Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 300: Calculation and Promotion

Forbidden City.

Qingning Palace.

After Chen Gui returned to the palace, he hurried to Queen Mother Zhou to report the situation.

"…I don't know who was gossiping and letting the emperor know that it was my grandson who mentioned this to me. Isn't this telling others that I made up this dream on the spur of the moment? This is outrageous! If I find out who said this, I will definitely not let him off!"

Queen Mother Zhou was very unhappy.

I can make up stories, but others cannot expose my past, otherwise how will others look at me and how can I continue to fool people in the future?
Chen Gui shuddered and said hurriedly, "Grandfather, you misunderstood. His Majesty meant that you dreamed about something you thought about during the day. It was because the prince mentioned this matter to you that you were extremely worried, so you dreamed about the Buddha statue collapsing. No one said that you deliberately made up a dream out of thin air."

Queen Mother Zhou bared her teeth and said, "The Emperor didn't ask, when did the prince talk about this matter and dream with me?"

Chen Gui could only try to make amends, forcing a smile and saying, "Maybe you dreamed about it while taking a nap? Dreams that occur during the day are often more accurate."

"You have a loose mouth... Hey, you are the one who told His Majesty about this, right?" Queen Mother Zhou asked with a sneer.

"It's not me, old ancestor, you misunderstood me."

Chen Gui resisted the urge to wipe the sweat from his forehead and flatly denied it.

Queen Mother Zhou said, "Even if it's you, it doesn't matter. If the emperor really asks you, would you dare not answer? Not answering would be a crime of deceiving the emperor. I don't think you are that stubborn. I can totally understand! But... it's just that my son asked my grandson to build a Buddhist temple. I don't understand this... Is the emperor really trying to embarrass the prince?"

Chen Gui felt relieved, and quietly let out a sigh of relief, while explaining: "Grandfather, you misunderstood. You have never been to Wanhe Temple, so you don't know what the situation is there now..."

"Then tell me what's going on now..."

Queen Mother Zhou asked grimly.

“That scene was really in full swing… Zhang Hanlin, the prince’s old Taishan, quickly found the best wood and stone materials and started work early this morning.

"I heard from the foreman in charge of the repairs that as long as all the materials are available, it can be repaired in two days. It's just that the wood paint and other things may need to be dried in the sun for a day... So today we will paint the places that need to be painted first, and several repair projects will be carried out in rotation. It will probably be completed before sunset tomorrow."

Chen Gui spoke eloquently and carefully described to Empress Dowager Zhou the scene he saw in Wanhe Temple.

It was also because Chen Gui had established a good relationship with the Zhang family. In addition to praising the prince's ability, he also emphasized Zhang Luan's ability, as if he was describing Zhang Luan as a unique pillar of the Ming Dynasty.

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Zhou's face was full of wrinkles and crow's feet. She looked unhappy and said, "It seems that Liang Fang and the others really deserve to die... It took them three months to complete something that could be done in three days? If the matter hadn't been exposed, I really didn't know how blind these people were."

Since he didn't know whether Liang Fang had any spies in Qingning Palace, Chen Gui didn't dare to add insult to injury, and explained tactfully: "You can't blame Eunuch Liang and his men entirely. Wasn't there something else going on?"

"What happened?"

Queen Mother Zhou looked annoyed. "Is it about the old woman's passing? The death of a few people in the palace, can it affect their construction of the Buddhist temple? Zhang Laizhan is quite capable and daring, so he completely eradicated these termites..."

At this point, Queen Mother Zhou seemed to have thought of something and muttered to herself, "That's not right. Why do others lack stone and wood, but Zhang Laizhan has them whenever he says he has them? Could it be... Oh, I understand. No wonder he had the guts to report it to the Crown Prince. It turns out he had already prepared a way out... Hey, could it be that this man is using me?"

Facing the rich inner thoughts of Empress Dowager Zhou, Chen Gui hurriedly comforted her: "Grandfather, don't worry, no one is taking advantage of you, they are all thinking about you, whether it is Zhang Hanlin, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, or Your Majesty, they are all working hard for your affairs.

"In order to help you complete your Buddhist practice, the prince personally went to the Wanhe Temple outside the city. On the way there and back, he kept reminding you to make sure the temple was repaired, just so that you could go there with peace of mind."

"What are you talking about?"

Queen Mother Zhou glared at Chen Gui and shouted, "I don't like what you said. What do you mean I can die peacefully? If you don't know, you would think I am going to die."

Chen Gui quickly slapped herself in the face and blamed herself, "I spoke out of turn. I deserve to die."

Queen Mother Zhou stood up and waved her hand, saying, "After hearing what you said, even I want to go to Wanhe Temple to take a look... I feel like there are ants running around in my heart, I can't help it."

"Won't you be able to see your ancestor in a few days?" Chen Gui said.

"I just want to see how they repaired it. I don't know if my grandson can do it well. If he can really do it and make my son happy, it can be regarded as an old lady helping my grandson do something practical." Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "Then I will wait for the Buddha's Bathing Festival and go to check their hard work in person."

Chen Gui smiled and said, "That's right... Old Ancestor, do you want to take a rest and take a nap now?"

Queen Mother Zhou said, "Why do you need to take a break? I still have a few scriptures to make up. The Buddha's Bathing Festival is coming soon, and I should make up for the lessons I missed last year. That's what it means to be sincere."

The smile on Chen Gui's face froze.

I thought, you usually pray to the Buddha several times a day, but you just do it for three days and rest for two days? The Buddha Bathing Festival is coming soon, and you are still cramming at the last minute?
Even so, you are still bragging about how sincere you are in worshiping Buddha?

When Queen Mother Zhou went to the inner hall, Chen Gui also left. He muttered in his heart: "It's said to be a token of affection, but in fact it's all calculation."

……

……

In a blink of an eye, it was the seventh day of the New Year.

It was the day before Buddha's Birthday, and the finishing work of the Wanhe Temple project was completed early in the morning. It was only after noon that Crown Prince Zhu Youtang came in person to inspect it.

Near noon that day, Li Zisheng appeared at the bend of the mountain road, followed by Wan'an.

Zhang Luan saw the two of them walking towards this direction from afar, and couldn't help but pull Zhang Heling who was beside him: "Quick, go call your second brother."

"Why did you call Yanling here? Oh, isn't that Li Zisheng? Why is he here?"

Zhang Heling followed his father's gaze and couldn't help but exclaimed.

"The one next to him is the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, Wan Zhongtang, the most distinguished civil servant... Hey, he really can get anything he wants. Did he know that there will be a big happy event with Buddha tomorrow, so he rushed over to join in the fun?"

Zhang Luan looked somewhat unhappy.

I'm the one who did the work, and now I've finally finished it. You guys come here one by one under the banner of acceptance and stroll around. When you come back in front of His Majesty and the Queen Mother, you will say with confidence that you also participated in this matter. But what exactly did you do?

I'm so angry!
I'm really angry!
"Come and see."

Li Zisheng greeted Zhang Luan from a distance and kept waving, meaning that you should come quickly, I have brought you the person you want to see.

Although he was complaining in his heart, Zhang Luan still walked over obediently and bowed respectfully in front of the two men: "Greetings, Minister Li and Elder Wan."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "It's better to call him Master Wan. It's more intimate this way."

"Where."

Wan'an's face was full of joy when he heard this.

Now Wan'an is ranked as Junior Tutor and Prince Taifu, and is ranked among the three orphans, which is already the second highest honor among civil officials. The only title he can look forward to in the next step is the title of Junior Instructor.

"Master Wan, I tell you, Lai Zhan is very reliable. Look, it only took two days to renovate Wanhe Temple. The materials used here are not rotten wood or old bricks and tiles, but all brand new materials. It is not an exaggeration to describe it as magnificent now." Li Zisheng boasted for Zhang Luan, "If you don't believe me, let's go in and take a look. You can check anywhere and you will definitely not find the slightest flaw."

Wan An said with a smile: "Since you said so, how can I not believe it? Even Li Xianchang praised me so highly, so I am sure I will be convinced."

Zhang Luan looked at it and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Didn’t you, Li Zisheng, say that we should keep a certain distance in front of others?

Is this how we keep our distance?
This is because we are afraid that others don’t know that we are in the same group!
Li Zisheng nodded with satisfaction: "It is said that the court selects the virtuous and capable when hiring people. If someone like Lai Zhan is not promoted, it would be a disservice to the court's official assessment system. I think the next step is to promote Lai Zhan to be a lecturer in the Imperial Academy, and to serve in the Eastern Palace on a regular basis... What do you think, Master Wan?"

"It makes sense, it makes sense."

Wan'an nodded repeatedly, with an attitude of doing whatever the Lord says. Anyway, I, the old man Wansui, have a bad reputation as a dick-washing husband, so whatever you, Li Zisheng, say is what I support firmly.

Zhang Luan was so moved that he almost cried when he heard this. He quickly declined, saying, "How could I be so worthy of being valued by Minister Li and Master Wan? I am deeply terrified and worried that I am not up to the task."

I am just a talented person and I was able to get into the Hanlin Academy as a historian. I am already very proud of myself. My literary reputation has earned me enough money. It’s not even a month yet and I’m being promoted to the position of Hanlin Lecturer?
Is this what they mean by "it's easier to be an official if you have someone in the court?"
So exciting!
"Laizhan, I just said this casually, you must not be anxious." Li Zisheng said solemnly, "Perhaps His Majesty will come to Wanhe Temple in person tomorrow, and he may need you to accompany him then."

"Need... me to serve you?"

Zhang Luan felt a lot of pressure just by listening to it.

Li Zisheng said sternly: "This incident has caused such a big stir, and so many people in the court are watching you. If you can do it quickly and well, His Majesty will definitely reward you.

"Don't worry, Master Wan and I both stand firmly on your side... Although there were some misunderstandings between us before, when the court recruits people, it never cares whether the political views are consistent, but... whether there is a common goal, which is to support the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Luan could only nod and agree. He didn't know what to say. Anyway, he thought, "If there is any benefit, I will take it. Only a fool would push away a good thing."

Afterwards, Li Zisheng and Wan'an entered Wanhe Temple for inspection.

The two bosses did not bring any accompanying officials, only Zhang Luan was with them. However, Zhang Yanling was not in Wanhe Temple at that time, which made Zhang Luan feel very nervous.

After the visit and bidding farewell to Zhang Luan, Li Zisheng and Wan'an left in the same carriage.

In the carriage, Wan An couldn't help but ask, "Master Li, Zhang Laizhan treated you so badly before, and you still trust him so much now? Aren't you giving him too much face?"

Li Zisheng said with a smile: "Didn't your cabinet think that Lai Zhan was a talent that could be cultivated and even recommended him to me?"

"This……"

Wan'an looked embarrassed, but he was thinking in his heart, I didn't know that this guy was so reckless at that time. It seemed that there was no one in the court that he dared not offend.

This is a typical troublemaker. In the past, I would have suppressed him long ago. Didn’t I keep him here until now just to see your attitude?
Li Zisheng asked, "Master Wan, what do you think of Lai Zhan now?"

"There are some who admire it, but..."

Wan'an was too embarrassed to continue.

"But in fact, more people stay away from him, right?" Li Zisheng asked with a smile.

"Ah."

Wan An nodded and said, "Who would want to be too close to a relative who can't even grasp the current situation? It is said that his colleagues in the Hanlin Academy only interact with him for the sake of courtesy. His talent and ability are not worthy of a job in the imperial academy. Some people even talk about him behind his back, saying that he is just a wandering doctor who can write novels."

Li Zisheng frowned and said unhappily, "Master Wan, you don't have to deliberately disparage Lai Zhan just because he impeached me."

Wan An shook his head: "No, no, I'm just telling the truth."

"Then your evaluation is very inappropriate."

Li Zisheng did not give the Prime Minister any face, and said seriously, "Laizhan has many advantages, but others have not yet discovered them. There are laws in the world... However, I don't think it's a bad thing for Laizhan to be alienated by his colleagues..."

Wan'an was puzzled, why are you talking to me about the laws governing the operation of the universe?
However, Wan An felt that he roughly understood the latter part.

Wan An asked in surprise, "So Immortal Li is going to spare no effort to support Zhang Laizhan and even think highly of him?"

"hehe."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "He is the father-in-law of the prince. How can I be qualified to help him? I will have to rely on him in the future. I also hope that Master Wan can help me... Lai Zhan has just entered the officialdom. There are many things he does not understand. He needs someone to support him."

Wan An understood as soon as he heard it. It turns out that you two were acting in a double act before?

Deliberately let Zhang Luan impeach you?

I was originally trying to belittle Zhang Luan in front of you just to save face, but now it seems that’s not necessary. Just continue with your previous tone and praise him highly.

……

……

Li Zisheng left Wanhe Temple and went to the palace to find Zhu Jianshen to report the situation of Wanhe Temple.

Zhu Jianshen didn't seem to be in good condition. He looked very haggard. He sat there for a long time without saying anything, and he didn't even want to listen to what Li Zisheng said.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong..."

Li Zisheng couldn't help but look at Tan Chang who was standing beside him.

Qin Chang said with a worried look on his face: "Your Majesty has been ill these past two days. Not only is he not in good spirits, he also has no strength in his body."

Li Zisheng approached Emperor Chenghua and asked in a low voice, "Then... Your Majesty, will you attend the Wanhe Temple Buddha worship ceremony tomorrow?"

"not going."

Zhu Jianshen closed his eyes, looking weak. He barely raised his hand and waved, saying, "You go on my behalf."

"Yes."

Li Zisheng originally wanted to commend Zhang Luan, but when he saw the emperor in such a state, he couldn't say what he had in mind.

The meeting here has not yet ended, but people from the Imperial Hospital have arrived.

Tan Chang said respectfully, "Master Li, let's make room for the imperial doctors so that they can diagnose His Majesty's pulse."

"it is good."

Li Zisheng nodded, bowed and took his leave.

(End of this chapter)