Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 258: More Explosion (asking for monthly ticket)
Zhang Luan went to the Lizi provincial government for a banquet that day.

Zhang Luan was full of energy and ambition as a new official, but something his son said to him during the day made him feel uneasy. He thought that he got the position of Minister of the Honglu Temple by his own "ability", but he never expected that his son told him that it was his expertise in medical treatment that enabled him to get the high position.

Although no matter how he thought about it, it had nothing to do with his actual ability, Zhang Luan was still unwilling to admit that he could get a high position and generous salary just by relying on his reputation as a miracle doctor.

Because he doesn't know how to cure diseases at all, this is not an ability he possesses.

Pang Qing was responsible for receiving Zhang Luan.

As he led the way, he looked back and said, "Mr. Zhang, you are here really early... Today, the Taoist not only invited you, but also invited Ni Yue, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Qi Zhang, the Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple, to accompany you."

"Qi Shaoqing? I have already met him in the Honglu Temple today."

Zhang Luan responded with a smile.

Pang Qing laughed and said, "Since we already know each other, that's the best... I'm afraid that you're new to the officialdom and don't know anyone in the court, so I'm introducing you to these two... They both have a deep friendship with me, so if you have any problems in the future, they will take care of you."

Zhang Luan said with emotion: "With the help of Minister Li, being an official can achieve twice the result with half the effort... How lucky Zhang is!"

"That's natural."

Pang Qing smiled and said, "You are also a rare master in the world. I rely on you more than others! I am still dealing with some court affairs at the moment, and I will be free after I finish them. I was recently promoted to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, so let's celebrate together today!"

"Really? Then we should congratulate Minister Li. It's a pity that I didn't bring any gifts. How shameful!"

"Your presence is the best gift. Please come in."

……

……

Zhang Luan waited in the flower hall for a long time before Li Zisheng showed up.

When Li Zisheng saw Zhang Luan, he was not polite at all. He walked straight up to him and pushed Zhang Luan, who was half standing, back onto the chair.

"Laizhan, it's not that I, Li, intentionally neglect you. It's just that there are too many and too complicated affairs in the court recently, and almost all of them require my participation... Especially when it comes to the important matters of the Spring Examination, I dare not be careless in the slightest... Alas, my job as an official is tiring."

Li Zisheng appeared to be apologizing, but in reality he was more showing off the power he now possessed.

Zhang Luan asked tentatively, "Minister Li, there is something I don't understand."

Li Zisheng laughed in silence and shook his head, saying, "Is there anything in the world that you, Zhang Laizhan, don't understand? Tell me about it."

Zhang Luan asked, "I wonder why I took over the job of the Minister of the Honglu Temple? There are many famous scholars who are Jinshi graduates in the court, but I..."

"It's my wish to help you, and it's also His Majesty's will." Li Zisheng changed his previous playful expression and said solemnly, "I dare not take credit for this matter... Since you asked this, did you hear some rumors outside?"

"No, no, I just feel that I am not capable of it. It would be fine if I were to work in another government office, but being the Minister of the Honglu Temple directly is a bit..."

Zhang Luan said this with a bit of unconfidence on his face.

Li Zisheng smiled and comforted him: "I specifically asked Your Majesty when I met him. Your Majesty said that he originally planned to arrange for you to work in the Imperial Hospital. After hearing me say that you should be the Minister of the Honglu Temple, Your Majesty praised this proposal as a better one...Okay, let's not talk about this. Ni Yue and Qi Zhang will be here soon. I will introduce you to them at the dinner table."

When Zhang Luan heard this, the heavy stone in his heart fell to the ground.

Thought to himself.

It is just as my son said.

It turned out that the emperor wanted me to be a medical officer from the beginning. So, His Majesty appreciated and promoted me in preparation for me to treat him in an emergency. However, I was slightly packaged and took a roundabout way, and was arranged by Li Zisheng to the Honglu Temple.

"Minister Li, may I ask you a question, how is His Majesty's health these days..."

Zhang Luan couldn't help but ask.

Li Zisheng originally planned to take Zhang Luan to the banquet hall, but after hearing this, he became serious and said with emotion: "Your Majesty has read the script you and the prince presented, and the depression in his heart has been relieved a lot, but the condition... is just so-so. If you have time, you may consider a prescription for liver disease. After all, this is for His Majesty and the Ming Dynasty, and it will be a great contribution for generations to come."

……

……

On the one hand, Li Zisheng was entertaining Zhang Luan, Ni Yue and Qi Zhang, while on the other hand, Pang Qing was receiving Liang Fang who came suddenly to visit on behalf of Li Zisheng. After settling him down a little, he hurried to see Li Zisheng and told him the news that Liang Fang was coming in person.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have something to do here and will come back later. Bingkun, please entertain our distinguished guests for me." Li Zisheng left the table immediately.

"If you have something to do, go away!"

Zhang Luan waved his hand, looking very high-spirited, and shouted, "I will come down here to toast you."

Pang Qing smiled and said, "Zhang Honglu is really good at handling public occasions. I would like to offer a toast to everyone as well."

As they were talking, Li Zisheng had already left the banquet hall and went to the main hall to meet Liang Fang.

Liang Fang held some bound pamphlets in her hands and handed them over as soon as they met: "Master Li, we have something here and would like you to present it to His Majesty on my behalf."

Li Zisheng smiled and asked Liang Fang to sit down. His attitude was still relatively easygoing and polite. He did not immediately open the books to see what was in them. He just asked casually, "May I ask, Eunuch Liang, you have tribute, why don't you present it to the emperor in person?"

"Master Li, since you know the situation of our family, there is really no need to ask more questions."

Liang Fang still looked very proud, straightened her back and said, "Tell me, will you help me or not?"

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "I can help you, but not in my name."

"It's natural."

Liang Fang thought, I gave the script to the emperor because I wanted to make merit for myself, when did I ever plan to use your name?

Li Zisheng asked curiously, "Can you tell me now what is written on these books?"

Liang Fang said complacently, "These are the storybooks that I collected from the folks, all for your Majesty to relieve his boredom... I heard that your Majesty has been unhappy recently and is depressed, so I prepared this."

"Too."

Li Zisheng nodded and said, "I don't know why, but now it's suddenly spread throughout the court and the public that the Crown Princess's father, Zhang Laizhan, won the emperor's admiration with a storybook and was promoted to the position of Minister of the Honglu Temple. As a result, people in the capital have been discussing what kind of storybook that was."

Liang Fang frowned slightly. He could tell that Li Zisheng was mocking him for following the crowd.

"But... Eunuch Liang, it's not that I have to say something unpleasant to make myself feel better, but I have to follow the rules when presenting this book. If I fail to please His Majesty after presenting it, and instead make His Majesty... well, you know, I can't bear this responsibility."

Li Zisheng obviously didn't want to help Liang Fang.

If it is done, the credit will go to you, Liang Fang. But if the emperor is unhappy, he will suspect that I am in cahoots with you and may even vent his anger on me.

I, Li Zisheng, am now a powerful figure in the government. Do I need your support, Liang Fang?
Or do I have to rely on offering you a storybook to curry your favor?
Take a shower and go to sleep!

Liang Fang asked coldly: "What responsibility can you have?"

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "To be honest, there are several guests in my residence today. In addition to Ni Yue, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, there are also two people from the Honglu Temple, the Chief Minister Zhang Laizhan and the Junior Minister Qi Zhang."

"Is Zhang here with you?"

When Liang Fang heard this, she immediately jumped up from her chair.

He seemed to understand why Zhang Luan was able to be so successful in the court, and was able to get the actual position of Minister of the Honglu Temple with just a tiny bit of merit, and why he had a very close relationship with Li Zisheng.

Li Zisheng asked, "Does Eunuch Liang want to go and see him?"

"No need."

Liang Fang said with a dark face, "Mr. Li, let me ask you one more question. Do you want to help me or not?"

"Eunuch Liang, please calm down. When did I say I wouldn't help you? I only said I couldn't bear the responsibility. I didn't say I wouldn't help you submit the things, but it's just..."

"what do you want?"

Liang Fang has come to her senses. Today's Li Zisheng is no longer the same Wu Xia A'mon as before. It would cost a price to ask him to do something.

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "I am not a person who forgets his principles when he sees profit. I just want to ask Eunuch Liang that if Zhang Laizhan has done anything wrong, please show some mercy."

"What do you mean?"

Liang Fang frowned and asked, "You want to protect him?"

Li Zisheng said, "I heard that Eunuch Liang sent gifts to his house. That's good. There is no grudge or conflict between the two sides. There is really no need to confront each other. But it is also best... not to have any friendship. What I mean is that Eunuch Liang should neither harm him nor try to win him over. How about we keep things quiet?" Liang Fang sneered and mocked, "So Zhang Laizhan is really your man. Are you afraid that he will come back to our family? He is the father of the Crown Princess. Do you need to worry about this?"

"Look at what Eunuch Liang said. What's yours and what's mine? We all serve the court. I'm just helping him find a way out in the court..."

Li Zisheng leaned back on the back of the chair, meaning that you need to give me a definite answer whether you agree or not, and then I can decide what to do next. Everything depends on whether you insist on donating the script.

Liang Fang had never taken Zhang Luan seriously, so she said calmly, "Sure. I promise that I will not interfere with him in the future."

"Good, very good!"

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "Then tomorrow, this thing will appear in front of Your Majesty. I will also say a few good words for Eunuch Liang. Whether it can please Your Majesty depends on Eunuch Liang's luck."

……

……

Li Zisheng personally saw Liang Fang off.

When he returned to the banquet, only two rounds of toasts had been made and everyone was in high spirits.

Ni Yue asked casually, "Minister Li, who is visiting?"

Li Zisheng sat down, picked up his chopsticks and took a few bites of food before replying, "It's not a stranger, it's Eunuch Liang from the Imperial Horse Supervisor."

Zhang Luan was originally holding up his glass, calling on everyone to clink glasses, but when he heard this, he unconsciously retracted his hand. No one at the table could laugh anymore, and the enthusiastic atmosphere seemed to be frozen in an instant.

"Why are you just standing there? Let's continue drinking."

Li Zisheng greeted, "He asked me to help him present a few storybooks to His Majesty... It's all because of you that this trend started. If you hadn't won His Majesty's appreciation with storybooks, how would others know that storybooks can actually bring fame?"

Zhang Luan looked so ashamed that even his ears turned red.

As a scholar, he had to rely on strange and lewd techniques to exchange for his own future and fame. Even if he could do it with a clear conscience, he would feel a little embarrassed when others talked about it openly.

Li Zisheng said self-deprecatingly: "In fact, what you did is not fundamentally different from what I did... Lai Zhan, we will serve as officials in the same court in the future, and the most important thing is that we help each other... Who said you are incapable of doing things for the court?"

Zhang Luan suddenly felt mentally balanced.

After all, I am also a scholar, and you, Li Zisheng, are just a Taoist priest... In comparison, I am still a little better than you, so you are not mocking me, but you really feel that we are the same kind of people.

"To Minister Li."

Zhang Luan immediately picked up a cup.

Qi Zhang asked curiously, "Zhang Honglu, what kind of storybook did you write that was appreciated by His Majesty? Actually, I am also very curious."

Zhang Luan said under the influence of alcohol: "They are all just for fun. I just wrote "The Scholars" and "Journey to the West".

Li Zisheng asked curiously, "Laizhan, are you saying that besides The Scholars, you also wrote other stories?"

"Ah."

Zhang Luan nodded, and then asked curiously, "Minister Li, didn't I tell you about this?"

"Uh!?"

Li Zisheng hesitated for a moment.

You told me earlier that you had written two books, and I lent you one to curry favor with the emperor. Why do I have to be just a spectator in this matter?

"The Scholars, Journey to the West..."

On the other side, Ni Yue, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, felt somewhat embarrassed.

After all, it was at the instigation of Liang Fang, Deng Changen and others that Ni Yue had submitted a memorial requesting the crown prince to hold court in the Wenhua Hall. Now that he was sitting here, it was actually not in the right place. It was just that Li Zisheng felt that he had helped the crown prince, or that he was a fellow traveler, but in fact... his position was completely different from that of the people present.

Zhang Luan was very excited and talked eloquently: "The Scholars talks about some minor things among Confucian scholars, from the imperial examinations to the troubles in the world, whether it is officialdom or the affairs of men and women, it covers everything. As for Journey to the West, it is purely a story of strange things, telling the story of a stone monkey who caused havoc in the Heavenly Palace, and was later enlightened by the Bodhisattva and followed Monk Tang to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures."

"It sounds very exciting. No wonder His Majesty is fascinated by it."

Qi Zhang felt that he was not attending a formal gathering among fellow officials, but simply a revelry among his friends, because people at the table had already started bragging, especially since he was the one who brought up the topic, so they were exaggerating as much as possible.

When Li Zisheng heard what kind of strange story it was, he immediately lost interest and said with a smile, "Okay, come and see, let's not talk about the havoc in heaven or the journey to the west. Let's just talk about how you plan to be a good official in the Honglu Temple in the future. If you have any questions, you can come to my house anytime to ask."

This attitude was shown to Ni Yue and Qi Zhang.

After all, there are intricate ties between the Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites. The two people in front of them can help Zhang Luan in the future, but they can also create trouble for Zhang Luan intentionally or unintentionally... If Li Zisheng expresses his support for Zhang Luan, then Zhang Luan will definitely be able to gain a foothold in the Honglu Temple, without a doubt!

……

……

The banquet was over.

Li Zisheng didn't drink much that day. It was because he drank too much last time at Zhang Luan's house. This time he learned his lesson and consciously replaced the wine in his glass with boiled water.

"Master Dao, have you heard what that Zhang Banxian said? He wrote the strange stories, which is Journey to the West. Shouldn't we get it back?" Pang Qing asked.

"They have all been sent to the Crown Prince, why ask for them? Besides, Your Majesty is very curious about Confucianism, maybe you just want to see what's interesting about these strange stories and legends?"

Li Zisheng yawned and seemed really sleepy.

"Is there going to be any problems on the way back home from Laizhan?"

Li Zisheng cares a lot about Zhang Luan.

"We sent someone to escort him along the way... He drank a few more glasses. He drank quite a bit during the time you were away from the table because of the toast."

When Pang Qing said this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

When Li Zisheng was around, Zhang Luan was more restrained in drinking. But when Li Zisheng left, Zhang Luan wanted to show off his style as a newly appointed Minister of the Honglu Temple, so he kept forcing people to drink. Who would have thought that he got himself drunk first.

Based on the contents of the two stories, Pang Qing believed that Zhang Luan should not be mentioned at the dinner table.

"Ah."

Li Zisheng nodded.

Li Zisheng had just arranged for someone to prepare the fragrant bath water and was being helped by his maid to undress when the doorman came to announce that the Prime Minister Tan Chang had arrived.

"Is this Mr. Yin so idle that he has nothing to do? Why is he here at this hour?"

Li Zisheng had taken off half of his clothes and could only put them back on with the help of his maid before coming out to see Qin Chang.

The two of them exchanged simple greetings.

Qin Chang apologized, "Master Li, I didn't mean to disturb you. It's because... His Majesty read another storybook presented by the Crown Prince, called Journey to the West, and was immediately addicted to it. He almost couldn't sleep at night, so he asked me to leave the palace at night to ask Zhang Honglu for the remaining chapters.

"Isn't this a coincidence... I heard that he is having a banquet at your house? Is he still there now?"

Pang Qing was listening and couldn't help but give Li Zisheng a look.

It seems to be asking:

What did I say?

You may not take Zhang Laizhan's strange stories seriously, but it turns out that this one is even more explosive than the previous one. The emperor even neglected his sleep and food and asked for the book all night long.

"Just left."

Li Zisheng shrugged and said helplessly, "How about I go with you to his house and get the book back?"

"Let's go then!"

Qin Chang did not dare to delay at all. He made a "please" gesture and immediately turned around and walked out.

Seeing this, Li Zisheng shook his head helplessly and had to force himself to keep up.

(The last thirty hours of September, please give me some monthly tickets, thank you!)

(End of this chapter)