Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 185 Breaking bones and connecting tendons

Zhang Yanling saw Zhang Mingru out the door.

There was a luxurious carriage waiting outside, and a maid was standing there.

Just looking at the pomp and circumstance is enough to show that Zhang Mingru is living a pretty good life now. It's just that her aunt is very dissatisfied with the marriage arranged for her by her brother and has never been able to let it go.

"Yanling, have you ever read a book?"

Zhang Mingru did not rush to get on the carriage, but turned around to look at Rumu looking at his nephew.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "I have read it."

Zhang Mingru took out a small purse from his pocket, handed it to Zhang Yanling and said, "Take it back and buy some snacks."

Zhang Yanling said: "Aunt, there is no need to spend so much money..."

"As my own child, how can I not feel sorry for her? Your family just arrived in the capital, and I don't think you will have a good life."

As Zhang Mingru spoke, he insisted on stuffing the purse into Zhang Yanling's hand.

Zhang Yanling could see that this aunt was a person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

But it also indirectly shows that Zhang Luan’s speculation actually harmed many people.

Now that I think about it, wasn’t my sister also murdered?

Although Zhang Yu and Zhu Youtang were deeply in love, they were only together for eighteen years. At that time, Zhang Yu was only in her thirties. Thinking about the hardship her sister had to endure in the second half of her life...

However, others cannot change history, but he can rewrite it.

"Thank you, aunt."

Zhang Yanling did not refuse any more.

Zhang Mingru smiled and asked, "Does your father really mention me often?"

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "I often mentioned my aunt's past at home. Dad also often said that he wanted to go to Nanjing to visit you, but... there was no extra money at home, so he could never make the trip."

Zhang Mingru's face showed no sadness or joy, he just nodded calmly: "Yes. No matter what, he is your father, be a filial child. It is rare for our Zhang family to have a smart child like you. If possible, you must take the imperial examination in the future and bring honor to our family."

When Zhang Yanling heard this, he knew that Zhang Mingru, who stayed at home, had lost touch with the times.

Your son can only rely on the imperial examination to get into the imperial court, because his father is just an ordinary official in the court and cannot pass on his influence to his descendants.

But I, your nephew, am going to be the king's uncle, so why should I take the imperial examination?
However, this also means that Zhang Mingru has a very simple hope in her heart, which is that she wants the children from her mother's family to have a bright future, and she hopes her nephew will become Jackie Chan!

……

……

After Zhang Yanling sent Zhang Mingru away, he came back and saw Zhang Luan still sulking there, while Zhang Heling had already gone somewhere to cool off.

"Sent away?"

Zhang Luan turned around and looked at his son.

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling put down the purse in his hand and said, "My aunt left it to me."

Zhang Luan didn't even bother to open it and said with disdain, "She's already living a hard life, and she's still thinking about helping her parents? She doesn't even think about who is the most powerful person right now."

Zhang Yanling pursed his lips and said, "Dad, isn't it too early for you to make such a powerful conclusion?"

Zhang Luan picked up the purse, threw it to Zhang Yanling and said, "Next time you see her, return this thing to her. You should be sensible. Why did you accept this from her?"

"Dad, Auntie actually supports us, but she may still be resentful. You should be more understanding!"

Zhang Yanling advised, and then said, "Shouldn't the best way to resolve Aunt's knot be for your father's reputation in the court to grow, and even to help Uncle Xu, Minister Xu, so that he can receive the favor of our family in the future and treat Aunt better?
"Even in the future, if a wife is honored by her husband, and aunt gets an imperial decree, her status in the Xu family will be further improved?"

Zhang Luan said, "Son, do you think your father doesn't want to? He is the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, a third-rank official in the court, in charge of the official hats of thousands of officials in the Ming Dynasty! No matter how powerful your father is, he can only rely on one Vice Minister Li... Do you think I can really help your uncle when he is promoted to the Minister of State in the future?"

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, you are absolutely right.

Later, Xu Qiong was promoted to Minister of Rites, all thanks to his marriage relationship with the Zhang family.

Although there is no record in history of whether this aunt's status in the Xu family was improved, how could Xu Qiong at that time not understand the principle of returning a favor?

It depends on your future son-in-law. As an emperor, he will be extremely good to the Zhang family.

Look at how spoiled the Zhang brothers have become.

They are a hundred times closer than our own family!

"Dad, don't jump to conclusions."

Zhang Yanling said confidently, "From what I know, although our uncle is now a minister, his reputation in the court is not very good. He will definitely be excluded by his colleagues. If he doesn't have a backer, he might be transferred to Nanjing to be a minister, away from the officialdom in the capital."

"What did you say?"

Zhang Luan looked confused.

Now it was his son's turn to tell him about officialdom? It sounded... quite reasonable, and this was what made him feel most helpless. He thought it was nonsense, but he couldn't help but want to listen. After listening, he felt it made sense. It was too bizarre.

Zhang Yanling said, "To put it simply, my uncle not only has to curry favor with Li Zisheng, but also with you... In the future, he can only try to use our relationship to get the crown prince, who is also our brother-in-law, the future Tian... um, um, to help him, so that he can ensure that he can survive in the capital."

……

……

The inner garden of the palace.

Li Zisheng waited outside the Qianqing Palace for a long time but was not summoned by the emperor. It was not until noon that he saw Tan Chang coming out.

"Eunuch Tan, His Majesty...?"

Li Zisheng hurried forward.

Obviously, he was a little worried at this time, because he had already known about Zhu Jianshen's illness, and according to his information channels, it seemed that the emperor's condition was still very serious.

Qin Chang said: "Mr. Li, His Majesty is currently recovering from an illness, so I'm afraid he can't be summoned. Or you can wait a little longer... Or, how about going home and waiting for His Majesty to summon you?"

"But there are still some things that I must mention to His Majesty in person."

Li Zisheng said with a bitter face.

Tan Chang's eyebrows twitched, and then he widened his eyes and asked in surprise, "Is it related to the secret of heaven?"

Li Zisheng was stunned at first, but then he understood what Qin Chang was worried about.

The last time he predicted the fate, the result was that Concubine Wan really passed away. If he came forward to make any predictions this time, it would obviously be related to the safety of the emperor.

"It's not a secret from heaven, but something about the court affairs."

Li Zisheng quickly denied it.

Qin Chang shook his head and sighed: "The affairs of the court are handled by the ministers. The Imperial Household Department can use the seal after understanding the specific opinions. Your Majesty will not ask about it.

"But... if it involves the secrets of heaven, then His Majesty must be informed in advance. Whether it is good or bad, His Majesty is always willing to listen. Otherwise, why do you think His Majesty would let you... hehe."

There were some things that Qin Chang didn't finish saying.

The general meaning is, otherwise how could a mere Tongzhengshi like you be able to enter the palace and wait outside the Qianqing Palace?
Don’t you value the fact that you are a half-immortal who can tell fortunes?

If it were any other minister, he wouldn't even be able to get close to the gate of the Qianqing Palace.

Li Zisheng asked cautiously, "If it involves the secrets of heaven, I'm afraid something bad will be revealed... Eunuch Tan, do you understand the connection?"

Qin Chang made a gesture to keep quiet, walked forward and whispered: "Some things, we just need to understand them ourselves. I won't hide it from you. In fact, His Majesty's condition has been bad recently... and it seems to be getting worse, which is worrying!

"A few years ago, someone made a calculation and said that His Majesty and Lady Wan were twins, which roughly means that their fates are closely linked and they share life and death... I'm afraid this will come true."

"is it?"

Li Zisheng was extremely surprised.

He was not aware of this matter, but when he thought about the first few years...the most favored minister around the emperor at that time was not him, Li Zisheng, but the monk Jixiao.

In this case, the prophecy about the emperor and Concubine Wan's fate being closely related should have been said by Monk Ji Xiao, and took root in Zhu Jianshen's heart.

Qin Chang had a look of grief on his face, and said in a sad voice: "Your Majesty may not have believed this before, but since you, Mr. Li, have repeatedly uncovered the secrets of heaven, Your Majesty has firmly believed it...

"Recently, perhaps because of the matter of Lady Wan, Your Majesty has been muttering some strange things, such as that I should just die and go to the underworld to accompany her, or that I don't know how the Lord of Hell will treat me when I get to the underworld... Just listening to them scares me to death..."

Li Zi said with concern, it seems that it is not just a prophecy, our Majesty is also a romantic man, he is planning to reunite with Concubine Wan in the underworld and become a pair of desperate lovebirds.

Li Zisheng asked: "Then...what can I do?"

Qin Chang rolled his eyes at him and said, "Mr. Li, aren't you asking this question knowing the answer? All the previous calculations are in the past and are too much to look back on. Only if you talk about things in the future can you attract His Majesty's attention.

"You can even see through the Imperial Concubine's affairs from the secrets of heaven. Could it be that you didn't notice anything about His Majesty? Is it possible?"

"This……"

Li Zisheng thought about it and suddenly felt that it made sense.

If the heavens showed signs of Concubine Wan's death, then the emperor's condition would definitely be reflected in the heavens, right?

It can't be said that in the eyes of God, Concubine Wan's life is more important than the emperor's?

"Then let me go back and try?"

That’s all Li Zisheng could say.

Qin Chang heaved a long sigh of relief and said, "As long as you, Mr. Li, take action, everything will be fine. I hope it will be a good result. Otherwise, His Majesty's mood will not be good, and the dragon's health will also deteriorate... Alas!"

Li Zisheng said: "I understand. Your Majesty's physical illness is mainly caused by mental illness. As long as the mental illness is cured, the dragon body will naturally be healthy!"

"Ah."

Qin Chang nodded helplessly, "It's good that you know, sir. I'll leave everything to you."

(End of this chapter)