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

Chapter 318 Are you even human? I'm still a child!

"Old thing!"

Zhang Yunxiu was so angry his nose was practically crooked. He was furious as he pointed at the contents of the document and said...

"Is this something a human being would do? Spreading rumors outside, saying that I sleep with several women a day and that Renmin Medical Clinic makes all sorts of aphrodisiacs for me! Is this the kind of thing a father would do?"

In the past few days, Zhang Yunxiu had barely enjoyed the joy of victory when he suddenly discovered that many tabloids were spreading various rumors about him.

These rumors include, but are not limited to, "Zhang Shiyuan's personal conduct was decadent," "Zhang Shiyuan lived a life of luxury and rode in a sedan chair carried by thirty-two men," "Zhang Shiyuan was eccentric," and "Zhang Shiyuan had a pica habit of eating snakes and insects."

It seems to have no political motives; it's just purely disgusting.

What's infuriating is that some tabloids even wrote things like, "Zhang Shiyuan's private life is so scandalous it's unbearable to hear. Inside, he's surrounded by makeup, while outside, he's intimately involved with young men."

What is most intolerable is that some people say he "likes Kunlun slaves".

Although Zhang Yunxiu had a thick skin, he couldn't stand such rumors. If these rumors spread, how would the people of Xishan view him? How would his disciples and followers view him?
Enraged, Zhang Yunxiu immediately dispatched his Imperial Guards to search and investigate, determined to find the man.

But to everyone's surprise, the investigation turned out to involve their own family members.

The official who secretly orchestrated this matter was a staunch supporter of Zhang Juzheng in the imperial court.

The mastermind behind this is obviously obvious.

However, Zhang Juzheng seemed somewhat gloating as he scrutinized his young son and asked, "Do you have any proof?"

Zhang Yunxiu was furious: "All the news in the city points to that Vice Minister Liu under the Ministry of Rites. That Vice Minister Liu has always followed your lead."

“This is merely speculation,” Zhang Juzheng said, narrowing his eyes. “Do you have any concrete evidence?”

"That vice minister isn't always..."

Zhang Yunxiu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered that the reason he was certain that Zhang Juzheng was behind it was mainly because he assumed that the Vice Minister Liu was one of Zhang Juzheng's men.

But what evidence does he have that this Vice Minister Liu is related to Zhang Juzheng?

For most people, it would be difficult to know that the two had a connection.

Zhang Yunxiu gritted his teeth. He had reason to suspect that this was Zhang Juzheng's retaliation against him.

These days, he's been doing a great job of "tricking" his father, but he never expected that Old Deng would start to fight back!

"Since that's the case!" Zhang Yunxiu retorted, "My Embroidered Uniform Guard has the power to monitor all officials, so I will punish that Vice Minister Liu for his crime of slander and spreading rumors!"

The Ming Dynasty Code specifically included the crime of "insulting others," with the most serious offense being "defamation." If the crime was proven, the lightest punishment was caning.

He said leisurely, "If Vice Minister Liu is punished, the news that you and I, father and son, are at odds will probably be confirmed."

Today, there was also news of discord between Zhang Juzheng and himself. In Zhang Yunxiu's current view, it was probably also the work of his cheap old man.

Zhang Juzheng's gloating expression froze instantly, and he coughed twice before speaking.

"There's no need for that. It's just a small matter. Why make such a fuss?"

"Lao Deng!"

Zhang Yunxiu slammed his hand on the table and said angrily.

"Are you even human? I'm only fourteen! Even tigers don't eat their cubs, don't you have any conscience spreading these rumors?"

Zhang Juzheng said helplessly, "Don't you understand this principle yourself?"

Zhang Yunxiu was about to lash out when he froze, then exhaled and said...

"Does it really have to go this far?"

He knew perfectly well what Lao Deng meant. The Xishan Theater's lecture was too impressive. After Xu Jie's crushing defeat, everyone knew how important Zhang Yunxiu was in the hearts of the people of the capital.

Ordinary people might marvel at Zhang Yunxiu's popular support, and think that Xu Jie's defeat was not unjust.

However, to those who are interested, this is not the case.

In this world, the emperor carries a bad reputation, the chief minister carries a bad reputation, and most of the court officials are also criticized. Only you, Zhang Yunxiu, are loved by the people.

But you, Zhang Yunxiu, are the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, wielding the most important weapon in the land.

Furthermore, Xishan boasts a diverse range of industries, encompassing almost everything from coal briquettes to firearms.

Even if you, Zhang Yunxiu, have no intention of rebelling, your father is the Grand Secretary of the current dynasty. With all these factors combined, how can people not be suspicious?
At this point, reputation becomes very important.

In particular, a despicable reputation, which may be disliked by others, can greatly alleviate the concerns of the emperor and even the civil and military officials in the court.

Zhang Juzheng said leisurely, "Since we've started, we can't afford to make a fuss over nothing. Ordinary rumors won't have any effect, and rumors concerning the new policies are nothing more than shooting ourselves in the foot."

His face remained calm, but he was clearly suppressing a laugh.

"It means my son will have to suffer."

"Disrespecting the elderly!"

Zhang Yunxiu cursed fiercely, but there was nothing he could do, because what Lao Deng said was indeed true. If he wanted to continue to promote the new policies, "self-degradation" was inevitable.

This was undoubtedly a form of political correctness within the Ming Dynasty.

However, after much deliberation, Zhang Yunxiu still felt that he had suffered a huge loss.

Not only has his reputation been ruined, but he hasn't even enjoyed the benefits he should have received.

Otherwise, I could just choose a dozen or so respectable women to fill my harem.

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard Zhang Juzheng speaking leisurely beside him.

"Xu Zisheng is dying."

Zhang Yunxiu was somewhat surprised and raised his eyes.

"It wasn't an act?"

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "In the end, Xu Zisheng is also very old. It is possible that he will pass away at any time and in any place in his eighties."

Zhang Yunxiu said with emotion, "A person relies on this one breath to keep going. If that breath weakens, the body will collapse."

"In the end, Xu Zisheng and I were master and disciple. It's really quite a sad state of affairs that we've come to this."

As people age, they become more sentimental, and Zhang Juzheng's expression involuntarily revealed a trace of pity.

"Find a time when you can go to the post station on my behalf and visit Xu Zisheng. This is also on behalf of the imperial court."

Although Zhang Yunxiu was already a renowned figure who wanted to rival traditional Confucianism, the imperial court could not completely ignore the existence of traditional scholars.

At least some face should be saved.

“Father isn’t going.” Zhang Yunxiu was somewhat surprised.

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "It's best if I don't meet with Xu Zisheng."

His eyes were deep, but it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"Then Father wants me to go." Zhang Yunxiu raised an eyebrow. "Is he deliberately trying to make me angry to death?"

Zhang Juzheng's face turned green instantly, and he coughed heavily twice.

"I have no such idea. Go to the post station and be mindful of your words and actions. The court should give scholars some face."

"Father, please rest assured, I will handle this matter properly."

Zhang Juzheng glanced at his young son, a bad feeling creeping over him, but it no longer mattered. "Go."

He waved.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly and was about to leave when he heard Zhang Juzheng's voice again.

"Slow down."

He paused.

"Has the matter in Jiangnan been settled?"

A smile appeared on Zhang Yunxiu's lips.

"It has already been arranged."

"My heart is like ashes, my body like a boat adrift."

Outside the post station, snow was falling heavily, and dark clouds filled the sky.

Xu Jie could not see the falling withered leaves, nor the setting sun; he could only stare blankly at the flickering kerosene lamp in the room.

Su Shi's poem "Self-Inscription on a Portrait at Jinshan" perfectly captures Xu Jie's state of mind.

Leaning against the bedside, holding a copy of the "Gyeonggi Daily" in his hand, an article in it was still relentlessly criticizing Zhang Yunxiu's theories on "lectures" from various angles.

When Xu Jie got tired of reading it, he would throw the newspaper aside and pick up the Wanli Xinbao to read the vernacular novels and various raunchy jokes. He could even laugh out loud with a hoarse voice.

Suddenly, Xu Jie realized that he had been somewhat narrow-minded before. He thought that for ordinary people, the Wanli Xinbao had many advantages over the Jingji Daily.
Overwhelmed with grief, he tore the Wanli Xinbao newspaper in his hand to shreds.

"As for your life's achievements? Nothing more than Huangzhou, Huizhou, and Danzhou."

As Xu Jie recited the second half of his poem "Self-Inscription on a Portrait at Jinshan Temple" aloud, his mind raced through a series of images from his life.

From studying for the imperial examinations in Huating, to becoming a disciple of Nie Bao, a student of Wang Yangming, to achieving the third-highest rank in the palace examinations.

First he was a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, then step by step he rose to become a provincial inspector, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, the Vice Minister of Rites, and finally a Grand Secretary of the Dongge Pavilion! In the end, he overthrew Yan Song, returning power and authority to the emperor and reclaiming administrative power from the various departments!
These experiences can be described as spectacular. He assisted Emperor Muzong in ascending the throne, rectified officialdom, reduced taxes and provided disaster relief, and implemented the Longqing New Policy. Who would dare to say that Xu Zisheng was a mediocre person?

But now, everything seems like a dream, and when faced with Zhang Yunxiu, a fourteen-year-old boy, he appears utterly pathetic and utterly disgraced.

Xu Jie still vividly remembers what happened at the theater that day: the grieving scholars and the overwhelming cheers of the common people.

Xu Jie couldn't help but question himself: had he become a treacherous and wicked minister like Yan Song and Yan Shifan?

Thinking about this, Xu Jie couldn't help but shout at the top of his lungs.

"Someone! Someone!"

"Coming, coming! Father, your child is here!"

A bloated middle-aged man stumbled over from outside and knelt down beside Xu Jie's bed. When he saw Xu Jie's aged and frail face, his voice trembled with a hint of tears.

"Father, I'm here. Do you have any orders?"

Xu Jie was already at his limit when reading up close, let alone trying to make out the appearance of the person in front of him in a dimly lit room. His voice was hoarse.

"Is it Kun'er or Fan'er?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man almost burst into tears, wiping away his tears as he spoke.

"Father, it's me! Xu Ying!"

"Xu Ying?" Xu Jie's voice seemed hesitant. "Yet you still have the nerve to come see me? You bought an exorbitantly priced piece of glass in the past, were cheated, and hid from me, refusing to see me. But today you dare to come?"

"Father!" Xu Ying said, sobbing between tears. "The journey from Jiangnan to the capital is long and arduous. My two elder brothers wanted to manage the affairs of the family, so they sent me here to serve you."

Xu Jie glared and said, "Who sent you! Didn't I already say so!"

He started coughing violently again halfway through his sentence.

"I can't do it! I am grateful to my father for raising me! How can I see my father all alone in the freezing cold of the capital!"

Xu Jie leaned forward, his face gaunt, like a zombie, and stared with bloodshot eyes as he spoke.

"Don't pretend to be a filial son or grandson. I don't care for your filial piety!"

He gripped Xu Ying's fat wrist with his fingers, his voice unusually sharp.

"My child~ My child~"

Xu Ying just kept crying, not knowing how to answer.

Xu Jie glared angrily, but his hands gripped the three men's arms even tighter.

Finally, after a while, Xu Jie lost his strength and leaned weakly against the bed.

"Have Yuan Yu and Yuan Mei both left the capital?"

Xu Ying quickly nodded and replied, "These two have already ridden to Jiangnan."

Xu Jie nodded slightly and didn't say anything more. After a long while, he finally asked a question.

"Has anyone visited the post station today?"

Xu Ying's face showed sorrow: "No one comes. The only people in this post station are my son and a group of servants."

Xu Jie twitched the corner of his mouth: "If I were to die, surely some of the civil and military officials in the capital would have a conscience and come to visit me?"

"Please, Father, do not speak of death."

Xu Jie was furious: "Fool! Look at me, I still have half a day left to live. I might as well be dead!"

Just as the father and son were arguing, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

Xu Ying frowned and quickly got up to check, but upon seeing who it was, her face immediately showed anger.

Zhang Yunxiu, dressed in a pure white scholar's robe, cupped his hands in greeting to Xu Ying.

"This must be Minister Xu? I am Zhang Shiyuan, a junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I heard that Minister Xu is seriously ill, so I brought a renowned doctor and a batch of medicines to pay my respects."

He pointed to the package he had brought behind him, and to Li Shizhen, who had come with him.

But Xu Ying didn't appreciate it at all, and he glared at her angrily.

"Zhang Shiyuan! My father's current situation is all thanks to you, yet you still have the nerve to come and pay your respects? What are you up to! Do you really think the Xu family is easy to bully?!"

Even so, Xu Ying's servants were still intimidated by the Imperial Guards behind Zhang Yunxiu.

If Zhang Yunxiu were to find some pretext to arrest everyone at the post station today, Xu Ying, a mere Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice in Nanjing, would really have no way to stop him.

Zhang Yunxiu, however, seemed completely unconcerned and said with a smile.

"Why do you say such things, Vice Minister Xu? Master Xu is my teacher and was once a key minister of the court. How could I dare to be disrespectful?"
However, the "lecture" that day was something we had agreed upon, to discuss the Dao through literature. How could it be that I was the one who gave it to us?
"Minister Xu must take responsibility for his words!"

These words made Xu Ying grit her teeth, but she didn't know what to say.

Just then, Xu Jie's hoarse voice came from inside the room.

"Is that Shiyuan? Ying'er, please lead Shiyuan in. Speaking of which, he should call you Uncle!"

Xu Ying was somewhat surprised: "Father?"

But Xu Jie was adamant: "Bring him in quickly, or I'll die. Go again and bring me the calming and tranquilizing pills."

(End of this chapter)