Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 245 Competition
Deng Chang'en Mansion.

Ai Yu came over anxiously. When he arrived in front of Deng Changen, before he could catch his breath, he said anxiously, "I found out everything."

"Why?"

Deng Changen asked.

Ai Yu said, "Zhang Shanji, the military official, has sent someone to the Imperial Academy to inquire, and a lecturer revealed that the prince has indeed been neglecting his studies recently and has not been paying attention in his lessons every day."

Deng Chang'en was a little surprised and said, "Zhang Shanji is quite courageous. He actually dared to target the people in the Imperial Academy? Isn't he afraid of being held accountable later?"

"Perhaps... he has extensive connections, and it has been confirmed through multiple channels, so he won't be implicated."

Ai Yu analyzed cautiously, "This also verifies the information that Eunuch Liang revealed to us. The prince may be distracted by reading a book and is so distracted that he even missed his studies."

Deng Changen pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "That being said, who can tell if there is a necessary connection between the two?"

Ai Yu smiled and said, "Isn't there Eunuch Liang fanning the flames behind the scenes? He has donated all the elixirs for us. If you, Lord Deng, don't perform well, how can you rely on Eunuch Liang to do things in the future? After all, he didn't use us for the telescope."

Deng Chang'en was extremely unhappy when he heard this: "That was a wrong judgment! If I had known this earlier, I could have transferred a few people who could make the 叆叆 from Jiangnan or Huguang, and it might not be impossible to make it. But... I'm afraid it will get me too involved. Whenever the prince comes to power in the future, I'm afraid I'll die..."

Deng Changen was also worried at this time.

As a former favorite of the emperor, he had long heard that the emperor was ill. In his opinion, Liang Fang's active efforts to depose the crown prince were also due to the emperor's illness.

If the crown prince ascends the throne in the future and knows that he is working behind the scenes to depose the crown prince, not only will he lose his current position, he might even lose his life.

Ai Yu said, "Will Eunuch Liang not say anything? He will ask someone to submit a petition, saying that the Crown Prince has made great progress in his studies recently, and request that the Crown Prince attend court in the Wenhua Palace. If he reports it together with the Crown Prince's neglect of his studies, His Majesty will definitely feel that he has been deceived and will be furious. Maybe he will... change the crown prince?"

Deng Chang'en's eyes rolled around, and a hint of cunning appeared on his face.

This obviously touched him.

Deng Changen nodded and said, "Although Your Majesty has not been in court for the past few years, you have full control over court affairs. If someone dares to propose that the Crown Prince attend court at this moment, it might really anger Your Majesty... But the problem is that we must do both at the same time to increase our chances of success."

Ai Yu asked curiously, "Is it just to increase the chances of winning? Besides, if there is a slight possibility of success, shouldn't we all try our best?"

"No."

Deng Chang'en said, "If I don't even have 50% confidence, wouldn't I be seeking death? Only Eunuch Liang has the courage to plot against the royal family, or maybe the situation forces him to do so... This is not the only way for me to go, why should I follow him and make trouble?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Isn't it true that the man surnamed Li has lost his way and turned to seek refuge with the prince?" Ai Yu said this as if unintentionally.

Deng Chang'en's originally determined heart was shaken in an instant.

"Yes, even the Li family has turned against us..."

Deng Chang'en was so conflicted.

With Li Zisheng's intelligence, how could he not sense the direction of the court's winds?

Even such a smart person is trying to get on the side of the crown prince, but I am still so stubborn as to push for a change of crown prince?
The key point is that even Concubine Wan is dead, and the instigator of the change of crown prince is gone. Am I really going to be completely tied to Liang Fang?
Do you really think you are not dying fast enough?

"Master Deng, please come up with a plan quickly. Zhang Shanji is still waiting for your reply."

Ai Yu was quite helpless. Deng Chang'en now looked more and more like a loser. He was so hesitant when encountering something, and there was no trace of his former charm at all.

Deng Chang'en gritted his teeth and said, "It was Zhang Shanji who impeached the crown prince. What does it have to do with me? As long as he doesn't blame me when he gets in trouble... By the way, he won't blame me, right?"

"No, no."

At this moment, Ai Yu could only say some encouraging words against his will.

"Then let him go. Alas!"

Deng Changen sighed heavily when he reached this point.

It also made Ai Yu fully realize Deng Changen's nature of being a fence-sitter.

……

……

Outside the city, Tan Yun’s old residence.

Four people lived there at this time.

In addition to Chai Meng's sister Chai Shuang, there was also the little girl from the Tian family and two maids sent by Qin Zhao to serve.

The two girls were both thirteen or fourteen years old. They were not tall but had a well-proportioned figure, beautiful faces, and well-behaved. Especially their bright eyes showed a hint of shrewdness, which made people unforgettable at first sight.

The two maids usually washed clothes and cooked for the little girl of the Tian family, and Chai Shuang was also treated well. At least she no longer had to worry about food, as someone would prepare it and deliver it to her room every day.

On this day, Qin Zhao specifically asked Zhang Yanling to give her a chance to visit, and she came to this small courtyard to check on the daily life of the sisters. At the same time, she told the little girl of the Tian family about the tragic end of the Zheng family today to comfort her.

"The yard is very elegant..."

After Qin Zhao entered the courtyard, he looked around with a hint of envy on his face.

It seemed that this kind of solitary life in a small courtyard was exactly what she longed for, without having to worry about the disturbances outside the courtyard walls.

But if she really lives such a life one day, I'm afraid she won't be happy.

The little girl from the Tian family lowered her head: "It's okay."

At this time, Chai Shuang was about to go out to wash clothes. Seeing a guest visiting, he stood at the door and looked around.

Qin Zhao looked over.

The Tian family's daughter quickly introduced: "Miss Chai, this is Sister Qin. Sister Qin...she is Miss Chai who lived here before."

"She is indeed a beauty, amazing." Qin Zhao was quite confident about her figure and appearance, but when she faced Chai Shuang, she immediately felt ashamed of herself.

Because Chai Shuang is truly outstanding in both appearance and temperament, and Chai Shuang exudes an independent spirit, which makes Qin Zhao feel even more precious.

Moreover, Qin Zhao knew very well that this stunning beauty had competed with the young lady of the Zhang family for the position of Crown Princess. She was an excellent choice in all aspects and had won strong support from Shanxi merchants. It was only because she stood out too much that she was forcibly suppressed by Li Zisheng.

……

……

inside the room.

After Qin Zhao sat down with the little girl from the Tian family, he briefly explained the situation of the Zheng family.

"... Zheng Youming was detained by the Beijing camp, and his life or death is unknown. All of his businesses in Beijing have been confiscated. Your father was originally imprisoned in a small courtyard in a hutong in the north of the city, and was used to lure you. When the Zheng family was in trouble, someone rescued your father. Now he has temporarily left the capital and gone to Shandong."

Qin Zhao did not specify who saved the father of the Tian family girl.

Upon hearing this, the little girl from the Tian family hurriedly stood up and immediately knelt down, saying, "Sister, you are so kind. I will never be able to repay you in my next life."

Qin Zhao helped her up and said with a smile: "How can this be considered a great favor from me? If you want to thank someone, you should thank the second son of the Zhang family. He was the one who planned this from the beginning."

"Ah."

The little girl from the Tian family remembered what Qin Zhao had said before. She nodded slightly, her face flushed, and she did not dare to look Qin Zhao in the eye.

Qin Zhao looked around the room and asked, "Are you used to living here these days?"

"Fortunately."

The young girl from the Tian family didn't know how to answer, so she could only say this. After all, compared to the favorable conditions she had at home in the past, the conditions here were certainly far inferior. But compared to the various twists and turns she had experienced on the way to the capital, naturally such peaceful days made her feel more at ease.

Qin Zhao smiled and said, "Those two girls are pretty hardworking in taking care of you, right? Have they ever made things difficult for you? Or embarrassed you?"

Later on, Qin Zhao deliberately raised her tone, and it was obvious that some of the things were arranged by her.

The Tian family's little girl looked even more ashamed, and said, "My two sisters are very hardworking and will get things done without my instructions. It's just that the things they taught me usually... I feel..."

"Too embarrassed to say it?"

Qin Zhao's smile widened.

"Ah."

The little girl from the Tian family nodded weakly.

Qin Zhao smiled and said, "I told them to do this. Although they are both unmarried, they have been taught since childhood to use the unorthodox ways of entertaining people. Perhaps in the eyes of the world, these seductive methods are not something that a decent woman should learn, but living under someone else's roof, how can they... compete for favor with others if they don't even know these?"

Having said that, Qin Zhao deliberately glanced at the wing room across the yard, hinting at something.

If you don't learn some more "skills", how can you compare with that eldest daughter of the Chai family outside?
Even though you are both from merchant families, your elder brother is a scholar after all, and works as a guest in Zhang's residence. You have unique conditions, while you can only learn these unconventional skills.

"Ming...understood."

The little girl from the Tian family is very well-behaved.

When she understood Qin Zhao's intention, she could only agree shyly.

"The yard is secluded and not disturbed by worldly affairs. It's quite nice."

Qin Zhao was about to leave after she finished speaking, and when the little girl from the Tian family was seeing her out of the house, she saw Chai Shuang again.

Qin Zhao nodded at Chai Shuang, keeping a friendly smile on his face.

Qin Zhao then walked out of the courtyard. There was no carriage parked outside. The person responsible for sending her there was not her own servant, but someone arranged by Zhang Yanling.

"Take care of yourself, sister too."

The little girl from the Tian family was a little reluctant to leave.

She felt like she would soon become a bird in a cage, and would seldom have the chance to see her old friends and relatives, so she felt inexplicably sad when they parted.

Qin Zhao smiled and touched her head and said, "Such a beautiful girl, what she lacks is only her family background. With your intelligence, if you can really manage the family business in the future, your achievements will not be inferior to mine. But before that, you should just focus on being a woman and do your duty."

To gain a position of power, one must not only have good calculations and a bold and careful business mind, but first of all, one must have a stepping stone.

"Ah."

The little girl from the Tian family naturally knew that this was a request for her to study hard under the guidance of the two maids.

"Xia Chan, Qiu Sui, follow the young lady carefully... From now on, you will belong to both Miss Tian and the Zhang family. Your indentures are in the hands of the second son of the Zhang family. If you don't do well, you will be sold or sent to other places to do hard labor. It will be your own fault."

Before leaving, Qin Zhao did not forget to scold the two maids.

Qin Zhao understood very well that a powerful servant would bully his master, especially since the little girl from the Tian family was so innocent and kind. These two maids only looked cute and obedient, but based on their past life experiences, if they joined forces, they could eat up the little girl from the Tian family.

If we don't give them a little deterrence, it will not be enough for the young lady of the Tian family to feel at ease to use these two maids.

"The servant knows."

Xia Chan and Qiu Sui both knelt down to see Qin Zhao off respectfully.

Qin Zhao nodded and walked away. Unexpectedly, she turned back after taking a few steps and waved her hand: "Don't worry, sister. The Zheng family will not have a good ending. Those who violate the business motto of Huizhou merchants, 'profit by honesty, harmony by value, and win by trust', will never be able to gain a foothold in this world. Maybe I will have to rely on you more in the future... Take care!"

The phrase "take care" probably means that you won't see each other for a long time, or even never in this life.

Although the little girl from the Tian family was still enduring, at this moment, she couldn't help but wave goodbye and tears welled up in her eyes.

(End of this chapter)