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

Chapter 42 Was I, Zhang Juzheng, wrong?

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu had a curse in his heart, but he didn't know whether he should say it!
But Zhang Juzheng didn't give him a chance to speak at all.

"Alright." He stood up and dusted himself off. "Let's leave it at that for today! Don't mention it again."

"father"

“You Qi.” Zhang Juzheng looked at the steward again.

You Qi stepped forward and bowed: "Does the master have any further instructions?"

"I still have some memorials to deal with. Go to the study and fetch them. I need to finish them before the afternoon court meeting."

Master You Qi wanted to dissuade him, but ultimately gave up the idea. Zhang Juzheng's workaholic nature was not something that had only developed overnight.

"Alright, stop standing here."

Zhang Juzheng looked around and said.

"Go do what you're supposed to do."

For a moment, the tense atmosphere in the courtyard finally relaxed a bit, and the servants hurriedly got to work.

Some handed Zhang Juzheng a handkerchief and helped him up, while others began cleaning up the scene, and still others finally stepped forward to take care of the already battered and bruised Fourth Young Master.

Zhang Juzheng let out a breath, seemingly tired of communicating with his young son, and left the courtyard without looking back.

However, when he passed by his eldest son Zhang Jingxiu, he saw that his eldest son was still in a daze and frowned deeply.

Zhang Jingxiu murmured, "Father, I..."

Zhang Juzheng's eyes revealed weariness as he said indifferently, "Study hard."

Zhang Jingxiu: "???"

In the side room, Zhang Yunxiu looked at his fourth brother, whose body was covered in wound medicine, and couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

After all, this matter was indeed caused by him.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at his fourth brother, whose face was dark, and said with concern.

Fourth Brother, are you alright?

In a daze, Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu raised his head and grabbed Zhang Yunxiu's hand.

"You heartless bastard!"

Zhang Yunxiu panicked and was about to break free.

Unexpectedly, a loud "waaaah!" was heard, and Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu burst into tears again.

"Fifth brother! I don't blame you! I only blame myself for being confused for a moment and getting involved in the wicked affair with the brothel. But you must return those three thousand taels to me~"
That's my brother's hard-earned money!

In fact, when the fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu, heard his younger brother defending him, his anger had subsided considerably.

Is there still a small portion left?

The money is still with Zhang Yunxiu! If he turns against us, who will we ask for it back?

Everything else was fine, but for those three thousand taels of silver, Zhang Jianxiu had risked his life countless times, and his buttocks were almost beaten raw.

If he can't get it back, he might as well be dead.

Zhang Yunxiu looked at his fourth brother with a strange expression and explained somewhat awkwardly.

"It's too late. I gave all the money to Yu Xiangdou before I came back today. The shop and workshop should be settled by now, right?"

Zhang Jianxiu's expression froze instantly. He buried his head in the pillow and burst into another wail. "I don't want to live anymore!"

Zhang Yunxiu looked at his older brother, who was covered in wounds but still worried about the money.

He seems to be in a really bad situation.
Feeling sorry for him, he explained, "Brother, don't worry. I'll keep my money here. I guarantee it will make a huge profit, and I'll return it to you after it doubles."

"Huh?" Zhang Jianxiu's crying stopped abruptly. "Aren't we going to help the sick people?"

Zhang Jianxiu would definitely feel bad if he had to spend money to help ordinary people he didn't know.

But if he didn't help, Zhang Jianxiu would feel guilty.

Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, "Relief should be done, but who says relief can't make money?"

"Oh?" Zhang Jianxiu's eyes lit up, and he seemed to have stopped hurting. He scrambled to his feet and said, "Fifth Brother, do you have a good plan?"

"Fourth Brother, have you forgotten what I said?"

Zhang Yunxiu squinted and said.

"We're making money off the court officials; how much can ordinary people have? The cellars of those upright scholars are overflowing with silver! They just keep it hidden away all day long—they're a bunch of traitors!"

Zhang Jianxiu hesitated for a moment: "It's true that officials have money, but getting them to willingly part with it is by no means an easy task, is it?"

Everyone knows that officials are rich, so why do they still exploit the common people? It's simply because the common people are easy to bully, while the officials in the court are difficult to deal with.

Zhang Yunxiu said, "This is how we use it for relief."

Are these two things related?

Zhang Yunxiu: "It's a long story. Fourth Brother, please don't say I lied to you. Once your injuries have healed, I'll take you to the workshop and you'll see for yourself."

"really?"

Zhang Yunxiu nodded: "Of course."

"Then help me up."

Zhang Yunxiu: "???"

As they were talking, Zhang Jianxiu, as if nothing had happened, got up from the bed, looking energetic and vigorous, and even performed a couple of martial arts moves.

Zhang Yunxiu was shocked: "Fourth Brother, you're not..."

Zhang Jianxiu silently endured it, but on the surface he still gritted his teeth and said.

"What's a little injury? That old geezer Zhang Juzheng is so old, he can't exert much strength. I've practiced martial arts since I was a child, my body is made of iron!"

Zhang Yunxiu looked at his fourth brother with suspicion. His grimacing and sweating face didn't look like he was alright at all.

Zhang Jianxiu couldn't wait any longer, and he rubbed his hands together as he spoke.

"Let's go, let's go take a look now."

"Now? How about we talk about it tomorrow?"

"We need to act quickly, or I'm afraid our money will disappear." "???"

child time.

The Zhang residence had long since fallen silent, with only the steward, You Qi, carrying a lantern and looking around.

Given his position in the Zhang household, it wouldn't normally be his turn to stand guard or patrol.

However, too many things have happened at the manor recently. You Qi is loyal to the Zhang family and is worried about them, so he takes it upon himself to patrol the night.

For the Zhang family, You Qi was no longer just an ordinary servant.

He had watched the young masters grow up and had developed feelings for them. Today, Zhang Juzheng's anger nearly terrified him.

During his night patrol, You Qi made a point of circling Zhang Yunxiu's bedroom several times, fearing that this "living ancestor" might cause some trouble again.

After finding everything calm, You Qi glanced meaningfully at the dark bedroom.

After the young master Zhang Yunxiu suffered a serious illness, he seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

No, his absurdity is even greater than before.

However, their knowledge, abilities, and spirit are incomparable. In fact, in You Qi's opinion, they are even more amazing than the third young master of the top scholar.

Unfortunately.
You Qi sighed, a hint of worry in his eyes; he was well aware of the Zhang family's predicament.

Does this mean the Zhang family will really have to rely on this young master from now on?

Lost in thought, You Qi had already strolled to the backyard. As he passed the study, he suddenly stopped and looked into the room.

"Who is here!"

Upon hearing the commotion, You Qi immediately roared and shone the lantern into the study.

Upon closer inspection, he was startled, for the person sitting in the study without a light was none other than Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Juzheng looked down at some manuscripts in his study by the moonlight, lost in thought.

"You Qi, come in."

After hearing Zhang Juzheng's instructions, You Qi pushed open the door and entered. He placed the lantern on the shelf, cupped his hands in greeting to Zhang Juzheng, and said...

"Master~"

He hesitated for a moment, but finally asked.

"It's past midnight. You're all alone here. I'm worried you might catch a cold."

"I'm fine."

Zhang Juzheng did not look up, continuing to look at the manuscript in his hand.

You Qi didn't know what the contents of the document were, nor did he bother to investigate. He stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Zhang Juzheng's instructions.

Suddenly, Zhang Juzheng said, "When you have some free time these next few days, go and investigate what kind of business Zhang Shiyuan is doing."

Upon hearing this, You Qi recalled the events of the day and was startled, then hesitated before speaking.

"Master, you..."

During the day, You Qi was still wondering to himself that, given Zhang Juzheng's pragmatic and rational nature, he shouldn't have acted impulsively and "misunderstanding" the Fourth Young Master.

Why does he keep scolding the fourth young master?

Now it seems that Zhang Juzheng was not only unaware, but actually quite aware of it.

The lantern illuminated half of Zhang Juzheng's body, while his other profile remained hidden in the darkness. He spoke in a detached voice.

"Do you really think I'm someone who acts impulsively?"

"This"

Before You Qi could speak, Zhang Juzheng began to explain on his own.

"Although the fourth son, Si Zhe, is a bit frivolous and lecherous, he is upright and loyal. He would never betray his brothers, I am certain of that."

You Qi couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Then, sir, what else do you want?"

Zhang Juzheng said with disappointment in his eyes, "I'm not angry that he secretly hoarded silver, I'm angry that he was cheated out of his secret stash of silver, and then he had the nerve to come to me to complain!"

How could I, Zhang Juzheng, have such a useless son?

Zhang Juzheng exhaled a sigh of frustration.

Today's reprimand is not because Zhang Jianxiu hid three thousand taels of silver, nor because he frequented prostitutes.

Instead, I'm angry at their lack of ambition!

It was precisely because of this emotion that Zhang Juzheng cared so much about Zhang Yunxiu's words during the day.

He began to have his first doubts.

Was my teaching really wrong?

“Speaking of which, Shiyuan…” Zhang Juzheng’s eyes were as dark as if they were made of lacquer, staring blankly at the firelight inside the lantern.

"This child is always surprising, in the past."

You Qi remained silent throughout, listening to Zhang Juzheng's complaints, marveling at the extraordinary qualities of his youngest son and reflecting on the gains and losses of his own education over the years.

It wasn't until half an hour later that You Qi left the study alone.

Once inside the study, Zhang Juzheng was alone again.

Zhang Juzheng then noticed a small booklet in the corner of his desk.

Illustrated Explanation of Imperial Admonitions.

This is a primer for the young emperor, compiled by Zhang Juzheng in the sixth year of the Longqing reign.

His long, slender fingers brushed across the dusty pages of the book, and Zhang Yunxiu's words from earlier that day echoed in his mind.

Even weeds need sunlight to grow in the right direction!

He couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Even the emperor is like this?"

(End of this chapter)