Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 181 The Emperor’s Worries

After saying goodbye to Song Ming, Zhang Yunxiu felt a little regretful.

I secretly cursed myself for being impulsive and agreeing to this matter so rashly.

The Kong family holds high positions in government and is respected by scholars all over the world. If we touch them, it would be more difficult than investigating those corrupt officials.

This isn’t a crusty pile of shit.

It's a terrifying hornet's nest.

But he was not the type to be afraid of the wolf in front and the tiger behind. Since he had already agreed, the regret only lasted for a moment before disappearing.

He looked at Han San and ordered, "Well, send a few smart brothers to Qufu to get information. Remember not to alarm the Kong family. We have to take our time."

"Yes." Han San responded respectfully and left with a promise.

Zhang Yunxiu was in a restless mood and followed him out of the living room and went straight to his own bedroom.

Inside, there was a crib with a fence around it, and a chubby, white baby with tiny hands and feet was lying in it.

Zheng Xier saw her husband come in and slowly buttoned up her shirt.

Zhang Yunxiu walked forward quickly, and Zheng Xier put her jade finger in front of her nose and hushed her husband to be quiet.

With a smile and a nod, Zhang Yunxiu tiptoed forward like a thief.

She walked to the crib and looked down, and saw her daughter lying curled up with a dull expression on her face.

Seeing his daughter's innocent appearance while sleeping, Zhang Yunxiu's eyes were filled with love, pride and joy.

From being wrinkled when just born to being white, plump and adorable now.

Zhang Yunxiu knew that this was all thanks to Zheng Xier, so he gently hooked his arm around Zheng Xier's waist, put his head on her shoulder, and said softly, "Xier, thank you for your hard work."

"Why are you saying this? We are already an old married couple." Zheng Xier felt a lump in her throat and pretended to be indifferent.

"That's what I wanted to say."

"Okay, okay, just say what you want to say." Zheng Xier evaded the question and slapped away her husband's dishonest hand.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled awkwardly, let go of his wife, turned to look at his daughter in the stroller, and reached his hand inside.

"Oh, don't. This little ancestor just fell asleep. If he wakes up, I will be in trouble." Zheng Xier frowned and called out to her husband.

"It's okay, I'll just hug her." Zhang Yunxiu tilted his head and smiled at his wife, indicating that she should be at ease, but his hands did not stop moving, and in a blink of an eye he gently hooked up the little one inside.

The little guy is very light, and has the fragrance of bathing and a light scent of breast milk.

"Yah"

Zhang Xuan suddenly muttered, which scared Zheng Xier beside her. This little ancestor had a bad temper. If she was woken up just after falling asleep and started crying and making a fuss, she would never be able to rest.

Sure enough, Zhang Xuan's eyelashes twitched and she slowly opened her big watery eyes.

Zheng Xier slapped her forehead and thought to herself, it’s over.

But soon, she was stunned by what was happening: the father and daughter looked at each other, their foreheads touching, their noses touching. Zhang Xuan grinned and stretched out her chubby hand to pull Zhang Yunxiu's ear.

He still shouted incoherently: "Daddy."

"Hey." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and agreed, picked up Zhang Xuan and brought her to the big bed, then put her on it. Zhang Xuan climbed up on it using her hands and feet like a tiger returning to the forest and a dragon returning to the sea.

Zhang Yunxiu held his cheeks with his hands and watched everything quietly.

Zheng Xier, who was standing at the side, looked jealous. She came forward and muttered, "What a heartless little girl. I have been feeding her for so long, but she never called me. As soon as you came, she became like this."

"You're still jealous of your daughter." Zhang Yunxiu teased her.

"Just eat it, just eat it."

Zheng Xier's cheeks puffed up and she suddenly showed a little woman's look.

Zhang Yunxiu laughed out loud. After this period of relaxation, his irritability was relieved. The family of three was having a great time. Soon, Zhang Xuan was tired from running and returned to her mother's arms, yawning and squinting her eyes.

"You guys have a good rest, I have something to go out for."

"Oh, then come back early."

After leaving the courtyard, Zhang Yunxiu went straight to the Qianqing Palace. When he arrived at the East Warm Pavilion, he saw the emperor sitting on the main seat, and Wei Qing stood quietly behind the emperor with a respectful look on his face.

"Your Majesty, your servant Zhang Yunxiu greets you."

"Get up."

After the greetings, Emperor Wanli waved his hand and said impatiently: "Yunxiu, Chengxi and Songjiang Prefecture, as well as the silver dollars, have made a lot of money these days, and you have made an indelible contribution."

"Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty." Zhang Yunxiu smiled modestly, then took out a scroll from his arms and presented it with both hands: "This is a precious treasure I have obtained, and now I come to present it to Your Majesty."

"Oh, then I'd like to take a look." Emperor Wanli waved his hand, motioning Wei Qing to take it.

Wei Qing took it from Zhang Yunxiu with a smile on his face, then turned back.

Emperor Wanli rubbed his hands together and looked at the scroll expectantly. Judging from the mounting, it should be a painting or calligraphy by a famous artist.

He took it and slowly unfolded it.

There was a line of poetry written in vigorous small regular script inside.

"It is said that the common people have a hard time.

Just because all officials are greedy.

Now you look at Chang'an Road,
I only see corrupt officials and not the sky.”

After reading it from beginning to end, Emperor Wanli became so angry that his face turned blue and his facial features swayed.

Wei Qing on the side also looked pale and was secretly surprised. He didn't know why Zhang Yunxiu would offer such a "dirty thing".

Isn't this like slapping yourself in the face with the sole of a shoe?
After taking several deep breaths, Emperor Wanli glanced at Zhang Yunxiu and asked, "Is this your treasure?"

Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly and repeated what Song Ming had said.

At the same time, he added fuel to the fire, saying, "The Kong family claims to be the descendants of a saint. Most of the land in Qufu belongs to them. The magistrate of Qufu has been a member of the Kong family since the Zhao and Song dynasties."

"According to me, the Kong family has become a country within a country."

Emperor Wanli also disliked the literati, who were always thinking about being the emperor's teachers and always focusing on their own small mistakes. As an emperor, he was walking on thin ice.

However, he was also well aware of the important status of the Kong family.

Unless it is absolutely necessary, do not act rashly.

"I will send officials to investigate this matter."

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Yunxiu's cheeks turned red and he shouted with his eyes wide open.

"Okay, you should take a rest first. You've been tired these days." Emperor Wanli waved his hand impatiently and said to Wei Qing, "Go to the inner storehouse and pick out some more things to give to Zhang Sicheng."

"Yes."

Wei Qing let out a long sigh, secretly thanking the emperor for protecting Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu will be leaving the museum next spring.

According to the custom, they would be promoted to the position of tutor to the emperor. After a few more years, they would serve as the chief examiner of the autumn examination, and then they would be able to find a position in the Hanlin Academy.

Continue to endure for a few more years.

Before he turns 40, he might be able to enter the cabinet.

How can such a bright future be ruined by a few ordinary people?
Without waiting for Zhang Yunxiu to continue answering, Wei Qing pushed Zhang Yunxiu out.

(End of this chapter)