Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 121 I want to see the emperor

"What are you doing?" Near noon, a flatbed oxcart pulling several wooden cylinders was stopped by armored Jinyiwei guarding the intersection. "Jinyiwei are on duty. This road is closed. Please take a detour."

"Are you any outsiders? We are from the palace. Go and call your manager." said the young man sitting next to the coachman.

"The palace?" The captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guards then noticed that the man's beardless white face was a little too clean. He certainly didn't look like a coachman who was exposed to the wind and sun all day long.

"You should go quickly, we'll wait here." The man was very well-behaved and did not take advantage of his position to break through the checkpoint.

After a while, Lu Wenzhao came over with Yin Li and several captains.

"I am Lu Wenzhao, a captain in the Eastern Office. May I ask where you come from?" Lu Wenzhao led the Jinyiwei around him to salute the man respectfully.

The man jumped off the carriage and politely and respectfully replied, "You are Captain Lu. I've heard a lot about you. I never thought you were in charge here."

Lu Wenzhao was a little confused. What merits and abilities did he have to make the eunuchs in the palace admire his name for so long?

"I'm from the Imperial Household Department. My name is Zhang Yanshang, and I work in the Secretariat." Zhang Yanshang briefly introduced himself and pointed to another eunuch holding the ox reins. "This is Wang Tiqian, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Kitchen."

Zhang Yanshang's position and age were far lower than Wang Tiquan's, but he was from the Imperial Household Department, so he could sit next to him calmly and introduce him as a superior.

"Greetings, Eunuch Zhang, and Eunuch Wang," Lu Wenzhao saluted again. "Excuse me, may I ask what brings you to the Zhang residence?" Lu Wenzhao asked, waving his hand for the Imperial Guards to make way.

Zhang Yanshang was very satisfied with Lu Wenzhao's tactful behavior.

"Come, Captain Lu, please take a seat." Zhang Yanshang climbed onto the oxcart and patted the specially vacated seat. The intersection was less than thirty steps from the entrance; there was no need for a car. Zhang Yanshang's gesture was a gesture of appreciation for Lu Wenzhao's courtesy.

Lu Wenzhao naturally wouldn't refuse the favor. He immediately put on a flattered expression. "Then I, Lu, will respectfully obey your command."

"We are here in compliance with the Emperor's order." Zhang Yanshang spoke only after Lu Wenzhao sat down.

"Please do as you please, eunuchs." Lu Wenzhao decided not to ask the two eunuchs about their purpose.

"Captain Lu doesn't ask, but the rules still have to be followed. I have to tell Captain Lu about it." Zhang Yanshang said with a smile.

"Hey! You say." Lu Wenzhao acted flattered again.

"The emperor is kind-hearted. He thought that this big family must have food, so he asked us to send some rice, flour, grain, oil, fat, meat, vegetables and other things." Zhang Yanshang said with a smile.

"Your Majesty is wise." Although these things had nothing to do with him, Lu Wenzhao still bowed in the direction of the Forbidden City.

"Oh, by the way. Xixinsi will bring another cart of coal later. I won't come then. Please give me some convenience, Captain Lu." After saying the last sentence, the ox cart drove to the back door without a threshold.

Boom, boom, boom! There was a knock on the door.

"It's Captain Lu. What can I do for you?" As soon as Ding Baiying heard the noise, he came to the door with his sword in his arms.

To avoid suspicion, Lu Wenzhao ignored Ding Baiying and instead introduced the two eunuchs sitting on the ox cart to Zhang Shirui, who arrived shortly after. "This is Eunuch Zhang Yanshang from the Imperial Household Department, and this is Eunuch Wang Tiqian from the Imperial Kitchen Department."

After the introductions, Lu Wenzhao led his men away. He truly didn't want to get involved in the Zhang family's affairs. All Lu Wenzhao wanted now was to quickly complete his mission and then take his men to Liaodong. Staying in the capital, a treacherous place, for too long would truly shorten his lifespan.

"Greetings, gentlemen. I am Zhang Shirui, the eldest daughter of Zhang Xianyong, the head of Longhu Mountain." She already knew that her father had been stripped of his title of Heavenly Master by the emperor.

"Greetings, Miss Zhang." The two eunuchs got off the car and saluted.

After the formalities, Zhang Yanshang explained his purpose: "We are here on the emperor's orders to deliver this cart of rice, grain, meat, and vegetables to the Zhang residence. Please ask the servants to come and help carry it."

Zhang Yan glanced at Wang Tiqian, who immediately understood. He pointed to the wooden barrel on the ox cart and said, "Here are five stone of fine rice, two stone of white flour, and one hundred catties of fresh pork."

"Finally, there are 20 kilograms of fresh yellow vegetables. This is a rare reward. Only princes, princesses and favored concubines can have a fixed ration." Wang Tiquan touched the small wooden barrel wrapped tightly with a thick quilt, and said in a rather reluctant tone.

"I, a sinful woman, bow my head to thank the emperor for his grace." Zhang Shirui led the ten servants in the mansion and kowtowed in the direction of the Forbidden City to express her gratitude.

Ding Baiying was reluctant, but she still put down her sword and knelt with Zhang Shirui. She was now Miss Zhang's bodyguard, and standing there like a pen holder would only cause trouble for Miss Zhang.

After performing the ceremony of thanksgiving, Zhang Shirui stood up and said to Zhang Yanshang, "Can you please help me, Eunuch Zhang?"

"Please speak, young lady. But let me be frank with you, I may not be able to agree to your request." Zhang Yanshang made a gesture of invitation.

"I, a guilty girl, would like to see the emperor. Could you please ask Eunuch Zhang to ask for his favor?" As she spoke, Zhang Shirui handed over the three Xuanchang silver notes with a hundred taels printed on them to Zhang Yanshang.

"You want to see the Emperor?" Zhang Yanshang thought for a moment. Money or not didn't matter; he'd have to turn it in anyway. What mattered was the Emperor's intentions. While the Emperor severely punished Zhang Tianshi, he also ordered the Imperial Household Department to send rice to Zhang Shirui. The Emperor must be trying to treat these father and daughter separately. Why? Never mind. I'll just ask my godfather and ask him to test the old ancestor's attitude.

"I can ask for you, but don't have too high expectations. If you don't receive a reply, just stay in the mansion quietly." After thinking of a way to ask without getting himself involved, Zhang Yanshang took the silver note from Zhang Shirui.

After unloading the grain, the two eunuchs drove the ox cart out of Zhang's house. "This is for you." Although Wang Tigan didn't dare to say anything if he didn't give it to him, Zhang Yanshang still took out a hundred-liang silver note and put it in Wang Tigan's hand, adhering to the old rule that everyone who saw it got a share.

Even though Wang Tiqian was a eunuch in the lucrative Shangshenjian government office, a hundred taels of silver was still a lot of money. Wang Tiqian nodded repeatedly, even calling the young eunuch in front of him, who could be his son, "brother." "Thank you very much, Brother Zhang."

"Don't be polite, we're all on the same errand." Zhang Yanshang was even more blunt. "And your oxcart is indeed more comfortable than many horse-drawn carriages." Zhang Yanshang almost treated Wang Tiqian as a "cow driver."

After the two eunuchs drove away in the ox cart, the back door of Zhang's mansion was closed again.

"What does the emperor mean?" Zhang Shirui looked at the servants carrying rice into the kitchen and muttered to himself as if in a dream.

"What else could it mean? It saves us the trouble of going out shopping." Ding Baiying's tone was filled with resentment. "You really are taking care of me." "Be careful with your words! This is a favor. It's just like the palace has been sending people to clean this uninhabited mansion." Zhang Shirui was "awakened" by Ding Baiying's answer and sighed, "The royal family has been kind to the Zhang family. It's the Zhang family who has let the royal family down."

"But what does this have to do with you?" Ding Baiying guessed the whole story shortly after meeting the Jinyiwei in Tianjin. However, as a man of the underworld who enjoys taking revenge, Ding Baiying disliked venting his anger on others or implicating others.

"Of course it's related. I'm the eldest daughter of the Zhang family, and I'm in Beijing. The emperor kept me here to put pressure on my father, so that the Zhang family would give in and admit their mistakes." Zhang Shirui laughed at herself. "In fact, I used to imagine that if my father didn't come, the emperor would summon me to the palace for a discussion. But it seems that the emperor didn't want to discuss the Dao at all."

"Miss, are you referring to those foreigners who came to visit Zhang's house?" Ding Baiying asked.

"Driving a tiger to devour a wolf, they keep each other in check. The emperor's conspiracy isn't hard to guess," Zhang Shirui said. "But since it's an open conspiracy, there's no way to avoid it. My father thought he could escape, but whether the Zhang family could escape wasn't about how they escaped, but whether the emperor would let them go. Emperor Shizong summoned the 49th Heavenly Master, my great-grandfather Zhang Yongxu, to Beijing to discuss Taoism. He claimed illness after only six months and begged to return. Was the Heavenly Master able to return to Longhu Mountain because he was ill?" Zhang Shirui asked herself, answering:
"Of course not. The Heavenly Master was able to return to Mount Longhu because the Emperor was willing to let him go! What if Emperor Sejong hadn't given his approval and ordered the Heavenly Master to stay in Beijing to recuperate? Would the Heavenly Master have dared to sneak back? It's because Father is too clever that the Emperor is jealous of him."

"Actually, I'm grateful to your Senior Brother Lu." Zhang Shirui changed the subject and said soothingly, "You shouldn't have gotten into an unpleasant situation with him because of me."

"Why should Miss thank him? He's just afraid of ruining the job he's got." Ding Baiying shook her head and said, "And my dislike for him isn't just because of Miss. He's become the person he once hated. He's vain, materialistic, and servile. Miss, you saw how servile he was before those two eunuchs, right? Captain Lu almost knelt before them and called them dad."

"Miss Ding, I don't know what your senior brother was like in the past, so I won't comment. I just want to say that, regardless of Captain Lu's motives, he certainly helped a lot with the Zhang Mansion." Zhang Shirui grabbed Ding Baiying's hand and looked at her sincerely. "The new emperor is different from the previous one. He is a monarch who attaches great importance to imperial authority. The execution on the first day of this month, which was almost a prisoner offering ceremony, is proof of this."

"If Captain Lu hadn't rushed all the way and stopped me in Tianjin, His Majesty would probably have considered my leaving Beijing as 'escape' or even 'provocation'."

"By then, I'm afraid that the small sect will replace the big sect. There must be a Tianshi Mansion in charge of Taoist affairs, but it doesn't have to be my family."

In just a few days, Zhang Shirui had become a completely different person. "I've thought carefully about it. The Emperor's order for food to be sent to the palace today shouldn't be an attempt to further restrict the Zhang family's access."

"Why is that?" This was the first time Ding Baiying asked Zhang Shirui.

"I don't know, but I guess it may be related to Captain Lu." Zhang Shirui said.

"Senior brother? He is just an insignificant sixth-rank official who doesn't even have the qualifications to enter the imperial city. How could he possibly influence the emperor's decision?" Ding Baiying herself didn't realize that she had changed her words.

"Miss Ding, Captain Lu may not be able to see the Emperor, but he has to report the reason for my departure." Zhang Shirui said, "I'm sure he didn't exaggerate."

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The Shangshanjian's oxcarts were one of the few vehicles allowed into the Imperial City. Nanxunfang was right next to Dong'anmen, so it wasn't long before Zhang Yanshang and Wang Tiqian were swaggering into the Imperial City in their oxcarts.

The Imperial Kitchen was right next to the Imperial Palace, and the distance between the Medical School and Dong'anli Gate was only about fifty steps. Therefore, within half an hour of entering the Imperial City, Zhang Yanshang had to bid farewell to the Imperial Kitchen's oxcart and walk to the Imperial Household Department headquarters, four miles away, to report.

Zhang Yanshang did not complain, but walked briskly because he still had two silver notes of one hundred taels in his pocket.

After returning to the Imperial Household Department, Zhang Yanshang first went to the newly established Liancaifang.

The eunuch in charge of the Liancaifang (Liancaifang) was Wei Chao, the third official in charge of the Silijian (Silijian), a testament to the high status of the Liancaifang. However, Wei Bingbi had to serve his master, the Emperor, during the day, and only came to the Liancaifang to handle matters at sunset. Therefore, the person who handled daily official duties was Tang Zhong, the Junior Supervisor, who had been transferred from the Zhongshufang (Zhongshufang).

Although he was still a fifth-rank junior supervisor, anyone could see that Tang Zhong had been promoted.

"Son greets godfather!" Zhang Yanshang walked straight into the Liancai room which was not closed, came to Tang Zhong's desk, lifted his robe and kowtowed.

"What are you doing here?" Tang Zhong was a little surprised. He looked up but didn't put down his pen. "Go report to Admiral Cao. At your age, do you still need me to teach you the rules?"

"Godfather, I'm here to pay the money." Zhang Yanshang took out two silver notes of one hundred taels from his sleeve pocket and walked to Tang Zhong on his knees.

"Two hundred taels. Who gave it to you?" Tang Zhong didn't take the banknote, nor did he get up to speak.

"Zhang Shirui." Zhang Yanshang replied.

"This woman wants to see the master?" Tang Zhong immediately guessed the reason why Zhang Shirui gave money to Zhang Yanshang.

"Godfather is truly amazing!" Zhang Yanshang kowtowed again. "How did you predict that?"

"She wouldn't give you two hundred taels of silver just because your last name is Zhang," Tang Zhong said as a matter of course.

After blinking a few times, Tang Zhong put down his pen, walked to the door and closed it. "Zhang Shirui's matter is very troublesome."

"Then I'll send the money back to her." Zhang Yanshang said immediately.

"Can you send him back?" Tang Zhong knew his godson well. "Unless you forget the rule that everyone who sees it gets a share."

"How dare I, my son? I remember everything my godfather told me." Zhang Yanshang was a little frightened.

"The money is taken. Come and sit down, godfather will tell you something in private." Tang Zhong waved at Zhang Yanshang, signaling him to get up from the ground.

"Godfather." Zhang Yanshang sat obediently next to Tang Zhong.

"This woman is really lucky." Tang Zhong asked, "Do you know why I say that?"

"Because she was brought back by Captain Lu?"

"That's one thing." Tang Zhong nodded, acknowledging his godson's quick thinking. Then, lowering his voice, he said, "More importantly, this woman has met the master."

"Has she met the emperor?" Zhang Yanshang asked in surprise.

"Didn't the master leave the palace a few days ago? He went on a secret visit and visited several taverns. He ran into Zhang Shirui in one of them." Tang Zhong said mysteriously.

(End of this chapter)