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

Chapter 235 Rebellious Son! You've swindled money again?

Yu Xiangdou began his introduction with great enthusiasm.

"These crystal-clear windows, if inlaid in your residence, would further highlight your distinguished status. For our grand opening special, fifty pieces are priced at only 50,000 taels of silver, plus free installation by craftsmen from Xishan."

"Look again, gentlemen. These 'Starry Rain Glazed Bricks' are dreamlike and enchanting under the light. If you were to decorate with them, I believe your residences would be exceptionally elegant."

Originally still basking in the joy of the good news, the gentry and merchants were immediately captivated by the stained glass windows and brickwork.

Some people couldn't wait to say it.

How much do you charge for these glazed tiles?

Yu Xiangdou smiled and said, "The glazed bricks are exquisitely crafted and made by senior craftsmen from Xishan. They are a little more expensive, with each piece costing five thousand taels of silver."

Five thousand taels of silver is indeed quite expensive, especially if you want to decorate your home; you probably wouldn't be able to afford it for more than ten thousand taels of silver.

However, when people recalled the price of the glass statues of Confucian sages in Xishan, they felt that the statues were good value for money.

After all, while glass statues of Guan Yu and Confucian sages are beautiful, they are not something ordinary people can display.

You have money but no status; displaying this statue might bring you trouble.

But glazed windows and brick windows are different. If they are installed in the courtyard, one can enjoy the rain in the pavilion during the summer thunderstorms and enjoy the snow in the winter without being affected by the cold. Even merchant families can install them to enhance the style of their homes!

Most importantly, the current market for glass is like oil being poured on a raging fire.

Nowadays, if you can embed the dazzling brick windows into your mansion, wouldn't that be like directly bricking the word "wealth and honor" into the wall?
"My husband wants ten yuan!"

In an instant, many people stood on tiptoe and shouted loudly towards the top.

The auction hall was no longer filled with the tense bidding of the past; instead, it seemed as if people were lining up to hand over money to Xishan.

"What is Zhang Shiyuan up to now?" Longyou merchant Hu Mao looked at his companion with a puzzled expression.

However, Tong Pei's expression grew increasingly serious. He turned his head and said with some displeasure, "Manager Hu, you mustn't address my master by his name directly?"

"Has Brother Ziming lost his mind again?"

Hu Mao said angrily.

"When did Zhang Shiyuan become your master?"

"Although we have not formally become master and disciple, I have already received guidance from my master and am no longer as superficial as before."

Tong Pei said with a firm look in her eyes.

“In a few days I will go to your door to offer tuition fees. Even if it costs a thousand gold pieces, I will make sure Mr. Zhang accepts me as his apprentice.”

"This is insane, this is insane." Hu Mao shook his head repeatedly.

In contrast, one person in the crowd went completely mad.

"I know! I know!"

Wang Shiqi shook the servant beside him and said.

"Add more silver! Add more silver! Pawn all the paddy fields south of the city! Exchange them for glazed bricks from Ningguang Kiln!"

The jade pendant at his waist jingled as it swayed.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

After Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) moved the capital to Beijing.

The Wenyuan Pavilion was built in the Forbidden City in the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign. It is located on the east side inside the Meridian Gate, echoing the Wenhua Hall and Wuying Hall.

Initially, Wenyuan Pavilion was merely a place where Zhu Di summoned scholars to discuss state affairs. Later, it gradually became known as "Wenyuan Pavilion Zhilu" or "Duty Room".

Nearly 160 years have passed in the blink of an eye. Although Wenyuan Pavilion has undergone many renovations, it still appears dilapidated.

However, the scholar-officials in the court greatly admired the dilapidated state of the Wenyuan Pavilion.

As the saying goes, "This is a humble abode, but my virtue makes it fragrant." If one did not reside in this humble abode, how could the scholars within demonstrate their "purity and integrity" and "refined elegance"?

Zhang Yunxiu, however, did not see it that way, and instead gazed at the windows surrounding the Wenyuan Pavilion from afar.

He was thinking about how to fool his father into replacing all the windows in the Six Ministries' offices and the Wenyuan Pavilion with glazed windows from the Western Hills.

The officials in the court work very hard, and Father is always busy with state affairs. How can he not have good lighting?
The room will be brighter, we'll need to use fewer candles, our eyes won't get sick, and most importantly, we can get some sunshine!

It really kills three birds with one stone!
If it's a unified procurement, Xishan can even offer the imperial court a discount!

"Zhang Tongzhi, you may go in now."

Looking at Zhang Yunxiu's dazed expression, the clerk at the gate of Wenyuan Pavilion seemed a little scared, as rumors were circulating that Zhang Yunxiu would eat people.

"Thank you very much."

Zhang Yunxiu patted the clerk on the shoulder and headed straight for the Wenyuan Pavilion office.

Watching the other person's departing figure from afar, the clerk shivered, feeling as if something had been taken away from him.

Could Zhang Shiyuan really possess sorcery?

If he didn't possess magical powers, how could he have managed to make the gentry and merchants in the city call him the reincarnation of the God of Literature one moment and a demon descended to earth the next?

I've heard that many gentlemen have gone mad.
While the clerk was lost in thought, Zhang Yunxiu leisurely strolled around the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Unfortunately, the Wenyuan Pavilion was rather cramped and enclosed.

It's unbelievable that the political center of the Ming Dynasty, which lasted for more than a hundred years, was located in this place.

After going around in circles several times, nothing particularly interesting happened, and it became rather dull.

Zhang Yunxiu then headed towards the duty hut, only to run into Shen Shixing at the entrance.

"It's been a long time since we last met, Grand Secretary Shen. How are you doing with your chart method?" Zhang Yunxiu said with a slight smile and a cupped-hand salute.

Shen Shixing is indeed a kind person, except that he is a little timid and afraid of trouble.

He is indeed efficient in his work, and I've heard that he's always trying to smooth things over for his father.

Shen Shixing was engrossed in reading the memorial when he was startled and quickly bowed in response.

"So it's Magistrate Zhang. This is my chart method."

He looked embarrassed.

"There are still some problems, though. He is not as knowledgeable as Minister Zeng of the Ministry of Works."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and said, "Not bad, not bad. The young man from the Ministry of Revenue has been studying very diligently under my tutelage, but if we're talking about talent, he still has to be the top scholar in the imperial examination."

I hope that the top scholar will not be lazy in the future, and will come to Xishan more often to seek his guidance. Although I am busy, I will always answer all my questions to the best of my ability.

Shen Shixing's facial muscles twitched twice. Being lectured like this by a fourteen-year-old boy felt very strange.

He didn't want to talk to Zhang Yunxiu any longer, fearing he would be tricked again, so he cupped his hands and said.

"Prefect Zhang, please go in as soon as possible. I will go and attend to official business."

Watching Shen Shixing slink away, Zhang Yunxiu curled his lip before heading straight for the duty room.

Gently push open the carved lattice door of the duty room. The door is ajar, and the old joints creak. Then, a scent of sandalwood mixed with ink wafts out.

Zhang Yunxiu raised his eyes slightly and saw the tall figure behind the desk. He stepped forward a few steps, cupped his hands slightly, and said.

"Dad, the baby is here."

But inside the duty room, Zhang Juzheng asked in a low voice.

"You unfilial son, you've managed to swindle money again?"

(End of this chapter)