Chapter 59: A Wager!

After the Grain Rain, the northern land finally entered the spring days.

At this time, Beijing was bathed in bright sunshine, with flowers competing in beauty and birds chirping; green willows swayed in the gentle spring breeze, transforming into ten thousand silken threads.

With the release of the Metropolitan Examination results, the entire city of Beijing became increasingly jubilant.

Having passed the Metropolitan Examination, for these scholars, it could be considered as having their names inscribed on the Golden List.

Therefore, scholars had already begun calling upon friends and companions, taking advantage of the spring scenery to go on outings.

Zhang Yunxiu was naturally also on the list.

Early this morning, he had risen at the crack of dawn, only to hear Zhang Fu burst through the door to deliver the news.

This session of the Metropolitan Examination admitted over three hundred tribute students in total; he was on the list, ranked one hundred and thirty-seventh.

Regarding this result, Zhang Yunxiu was twelve-parts satisfied; as long as he could make the list, that was a tremendous stroke of luck.

After a hasty meal, Zhang Yunxiu straightened his clothes and went to sit in the pavilion of the small courtyard, with Zhang Fu following closely behind.

Once the two were seated, Zhang Yunxiu asked impatiently, "Has there been any progress on the matter of requisitioning ships and leasing merchant vessels?"

Zhang Fu hesitated for a moment and replied in a low voice, "They are all small boats; the largest is only six zhang long and two zhang wide. There are indeed large ones among the official ships, but I dare not go and ask about those."

"Why?!"

"To use official ships to go out to sea, one must have an imperial decree; even if people wanted to help, they couldn't."

Zhang Yunxiu understood the reason behind this, stood up abruptly, stared at Zhang Fu, and said, "In that case, you go and make contact first, and I will go to request an imperial decree from the Emperor. Also, those Artisans must get to work; have them go to the Tianjin Guard first, and let them build as many as they can."

"Understood." Zhang Fu nodded in agreement.

Immediately following this, Zhang Yunxiu gave instructions on a few more details and then headed straight for the palace.

Familiar with the path, he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, reported to the gate-keeping Eunuch, and was taken to the East Warm Pavilion to wait.

He was a frequent visitor here and was not shy; seeing that the Emperor had not yet arrived, he began to chat with the Eunuch on duty: "Eunuch Huang, has the Emperor been in a good mood these past few days?"

The Ivory Tablet Eunuch grinned, covered his mouth, and said, "He's doing great; every day, his face is as happy as a flower."

That is good.

Zhang Yunxiu let out a long sigh of relief and began to shoot the breeze and chat about domestic affairs with Eunuch Huang.

Although this Ivory Tablet Grand Eunuch held a prestigious position, he dared not show the slightest neglect toward Zhang Yunxiu, and even cooperated with him with a hint of sycophancy.

The two had been talking for over a quarter of an hour when footsteps suddenly sounded outside the hall, followed immediately by a shrill voice entering the main hall.

Zhang Yunxiu knew that the Wanli Emperor had arrived.

"This subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities, no need for formalities!" The Wanli Emperor waved his hand impatiently, his footsteps not stopping as he walked to the imperial couch to sit down, simultaneously signaling for Zhang Yunxiu to sit before him.

The two met eyes, and Zhang Yunxiu got straight to the point: "Your Majesty, I have come this time to request an imperial decree from you. I wish to requisition ocean-going vessels from Jiangnan for my use in going out to sea."

"Is that all?" The Wanli Emperor pursed his lips and asked, glancing sideways at Zhang Yunxiu.

"There is also the matter of building a shipyard in the Tianjin Guard to refit the Treasure Ships."

"Anything else?"

"Anything else?" Zhang Yunxiu was stunned; he slowly raised his head to look at the Wanli Emperor, hoping to find an answer on his face.

"Hmph, you are quite something, Zhang Yunxiu!" The Wanli Emperor's expression changed slightly; he knitted his brows and shouted with agitation, "I thought you were a great loyal subject, but now it seems you are not!"

"This subject knows his crime." Zhang Yunxiu was startled.

"Oh? Then tell me, where have you gone wrong?" The Wanli Emperor returned to his usual geniality and asked teasingly. "This subject... this subject has likely not come to pay respects to Your Majesty for nearly fifteen days." Zhang Yunxiu weighed his words, saying it half as a probe and half in earnest.

"It is good that you know!"

The Wanli Emperor sat up from the embroidered couch, his face cold, and pointed at the Eunuchs in the palace, scolding, "You tell me, I am all alone in this deep palace, and these dogs are one more rigid than the next; where is there any joy to be found for me?"

Upon being scolded, all the Eunuchs prostrated themselves on the ground, calling out "I know my crime" in unison.

"Does Your Majesty not have Defei to keep you company? How can you say there is no joy to be found?" Zhang Yunxiu replied with a smile.

Mentioning Defei, the Wanli Emperor's expression softened slightly; he narrowed his eyes and asked Zhang Yunxiu, "Tell me, if I issue a decree to requisition ships, how much money can you help me earn within a year?"

"At least this much." Zhang Yunxiu said, holding up two fingers.

"Two hundred thousand taels?" The Wanli Emperor asked curiously.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Good, two hundred thousand it is. If you cannot reach two hundred thousand, I don't care what method you use, you must make it up for me, otherwise I will punish you for the crime of deceiving the Emperor." The Wanli Emperor waved his hand, beaming with delight.

Zhang Yunxiu had no way to refute this and could only agree with a bitter face.

Without waiting for Zhang Yunxiu to speak, the Wanli Emperor, feeling playful, ordered, "Take me out of the palace now; I haven't left the palace for four months since I went out once last lunar December."

"Does Your Majesty not have two commercial streets inside the palace?"

Zhang Yunxiu asked cautiously.

"Can that be the same?" The Wanli Emperor rolled his eyes at Zhang Yunxiu and huffed, "The Eunuchs and palace maids in the palace all recognize me; as soon as I go, they all turn into quails, it's very boring."

"I'm afraid that won't do recently."

"Why?" The Wanli Emperor asked.

"This subject must return to prepare for the Palace Examination." Zhang Yunxiu answered, biting the bullet.

"Learning is not something that can be cultivated in a single day." The Wanli Emperor waved his hand, wrinkled his nose, and glared at Zhang Yunxiu, saying, "If you don't take me out, I... I will rank you last."

"If you take me out, perhaps I might even give you some sweet rewards."

Speaking to the end, the Wanli Emperor hooked his little finger and said with full temptation.

How could Zhang Yunxiu not understand the Emperor's meaning? He smiled knowingly and nodded in agreement.

The two had just finished planning their outing when Wei Qing arrived late; the Wanli Emperor frowned and asked, "You old dog, in such a rush, are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?"

Wei Qing shook his head, took a deep breath of cold air, and panted, "Your Majesty... Princess Yongning sent someone to ask this servant, asking when you will take her to fly kites."

Damn it.

Almost forgot about this little girl.

The Wanli Emperor's face showed signs of panic; he pondered for a moment before saying to Zhang Yunxiu, "The matter of leaving the palace is temporarily shelved; accompany Us to the Huangji Gate first."

"This subject dares not," Zhang Yunxiu said, startled, hurriedly refusing, "According to the rites, an outside official may not have contact with the women of the palace. Princess Yongning is of golden branch and jade leaf; this subject is but a mere mortal, and dares not go along."

Princess Yongning was the fourth daughter of the Muzong Emperor and the younger sister of the Wanli Emperor by the same mother.

"You have times when you are afraid, too? My sister is not some man-eating tiger; there is no need for you to be so worried," the Wanli Emperor said with a wave of his hand, laughing and not caring in the slightest.

"This subject... this subject dares not. I beg Your Majesty to retract the order."

"Once My golden mouth has spoken, how can it be retracted? Just come along with Me for a trip!" As the Wanli Emperor spoke, he dragged Zhang Yunxiu along as he walked.

(End of chapter)