Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 256: It’s all Li’s conspiracy

Zhang family.

After nightfall, the Zhang brothers came back. Zhang Heling was holding a pile of things, and it seemed that he had returned with a full load.

After Zhang Luan went forward to take a closer look, he asked with an unhappy look on his face: "I thought it was something valuable, what are these?"

Zhang Heling said with a droopy face: "Dad, it's really a headache to follow the second son to do business. I can't see a penny. When I ask him, he is just setting up the framework and making preparations. In the end, after half a day, I can't even understand what he is doing. There is no sign of making money."

Zhang Luan heard this and thought, "Son, why does your words seem to make more sense to me? What you said is what I wanted to say."

Your brother has been doing business for a while, but he only knows how to spend money without seeing any profit.

"Take your time. Why rush?"

Zhang Luan was thinking one thing in his heart, but he said encouraging words, "Yanling, whether you are an official or doing business, you should not rush into anything, you should take it step by step. This is the truth you taught me. I hope you will not be discouraged or disappointed. Set your sights on a goal and move forward courageously. One day you will be able to make money..."

Zhang Yanling interrupted his father's long speech and asked, "Dad, are you short of money now?"

"lack……"

Zhang Luan blurted out, then frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yanling said: "It's like this, Dad, if you want to be an official, you may need to take care of your superiors and subordinates. I'm worried that you don't have enough money to spend. If that's the case, I will find a way to create some value..."

Zhang Heling couldn't help but said, "Second Brother, aren't you talking nonsense? Where is the value? You should create it quickly."

Zhang Luan turned his head away, with a haughty look, and said loudly: "As an official, my father is just waiting for others to curry favor with him. Why do you want me to spend money to please others? Humph, even Li Zisheng, I still want to accept some gifts from him during festivals. Others want to get money from me? No way!"

Zhang Heling was a little surprised and asked, "Second brother, do you understand what Dad is saying?"

"Dad said that he became an official to make money and wait for others to pay him tribute. He didn't plan to spend money to build relationships... Is that what he meant, Dad?"

Zhang Yanling asked with a grin.

Zhang Luan nodded heavily and said, "That's right. I am an official, but I don't have to sit in that position for a long time... I'll try it first, and if it doesn't work, I'll quit. As for what you said about me being a good official, Yanling, I have thought about it seriously. If you don't have such a big head, don't wear such a big hat. At worst, I won't go to the Honglu Temple anymore. In fact, it's also good to work in the Five Military Commandery."

Zhang Heling asked in confusion: "Is being the Minister of the Honglu Temple profitable? Who is more important, the Minister of the Honglu Temple or that cabinet minister?"

"Of course the cabinet minister is more respected. He is equivalent to the prime minister in the Han and Tang dynasties." Zhang Luan said with longing.

Zhang Heling patted his chest and said, "Hey, if I can even beat the son of the cabinet minister, doesn't that mean that I, the son of the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, am more powerful than the son of the cabinet minister? Don't worry, Dad. If you are bullied in the court, I will help you get back at your feet. I am not afraid of anyone, your son."

"I go……"

When Zhang Luan heard this, he felt that his outlook on life had been overturned.

The eldest son's way of thinking is definitely not comparable to that of ordinary people. He has been wronged in the court, and he wants him to get back at him?

What do you think?
"Second brother, take good care of your brother. You think you are capable after a fight, right? You really can't learn anything... Your father and your brother are so wise, why can't you learn even a little bit?"

After Zhang Luan finished scolding him, he said seriously, "I will go to the Honglu Temple early tomorrow morning."

Having said that, Zhang Luan stood up and went into the inner room.

Zhang Yanling asked from behind: "Dad, did you get the official certificate?"

"Take it."

Zhang Luan's voice floated from the inner room, "Wait for your father to see the situation, and then come back to tell you two brothers in detail."

Zhang Heling pointed to the inner room and asked, "Has Dad eaten yet?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Who cares? Go to the kitchen and find something to eat. The most important thing in the start-up phase is to eat well or you won't even have the energy to work."

Zhang Heling frowned and said, "I remember you said a few days ago that we should make sure to get enough sleep during the start-up period. Why are you so confused? Do I have a brain problem to bully your brother? Give us some money later and I'll go have roast duck for lunch tomorrow."

……

……

Liang Fangfu's residence.

Wei Xing found a lot of storybooks and presented them to Liang Fang for him to choose from.

Liang Fang flipped through a few books at random and found them uninteresting, so she tilted her head and asked, "Are these all newly compiled?"

Wei Xing said helplessly: "Eunuch, how can it be so fast? Even if you find someone, it will take some time, right?"

"What the hell is this... The West Chamber? You think your majesty is from a poor and remote place, and has never seen a play or a southern opera, right? If you present this to your majesty, he will throw it all in your face!"

Liang Fang said angrily.

Wei Xing thought, if I have to throw you a slap, I'd throw it on your face, what does it have to do with me?

"Eunuch Liang, your question is too biased. It is said that the best opera to watch is southern opera. There are countless experts in Nanjing who sing and compose operas, but in the capital, all the operas are from the south. It is extremely difficult to find a script writer. Where can we find the right person in such a hurry?"

Wei Xing began to complain.

Liang Fang sneered, glanced at Wei Xing, and said sinisterly: "When you were in the limelight with our family before, you worked hard without complaint. Now that our family has gone downhill, you complain a lot when I find you something to do? Don't you want to be with our family anymore? Huh?"

"Eunuch, you are joking. You are the only one I can rely on in the court. I am not complaining, but it is really hard to do this job." Wei Xing was of course resentful. Liang Fang had clearly fallen out of favor with the emperor, yet she was still bossing him around like this!
When asking people to do things for you, shouldn't you also be a little humble?
I am a eunuch in the Imperial Household, and my rank is not much lower than yours. Besides, we have two parallel offices, so why should I obey you in everything? And why should I be bullied by you?

Liang Fang endured the anger in her heart again and again, and finally calmed down a little before she said, "How is the investigation going on with Zhang?"

Wei Xing said, "You wouldn't know if you didn't check it out. Once you checked it out... you'd be shocked... Hey, guess what? It turns out that Zhang Laizhan is an old friend of that Li Daxian."

"what?"

Liang Fang was shocked when she heard this.

This little person whom he didn't even care about was actually involved with the most powerful official of the dynasty?

Wei Xing sighed, "I didn't quite believe it when I first heard it... It is said that Zhang Laizhan was able to become a student in Beijing thanks to the care of his brother-in-law, Shen Lu, who was an experienced official in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and that Lord Li was well-known in the Ministry of Civil Affairs for taking care of his subordinates..."

"That can only mean that the two are related to a certain extent. How can they be called old friends?"

Liang Fang naturally would not believe this inexplicable message.

Wei Xing said, "I thought so at first, but after a closer look, it turns out that things are not that simple. It is said that Zhang Laizhan's daughter was a well-known lady in Xingji. She was so beautiful that she was betrothed to someone. But Zhang Laizhan suddenly cancelled the engagement with her husband's family a few years ago and insisted on bringing her daughter to the capital to participate in the selection of the Crown Princess. She was actually selected. Don't you think it's weird?"

Liang Fang frowned and said, "You mean, Li Zisheng knew from the beginning that Shen Lu had such a relative, and also knew that the relative had a beautiful daughter, so the matter of Zhang Laizhan going to Beijing as a student and his daughter being selected as the Crown Princess was all planned by Li Zisheng behind the scenes?"

Wei Xing nodded and said, "Based on what we have learned so far, it is possible."

"When will Zhang Laizhan come to Beijing?"

Liang Fang asked.

"It happened... between the winter and twelfth months of the previous year. The exact date is not clear yet, but it is estimated to be before Your Majesty decided to choose a concubine for the Crown Prince." Wei Xing said.

Liang Fang paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "So... Li Zisheng actually figured out early on that Concubine Wan might be in trouble and needed a wedding in the East Palace to arouse her happiness. He also calculated that earthquakes would occur successively in the northwest and Mount Tai. Without telling His Majesty anything in advance, he prepared for a rainy day by going to Xingji to find Zhang Laizhan and asking him to bring his daughter to the capital to prepare for any emergency?"

Wei Xing thought for a moment and asked, "Eunuch Liang, isn't this line of reasoning a bit... too bizarre? Could it be that he has really become an immortal and can predict the future?"

"Isn't this what you wanted to say?"

Liang Fang scolded.

Wei Xing's face was evasive, and he whispered, "Perhaps as you said, Li Zisheng has been planning this for a long time."

But he was thinking, I only said there is a possibility, it’s not as mysterious as you make it out to be.

Liang Fang said, "Last autumn, Deng Chang'en, Zhao Yuzhi and others were so popular that even my family thought that Li Zisheng would soon fall out of favor and leave Beijing in disgrace, following in the footsteps of Monk Bu Jixiao. Who would have thought that he had such a big plan in secret? This person is too scheming."

Wei Xing could only nod his head and agree: "Yes, yes, yes, he has long had ulterior motives. Not only did he not discuss this with you at the time, but he has even been deliberately hiding everything until now. He deserves death!"

Liang Fang clenched his hands into fists, raised them in front of him and roared, "But even so, our family can't do anything to him!"

Wei Xing was stunned.

Why did you suddenly have another crazy attack?

Can't you do anything about him?

Is there anything I can do?

How powerful is Li Zisheng now?
Not to mention a disgraced eunuch like you, even in your prime, you might not be his match.

Liang Fang calmed down a bit, and then analyzed in a similar manner: "Li Zisheng thought he had it all figured out, but he overlooked the human nature... Zhang Laizhan and Li Zisheng were obviously at odds after his daughter married into the East Palace... Zhang Laizhan did not use the Li family's channel to win favor with the storytelling script, but used the Crown Prince's hand. This time, the Li family suffered a loss, and they dared not come forward to fight for it. How sad and pitiful!"

Wei Xing asked: "Why?"

Liang Fang said: "Li Zisheng used Zhang's daughter to curry favor with the crown prince. Does he dare to compete with the crown prince for credit now?"

“…That makes sense.”

Wei Xing suddenly realized.

Liang Fang smiled maliciously: "If there is a rift between Zhang and Li, it will definitely affect Li Zisheng's continued flattery of the Eastern Palace. In this case, I will help them behind the scenes."

"What do you mean?"

Wei Xing asked with his eyes wide open.

Liang Fang said, "Prepare a generous gift immediately and send it to Zhang's house with great fanfare. Tell him that we congratulate him on his promotion to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Rites. We will pay him a personal visit later. Then tell him something that cannot be told to outsiders, so that they can break up completely."

Wei Xing was stunned for a while before he asked, "Does this count as... indirectly trying to please the Crown Prince?"

"Shit!"

Liang Fang pointed at Wei Xing's nose and cursed, "I will never change my mind about pushing for a new crown prince. I have figured out that everything that failed in the past was because of Li Zisheng's behind the scenes. If it weren't for him, even if the crown prince and Qin Ji had a hundred brains, could they have come up with such a good plan?"

Wei Xing thought, you failed but you refuse to admit that it was your own fault. You insist on thinking that everything is caused by a powerful opponent?
But from my perspective, Li Zisheng doesn't seem to have any intention of becoming your enemy recently.

"As for Zhang Laizhan, are we just going to give him gifts? And not deal with him?" Wei Xing asked in surprise.

Liang Fang had a fierce look on his face, and said viciously: "Step by step, this man is the father-in-law of the Eastern Palace, just a reserve relative. Looking at the history of the Ming Dynasty, which relative has the ability to call the wind and rain? Even if this kind of person is given an official position, what kind of waves can he cause in the court?
"We still have to be more careful of the man named Li. A word he says in front of His Majesty is more terrifying than ten Zhang Laizhans! And there's also the man named Qin in the East Palace. We won't let him off..."

(End of this chapter)