Although the guard was a little annoyed, he still held up his hands and said, "Please send a message and tell Prime Minister Zhang's students to ask for an audience!"
The concierge was naturally familiar with Zhang Juzheng's disciples, but looking from a distance, he saw that there was no familiar person among the people outside the crowd, so he said a little impatiently: "I know all of my master's disciples. But you don’t recognize any familiar people in your group! And you are so unreasonable, seeing that my master doesn’t even get a title, you are so ignorant of etiquette!”
The guard was even more angry when he heard this, but he did not dare to directly reveal his identity as Emperor Wanli, so he had to twist his body to block everyone's sight. Then he took out the palace guard's badge from his waist and quickly showed it to the concierge. .
Someone who can work as a concierge in front of Zhang Juzheng's house is naturally very discerning. He immediately recognized the origin of the badge! He stared and was about to speak when the guard quickly took back the cards, raised his finger and whispered: "Silence!"
The concierge reacted immediately, pursed his lips and nodded repeatedly. Several other concierges also felt that something was not good, so they stopped joking and gathered around. At this time, the concierge who saw the badge immediately waved his arms and said: "You guys go and clear a way out, and let the young master from the outer circle bring the people in! You quickly go and ask the eldest young master to come out and say that there is a distinguished guest! Where are you going, master?" Reporting means that the master’s students have come to the house, and ask the master to come back quickly!”
The concierge immediately moved after receiving the order. They squeezed into the crowd, regardless of answering the questions of those who came, and tried their best to open a path through the crowd. Emperor Wanli, surrounded by his guards, walked through the crowd towards the palace gate.
At this time, many people on both sides of the crowd let out dissatisfied hums, but they did not dare to say anything because they also knew that their status was not low! Otherwise, why would those porters with eyes on their heads personally come down to clear the way!
So when Emperor Wanli passed by, the officials on both sides tried their best to look into the crowd, trying to see which way the gods were coming. Not only could they enter the gate of Zhang's Mansion, but they could also ask the concierge to help open the way! However, Emperor Wanli was surrounded so tightly by his guards that they could not see who was in the middle.
When Emperor Wanli entered the palace, the porter loudly said to the crowd outside: "Everyone, everyone! Today, my master has a distinguished guest, so I will not have any more guests. Please go back!"
After saying that, the concierge closed the door that had been open, leaving a large group of officials and followers outside who didn't know what was going on.
After entering the courtyard gate, Emperor Wanli held a fan in his right hand and kept tapping the palm of his left hand, hoping curiously. This was his first time coming to Zhang Juzheng's Prime Minister's Mansion.
In fact, the vestibule of the Prime Minister's Mansion is really no different from other houses, except that it is made drier and cleaner. At that time, he was a little disappointed.
At this moment, Zhang Juzheng's eldest son Zhang Jingxiu hurried over accompanied by several people. He had met Emperor Wanli, so as soon as he saw Emperor Wanli, he knelt down and paid homage! It didn't matter that he knelt down. The people around him who didn't know the identity of Emperor Wanli were startled, and then they knelt down on the ground!
Emperor Wanli waved the fan in his hand and said: "Please get up quickly, don't salute! I am incognito today just to relax a little faster!"
Zhang Jingxiu stood up and said, "Your Majesty, why didn't you send someone to inform me in advance when you came to my house today? My father went out today and is not at home, but I have already arranged for someone to inform my father."
Emperor Wanli said: "Then you should send someone to inform Mr. Zhang and tell him not to come back in a hurry. I know Mr. Zhang's whereabouts, so I came as soon as possible. Now I estimate that he will come back soon!"
Emperor Wanli could say this, but Zhang Jingxiu could not do this. So with a few polite words, he led Emperor Wanli to the main hall to serve tea.
After entering the gate, Emperor Wanli discovered that Zhang Juzheng's living room was also arranged according to traditional furnishings, that is to say, it was arranged in a symmetrical manner with the central axis as the center line.
Facing the main entrance is a large Eight Immortals table with two Taishi chairs on each side. Then on both sides of the lower head are eight chairs with a coffee table in the middle. On the wall behind the Eight Immortals table is a huge landscape painting. Below the painting is a long table with four vases on it. There are two flower stands on each side, with two slender vases placed on them.
Behind the chairs on both sides were placed a huge shelf, but the items on it were not filled with only dishes, bowls, bottles and the like scattered here and there. Above the head are eight palace lanterns.
Seeing this scene in front of him, Emperor Wanli's expression turned gloomy, but then he returned to his smiling look. The change was so fast that Zhang Jingxiu didn't notice it at all.
The reason is very simple, that is, Zhang Juzheng's living room is too luxuriously decorated! That’s right, it’s just too luxurious!
Although the decoration looks very simple, everything in the main hall is exquisite and could not be more exquisite! It’s simply a low-key luxury!
A complete set of mahogany furniture is nothing, because Emperor Wanli used the same material. The palace lantern is nothing, it was a reward from the palace. But other things are different!
Although Emperor Wanli did not recognize the large landscape painting hanging in the main hall, whose handiwork was it? But he could tell at a glance that it was definitely the work of a famous artist, and maybe it was an authentic work by a famous artist from the pre-Song Dynasty!
As for the other porcelain ornaments, they all look grand in appearance, with a delicate and warm luster. They are definitely handmade by famous artists! And he also recognized a plum vase from the Song Dynasty! He had seen this plum vase in the palace of Empress Dowager Li, and loved it like a treasure!
You know, generally the things placed in the living room are mainly ordinary decorations. After all, people come and go here, and it is inevitable that there will be bumps and scratches. Wouldn’t it be sad if the owner’s beloved thing is damaged?
But now Zhang Juzheng's house just has these things in the living room, which can be considered valuable to any big family! Anyone with a smaller family status will be treated as a family heirloom! But Emperor Wanli didn’t have these things!
It would be fine if it was just like this, but when Zhang Juzheng gave him lessons, he always told him to live a simple and moderate life. He also told how the people were suffering, how the emperor must not be extravagant, etc., and tried his best to restrict his dress and the objects he used. Even if Emperor Wanli watched the singing and dancing for a moment, he would be interfered with!
But having said that, as an emperor, Emperor Wanli had a limit no matter how frugal he was, and everything he used was of high quality. So he can roughly recognize these things! But it makes people a little annoyed to see that the people who talk to themselves and restrain themselves have nothing but the best in their homes!
