Chapter 15: The Emperor Who Let Himself Go

"A... a Central Edict?" The Wanli Emperor's lips trembled, his voice quivering slightly.

A trace of fear flickered across his chubby little face.

A Central Edict was the Emperor's special prerogative; when the Emperor could not reach a consensus with the Grand Secretariat on certain matters, he could bypass the Grand Secretariat and issue a Central Edict directly.

However, to show respect for the Cabinet Ministers, the Emperor rarely issued Central Edicts. Throughout the Wanli era, he had been the Emperor for ten years and had never issued even a single Central Edict.

If Zhang Yunxiu had not brought it up, he would have almost forgotten that the Emperor still possessed this prerogative.

Although he felt tempted and restless in his heart, the moment Wanli thought of Zhang Juzheng's stern face, he felt a shiver of dread and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "It's just a minor matter, there's no need to issue a Central Edict, is there?"

Seeing the Emperor acting timid and hiding his true thoughts, Zhang Yunxiu shook his head inwardly and continued to egg him on: "Your Majesty, rest assured. You are the Emperor, and your will is an Imperial Edict. How would a subject dare to control the Emperor?"

"No," Wanli waved his hand to interrupt Zhang Yunxiu, saying sternly, "Master Zhang has told me that if the Emperor acts recklessly, the subjects will submit memorials to hold him accountable, and the Historians of later generations will record it."

"Back then, Hai Rui even carried a coffin to the front of the Huangji Gate and scolded my grandfather, the Jiajing Emperor, from head to toe."

"The Empress Dowager wants me to be diligent in government and close to the ministers; I cannot be like the Jiajing Emperor."

Diligent in government?

Zhang Yunxiu almost laughed out loud, but upon seeing the Emperor's serious expression, he held it back and changed the subject: "When I was young, my father managed me strictly. I had to wake up at the hour of the rabbit every morning and couldn't sleep until the hour of the dog."

"Every day was spent studying those dry, boring texts, and I was annoyed to death by it. One day, I took advantage of my father's absence, ran out in a rush, and played wildly for the whole day, only to be caught red-handed by my father when I returned."

Zhang Yunxiu paused slightly at this point.

The Wanli Emperor listened, feeling a sense of empathy, and hurriedly urged Zhang Yunxiu to continue: "And then?"

"And then I was pressed onto a bench by my father and given a sound thrashing."

"Ah?" Wanli let out a cry of alarm, his mind conjuring an image of Zhang Juzheng, face full of fury, whipping Zhang Yunxiu with a bamboo cane.

"However, I also gained a benefit." Zhang Yunxiu smiled.

"What benefit?"

"I was no longer afraid of my father. He can do his beating, and I'll do my playing," Zhang Yunxiu said, with a hint of smugness, "At worst, it's just a beating; it's nothing more than that."

At worst, just a beating?

Watching Zhang Yunxiu's "dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water" attitude, the Wanli Emperor couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Wouldn't Master Zhang be furious?"

"He can be furious, and I'll do my playing," Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and added, "Your Majesty, as long as you issue this Central Edict, one hundred thousand taels of silver will immediately enter your Treasure Note Treasury. After the fact, who would dare to come and spank your bottom?"

The Wanli Emperor suddenly saw the light and gritted his teeth, saying, "Alright then, I want two hundred thousand taels of silver."

"No." Zhang Yunxiu was startled.

"Why?"

"It's too much," Zhang Yunxiu explained. "One hundred thousand taels is like me going out to play wildly; my father can still accept it. If it were two hundred thousand, my father would surely kill me."

As for why it was one hundred thousand? Come to think of it, there was a reason for that.

Five days ago, after Li Youzi learned he could enter the palace, he immediately came to discuss it with him.

He said the Emperor wanted two hundred thousand in silver, but his own father would only give thirty thousand—not even half.

If this were to be memorialized, it would offend the Emperor to death.

That silver isn't ours anyway, why are you hoarding it? Whatever the Emperor wants to do, just let him do it.

Zhang Yunxiu was almost so angry he turned his back, but after pondering for a moment, he asked Li Youzi, "Uncle, if the Emperor issues a Central Edict, would you be willing to send the silver to the Treasure Note Treasury?"

"And it must be fast. As soon as the Imperial Edict arrives, the silver must be handed over immediately."

Li Youzi's eyelids twitched in shock, and he replied, "The Emperor issuing a Central Edict would be a huge blow to your father's authority as Senior Grand Secretary. By then, all sorts of monsters and demons will emerge."

Zhang Yunxiu naturally knew the blow this Central Edict would deal to the Senior Grand Secretary.

But rather than letting Zhang Juzheng be liquidated after his death, it would be better to let the Emperor suppress Zhang Juzheng's arrogance while he was still on the throne.

As long as the Emperor vented his frustration, there was still some teacher-student affection left for Zhang Juzheng.

Having figured this out, Zhang Yunxiu replied immediately: "Uncle, rest assured. The boy knows the danger involved, but the Senior Grand Secretary is also a subject and is under the Emperor's control. Only if the Emperor thinks of our family can our family's wealth and honor continue." "That is true." Li Youzi was also a veteran of the officialdom and knew that Zhang Juzheng's situation was not easy.

The literati, the nobility, the powerful and wealthy clans, the families of the imperial in-laws—he had offended them all.

This was like a giant furnace; as long as there was a single spark, it would immediately explode.

While he was alive, perhaps no one would dare to act presumptuously.

But what about after he died? Without the Emperor's support, let alone the Zhang Family, even he would be hard-pressed to escape disaster.

Since ancient times, how many reformers have been able to end well? Look at Shang Yang; how glorious he was when he held power, and how miserable he was when he lost it.

The two hit it off immediately: as soon as the Emperor's Central Edict was issued, he would allocate the silver, and then Li Youzi would go to inspect the tax barriers to avoid the limelight.

Seeing that the matter was already settled, Zhang Juzheng could only hold his nose and accept it.

As for the amount, in order for both sides to accept it, it was fixed at one hundred thousand taels.

Upon hearing one hundred thousand taels, the Emperor was initially dissatisfied, but remembering that thirty thousand had already been allocated, it added up to one hundred and thirty thousand taels.

His mood improved instantly, so he clapped his hands and shouted, "Good, one hundred thousand taels it is. I will draft a Central Edict for Li Youzi immediately."

Having said that, he paced to the desk and wrote down a Central Edict with swift, flowing strokes.

A short while later, he summoned a trusted personal eunuch, handed the Central Edict to him, and instructed, "Take a few more people and transport my silver to the Treasure Note Treasury."

The eunuch received the edict and left.

The Wanli Emperor laughed loudly and turned his gaze back to Zhang Yunxiu.

For some reason, although he had only met Zhang Yunxiu once, he felt a sense of meeting an old friend.

He thought of Zhang Yunxiu's words, "He can do his punishing, and I'll do my playing," and felt deeply moved; he had already defied him once, anyway.

It would be better to have a good time.

Wanli's courage grew with his malice, and he shouted at Zhang Yunxiu, "Zhang Yunxiu, do you dare to take me out of the palace for a stroll?"

"Ah?" Zhang Yunxiu and Wei Qing were both stunned.

Before Zhang Yunxiu could answer, Wei Qing, who was to the side, knelt on the ground and pleaded with a tearful voice, "Oh, Your Majesty, please spare this little one. If you go out, the Empress Dowager will take my life."

Hearing Wei Qing mention Li Taihou, Wanli couldn't help but shiver.

"Why would I not dare? As long as Your Majesty wishes to go, this subject dares to take Your Majesty there."

As soon as Zhang Yunxiu finished speaking, the Wanli Emperor beamed with joy, clapped his hands, and exclaimed, "Good! Zhang Yunxiu, you are a truly loyal subject."

"However, if the Empress Dowager and Zhang Juzheng ask, I, um?"

"Your Majesty has the people at heart and is leaving the palace to inspect the joys and sorrows of the common folk. If anything were to go wrong, Your Majesty may simply shift the blame onto this subject."

"What do you mean by 'shift'?" The Wanli Emperor frowned and rebuked, "Could it be that in your eyes, I am an emperor without a sense of responsibility?"

Damn it, wanting to be a whore and still wanting to set up a memorial arch for chastity.

Zhang Yunxiu muttered to himself, then bowed repeatedly and replied, "This subject spoke out of turn, this subject spoke out of turn."

The Wanli Emperor smiled triumphantly, turned his head to look at the trembling Wei Qing, and asked, "You stay here and guard this place well for me. If anyone comes in, just say I am resting inside and am not to be disturbed."

"Do you understand?"

"Your Majesty!"

"Do not cry. When I return, I will reward you." The Wanli Emperor knit his brows and barked, "If I find out you dared to play tricks, I will immediately send you to guard the Imperial Mausoleum."

Wei Qing's face was full of grievance; stopping him was wrong, and not stopping him was also wrong.

While he was pondering, the Wanli Emperor clamored to leave quickly. Zhang Yunxiu dared not be careless and appeased him, "Let this subject go out first to make preparations. Your Majesty, wait until later, then mix into the group leaving the palace to exit the city."

"Good, then be quick."

(End of chapter)