Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 110: Sending for a Selection is Like Sending for a Wedding (Fourth Update, Please Give a Monthly Ticket)
Before noon, Zhang Yu was about to embark on the journey to participate in the selection of the Crown Princess.

Her family prepared some simple food for her, as well as a set of clean clothes, from underwear to outerwear.

Although Zhang Luan repeatedly emphasized that his daughter would be back before dark, Jin was still worried. It felt like sending her daughter away for marriage.

When Zhang Yu got on the carriage, Jin was already there wiping her tears.

Zhang Luan, who had returned from his house outside the city, consoled them, "This is just a re-election, a formality. You're making a fuss about it like it's a wedding. Do you really think the court is an unreasonable place?"

Jin sobbed and said, "I've heard from the neighbors that the imperial family's selection of concubines is like sending a sheep into a tiger's mouth. Once you send someone to the palace, they'll be separated forever. Not to mention sending someone to get married, it's like sending someone to a funeral..."

"Pooh, pooh, pooh, women can't talk. I'll find someone to help keep an eye on it, and with Minister Li hiding behind the scenes to make proper arrangements, there won't be any problems at all, just put your mind at ease."

As Zhang Luan spoke, he gave the driver a few instructions, which roughly meant to send the person there safely and then bring him back to me in good condition.

After leaving home early in the morning and running around for a long time, Zhang Yanling, who looked a little tired, came forward and asked curiously, "Dad, aren't you going with us?"

"What am I going to do?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise.

Zhang Yanling was somewhat speechless. Having witnessed the scene of sending off students to take the college entrance examination in later generations, he said as a matter of course: "Father is standing guard in front of the Ministry of Rites... When sister comes out, she will be able to see her family immediately, and she will feel more at ease. We should take sister's feelings into consideration at this moment."

"I am a new student in the academy. I need to hang out with teachers and classmates in Beiyong and get to know them first. After all, I may be appointed as a doctor of the Five Classics in the Imperial College after the New Year. That is an eighth-rank official position. Do you think I have nothing to do like you?"

Zhang Luan said with a dark face.

Zhang Yu looked at his father eagerly, feeling as if... he was abandoned.

Zhang Heling yawned beside him and said, "Second Brother, you speak so beautifully, why don't you go?"

"I'll go, I'll go."

Zhang Yanling pretended to be indignant and said with his neck stiff, "This way, my sister will have someone to take care of her. At least it will be convenient for her to do anything."

"You... well, go ahead. When you come back, remember to tell me what the situation is like over there. I won't send you off. Have a safe journey."

Zhang Luan seemed to be in a hurry to meet his teachers and classmates at the Imperial College. He waved his hand to urge them and got into another carriage impatiently.

……

……

So, Zhang Yanling and the coachman sent by Shen Lu accompanied Zhang Yu to complete the second round of selecting concubines in the Eastern Palace, which was the re-selection.

"Master Zhang, you really seem like a responsible official. You are very reliable in what you say and do."

On the way there, Zhang Yanling sat next to the coachman, who seemed to admire him very much and praised him repeatedly.

Zhang Yanling shrugged and said, "My sister, if I don't go, who will? It's just that my father has been busy with trivial matters recently and can't spare the time for the time being. Otherwise, my father would definitely go."

The driver smiled and said nothing more, obviously disagreeing with Zhang Yanling's words trying to defend his father.

Zhang Yu in the carriage would occasionally lift the curtain and look around. As a girl who had been kept in the boudoir for a long time, she seldom had the opportunity to go out. On the one hand, she was curious about the street scenes of the capital, and on the other hand, she was nervous, fearing that she would never be able to come back if she went out.

"How long until we arrive?"

Zhang Yu asked casually.

Zhang Yanling glanced at the driver, estimated the current location of the carriage, and asked hesitantly, "It should be... soon, right?"

"Yes, Master Zhang, the Ministry of Rites is just past the street ahead. It's the number one household in Dongjiang Mixiang, and the place is very large... But I heard that the election this time is not taking place in the government office, but in a courtyard diagonally opposite the government office, very close to Zhengyang Gate." The driver introduced the situation he knew.

Zhang Yanling turned around and said to Zhang Yu, "Sister, if you have any inconvenience, please tell me at any time and I will make proper arrangements for you."

Zhang Yu rolled her eyes at her brother and asked in a tender voice, "Am I old? Call me sister?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "If my sister becomes the Crown Princess, wouldn't her worth double? In this world, old people are respected, so calling me sister isn't too much, right?

"Besides, you are my sister. You are older than me after all. You deserve to be called sister!" "You are just a talker."

Zhang Yu was particularly serious when bickering with his younger brother, probably because he felt that there would be no chance again in the future, so he cherished every opportunity to spend time with his family.

……

……

When the carriage entered Dongjiang Mixiang, we saw many carriages.

Some were good, some were relatively average, but no matter what their family conditions were, they would hire a carriage to bring their people here.

Zhang Yu had been looking outside from time to time, but when he saw that there were more and more pedestrians around him, he stopped lifting the curtain. When the carriage stopped outside the Ministry of Rites Yamen in Mixiang, Dongjiang, the numerous carriages had almost blocked the road.

Zhang Yanling helped Zhang Yu get off the carriage, and saw many people walking towards a courtyard with a closed gate across the street, and they had automatically lined up in several rows in front of the gate.

"There are quite a few people."

Zhang Yu looked around and suddenly felt unsure again.

Zhang Yanling looked around and said with a smile, "Many people are wearing bamboo hats and covering their faces. Are they reluctant to be seen?"

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes at his brother and said, "Are you here just to see the girl? Among these people, there might be a future Crown Princess. You can't just look at her whenever you want."

"Sister, do you want to wear a veil as well?"

Zhang Yanling asked with a grin.

"No, no, I'm not afraid of being seen."

Zhang Yu seemed very free and easy and directly rejected his brother's proposal.

I was just about to go to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about the situation, when I suddenly saw a man jogging towards me from a distance. The driver waved his arm and said hello: "Sir, here, here..."

The person who came was Shen Lu.

"Uncle."

Zhang Yu and Zhang Yanling both bowed respectfully to Shen Lu.

When Shen Lu saw Zhang Yu and Zhang Yanling, he was stunned at first, then he looked around and asked curiously, "Where is your father?"

"He said he had to visit teachers and classmates at the Imperial College today and would not come for the time being. He also said today was just a formality and it would be enough for me to accompany my sister alone." Zhang Yanling replied.

Shen Lu smiled bitterly and said, "He is quite relieved... I was originally planning to introduce him to the officials of the Ministry of Rites!"

Zhang Yanling spread his hands: "That can't be helped. My father said that he might go to Beiyong to work after the new year... maybe he cares more about his future colleagues and students in Beiyong."

Shen Lu once again cast his gaze on the beautiful Zhang Yu, smiling broadly, "Don't worry, niece. I have already informed the people from the Ministry of Rites. There is no need to go into the inner hall for a detailed inspection today. Just do some superficial selection and you will pass easily."

"Uncle, please explain it more clearly... I'm afraid my sister won't understand." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.

Shen Lu asked: "Do you understand?"

Zhang Yanling nodded: "I think I understand."

Shen Lu said with a smile, "Then you should explain it to your sister... I have something else to do here. The Imperial Observatory is very close to the Ministry of Rites. Your father can go to the Imperial Observatory when he has time. Let's do this for now. When the door opens, get a badge and send your sister in."

"understood."

Zhang Yanling responded with a smile, just like Zhang Yu's agent, handling everything with ease.

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(End of this chapter)