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

Chapter 3 Birds of a Feather - Zhu Yijun

The two brothers slunk out of the hall.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but feel somewhat indignant.

"You old geezer, your health is failing you, yet you refuse to see a doctor!"

The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, shuddered and sighed helplessly: "Fifth brother, be careful what you say. We must not speak ill of Father."

He felt a little ashamed as he said this, because Zhang Jingxiu hadn't even understood his younger brother's answer at first.

In hindsight, I couldn't help but offer my praise.

"I never imagined that my fifth brother, who used to be so unassuming, would have such a unique understanding of court politics."

He wasn't jealous at all.

Zhang Jingxiu was a bookworm educated in Confucianism.

Meek, obedient, and pedantic.

Later, when Zhang Juzheng was purged, Zhang Jingxiu could not bear the humiliation and committed suicide, which was probably partly due to this personality trait.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't stand on ceremony with his older brother; he immediately narrowed his eyes.

"If you think my answer is good, I have a suggestion."

Zhang Jingxiu was taken aback: "What suggestion?"

Lowering his voice, Zhang Yunxiu chuckled, "My elder brother gave me five hundred taels of silver. From now on, whenever Father asks me a question, you can come and ask me, and you will be spared punishment."

"?"

The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, was caught off guard. Was his younger brother... a merchant?

Can something like this be priced?

This made Zhang Jingxiu, who was always bound by convention, feel a little uncomfortable, and he stammered.

"Our father is testing us; how can we lie?"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Yunxiu shook his head, somewhat disappointed.

He's really short of money!
Seeing that Zhang Jingxiu wasn't angry, but just kept frowning, Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward, put his arm around his older brother's shoulder, and continued to coax him.

"As you know, elder brother, Father has been subjected to a lot of attacks and criticisms when he implemented new policies in the court. Those people don't dare to oppose him openly, but who knows how much they curse him behind his back."

I started this newspaper to support my father, and also to research medicine; everything requires money.

The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, frowned: "Fifth brother, are you still going to start a newspaper and research your so-called medical skills? Father just said..."

Zhang Yunxiu stopped explaining: "Brother, just tell me whether you'll give it to me or not!"

After hesitating for a moment, the eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, took out a fifty-tael silver note from his pocket.

"I...I don't have that much money. The imperial salary is only five taels a month, and my family is very strict. That's all I've saved."

Upon seeing the silver note, Zhang Yunxiu's eyes lit up, and he snatched it away, saying...

"Thank you, brother!"

The eldest brother, Zhang Jingxiu, murmured, "This is something I kept secretly. Fifth brother, you must not tell Father and your sister-in-law."

Zhang Yunxiu patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, brother. I will definitely give you a share of the profits. You'll get your share too."

Zhang Jingxiu hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

Just consider it a waste of money.

A few days later.

Forbidden City.

West Garden, Taiye Pond.

March is the month when all things revive, fish leap from the water, and aquatic plants flourish.

On this rare fine day, Emperor Wanli took a break from his busy schedule and strolled around the Taiye Pond.

Even when traveling, Emperor Wanli would always carry a copy of "Shujing Zhijie" (A Straightforward Explanation of the Book of Documents) with him, and would read it whenever he rested.

This is a reading material specially compiled for the emperor by Zhang Juzheng and lecturers from the Hanlin Academy.

The previous book was called "Illustrated Explanation of Imperial Admonitions," which was simpler and included story illustrations.

Now that Wanli has married, at the age of nineteen, he should have shed his childishness.

In fact, before Zhang Juzheng lost power, Emperor Wanli was under the pressure of three powerful figures: the Grand Secretary, Feng Daban, and Empress Dowager Li. Although he had his moments of folly, he was still quite diligent.

Today, Emperor Wanli was in a very good mood. He hummed a little tune as he walked briskly along the Taiye Pond.

But as he walked, he suddenly stopped.

Because in the imperial palace compound, by the Taiye Pond, there was a figure using a small net to catch fish.

The figure looked young, but was very tall and slender, as if a child's head had been placed on an adult's body.

When the eunuch Zhang Cheng saw this, he spoke up to reprimand the person in charge.

"Who dares to be so audacious as to trespass in the royal gardens? Guards, come and confront us!"

Before Zhang Cheng could finish speaking, Emperor Wanli waved his hand.

"No need."

"Your Majesty," Zhang Cheng hurriedly knelt down and bowed.

Emperor Wanli: "I let him in. You may all leave now."

"This..." Zhang Cheng glanced at the young man by the pool, understood something, and hurriedly nodded.

"According to the order!"

In early spring, when it was freezing cold outside, the ice on Taiye Pond had already begun to melt.

Zhang Yunxiu, holding a homemade net, squatted by the Taiye Pond catching tadpoles.

Since Emperor Chengzu moved the capital, probably no minister has dared to do such a thing.

But Zhang Yunxiu not only dared to do it, he also filled a whole jar.

Just as he was feeling smug, a slightly amused voice came from behind him.

"Zhang Shiyuan, how dare you catch black fish in Taiye Pond? Aren't you afraid the emperor will chop off your head?"

Zhang Yunxiu knew perfectly well that the young emperor had arrived, and he was deliberately waiting for him to speak.

Judging from his tone, he knew that the friendship was still there.

He said without turning his head.

"As the ancients said, tadpoles are born in water and are the offspring of toads; they are commonly called black fish."

People generally think tadpoles are useless, only good for ornamental purposes. But in my opinion, tadpoles have extraordinary value; they could be used to heal the sick and bring blessings to all living beings.

Emperor Wanli was amused by Zhang Yunxiu's blatant lies and sat down beside him, saying...

"Very well, then I'd like to hear how you will use the Xuan Fish to heal the sick and bring blessings to all living beings."

Can blackfish be used in medicine?

“No.” Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and scooped a tadpole from the net into the earthenware jar. “Medical books say tadpoles are mainly used for boils and carbuncles caused by heat toxins, but their efficacy is unstable, so they are not suitable as a primary medicine, nor can they be used to heal the sick.” “Oh? Then you have your own reasoning?”

Emperor Wanli found it amusing, as if he had returned to his childhood. He scooped a tadpole from the net with his chubby hand, put it into the pottery jar, and let out a heartfelt smile.

"It's interesting."

"Of course, Your Majesty, please hear me out."

Zhang Yunxiu's hands were constantly moving, but his mouth was full of grand principles.

The Western Han Dynasty book "Da Dai Li Ji" states that tadpoles are born as Dingzi (a type of tadpole) and transform into frogs in autumn. These tadpoles resemble fish when they are young and become frogs when they grow up, and both have wonderful uses.

As tadpoles, we can observe their changes, starting from the egg, the phenomenon of body differentiation, and gain insight into the power of the beginning of life. We can also investigate the generation of their body parts and organs, which is the way of nature.

"By observing the structure of a frog's heart and investigating the cause of its rhythm, one can also administer a new drug to a frog and explore its mechanism of action."

Zhang Yunxiu's explanation, a blend of classical and vernacular Chinese with elements of later scientific understanding, thoroughly amused the Wanli Emperor.

He found it absurd and amusing, and clapped his hands repeatedly in delight.

"Funny! Funny! Shiyuan, you're still the same as always! Just as amusing as before!"

But as he laughed, his expression turned serious.

"Unfortunately, seasons have changed and autumns have passed. You are still like an innocent child, while I am already burdened with worries."

When they were studying together, Emperor Wanli regarded Zhang Yunxiu as his sworn brother. Despite being five years older than Zhang, he indulged in the same absurdities. Now…
Zhang Yunxiu respectfully rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject Zhang Yunxiu pays his respects to Your Majesty. I have been impolite in many ways, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"No gift, no gift."

Emperor Wanli waved his hand. He was nineteen years old, but his figure was rather short and stout. When he stood up, he was only a head shorter than Zhang Yunxiu.

Fortunately, Zhang Yunxiu was sensible and stood to the left, bowing slightly, which eased the emperor's embarrassment.

Looking at Zhang Yunxiu, the Wanli Emperor was somewhat moved, recalling the past.

“I remember when I was a child, when I was copying Zhao Mengfu’s ‘Ode to the Red Cliff,’ I always wrote ‘寄蜉蝣于天地’ as ‘寄允修于天地’, and I was scolded by the Grand Secretary for it. You and I were childhood friends, but we have been separated for several years. I did not expect that you have become a completely different person.”

After Zhang Yunxiu stopped serving as a study companion at the age of ten, Emperor Wanli rarely saw him.

The young emperor grew up deep in the palace, and his playmates were nothing more than eunuchs and palace maids. Only Zhang Yunxiu was his true playmate, with whom he shared a deep bond.

But as the years went by, the separation between ruler and subject could no longer be the same as in childhood.

This inevitably made Emperor Wanli feel somewhat regretful.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu today has greatly pleased the emperor.

He laughed and joked, "No, Zhang Shiyuan isn't different; he's even more absurd than before!"

The Wanli Emperor laughed heartily again, looking very pleased with himself.

Zhang Yunxiu's face twitched, and he pulled out a stack of manuscripts from his robes, saying, "Your Majesty wants this, doesn't you? Why do you have to criticize me again?"

"You really brought it!"

Emperor Wanli's eyes lit up. Like a thief, he looked around and, finding that the eunuchs were not paying attention, hurriedly took the manuscript.

The cover bore the words "The Cases of Judge Dee of the Tang Dynasty" written in large, crooked characters.

The calligraphy was truly unimpressive, causing Wanli to frown somewhat, yet he still accepted it as a treasure.

A few days ago, Zhang Yunxiu, who had been out of contact for a long time, suddenly sent this storybook to a young eunuch.

This act of overstepping his bounds initially displeased the emperor, but he was also very fascinated by the novel and curious about its contents, which made Zhang Yunxiu risk punishment to send it in.

Once you see it, you can't live without it.

The emperor was taught by tutors every day, reading classics and historical texts, and even his practice of calligraphy and painting was subject to "admonition".

Upon seeing this excellent storybook, one feels as if a fish has found water.

Even the Wanli Emperor complained that Zhang Yunxiu was writing too slowly and repeatedly asked people to urge him to finish the manuscript.

Zhang Yunxiu's trip today was actually arranged in advance by the emperor.

As for why they were so cautious.

Although the emperor was an adult, he was still under someone's control.

What he feared most was being discovered by the scholars of the Hanlin Academy and Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary.

Submitting the manuscript naturally requires utmost care.

Satisfied, Emperor Wanli hid the storybook in his inner garment, fearing that others would discover it.

He put his hands behind his back, then suddenly became serious and began to lecture.

“Shiyuan, you should read some classics and historical texts. Judging from your words, you must have read a lot of idle books. This is not the right path.”

Zhang Yunxiu's lips twitched, and he reached out his hand.

"If Your Majesty finds reading idle books useless, then please return the storybooks to me."

Emperor Wanli panicked and, like a mother hen protecting her chicks, clutched the manuscript in his arms.

"Nonsense! This is what you gave me. How can a subject take back something he has presented to his sovereign?"

After an awkward moment, Emperor Wanli coughed twice, but still managed to offer his praise.

"Hahaha, Shiyuan, this story is well written, much better than those on the market. If I weren't afraid of the ministers' opposition, I would definitely appoint you as a Hanlin scholar based on this story."

The only problem is that I write too slowly, which is frustrating. I hope to work harder in the future.

Hearing Emperor Wanli's words reminded Zhang Yunxiu of the boss who had promised him a bright future before he transmigrated. He shook his head and said confidently.

"Your subject dares not obey the imperial edict; I have important matters to attend to."

Emperor Wanli was somewhat surprised, but not annoyed.

"You're not actually planning to study hard, are you?"

The emperor felt a little guilty and even regretted his "sharp tongue." Zhang Yunxiu was studying hard, so who would write stories for him?

The key point is that his storybooks are really good!

"I want to make money," Zhang Yunxiu said, raising his head.

Emperor Wanli exposed the truth: "I thought it was something else. At the beginning of the year, I rewarded the Grand Secretary with a python robe and gold and silver. After so many years, your family should not be short of money."

Zhang Yunxiu argued vehemently: "I am me, and my father is my father. I am not the eldest son, so we will eventually have to separate from the family."

Moreover, I've grown up and want to do something different, not just make a lot of money, but also help Your Majesty and my father share their burdens.

"Oh?" The Wanli Emperor narrowed his eyes. "You do have such ambitions, tell me about them."

"Your Majesty will need to provide further assistance in this matter."

"Assist?" The Wanli Emperor's interest was piqued. "Assist in what?"

Zhang Yunxiu was at his wit's end and revealed his true colors.

"Has Your Majesty ever heard of newspapers?"

　Zhang Juzheng died of hemorrhoids, a story from his collected works, specifically in the chapter "Reply to Grand Tutor Xu Cunzhai, Part 34": "My ailment is indeed hemorrhoids, which I have never treated before, thus delaying treatment until now. Recently, I was treated by your esteemed physician Zhao Yu, and the root of the problem was indeed removed. However, being an old man, although the root of the hemorrhoids is gone, my vital energy has been greatly depleted, my spleen and stomach are weak, I cannot eat, and I am almost unable to live."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)