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

Chapter 17 I Want to "Criticize" Jin Ping Mei
Kunning Palace.

As soon as Emperor Wanli entered, he was like a happy little dog released from its tether, barking and talking as he walked in.

"Empress! Empress! I'm here again!"

"Your Majesty, I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Empress Wang was somewhat prepared today, and dressed up specially to receive the emperor.

But Emperor Wanli didn't care about any of that. He grabbed the Empress's wrist and pulled her towards the warm room at the back.

He kept muttering to himself as he walked.

"Your Majesty, you have no idea. I was scolded by my mother again today. She said that I am obsessed with popular literature and not studying properly. I don't know which scoundrel leaked the news that I was reading storybooks."

Empress Wang followed behind, a hint of panic in her eyes, before regaining her composure.

But Emperor Wanli continued, "Fortunately, the Empress Dowager doesn't know much, but she warned us never to read stories like 'Jin Ping Mei' that corrupt people's minds."

I am the emperor; how could I possibly look at such filthy things?

"Your Majesty, don't you think so?"

Empress Wang's face stiffened, and her eyes subconsciously glanced towards the bed.

Emperor Wanli then remembered that he did indeed own a copy of *Jin Ping Mei*, which he had almost forgotten.

His embarrassment vanished in an instant, and he immediately spoke in a serious tone.

"Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. I am not reading 'Jin Ping Mei' with any filthy thoughts. I just want to see how this book is poisoning my people."

In my opinion, this book is not entirely without merit, and we cannot condemn it outright. As the ruler of the world, I naturally cannot shut down the channels of communication.

I intend to have all the problematic areas and contaminated parts of this place marked out, and in the future, I will order the Ministry of Rites to use these as a basis for strict supervision.”

"But..." Empress Wang lowered her head, her neck turning red again. "Didn't Your Majesty ask me to read this when we were sleeping together? You..."

"Cough cough cough cough~"

Emperor Wanli's face flushed red, and he began to cough violently.

He then changed the subject: "Empress, I am in a difficult situation! The Empress Dowager controls me, the Grand Secretary controls me, the scholars of the Hanlin Academy control me, and even the ministers below me submit memorials every day to control me."

Am I, the emperor, not a man of absolute authority? Do I have to listen to them?

Not a single one of the assembled officials cared about my well-being; I had to be bound by their every whim.

Empress Wang stroked Emperor Wanli's broad back as if comforting a child.

She said softly, "Your Majesty, please don't think like that. The Empress Dowager and the ministers are all thinking of Your Majesty and the well-being of the country."

"Hmph!" Wanli snorted coldly, clearly harboring resentment for a long time. "They still treat me like a child."

He then looked at Empress Wang beside him. Although she also advised him, she was much gentler. If he wanted to do something outrageous, the Empress would only say it, but in reality she would still help him do it.

Emperor Wanli couldn't help but sigh, "Only the Empress understands me and treats me well."

Empress Wang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I also care about you. And..."

She hesitated for a moment, then finally remembered someone.

“Zhang Shiyuan is also an interesting person. He has a special relationship with Your Majesty. I have often heard Your Majesty mention him recently.”

The Wanli Emperor nodded: "Zhang Shiyuan is a remarkable man, it's a pity his father is a Grand Secretary."

"He is him, and the Grand Secretary is the Grand Secretary," Empress Wang said with a smile, covering her mouth. "Speaking of Zhang Shiyuan, I heard an interesting story, which I'll tell Your Majesty to amuse you."

"An interesting story?" The Wanli Emperor's eyes lit up immediately. "Tell me about it!"

Empress Wang then briefly recounted to Emperor Wanli what had happened at Zhang Juzheng's residence in the past few days.

"I heard that a few days ago, Zhang Shiyuan stole the paintings of immortals from the Prime Minister's study in order to publish some kind of newspaper, and then sold them for money."

The story goes that Zhang Juzheng returned to his study and saw that the "Immortal Painting" had turned into a "Civet Cat Immortal." Of course, this story does not mention that Shen Shixing and Wang Guoguang were present, and even the amount of silver was omitted.

"The Tanuki Fairy!"

Emperor Wanli couldn't hold back his laughter and laughed so hard he almost fell over, clutching his stomach as he spoke.

"How could Zhang Yunxiu even think of replacing the immortal painting with a raccoon dog immortal! Hahahaha... cough cough."

The Wanli Emperor was somewhat obese, and he almost choked from laughing. Fortunately, Empress Wang patted his back and poured him a cup of hot tea.

The emperor drank the tea and felt much better, and remarked with emotion.

"I truly envy Zhang Shiyuan; he is so unrestrained, especially..."

The thought of Zhang Juzheng's furious appearance gave Emperor Wanli a strange sense of satisfaction.

Empress Wang covered her mouth and laughed, "Why does Your Majesty envy Zhang Shiyuan? He has caused such a disaster, he will surely be punished by the Grand Secretary."

Thinking of Zhang Yunxiu's punishment, Emperor Wanli felt a strange sense of empathy and remarked with emotion.

“Zhang Shiyuan is still a child, so there is no need to be too harsh on him. I will advise the Grand Secretary not to be too strict.”

Empress Wang nodded, then took something out from under the covers and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, I know Your Majesty is interested in newspapers, so I specially found this for you."

When the Wanli Emperor glanced at it, he discovered it was the "Wanli Xinbao" newspaper and was overjoyed.

He embraced Empress Wang tightly.

"The Empress truly understands me!"

He eagerly opened the newspaper to read it, muttering curses under his breath.

"This Zhang Shiyuan, he didn't even show me the newspaper before it came out. I was the one who named the newspaper for him. This is utterly treasonous! He will be punished soon!"

Empress Wang was somewhat surprised: "His Majesty actually chose this name?"

"That's natural." Wanli was somewhat proud, but then he thought for a moment and lowered his voice, saying, "Don't tell anyone."

Empress Wang paused for a moment, then nodded.

Emperor Wanli became completely absorbed in the newspaper, especially the section about Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Yang Guifei. Empress Wang could clearly see that the emperor's gaze lingered on it for a long time, as if he was afraid of being discovered, looking away and flipping through the same page over and over.

The emperor nodded repeatedly as he looked at the various life hacks listed, praising Zhang Yunxiu as a genius.

When I see a joke, I laugh so hard I almost fall over.

Upon seeing the propaganda for the "land survey law," he frowned and quickly glanced over it.

Finally, his gaze settled on the novel and storybook. He had already read the first few chapters of "The Cases of Judge Dee of the Tang Dynasty".

But he was not disappointed at all, Emperor Wanli said with a hint of pride.

"I've heard that this novel is a huge hit in the capital, and countless people are eagerly awaiting the sequel."

But they didn't know that I already knew the aftermath, not only the "Gold Case" but also the "Severed Finger Case" and the "Phoenix Seal Case."

Seeing the emperor smiling happily, Empress Wang naturally flattered him, saying, "Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, so naturally you should see it earlier than ordinary people."

Soon, the Wanli Emperor read the entire eight-page newspaper, almost unwilling to miss a single word.

After reading the newspaper.

The emperor was still not satisfied, but also somewhat disappointed.

"That's the end of it. It's a pity I don't know if I'll ever get to read the story again. I'm afraid Zhang Shiyuan won't be able to send me any more sequels after Mother finds out."

Once the Empress Dowager discovered it, it was too late for Emperor Wanli to hide it anymore.

He muttered to himself, "Your Majesty, do you have any ideas on how I can read storybooks every day without my mother scolding me?"

Empress Wang then took the opportunity to advise, "If what Your Majesty sees is of benefit to the government, I will naturally not scold you. This is all for the sake of the country and the people."

"Beneficial to the government"

After a moment's thought, the emperor turned his gaze to the newspaper in his hand.

"Do you think this thing can be considered beneficial to the government? Look at this, it contains things that ordinary people desperately need, as well as propaganda about the government. This is a divine tool that benefits the country and the people. How can you say it is detrimental to the government?"

"This"

Empress Wang was speechless; she truly hadn't expected the Emperor to think that way.

Is it a bit far-fetched that the emperor wanted to read storybooks?
I was just about to say something.

Suddenly, a eunuch's desperate cries, as if his mother had died, came from outside.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

The footsteps were hurried, and they rushed into the inner room. Fortunately, the eunuch was still somewhat sensible and only stood outside the screen, not daring to enter rashly.

"Be bold!"

Emperor Wanli frowned and quickly put the newspaper away.

Just as he was about to get angry, he looked up at the silhouette and recognized the person.

It turned out to be Feng Bao.

Upon seeing that it was Feng Bao, Emperor Wanli calmed down somewhat, but he was still somewhat displeased.

"Who let you in like this?"

"I deserve to die ten thousand times!" Feng Bao immediately knelt down.

The Wanli Emperor snorted: "Speak, what happened?"

"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from the Ministry of Justice: the chieftains of the eight villages in Guangxi have gathered a crowd and started an uprising, colluding with each other!"

"What! The chieftain has rebelled?"

Emperor Wanli immediately stood up.

(End of this chapter)