After hearing Zhou Fangzheng's confident answer, Yan Shifan couldn't help but spit on the ground and cursed Yang Jisheng from a distance, "Yang Jisheng, this self-righteous idiot, must have been kicked in the head by a donkey. No, I have to tell this old man about this."
Yan Shifan turned around and walked out. After two steps, he said to Zhou Fangzheng behind him without looking back, "Master Zhou, come with me."
"Yes, Master Yan."
Zhou Fangzheng bowed respectfully and responded, his body bent all the way down, his back bent like a cooked shrimp. Even though he was only facing Yan Shifan's back, Zhou Fangzheng was extremely respectful.
Yan Shifan was in front and Zhou Fang was behind, and they soon arrived at the study room of Yan's mansion.
Yan Song had just assisted Emperor Jiajing in successfully completing the blessing and fasting ceremony yesterday. Emperor Jiajing was very satisfied with it. Considering Yan Song's advanced age, he showed special consideration to Yan Song and gave him a day off so that Yan Song could have a good rest at home.
Yan Song is in the study at this moment.
When Zhou Fangzheng followed Yan Shifan to the door of the study, he was very excited, because he knew that this was his chance to rise to prominence.
He reminded himself more than once in his heart that he must seize this opportunity.
This was his second time to meet Yan Song up close, but it could also be said to be the first time, because the last time he went to Yan's house, although Yan Song also met him, he only said a few words, which could not be considered a meeting in the strict sense.
This time was different. This time, I came with a chance to advance and a token of my loyalty. This time, I must seize the opportunity and perform well in front of Lord Yan. As long as I could catch Lord Yan's eye, then rising to prominence and becoming a successful person would no longer be a dream.
With such excitement, Zhou Fang looked up at the door of the study as if he was on a pilgrimage.
The study is half-closed.
There was a screen blocking the view, so I couldn't see clearly inside, but I could vaguely hear voices coming from inside.
"Foster father, I accidentally heard a piece of news. I heard that the painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival by the Northern Song Dynasty master Zhang Zeduan is now treasured in the home of the former Prime Minister Wang Ao."
The voice of a person in the study reached Zhou Fangzheng's ears. Zhou Fangzheng's ears moved when he heard it. He keenly caught the words "adoptive father" and "Along the River During the Qingming Festival". Adoptive father? Is this person Zhao Wenhua, the Minister of Public Administration? Or Yang Shun, the Governor of Xuanda? Zhou Fangzheng knew that it was rumored that Yan Song had many adopted sons. The most famous ones were Zhao Wenhua and Yang Shun. Of course, there was also Qiu Luan, the Marquis of Xianning. However, Qiu Luan had been executed. At this time, the most likely ones were Zhao Wenhua or Yang Shun.
Also, Along the River During the Qingming Festival?!
Isn't it said that "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" has been lost? I didn't expect that it was privately kept by the former Prime Minister Wang Ao. If I could get "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" and present it to Lord Yan, wouldn't it be a great achievement? However, Zhou Fangzheng himself knew that this achievement could only be imagined. Although Prime Minister Wang was dead, the Wang family was still a wealthy family with no shortage of money or power. How could a small official like him who had no money and no power covet it
“Knock, knock.”
Yan Shifan's knock on the door interrupted Zhou Fangzheng's reverie and also interrupted the conversation in the study.
"Who is it?" An old and deep voice came from the study. It was Yan Song's question.
"Dad, it's me." Yan Shifan replied from outside the door.
"Little boy from Donglou, come in." Yan Song's voice came from the study.
Yan Shifan responded and took Zhou Fangzheng into the study.
"Donglou, weren't you going to the government office? Why are you back?" Yan Song asked as soon as Yan Shifan appeared from behind the screen.
After Yan Song asked, he noticed that there was someone following Yan Shifan.
"Who is this?"
Yan Song no longer remembers Zhou Fangzheng.
"Dad, this is Zhou Fangzheng from the Ministry of Education. I was originally planning to go to the government office, but happened to meet Lord Zhou who came to visit. Lord Zhou told me a piece of news, and I think I must tell you." Yan Shifan introduced Zhou Fangzheng while answering.
"Your humble servant Zhou Fangzheng greets the elder."
Zhou Fangzheng lifted his robe, fell to his knees with a plop, and kowtowed to Yan Song. There was a "bang" sound when his head touched the ground.
"Oh, I remember. I met you last month." When Yan Song saw Zhou Fangzheng kowtowed to him like this, he suddenly remembered that Zhou Fangzheng had also kowtowed to him like this last month.
"It's my honor." Zhou Fangzheng replied happily with his head resting on the ground.
"Don't be so reserved, get up and find a seat for yourself." Yan Song nodded.
"Thank you, sir." Zhou Fangzheng got up from the ground with tears of gratitude.
After Zhao Wenhua greeted Yan Shifan, he glanced at Zhou Fangzheng and curled his lips in disdain.
"Donglou, what news did you just talk about?" Yan Song asked Yan Shifan.
"Dad, someone has impeached you again. I just heard the news from Lord Zhou and came here," Yan Shifan replied.
"Someone is impeaching my godfather again?! And there are even those who don't know how to live or die!" Zhao Wenhua slammed the table and stood up.
"Wenhua, sit down. You are so old, but still so impetuous." When Yan Song heard that someone was impeaching him, he remained calm and sat as steady as a pine tree. He glanced at the furious Zhao Wenhua and said lightly.
During all these years of controlling the government, Yan Song had lost count of how many times he had been impeached, but he managed to get through every one of them smoothly.
Yan Song had long been accustomed to impeachment.
"I'm speaking up for my adoptive father. He has worked tirelessly for the Ming Dynasty for decades, day and night, and has allowed these people to enjoy a prosperous age. If it weren't for him, they wouldn't have the good life they have today. But it would be fine if they weren't grateful, but they repay kindness with enmity and even impeached my adoptive father!" Zhao Wenhua said indignantly as he sat down.
Yan Song ignored Zhao Wenhua and looked up at Yan Shifan, asking calmly, "Who is it this time?"
"Yang Jisheng." Yan Shifan replied.
"Who?" When Yan Song heard it was Yang Jisheng, his face changed and he asked again.
"Dad, you heard it right. It was Yang Jisheng, the Deputy Director of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, who was promoted by you." Yan Shifan answered again.
"This ungrateful bastard!" Zhao Wenhua slammed the table and stood up again, cursing Yang Jisheng non-stop. "At the beginning, Yang failed to impeach Qiu Luan and was banished to a barren land. It was because my adoptive father spoke well of him in front of the emperor that he was appointed by the emperor and transferred back to the Central Plains. Then my adoptive father promoted him out of turn, and promoted him several levels in a row, from a small county magistrate to the head of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue, the deputy director of the Ministry of Justice, and now the deputy director of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War. My adoptive father treated him with great kindness, but this ungrateful bastard did not know how to repay his kindness, but instead returned evil for kindness. It is really unreasonable."