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

Chapter 38 I have an idea

Does it look familiar?

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu's puzzled expression, Emperor Wanli became even happier and excitedly rubbed his hands together.

"When I heard that you, Zhang Shiyuan, had replaced the painting of the immortals in the painting of the prime minister with one of the immortals, I specially asked someone to get me a copy to study."

Your drawing skills are really nothing to write home about, but your style is quite novel. I've tried to imitate your style and drawn a few illustrations myself. What do you think?

Tanuki Fairy?
Upon seeing the enormous cat face on the manuscript, Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but show some restraint.

I don't know which heartless person in the household has spread the word about their "Tanuki Immortal".

It is said that the whole capital is in an uproar. Even if Zhang Yunxiu wanted to stop it, he couldn't stop the speed at which the news spread!
Before long, this fox spirit became even more popular than "On Reforming the Native Chieftain System," becoming a topic of ridicule among the common people.

In fact, whether in later generations or in ancient times, groups are prone to blind following.

Just like this incident, the people don't like to see high-ranking officials in the court in the limelight; they only like to see an official brought down.

Wei Yunzhen defied the emperor and wanted to ban newspapers, which led to him being vilified as a treacherous minister by the public.

However, Zhang Yunxiu made a fool of himself by taking his father's "Immortal Picture" out to sell, exchanging it for some kind of fox spirit, and the people were still happy to see it.

Zhang Yunxiu touched his chin somewhat awkwardly and said, "Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me. This is just a temporary measure because I'm short of money."

He also didn't forget to provide emotional value to the emperor.

"However, Your Majesty's painting skills are truly divine. Each figure leaps off the page, making you a master painter! You are far superior to me."

Zhang Yunxiu was a science and engineering student in his previous life.

I studied oil painting for a year, but that was in kindergarten.

It can be said that he knows almost nothing about painting.

The Wanli Emperor was different; all the Hanlin scholars and ministers around him were well-read and knowledgeable.

Even if you want to learn traditional Chinese painting, there are top painters in the country waiting for you.

Given his personal interest, it would be strange if his painting skills were bad.

Nowadays, if you were to awkwardly praise Emperor Wanli's ability to handle state affairs, the emperor would definitely rebuke you as a "treacherous minister" and feel that you are mocking him.

Just as praising Emperor Qianlong's poetic talent in the Qing Dynasty is a sure-fire way to praise Emperor Wanli's painting and calligraphy in the Ming Dynasty, it's a choice that won't go wrong.

The only difference is that the former has no poetic talent and is merely trying to appear cultured, while the latter actually has some skill.

Zhang Yunxiu's praise was no better than that of the Hanlin Academy scholars or court officials.

However, Emperor Wanli was very pleased with it.

"Hahahaha!" Emperor Wanli said smugly, hands on his plump hips. "You, Zhang Shiyuan, know your stuff. However, calling my painting skills a master is a bit of an exaggeration, but I am still quite accomplished."

The emperor couldn't help but be happy; he desperately needed genuine praise.

In the past, Hanlin scholars and Zhang Juzheng would often "admonish" the emperor, praising him as a wise ruler and using phrases like "I humbly submit" in their speech. But did they truly approve of Emperor Wanli?

The emperor was not a fool; he had his own sense of justice and understood that his ministers were using this as a way to discipline him.

But he was used to being disciplined, and after a moment of joy, the Wanli Emperor shook his head and said...

"Although this painting is good, it is ultimately a minor art, merely something to occasionally adjust one's mood, and is not worthy of serious consideration."

Zhang Yunxiu stared intently, and after a while, his eyes suddenly lit up.

The emperor is so passionate about painting, wouldn't it be a waste not to make use of it?

"Your Majesty, who says that painting is a waste of time? In my opinion, painting is extremely useful."

"Effect?" Emperor Wanli couldn't help but chuckle. "Zhang Shiyuan, you're joking again."

“No,” Zhang Yunxiu said firmly. “Your Majesty! The lives of the people of the capital rest on your shoulders!”

"Huh?" Emperor Wanli was somewhat bewildered. "Painting can save the people of the capital?"

He looked at Zhang Yunxiu with some suspicion. Had this kid been corrupted by Zhang Juzheng? Had he started to follow the old ways of the common people?

Zhang Yunxiu sighed, "Has Your Majesty received any memorials recently regarding the plague?" "The plague," the Wanli Emperor said, glancing at his desk. He had just been worrying about this matter. "This disease has struck with ferocity, causing immense suffering to millions of people; it is truly my fault."

Zhang Yunxiu interrupted the emperor's habit of speaking in official jargon.

"Does the imperial court have a countermeasure?"

The Wanli Emperor said somewhat hesitantly, "The Grand Secretaries and Grand Secretaries have drafted a set of regulations; surely they will be suppressed soon?"

Zhang Yunxiu bluntly exposed: "It's nothing more than the same old story of the Huimin Pharmacy and the relief porridge distribution, isn't it? How many people can the Huimin Pharmacy help? The imperial decrees have always been like this, but every time it's involved tens of thousands of people."

"It's better than doing nothing." The Wanli Emperor exhaled, as if trying to convince himself. "This has always been true, both in ancient and modern times."

In reality, Emperor Wanli certainly had his own ambitions.

It was still the ninth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign; he was not yet the absurd emperor who had neglected his duties for decades.

However, Wanli was taught by Confucian scholars and Zhang Juzheng from a young age, and all his abilities in governing the country were taught by them.

Even the gentlemen couldn't do anything about it, so what could Emperor Wanli possibly do?

"This shouldn't be happening!"

But Zhang Yunxiu said firmly.

Under the bewildered gaze of the Wanli Emperor, Zhang Yunxiu pulled over a sheet of white paper and began to draw.

Emperor Wanli frowned, losing interest in joking, and began to look at it seriously.

However, Zhang Yunxiu's calligraphy was really not flattering, especially the way he held the brush, which was rather strange.

Fortunately, Emperor Wanli held back his laughter, otherwise he would have certainly made a good mockery of Zhang Yunxiu.

The painting is poor, but it's still the same as before, and the style is incredibly lifelike.

Just like the painting "The Fox Fairy", the little figures on the paper are not realistic, but they have a distinctive style and are very endearing at first glance.

The most crucial element is the content itself; the little figures inside appear to be washing their hands one moment, cleaning their rooms the next, and even covering their mouths and noses with a cloth when they go out.
"What is this?" Emperor Wanli frowned. "Why is it depicting a notorious bandit?"

He could understand the rest; it was just about keeping things hygienic. But covering his mouth and nose seemed a bit strange.

In the Wanli Emperor's mind, only bandits would cover their mouths and noses.

"To prevent and control epidemics," Zhang Yunxiu replied simply and clearly.

"Preventing and controlling epidemics?"

Emperor Wanli thought the other party must be joking. Could these few illustrations really prevent and control epidemics?

Without offering further explanation, Zhang Yunxiu handed the brush to the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, could you please paint a few copies of this?"

Emperor Wanli was somewhat bewildered, but he still took the brush and said, "What's so difficult about this? Your painting is truly appalling. Let me show you my skills."

As they were talking, the Wanli Emperor picked up his brush and redrawn several more versions of Zhang Yunxiu's work.

When an expert makes a move, the difference is truly remarkable. Compared to Zhang Yunxiu's dry and lifeless figures, which resembled disabled children, Emperor Wanli's brushstrokes make him appear more like a real person, and even more vibrant.

However, the emperor had a rather wicked sense of humor, and changed the villain's portrait to that of a fox spirit.

He said smugly, "How about it? Isn't my fox spirit incredibly powerful?"

Zhang Yunxiu's facial muscles twitched; he knew he couldn't get over the "raccoon fairy" joke.

However, he didn't explain much. He simply picked up another brush and began to write small characters on the corresponding illustrations.

Emperor Wanli frowned, took a closer look, and said: "Cover your mouth and nose, practice good hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and ensure good ventilation."

He subconsciously complained, "What did you write? It's neither fish nor fowl, neither vulgar nor elegant."

For the ancients, similar words did exist, but some were colloquialisms that were rarely written down, and others were not expressed in this way at all.

Of course, even if Emperor Wanli was a little confused by the illustrations, he could still understand their meaning.

"That's it?" The emperor looked at Zhang Yunxiu with some suspicion.

　Thank you to "The Fallen One in the Novel" for the 100 Qidian Coins reward!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)