The night duty area of the Minister of Governmental Affairs was located on the east side of the palace's Longsheng Gate. Below the palace walls was a row of low-tiled houses. Compared to the grandiose style of the Hall of Governmental Affairs' two provinces, it truly seemed extremely shabby. Tonight, the current court's Grand Secretary Zhang Julu was personally on night duty in the palace. Of the three high officials, because West Chu's Grand Tutor Sun Xiji had been transferred out of the capital to become the administrator of West Chu's old territory, the Minister of Governmental Affairs of the three provinces was originally vacant. Out of the three positions, two of them were immediately left empty. This was becoming more and more outrageous, not conforming to the dynasty's etiquette system. Immediately, the influential officials of all levels of society were speculating about who would have the qualifications and luck to replace Sun Xiji and leap up. Gangnam-do's Lu Daolin had just been promoted to the position of Minister of Rites for less than a year, yet the Left Chancellor Huan Wen immediately became the big shot that everyone looked up to. In the Minister of Governmental Affairs' main hall, apart from the low room in the center with the name Zhang Lu sitting inside, Zhang Julu, Lu Daolin's younger brother Lu Baijie was also in the easternmost short room. This Tang Xi Sword Immortal was the newly appointed Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, coincidentally also on duty. Even though the Ministry of War was controlled by Gu Jiantang, it had always been impervious to oil and salt, with the other Ministers and the Five Ministries having the intention of not interfering with each other's business. Of the six ministries and yamen seals, only the Ministry of War had its own main hall and side room. Towards this, Zhang Julu, who was known for being strict in governance, unexpectedly dealt with it without batting an eyelid. It was clear that not only was Great Minister Gu's rank a full rank higher than the Five Ministries' Ministers, his real power was without a doubt far greater than the difference of a single rank.
However, Lu Baijie, who had just entered the core of the capital's officialdom, didn't mind these things at all. When he occasionally met Grand Secretary Zhang, it wasn't just a greeting of a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water, they would also stop and exchange a few words. Each time, they chatted happily, not the slightest bit perfunctory. Zhang Julu was currently flipping through a forbidden book copied from the old Chu, written by a mad scholar. Sun Xiji, who had rushed to Guangling Path to take up a post to appease the clamoring public opinion, actually wrote a letter specifically for this matter, pleading for leniency for that scholar, pleading for leniency. When Zhang Julu received that letter during the day, he didn't immediately reply, only asking for a forbidden book from the Imperial Archives, carefully flipping through it. Just as he was reading to the point where his brows were furrowed, the blue-eyed, purple-bearded Grand Secretary heard a burst of bold laughter from outside the main hall. The number of old fellows who dared to cause such a ruckus in the inner court could be counted on one's fingers.
Zhang Julu put down the forbidden book and glanced at the full moon hanging on the wall outside the window. In the room, several of the influential officials of the Six Ministries subconsciously stopped writing and put down their books, all of them looking at the Grand Secretary. Zhang Julu smiled and gestured at everyone, indicating that they should ignore him. Unlike when the previous Grand Secretary was in charge of the Minister's Desk, although the officials in Zhang Lu were all fourth-rank and above, they were actually almost a generation younger than before. There were very few gray-haired old men with muddled eyesight. Most of them were around fifty years old, and there was even one in his early forties who had entered the central government as the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Zhang Julu gently stepped over the two thresholds and walked out of the main hall that was privately called Zhang Lu by the court. He saw the Left Chancellor Huan Wen's old face that couldn't be any more familiar. In addition, there was also the Minister of Rites Lu Daolin who was originally on duty in front of the Imperial Palace's West Qianxi Palace. When a prince left the capital to be conferred a vassal, it was a major event that would affect the entire situation. The Ministry of Rites of the Imperial Clan Court and the Hall of Governmental Affairs had to put in effort in all aspects. There was not the slightest bit of error. However, between Huan Wen and Lu Daolin, there was another man. The most conspicuous thing about him was the yellow dragon robe he wore. Zhang Julu quickly stepped forward and was about to bend down to pay his respects when the Emperor gently supported his arm. Zhang Julu no longer pretended to be humble. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a young eunuch. He said he was young, but that was only in comparison to the previous eunuch from the Ceremony Directorate, Han Shengxuan. Originally, it should have been Han Diaosi who accompanied the Emperor at his side. Zhang Julu, who had never interacted with the eunuchs of the internal court, didn't want to delve too deeply into it. It was enough to know what was going on in his heart.
Lu Daolin saw that the three of them had no intention of immediately entering the room, so he was the first to take his leave and walked into Zhang Lu.
The Emperor waited until the Minister of Rites entered the room before joking in a warm voice, "My two beloved ministers, please come with me to the Ministry of War's Main Hall for a while? I know where the tea is good. It's the authentic Spring Spirit Lake tea before the rain. Zhang Lu's side isn't good. The tea is also sloppy and can't enter one's mouth. "
Zhang Julu, who didn't pay much attention to the rules when interacting with his subjects in private, smiled and said, "Sure, I don't like shamelessly freeloading wine. Things like freeloading tea, there's no harm in doing it a few times while General Gu isn't here. However, I reckon that Chancellor Huan won't be interested."
Huan Wen glared at him and said, "Zhang Bi Yan, you've only just seen His Majesty and you're already in a hurry to set me up?"
Zhang Julu glanced unhappily at Huan Wen, who had his hands behind his back. "Such a strong aroma of wine, do you think I can't smell it? Since His Majesty has rewarded you with good wine, you should obediently shut up and drink your wine later. Don't get drunk and go crazy. "
Huan Wen, who was exposed by his bad friend, laughed loudly. The Emperor of the Zhao family was also in a good mood. He walked with the two pillars of the country to the Ministry of War's East Wing Main Hall. There was a saying that there was a confrontation with Zhang Lu here. With regards to these harmless disputes, the Emperor heard them and dismissed them with a laugh. Even in front of Zhang Julu and Gu Jiantang, he could still casually tease them without any ill feelings. After crossing the threshold, they saw that His Majesty had personally come to the Main Hall. The officials of the Ministry of War in the outer and inner rooms all rushed out and knelt on the ground. The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Lu Baijie, knelt at the front and his voice was also the most passionate and mellow. The Emperor had everyone rise. He had no intention of lecturing them. He only asked them to return to their desks to deal with military affairs. However, he left Lu Baijie behind. The Emperor of the Zhao family thought highly of this person. He had repeatedly ordered him to enter the palace to discuss military affairs. He had even asked Sword Fairy Tang Xi to teach swordsmanship to a few of the imperial grandsons. It could be said that the Emperor's kindness was vast and mighty. This allowed Lu Baijie to quickly establish himself in the imperial court in the capital. No one dared to slight him.
There was a huge painting of mountains and rivers hanging on the wall of the outer room. The Emperor had the three dignitaries sit down and drink tea. He himself stood under the painting and picked up a slender red sandalwood pole. For the time being, he did not point out anything on the painting.
Zhang Julu drank a mouthful of the Goddess of Spring Biluconch, which had become a tribute tea because of a poem. He whispered to the Left Chancellor of the Imperial College, who was sitting on the chair next to him, "Drink further away. The aroma of the tea is all washed away."
Huan Wen retorted, "The room is only so big and the wine is so fragrant. Where do you want me to go?!"
After he finished speaking, he asked the attendant in the Main Hall to ask for an extra cup from the Spring Kiln. He handed it to the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Lu Baijie, and said with a smile, "Sword Fairy Tang Xi, let's drink to our heart's content. It's two against one. If someone has to scram, it should be that blue-eyed guy. Isn't that right?"
Lu Baijie, who had the bearing of a scholarly general, took the cup with a smile and said softly, "I'll drink the wine. But if it's not right, Left Chancellor, I really don't dare to say. "
Zhang Julu laughed angrily, "Each one is more slippery than the other. The Left Chancellor who carries the wind and moon on his shoulders? The Sword Fairy Tang Xi who is generous and unsophisticated? Why does it change when it comes to me? "
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