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

Chapter 364 Embroidered Uniform Guard Embezzling from Within? Zhang Yunxiu Deserves a Promotion!

"Where is justice? Where is justice?!"

When Zhang Yunxiu and his men rescued Yu Youding, he no longer looked like a human being. His once proud and upright nose had collapsed, his face was covered in blood and flesh, and he cried like a helpless child.

"Waaaaah waaaah"

Yu Youding squatted on the ground, sobbing incessantly. His official robes were in disarray, and his hair was disheveled, making him look like a madman. Even three or four officers in brocade uniforms could not lift him up.

Zhang Yunxiu took two steps forward and couldn't help but sigh.

"Minister Yu, I am truly sorry. I arrived a step too late. I did not expect the thugs to be so vicious, beating a high-ranking official of the court into this state. They are lawless! Absolutely lawless!"

Yu Youding caught sight of Zhang Yunxiu through his slits, and as if grasping at a lifeline, he clung tightly to his leg and spoke in a low voice.

“Nephew! You’ve finally arrived! You must stand up for me! I’ve always been kind to others and have never made any enemies, but these people attacked me without even knowing what happened.”

If it weren't for the desperate resistance of my servants, I would be dead here today!
Ah...ah."

He howled a couple more times, a liquid that was hard to tell whether it was saliva or tears dripping from his swollen lips, and then grabbed Zhang Yunxiu's hand and said.

“Nephew, you are in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you must avenge me and bring these villains to justice. I have discerned that many of them are noble officials. Tomorrow I must go to court and ask His Majesty to do me justice!”

Zhang Yunxiu immediately looked troubled and couldn't help but sigh.

"Minister Yu, it's not that I don't want to help you, but my abilities are limited. Today, the Imperial Guards are all busy maintaining order on Qipan Street, so there are fewer patrols in these back alleys. We also arrived a bit late, and the villains have already escaped under the cover of darkness."

"What?" Yu Youding choked back a sob. "So I was beaten for nothing?"

"It's not for nothing! It's not for nothing!" Zhang Yunxiu said, patting the other man's hand. "Sir, this is for His Majesty, for the court, and for the stability of our Great Ming capital. Those people lost money, so naturally they have grievances in their hearts. It's better for them to vent their anger on you than to cause trouble in Qipan Street, isn't it?"

He patted his chest again.

"However, please rest assured, sir. Maintaining the stability of the capital is the duty of our Embroidered Uniform Guard. We will certainly intensify our investigations and strengthen our discipline in the future, so that you may have a clear and bright future!"

Before Yu Youding could say anything more, Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand and said...

"Guards, escort Minister Yu home. If anything goes wrong, I will not let you off easily."

"Yes!"

With the shouts of the Imperial Guards, Yu Youding was lifted up and hurried towards home.

"Put me down! Put me down! I'm too high! Too high!"

He let out one scream after another.

"Wait! I'm injured! Quickly, take me to the clinic! I need to go to the clinic!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunxiu immediately understood and gave instructions to the Imperial Guards.

"Wait, I almost forgot, Minister Yu is seriously injured. We should send him to the clinic so that Mr. Dongbi can treat him properly. We must save Minister Yu's face!"

Amidst the chaos, Yu Youding was finally sent away.

Zhang Yunxiu looked in the direction the other person had left and felt quite emotional.

This Minister Yu is truly great!
The fact that Emperor Wanli personally selected Liu Yongning as the top scholar not only caused dissatisfaction among scholars and literati, but also likely caused resentment among many great Confucian scholars. Most importantly, it affected the group of noble officials who were blinded by greed and had poured countless sums of money into the game.

With Minister Yu beaten, the matter was easily resolved. The nobles and officials vented their frustrations, and the emperor and Zhang Juzheng were spared the blame. Most importantly, with a minister beaten in the street, others probably had no grounds to make a fuss.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but sigh again.

Minister Yu was truly great!
"Who is coming?"

"it's me."

Zhu Yaoying took off her mask, revealing her face.

The garrisoned officer immediately bowed and said, "So it is Your Highness the Princess. I apologize for my intrusion."

Zhu Yaoying nodded slightly and said, "It's alright. It's understandable that you wouldn't recognize me since I'm dressed as a man."

She passed through many obstacles in the backyard of Renmin Medical Hall and finally saw the old nanny of Jingyang Palace outside a courtyard.

He couldn't help but ask.

"Granny, has Consort Gong gone to sleep?"

Upon seeing that it was Zhu Yaoying, the old woman quickly reported and replied.

"Your Highness, Consort Gong is also concerned about today's Lantern Festival. She has just gone to bed. If you wish to see her, I will go and inform her immediately."

"No need," Zhu Yaoying waved her hand and said. "It's getting late, so let Your Highness get some rest."

It was almost past midnight, and everyone in the capital had probably stayed up until now. Consort Wang, who was six months pregnant, especially needed to rest.

But before Zhu Yaoying could take more than a few steps after turning around, she heard a palace maid calling out from behind her.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

"what happened?"

"Her Highness Consort Gong just heard the sound and called you in to speak."

Has Consort Gong woken up?

Zhu Yaoying was somewhat surprised.

A kerosene lamp was lit in the side room, and under its dim light, Consort Wang carefully poured Zhu Yaoying a cup of jasmine tea.

The room was immediately filled with a pleasant fragrance.

Consort Wang's belly grew increasingly large. Leaning back in her chair, she couldn't help but sigh and say, "Since becoming pregnant, the doctors at the clinic have imposed many restrictions. I can't drink any kind of alcohol or tea. Only this jasmine tea can satisfy my craving. I hope you won't find it offensive, sister."

Zhu Yaoying took a small sip and exclaimed in admiration.

"This tea is quite refreshing and sweet."

Consort Wang then handed over a few more dried fruits and pastries, and asked softly.

"You must be exhausted today. I heard that the Lantern Festival Poetry Gathering was quite a grand affair, with a young master named 'Liu Yongning' making a great splash all the way through."

Zhu Yaoying looked rather embarrassed: "Please don't make fun of me, Your Majesty."

Consort Wang, with an air of matter-of-fact, covered her mouth and laughed as she spoke.

"I knew it was you, little sister. Not just anyone can use the name Yongning. You've really stole the show today."

Zhu Yaoying's face flushed slightly as she shook her head and explained.

"I still have Wan'er's help today. I'm just a figurehead. I guess I'm just a coward hiding in the background."

Seeing that the other party was in low spirits, Consort Wang comforted her, saying, "Sister, why be so hard on yourself? As a princess, you have been different from ordinary people since birth. You are envied for your wealth and honor, but you also suffer a lot inside. That's how most things are in this world."

Zhu Yaoying was surprised: "Your Majesty seems to have a very open-minded view."

Back then, Consort Wang was in the deep palace, and she was walking on thin ice at every turn, very cautious and timid.

But after leaving the palace for a few months, her inner turmoil was resolved. Consort Wang said with a smile, "The doctors at the medical clinic are right. If I complain and live in fear all day long, it will also affect the imperial heir in my womb. If I really want to get better, I should be more open-minded."

I used to be unable to sleep every night, fearing I would be harmed, but now I sleep soundly every night. I believe that after spring arrives, the imperial heir will surely be born safely.

Zhu Yaoying nodded and said, "It's good that you think this way, my sister-in-law."

Consort Wang noticed the complex emotions in Zhu Yaoying's heart. Having spent so much time with her, she naturally sensed it as well, and couldn't help but lower her voice as she spoke.

"Does my sister have someone she loves?"

Zhu Yaoying looked flustered and quickly stood up and said.

"Your Majesty, please rest well. After your rest day tomorrow, I will seek out Dr. Dongbi of the clinic to examine you."

I shall take my leave now.

Watching Zhu Yaoying's hurried departure, Consort Wang couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless, but she could understand. After all, as a princess of the Ming Dynasty, it was not allowed to have private affairs in accordance with traditional etiquette.

After leaving Consort Wang's courtyard, Zhu Yaoying, walking along the path, couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. She waved away the palace maids and nannies who were following her and said softly.

"I want to take a walk by myself."

Zhu Yaoying's residence was not far away, and this courtyard was the most heavily guarded part of the medical clinic, so it was very safe even at night.

After all the palace maids and nannies had left, Zhu Yaoying walked slowly into the moonlight. Her pale green shoes shone with a white light under the moonlight, and she was bathed in a silvery glow, yet she appeared somewhat melancholy.

"Butterflies and bees flutter among the flowers in their joyful reverie, while fine horses and luxurious carriages linger into the long night."

"The lights in front of the twelfth floor are like fire, and the moon outside Siping Street is like frost."

As Zhu Yaoying recited the poem again, the bustling scene of the Lantern Festival with its throngs of people seemed to reappear in her mind, forming a stark contrast with the cold moonlight at this moment.

In that instant, she loathed her royal status. If she could be born into a scholarly family like Li Qingzhao, the poet of the Qing Dynasty, and spend her days composing poems and becoming a perfect couple with "Zhao Mingcheng," how wonderful that would be.
Ironically, Zhao Mingcheng was also the son of a prime minister, but unfortunately, she was not Li Qingzhao.
Just as she was feeling lost and grieving alone under the moonlight, a male voice came from somewhere.

"The young lady is reciting poetry under the moonlight, isn't she afraid of disturbing those who are resting?"

Zhu Yaoying was immediately terrified and panicked. Her body tensed up, and she stared wide-eyed as she spoke.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass here! This is not a place for you."

Her voice carried an air of authority and coldness, yet her body was already trembling slightly with fear.

Just as Zhu Yaoying was pondering whether or not to shout for help, the male voice had a somewhat amused tone.

"How could I not come to my own place? Your Highness is so forgetful that you have even forgotten my voice."

Zhu Yaoying was stunned for a moment, then turned her head sharply towards the direction of the sound, only to find a person dressed in a flying fish robe, crawling out of the crack in the wall in a disheveled state.

Even after it crawled out, it was still cursing and swearing.

"If I had known I was going to sneak in myself, I wouldn't have set up the trap walls so securely."

From afar, the voice sounded somewhat like that of a chivalrous hero, but when I turned around, I saw that he was covered in weeds and mud, and his clothes were torn in several places. He looked utterly disheveled.

Zhu Yaoying couldn't help but burst out laughing, tears welling up in her eyes, and couldn't help but tease her.

"You, a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, have actually engaged in the embezzlement of your own posts?"

Zhang Yunxiu chuckled and said, "What, Your Highness, are you going to have me arrested?"

"Princesses have their own rules."

Zhu Yaoying raised her little face and said.

“It would be different if I weren’t a princess.”

After the Lantern Festival, the capital returned to peace. The biggest holiday of the year was over, and all the officials in the capital had dark circles under their eyes.

Zhang Yunxiu could easily find an excuse not to attend the morning court session, after all, he held several positions and had to take care of matters related to Xishan and the medical clinic.

But the officials did not have this blessing. Even the emperor had to sit obediently on the dragon throne to listen to the government, let alone these "oxen and horses" of the Ming Dynasty.
Outside the Meridian Gate, in the court offices, officials waited for the bell to ring before entering, their discussions continuing unabated.

Yang Wei, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, appeared to be in excellent spirits. He stroked his beard and praised the man.

"I am old and cannot compare with you young people. I went to bed early that day and got up early the next morning to inquire about the news. I was pleasantly surprised."

"Talented people emerge in every generation! Had I known such a masterpiece would be born, I would have risked my old bones to participate wholeheartedly."

"The lights in front of the twelfth floor are like fire." Yang Wei clicked his tongue in amazement, reciting the poem while shaking his head. "Such a perfect poem can be called unique since the founding of our Great Ming Dynasty. I heard that a few days ago, many actors and musicians set this poem to music and composed a ballad to spread throughout the world."

Xu Guo, who was also the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, remarked with emotion.

"And that Japanese woman's line, 'Flying beauties come together to light the lanterns, how can I bear to part with my beloved,' is something that countless lovesick men and women recite every day. I never thought that such a talented woman could emerge from such a small and barbaric country as Japan."

It's a pity that the Japanese woman, though talented, lacked grace. His Majesty personally selected Liu Yongning as the top scholar that day; though his poetry lacked talent, it possessed boundless spirit, showcasing the grandeur of our great nation. I personally believe that such strictness is unnecessary.

Most officials in the court could understand the considerations of Emperor Wanli and Zhang Juzheng. Considering the current situation of the Ming Dynasty and the circumstances at that time, choosing Liu Yongning was naturally the best option.

It wasn't just the two of them; almost everyone waiting in the court room today was talking about what happened at the Lantern Festival poetry gathering, especially marveling at Zhang Yunxiu's talent.

Some say Zhang Yunxiu was biding his time, others say he stole poems from his students to use as a facade, and still others believe that Zhang Yunxiu and the Japanese woman were a perfect match, and that the mishap that happened meant the world lost another beautiful love story.

Wang Guoguang, the Minister of Personnel, stood in front of them. Hearing the discussion among the officials behind him, he couldn't help but frown and reprimand them in a low voice.

"You two are both old, elders in the court, of a certain age. How can you be so frivolous? How can court officials and important government policies be discussed so casually?"

His words immediately quieted down the officials in the Ministry of Personnel.

Xu Guo, however, was still restless. He lowered his voice and asked Wang Guoguang.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has always been reluctant to attend the morning court session. Everyone is exhausted after the Lantern Festival. Why has His Majesty surprisingly agreed to attend court?"

Wang Guoguang glared at the other person again, and the latter couldn't help but shrink back.

But Wang Guoguang still explained in a low voice.

"It's nothing more than a matter concerning the envoys of vassal states. If vassal states want to send students to our Great Ming to study, there must naturally be a set of rules."

"This actually happened?" Xu Guo said in surprise.

“It has to work out, whether it’s a good idea or not.” Wang Guoguang said matter-of-factly.

He glanced at Xu Guo again and reminded him.

"Stop thinking such petty thoughts. His Majesty will likely trust Shi Yuan even more in the future."

"What does Your Highness mean by this?" Xu Guo asked, looking embarrassed. "How could I possibly have any such thoughts?"

Wang Guoguang didn't explain much, but put his hands in his sleeves and said leisurely.

"You know that's enough. But you should know that there is another important matter today. Shi Yuan has made outstanding contributions over the past year, and even His Majesty must reward him for his merits."

Xu Guo's face stiffened slightly, and his lips twitched as he spoke.

"Is that so?"

(End of this chapter)