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

Chapter 348 I don't like Zhang Shiyuan!

Upon hearing Liu Wan'er's words, Princess Yongning, Zhu Yaoying, abruptly put down the newspaper in front of her and frowned deeply.

"Wan'er, what nonsense are you talking about? Did I say I cared?"

She slammed the newspaper on the table, poked the headline hard with her index finger, and emphasized it loudly.

"Do you think I'd believe such sensational headlines? Do you think I'm a three-year-old?"

Liu Wan'er shrank her neck and subconsciously pointed to Zhu Yaoying's forehead.

"Your Highness, the veins on your forehead are practically bulging; you look very angry. Don't let this upset you."

"angry?"

Zhu Yaoying raised her voice again, hugging her bulging chest, her cheeks almost puffed up, but she still stubbornly said.

"How could I be angry for outsiders? Hosokawa Ikko can move around freely outside, and I'm angry? Hosokawa Ikko also shows off in front of the officials, and I'm angry?"
She was merely a Japanese woman, which was why she was able to show her face in public, why she could see Zhang Shiyuan so often, why she was taught by Zhang Shiyuan to conduct experiments, and why she was able to…

"Your Highness!!!"

Liu Wan'er shouted loudly, interrupting the incessant chatter of Zhu Yaoying. If she hadn't interrupted her, she was afraid that Princess Yongning would have fainted from anger.

It seems like she really cares.

Once Zhu Yaoying calmed down, Liu Wan'er sighed and offered some words of comfort.

"Your Highness, please rest assured. I have already gone outside to inquire. That day, Zhang, the head guard, had no choice. He wanted to demonstrate the West Mountain scientific experiment to the envoys of various countries, but no one dared to step forward to experience it. Only Hosokawa Iya volunteered, and that's how she got the opportunity."

Zhu Yaoying raised her eyebrows and said, "But the newspapers all said that the two were very affectionate when they were doing that experiment, and Zhang Shiyuan's hand was even resting on Hosokawa Iya's 'slender fingers'!"

Zhu Yaoying emphasized the phrase "green and jade-like fingers" very much.

"Your Highness, you're far more skilled with that microscope than she is. We've done countless experiments with Staphylococcus aureus."

"This is different!"

Zhu Yaoying's eyes were practically spitting fire, but her tone was also somewhat aggrieved.

"That was taught by Zhang Shiyuan himself! Men and women should not touch each other, so how could Hosokawa Iya do that?"

As she spoke, Zhu Yaoying's temper flared up again. She put her hands on her hips and slammed her fair palms on the table, making a loud thud.

"Am I inferior to her? In what way am I not as good as Hosokawa Iya? Why am I always the one who suffers injustice!"

"Her knowledge is..."

"She considers status."

"She judges people by their looks."

Zhu Yaoying was so angry that she stammered. Her small gold-rimmed glasses drooped down her nose, and her white horse-face skirt swayed from side to side, getting quite a few ink stains on the corner of the table.

"Her! Is she as beautiful as me?!"

When she said this, Zhu Yaoying seemed a little aggrieved, her almond-shaped eyes wide open. Although she spoke so forcefully, her eyes were filled with tears.

Liu Wan'er sighed repeatedly. How could she not understand Zhu Yaoying's feelings? Zhu Yaoying was a princess, and although she seemed to have a noble status, she had rules that ordinary women could hardly imagine. She had to sneak out of the palace. If she wanted to see the person she cared about, she had to go through layers of obstacles. Even secretly expressing her feelings for him was extremely difficult.

But now, a woman from out of town has been able to obtain everything so easily, many of which are things that Zhu Yaoying has only ever dreamed of. How can she not be angry?

Liu Wan'er spoke rapidly, following Zhu Yaoying's train of thought.

"Your Highness is naturally beautiful, a fact praised throughout the land. Even His Majesty says that Your Highness is the jewel of the royal family."
Your Highness is also extremely knowledgeable and possesses superb medical skills; she is one of the top female physicians in our Great Ming Dynasty.
In terms of nobility, knowledge, and beauty, how could that Japanese woman compare to the princess?

But before she could finish speaking, Zhu Yaoying spoke up again.

"But they say that Japanese woman is incredibly alluring, and she also possesses Japanese bedroom arts, making her the best at seducing men!"

Liu Wan'er blushed slightly and said rather awkwardly, "I suppose Zhang Zhangwei won't be swayed by him."

Zhu Yaoying suddenly turned her head away. She was wearing a light red short shirt with various exquisite patterns, but she casually raised her sleeve to wipe away the tears on her face.

"There's no need for that. I don't care about this stinky man. He's just a womanizer and not worth my heart and soul."

"Princess."

Hearing Zhu Yaoying's resolute words, Liu Wan'er couldn't help but feel a little worried, and she reminded her.

"You once said you wouldn't marry anyone but him. Do you really want to wait for His Majesty to find you an ordinary man and marry him without ever having met him?"

Zhu Yaoying gritted her teeth and said, "It's none of your business. If you like it, I will marry you off to Zhang Shiyuan as a concubine. I would rather remain unmarried for the rest of my life!"

Never to marry?

She was to marry Zhang Shiyuan?

Upon hearing this, Liu Wan'er was immediately startled; both of these were extremely shocking pieces of news!
She was about to reach out to stop Zhu Yaoying, but the other party had already waved her sleeve and strode outside.

However, Zhu Yaoying's steps were unsteady, and the hem of her skirt, which was originally leaning against the table, accidentally knocked over the porcelain cup on it.

With a clang, the porcelain cup fell over on the table, and the tea inside slowly spilled to the corner of the table.

A brocade box sits on the corner of the table, its placement clearly carefully arranged so that it can be seen every day when sitting at the table.

It was clear that the tea was about to spill onto the edge of the brocade box, soaking through the precious material.

"Ah!" Liu Wan'er exclaimed, but her arms were too short to reach it.

Zhu Yaoying stopped abruptly. She turned her head sharply, and with quick reflexes, she picked up the brocade box and hugged it to her chest.

A "drip-drip-drip" sound rang out as tea dripped down the corner of the table onto the floor.

The sounds inside the hall froze for a moment, leaving only the sound of tea dripping.

"Pfft!"

Liu Wan'er covered her mouth and looked at Zhu Yaoying's furrowed brows and the way she carefully protected the brocade box, and couldn't help but laugh.

She shook her head repeatedly and sighed.

"As expected, His Highness still cares about Zhang Zhangwei's affairs."

The brocade box given by the head of the guard has been here for so many days, and I can't bear to take it away. I can't even bear to use the soap inside.

Now, though they say they don't want to, their actions betray their true intentions in protecting the brocade box.

Your Highness, do you still say you don't care?

Zhu Yaoying suddenly realized what was happening. She put the brocade box on the table and stared at him, saying...

"None of your business! I just don't want to waste things!"

"Is that really so?" Liu Wan'er asked, narrowing her eyes. "These past few nights, I've often seen Your Highness secretly carrying this brocade box into your room, insisting on having it by your pillow to fall asleep. Is it because you're afraid of wasting it?"

"I"

In an instant, Zhu Yaoying's face turned red, and she stammered an explanation.

"I just find the scent unique and want to use it as incense."

As she spoke, Zhu Yaoying's words became increasingly hesitant, and her face grew redder and redder. She was filled with shame and anger, and she waved her little fists.

"You little maid, you're getting bolder and bolder! Take this!"

Zhu Yaoying held back her strength, not hitting too hard, but Liu Wan'er cooperated by running around the room, constantly begging for mercy. "Ouch~ Ouch~ It hurts so much~ Your Highness, please spare me~"

After playing and chasing each other for a while, Zhu Yaoying sat down, leaning on the table, panting heavily.

She seemed to have released a lot of her pent-up frustration, and a smile appeared on her face as she spoke.

"You little maid, you're quite fast."

Liu Wan'er, her forehead also damp with sweat, chuckled and said, "If I hadn't run fast enough, Your Highness would have beaten me to death long ago."

Zhu Yaoying laughed angrily: "You heartless girl, if I wanted to beat you to death, how could you possibly be alive and well?"

Liu Wan'er stuck out her tongue, looking noncommittal.

Zhu Yaoying recovered her composure and said seriously, "Wan'er, is everything you just said true? Zhang Shiyuan really isn't very interested in that Japanese woman?"

Liu Wan'er nodded vigorously and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured! If Zhang Zhangwei truly had feelings for that Japanese woman, why would he prepare a gift for the princess on New Year's Day? And why would that Japanese woman volunteer herself?"

After thinking it over, Zhu Yaoying also felt that what Liu Wan'er said made sense, and she nodded slightly.

"That's true."

Liu Wan'er clenched her small fists.

"Your Highness, we must not let that Japanese woman steal our thunder. Her trip to the capital is likely aimed at bewitching Zhang, the head guard."

The fact that they obtained intelligence from Xishan is truly insidious!
We absolutely cannot let her succeed!

A fierce glint appeared in Zhu Yaoying's eyes.

"What you say makes sense. I absolutely cannot lose to that Japanese woman!"

Liu Wan'er's eyes lit up: "Your Highness already has a brilliant plan in mind?"

Zhu Yaoying nodded confidently and said, "Of course, I have a brilliant plan!"

Zhang Yunxiu has been feeling rather irritable lately, and even wants to hide away in a deep mountain forest to find some peace and quiet.

Many people had searched for him before, but he could hide in Renmin Medical Clinic or in the Western Hills.

However, even Xishan can no longer stay here now.

If Zhang Yunxiu had been hiding inside the Xishan Academy, Li Zhi, who was wandering around Xishan, would have captured him and given him a good scolding.

"Zhang Shiyuan! You shameless scoundrel! You've ruined that Hosokawa girl's reputation, and now you're hiding like a coward?"

"I've heard that you seem to have some feelings for Princess Yongning!"

"Hey! You little rascal, instead of studying the new sciences properly, you spend all your time on lovemaking!"

"Either you make up your mind to find a woman and marry her properly, or you devote yourself to your studies. Why are you wavering between the two?"

"You don't actually want both, do you? Hahaha! You've got the style of my old days!"

Since arriving at Xishan, Li Zhi had gained weight. His head was bald, yet he wore a Taoist robe. Coupled with his manic expression and the occasional gap in his front teeth, Zhang Yunxiu deeply suspected that the old man might have some mental issues.
Li Zhi grabbed Zhang Yunxiu and said some nonsensical things, and finally patted him on the shoulder and said something.

"Young Shiyuan, it's only natural for a young man to be a bit of a playboy, but it's a pity that you're neglecting the path of science. We've got this: if you want to live a life of pleasure, you'll have to give up your position as the leader of the scientific school. I'll gladly help you carry it forward!"

Zhang Yunxiu had reason to suspect that Li Zhi had lost all his savings at the Xishan promotion fair during the New Year's Day period, and now, blinded by greed, wanted to humiliate himself.

He immediately squinted and asked a question.

“Mr. Hongfu, you often bring up the ‘childlike innocence theory,’ saying that creators should ‘transcend falsehood and pursue truth.’ I have a question that I’ve always wanted to ask you.”

Li Zhi was taken aback, not expecting Zhang Yunxiu to have any questions for him. He immediately became interested and spoke with great enthusiasm.

"Speak freely, I will answer all your questions without reservation!"

Zhang Yunxiu paused for a moment before speaking.

"The gentleman often praised 'Water Margin' and 'Romance of the Western Chamber' as 'the finest literature,' saying that they originated from 'childlike innocence.'"

However, there is now a vulgar version of "Jin Ping Mei" that depicts the private affairs of ordinary men and women, and the private affairs of men and women who eat and drink. It has no theme of "loyalty and righteousness", but it has a theme of "sexual feelings".
Can works like these, which are "lacking lofty ideals and only expressing personal desires," be considered "writings from a child's heart"?
Can a childlike heart accommodate authenticity, or selfish desires?

This argument completely stunned Li Zhi. His eyes widened, as if something in his heart had been touched.

A child's heart is the original heart of a person, untouched by etiquette and moral principles. It is neither hypocritical nor pandering, but follows instinct and true feelings.

However, Li Zhi overlooked one point: lust is also a kind of human instinct. So, can lust be considered 'childlike innocence'?

This philosophical concept involves Freud's psychoanalysis of "the liberation of instinctual desires" two hundred years later, as well as Nietzsche's "Dionysian spirit" mentioned in "The Birth of Tragedy".

The interplay of these two ideas undoubtedly gave Li Zhi great inspiration, and he became quite excited, staring wide-eyed as he spoke.

"Shiyuan! How did you come up with this problem? You brat!"

Zhang Yunxiu smiled sheepishly and said, "That day, when I went to my fourth brother Zhang Jianxiu's room, I accidentally saw a copy of 'Jin Ping Mei'. Then, thinking of the 'childlike innocence' that you often mentioned, I was inspired."

"It's not that simple! It's not that simple!"

Li Zhi had become somewhat deranged.

"You must be hiding something to keep generating these ideas. Don't be stingy, tell me quickly, and I'm willing to trade everything for you!"

Seeing that the other party was about to act crazy again, Zhang Yunxiu immediately fled in panic, leaving behind a remark from afar.

"Sir, please consider this matter further. I will come to seek your guidance again in a few days!"

Zhang Yunxiu was extremely fast on his feet and escaped Li Zhi's clutches in the blink of an eye.

Only a bald old scholar with a furrowed brow remained, standing in the dust, lost in thought.

Li Zhi couldn't stay in Xishan any longer. Not to mention Li Zhi, even the local people of Xishan would ask him from time to time to confirm whether Zhang Yunxiu was in love with that Japanese woman.

Zhang Yunxiu rode in the carriage all the way back to the capital. He passed through several hidden doors via a small path and entered the backyard of Renmin Medical Hall.

He had his own quarters here, which was also where he often hid and rested. Whenever he entered, he would light a lantern outside the door, and the students and doctors of Renmin Medical Hall would know not to come and disturb him.

Zhang Yunxiu let out a long breath, gently pushed open the door, and was thinking of getting a good night's sleep here and drawing some more blueprints.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped into the guardhouse, they smelled a strong fragrance.

He knew something was wrong and really wanted to hide, but then he heard a timid voice coming from inside.

"Lord Shiyuan!"

Hosokawa Iya also styled her hair into a bun. She wore a light purple pleated skirt, tightly cinched at the waist, and a light pink silk blouse with a begonia bud on her chest that bloomed dramatically.

Her face was flushed, and she knelt on the ground, revealing half of her smooth calves, and knelt and prostrated herself before Zhang Yunxiu.

“On the day of the daily court ceremony, His Majesty the Emperor said that he would order you to take my daughter as your disciple. However, in the past few days, my daughter has visited you many times, but I have not received any instruction from you.”

In order not to fail the Emperor's grace, I asked the doctors at the clinic and then dared to wait here where you are resting.

I humbly request your guidance and instruction, sir!

Zhang Yunxiu's lip muscles twitched slightly.

Teach. Instruct?

(End of this chapter)