Chapter 169: Using Me for a Lucky Wedding, Are You?

After changing into clothes for receiving guests.

Zhang Yunxiu came to his main hall, where Wei Qing was already sitting and waiting.

The two met, first cupping their hands in a bow, then each pulling up a seat and settling down.

Once settled, Wei Qing recounted to Zhang Yunxiu, one by one, the events that had occurred at the Qianqing Palace around noon today.

It is said that just past 8:45 AM today, the Wanli Emperor was busy processing memorials.

Suddenly, he heard a shrill voice from outside shouting, "The Empress Dowager has arrived!" Knowing his mother had come, the Wanli Emperor hurriedly stepped down from his chair and stood with his hands hanging at his sides to wait.

Before long, Li Taihou, dressed in a plain gown, walked in gracefully.

"Mother."

"Sit."

Mother and son exchanged greetings and sat on their respective embroidered couches, separated only by a blue-and-white porcelain vase filled with rose petals.

Glancing at the son who had already grown up, Li Taihou felt joy in her heart.

That feeling was like the aged wine she brewed herself; even a shallow sip was enough to make her intoxicated by its mellowness.

At the same time, she was also somewhat worried, harboring a fear of being unable to grasp hold of this child.

She pondered for a moment before saying, "My Emperor, Master Zhang is ill. Master Zhang has labored for this country to such an extent; as the Emperor, you are the model for all the people and should come up with a plan, lest you chill the hearts of the scholars of the world."

"Mother's instruction is correct." The Wanli Emperor nodded and hurriedly said, "I intend to wait until Master Zhang's health improves before going to his residence to visit him. At that time, Mother can accompany me."

"Me?" As Li Taihou spoke, her beautiful cheeks flushed involuntarily.

Quickly, she bit her lip and shook her head repeatedly: "As an Inner Palace consort, it would be inconvenient for me to go out with you."

"That is also fine. I will go see Master Zhang and tell Mother about it when I return; it is the same." The Wanli Emperor blinked his eyes and said, taking full responsibility.

Li Taihou nodded and continued: "The Senior Grand Secretary is seriously ill. I intend to dispatch eunuchs to the Buddhist temples in the famous mountains and great rivers to pray for blessings for the Senior Grand Secretary. What does the Emperor think?"

Regarding his own mother, how could the Wanli Emperor dare to say a single word of "no"?

In any case, it wasn't asking him to go pray for blessings; if a group of eunuchs went, then they went.

With almost no hesitation, the Wanli Emperor nodded immediately and replied: "Mother's suggestion is excellent. I will immediately dispatch the Inner Palace eunuchs to the famous mountains and great rivers of the world to worship Buddha and seek the Dao, praying for blessings for Master Zhang."

"That is excellent." Li Taihou nodded with a smile.

"By the way, Master Zhang's youngest son is about to marry the Xu Family's daughter, right?"

"Yes, this autumn."

"According to my view, there is no need to wait so long. There is an auspicious day in the seventh month; why not let the two of them marry sooner?"

"Mother..."

The Wanli Emperor widened his eyes, his head buzzing.

The man's father was still lying in bed; if they married now, wouldn't he be criticized behind his back?

Li Taihou paid no heed to her son's doubts and continued on her own: "A son getting married is a great joyous event. Who knows, perhaps once this happy event arrives, Master Zhang's stroke will suddenly be cured."

After hearing Wei Qing finish, Zhang Yunxiu felt the same as the Wanli Emperor.

His head felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, buzzing incessantly.

Li Taihou was intending to use his marriage to bring good luck to his father. This was simply too absurd, but after all, these were the decrees of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor; how could he refuse? Taking a small sip of tea, Wei Qing, who was at his side, stood up and bowed toward the direction of the Qianqing Palace: "Director Zhang, this is the grace of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Aside from princesses and princes, who else could have this honor bestowed by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager?"

"Is there no room for negotiation?" Zhang Yunxiu asked in return.

"No room for negotiation. Director Zhang, you should prepare early."

"Eunuch Wei."

"Director Zhang, please speak." Zhang Yunxiu stared into his eyes, then gathered his courage and asked: "Eunuch Wei, you have been in the Inner Palace for many years; have you ever taken bribes?"

What the hell? Wei Qing was stunned, seemingly thinking he had misheard. Thus, he fluttered his eyelashes and asked again: "What did Director Zhang just ask?"

"Have you ever taken bribes?" Zhang Yunxiu repeated his previous words.

This time Wei Qing heard clearly. He shook his head violently, like a hand drum: "No... absolutely not. I follow the Emperor's side and am influenced by the Emperor every day; how could I possibly take those petty bribes?"

However, there are some friends who occasionally send some small gift boxes.

What kind of bribery is a gift between friends? Zhang Yunxiu observed his words and expressions, and he already understood seven or eight tenths of it.

It seems this corruption problem should be thoroughly investigated, but he could not lead it yet; he had to grasp the right time to advance or retreat in this storm.

Thinking this through, Zhang Yunxiu smiled and took a bag of Silver Dollars from his waist: "Thank you for your hard work in making this trip, Eunuch Wei."

"Oh my... oh my, this won't do, this really won't do." Wei Qing refused repeatedly.

"Why won't it do? This is the custom. If Eunuch Wei doesn't take this money, I would be the one acting as the villain instead."

"This money... doesn't count as bribery, right?"

"It does not."

"Then I will take it."

Wei Qing chuckled, took the Silver Dollars and stuffed them into his pocket, then reminded him, "You have been in the Hanlin Academy for two years, young master. You will be leaving the academy next spring, so you really must go there at least once."

"If you act like this, it won't look good to His Majesty."

Zhang Yunxiu slapped his forehead, only then remembering this matter.

Since the spring of the eleventh year of Wanli passed, until now in the summer of the thirteenth year, he had not been to the Hanlin Academy even once.

The last time he met Shen Yongmao, Shen Yongmao had also reminded him.

He had promised well, but once things got busy, this matter was shelved again.

"Many thanks for the reminder, Eunuch Wei. Once I finish the matters at hand, I will immediately go to the Hanlin Academy to report."

"Good, then I will wait to drink this wedding wine of yours, Director Zhang."

Wei Qing grinned, turned around, and paced away.

On the other side.

Upon learning that the Ministry of Justice had not brought anyone in, Zhang Siwei was so angry he was like a defeated rooster.

A mere Thousand-Household of the Embroidered Uniform Guard actually dared to defy the authority of the Senior Grand Secretary; who gave him such courage and gall? It was one thing for Zhang Juzheng to pressure him.

Now even a Thousand-Household was shitting and pissing on his head!

Thinking of this, the accumulated grievances of the past erupted in an instant; he grabbed a teacup and smashed it heavily onto the floor.

"Bang!"

Porcelain shards flew everywhere, and the rich aroma of tea permeated from the floor. The maidservants outside the room trembled, their faces ashen, silent as cicadas in winter.

At this moment, Qiu Shun walked in from outside.

He waved his hand, ordering the maidservants to clean up the porcelain shards, and sat down on the left side of Zhang Siwei. Once seated, Qiu Shun spoke first: "Grand Secretary, news just came from Zhang Cheng's side."

"It is said that the Emperor wants to bestow a marriage upon Zhang Yunxiu."

"Good, very good; the Emperor and the Empress Dowager truly favor the Zhang Family," Zhang Siwei said with a defeated air.

"This is also unavoidable; Zhang Yunxiu brought back a full one million taels of silver from this voyage out to sea," Qiu Shun replied cautiously.

A glimmer of gloom flashed in Zhang Siwei's eyes, and in the end, he said nothing.

(End of this chapter)