Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 170: The Trouble with the Selection (asking for monthly votes)
Li House.

Li Zisheng attended the court meeting that day and was in a bad mood when he came back. When he sat down, he got even more angry and pushed everything he could touch on the table to the ground.

Pang Qing came over upon hearing the news and asked cautiously, "Master Dao, what are you doing...?"

Li Zisheng cursed: "That bunch of ungrateful people, when we were selecting and promoting people, they all praised Li Shida and Li Shida. Now they are teaming up to impeach me? They say I am talking nonsense about the secrets of heaven... They even blamed me for the death of Concubine Wan. This is simply outrageous!"

"That……"

Pang Qing didn't know how to comfort her, so he thought for a moment and said, "Maybe they are all jealous of you... Don't take it to heart. As long as you have the trust of His Majesty, it's enough. If you are not envied, you are a mediocre person!"

"It's not just jealousy, they are afraid of me! They know that I am in the emperor's favor now, and they also know that this assessment of officials in the world is related to their future and destiny. They know that it is too late to curry favor with me now, so they just do the opposite...

"They thought that if I were to touch them, they would worry about being criticized by the world for retaliating... Humph, I will retaliate against them, so what?"

Pang Qing was somewhat puzzled. After a brief thought, he helped to analyze: "If that is the case, then they clearly have ulterior motives... First they impeached you, openly apologizing to you, so that you would consider your reputation and not dare to act rashly, and then let them off the hook in the assessment of officials across the country?"

Li Zisheng said: "The man named Deng must be behind this. I think I have seen through him!"

Pang Qing asked, "What is your Majesty's attitude?"

"His Majesty?"

Li Zisheng thought for a moment and shook his head, "Since the death of Concubine Wan, His Majesty has never appeared in front of the court officials. I guess His Majesty is in deep sorrow, so how can he care about other things at this moment?

"Do you know what His Majesty said? If Wan Shi leaves, he won't live long... He said this in front of me, how creepy!"

"This... I don't know where to start?"

Pang Qing widened his eyes.

Li Zisheng explained in a low voice: "Don't spread rumors... In fact, your Majesty's liver and spleen have not been in good condition. Recently, he dare not take medicine to regulate his body, for fear of following the footsteps of Concubine Wan."

"Why? Shouldn't illness be treated?"

Pang Qing became more and more confused and couldn't help asking.

"It is said that the worsening of Concubine Wan's condition is related to improper medication and conditioning. Of course, this is just speculation. I have to ask Lai Zhan about this matter. He is knowledgeable and I have never practiced medicine. How can I know so much? But... I can't contact him these two days. You can ask him for me."

"Yes Yes."

Pang Qing agreed, but felt a little unhappy.

Why do you have to run errands for me?
Can't we just find someone to go?
Just treat me like a cow, so annoying!
……

……

Today happens to be the Lantern Festival.

The Zhang family mansion was extremely lively. A very special guest came to the house that day. It was the current head of the Zhang family, Zhang Yin, who had come all the way from Xingji to the capital to visit after learning that his niece had been chosen as the Crown Princess.

"Laizhan, let the young man go out first. I have something to discuss with you."

In the main room, Zhang Yin saw Zhang Yanling hanging around and felt unhappy.

Zhang Luan waved his hand nonchalantly, "It's okay. Yanling has a lot of ideas... When his sister was selected as the Crown Princess, he helped her get selected. If you have something to say in front of him, it's like going through it in my mind first. I'm sure I'll have a solution."

When Zhang Yin heard this, he felt that his cousin was humiliating him.

Unfortunately, the times have changed. His cousin's status is no longer what it used to be. He can't afford to offend him just because he is a fourth-rank official. He can only be patient and say with a dark face: "I didn't come here to ask about your girl entering the East Palace. I admit that I was short-sighted in this matter and didn't have your foresight. The result proves that you are right."

"Where."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he said, "Are you here to apologize to me?"

I, Zhang Laizhan, have always won people over with my virtue. As the saying goes, a prime minister can hold a boat in his stomach. How can I argue with a commoner like you? "The previous debt between our two families has also been written off." Zhang Yin added.

"what!?"

Zhang Luan obviously didn't expect this to happen, and thought to himself, why didn't I think that you might be here to collect a debt?

Alas, I only thought about showing off in front of you, but I didn't think about how much it would cost if I really had to settle those past accounts. My face immediately looked a little unfriendly.

Zhang Yanling bowed respectfully to Zhang Yin and said, "Thank you, uncle, for understanding our current situation... I would like to thank you for your generosity on behalf of my father."

When Zhang Yin heard this, he became even angrier.

Sure enough, your son was here to humiliate me. I said I wanted to forgive the debt, and you see how proud he was? Just like that... you don't want to teach him a lesson?
Zhang Luan said with a straight face, "Yanling, what you said is wrong. It is natural to pay back debts. Before... your father didn't have the ability to do so. Now that I have the money, how can I be a debtor? His second uncle... you go back first, and I will calculate the debts and send the money to you."

Zhang Yin was furious. He stood up and asked, "Zhang Laizhan, do you mean to say goodbye to me and never have anything to do with me again?"

"Ah? His second uncle, why do you think so? I...I don't mean that."

Zhang Luan seemed very aggrieved.

I insist on returning your money just to show that I am an upright person. In fact, if you had refused a little more, I would have obeyed your wishes. Why are you still angry?
Zhang Yin's expression eased a little, and he said, "I have something to ask of you now! Let's put aside the matter of money for now."

"This……"

Zhang Luan said with embarrassment, "The silver issue is easier to deal with. The palace has given some rewards recently, and there are also gifts from others, especially the Huizhou merchants, who are very generous. In addition, there is...well, the silver at home is enough for the time being.

"As for the rest... Although I am now the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a fourth-rank official in the court, I am only a salary-earning official with no real power, and I don't know anyone in the court... If you come to me for help, I'm afraid it will be in vain."

Zhang Luan, who said this, also looked at Zhang Yanling intentionally.

This is a reminder to always remember your son.

Before he received the visiting card to meet Zhang Yin, his son had already given him some advice and had guessed that Zhang Yin would not visit him without a request.

Zhang Yin said with a dark face, "If you don't try, how do you know you can't help? This matter originated at the end of last year, when officials from all over the country went to Beijing to pay homage. I heard that the Ministry of Personnel had drawn up a list of people who were old, weak and incompetent and wanted to be laid off. Many of them... were officials from our Hejian Prefecture. They and our Zhang family have always been closely related and have always stood together."

"Uh... I didn't know about this." Zhang Luan pretended to be innocent.

Zhang Yin said earnestly, "I'm telling you this just to let you know the current situation. If it's convenient for you, you can go and make some connections in the capital. I heard that Mr. Shen from the Ministry of Public Administration made a lot of efforts in marrying off my daughter. Why don't you ask him?"

"Here……"

Zhang Luan looked embarrassed.

He clearly remembered his son's words, that he should not show off his relationship with Li Zisheng in front of others.

Because having a good relationship with Li Zisheng now is not something worth publicizing.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Dad, I think what my second uncle said is right. The officials of Hejian Prefecture and my Zhang family are of the same blood and share weal and woe. When you are in the court in the future, won't you also expect them to give advice and suggestions for the development of my Zhang family, or even to fight in the front? If they can help us, then help us."

Zhang Luan glanced at his son with a puzzled look.

You kid, it was you who told me to be on guard against your second uncle and it was obviously you who refused to give in in front of him.

Now it's you who asked me to help him?
Zhang Yin finally showed a hint of smile on his face and said, "Laizhan, take a look. Even the younger generation understands this principle. You can understand it, right?"

"No no."

Zhang Luan said quickly, "I'll ask for you later, but I don't know whether it will succeed or not. Besides, I don't know what this official dismissal is all about. So, you stay at my house for dinner, and we'll talk about it in detail."

"No, I still have to contact the officials of Hejian Prefecture. I won't keep you any longer. Goodbye!" Zhang Yin acted in a businesslike manner, stood up and left.

(End of this chapter)