Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 222: Thousand-year-old Fox Demon

"Son, don't you want to do business? What do you think of partnering with the Wang family?"

After seeing off the Wang brothers, Zhang Luan began to have evil thoughts again.

Zhang Yanling looked up and asked in bewilderment, "We can do business on our own, why should we go to them?"

"They are relatives by marriage, but these two are the emperor's uncles. Their elder sister is the current queen... You may be like them in the future, right?"

Zhang Luan seemed very honored.

Zhang Yanling didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said, "The most powerful relative now is the Wan family. Apart from the Wan family, even the Zhou family where Queen Mother Zhou is from is no match, not to mention the Qian family or the Wang family... Dad, we agreed that you don't care about business matters. You don't know anything. Your random suggestions will only cause trouble for me, understand?"

Zhang Luan rolled his eyes at his son and said, "To the dignitaries in the court, they are powerless, but to some local officials and even private merchants, isn't their status as the Queen's younger brother enough to scare them?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and asked, "Dad, your current status as the prince's father-in-law is quite impressive. Do you think you will be respected by others when you go out now?"

"You and I……"

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment. He wanted to say something but couldn't open his mouth. In the end, he simply stopped arguing with his son because he knew he would lose the argument.

……

……

Deng Changen Residence.

Ai Yu looked over with a sad face, and said worriedly: "The craftsmen have tried many possibilities, but they just can't make a telescope that can bring distant scenery to the front... Lord Deng, I'm afraid something bad is going to happen, something serious!"

"is that really so difficult?"

Deng Changen said angrily, "It's just two pieces of glass, one in front and one in the back. The structure is so simple, and the lens is not complicated. If you try a few more times, won't you find the pattern?"

"But, it looks simple, but it's actually very difficult... It's really unbelievable!"

Ai Yu was also helpless.

People of that era didn't even know what concave and convex lenses were, let alone what focal length and focus were. Even though they knew that it was a telescope made up of two pieces of glass in front and back, if they were asked to figure out the imaging laws through constant exploration, they would only make more mistakes.

No clue at all!
Deng Changen said angrily, "I promised Eunuch Liang that it would be built before the end of the month and would not delay his report to His Majesty...

"If I can't do it, how can I make Eunuch Liang look at me differently in the future? How can I regain the emperor's favor?"

Ai Yu said worriedly, "Sir, do you still care about Eunuch Liang? People in the palace are saying that after the death of Concubine Wan, Eunuch Liang is like a grasshopper in autumn, and can't jump for a few more days... Are we still eagerly trying to get close to him now? Do we want to wait for the heavy snow to come and be buried together with him?"

"Hey? What do you mean?"

Deng Chang'en glanced at Ai Yu and asked fiercely, "Besides Eunuch Liang, do you have any better choice? The man surnamed Li is very popular now. Why don't you get close to him? Will he pay attention to you?"

Ai Yu's flushed face was full of frustration, but he couldn't say a single constructive word.

At the moment, he and Deng Chang'en were almost facing a dead end, which they could not break no matter what they did. For a moment, Ai Yu even felt hopeless.

Deng Changen rolled up his sleeves and gritted his teeth, saying, "Humph, it seems that I have to show some real skills... I won't go anywhere these two days, and I won't watch the fire at the alchemy furnace. I will just watch the craftsmen burn colored glaze and assemble the lens tube... I don't believe that I can't make something made with just two pieces of colored glaze!"

"you……"

Ai Yu wanted to persuade him, but seeing Deng Changen's resolute look, he knew it was useless to say anything.

Deng Changen thought everything was too simple, as if making glass pieces and even telescopes was something that could be done easily. But after seeing the troubles of those glass craftsmen, Ai Yu fully realized that there is a huge difference between theory and practice, and it is not enough to just talk about it.

……

……

The fourth day after the Donggong wedding.

The day after the temple audience day was the day Zhang Yu went to Qingning Palace to pay a visit to Queen Mother Zhou, and made her first appearance as the Crown Princess and accepted congratulations from the ladies of honor.

Originally, this was a matter between women, but Zhu Youtang was worried about his beloved wife, so he personally sent Zhang Yu to Qingning Palace, and planned to take his wife back after just a few words.

But Queen Mother Zhou was an experienced veteran, so how could she let her grandson succeed so easily?
"Grandmother, this was a dowry that my concubine brought with her when she entered the palace. On the day of the wedding, she agreed with me to give it to you as a gift... Please accept it."

Zhu Youtang personally delivered the small round mirror to Empress Dowager Zhou.

Queen Mother Zhou did not pick it up to look at it immediately after receiving it. She weighed it and found it was very light, so she asked curiously, "Grandson, what is this? Tell me about it."

Zhu Youtang said: "This is a mirror, but it is not made of carefully polished copper, but of colored glass."

"is it?"

Queen Mother Zhou took the small round mirror in her hand, held it upright and looked at herself. A look of delight immediately appeared on her face. "How can it be so clear? It is even clearer than the surface of water under the sun... Where did you get such a rare and wonderful thing?"

She turned her head and looked at Zhang Yu with a puzzled look, meaning that you, my granddaughter-in-law, should explain it to me in detail.

Zhang Yu appeared very respectful and said obediently, "Reporting to the old ancestor, this was something my father found by chance among the people."

Empress Dowager Zhou nodded and said, "Why do they say that people from scholarly families are different? They can even get such a magical thing... It's almost as good as the telescope your father used to show off."

Zhu Youtang hurriedly explained: "The two are very different, and their uses are even more different."

"I naturally know the difference."

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "You two are so thoughtful... The Crown Prince is so filial, and so is the new concubine. It seems that you two really complement each other... I am glad that I didn't make a mistake..."

Zhu Youtang looked grateful and said, "Thanks to my grandmother's insight in choosing my concubine, otherwise I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."

"Ha ha……"

Queen Mother Zhou laughed so hard that she almost lost control of her manners. After she calmed down for a while, she patted her chest and said, "Is it because I have a good eye? You have already found someone you love...Okay, okay, there are ladies coming to the palace today, Crown Prince, do you want to greet them here with your grandmother? It seems that this is not a bad idea..."

The joking meaning is very obvious.

Zhu Youtang hesitated and said, "Ah... this... this is inappropriate, right?"

Queen Mother Zhou rolled her eyes at him and said angrily, "You still know it's inappropriate, don't you? Leave your newlywed wife in Qingning Palace without worry, and let us go to meet the ladies together, isn't it good? Or are you worried about the Empress Dowager?"

"No... not..."

Zhu Youtang's voice changed, and he was so anxious that sweat broke out on his forehead. However, when he met Zhang Yu's eyes, he was encouraged by his wife's gentle eyes, and his nervous mood quickly calmed down.

After getting married, he felt much more at ease, especially since his wife could give him encouragement that no one else had ever given him, allowing him to face difficulties calmly.

Queen Mother Zhou had sharp eyes and soon noticed her grandson's abnormality. She pointed it out without mercy: "Grandson's wife, you are really capable. My grandson used to keep his head down wherever he went, and he would always obey you no matter what you said to him. But now he is different..."

"No, Grandmother."

Zhu Youtang explained, "Your grandson will still be filial to you and the emperor as before."

"I'm not saying you're unfilial, but I'm saying that the temperament you show from the inside out... You have something to worry about, and you seem much more mature and confident. This is a good thing. Otherwise, why do people say that after getting married and having a family, you become a real man? You go back first. After noon, I will send your good wife back intact."

Queen Mother Zhou did not forget to play a little teasing on her grandson at the end.

Zhu Youtang stood up and looked at Zhang Yu deeply, seeming reluctant to leave, but still bowed respectfully: "Then... my grandson will go back to the East Palace first. I have to attend lectures after noon today, and I dare not delay my studies."

As he spoke, he made eye contact with Zhang Yu, and Zhang Yu did not show any displeasure, with a confident and graceful smile still on his face.

……

……

Zhu Youtang left Qingning Palace.

Empress Dowager Zhou was in no hurry to take Zhang Yu to meet the court ladies who were waiting outside.

She even dismissed the attendants from Qingning Palace and asked Zhang Yu to move his seat closer to her, as if she wanted to have some heart-to-heart talk with her granddaughter-in-law.

"Come here, look at your delicate skin, white teeth and bright eyes. You are so pretty, who wouldn't like you?" Queen Mother Zhou held Zhang Yu's little hand, appearing very intimate.

Zhang Yu lowered her head shyly.

Empress Dowager Zhou asked, "Has your mother entered the palace today?"

"Never."

Zhang Yu shook his head.

"Ah."

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Perhaps it was due to negligence... In the future, the Emperor should have issued an imperial decree to your mother earlier, allowing the ladies of the royal family to enter the palace to celebrate the Crown Prince's wedding and meet the Crown Princess, but even the Crown Princess's mother cannot enter the palace. This is too inhumane."

Zhang Yu hurriedly said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your concern."

"Why are you so formal and still call me the Queen Mother? Just call me the Imperial Grandmother like you do to the Crown Prince." Queen Mother Zhou said with a smile.

"Yes, Imperial Grandmother."

Zhang Yu’s main focus right now is being well-behaved and obedient.

But Queen Mother Zhou was not an easy person to deal with. She was lawless in the palace and even the emperor could not control her.

No matter how powerful Concubine Wan was, she was only afraid of Empress Dowager Zhou, otherwise she would have been Empress Wan long ago.

Queen Mother Zhou asked, "Do you know how she was chosen as the Crown Princess?"

It is both a question that will give you points and a question that will kill you.

Queen Mother Zhou’s main point is that you can’t hide anything from a thousand-year-old fox demon like me.

Zhang Yu did not say anything high-sounding, and said bluntly: "My father came to Beijing as a student of the Imperial Academy. Through my uncle, Shen Jingli, the Minister of Public Administration, he met Li Shilang, the Minister of Public Administration. Later, Li Shilang helped to arrange for me to participate in the selection of the Crown Princess."

Queen Mother Zhou was a little surprised: "It seems that you know everything."

Zhang Yu said, "My father did not hide this from me, and I dare not hide it from my grandmother."

Queen Mother Zhou nodded in approval and then asked, "Then...what is Li Zisheng's plan?"

This time Zhang Yu just shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

"What about writing letters? I accidentally learned that you were communicating with the prince, and I also know that you were just writing words to express your feelings in the letters, just a small quarrel."

Empress Dowager Zhou not only mentioned the matter, but also gave a brief analysis of it.

Just speak boldly. I know you two didn't discuss matters of family or country, so don't be nervous.

It's an inducement to confess.

Zhang Yu still looked calm, and said slowly, "Initially, my father asked me to write this letter, and he only emphasized that the letter should mention Minister Li's prophecy about two earthquakes... At that time, I didn't know that the letter was written to the prince, and I didn't know until I entered the palace and met the Empress Dowager and the prince."

"Oh."

Queen Mother Zhou nodded. "Li Zisheng thought he had done a favor to the Crown Prince, and was afraid that the Crown Prince didn't know, so he specially asked someone to write a letter to hint that the Crown Prince would remember his kindness. He really took great pains... After you entered the palace, did the Crown Prince ask about Li Zisheng?"

Zhang Yu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head naturally.

Because Zhu Youtang really never asked.

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "Yes, Li Zisheng has put in so much effort, but my grandson doesn't care at all. In my grandson's heart, there is only his virtuous wife... Li Zisheng's move can be regarded as indirectly helping you two."

After hearing what the old lady said, Zhang Yu lowered his head a little shyly.

Queen Mother Zhou said, "She is a brave little girl... With you here, I can finally rest assured. After all, the Crown Prince is in the East Palace, and many people have evil intentions. You must concentrate on assisting him and not be negligent in the slightest."

"I understand." Zhang Yu said.

"you understand?"

Queen Mother Zhou seemed to be giving out test questions again.

Zhang Yu said, "Before I entered the palace, my father had given me similar instructions, asking me to assist the Crown Prince with all my heart, but not to interfere in state affairs, and to try my best to make the Crown Prince relax and not be disturbed by external affairs."

"it is good."

Empress Dowager Zhou praised, "Your father is also a man of foresight, and he lives up to his title of Supervisor."

(End of this chapter)