Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 389 The Pretentious Father-in-Law (asking for monthly ticket)

Zhang Luan wanted to say it clearly, but he was too embarrassed to brag in front of his son-in-law.

He was also thinking in his heart, even if I was telling the truth, it would inevitably appear that I took myself too seriously and inadvertently pretended to be awesome...

It is better not to be too ostentatious in front of the future emperor. This is the way of survival my son taught me.

"Prince, it's like this. Lord Wan and Lord Liu are having some problems right now and they can't take care of themselves." Zhang Luan said.

"What happened to them?"

Zhu Youtang is a very serious person.

He advocates that if there is anything you don't understand, you must get to the bottom of it. This is also one of the important reasons why he has been very uncomfortable recently, because no one can explain to him the twists and turns behind the Tongzhou warehouse case.

Zhang Luan said, "They... did some dirty things, but in the end, they didn't accomplish anything and got themselves into trouble. It may not be a good idea to say this, but they probably can no longer care about the Tongzhou warehouse issue, because Lord Wan has submitted his resignation, and His Majesty is likely to agree."

"what?"

Zhu Youtang was still confused.

Tan Ji, who was standing beside him, asked, "Mr. Zhang, is what you are talking about related to the current diagnosis of His Majesty?"

"That's it."

Zhang Luan nodded slightly and said, "I wonder if Eunuch Tan has heard about it?"

"I heard that Lord Wan and his men sent people to verify whether this method of using medicine to prevent and treat smallpox is really effective. Is that true?" Qin Ji asked.

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "Yes, that's it!"

Qin Ji asked in confusion: "Didn't it just happen a few days ago? There's still no result yet?"

In Qin Ji's opinion, people want to verify whether you, Zhang, are a liar, and now the result is not out yet, and you are saying that they are in trouble?

You are too confident!
"hehe."

Zhang Luan smiled and said, "The experimental results have not come out yet, and I don't know how the next step will develop, but I know for sure that Lord Wan has proposed to resign... Because it was when I went to diagnose His Majesty that Eunuch Wei Taiwei proposed it in front of His Majesty."

Qin Ji asked cautiously, "Is it possible that Elder Wan intends to retreat in order to advance and put pressure on you?"

When Zhang Luan heard this, he couldn't help but laugh out loud with pride.

Wan'an is still retreating to advance?
If it were in the past, with his limited political awareness, he might have been as cautious as Qin Ji and would have thought in this direction.

But now Zhang Luan's self-confidence is overflowing. Moreover, the people he deals with now are either the emperor, or powerful figures like Li Zisheng and Wei Tai. Even the crown prince comes to him for advice and keeps asking him questions. Can his realm still be as low as before?
Since he said Wan'an was in trouble, it must be like that. Who is he looking down on?

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "If Lord Wan resigned on his own initiative, then something bad must have happened to him... Father-in-law, is that what you mean?"

"Uh...right."

Zhang Luan smiled and nodded, "In fact, I didn't want to hide it from the prince. Elder Wan said that I was incapable of treating His Majesty and insisted on replacing me. He also said that I was a disaster for the country and the people, and that my way of growing medicine would affect the people's epidemic prevention, which might lead to a disaster. As a result, His Majesty summoned the doctor found by Elder Wan to the palace to treat the disease a few days ago, and then the emperor was furious..."

Qin Ji knew what was going on as soon as he heard it.

He explained to Zhu Youtang, "Prince, Mr. Zhang should be saying that Lord Wan attacked him without reason, and Your Majesty originally wanted to rely on the doctor that Lord Wan had found to treat his illness, but when he summoned him to the palace, he was shocked to find that his medical skills were mediocre and it would be difficult for him to do anything."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Didn't the emperor employ father-in-law in the first place because he was impressed by his outstanding medical skills? Since even the people in the Imperial Hospital recognize his medical skills, why would an ordinary civilian doctor dare to challenge his authority?"

Zhang Luan was a little surprised.

I thought to myself, if even you, a prince who is ignorant of the world, can see this clearly, how come your father, who claims to be smart, was so confused a few days ago and had to question me?
Is it really because I am his son's father-in-law that he thinks I will join forces with his son to murder him?

Zhu Youtang said: "But father-in-law, I am not asking about the treatment of my father's illness, but about the Tongzhou warehouse deficit case."

Zhang Luan was somewhat speechless.

Have a look.

This son-in-law, I thought he was spiritual just now, but it turns out... he is still a stubborn person!

Doesn't he know that treating his old father and investigating the Tongzhou warehouse are actually closely linked?
Even I, who has just entered the court, can understand this, so why can't you, the prince, understand it?

It would be fine if you, Prince, were too honest and ignorant of the ways of the world, but why is it that with so many awesome gentlemen around you, no one has given you any advice?

And Qin Ji, you old fellow don't do your job, but just like to watch the fire from the other side of the river. Why do you have to get familiar with it here?
Zhang Luan asked, "Your Highness, don't you know why Wan'an wants to criticize me?"

"he……"

Zhu Youtang thought for a moment and said with a hint of doubt, "It should be that he is concerned about the health of the emperor and is worried that you, father-in-law, cannot properly treat the disease."

Pooh.

you motherfucker!
Zhang Luan thought, how stupid must you be to say something like that?

According to what you said, Wan An is a loyal minister. He is willing to fight against me, a relative of your father, for the sake of your father. Is he a model of civil officials in the court? !

Is there anything wrong with your brain?
Zhang Luan looked at Tan Ji standing beside him and asked, "Does Eunuch Tan think so too?"

"This one……"

Qin Ji often pretends to be ignorant even though he knows the truth.

The purpose is to keep the prince in a pure and kind state at all times. It seems that the prince is being guided to be good, but in fact, the prince is being locked up in a virtual environment, causing him to become increasingly ignorant of worldly affairs.

Zhang Luan said: "Prince, from the beginning, Wan'an wanted to use the Tongzhou warehouse to promote the change of storage. Didn't the prince know about it?" "I..."

Zhu Youtang's face turned ugly when he heard this. "I don't have much contact with him. Every time I heard him talk about court affairs this year, it was pretty good. Why did he do this?"

Zhang Luan asked, "As a minister, I have a relatively close relationship with the Crown Prince, so it's hard for me to comment on some things."

Zhu Youtang said anxiously: "Father-in-law, just tell me clearly, I can bear it."

"I'm afraid you can't bear it!"

Zhang Luan seemed very stubborn at this time, with an ugly face, and a bit of pity for his lack of struggle, and said, "Prince, you are too kind to others, don't you know how dangerous the court is?

"In order to change the crown prince, the former Concubine Wan secretly colluded with Liang Fang and others, and even exiled Eunuch Huai En. Are you unaware of this?"

Zhu Youtang lowered his head, like a punching bag, but did not rashly comment on the matter.

Zhang Luan said, "I came to the capital at the end of last year. When I first arrived, His Majesty went to discuss the issue of changing the crown prince with Li Zisheng."

"what!?"

Zhu Youtang asked in shock, "Is there such a thing?"

Zhang Luan asked helplessly: "Does the prince know how this matter was resolved at that time?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head stupidly.

Qin Ji beside him couldn't help but remind him, "Prince, have you forgotten? Years ago, Li Yintai from the Yintai Division predicted two earthquakes, both of which came true. In particular, he predicted an earthquake at Mount Tai, which really came true. Later, he said that it was the wrath of heaven, or there would be a greater disaster, which could only be resolved if the East Palace was happy... Isn't this the reason why His Majesty asked you to marry the Crown Princess later?"

"Yes, yes, I remember now, father-in-law, that's what happened."

Zhu Youtang was very happy.

But to Zhang Luan, this happy smile seemed stupid.

Fortunately, this child belongs to someone else's family. If he was my own, he wouldn't listen to anything I said. Wouldn't that piss off his father to death?
and many more!

It seems I have more than one son named Zhang Yanling. Who else is there?

Forget it, love whoever you want.

Zhang Luan said: "After the New Year, before Concubine Wan passed away, the old matter was brought up again, and His Majesty agreed to start the replacement of the crown prince again, but it ended with Concubine Wan's death.

"Afterwards, Liang Fang and others continued to hold high the banner of changing the crown prince and plotted against the ministers in the court, including the lecturer of the Eastern Palace and me. We were all harmed by him. Fortunately, we were discovered in time and finally escaped danger."

Zhu Youtang's face was full of disappointment. He said, "Yes, thanks to your advice, father-in-law. Otherwise...it might really have been..."

Zhang Luan asked, "Does the Crown Prince think that after Liang Fang and Wei Xing fell from power, no one in the court would mention the issue of changing the crown prince?"

Qin Ji was shocked when he heard this, and asked in surprise: "Mr. Zhang, you don't mean to say that Lord Wan and Lord Liu in the court also want to promote the change of crown prince, right? What is their purpose? They are just ministers, there is really no need for them to rely on a certain force in the palace!"

"Because they have a very bad reputation. If the prince really... achieves great things in the future, will he value them? At that time, he will definitely make an exception and promote the lecturers of the Eastern Palace and find trustworthy people to replace them!" Zhang Luan said coldly.

“What great things can I accomplish?”

Zhu Youtang asked in confusion.

Qin Ji looked embarrassed.

As an eunuch in the palace, he dared not say anything careless regarding the crown prince's ascension to the throne.

At the same time, he also felt that Zhang Luan's words were too direct.

Zhang Luan said, "Your Highness, didn't you tell me before that you could accept anything I asked? I've only said this much, but you can't accept it? Then what should I say next..."

"But...I really didn't understand."

Zhu Youtang looked aggrieved.

Qin Ji was very embarrassed. Facing the prince's puzzled look, he wanted to explain but he couldn't open his mouth.

Zhang Luan said helplessly: "Your Majesty is seriously ill, and the Crown Prince may ascend the throne at some point in the future and inherit the Ming Dynasty's legal system. I think the Crown Prince should understand what I mean, right?"

"This...Father-in-law, you...how can you say such nonsense? You...you..."

Zhu Youtang stood up suddenly and pointed at Zhang Luan, as if he felt that Zhang Luan had done something extremely unforgivable.

Zhang Luan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and shook his head, saying, "It's hard to say this now, but some people are already planning for this... It's because Wan'an and Liu Ji are mentally prepared that they think the prince won't value them in the future, and they are ready to support someone they think is suitable to rule the East Palace... So, does the prince understand?"

"Father-in-law, I don't want to hear it anymore. What you said is really disrespectful!"

Zhu Youtang said as if he was angry.

Qin Ji advised: "Your Highness, although Mr. Zhang's words are a bit direct, they are not excessive. In fact, many people in the court have the same idea."

Zhu Youtang sat there, sulking for a while, and then he said, "But even if I... have to choose who to use and who not to use in the future, I will first use Wan An and Liu Ji to stabilize the overall situation."

“But they don’t think so.”

Zhang Luan said, "The reputation of these two people in the court is already extremely bad, and no one knows why they are still entrenched in the position of cabinet ministers.

"If the new emperor ascends the throne in the future and accepts the memorials from the ministers, the two of them will probably be drowned in spit. In this case, what do you think they will do?
"When a dog is desperate, it will jump over the wall, so the current situation has occurred... Prince, now you should understand, right?"

(End of this chapter)