Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 198: No loss inside or outside (asking for monthly ticket)

In the living room of Zhang's house, the conversation continued.

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister was chosen as the Crown Princess. Not only Lord Li came, but also Lord Wan and Lord Liu. Father even received them personally."

Zhang Luan was stunned for a moment, and only then did he realize that his son probably wanted him to confuse the public.

Li Zisheng was mixed in with several important officials of the court. They had all been here before, not for personal reasons, but for the purpose of the crown prince taking a concubine.

If the relationship between the Zhang family and Li Zisheng is exposed in the future and Zhang Yin questions him, Zhang Luan can just say, "I told you all this before, but you didn't realize that Li Zisheng and I had such a close relationship. Who can I blame?"

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "Yes, since my daughter was chosen as the Crown Princess, many people have come to visit. The Duke of Baoguo and the Duke of Yingguo have both visited me. However, I am a scholar after all, so I don't communicate much with them. On the contrary, Lord Wan and Lord Liu have sat down with me for long talks, and we have become close friends."

"Then... have you told them about the assessment of officials in Hejian Prefecture?"

Zhang Yin obviously still didn't quite believe it.

Zhang Luan said, "I handled this matter through Ruxue. He should have approached Minister Li, or maybe Minister Li did it for my daughter's sake. That's all."

"Oh."

Zhang Yin suddenly realized.

It turns out that Li Zisheng wanted to curry favor with the Eastern Palace, so he found an opportunity to use Shen Lu as a middleman and use helping the officials of Hejian Prefecture to pass the assessment smoothly as a condition in exchange for your, Zhang Luan's loyalty.

It sounds reasonable and there is nothing wrong with it.

Zhang Yin said: "It is said that this Minister Li is now in the limelight in the court. Any powerful eunuch pales in comparison to him... If we can really establish a friendship with Minister Li, it will be of great benefit to the officials of Hejian Prefecture... Lai Zhan, you should firmly grasp the opportunity."

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "That's right. I was also looking for an opportunity to interact with him more."

"Ah."

Zhang Yin didn't go into the topic any further.

Maybe he still looked down on Zhang Luan.

As the future father-in-law of the prince, you seem to have some status, but everyone knows that the prince is currently in a weak position. How can you curry favor with a big shot like Li Zisheng?
Just because of your status as a future in-law?

I'm sorry, but the families of the current empress and concubines are not favored by the royal family. Even if the Wan family is very powerful, it is limited to getting a job as a Jinyiwei and showing off their power among the people. I haven't seen them cause much waves in the court.

This is the case in our dynasty, so as for you, a potential relative of the next dynasty, you'd better forget about it.

"Dad, I should have left after delivering the wine. I didn't mean to get involved in your conversation. It's really overstepping my authority... You guys drink slowly. I'll go down first."

Zhang Yanling said to his old father with a smile.

The more Zhang Luan looked at his youngest son, the more he liked him. He secretly gave him a thumbs up and said, "It's rare that your second uncle is here today. You need someone to accompany you. Don't go downstairs. Come to the table and eat something... His second uncle, do you have any objection?"

Zhang Yin thought about it and nodded.

Originally, he didn't want to eat at the same table with the junior, but this kid could get some information out of him, and he, his cousin, was not very honest. With this kid around, maybe he could get some different information!
……

……

Zhang Yanling took a seat.

Zhang Yin turned his attention back to Zhang Luan and asked, "So, the officials of Hejian Prefecture were able to survive this major change, and even received many promotions, all because our niece was selected as the Crown Princess. But Lai Zhan, don't be blindly optimistic. The Crown Prince... is weak and may have difficulty gaining a foothold in the court."

This is to remind Zhang Luan not to act so arrogant in front of me.

After all, I am the military advisor behind the officials of Hejian Prefecture, and I can even lead them.

And you...

Being the father of the Crown Princess may sound glorious, but you never know when you might fall from grace. After all, the Crown Prince’s own position is precarious as well.

"Yes."

Zhang Luan's face was more relaxed at this time. "Come, let's drink. Fill it up."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanling quickly filled the glasses in front of the two elders with wine.

Zhang Yin continued, "Then do you think there is a chance for Ruxue to help me talk so that I can go to the Li Mansion and pay a personal visit to Minister Li?"

"what?"

When Zhang Luan heard this, he asked, "Why are you still being so arrogant?"
Zhang Yin didn't seem to think that doing so would be abrupt at all, and explained: "Just think of it as a way to express gratitude. If I go there in person, the officials of Hejian Prefecture will be able to show enough respect to our Zhang family."

“Not quite right…”

Zhang Luan looked at his son halfway through his words.

Brat, it's your turn to speak again.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Dad, if we let my uncle go and talk to him, maybe he can really get in touch with Minister Li? Second uncle is an official of Hejian Prefecture, and this is not out of selfish motives. We should support him."

Zhang Luan was filled with resentment after hearing this.

What is not selfish?
Judging from the old guy's personality, he did this just to bypass me and make people think that he got Li Zisheng's support by currying favor.

I didn't realize before that this guy was such a double-talking, despicable and shameless person, but now... I have learned my lesson and will never be fooled by him again.

"Minister Li is in a high position of power. It would be difficult to rashly go and pay him a visit."

Zhang Luan looked embarrassed.

When Zhang Yin heard that there was a chance, he became much more enthusiastic than before, and said with a smile on his face: "If it works, I will definitely thank you for coming to see you. I will also bring generous gifts when I go to the Li Mansion, and I will definitely not let the Zhang family be rude in front of others."

"But……"

"Dad, please help Second Uncle. Since that Minister Li helped the officials of Hejian Prefecture, I think he wants to ask for a reward. I don't have the ability right now, so let Second Uncle go for us. That's fine."

Zhang Yanling continued to act as a lobbyist. Zhang Luan almost wanted to ask, "Are you helping me or him?"
"That……"

Zhang Luan seemed hesitant again.

Zhang Yin said: "I have arranged for the renovation of the family temple and the ancestral hall. After this is completed, the officials of Hejian Prefecture will definitely express their gratitude. This is also for the Zhang family to gain a better foothold in Hejian Prefecture in the future. Please help me this time!"

When Zhang Luan heard this, he used the family's righteousness to deceive him again.

He glanced at his son, and although he was puzzled, he still nodded heavily and said, "Then I'll give it a try. I can't guarantee that it will work."

……

……

Zhang Yin got up and left in a hurry after drinking only a few glasses of wine.

He said he had to go back to prepare gifts for visiting Li Zisheng, and also to meet with officials from Hejian Prefecture... Zhang Luan was confused for a moment.

How come you're not even in the mood to have a drink with me?
You haven't even married your daughter-in-law yet, and you're planning to throw me, the matchmaker, over the wall?

"Second uncle is planning to go back and ask for bribes. He will bring gifts bought by officials from Hejian Prefecture to visit Li Zisheng... What does this mean? Is he offering gifts to Buddha? And then he will take all the credit?"

Zhang Yanling and his old father saw Zhang Yin off.

As he watched the carriage go away, Zhang Yanling began to mutter to himself, and he spoke very loudly, intentionally so that Zhang Luan could hear clearly.

"You little brat, you clearly know his purpose, but you still want me to introduce him to you? Do you think Minister Li has the time to meet him?"

Zhang Luan looked annoyed.

I want to teach my son a lesson, but I can't bear to do it.

Because today it was all thanks to his son who helped him resolve the embarrassment and crisis.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Why do you care about him... Do you think that even if he meets Minister Li, Minister Li will welcome him? Isn't it because of Dad's face that he is allowed to see him?"

Zhang Luan said: "The officials in Hejian Prefecture won't think so. They will only flatter your second uncle even more."

"Dad, the officials in Hejian Prefecture are not fools. Even if Second Uncle has some official background, how can he get in touch with Minister Li given his current status as a nobody? Do you think that Minister Li is the magistrate of Xingji County and any gentry is qualified to pay him a visit?"

Zhang Yanling had a happy smile on his face.

Zhang Luan was stunned for a while before he asked, "You mean, the officials in Hejian Prefecture will guess that I am behind this?"

"if not?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Perhaps only Second Uncle himself is so immersed in the beautiful picture he created that he cannot extricate himself. He would regard others' flattery to the Zhang family as a courtesy to him personally. Dad, just treat it as a big show. Why bother to expose him?"

Zhang Luan seemed to have come to his senses as well, frowning and saying, "That's right. My father is the Crown Princess's father, a fourth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. Why would I bother with a commoner like him? He used to show off in front of others because your uncle was once the governor of Liaodong. But now... humph."

Zhang Yanling said, "Father, it's good that you can let it go."

Zhang Luan sighed, "Oh, that's because I was suppressed by him so badly before, and I couldn't think straight for a while."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Isn't this good... Let him handle all the tedious tasks of dealing with officials from Hejian Prefecture. Father is not suitable for doing these things because of his relationship with the Eastern Palace. When Second Uncle can no longer handle the situation, won't he still come back and beg you, father?"

"Ah."

Zhang Luan asked, "Do you think Li Zisheng will meet him?"

"Why not? He went to deliver a thank-you gift on behalf of the officials of Hejian Prefecture. How could a person like Li Zisheng just give without asking for anything in return? He can not only accept the gift but also give you face and make you remember his kindness. Why not do it? Besides, even if Li Zisheng doesn't show up, what loss will it cause to us?" Zhang Yanling said.

"Okay, son. With you here, I can rest assured that I can do what I say. We have good food and wine at home, but I haven't touched my chopsticks much. Go and have something good. I'll ask your elder brother to come over to eat later."

Zhang Luan patted his youngest son's shoulder with great joy.

Zhang Yanling pouted and said, "You want to bribe me with a meal of leftovers?"

"No, no, no, just tell dad what you want. How can dad treat you unfairly?"

Zhang Luan said to his son with a smug look on his face. He didn't act like a dignified father at all. Instead, he looked like a fan chasing after his idol, which was really an eyesore.

……

……

Li House.

Li Zisheng frowned as he held the letter sent by Liang Fang.

"What does he mean by this? He bought a batch of antiques and treasures from the south and sent someone to inform me? Does he want me to buy some for him?"

As Li Zisheng spoke, he was extremely alert to Liang Fang's every move, fearing that he would fall into a trap.

Pang Qing took the letter, read it carefully, and shook his head, saying, "I am a little confused... but I guess there is something special about these things purchased from the public."

Li Zisheng said, "What he bought before were all rare flowers and stones. Could it be that there was a meteorite from heaven with an ancient prophecy written on it, waiting for me to help him verify it?"

"Or... ask Zhang Honglu?" Pang Qing asked with a smile.

"Has he...made any moves in the past two days?"

Li Zisheng asked after a moment of hesitation.

"He came earlier today. I wanted to ask him to wait for you in the study, but he said no, and asked me to bring a message, saying that his cousin from Hejian Prefecture wanted to come to your house on behalf of the officials of Hejian Prefecture to express his gratitude and ask if you would be willing to see him. I didn't reply to him at that time, but just said I would ask you when you come back."

"That's Zhang Yin, right? It wouldn't hurt to meet him... If we can recruit a few officials from Hejian Prefecture to serve under us, they would be quite useful."

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(End of this chapter)