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

Chapter 354 The Western Han Dynasty Emperor Wu's Treasure? You dare touch my sister!

Before Emperor Wanli could finish speaking, Zhang Yunxiu made a shushing gesture and then started making faces.

"Like a dog."

Wanli wanted to scold again.

But Zhang Yunxiu seemed to have gone mad, his body motionless, his face contorted in a frenzy, his features as if he were in the middle of a battle.

Having spent so much time together, the two had long since developed a tacit understanding. Emperor Wanli immediately understood, and his small eyes glanced almost imperceptibly at the crowd.

Although he was traveling incognito and seemed to have successfully concealed his identity, his physique and the guards around him could not be hidden in the end.

Ordinary nobles and officials might not recognize it, but many court ministers would inevitably notice it.

One must be careful about what he says and does.

The Wanli Emperor then coughed and said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "I'm angry."

"You're incredibly audacious! You dare to bring out such a priceless treasure? You've squandered so much money! This is a treasure from the Western Han Dynasty that we finally obtained, and even I don't have it! Oh dear! You've made this public!"

If I don't earn enough money, I'll hold you responsible!

His words attracted a lot of attention, and the Wanli Emperor stormed out of the meeting.

Zhang Yunxiu, on the other hand, looked as if he had lost his parents.

"Your Majesty! I truly do not know. Please allow me to explain, and I will send someone to retrieve this item."

The back-and-forth between the two revealed a hidden meaning to many.

Those who did not understand the situation assumed that the two were officials from Xishan.

Those who guessed the identity of the Wanli Emperor were even more shocked.

Both of these scenarios point to the same conclusion: everyone can guess that the eye-catching bronze statue in the center of the venue is a truly precious object!

Judging from their reactions, this item would not have been passed down, but it has now become the prize for today's "Mooncake Gambling" due to oversight.

Now that it's been made public, even Xishan has no reason to back out.

Whoever wins this prize will become truly rich overnight!
Realizing the crux of the problem, the already bustling meeting room became even more crowded.

Some officials and nobles were even more excited.

"That's His Majesty! Even His Majesty has his eye on it, yet Zhang Shiyuan dares to give it away as a gift!"

"If we can win, I doubt Zhang Shiyuan will have the face to ask for it back!"

"Whether you charge or not, I'm charging!"

Xishan has always been known for its "integrity." Once Emperor Wanli or Zhang Yunxiu put this item down, it was difficult to take it back.

If that's really done, then the reputation that Xishan has built up over the years will truly become a joke!
Therefore, in many people's eyes, today is a real "bargain"!
Given the immense value of this Western Han Dynasty bronze rhinoceros-shaped wine vessel, which is priceless, ten taels of silver is nothing.

In an instant, the Hongyunchang truly descended into madness.

On a high platform not far away, Emperor Wanli held a telescope in his hand, his eyes fixed on it, wishing he could rush up and snatch the bronze rhinoceros-shaped vessel right now.

This is a national treasure! That spendthrift Zhang Yunxiu actually dared to use it as a prize!

If it weren't for the need to avoid panic and to make more money at the meeting, Emperor Wanli wouldn't have had to put on such a show.

With no one around, Emperor Wanli finally couldn't help but complain.

"No amount of silver could buy back that bronze rhinoceros-shaped vessel inlaid with gold and silver cloud patterns! It was very likely an item belonging to Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che. Do you know what that means?"

His eyes were red, and he seemed about to get really angry.

When Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed the slogan "Expel the barbarians, restore China, establish laws and regulations, and save the people," he grasped the national identity of the Han people.

The name "Han" originated from the Han Dynasty, and reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. The sacrificial objects in the palace at that time must have had extremely important significance.

If a batch of bronze artifacts from the reign of Emperor Wu of Han could be displayed and worshipped in the palace, it would, in a sense, strengthen the legitimacy of the Ming Dynasty.

Not to mention, what price would it fetch if sold?

Zhang Yunxiu, however, appeared completely unperturbed, as if he didn't take the matter to heart at all. He explained with a smile.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. How could I not know the meaning behind this? That is why I specially made an object without the shape of a dragon and phoenix. This thing is noble, but it does not reach the level of a royal treasure."

"That won't do either, you know it's precious."

Emperor Wanli was about to retort, but then suddenly realized something was wrong, turned his head, squinted his eyes, and said.

"You said you did it?"

Zhang Yunxiu countered, "Your Majesty, how could these Western Han court ritual objects be obtained so easily? Emperor Wu's Maoling Mausoleum has been looted several times throughout history, and only now are Western Han bronzes available on the market."

Even so, I have never seen such a well-preserved bronze rhinoceros-shaped vessel with gold and silver cloud patterns before.

I believe this thing should still be buried in the ground.

Emperor Wanli was taken aback: "Then where did you get the design from?"

Zhang Yunxiu naturally couldn't tell the emperor that he had referenced artifacts from later generations.

He lied without batting an eye: "There are many broken pieces on the market. By referring to their shapes and consulting ancient books, and with the many talented people gathered in Xishan today, it wouldn't be difficult to imitate a bronze artifact."

With the craftsmanship of Ming Dynasty artisans, plus Zhang Yunxiu's extensive knowledge of imitation from later generations, creating such a high-quality replica would have been a very simple matter.

Zhang Yunxiu was not lying about one thing: even a high-quality replica would be considered a precious treasure in this era.

Although it is not as significant as the genuine article, it can still easily fetch tens or hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

Emperor Wanli looked somewhat surprised, but upon reflection, he realized that this was consistent with Zhang Yunxiu's usual style of doing things.

Previously, all those glass artifacts could be called "national treasures," but in the end, they were still everywhere. Xishan made a fortune from glass, which is why he has the research scale he has today.

The Wanli Emperor's chubby face couldn't help but show some excitement.

"If that's the case, that would be great. When will Xishan be able to mass-produce it? I want to go overseas and sell it to those foreigners."

Zhang Yunxiu was stunned for a moment. The little fat emperor really lived up to his reputation of "treating money like life," he had even thought of this way of earning foreign exchange through exports.

However, this was originally Zhang Yunxiu's plan. Since the sea trade was to be opened up, ordinary silk, porcelain, and tea would certainly not be enough. To completely dominate the overseas market, the products should be diversified.

Glass, soap, charcoal, and antique bronzes could all serve as important tools for the Ming Dynasty's overseas expansion.

Of course, not wanting to say too much, Zhang Yunxiu didn't forget to remind the emperor.

"Your Majesty, this thing is not like glass. The various antiquing techniques are quite complex, and mass production is very difficult. It will take some time."

However, it's still acceptable to put it up for auction recently, so that the nobles of our capital city can spend more money.

Zhang Yunxiu realized that these noble officials of the Ming Dynasty were far more useful than leeks. Leeks need watering after being harvested, but these people would grow back on their own. One crop after another, there would be another. Why not harvest them? You have to use a soft knife, like boiling a frog in warm water, to achieve long-term high returns.

When it comes to swindling money from the powerful and wealthy of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Yunxiu could come up with a hundred different tricks without ever repeating himself.

Nowadays, I sometimes even think about whether I should protect these noble officials, otherwise, if I need money in the future, where will I find so many easy targets to be exploited?

Emperor Wanli had great confidence in Zhang Yunxiu's ability to "make money," believing that he was worth ten Zhang Chengs.

In the past, when the emperor needed money, he would send eunuchs to extort it from various places. Not only did the eunuchs embezzle most of it themselves, but they also incurred the wrath of the emperor and the resentment of the people.

Zhang Yunxiu is quite something; he swindled someone out of their money, and the person still has to thank him. Emperor Wanli couldn't help but exclaim, "It has to be you, Shiyuan!"

He touched his protruding belly and couldn't help but feel happy. The Ming Dynasty was now thriving under his rule, all thanks to the "laissez-faire" approach!
As long as Zhang Yunxiu had no intention of rebelling, Wanli Emperor could grant the Zhang family father and son all rights, provided that they did not rebel.

Thinking of this, Emperor Wanli let out a breath, finally feeling a bit tired. He looked at the ceremonial guard on the city tower of Daming Gate and said...

"I am feeling a bit tired, so I will return to the city gate of the Great Ming first."

"Your Majesty, I will accompany you." Zhang Yunxiu shamelessly followed.

The Wanli Emperor narrowed his eyes and said with interest.

"Does Shiyuan really want to come up with me? Today's main event isn't the Lucky Draw or the Mooncake Gambling Game."

He pointed to the rows of neatly arranged riddles on Qipan Street.

"Today's lantern riddle party and poetry gathering are quite lively. The top ten people who guess the lantern riddles will be selected and a poetry gathering will be held on the city tower of Daming Gate."

The one who comes out on top will be rewarded by me.”

The Wanli Emperor seemed to be implying something.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a gong rang out from the high platform not far away, followed by a high-pitched voice of a eunuch.

"The list of successful candidates was announced. At 7:45 PM, the first place winner in the Lantern Festival riddle-solving competition was Hosokawa Iya, the Japanese envoy, who solved 121 riddles. The second place winner was Liu Yongning from Renmin Medical Hall, who solved 110 riddles. The third place winner was..."

To reflect this competitiveness, every half hour, the list of successful candidates in the first and second ranks of the examination would be broadcast in turn.

Clearly, compared to the other programs at today's Lantern Festival, this riddle and poetry contest, which imitates the "imperial examination" system, is the real highlight.

Prince Zhu Yiliu of Lu, dressed as a young nobleman, hid among the crowd and solved many riddles along the way.

Yu Shenxing eagerly reported from the side, "Congratulations, Your Highness, for ranking third in the first class. In the imperial examinations, Your Highness would be considered a top scholar."

Given Zhu Yiliu's talent and learning, these riddles were indeed difficult to solve. However, he had a large number of scholars under his command, such as Yu Shenxing. After the collapse of the Jiangnan clique, these upright officials scattered like monkeys falling from a tree, and some of them joined Zhu Yiliu's faction.

Zhu Yiliu clearly knew this, but he didn't seem particularly happy. He quickly closed the fan and tapped it against his palm, then suddenly sighed and said...

Why does Heaven favor Zhang Shiyuan so much?

Yu Shenxing was startled and quickly asked.

"Your Highness, what makes you say that? Zhang Shiyuan's ancestors were merely military households, while you are of noble birth."

Zhu Yiliu scoffed and said, "You are all stubborn, and your background is important, but it is useless in the face of some things."

"Something?" Yu Shenxing was completely baffled.

Zhu Yiliu, however, continued to speak to himself: "Founding Xishan, promoting new learning, and now this Lantern Festival, plus the favor of that talented Japanese woman."

Yu Shenxing laughed and said, "It's a joke. Today, at the Lantern Festival in the capital, a foreign woman won first place. I heard that she is very good at poetry and has her heart set on Zhang Shiyuan. If she loses the top scholar title today, she will probably ask His Majesty to grant her a marriage. It's all about how Zhang Shiyuan will handle the situation."

As a high-ranking member of the Imperial Guard, in charge of important institutions such as Xishan and Renmin Medical Hall, Zhang Yunxiu wielded immense power. For such a man to marry a Japanese woman was truly a disgrace.

"It is certainly laughable to marry a Japanese woman."

Zhu Yiliu said quietly.

"It takes skill to win the heart of a Japanese woman."

Being targeted is certainly frightening, but it's rather sad when others don't even want to be targeted.

Yu Shenxing was momentarily speechless, and tentatively asked.

"Your Highness, would you like me to find you a few Japanese women? A batch of them have recently arrived in the capital and are quite interesting."

Zhu Yiliu was furious. He slapped the other man on the forehead with his fan and said angrily.

"Get out! Gather more men and solve all the riddles on Chessboard Street. How can I, the king, lose to a woman? First, kick that Liu Yongning off his horse! Then, I'll win the first prize!"

"Your Highness, you are not..."

Yu Shenxing thought it wouldn't be a bad thing to let that Japanese woman win the top scholar title; then he could watch Xishan make a fool of himself. But seeing Zhu Yiliu's angry expression, he was so frightened that he ran away in a panic and slunk off to solve the riddle.

"Liu Yongning?"

Zhu Yiliu stared at the "List of Successful Candidates" and fell into deep thought.

Why does this sound so familiar?
On the city tower of Daming Gate, Emperor Wanli leaned back in his reclining chair, occasionally raising his binoculars to look down.

"Hey!"

He seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold.

"The first place in this category still belongs to that Japanese woman. She is truly talented. In the capital of our Great Ming Dynasty, a Japanese woman has actually won first place. I wonder what the scholars and writers will think?"

Emperor Wanli then turned to Zhang Yunxiu and said.

"Shiyuan, have you made any arrangements? If things continue like this, and that Japanese woman wins the top scholar title, I might actually have to arrange a marriage for you. Remember, a ruler's word is law!"

Zhang Yunxiu's lips twitched, and he cursed the emperor in his heart, but he remained calm and composed as he spoke.

"Your Majesty, don't be too happy yet. Liu Yongning, who came in second place, is also quite good. It's only a matter of time before he surpasses the Japanese woman!"

"Who is Liu Yongning?" Emperor Wanli asked, somewhat surprised. "I've never heard of him in the medical clinic before."

Emperor Wanli was very familiar with Renmin Medical Hall; he knew almost all the top doctors there, but Liu Yongning was a different story.
As he pondered this, Emperor Wanli suddenly realized something was amiss.

Liu Yongning. Liu? Yongning!

He kept repeating the name in his mind, and suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine.

Could this Liu Yongning be Yongning?

He turned his head abruptly and saw Zhang Yunxiu casually cracking sunflower seeds, and his heart began to pound.

Was Zhu Yaoying, the young woman, also involved?

Emperor Wanli suddenly thought of many things. When Zhu Yaoying went to the clinic, Zhang Yunxiu had also helped her. The little palace maid in Zhu Yaoying's palace used to frequently visit Renmin Clinic.

And the fireworks on New Year's Eve felt so strange.

Could all of this have been arranged by Zhang Yunxiu? And then there's the other day, when he proposed to marry the princess!
The answer is obvious!
Emperor Wanli realized the truth too late, and his face turned as red as a pig's head, feeling as if his own precious flower had been secretly stolen.

He lunged forward and grabbed Zhang Yunxiu by the neck, shaking him violently.

"You dog-like Zhang Shiyuan, you didn't touch Yongning, did you? She's my own sister, you wouldn't dare to do that!"

"Ah~" Zhang Yunxiu swayed in the wind, his expression a mix of laughter and tears, "Your Majesty, I can't breathe~ Hey~ If you strangle me, Your Majesty will have no brother-in-law~"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli became even angrier. He thought of Zhang Yunxiu's somewhat averse to Japanese women and how convenient it was for him to enter and leave the medical clinic. He spoke with eyes blazing with fury.

"You beast! Yongning isn't pregnant, is she? You think you can force things? Absolutely not!"

Eunuch Zhang Jing stood far to the side, looking at the somewhat deranged Wanli Emperor, and then at Zhang Yunxiu swaying in the wind, feeling conflicted.

Should he go up and advise the emperor, or help the emperor strangle Zhang Yunxiu?

If Zhang Yunxiu were to die like this, would it be a good thing for me?
After much deliberation, Zhang Jing didn't dare to step forward. He just watched the two of them, silently cheering on Emperor Wanli in his heart.

(End of this chapter)