Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 197: Set a Trap for the Prince (asking for monthly tickets)
The end of the first year.

Liang Fang's private residence in the capital welcomed a special guest that day. It was Wei Xing, the eunuch in the imperial household who had been warned by Zhu Jianshen and had colluded with him to enrich himself through corruption, extravagance and other means. He even misappropriated the imperial estate's small treasury for personal use.

Wei Xing had just returned from outside the capital, and his previous mission was "the emperor sent eunuchs to visit temples and monasteries in mountains and rivers, hang robes and burn incense to pray for the blessing of Concubine Wan."

After Concubine Wan's death, Zhu Jianshen sent people to various mountains, rivers, temples and monasteries to ask them to wear robes and burn incense in order to ensure that his beloved concubine could be protected in the underworld.

Of course, Zhu Jianshen did not want Concubine Wan to reincarnate too early. He at least wanted him to go down and reunite with her in the underworld and be a ghost couple for a while.

"Eunuch Liang, the situation is urgent now. Once the Crown Prince gets married, no one will be able to challenge his position as the heir to the throne. Once he ascends the throne, you and I will never have a safe day, and even our lives may not be safe... Your Majesty's words are still ringing in my ears."

Wei Xing's face was filled with fear and anxiety.

Previously, Concubine Wan called off the prince's wedding, and Wei Xing was quite relieved. But this time when he came back from outside and learned that the prince's wedding date had been set, he suddenly became extremely nervous and had to ask for help from Liang Fang, who was tied to the same rope with him.

Liang Fang said disdainfully, "Why are you panicking? The palace's hidden gold was mostly spent by our family. If there is any responsibility, it will be our family. You were just criticized by His Majesty. Why are you so scared? Is there something else that our family doesn't know?"

Wei Xing said helplessly: "There is no such thing, but I am afraid... the prince will settle the score later."

Liang Fang was holding a bird cage at this time, looking very leisurely, and said calmly: "If we wait until you return to Beijing to discuss everything, isn't it a little late?"

"That is...Eunuch Liang, do you have a plan to deal with it?"

After hearing this, Wei Xing finally felt relieved.

After all, Liang Fang has been highly valued by the emperor in the past few years, and as the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Stables, his say is much higher than that of Wei Xing, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Households. So Wei Xing doesn't think it's a big deal even if he is a little arrogant.

Liang Fang said: "Our family has already informed Li Zisheng secretly."

"he?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Xing became nervous again. "Mr. Li is now the most popular person in the world. His previous predictions always came true, which helped the crown prince to retain his position as heir. No matter how you look at it... he doesn't seem to be on the same page with us now."

Liang Fang looked confident and asked pointedly, "Where are the treasures shipped from Guangdong to the north now?"

"I don't know..."

Wei Xing was stunned.

I don't understand why Liang Fang suddenly cares about this.

Liang Fang said: "This batch of treasures was painstakingly collected by our family, and we deliberately caused some conflicts with the locals. These things are presented to Your Majesty."

"That……"

After hearing this, Wei Xing still couldn't continue the conversation.

"I have mentioned these treasures to His Majesty several times, and His Majesty has high hopes for them... Think about it, if something unexpected happens on the way north, or if someone impeaches me for this, do you think His Majesty will be angry?"

Liang Fang asked with a sneer.

Wei Xing vaguely understood something and asked with interest, "Are you trying to say that this matter involves the Crown Prince? But... the Crown Prince... usually never asks about court affairs."

Liang Fang looked over fiercely and said coldly, "The prince doesn't care, but the lecturers in the East Palace are in cahoots with the honest and upright officials in the court. As long as I use some means to actively intensify the conflict, someone will complain to the prince, and even let the prince make suggestions to His Majesty. What do you think His Majesty will do?"

"This……"

Liang Fang continued, "Although the crown prince is not very talented, his filial piety has always been praised by people, and Your Majesty is reluctant to do so, so the matter of changing the crown prince has not been carried out.

"If the Crown Prince insists on giving advice on presenting flowers, birds, fish, insects and treasures, do you think Your Majesty will still regard him as a benevolent and filial person?"

Wei Xing suddenly realized and praised: "You are very smart, eunuch. But I am afraid...what if the prince doesn't fall for it?"

Liang Fang laughed out loud and said, "The Crown Prince has been trapped in the palace all the time. He has been restrained too much and his horizons are limited. Moreover, our family has already designated a destination for these treasures. They will definitely be confiscated on the way and must be related to the Eastern Palace."

"How are they connected?" Wei Xing asked.

"Someone will send some of the treasures to the palace without the knowledge of the officials in the Eastern Palace. Once the matter is exposed, the prince will speak well of the officials in the Eastern Palace and speak for the civil officials in order to protect his mentor... If he doesn't want to fall into the trap, he will take the initiative to stick his head out."

Wei Xing asked excitedly: "What do you need me to do?"

"You don't have to do anything. When you return to the palace, you must first take care of Concubine Shao. We must all stand firmly on her side in the future. Even Li Zisheng has begun to hope that His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince will help him enter the cabinet as a prime minister in the future. When the court and the outside world work together, how can the position of the crown prince of the Eastern Palace be preserved?"

When Liang Fang said this, a somewhat ferocious look appeared on her face.

It seems that even if Concubine Wan died, he would inherit her will and fight the prince to the end.

……

……

The twenty-ninth day of the first lunar month.

Zhang Mansion.

Zhang Luan specially asked someone to invite Zhang Yin to his home, and asked his wife to prepare a table of food and good wine for him.

During the dinner, Zhang Luan told Zhang Yin the key points about the officials of Hejian Prefecture who passed the assessment.

Zhang Yin looked puzzled and said, "I have also heard about this matter. Lai Zhan, you said that you were behind all this? You...don't be greedy for credit." "For this kind of thing, it is there or not. If you have no ability but insist on saving face in front of others and taking credit for yourself, you will only make people laugh afterwards."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he felt as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on him from head to toe. He said with an unhappy look on his face, "Are you doubting me?"

Zhang Yin said helplessly, "I'm not doubting you, but I don't know where you got the connection to be so powerful. I heard that your relative, the new Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Xueshi, did not participate in the inspection after arriving in Beijing. Apart from him, do you have any other way to go?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan was a little embarrassed for a moment.

He didn't want to tell Zhang Yin about Li Zisheng's situation, but after all, some things were done by him through Li Zisheng's private communication. If Li Zisheng was not brought up, it would be inconvenient for Li Zisheng himself to tell others openly, and outsiders would not believe that all this was done by him, Zhang Luan.

Zhang Luan had no choice but to put on an impatient look and said in a cold voice: "I did look for someone, but I can't tell anyone about it. Don't you trust me?"

Zhang Yin sighed, "It's not a question of whether I believe you or not, but whether the officials in Hejian Prefecture will believe you! Now they are all officials, and I rashly tell them that it's all the credit of the Zhang family in Xingji, but I can't explain why, who will believe me?"

Zhang Luan felt bitter but couldn't say it, his old face turned red.

Just at this moment, Zhang Yanling came in from outside, holding a pot of wine in his hand, and said, "Dad, I followed your instructions and brought a pot of imperial wine from the cellar in the north courtyard."

"Son, come here, come here."

When Zhang Luan saw Zhang Yanling coming, he was overjoyed.

As expected, at critical moments, he still had to rely on his youngest son to help him out, otherwise it would be inconvenient for him to show off in front of Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yanling personally filled the wine glass in front of Zhang Yin, and then put down the wine jug.

Zhang Yin smiled and said, "Yanling has grown up and become sensible. It's time to find him a teacher to study hard."

"Already found."

Zhang Luan smiled with satisfaction and said, "He found the person himself. He is very talented and knowledgeable. He is a scholar from Shanxi. He usually studies with his teacher. Maybe he can take the imperial examination in the future and bring honor to the family!"

"Imperial Examination? Forget it then."

Zhang Yin couldn't help but shook his head when he heard this.

This casual remark seemed to hurt Zhang Luan's self-esteem again. He raised his head like a fighting rooster and asked, "You don't believe that the Zhang family can produce a talent in my branch?"

Zhang Yin smiled bitterly and said, "You are already related to the Eastern Palace, why do you still want your child to take the imperial examination? Wouldn't it be better to get a job in the Five Military Commanders' Office or find a job for Yanling in the Imperial Guard? Given Yanling's current situation, can he devote himself to studying?"

Zhang Luan said: "Hearing what you said, it seems to be true... It is indeed difficult for a family of foreign relatives to produce a Jinshi."

Zhang Yin couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, as if silently questioning, "Zhang Laizhan is so shameless. Don't you have any idea of ​​yourself? You are just a student who was lucky enough to get the title of a student of the Imperial Academy. Now you want your son to take the imperial examination? Why don't you let him take the top prize?"

"Dad, my uncle came here just now and asked us about the results of the official selection in Hejian Prefecture so that he could report to Minister Li of the Yintai Division." Zhang Yanling said.

When Zhang Yin heard this, he seemed to have discovered some great secret and asked anxiously, "Yanling, which uncle is yours?"

Zhang Luan was stunned when he saw Zhang Yin's reaction.

Then he understood. Zhang Yin thought that his son's childish words had revealed a big secret of the family, so he was so eager to ask.

Zhang Luan laughed inwardly, thinking, even if you are an old fox with all the tricks, you can't beat my son's calculations and strategies.

Zhang Yanling said: "It's Uncle Shen."

"Ah, yes, yes."

Zhang Luan pretended to be confused and said, "His uncle did come to ask about it before. As you know, the experience of Yintaisi still has some status in Li Shilang's eyes."

Zhang Yin nodded repeatedly and said, "Some people say that you have some connection with Minister Li. It seems to be true. Could it be true that our niece's success in the selection of Crown Princess is also the result of the secret help of Lord Li as rumored outside?"

"Uh……"

Zhang Luan quickly looked at his son for help.

Zhang Luan was unable to cope with such obviously tentative words.

Should we say "yes" or "no" right now?

Saying “yes” is a fact, but he doesn’t want Zhang Yin to know the inside story so easily. But if he says “no”...how to explain the fact that Li Zisheng helped Hejian Prefecture in the selection of officials?
How can you take the credit for yourself?
Sorrow!

Zhang Yanling pretended to be curious and asked, "Dad, is the Li Shilang that my second uncle mentioned the same Lord Li who visited our house earlier?"

"what?"

Not only Zhang Luan was surprised, but Zhang Yin also exclaimed in surprise.

Zhang Luan was surprised that his son was so frank today. He actually told his uncle the truth about his family's relationship with Li Zisheng.
Didn’t you specifically remind me, your father, to keep this a secret in order to prevent Zhang Yin from taking advantage of this relationship to cause trouble?
Zhang Yin's eyes lit up and he asked, "Laizhan, is this true? Minister Li came to your house in person? Then you..."

“This, that…”

At this moment, Zhang Luan was completely confused and had no idea how to respond.

(End of this chapter)