CH 65

As soon as he saw that the person he had bumped into was Zhao Su, Zhu Yijun’s anger momentarily turned into shock.

“Teacher……” As he was getting older and his status had changed, everyone’s attitude towards him had become stricter. Since the time that he called out ‘Susu’ and Zhang Juzheng happened to hear and was even lectured on it, Zhu Yijun would now only call him that way in private.

“What is it, you look so angry, it’s not good to go and see His Majesty like this.” Zhao Su smiled slightly and reminded him very quietly.

“Teacher, I have something to tell you.” Zhu Yijun said, still furious.

Zhao Su had no idea what it was about but seeing him so serious, he agreed. Zhu Yijun led him by the hand and advanced forward at a quick pace that he nearly tripped a few times. Zhao Su had no choice but to hold his hand tightly.

After walking for a while, Zhu Yijun looked at the imperial guards who were following behind them: “You don’t need to follow us.”

And then advanced forward with Zhao Su into a cluster of flowers, he then said quietly with much grievance: “Susu, mother1 wants me to change teachers.”

“Please explain further?”

Zhu Yijun lowered his hand: “Today, mother requested my presence and said that my status has changed and perhaps soon I will also be named the crown prince2, so I can’t just have one teacher……”

Zhao Su stared blankly for a moment, smiled and said: “This is a good thing, Your Highness should be pleased about Consort Li’s kindness.”

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Zhu Yijun bit his lip but did not speak.

That’s because your father has some powerful officials holding up the imperial court, even if he lived a luxurious and playful lifestyle, enjoying himself every night, this court would not fall – Zhao Su thought to himself whilst saying out loud: “That is because His Majesty is open-minded and capable of accepting criticism and advice. Even if his officials say something that he does not wish to hear, he will not take it to heart.” Just as before, he could do whatever he wanted, even when someone criticised Zhu Zaiji for not favouring his Empress and indulged in others, he neither got angry nor reprimanded that official. It was clear to see that the Emperor had already become open-minded and tolerant.

“Each and everyone of us has our own paths to follow, for you, for me, for tutor Zhang and the others, the affairs of the world cannot bend to your will. Instead of being unhappy, why not let go and face it head on. The relationship between us, even if we are no longer teacher and student, will not change.”

Back to the affairs of the courts, what Zhao Su was worried about was not Gao Gong losing to Xu Jie or Gao Gong gaining the advantage but he was actually looking to Zhang Juzheng, who had remained hidden behind Xu Jie all this time.

Because he had the least experience, Zhang Juzheng did not hold a high position within the Grand Secretariat. On the surface, it seemed that there were not many things that he dealt with personally, but that did not mean that he did not do anything. To the contrary, there were many things that Xu Jie discussed with him, and acted upon his suggestions. An old scheming fox like Xu Jie with the addition of the highly intelligent Zhang Juzheng meant incalculable might. Although Gao Gong was intelligent, unfortunately he had a bad temper, a fox may grow grey, but never good6. Zhao Su could only give advice to his best ability, since he had still not entered the Grand Secretariat, there were many things that he could not partake in.

On the surface, everyone naturally still seemed to be harmonious and working together well, and he had just met with Zhang Juzheng recently, and like before, they exchanged greetings. But everyone knew that things would never be the same again.

Politics was thus, there were no eternal enemies, nor were there forever friends, former comrades-in-arms had now become political enemies. Even if it was Zhao Su, he could not always to strike water right and left7. If Gao Gong was defeated, as a member of the Gao faction, he would also be crushed and disposed of.

Putting the happenings in the imperial court, after the first snowfall of the first year of Longqing, Zhao Su having received leave to go home and get married, he had a clear cut plan in mind: Aside from seeing his mother, he also had to get married to the Chen family’s concubine daughter and conveniently, he could also attend Chen Zhu’s wedding. —— It was a great coincidence that Chen Zhu and Zhao Su were getting married at almost the same time, he was getting married half a month earlier than Zhao Su, and his fiancée was the daughter of an official’s family. It was also under the will of his parents and the matchmaker had set up the wedding.

Many people could not understand Zhao Su’s decision. Given his prospects and his status, he could have chosen any daughter of an imperial court official but instead he decided upon the younger sister of his passed away fiancée, and she was also concubine-born.

Only Zhao Su knew that state of affairs were ever malleable and this was his safest option.

Translator Note:

Yikes, I had the booster jab this morning and I’m starting to feel a bit sick (｡╯︵╰｡) NGL I haven’t proofread this chapter very thoroughly…

Good news! My evening classes have finished so I now have evenings after work free to do some TL-ing again and I want to finish this novel before the end of 2022 so it looks like I’ll be pumping out 2+ chapters a week ~ Well I’ll try anyway.