Chapter 163: The Wanli Emperor Only Wants to Slack Off!

It was the end of the fifth lunar month.

The northern lands had already begun to grow sweltering, yet inside the Qianqing Palace, it remained cool. Outside, the world was noisy and chaotic, filled with the clash of arms and horses, with undercurrents surging everywhere; only within this palace was there no influence at all.

These palace maids and eunuchs each performed their own duties, standing respectfully in their positions.

The Qianqing Palace was the place with the strictest security in the entire palace, isolated from all other areas outside. Every palace maid and eunuch was personally selected by the Emperor.

Even Feng Bao, the Director of Ceremonial, did not dare to easily plant his own people there.

On this day, just past 7:30 AM, the sun lazily crawled out from the clouds.

Zhang Yunxiu, with the warm sun above his head, walked quickly along the stairs toward the Qianqing Palace.

Golden sunlight poured downward, landing on the glazed tiles of the Qianqing Palace roof, then refracted to the side, shooting into the flower beds on both sides of the long stairs below the palace.

Illuminated by the sunlight, the flowers within appeared even more delicate and moving.

The breeze was gentle, mixed with the scent of soil and flowers.

Zhang Yunxiu had no heart to admire the scenery at this moment; he simply lifted his robes and walked forward. Arriving at the entrance of the main hall, the gate-guarding eunuch bowed respectfully and led Zhang Yunxiu straight inside.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion.

The Wanli Emperor sat upright before the desk, upon which were placed five or six memorials.

Wei Qing held a memorial in his hand and read in a thin, shrill voice: "Shandong Provincial Administration Commissioner Lu Shude reports:

Your subject observes that there has been little rain in Shandong this spring, and fears that summer drought will lead to crop failure and cause the common people to become displaced. Therefore, your subject requests that Your Majesty allocate 80,000 taels of silver to dig deep wells and build more irrigation canals to prevent this before it happens!"

"Stop, stop, stop."

The Wanli Emperor waved his hand to interrupt Wei Qing, saying indignantly, "This Shandong has developed maritime trade, and its territory is crisscrossed with water networks; what need is there to dig so many wells? Even if there is a drought, it would only be a drought in a small portion of the region."

To open his mouth and ask for 80,000 taels of silver—did he really think this money was blown in by a strong wind?

Wei Qing licked his lips and suggested, "Your Majesty, Governor Lu's concerns are not without reason. These wells and canals are great deeds that benefit the present and last for a thousand autumns; they should be supported."

"Does it really need 80,000 taels?" the Wanli Emperor asked back, biting his cheek.

"Then 40,000 taels?" Wei Qing blinked his eyes and asked tentatively.

"Send it back to the Grand Secretariat for Zhang to handle the Drafting of Rescripts."

The Wanli Emperor spoke out of habit, then suddenly remembered that Zhang Juzheng had suffered a stroke.

Now it was Zhang Siwei temporarily presiding over the Grand Secretariat.

Thus, he changed his words: "Let Zhang Siwei handle the Drafting of Rescripts."

"Yes."

Wei Qing nodded respectfully and accepted the order.

During this time, Zhang Yunxiu was led in by a Little Fire-bringer.

Seeing the two, the Wanli Emperor stood up abruptly, walked down from the dais with a "thump, thump, thump," and said in a gentle voice: "Yunxiu, I feel deeply pained by the matter of Master Zhang, but birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural state of man; you need not be overly sorrowful."

"Many thanks for Your Majesty's leniency," Zhang Yunxiu replied with a cupped-fist salute.

Wei Qing tactfully brought a stool for Zhang Yunxiu. Once the two sat down, the Wanli Emperor asked impatiently: "Yunxiu, tell me the truth: how much silver did you haul back from this voyage to the East Sea?"

Zhang Yunxiu held up one finger.

"How much is this?" the Wanli Emperor asked.

"Your Majesty might as well guess."

"Ten thousand taels?"

"Too stingy."

"Then is it one hundred thousand taels?" the Wanli Emperor said, eyes widening.

Zhang Yunxiu still shook his head.

It couldn't be one thousand taels, could it? Wouldn't that mean the trip was for nothing? The Wanli Emperor was bewildered in his heart; he stared straight at Zhang Yunxiu and ordered him: "I won't guess anymore. Tell me quickly."

Zhang Yunxiu was indifferent, as if stating something ordinary: "One million taels of silver! And that's not counting the rare treasures."

"How much?" The Wanli Emperor thought he had misheard, so he widened his eyes and asked again, "Are you sure it is one million taels of silver, and not something else?"

"Your subject is certain," Zhang Yunxiu replied.

The Wanli Emperor and Wei Qing were instantly flushed with shock, a wave of heat rushing straight to the back of their heads. A deathly silence lasted for several seconds.

The Wanli Emperor shouted tremblingly:

"Wei... Wei Qing."

"Ah? This servant is here."

"Pinch yourself and see if I am dreaming."

"Ah?! Ouch."

After receiving the order, Wei Qing pinched his own thigh hard, the pain bringing tears to his eyes.

The Wanli Emperor was not reassured and pinched Wei Qing's thigh himself, resulting in another scream. He even had Zhang Yunxiu pinch him as well to ensure this was not a dream.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said nothing.

It seemed it really was not a dream.

The Wanli Emperor murmured, a look of wild joy suddenly erupting on his chubby little face.

One million taels, one million taels—and this was only the first batch.

Just as Zhang Yunxiu had said, there was no business in this world that was faster than plundering.

Within the Great Ming, he still had to follow the rules and be constrained by those scholar-officials in everything.

But once outside, there was no need to worry about such things.

Whatever he wanted, he could just send people to go and grab it; it wasn't as if it were his own household anyway.

"Yunxiu, this time you have truly performed a great service!" The Wanli Emperor clapped his hands and laughed, looking happily at Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu's face was haggard, and his spirits were low.

"Yunxiu." The Wanli Emperor's mouth twitched as he called out.

"Your Majesty, your subject is somewhat weary and fears losing decorum before the sovereign, so I beg Your Majesty to grant me leave to withdraw," Zhang Yunxiu said with a bleak smile, his voice weak and listless.

The Wanli Emperor nodded and said with earnest hope, "Oh, then hurry off and rest; you must not exhaust your body. In a few days, I shall personally visit the Grand Secretary's residence."

Zhang Yunxiu cupped his hands in a salute, turned, and walked out of the Qianqing Palace.

"Wei Qing, you may also withdraw."

"Yes."

Sitting alone in the Qianqing Palace, the Wanli Emperor felt somewhat lost.

He felt as if he had lost something precious.

Only in this past month had he truly realized what it meant to be busy with state affairs.

In the past, Mr. Zhang would always write out the memorials beforehand, detailing what should be done, how many people to mobilize, and how much silver was required.

Every detail, no matter how small, was written clearly.

He only needed to take a glance, then order his close attendant to make a copy.

And now? Zhang Siwei's answer to everything was "follow the old regulations."

What exactly were the old regulations? There ought to be some sort of guideline.

This fellow simply pushed everything onto him; it was truly detestable.

If it weren't for the fact that he was obedient, he would not have let him off so easily.

Thinking of how he had been too busy recently to be intimate with his beloved consort, the Wanli Emperor's cheeks puffed up in anger, and his nostrils puffed out white air like a water buffalo.

He thought of Zheng Guifei's seductive, watery eyes, her fair, smooth neck, her eggplant-sized breasts, and her round, shapely hips.

The Wanli Emperor could not help but feel a heat rising in his lower abdomen, wishing he could go to her right now to enjoy her charms.

A gust of hot wind swept in, and the Wanli Emperor sobered up.

He looked down.

On the desk was a mountain-high pile of memorials!

"Sigh, if only Yunxiu were the Senior Grand Secretary, then I could be much more relaxed, and I could have more time to spend with my beloved consort."

(End of chapter)