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

Chapter 5. This must be worth a lot of money, right?
Inside the warm pavilion, gilded incense burners emitted wisps of blue smoke.

Yang Sizhi touched the incense burner, but couldn't smell any sandalwood incense; instead, he even detected a chilling, murderous scent.

He looked around at the people who were speaking for him.

Looking around the hall, which minister wasn't keeping his eyes down and his mind at ease?

Some people were slightly surprised by the emperor's reaction, but they quickly composed themselves.

They are all good at reading people's expressions and moods.

Have I become a discarded pawn?

Yang Sizhi felt a pang of sadness, completely unaware of what had gone wrong.

He had anticipated that some people would react negatively and had prepared contingency plans in advance.

Shouldn't it be Zhang Juzheng or his cronies?

How could it be the Wanli Emperor!
They are not.
Without time to think, Yang Sizhi knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty, your Majesty."

He seemed to want to defend himself.

"I have no subject like you!" the Wanli Emperor roared. "You all disrespect the classics, learning nothing but the skills of vulgar gossips?"

Yang Sizhi was a little confused and said while lying on the ground.

Your subject is filled with trepidation.

He shouted in his heart.

Your Majesty, aren't we on the same side? Why have you betrayed us?

If Zhang Juzheng were to intervene, Yang Sizhi would certainly argue his case based on reason and cite classical texts.

But when the emperor got angry, he was completely dumbfounded.

As Yang Sizhi prostrated himself on the ground, the officials and censors who had spoken earlier also prostrated themselves on the ground.

"I am terrified."

In the warm pavilion, only the voice of the Wanli Emperor could be heard. He seemed extremely angry, his finger almost poking Yang Sizhi's nose.

"Do you still remember Article 3 of the Censorate's Constitution?"

"Your Majesty," Yang Sizhi murmured, his shoulders slumping. "Your Majesty knows that Article 3 of the Censorate's Constitution states that one must not make false accusations based on hearsay!"

"Good to know." The Wanli Emperor sneered. "In the past, the Taizu Emperor wrote in the Great Proclamation that if an imperial censor reports based on hearsay and is found to have made false accusations out of personal bias, he shall be executed by slow slicing and his entire family shall be exiled to the army! What do you think of that?"

Yang Sizhi was dumbfounded. Why did they even bring up the "Great Proclamation"?

The words about being executed by slow slicing were like a bolt from the blue, almost making him faint.

The officials in the warm pavilion were also dumbfounded. Since Zhu Yuanzhang, the "Great Proclamation" had basically never been truly implemented, simply because the punishments contained therein were far too severe.

At least that's how it is for officials.

What is Your Majesty's intention in presenting the "Great Proclamation" now? Is it a sign of a different trend in the court?
Just as the officials in the court were unable to understand the emperor's intentions and dared not speak, remaining silent, one person stood up.

"Your Majesty, I beg you to calm your anger."

Zhang Juzheng stepped forward, not even glancing at Yang Sizhi, and bowed to the emperor.

"Although Censor Yang Sizhi's words were inappropriate, Emperor Taizu Gao established the Censorate to broaden channels for public opinion. It is common for censors to report on matters based on hearsay, and to be disturbed by treacherous people without understanding right from wrong. I beg Your Majesty to show leniency."

"Humph!"

Emperor Wanli flicked his sleeves, seemingly still furious.

With someone taking the lead, officials in the court, such as Shen Shixing, Zhang Siwei, and Yang Wei, also stepped forward to offer their advice.

"Please show your leniency, Your Majesty."

Seeing that the ministers had all said so, and Zhang Juzheng himself hadn't said anything, Emperor Wanli naturally couldn't blame him anymore. He waved his hand, seemingly a little impatient.

Anger turned into exhaustion.

“Yang Sizhi will be fined three years’ salary, and the rest will be fined one year’s salary. If they commit another crime, the punishment will be increased by one degree.”

Emperor Wanli's words were like removing the guillotine from the necks of Yang Sizhi and others.

Yang Sizhi was already weeping bitterly, prostrating himself on the ground and repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Before he came to court today, he never imagined he would end up like this.

Emperor Wanli refused to speak and turned away.

"The Emperor has returned to the palace, and the officials have left the court in order."

As Feng Bao's high-pitched voice rang out.

Feng Bao's actions were very discreet. He exchanged a glance with Zhang Juzheng and then hurriedly followed the emperor away.

Upon exiting the warm pavilion, the officials in the court displayed a variety of expressions, but all clearly felt that they were unsure of the emperor's intentions.

Many people turned their attention to Zhang Juzheng, watching the red-robed figure depart, and couldn't help but murmur among themselves.

Unlike other court officials who had to walk out of the palace after leaving the warm pavilion, Zhang Juzheng was granted the privilege of riding in a warm carriage to and from the palace in the early years of the Wanli Emperor's reign.

This treatment was almost unique among all the officials and nobles in the court.

This shows the respect and trust that the emperors had for Zhang Juzheng.

The heated palanquin shielded the ministers from the cold wind and snow, and even had a charcoal brazier inside, making it extremely comfortable compared to the other ministers.

"Slow down."

Suddenly, Zhang Juzheng gave an order to the eunuchs carrying the palanquin outside. The eunuchs, who were usually arrogant and disrespectful in the palace, did not dare to make any mistakes and obediently replied.

"Yes~"

After a while, a young eunuch approached the warm carriage.

"Your Excellency," the young eunuch said respectfully.

Zhang Juzheng: "Hmm."

The young eunuch seemed used to it, and lowered his voice: "The Grand Secretary left this behind, and Eunuch Feng asked me to bring it back to you."

As they were talking, a note was slipped inside.

Zhang Juzheng narrowed his eyes, took the note, and unfolded it to read it.

The words "Zhang Yunxiu" were clearly written on it.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he ultimately said nothing. "Please thank Eunuch Feng for me."

He casually tossed the note away, and it burned in the charcoal fire.

"Yes~"

Zhang Mansion Official Residence.

Zhang Yunxiu had no idea that a turbulent undercurrent was brewing in the imperial court today because of him.

His intervention stirred up the already chaotic court disputes even more trouble.

Of course, even if Zhang Yunxiu knew, he wouldn't care too much.

It wasn't that he intentionally brought it up to the emperor; it was just that Wanli was interested in how to use frogs for physiological experiments, how to cure hemorrhoids, and a medicine he had read about in an ancient book that could cure all diseases, as well as sweet potatoes that could yield more than forty dan per mu.

I was interested in all of them; I just mentioned it casually.

Emperor Wanli even found running a newspaper interesting, and although he didn't pay him, he offered some suggestions.

However, this was not something Zhang Yunxiu needed to consider; he had more important things to do now.

That is.
Make money!

Make money!

We still need to make money!
Publishing a newspaper costs money.

Medical research costs money.

They incited their subordinates to demand money.

In particular, without the help of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, how could Zhang Yunxiu possibly find any "magical" sweet potatoes or potatoes to command his servants?

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu was a high-ranking official in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but for his subordinates, who would do things for him without a reward?

A rough calculation shows that Zhang Yunxiu's funding gap is a full three thousand taels, and that's just the minimum requirement.

His monthly salary was only one tael of silver! After several days of swindling and cheating, he had only managed to raise five hundred taels.

With this little money, it's really hard to get things done!

"Who would have thought that I, Zhang Yunxiu, the son of the Grand Secretary, would be stumped by a few thousand taels of silver?"

Zhang Yunxiu lost all interest in writing newspaper articles and slumped into his armchair, feeling utterly agitated.

The Wanli Emperor was a miser, treating himself like a child playing around.

Not to mention Zhang Juzheng, if he found out, he wouldn't even have five hundred taels left.

Just as he was worrying, he leaned back in his armchair and his eyes suddenly caught sight of a painting hanging on the wall.

As if by some strange twist of fate, Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and clearly saw the specific signature and content above.

This is a painting of Taoist immortals by Wu Daozi, a renowned painter of the Tang Dynasty.

The emperors of the Ming Dynasty revered Taoism, and their influence extended to their ministers, who also took pride in collecting Taoist artifacts.

Zhang Juzheng was no exception to this custom.

This style of Taoist immortal paintings reached its peak during the Tang and Song dynasties, especially the genuine works by Wu Daozi, which are very rare.

Whether considering its rarity or its ability to showcase the splendor of the Tang Dynasty, the value of the "Immortals Painting" is undoubtedly top-tier!

Once Zhang Yunxiu's eyes were on this picture, he couldn't take them off.

He stroked his chin, deep in thought.

This must be worth quite a bit of money, right?

The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) headquarters.

When Commander Zhang Jianxiu saw his younger brother swaggering in from outside, and even many of his men calling him "Lord Zhang" one after another, he felt an unbearable headache.

"How have you been lately, Fourth Brother?"

Zhang Yunxiu casually pulled up a chair and sat down next to the Commander, as if this were his own home.

Zhang Jianxiu rubbed his temples: "Are you here again to find that thousand-year-old ginseng?"

"Sweet potatoes! Sweet potatoes!" Zhang Yunxiu emphasized indignantly. "These are grain seeds, not some thousand-year-old ginseng that can save the world."

“Yes, yes, yes.” Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu nodded helplessly. “This is a grain variety that we learned about from Western missionaries. It can yield up to forty dan per mu, which is eight times that of rice and sixteen times that of wheat and millet.”

Zhang Jianxiu was already tired of hearing those lines.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't bother explaining things to the ancients; he simply stated his purpose.

"I'm not here today to ask Fourth Brother to help me find sweet potatoes, but because I have a way to make money that I want to share with you."

"A source of wealth?" Zhang Jianxiu raised an eyebrow.

Although Zhang Juzheng had a chief minister as his father, his sons were very strict in their upbringing and he forbade them from associating with court officials.

As for any extra income earned within the officialdom, it was strictly forbidden by his father.

The brothers look successful, but they're actually poor.
Looking at his younger brother's mischievous grin, Zhang Jianxiu shook his head again.

"Forget it, you're probably just trying to trick me again."

It's better to believe that sweet potatoes exist in this world than to believe Zhang Yunxiu.

Without wasting words, Zhang Yunxiu directly pulled out a rolled-up calligraphy and painting from his pocket.

"Then let Fourth Brother broaden his horizons!"

"Calligraphy and paintings?" Zhang Jianxiu was startled. He picked up the calligraphy and paintings with suspicion and examined them closely, muttering to himself, "Where did you get these calligraphy and paintings? They're quite decent."

As he watched, Zhang Jianxiu almost fell off his chair. He stammered as he spoke.

"Isn't this Wu Daozi's painting of immortals?"

As a deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhang Jianxiu's knowledge was naturally extraordinary, and he immediately recognized that it was Wu Daozi's work.

But why does this look so familiar?
"Don't worry about this, buddy," Zhang Yunxiu said with a carefree laugh. "Just tell me how much it's worth."

“If Wu Daozi’s ‘Immortals’ painting is genuine, it wouldn’t be worth ten thousand taels of silver on the market these days,” Zhang Jianxiu said after thinking for a moment.

"How much more?"

Zhang Yunxiu felt like he was about to stop breathing; that was ten thousand taels of silver! It had instantly solved his problem.

But the fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu, realized something was wrong.

He unfolded the deity again and examined it closely, almost fainting from shock.

(End of this chapter)