Chapter 52: Smoke Rising from the Ancestral Grave (Thanks to "Zhao Sanhua" for becoming the leader of this book)
Strictly speaking, Zhu Xizhong enjoyed lasting honors and favors throughout three dynasties.
It seemed that the lineage of Duke Chengguo had exhausted all its martial prowess in its ancestors, and in later generations, it relied mostly on loyalty and prestige to maintain the family lineage.
After Zhu Xizhong took over the family, he felt that he was neither good at literature nor martial arts, and if he relied on his own abilities, he would probably fail.
His father was also quite anxious before he passed away, but in the end he gave him a solution that was not a solution.
"Son! Your father wants you to pretend, but you don't look real. You don't want His Majesty to think you're fake. In that case, just be yourself! You'll be safe."
"From now on, I will live my life according to my nature."
Jiang Qingzhi didn't expect this guy to be so straightforward and frank, and he felt more confident in winning him over.
Although the lineage of Duke Chengguo has gradually become unpopular, the prestige it has accumulated in the army over the years is unmatched.
By winning over Zhu Xizhong, Jiang Qingzhi had an additional powerful helper.
When Emperor Jiajing was working in the Western Garden, he had to have important ministers around him to assist him. Otherwise, if he encountered any problems, he would have to send someone to the palace to summon him. The trips would delay things.
Those who could enter the Western Garden were all favored ministers of Emperor Jiajing.
Xia Yan, Yan Song, Lu Bing, and the old playboy Zhu Xizhong were also among them.
At this moment, Jiang Qingzhi was drinking tea... and wine in Zhu Xizhong's duty room.
"Drink! Unless it is a big deal, His Majesty will not summon us today." Zhu Xizhong said firmly.
"Actually, I envy the Duke."
"Why?"
Zhu Xizhong glanced at him sideways, "Don't fool me."
Jiang Qingzhi sighed, "How many people in this world can act according to their nature? Your Majesty, you can't do that either!"
Even a strong man like Emperor Jiajing had many times of feeling frustrated and compromising.
Zhu Xizhong was stunned. This angle was quite strange and he had never thought about it before.
The more I think about it, the more I feel that I am indeed living a free and easy life.
"Hahahaha!"
The more Zhu Xizhong looked at Jiang Qingzhi, the more he felt that he had a good rapport with him. "Someone come here."
"Duke." A minor official came in.
"If your majesty hears this, just say that I went out drinking with Long Wilbur."
"Yes."
"Don't worry." Zhu Xizhong stood up and did not wait for Jiang Qingzhi to decline. "Your Majesty would not be angry if he knew."
This is the advantage of being a person based on one's nature. Emperor Jiajing will not be suspicious.
"Don't want to drink anymore?" Jiang Qingzhi said with a headache.
"Today is a rare day, I won't go home until I'm drunk."
Zhu Xizhong dragged Jiang Qingzhi away.
When I came out of the duty room, Yan Song and Lu Bing came out.
The four of them stopped.
silent.
There is only a threshold of a side door in the middle, but it seems like a natural chasm.
At this good opportunity, Lu Bing spoke up, "Duke Cheng, we need to walk this path steadily."
Zhu Xizhong laughed and said, "I'll go the way I want."
Yan Song narrowed his eyes and said, "Have a safe trip."
"You too." Zhu Xizhong said in a domineering manner.
After leaving the West Garden, his shoulders suddenly relaxed. "Damn it, I actually offended Lu Bing and Yan Song at the same time. I'm afraid my ancestors will scold me in my dreams."
Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "Why would the Duke fool me?"
Zhu Xizhong looked at him and suddenly smiled.
"Yan Song and Lu Bing have joined forces and are extremely powerful. Your Majesty should use someone to check and balance them now." Zhu Xizhong changed his name to Zhu Zhichang, "If I continue to stick with them, it would be a lack of tact. It's time to turn against them."
He is indeed a long-standing nobleman. Even though he is a playboy, he can still see through the plan of Emperor Jiajing.
Jiang Qing was in a hurry to go to the toilet. Zhu Xizhong watched him go. His staff said, "Duke, even if you want to check and balance Yan Song and others, you should take the lead! Your Majesty is biased by using Chang Weibo."
"I am not as good as you in terms of brainpower. But you are far behind in terms of vision." Zhu Xizhong said, "Since your majesty ascended the throne, Cui Yuan has thrived. Have you ever seen him suffer any loss?"
The aide shook his head.
"But you don't know that Cui Yuan went to the Jiang family for the first time to threaten Chang Wei Bo... How do you think Chang Wei Bo would respond?"
"Chang Wei Bur will certainly be servile," said the aide.
"My brother... these words made Cui Yuan so angry that he vomited blood."
"Ah!" The staff was startled. "Prince Consort Cui is quite good at this. How could this happen?"
"His methods are good, but my brother is even better." Zhu Xizhong said seriously, "I bet that if my ancestors were still alive, seeing me and Chang Wei Bo being so close, they would definitely stroke their beards and smile, praising their good grandson."
The staff murmured, "He is the first one among these elders who can make Cui Yuan ashamed... No wonder His Majesty trusts him so much."
Zhu Xizhong did not feel ashamed. "I am only fifteen. What will happen after a few years and more experience?"
"Powerful official!"
"He is a loyal and faithful minister!"
Later, Jiang Qingzhi and Zhu Xizhong drank in a restaurant.
One was trying to make friends, the other was trying to win him over, and soon the two became as close as brothers.
But they all knew that this was just an appearance.
If they want to be as close as brothers, their interests must be tied together.
Moreover, they have to go through the disaster together.
How can you show your courage without going through hardships?
Jiang Qingzhi raised his glass and said, "Drink!"
"Drink victory!"
Yan Song and Lu Bing were also eating, but the food they ate was provided by Zhilu.
And some wine.
Yan Song took a sip of the wine and punched his lower back a few times with his backhand.
"It seems that Zhu Xizhong has seen through your majesty's intentions."
“Checks and balances.”
"That old playboy..." Yan Song narrowed his eyes. "The prestige of the Duke of Chengguo's Mansion is high. He stands on Jiang Qingzhi's side, and this guy's momentum has risen a lot."
Lu Bing was silent.
"It would be great if we could teach him a lesson." Yan Song sighed.
Lu Bing put down his chopsticks. "You forgot what I do." "You..."
You are old... Lu Bing's eyes showed pity, "The Jinyiwei is ordered to monitor all officials, and occasionally, they will discover misconduct by nobles and relatives."
"From Zhu Xizhong's side?" Yan Song smiled.
"Zhu Xizhong is a lecher." Lu Bing picked up a piece of lamb tripe. This was his favorite. The cook at Zhilu knew it and it was a must-have for every meal. "He likes to go to brothels."
"But it makes people..."
"I have someone preparing it."
"Let's dig a hole." Yan Song smiled and took a piece of lamb tripe. "It tastes good. No wonder you like it."
"Someone died!" Lu Bing said, "Of course what I like is good."
"Is it possible to bring Jiang Qingzhi in?" Yan Song asked.
"Do you think I am targeting Zhu Xizhong?" Lu Bing suddenly felt sad for Yan Song. He thought that this old man relied entirely on his son for support, but he insisted on not backing down, which showed that he was blinded by greed.
"That's right. Zhu Xizhong is a nobleman after all. He is prudent and doesn't dare to overstep the line, let alone interfere in government affairs. But Jiang Qingzhi is unscrupulous."
"So, he deserves to die!" Lu Bing looked at Yan Song, "Tell the East Tower to prepare. If something happens, what will you do here?"
Yan Song nodded, not feeling ashamed.
"Besides." Lu Bing stood up, "This matter has nothing to do with me."
"Yes, you are still your majesty's brother, loyal and devoted." Yan Song despised him in his heart, but smiled sincerely.
This is where Lu Bing is smart. He knows the bottom line of Emperor Jiajing. For many things, he only plans behind the scenes and never does anything himself.
After walking out of Zhilu, Lu Bing took a look outside the West Garden.
"Don't blame me!"
……
After drinking, Zhu Xizhong took Jiang Qingzhi to a brothel.
The two went to a brothel that Zhu Xizhong was familiar with. When the madam saw Zhu Xizhong, she was as friendly to him as if he were her real father.
"This is Wu Niang." Zhu Xizhong hugged the madam and smiled with great relaxation.
"This is..." Wu Niang looked at the handsome Jiang Qingzhi and said with a smile: "If the girls in the building saw such a handsome nobleman, I'm afraid they would eat him alive."
"Why, are you also moved?" Zhu Xizhong asked.
"I am moved, but you don't want to!" The madam threw a coquettish look at Jiang Qingzhi.
I am not a casual person... Jiang Qingzhi looked around silently.
"Call someone here, and ask for a new person." Zhu Xizhong pointed at Jiang Qingzhi, "This is my little brother, Chang Wei Bo, Jiang Qingzhi."
"Chang Wei Bo...is he your Majesty's cousin?" Wu Niang asked happily.
"That's right." Zhu Xizhong said with a smile, "Why, you are eating from my bowl, but you are still thinking about Qingzhi's pot?"
"No way." Wu Niang gently hit Zhu Xizhong and then called a few girls over.
"Qingzhi, you go first." Zhu Xizhong waved his hand.
Jiang Qingzhi knew that he had no choice but to take this opportunity.
A plump woman smiled at her seductively, and Jiang Qingzhi easily chose her.
"Do you like this one?" Zhu Xizhong said with a smile, and then he chose one for himself, but it was a small one.
"Let's meet in the lobby later." Zhu Xizhong stood up with a smile.
At this time, the woman chosen by Zhu Xizhong sighed: "I have a brother..."
No one cared about this sentence, at least Zhu Xizhong did.
The two men each took their women into the room and lived next to each other.
Zhu Xizhong soon became drunk and fell into a deep sleep.
Suddenly, I felt my cheeks getting slightly cold. I opened my eyes and saw the young servant that Jiang Qingzhi brought with him.
"You..." Zhu Xizhong turned around and found the woman sleeping.
"Young Master is waiting for you." said Sun Chonglou.
Zhu Xizhong followed Sun Chonglou out quietly.
Just diagonally opposite, the door opened and Jiang Qingzhi waved.
Zhu Xizhong went in and whispered, "What's the matter?"
"I'd like to invite you to watch a good show."
"What do you mean?"
"Someone wants to get hold of something against you," Jiang Qingzhi said.
"Hmm?" Zhu Xizhong's eyes turned slightly cold, wondering what Jiang Qingzhi meant.
Are you trying to play tricks on me?
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head, "Just be patient."
The two waited for a while, and soon, they saw two men approaching quietly.
One was outside Zhu Xizhong's room, and the other was outside Jiang Qingzhi's room.
The two listened attentively, then nodded and quietly opened the door.
There was a cold glow on the right hand behind his back.
"This is..." The old dandy's eyes were gloomy, and then he was furious, "This is to... No, they don't dare to kill me. Then..."
The old playboy reacted, and Jiang Qingzhi said, "I told you, someone wants to hold something against you."
"Kill the woman and put the blame on me." Zhu Xizhong kicked the door open. At this time, the people inside found that the real owner was not there and quickly retreated.
The two sides collided.
"You bastard!" Zhu Xizhong cursed, and then he sighed to Jiang Qingzhi, "Qingzhi should have let me invite some witnesses in advance."
Jiang Qingzhi clapped his hands.
The doors on the left and right are open.
The person walking out from the left was the censor Ma Zhong, whom Zhu Xizhong knew.
The person who walked out from the right was a eunuch, and Zhu Xizhong remembered that he was someone close to King Jing.
this moment.
The look Zhu Xizhong gave Jiang Qingzhi was as if he had seen a priceless treasure.
This young man's methods are so amazing. Fortunately, I wanted to make friends with him from the beginning, otherwise...
Ancestors, the ancestral grave of our family should be emitting smoke now!
……
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(End of this chapter)
