Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 121 What does the Nine Clans have to do with me, Zhang Yunxiu?
"Are you still going to remain obstinate?"

Zhang Juzheng lay on his side on the bed, looking quite disheveled, but at this moment his eyes were clear and his speech was very organized.

“It’s not that I’m stubborn and ignorant, and you don’t need to try to persuade me anymore. My mind is made up, but there are still some things I’m not quite sure about.”

He looked at Zhang Yunxiu and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

“In the past, I worried day and night, fearing that you would become a spoiled brat. I hoped that you would strive to achieve fame and success, just like your older brothers, and one day be ranked in the imperial court.”

But later I discovered that it wasn't like that at all. The sons I had painstakingly nurtured all seemed to be inflexible and pedantic fools, even His Majesty…”

After saying this, Zhang Juzheng's face darkened, and he sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Why does it look like that?
Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but complain to himself.

As he spoke, Zhang Juzheng's eyes began to redden.

"But in the end, I am still fortunate to have such a precious son as you."

"Since I saw you working to prevent the plague among the people of the capital, I have witnessed everything you have done. You may seem carefree on the surface, but you are actually a meticulous person. You may say that it doesn't matter, but you are actually concerned about the common people and want to do something for the world."

After Zhang Juzheng's words, Zhang Yunxiu even felt a little embarrassed.

Is it really true that I, Zhang Yunxiu, am so great?

But then Zhang Juzheng continued, "These days, besides acting out of line, besides often teaching His Majesty to neglect his duties, and besides frequently contradicting your father..."

After speaking for a long time, Zhang Juzheng suddenly felt something was wrong. He coughed twice and said with a slightly embarrassed expression.

"Even so, I still have faith in you. You have been through some things now. If you can settle down, you will surely achieve great things in time!"

His face gradually showed grief and reluctance, his lips trembled slightly, and he spoke with a sob in his voice.

"Shiyuan, you've grown up. The affairs of this family, as well as matters of state, will all be entrusted to you."

As he spoke, Zhang Juzheng gently wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve, his gaze lingering on the stack of memorials on the bed, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"These are the remaining memorials that need to be dealt with. I asked Weishi to organize them for me. As a father who has spent his whole life in officialdom, I have always wanted to do something for the Ming Dynasty and give those people who toil in the fields a livelihood. I think future generations will say some good things about me, right?"

His fingers, with their prominent knuckles, brushed over the memorials as if reluctant to part with them, and he continued speaking.

"After I finish reading this stack of memorials, I may be on my deathbed. From now on, all affairs will be entrusted to you and your brothers to support each other. You must always advise His Majesty."

After hearing these words, Zhang Juzheng was almost moved to tears.

But Zhang Yunxiu felt extremely irritated. He even felt that his father was even worse than Tang Sanzang.

Looking at the stack of memorials, he was instantly filled with rage.

Immediately, he stepped forward and snatched the stack of memorials in front of Zhang Juzheng, throwing them all at once. He even kicked one or two of them while they were still in mid-air.

"No! Stop! You unfilial son!"

Caught off guard, Zhang Juzheng's hand was still in mid-air, trying to catch the countless memorials flying around. He was so angry that he almost jumped up. His face was no longer showing the gentle demeanor he had just had, and he said angrily.

"What is Zhang Shiyuan trying to do? Are you trying to anger your father to death?"

"Let Father wake up!"

Zhang Yunxiu crossed his arms and looked at his father. At this moment, he finally understood that Zhang Juzheng's illness was not as serious as he had imagined.

He was simply suffering from illness, which gradually eroded his will. He had been staying in this study for too long, and he had fallen into a dead end.

Of course, his condition had indeed worsened, but it was far from being terminally ill to the point where he needed to entrust his children to others.

But if this drags on any longer, Zhang Juzheng will really die.

However, Zhang Juzheng was completely unmoved and continued to berate him: "You unfilial son! Even now, do you still want to disobey your father?"

"Are you done yet?"

Zhang Yunxiu pointed at his father and angrily rebuked him.

"If you want to treat the illness, then treat the illness. Why do you need to read these memorials? I don't understand. Are these memorials more important than life itself?"

If that's really the case, then why don't you get better treatment? Once you're cured, you can sleep with the memorial in your arms and take a concubine named 'Memorial'. I won't care!

They tell you but you don't listen; they listen but you don't do it; and if you do do it, they complain it's beneath your dignity!
Old man, do you really think dying from dysentery will be respectable in the history books?!

"you!!"

Zhang Juzheng pressed his hand to his chest, looking as if he was about to ascend to heaven.

"Zhang Shiyuan! Your father is nearing the end of his life, why do you still have to anger me like this!"

Zhang Yunxiu, on the other hand, appeared self-righteous. Back when Zhang Juzheng was nimble and resourceful, he was still "arrogant and domineering."

Now that Zhang Juzheng is lying on his sickbed, how could he possibly be afraid?
Zhang Yunxiu shook his head: "I don't mean to upset you, Father. I just want to tell you that neither the Ming Dynasty nor the Zhang family can do without you."

No matter what you think, you should regain your spirit and continue to contribute to the Ming Dynasty, and continue to teach us brothers, otherwise all of this will be in vain!

"I'm no longer fit to be a father!"

Zhang Juzheng's face was filled with anger mixed with tears as he pounded the bed with his fist, saying, "Are you going to force me to treat this illness?!" Seeing that Zhang Juzheng was still unmoved, Zhang Yunxiu could no longer bear it. He crossed his arms and said with a piercing gaze.

"I didn't mean to force Father to get treatment. I just wanted Father to know that His Majesty's ink painting skills have improved significantly recently. When I entered the palace today, His Majesty even showed me his masterpiece."

"Tsk tsk tsk~" Zhang Yunxiu shook his head repeatedly and sighed. "Your Majesty is truly a genius in the world of painting. Your skill in erotic paintings is unparalleled. It's a pity you're just some nobody emperor."

Zhang Juzheng's pupils suddenly contracted, and he said with a somewhat serious expression.

"You unfilial son! What are you saying?"

Zhang Yunxiu ignored him and continued talking to himself.

"It seems that the purists have some reason to ask His Majesty to issue an edict of self-reproach. His Majesty has always seemed to be compliant and eager to learn since childhood, but as he has grown older, his true nature has finally been revealed, and he has become addicted to play."

He usually enjoys reading vernacular novels, and he's becoming increasingly weary of handling state affairs. I can sense that Your Majesty seems to be growing tired of the throne.

"You can't say any more!" Zhang Juzheng's eyes widened.

But Zhang Yunxiu ignored him completely.

"I think the emperor's favor is only temporary. Just like Father, even if you have a deep affection for the emperor, you will eventually be met with suspicion."

What's the point of being a subject?

"Shut up!!!" Zhang Juzheng almost roared.

But Zhang Yunxiu even raised his voice as he spoke.

"Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny? Is it only the Zhu family who can achieve this status in this world?"

"You unfilial son! Shut up! Do you still want to usurp the throne? This is a crime of treason! Do you want to have your entire family executed?"

Zhang Juzheng remained unmoved by the previous words, but this sentence, "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" almost made him faint with anger.

Has that rebellious son gone mad?!
“No!” Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said. “I don’t want to be that damned emperor. I have read through history and found that while the rise and fall of dynasties cannot be entirely blamed on the emperor, he is not without fault.”

"After careful consideration, I've come to realize that the reason the world is often in turmoil is simply because the livelihoods of all people are entrusted to one person!"

His eyes were piercing, as if he wanted to say everything that was stuck in his chest.

"Father, you can see that the founding monarch of this dynasty may have great talent and strategy, but when it is passed down to later generations, there will inevitably be some villains and some foolish and tyrannical rulers, which will lead to national turmoil, the court's tyranny and oppression of the people by the gentry."

But what have the common people done wrong? The king's mistakes have caused turmoil throughout the land, resulting in widespread suffering, halting trade, leaving scholars exposed in the wilderness, and causing the people to live in constant fear.

In my opinion, it would be better to have no emperor at all!

The Book of Rites, Liyun, states, "When the Great Way prevails, the world is for all." This means that the emperor's power should be handed over to all the people of the world.

The one who wields this divine weapon should be chosen by the people of the world!

Zhang Yunxiu's words were so impassioned that if a famous modern figure had heard them, he would have been excited and applauded.

But before him stood Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty! A Confucian official who had been taught the Confucian doctrines of ruler and subject since childhood!
He was well-versed in the classics from a young age and had the four words "loyalty to the emperor and service to the country" engraved in his bones!
As the saying goes, the relationship between ruler and subject is as inviolable as heaven and earth. Even at the height of his power, Zhang Juzheng never once entertained the thought of touching upon the fundamental principles of etiquette and morality.

Zhang Yunxiu's words to him were tantamount to taking off his stinky shoe and slapping it repeatedly across his old face.

Alas!

He was so angry that he started trembling all over, and he stared intently at his young son like a demon god descended to earth.

"Zhang! Shi! Yuan!"

But after roaring those words, Zhang Juzheng seemed to realize something, and he spoke with a cold, suspicious look in his eyes.

"No! You unfilial son! You're trying to provoke me!"

His tense body relaxed again, as if he had seen through the other party's trick.

"You're too naive to try and provoke your father with such unorthodox words, but you shouldn't have said those things either."

“I was trying to provoke Father,” Zhang Yunxiu said, spreading his hands truthfully. “But Father, do you really think I don’t have this thought in my heart? Otherwise, why would I be causing trouble with His Majesty? Since I was able to establish a medical clinic and resolve the plague, does Father think I lack the courage to act?”

He wasn't afraid that Zhang Juzheng would see through him, because his words were a mix of truth and falsehood, and he himself had even had such thoughts.

Even the cunning and shrewd Zhang Juzheng could not see through it.

"you!!!"

Zhang Juzheng suddenly sat up in bed and pointed at Zhang Yunxiu.

"You are surely deceiving me! This is a heinous crime of treason! Do you intend to have your entire family executed and your nine generations wiped out?"

He couldn't believe that Zhang Yunxiu could be so bold!
But Zhang Yunxiu looked puzzled and frowned as he looked at Zhang Juzheng.

"Father seems to have misunderstood. When has Zhang Yunxiu ever cared about his family lineage?"
In other words, I, Zhang Yunxiu, live in this world all alone. What do my nine generations of relatives have to do with me?

His expression grew increasingly fanatical.

"Since the King of Qin unified the six kingdoms and ascended the throne as the First Emperor, the throne of the emperor has been passed down on this land for more than 1,800 years!"
If it can end here with me, Zhang Yunxiu!
"Don't even mention nine generations! What's there to fear about ten generations?"

(End of this chapter)