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

Chapter 363 Dad! This is a new era ferry!
"Young Master Liu, what do you think?"

The words of Yu Youding, the Minister of Rites, echoed incessantly in Liu Wan'er's ears like a death warrant.

Liu Wan'er looked conflicted. She couldn't help but turn to look at Zhang Yunxiu, her eyes pleading for help.

Zhang Yunxiu noticed the other person's predicament and couldn't help but step forward to say something.

"Your Majesty, it seems that Young Master Liu is quite nervous in front of Your Majesty's majesty. Perhaps we can grant him some time and wait until he has thought things through before making his proposal."

Emperor Wanli scrutinized Liu Wan'er, then couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"Does Miss Liu still fear my majesty?"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into complete silence. Liu Wan'er froze, her mind went blank, and she immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty! This servant..."

The Wanli Emperor did not know the other party's name, but he could tell who the other party was. He glared at him and angrily rebuked him.

"You audacious palace maid Liu, you have left the palace without permission and impersonated someone else. Do you know what crime you have committed?"

Liu Wan'er was so frightened that her whole body went limp. She lay prostrate on the ground, her face ashen, and said...

"Your Majesty, please allow me to explain."

Zhang Yunxiu guessed that the emperor would see through it, after all, Liu Wan'er's disguise was not very sophisticated, and the name "Liu Yongning" was easy to guess. However, he did not expect that the Wanli Emperor would make trouble at this moment.

Fortunately, Emperor Wanli deliberately chose this time to launch his attack, and only Zhang Yunxiu, Zhang Juzheng, and a few ministers were present.

Zhang Yunxiu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I recognize this Liu Yongning as Liu Wan'er, a palace maid from Jingyang Palace."

Emperor Wanli concealed his amused expression and spoke with a stern face.

"Then why did you not report it?"

“It is not that I concealed the truth,” Zhang Yunxiu explained. “I simply thought that today is the Lantern Festival, and even Japanese women are allowed to participate, so why are women of our Great Ming not allowed to participate?”

Although Liu Wan'er was a palace maid, her permission to leave the palace to study medicine was granted by the Empress Dowager. At Renmin Medical Hall, she was not only a palace maid but also a female doctor. It was perfectly normal for a female doctor from the medical hall to participate in the Lantern Festival.

If Your Majesty finds this inappropriate, I am willing to take charge of the medical clinic; if Your Majesty wishes to punish me, I will also be held accountable.

Emperor Wanli narrowed his eyes. When it came to eloquence, Zhang Yunxiu was already considered a master in the court. After his words, it was truly difficult to refute him.

He didn't really have any intention of punishing them, after all, his sister was clearly involved in this matter. He couldn't possibly punish his closest sister and best brother for the sake of a Lantern Festival, could he?

If that's the case, then that poem just now would truly be a joke.

The Wanli Emperor then looked at Yu Youding, the Minister of Rites, and asked, "Minister Yu, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Yu Youding inwardly groaned. Was the emperor determined to get rid of him today? Why was he targeting him when Zhang Juzheng, such a powerful figure, was right there?

Having already said those words, could I really be the one to play the bad cop and punish Liu Wan'er?
Not only did the imperial court become a joke, but he himself also became a joke.

He could only step forward and answer.

"Your Majesty, there has never been a rule that women cannot participate in the Lantern Festival. Although Liu Wan'er is a palace maid, she has been granted special permission by the Empress Dowager to move freely outside the palace."

Furthermore, as far as I know, the medical clinic's roster is strictly regulated, and since Liu Yongning was able to participate in the competition, he must have been recorded on the roster.

All of this, taken together, is reasonable and legal. Your Majesty's grace is boundless; please forgive us.

There's one more thing Yu Youding didn't mention: actually, letting Liu Wan'er defeat Hosokawa Iya was the best outcome.

After all, even if Zhang Yunxiu was chosen as the top scholar, it would inevitably seem unfair if word got out.

Your Great Ming Dynasty, a superior nation, actually sent a man to bully a woman from a foreign land. Even if you win, it is not something to be proud of.

But Liu Wan'er was completely different. She was a palace maid and still young, so it was perfectly reasonable for her to surpass Hosokawa Iya.

Emperor Wanli's gaze swept over Yu Youding below the steps, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, before he slowly nodded and spoke.

"Minister Yu's words make sense."

After saying this, Yu Youding felt as if he had swallowed a fly. The emperor was clearly putting him on the spot, but he still had to smile and bow.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your praise!"

Emperor Wanli turned his head slightly, turned sideways and looked at Liu Wan'er, who was trembling beside him, his voice carrying a hint of authority.

"Since that's the case, Liu Wan'er, I will spare you from this crime of impersonating the emperor today."

However, you'd better think carefully about the reward I've promised you. If you can't come up with a decent explanation, you won't escape punishment either.

"what?"

Liu Wan'er looked up in alarm, her eyes filled with disbelief.

What kind of logic is this? She only wanted the emperor to forgive her sins, but the emperor seems to want to reward her as well?
"Servant. Servant"

Her lips trembled, her face flushed red, and she looked extremely embarrassed.

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Wan'er slowly spoke, her voice revealing a hint of determination.

"This servant has no extravagant desires. I only feel that being able to stay by the princess's side and accompany her is already a great blessing."

Today, His Majesty has shown you great favor, and this servant has come to understand.

At this point, Liu Wan'er bit her lower lip, as if she had made a tremendous decision.

"This humble servant dares to ask, but I have only one wish, and I hope Your Majesty will grant it."

I have long heard that Zhang Zhangwei is a man of outstanding talent in our great Ming Dynasty. He has brought blessings to all people and has made great contributions to the country, the people, and the nation.

"But recently I've heard rumors that His Majesty intends to bestow a marriage upon Zhang, the Commander of the Guards, to a Japanese female slave. I am foolish and dull-witted, but I feel this is highly inappropriate. I urge His Majesty to reconsider!"

After saying all this in one breath, Liu Wan'er lowered her head again.

With no one else present, she spoke with boldness.

"You really are loyal."

The Wanli Emperor's tone had just contained praise, but upon hearing the last sentence, his gaze shifted back and forth between the two men, and he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Liu Wan'er, Liu Wan'er, I want to ask you—if I don't marry the Japanese woman to Shiyuan, do you think I should marry you to him to please you?"

"what?"

These words struck Liu Wan'er like a thunderclap. She trembled instantly, her face turning as red as a ripe apple. She waved her hands frantically, her voice trembling slightly.

"No, no! Absolutely not! I am but a lowly palace maid, how could I be worthy of Guard Zhang? In this life, I only wish to accompany Her Highness the Princess."

She secretly harbored the idea of ​​asking for a marriage decree on behalf of the princess, but these words concerned the royal family's reputation and the princess's honor. How could a palace maid speak so casually? She could only swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She longed to ask for a marriage decree for the princess, but realized that such a request was not something she could make herself.

The Wanli Emperor squinted at the other party, occasionally glancing at Zhang Yunxiu, who was sitting not far away with his eyes closed and seemingly lost in thought, his expression becoming increasingly complicated.

"His Majesty."

It was at this moment that Zhang Juzheng finally broke the silence. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said...

"It's getting late, it would be best to return to the palace first."

Emperor Wanli let out a long breath, glanced at Liu Wan'er again, narrowed his eyes slightly, and spoke in a more gentle tone.

"That's enough, let's leave it at that for today."

The sounds of carriages and horses filled the air, and even at midnight, the streets outside were still filled with occasional bursts of noise and laughter.

There is no curfew today, and if people wish, they can even continue to stroll through the streets and enjoy the lanterns until the next morning.

Zhang Juzheng leaned back in his carriage seat, closing his eyes to rest, while Zhang Yunxiu seemed to be writing and drawing in a notebook.

Silver moonlight mixed with lamplight shone through the curtain onto Zhang Juzheng's face. The carriage in Xishan had been improved; although it lacked a mature suspension structure, it was much more stable and comfortable than before.

Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting flickering shadows on Zhang Juzheng's face. His brows were furrowed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Juzheng finally broke the silence and spoke.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Zhang Yunxiu paused for a moment, then said with a somewhat helpless expression.

“Father, I’ve said it so many times, I don’t know why I’m on the list today. To be honest, I didn’t plan to participate in this poetry gathering, I was forced to do so.”

He now knew that this whole thing was just the old man Li Zhi causing trouble, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

However, in Zhang Juzheng's view, this kid was definitely trying to use this to advance his relationship with the princess.

Although Liu Wan'er dared not bring it up today, she had clearly taken the matter a step further. How could Emperor Wanli not know this?

Zhang Juzheng leisurely said, "How magnificent is the royal army, following the principle of biding one's time and remaining in obscurity."

Zhang Yunxiu was furious: "You old geezer, why don't you listen to people? This has nothing to do with me. I naturally understand the principle of keeping a low profile."

Zhang Juzheng maintained a calm and composed expression as he continued to ask questions.

"Are you really planning to marry the princess?"

He let out a long breath.

"Since ancient times, royal families have been known for their fickle nature. Now that you have married the princess, you should think carefully about whether you can maintain the same relationship with His Majesty."

Compared to the others, this line of poetry is a minor matter.

Zhang Yunxiu paused for a moment, then smiled slightly and said...

"Father's thoughts are beyond reproach. Since the founding of the dynasty, apart from the reigns of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu, few officials and nobles have married princesses. However, it is not without precedent. During the Hongxi era, Jing Yuan, the son of Jing Tian, ​​a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites, was made the consort of Princess Jiaxing."

“That was the Hongxi era!” Zhang Juzheng’s words sounded somewhat angry. “Moreover, can your current official position be compared with that of a mere censor? How can the son of a prime minister, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, marry a princess in our dynasty?”

Do you know what that means? It will bring immense trouble to the Zhang family!

Zhang Juzheng was anxious and agitated, but Zhang Yunxiu remained calm and composed, spreading out his notes and placing them in front of Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at the strangely shaped graphics on the screen.

To be fair, although Zhang Yunxiu's painting skills were extremely rough, they were vivid and lifelike, depicting the structure of the large ship with remarkable realism, allowing one to see the characteristics of each structure.

The only strange thing was that this boat was not quite the same as the one Zhang Juzheng had seen before. It had two large wheels on both sides, like arms extending from the boat, which made it look rather cute.

Zhang Juzheng couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by this?"

What does this strangely shaped ship have to do with Zhang Yunxiu's desire to marry the princess?
Zhang Yunxiu sighed and said, "Father always holds onto the old ideas, thinking that once you become a powerful minister, there is no possibility of advancing further except through rebellion. But I think it's different."

In the past, the Ming Dynasty consisted of only two capitals and thirteen provinces. Under heaven, all land belonged to the emperor, and all people within the borders were his subjects.

But today, with the grand spectacle of all nations paying tribute once again, doesn't Father understand anything of this?

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhang Juzheng's expression grew increasingly grim, and he was about to get up and strike Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu finally stopped keeping everyone in suspense and explained.

"Times have changed. In the past, the imperial court only needed to govern the people well. But today, the technology in Xishan is developing rapidly, and the future of the Ming Dynasty is no longer what Father envisioned."

The corners of his mouth curved.

"In the future, the Great Ming should not only govern its own territory and solve its own problems, but also look to the future. This could be the vassal states that have already submitted to the Great Ming, or unknown countries overseas that have not yet had any contact with the Great Ming."

The ocean is vast and the sky is boundless; even the most powerful emperor could not extend his blessings to every inch of land.

Zhang Yunxiu answered his own question.

"It's impossible. The world today is just like the Zhou Dynasty when the emperor enfeoffed various states. At that time, the northern tribes were eyeing us covetously, the Huaiyi in the east had not yet submitted, the Baiyue in the south were still regarded as barbarians, and the Qiang tribe was in the west."
Did the Zhou emperor not want to unify the world and bring it under his control?
It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't!
In such an era of expansion, the feudal system was the best approach!

His discourse on the past and present left Zhang Juzheng dumbfounded, and he spoke with a trembling white beard.

"When did the Ming Dynasty become a pioneering era? You're talking nonsense again."

"The answer lies in this ship, in the development of Xishan, and in the grandeur of the capital of the Ming Dynasty today."

Zhang Yunxiu flashed a bright white smile and continued to explain.

"Father should know that the sweet potatoes in Xishan are already being cultivated, and they should be able to produce some grain after the spring. The research of the School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Medicine is also progressing rapidly, and this steamship is one of the research and development targets."

When sweet potatoes ripen, there will be no more famine in the world. When penicillin is successfully developed, it will save more lives. When steam cars and steamships are invented, our Great Ming Dynasty will set foot on the world.

Since our ambition is to conquer the world, isn't it a bit narrow-minded of Father to still be preoccupied with the power struggles of this small corner of the world?

Zhang Juzheng's expression was ashen as he emphasized this point.

"This is nothing but a flower in the water and the moon in the mirror; nothing has been judged yet!"

Zhang Yunxiu, however, did not yield an inch.

"Sweet potatoes will only take a few months to grow, while penicillin and steamships will take some time, but still within ten years. Father, do you still think it's just a mirage?"

Xishan is now rich and powerful, and with the favorable environment created by Zhang Juzheng's new policies, it has also eliminated a number of obstacles from the Jiangnan gentry. It can be said that the road ahead is long and open for us to explore.

If we rely on the course of history, even if the seeds of science and new ideas are sown, it would likely take decades or even centuries to develop.

Under Zhang Yunxiu's influence, the future of the Ming Dynasty has entered a fast track, with almost no more worries.

In scientific research or in the course of social development, the worst thing is to go astray in an inopportune time.

However, Zhang Yunxiu was able to act as a guiding light, leading the Ming Dynasty in the right direction.

Zhang Juzheng looked on with a mixture of belief and doubt. Although these words were outrageous, almost every boast his youngest son had made had come true.

Could it really be as he thinks?
If that's the case, marrying a princess would indeed be a good thing, and it would put the emperor at ease. In the future, the Zhang family would guard a region for the Ming Dynasty and achieve wealth and honor for generations, which is much better than being a high-ranking official for generations.

When Zhang Yunxiu got excited, he lowered his voice and said.

"I've made up my mind. On the other side of the open sea, there's a golden island, lush with vegetation and rich in minerals. If our family could..."

Zhang Juzheng's face had just shown a hint of reverie when he immediately interrupted him.

"How can we go too far from home? We should choose a place closer to home."

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "Father, you don't understand."

"You unfilial son!" Zhang Juzheng gritted his teeth.

Just as the two were talking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

"That treacherous dog is right there in that sedan chair! Brothers, follow me and kill this villain!"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside, filled with endless resentment.

Zhang Juzheng frowned and asked, "What happened outside?"

Zhang Yunxiu peeked out, smiled, and waved his hand.

"It's nothing serious. It's just that a group of gamblers have lost their minds and want to cause trouble for Minister Yu."

Zhang Juzheng was somewhat puzzled: "They've lost so badly, why would they seek out Yu Bingzhong?"

"I don't know either."

Zhang Yunxiu spread his hands with a strange expression.

Why search for Yu Youding?
That would require asking the Wanli Emperor. Presumably, in order to divert the attention of the people and scholars, the Eastern Depot has already made efforts to pin the matter of selecting the top scholar on Yu Youding.

In short, the great Emperor Wanli must be perfect; if he has any problems, it must be because there are treacherous officials in the court!

Zhang Juzheng quickly guessed the crux of the problem and sighed.

"You are in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so pay close attention to today's events and make sure nothing happens to Yu Bingzhong."

In a way, Yu Youding was a marginal figure in Zhang's faction, though he was somewhat wavering.

Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand dismissively and said...

"Father, please rest assured, no one will die."

(End of this chapter)