Ming Dynasty: At the beginning, the house was ransacked and the ancestral temple was burned down.

Chapter 231 Wanli: Am I spoiling him too much?

Qianqing Palace.

"It's really like a lot of thunder but little rain..."

Looking at the drizzle outside the window, Zhu Yijun didn't know whether he was talking about the rain or himself.

"Your Majesty..." Chen Ju advised carefully: "Actually... today... you could have ignored those people..."

Chen Ju believed that it would be understandable to just ignore the "pressure" of a few minor officials and directly drag Zhang Yunxiu and Wen Tiren out for a beating.

After all, the emperor has absolute power.

However, Zhu Yijun, the emperor, smiled bitterly and said:
"How can I not agree? Zhang Wulang has already asked the Crown Prince. If I don't agree to give Zhang Chonghui a decent reward, then today's show will be in vain..."

Chen Ju was speechless. He wanted to say something, but finally kept his mouth shut.

After all, it is not the first time that His Majesty the Emperor has done this, loving himself and making things difficult for himself.

Moreover, at today's grand court meeting, Zhang Yunxiu was really abominable.

This fellow actually dared to ask Crown Prince Zhu Changluo in public how he planned to reward his 'lifesaver' Zhang Chonghui, when His Majesty the Emperor had not yet agreed to reward Zhang Chonghui!

Although this cannot be regarded as reversing the Tiangang, it is also a case of confusing the primary and the secondary.

Crown Prince Zhu Changluo was timid and was so frightened that he could only say: "It's all up to my father."

Although the prince was a coward, he could retreat safely in this way.

After all, the ball was kicked back to His Majesty the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being so bold..." Chen Ju finally couldn't help it.

Zhu Yijun nodded: "Just say whatever you want to say."

"Your Majesty..." Chen Ju said anxiously, "Are you... pampering Zhang Chonghui a little too much..."

For a moment, the atmosphere seemed to freeze.

The rain outside the window began to fall heavier, with only the sound of dripping rain echoing all around.

Zhu Yijun was silent for a long time. His mood was just like the light rain. There were thunders but not much rain.

"Am I... spoiling him too much?"

While muttering to himself, Zhu Yijun recalled a past event...

……

"Sun Hai, Mr. Zhang scolded me again today. He actually scolded me in front of so many people! I am the emperor! I don't care about my face!"

Looking at the angry little emperor, Sun Hai, who had learned his lesson, did not criticize the little emperor as he did in the past, but said tactfully:
"Your Majesty, what if... Zhang Yuanfu has some difficulties?"

"Hardship?" Little Wanli glared at Sun Hai and said angrily, "What hardship could he have? I have my own hardship! Last month, Mr. Zhang had a stomachache, and I personally prepared pepper soup for him! I respect him so much, but how does he treat me? Has he ever respected me? I am the emperor!"

Seeing that the little emperor was really angry, Sun Hai dared to speak freely and tell the truth:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for saying this, but you are too pampering Zhang Yuanfu."

"Ah?" Little Wanli was stunned for a moment: "Am I... spoiling him too much?"

"What else?" Sun Hai continued to speak freely: "You are the Son of Heaven, the emperor and father. No matter what Zhang Yuanfu is like, he is just your subject! It is only reasonable for a father to scold his son. As a subject, he dares to scold you, the emperor and father. Isn't this going against the will of Heaven?"

"Well, you are right..." Little Wanli nodded thoughtfully, and then said: "But... I did do something wrong..."

Seeing that the little emperor was about to start being indecisive again, Sun Hai said angrily, "Then he can't insult you, the emperor! In my opinion, you should severely fine Zhang Yuanfu half a year's salary! Let him know what the rules and etiquette are!"

"But this..." Little Wanli scratched his face and said in confusion, "Mr. Zhang's salary is not much to begin with, and there are so many people in his family. If he is fined half a year's salary, I'm afraid the Zhang family won't even be able to make ends meet, right? And my mother will never agree to this, after all, Mr. Zhang apologized to me afterwards..."

"Oh, again, this doesn't work, and that doesn't work either..." Sun Hai sighed resignedly. He looked at the hesitant little emperor and knew that he had been fooled again.

After all, this is not the first time this has happened.

Every time the little emperor mentioned Zhang Yuanfu to him angrily, as long as he continued to curse the little emperor, the little emperor would become dispirited and even found various excuses to speak for Zhang Juzheng.

This reminded Sun Hai of what the old palace maids often said: Never try to persuade a quarreling couple, because after the quarrel, they will go back to the same bed and scold you together!
Sun Hai sometimes felt that the little emperor was a big accomplice who always made him feel like a nobody...

Perhaps he felt that he had been fooled too many times, or perhaps he had been spoiled by the emperor, Sun Hai could not hold back his anger and complained in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, sometimes I really feel that you are like an old lady, always finding all kinds of excuses for yourself and making yourself unhappy."

Being called a nagging old lady, the young Wanli became unhappy. He shouted, "Sun Hai, what do you know as a eunuch? I have no choice but to do this. Do you understand my difficulties?"

"Oh, yes, yes, yes. I have no choice. It's all my choice." Sun Hai nodded perfunctorily.

This perfunctory response completely angered the young Wanli. He couldn't punish Zhang Juzheng, and he couldn't punish Sun Hai, a eunuch!
"Sun Hai, I find that you are really becoming more and more unruly! Immediately, right now, get out of here... get out of here and kneel for half an hour!"

"Ah...I obey your command..."

……

"Your Majesty, your concubine is here."

A notification brought Zhu Yijun back to his senses, and he realized that the rain had stopped and it was already dark.

Zheng Mengjing had already learned about what happened at the grand court meeting today. After chatting with her husband, the emperor, she finally asked a tentative question.

"Your Majesty, I heard that you gave Zhang Chonghui an official position. He is a criminal, and giving him such a high reward is too cheap for him, isn't it?"

Zheng Mengjing had to admire Zhang Chonghui, the culprit who took the initiative to plan to kill the prince, but in the end he was able to get the great credit of "saving the prince" and even got an official position!

What’s the difference between this and recognizing a thief as your father?
While admiring him, Zheng Mengjing was also waiting for Zhu Yijun's answer. However, in the end, not only did she not get an answer, but she got a counter-question instead.

"My beloved, do you think I am spoiling Zhang Chonghui too much?"

Hearing this question, Zheng Mengjing was speechless for a moment. If it were in the past, she would have told the truth and said to Zhu Yijun directly, "You are not only pampering Zhang Chonghui, I think you are so stupid that he has bewitched you!"

However, that was in the past. They used to talk about everything with each other. Zhu Yijun used to be like a fool and would pull Zheng Mengjing to raise his hands and swear in front of the gods and Buddhas.

Now, nothing seems to have changed, and yet everything seems to have changed.

"Your Majesty, why do you ask such a question?" Zheng Mengjing replied evasively: "I think that whatever you do has its own reasons."

"Really..." Zhu Yijun looked at Zheng Mengjing quietly, looking at this woman who was no different from other concubines and was only respectful to him.

For a moment, Zhu Yijun even doubted whether this was still the bold concubine who dared to laugh at him like a "nagging old lady" like Sun Hai did.

"My beloved, you have changed." Zhu Yijun blurted out, "You used to be very brave, but now you are getting more and more afraid of me." "Haha..." Zheng Mengjing smiled awkwardly and explained, "I was young and ignorant before, but now I am older and more stable."

"Yes, I'm old..." Zhu Yijun turned his eyes away, not knowing whether he was talking to Zheng Mengjing or to himself:

"It's normal for him to change. If Sun Hai were still alive, he would probably change too..."

Hearing this somewhat unfamiliar name, Zheng Mengjing couldn't help but ask curiously: "Your Majesty, who is Sun Hai?"

Zhu Yijun did not answer this question, or rather, he had already answered it, but that was more than ten years ago. He had not forgotten it, but his beloved concubine had long forgotten it.

……

Next to Shihuaguan is a restaurant called "Maolinlou". It is said that the owner behind the restaurant is a very powerful person.

Zhang Chonghui had been to the Shihua Pavilion many times, but this was his first time to visit the Maolin Building next door.

You wouldn't have known this before you came, but once you got here you discovered that the business of this restaurant is extremely bad.

Although it was beginning to get dark and the curfew was about to begin, in the Wanli Dynasty where law and order was lax, there were shops everywhere that closed their doors for business.

"Maolin symbolizes dense forests, which should imply that the restaurant is bustling with people coming and going, but the business is so bleak, which shows that military generals are indeed not suitable for doing business."

As Zhang Chonghui spoke, he placed the wet umbrella against the wall at the entrance.

Li Rusong looked at Zhang Chonghui quietly. His body was still wet at this moment. After all, he rode a horse to court. Moreover, for him who had been marching and fighting for many years, holding an umbrella in this kind of light rain was something only women and gigolos would do.

"I really don't know how to do business." Li Rusong patted a piece of paper on the table and said bluntly: "This is the deed to this shop. It belongs to you. We are clear between you and me."

"Huh?" Zhang Chonghui looked puzzled and asked, "So your life, Admiral Li, is only worth this one shop?"

Li Rusong was silent for a moment, then continued, "This is the most prosperous area in the capital. Do you know how much this shop is worth?"

"I don't know." Zhang Chonghui spread his hands and said indifferently: "First of all, I don't know how to do business, and secondly, I don't lack money."

Li Rusong suddenly remembered something, and he said, "I will take Qin Zhensu with me to quell the rebellion in Bozhou this time."

"Oh." Zhang Chonghui said calmly: "Who to take to Bozhou is your business, it has nothing to do with me."

Li Rusong was puzzled: "You took great pains to get him into the military camp, wasn't it so that he could command a certain area of ​​the army one day?"

Zhang Chonghui smiled and said, "You must have misunderstood. It was just a matter of convenience that I stuffed her into the military camp. As for how she will be in the future and whether she can lead an area, that is her business and the ability she has earned with her life. It has nothing to do with me."

"Oh, just pretend." Li Rusong sneered: "Don't think I don't know what's in your heart."

"What's in my heart is my business. You don't know, and you can't guess." Zhang Chonghui said as he looked at Li Rusong, as if he could see through his skin, and said faintly:

"But I know what's in your heart and your father's."

It was not known whether it was because Zhang Chonghui's eyes were too grim, or because of his words, but Li Rusong, who had always killed people like crazy, was speechless for a moment.

"Hahaha, don't be nervous." Zhang Chonghui suddenly smiled and patted Li Rusong on the shoulder, saying:

"Don't worry, I won't tell you even if I know. It's a pity that Liaodong is bitterly cold. If pine and cypress want to flourish, they need nutrients, right? General Li Chengliang really has good intentions.

Oh, by the way, I heard that the Jianzhou Jurchen leader 'Nurhaci' also came to Beijing this time, and he came with you. Haha, so he got to know you well.

By the way, I also heard that Jianzhou is not only extremely cold all year round, but also often roamed by giant insects!
I wonder how much bigger the beast in Jianzhou is than the one Wu Song killed in Water Margin. If it is much bigger, it would be really scary!"

Zhang Chonghui said it so bluntly that even a fool could understand that he was implicitly criticizing the Li family for harboring enemies in Liaodong.

Li Rusong’s first reaction was to kill Zhang Chonghui and shut this man up!

However, just as this thought came to his mind, Zhang Chonghui's voice came to his ears:

"Admiral Li, sometimes killing people to silence them won't solve the problem. There is no such thing as a wall that is impenetrable. Do you think those old foxes in the court can't see that?"

"What on earth do you want to say!" Li Rusong was so nervous that he dared not think about anything. He even doubted whether Zhang Chonghui could hear what he was thinking!
"I didn't want to say anything." Zhang Chonghui said innocently, "Didn't you take the initiative to ask me out? Shouldn't I be the one asking you what you want to say?"

"You..." Li Rusong was speechless. He simply slammed the deed on the table into Zhang Chonghui's arms and said firmly, "I don't care about you. Anyway, we are even from now on!"

After saying this, Li Rusong started walking. Although he was walking very fast, he still heard Zhang Chonghui's voice behind him:

"Hey, why are you being so polite? I don't know how to do business."

Li Rusong knew clearly that Zhang Chonghui was actually saying, "I didn't ask you for this. If you really want to give it to me, I will accept it. But this doesn't count as returning the favor!"

……

Li Rusong was gone, and Zhang Chonghui was now the new owner of the "Maolinlou", so naturally he had to get to know the owner.

The shopkeeper's surname is Huang. He is in his fifties and looks kind and polite. He seems to be used to the change of owner.

Anyway, you are working for others, so being a dog doesn't matter where you go.

Zhang Chonghui didn't expect this restaurant to make money, but he still did his best to make the first move.

Zhang Chonghui directly said to Huang, "Don't run this restaurant as a restaurant anymore. Turn it into a bookstore. As for how to do it, I don't know. But you should know, right, Huang?"

Shopkeeper Huang was dumbfounded. Who could have thought that the store would be drastically renovated just after the new owner!
And the key point is... there is a brothel next door!

Selling books next to a brothel?
It seems...it's not impossible...after all, one of the hobbies of literati and poets is to visit prostitutes.

"Master, although I don't know much about running a bookstore, I have a friend who has been the owner of a bookstore for more than 20 years. I can ask him for some advice."

Shopkeeper Huang was actually a little nervous. Although he did have such a friend, he was afraid that the young new boss would fire him directly or poach his friend's employees.

However, Zhang Chonghui just nodded and said, "I'm usually busy and I'm afraid I can't take care of this, so I'll trouble you, Manager Huang, to take care of the bookstore. If you have any difficulties, come to Zhao's house to find me."

Seeing that the new owner not only did not fire him but was also so polite, Manager Huang was flattered and said, "Master, you are so polite. I will definitely live up to your expectations and run the bookstore well!"

"Yeah." Zhang Chonghui also cooperated and drew a big cake, patted Huang's shoulder and said, "When the time comes, I'll give you a raise."

Shopkeeper Huang was probably really touched, and was about to say some flattering words, but he saw Zhang Chonghui quickly walk out of the door, pointing at the plaque above the gate and saying:
"Take this off. It's time to change your name."

Huang the shopkeeper hurried forward and asked, "Yes, yes, your bookstore cannot be called this name from now on, sir, what name would you like to change it to?"

Zhang Chonghui just stroked his chin and thought for a moment, and soon he had the answer.

"Let's call it Donglin Bookstore."

(End of this chapter)