The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law-Chapter 1642 - 1645: Why Can’t We Touch Prime Minister Zhang?

"Cold, I’m cold!" Gu Wu chattered through his teeth to utter these words.

But no one would attend to him. The only other person in this dungeon, Gu Youyou, was watching him die with cold eyes.

When he turned into a frozen block, unable to move another inch, a tear finally slipped from the corner of Gu Youyou’s eye.

Recalling many years ago, her grandfather, Gu Feng, was already gravely ill.

He quietly told Gu Youyou, "Grandfather feels that your parents died under suspicious circumstances!"

Later, she promised her grandfather she would definitely avenge her parents. So many years have passed in a flash, and she considered that she had personally avenged that pitiful family.

...

Jin Zijin rarely took the initiative to enter the palace. Recently, he had taken the initiative to visit the palace twice.

The emperor, dressed with the help of a palace maiden, saw Jin Zijin and spoke before he could say anything, "Let’s first go to Renshou Palace together; whatever you have to say, say it later."

Jin Zijin nodded gently and followed the emperor to visit the Empress Dowager.

Gu Youyou was also there; she came every day.

The Empress Dowager no longer had the strength to speak, struggling for a while before she could utter three or five words.

She couldn’t eat anything either, only able to drink some thin broth.

"You’re here!" Even these two words were extremely difficult for her to say.

"Mother!" The emperor stepped forward and took the soup bowl from the palace maiden’s hands.

Just a few months ago, the Empress Dowager was sitting where he now sat, feeding him using the bowl and spoon he now held. Who could have thought things would change in just a few months?

Everyone knew this time the Empress Dowager was truly ill.

"Mother, how do you feel today?"

The Empress Dowager tugged at the corners of her mouth and said, "Much better!"

The emperor would ask this every day, and the Empress Dowager would reply the same way daily.

Jin Zijin looked at Gu Youyou, and Gu Youyou shook her head gently at him.

After taking a sip of soup and regaining some energy, the Empress Dowager said to Jin Zijin, "Everyone go, I... am fine!"

She didn’t want others to see her in bad shape; when she still spoke clearly, she told the emperor and Gu Youyou that she didn’t want any visits or to see all those faces, whether genuinely or falsely weeping.

She wished to see her descendants happy and joyful.

After patiently feeding her the soup, the emperor led Jin Zijin back to Qianqing Palace.

All the way, the emperor was silent. Only after reaching Qianqing Palace did he sit down and say to Jin Zijin, "Did you come to see me about Chancellor Zhang?"

"Yes." Jin Zijin nodded lightly and asked, "The Empress Dowager..."

The emperor raised his hand to stop him from continuing and said, "Everyone has their day; the Empress Dowager can accept it, and so can I. Let’s talk about official matters."

Jin Zijin’s eyes darkened slightly, saying, "You spared Chancellor Zhang, could it be that he has something on you?"

The emperor leaned back in his chair and said softly, "I won’t touch him because he’s not worth it."

"Oh...?" Jin Zijin laughed, "Knowing what kind of person he is, you still think he’s not worth it?"

"Chancellor Zhang indeed is not a good person. Yet, regardless of his selfishness, when it comes to right and wrong, he makes clear judgments; those he recommends almost always become pillars of the state. Such a person can be used, but we must guard against him too."

The emperor looked at Jin Zijin and sighed deeply, "Zijin, The Art of Sovereignty means not distinguishing right from wrong too clearly. A person with true talent and learning but poor character and a loyal, hot-blooded person who doesn’t contribute to the country—so long as the person with poor character does nothing to harm the state, we should use the person with poor character yet real talent. That kind of talent is what benefits us!"