Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 178 Change of tune
Lizi provincial government residence.

A special guest came that day, and even Li Zisheng had to receive him carefully.

It was Liang Fang, the eunuch from the Imperial Stables. This time Liang Fang came to visit in person and also brought people to bring several boxes of gifts to Li Zisheng.

"I am honored that Eunuch Liang has come here in person. Why do you give him such a generous gift?"

In the main hall, Li Zisheng smiled and asked Liang Fang to sit down.

Liang Fang picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea and said, "Some of these were given by our family, and some were given by Concubine Shao in the palace."

"Oh?"

When Li Zisheng heard this, he knew that Liang Fang came for the matter of changing the crown prince.

Liang Fang said, "Mr. Li has been very popular recently. People in the court and the public regard you as an immortal. They all say that you can communicate with ghosts and gods, judge yin and yang, and understand the will of heaven. Even His Majesty respects you very much."

"Don't dare to take it, don't take it!"

Li Zisheng waved his hands repeatedly and said modestly, "They are all some techniques in alchemy. I have no intention of showing off. Unfortunately, Your Majesty needs it and keeps urging me, so I have to provide some humble opinions. I am ashamed! Ashamed!"

"Master Li, why are you being so modest? There is absolutely no need for that."

Liang Fang smiled and said, "We heard that your house is now full of guests and there is a constant stream of people in front of your house, while your rival Deng Changen's house is deserted... After these events at the end of the year, people know who has the diamond and will not go to the wrong temple again."

"Mr. Liang, thank you for your praise."

Li Zisheng was not a loyal and honest person after all. He felt a little flattered when being praised so highly, especially since this person was his former benefactor.

Liang Fang said, "Your consecutive prophecies have indirectly helped the crown prince and successfully helped him through major crises. Recently, His Majesty has not even mentioned the issue of changing the crown prince."

"Uh……"

Li Zisheng certainly knew that Liang Fang was the vanguard in promoting the change of storage.

These words were clearly a warning to him: You have ruined my plan, so you'd better be sensible.

Liang Fang smiled and said, "Of course, matters of God's will have nothing to do with Lord Li. Lord Li is just stating the facts, so there is no need to blame yourself."

Li Zisheng said with a worry, I helped the prince for political speculation, I don't blame myself at all.

I was so happy that I didn't even have time to rejoice!

Liang Fang said, "In this world, Lord Li is the only one who can understand the will of heaven, but there are many people who are proficient in magic. Recently, many monks and Taoists have joined our family, claiming to be good at talismans, alchemy, etc. Some of them are even quite prestigious among the people."

"is it?"

Li Zisheng felt uncomfortable.

You are telling me clearly that you can praise me or step on me, right?
It's true that if someone says that I, Li, have been able to get to where I am today and enjoy the emperor's favor only because of my ability in magic, then you really underestimate me.

Liang Fang sighed, "But I feel that they are just people seeking fame and reputation, and they are not comparable to Lord Li."

After hearing all this praise and criticism, Li Zisheng probably knew that Liang Fang had something to tell him but was just too embarrassed to speak up.

"Eunuch Liang, I heard that Concubine Shao had a close relationship with Imperial Concubine Wan. Now that Imperial Concubine Wan has passed away, she must be very sad, right?"

Li Zisheng tried to help Liang Fang open up.

"Ah."

Liang Fang nodded, "It's very sad. Her son, the little prince that our family likes very much, had a good chance to become the crown prince. It was almost a natural progression, but it was blocked by the secrets of heaven. Concubine Shao could have been honored by her son, but who knew... Alas!"

Li Zisheng asked: "Then...what does she have to say?"

Liang Fang smiled and said, "Master Li, you are very insightful. She did have a story. A fortune teller once saw her and said that she was destined to be rich and noble. Look, she entered the palace smoothly and gave birth to a prince. Some people also said that she could be... extremely noble... Now that this kind of thing happened, it seems that her fate has been blocked. Can you calculate what is going on?"

Li Zisheng shook his head and said, "I have never met Concubine Shao, so it is not easy to jump to conclusions."

Liang Fang said: "Then can't you give her a hand?"

Li Zisheng remained silent.

Liang Fang said, "We know that this is embarrassing for you. But don't you plan for the future? Even if you help the prince, he may not remember your kindness... Who is he thinking about? Isn't it the group of lecturers from the Eastern Palace who came from the Hanyuan? With the Confucian education that the prince has received since he was a child, when has he ever taken people from the Taoist priests seriously?" "You can't say that."

Li Zisheng was very unhappy when he heard this.

What you said was just looking down on me. What do you mean I am from a Taoist background? I am obviously the Minister of Public Security now, a third-rank civil official.

Liang Fang pretended not to hear what Li Zisheng said and continued: "But Concubine Shao is different. She knows the rules. She will repay anyone who helps her, and she will remember this favor for the rest of her life. No matter how hard you try, Lord Li, it is impossible to become a prime minister. But if you get a name from Concubine Shao, you will be ranked first among the ministers in the future."

After listening to this, Li Zisheng fell silent again.

Liang Fang smiled and said, “You have helped the prince, and everyone can see your ability… It is true that Tianji favors the prince now, but who knows if Tianji will help him in the future?

"It is said that the will of heaven is unpredictable, but for Minister Li, what does the will of heaven mean? It is up to you to decide. Success or failure depends on you. It all depends on who you want to help."

Li Zisheng said helplessly: "Eunuch Liang, it's not that I don't want to help, it's really the Crown Prince's business, as a humble official, it's difficult for me to ask about it."

"hehe."

Liang Fang continued to smile, "Lord Li, don't think that just because you helped the Crown Prince before, you will definitely be at odds with Concubine Shao... In fact, it is precisely because you have repeatedly helped the Crown Prince that everyone can see that you are the indispensable one in the court. Concubine Shao will value you more.

"Besides, is it true that the matter of changing the crown prince was only planned by a few women in the inner court? If it wasn't for your majesty's instruction, do you think this matter would have caused such a big stir? Doesn't it all depend on the will of the Holy Lord? Why do you have to stand up for irrelevant people and repeatedly oppose your majesty? Sometimes it is better for everyone to keep silent!"

"Ah."

Li Zisheng nodded.

Changing the crown prince was originally the emperor's idea, and of course Concubine Wan was behind the scenes fanning the flames, but now the unstable factor has been removed.

……

……

After Li Zisheng sent Liang Fang away, Pang Qing followed in.

Li Zisheng roughly explained the purpose of Liang Fang's visit, and Pang Qing knew what was going on.

Pang Qing asked in confusion: "Master Dao, I have done so many things before that I have established a good relationship with the Eastern Palace. I won't change my ways just because of a few words from Eunuch Liang, right?"

"Of course I know."

Li Zisheng said coldly, "We have been planning for so long, and even the Crown Princess has been chosen. Now changing the family is suspected of starting a war."

"Then you..."

Pang Qing could see that Li Zisheng was actually a little moved.

Li Zisheng smiled bitterly and said, "Liang is right about one thing. The prince believes in the Confucian way of governing the country. After all, the prince and I have never had any contact. Who knows what the prince's attitude towards me is? And who knows whether the prince will remember today's favor in the future? Everything is unknown!"

Pang Qing said: "But... Concubine Shao's side is actually the same as the Crown Prince's, there is no difference, right?"

"no the same!"

Li Zisheng shook his head and said, "If Concubine Shao's son ascends the throne in the future, it should be consistent with your majesty's current philosophy of governing the country, and my identity and status may be more secure!"

"Why do you say that? The Fourth Prince seems to be just a child now. How can we know what his future will be like?" Pang Qing became more and more confused.

“Some things cannot be said openly, but generally speaking, the man surnamed Liang has touched my soft spot. He knows that what I fear most is being liquidated by the future emperor.

"Bingkun, tell me, if the emperor of the Eastern Palace ascends the throne in the future, and the censors jointly impeach me and I am irreconcilable, will the new emperor stand on the side of the civil officials, or will he stand on my side?"

Li Zisheng looked at Pang Qing with eager eyes.

Pang Qing was at a loss for words.

Li Zisheng asked again: "If the Fourth Prince is willing to take me as his teacher, and His Majesty also allows me to join the Imperial Academy and take on a job, so that I have the opportunity to enter the cabinet, and then promote some people who usually flatter me to enter the cabinet or rank among the six ministries, will there be anyone who will be my enemy?"

As he spoke, the fire of ambition burned fiercely in Li Zisheng's eyes.

(See the razor-throat again! My whole body aches, it's really uncomfortable, I hope it's not the Fifth Yang... I'll take another day off today, and I'll resume three updates tomorrow. Thank you all for your support!)
(End of this chapter)