng, I'm all ears." Yang Jisheng stood up from the table and clasped his hands.
Just guessing that he might impeach Yan Song, Zhu Ping'an rushed to his doorstep as soon as the curfew ended. Yang Jisheng was deeply moved by Zhu's good intentions.
Comparing this with the actions of Zhang Juzheng and others who tried to protect themselves, pretend to be ignorant, and draw clear lines, Yang Jisheng felt even more emotional.
"Please think twice before you act, brother Ping An. I hope you will pay more attention to this. Immortal deeds must ultimately be accomplished by the deacons."
Zhu Ping'an stood up, bowed deeply, and spoke sincerely.
Zhu Ping'an knew very well that Yang Jisheng's impeachment would mean three years in prison, inhuman torture, and he would be separated from his loved ones forever and would never be able to return.
Recalling the time when I first came to the capital to take the imperial examination and had no place to stay at the post station, Yang Jisheng’s kind-hearted words, “Hey, young man on horseback, if you don’t mind, you can stay with me,” are still echoing in my ears.
Such a kind-hearted, loyal, courageous person who stood up for the people should not have such a tragic end.
That is why Zhu Ping'an advised Yang Jisheng to think twice before acting and to pay more attention to the immortal cause. That is, I hope that my senior brother will think twice before acting and increase his willingness to stay. After all, immortal achievements still need to be done by those in power. I hope that Yang Jisheng can change his mindset and stay useful to serve his country.