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

Chapter 155 Erotic paintings are royal possessions!

Zhang Rong frowned, noticed the yellow paper in his hand, and couldn't help but speak up.

"Let me see it."

"Yes~"

The adjutant seemed somewhat frightened, carefully handing the yellow paper to Zhang Rong, and then, as if fleeing a disaster, took his leave as fast as he could.

Zhang Rong was puzzled. He looked at the yellow paper in his hand, then at the adjutant's departing figure, and then at Zhang Yunxiu, who had a strange expression on his face.

He instinctively sensed something was wrong and said in a low voice.

What's in here?

Zhang Yunxiu looked embarrassed and said, "I think it would be better if Uncle didn't open it."

He knew that if he informed the other party of this method in advance, Zhang Rong would definitely oppose it with all his might.

So they decided to make it a fait accompli and, while Zhang Rong was chasing after the two, they had several of their officers distribute all the more than a thousand erotic pictures.

Clearly, things escalated much faster than I had imagined.

In less than half a day, the news had spread throughout the entire Anjun camp through the "corps leader" and "village elders".

Indeed, arousal is the primary driving force!
The more Zhang Yunxiu said this, the more Zhang Rong felt there was something fishy going on. His fingers trembled slightly, and he was even a little afraid of what was going on.

After what seemed like a long period of mental preparation, Zhang Rong slowly opened the yellow paper and looked at what was on it.

However, upon hearing the commotion, Zhang Yuanhao and Zhu Yinghuai also quietly moved over, tiptoeing to peek.

It's fine if you don't look, but once you see the two people, your jaw will almost drop.

"Damn! She's a thousand times, ten thousand times more beautiful than the women from the brothels! Tsk tsk tsk! Look at this XX and this XX!"

Zhang Yuanhao blurted it out subconsciously.

But then he noticed his father Zhang Rong's murderous gaze, and immediately shrank back, not daring to say another word.

Zhu Yinghuai stroked his chin, his eyes surprisingly burning with passion.

"This woman is like a celestial being."

These two young masters were seasoned veterans in the capital, having ventured deep into the heart of the city.

What kind of scene haven't I seen?
The fact that they praised it speaks volumes about the exquisite nature of this erotic painting.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

As expected of His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the erotic paintings he created are unique in the world.

I, Zhang Yunxiu, am not good at it; when I draw a person, it's like their soul has been taken away.

Indeed, everyone has their own area of ​​expertise!
Everyone present was delighted, except for one person who couldn't feel happy at all.

Zhang Rong's face almost turned green.

The impact of this day was greater than that of his more than ten years in the capital.

He mechanically and slowly turned his head, his face seemingly turning pale, his anger no longer showing, and he spoke in a low, barely audible voice.

"Zhang Shiyuan, what is this?"

Zhang Yunxiu said awkwardly, "I think the young and strong displaced people in the Anjun camp are lonely under the sun, so I gave them some small things to pass the time. It's nothing, nothing at all, hahaha~"

Zhu Yinghuai and Zhang Yuanhao, standing at the back, stared wide-eyed. They had thought this item was a very precious masterpiece, but they didn't expect that everyone in the military camp had one.
Zhu Yinghuai cautiously retreated to Zhang Yunxiu's side and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

"Master, could you perhaps give us some of these exquisite items as well?"

Zhang Yunxiu glanced at the other person and whispered in return.

"That's not a problem, but you'll have to bear with it. It might hurt a bit. If you get a sprain or bone injury, remember to go to the clinic. Yang Jishi will treat you for free."

"What?" Zhu Yinghuai was stunned.

What are you two talking about?

Zhang Rong let out a roar, his beard bristling and eyes bulging, and then kicked Zhang Yuanhao in the buttocks.

The latter let out a wail and scrambled to find Zhang Yunxiu for help, but was killed by Zhang Rongjie.

Zhang Rong stared with his bull-like eyes, surveying the three people in the hall.

"You dare to distribute such immoral and indecent things so brazenly! It's simply corrupting people's hearts!"

As they were talking, Zhang Rong picked up the yellow paper, about to tear it to shreds.

Zhang Yunxiu was terrified and quickly spoke up.

"No! Uncle, you absolutely mustn't! This is a royal item! It must not be damaged!"

Zhang Rong froze, almost forgetting that Zhang Yunxiu had just mentioned that the emperor was also involved. He was completely stunned.

He glanced down at the erotic picture.

"Bad boy, what did you say?"

Forbidden City.

Jiaotai Hall.

The layout of the Ming Dynasty palaces was quite particular. The Qianqing Palace belongs to Yang and is derived from the Qian hexagram, while the Kunning Palace belongs to Yin and is derived from the Kun hexagram. The so-called harmony of Yin and Yang is reflected in the Jiaotai Hall, which is derived from the "intercourse between heaven and earth" in the Book of Changes.

Therefore, during the Ming Dynasty, the Hall of Union and Harmony was generally the bridal chamber for the emperor and empress, or the place where they spent their daily married life.

In Feng Shui, this symbolizes order in all things and national prosperity and peace.

However, history clearly tells us that feudal superstition had little influence.

Today, the Wanli Emperor is furtively observing the activities inside the Kunning Palace through the window of the Hall of Union and Harmony, using a telescope. "Zhang Banban, isn't that the Kunning Palace?"

Ever since he acquired the telescope, Emperor Wanli has been inseparable from it. His greatest hobby is to use it to look around the palace.

Later he found that looking elsewhere was not interesting, but looking at the empress and concubines' palaces was quite exciting.

Zhang Cheng stood to the side, his expression rather strange, and answered cautiously.

"It is Your Majesty. You have not visited Kunning Palace for some time now."

The Wanli Emperor was clearly asking a question he already knew the answer to, but he kept a close eye on the movements in the Kunning Palace, muttering to himself.

"The Empress is getting thinner and thinner. She's lost weight in places she shouldn't be. Oh dear, this maid is quite nice, but it's a pity she's not very pretty."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng, who was standing to the side, almost wet himself in fear.

What is the emperor saying? He didn't dare to answer at all!

Throughout history, only the current emperor would dare to secretly spy on his own empress.
Although in this palace, whether it is a concubine or a palace maid, almost all of them can be considered the emperor's women.

But wasn't Emperor Wanli's "spying" a bit too much?
Zhang Cheng naturally dared not mention the threat of beheading.

He whispered a reminder.

"Your Majesty, should we have the Imperial Household Department send the plaque up?"

"Flip the cards?"

The Wanli Emperor scoffed.

"They're all boring, vulgar women. They're either trying to take advantage of me or they're spies for foreign officials. I'd rather read the illustrated version of 'Jin Ping Mei' than spend time with them!"

The emperor's direct words left Zhang Cheng speechless.

He thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he said.

"Your Majesty, a few days ago, the Imperial Uncle submitted a memorial stating that the imperial offspring are the foundation of the nation. Your Majesty is now in the prime of life, but the imperial lineage in the palace is weak. Therefore, he earnestly requests Your Majesty to select many concubines to serve you, which would both comply with the will of Heaven and reassure the people."

This matter had already been put on the agenda, but it was shelved after Xu Xuemo, the Minister of Rites, was convicted.

Seeing that the emperor was interested, Zhang Cheng seized the opportunity and continued speaking with a slight bow.

"His Majesty granted the request a few days ago, and the Ministry of Rites has recently submitted a list. Would His Majesty like to take a look?"

"A concubine?"

Emperor Wanli paused for a moment, then nodded and said.

"Then bring up the painting of the lady for us to see."

"According to the order."

The list of women selected for the palace had already gone through a preliminary selection process.

As is customary, after arriving in the capital, these young women should first be screened and evaluated by court ladies, and finally selected by the emperor and empress dowager.

However, Emperor Wanli found it troublesome, so he had portraits of court ladies painted and judged them by their portraits.

Clearly, for this "otaku" emperor, the three-dimensional world is no match for the two-dimensional world.

When the eunuchs presented the portraits of the ladies, Emperor Wanli leaned back on the soft couch, holding a telescope in his hand. Even when looking at the portraits up close, he would use the telescope to examine the details.

He kept giving instructions.

"No, next one."

"This woman is frail; I do not like her."

"He looks ominous, no way."

Not only was he not satisfied with the women, but the Wanli Emperor was also not satisfied with the painting skills, and would occasionally make a comment.

"The painter's skill is too contrived; he can't compare to me."

After careful selection, the Wanli Emperor finally settled on a painting of a woman.

Upon seeing the woman in the painting, with her beautiful appearance, gentle and graceful demeanor, Emperor Wanli sat up abruptly, his eyes glued to her.

He couldn't help but ask.

What is this woman's name?

Zhang Cheng seemed to have been prepared, and answered with a cupped hand.

"Your Majesty, this woman is from Daxing in Shuntian Prefecture, and her name is Zheng Mengjing."

"Dreamland? That's an interesting name."

The Wanli Emperor, with eyes full of anticipation, nodded and said.

“Let Zheng Mengjing come into the palace and give it a try.”

"According to the order."

Next, the Wanli Emperor selected a dozen or so women who caught his eye before waving his hand.

After the emperor returned to the Qianqing Palace and all the service was completed, Zhang Cheng carefully left the palace.

He smiled and handed a list to a young eunuch.

“Send it to Cining Palace.”

　Note 1: Zheng Mengjing, also known as Consort Zheng, was a native of Daxing, Shuntian Prefecture. She was an important figure in the succession dispute during the Wanli reign and a participant in the cases of the seditious book, the clubbing, and the red pill. According to the "Biography of Wang Dewan" in the History of Ming, "At that time, the emperor favored Consort Zheng and neglected the empress and the eldest son. The mother of the eldest son, Consort Wang Gong, was almost dead, and the empress was also frequently ill."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)