Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 393 Stand aside (ask for monthly ticket)
Early in the morning.

Zhang Luan and Li Zisheng entered the palace together and waited outside the Qianqing Palace for an audience.

But the emperor didn't summon him for a long time.

Zhang Luan poked his head into the hall and asked, "Is there anything delaying you?"

Li Zisheng glared at him, as if to stop him, "Don't say anything you shouldn't say. Do you really think this is a street and you can say whatever you want?"
After waiting for a long time, Wei Tai finally came out of the hall and whispered, "You two, His Majesty is not feeling well, so I will not see you."

"What!?"

Zhang Luan was very curious.

I'm here to see the emperor for his medical treatment, but he's not feeling well so he won't see us? Are you doubting my ability to treat illnesses again?
Li Zisheng was obviously unwilling to leave like this, and asked: "Eunuch Wei, what is going on? I heard that the previous test, which used the method of planting medicine to prevent and treat smallpox, has already come out with results... Is it related to this matter?"

Wei Tai said, "You two, the results are indeed out... In fact, among the people who had contact with the smallpox patient, those who had taken medicine were fine, but those who had not taken medicine all got sick. This matter... Anyway, let's not talk about it."

"That……"

Li Zisheng frowned.

I thought to myself, are you sick?

I used to doubt Lai Zhan’s ability and thought he was fooling people with his method of preventing and treating acne. Now it has been proven that his method is effective, so why is he still turning us away?

"Some things are hard to explain. Please go back."

Wei Tai's attitude became resolute.

Li Zisheng had no choice but to pull Zhang Luan, and the two of them walked out of the palace together.

……

……

"Laizhan, do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing for me to bring Wang Ji to the capital?"

Li Zisheng suddenly began to review his actions and asked angrily.

Zhang Luan looked at Li Zisheng strangely, then nodded and said, "Of course it's a good thing."

"I thought so before."

Li Zisheng said, "You said that some things are irreversible, and the best outcome is to let others take responsibility. I also know that in the world of medicine, I'm afraid no one is better than you, and even in the art of geomancy, you are the best, but why do I regret it today?"

Zhang Luan smiled and asked, "Is your majesty summoning Wang Ji today?"

Li Zisheng shook his head and said, "I don't know either, but I feel that since Wang Ji came to the capital, His Majesty has been a little cold to you, don't you think?"

Zhang Luan said, "Minister Li, I'll be honest. When it comes to comprehensive medical skills, I'm not as good as Wang Ji. He has been treating illnesses and saving lives for generations, and he is very straightforward and never beats around the bush... Perhaps that's why Your Majesty appreciates him."

"Oh? You still think...he's nice?"

Li Zisheng was also surprised.

He had never thought before that Zhang Luan was so open-minded. Even though the emperor's favor was taken away by someone, he could remain calm and unperturbed.

Li Zisheng said anxiously, I don’t have his open-minded mind, it seems I need to learn from him.

Li Zisheng said, "Laizhan, what do you plan to do in the future? Do you want to be the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, or do you want to work in the Governor's Office? Or do you want to seek greater development in the Imperial Academy?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Minister Li, why do you ask that?"

"I'm just curious."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "There are many things that need to be planned now."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "I just want to live a peaceful life for a few days... Having power is good, but the problem is that it's too tiring. Now I think it would be a happy life to have a few close female friends around me, good food and wine every day, and a few close friends to chat with. "

"Haha."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "Your request doesn't seem difficult, but it is based on your ability to ensure that your power can last for a long time... Once you lose your status as a superior, it will be impossible for you to maintain your comfort."

Zhang Luan thought for a moment and asked, "Is that so?"

Li Zisheng said, "You don't know, I used to have this idea of ​​escaping from the world. People who practice Taoism are used to being idle and will always be lazy about doing things... But once you lose power, others will no longer take you seriously, and no one will pay attention to everything you say. Others will even covet everything you have... Soon you will become restless, and even if delicious food, good wine, and beautiful women are in front of you, you will not be interested at all."

Zhang Luan nodded and said, "Minister Li, you still have too many obsessions. I wouldn't be like that!"

"Haha, Lai Zhan, you are just talking nonsense. When you really have power, you will know how wonderful power is."

Li Zisheng said excitedly, "That's much better than delicious food, fine wine, and beautiful women! Although delicious food, fine wine, and beautiful women are good, they are just a tonic for power and are byproducts. If you have no power, nothing you do will be enjoyable."

Zhang Luan said with emotion: "Maybe it's because I've never had it before, so I don't feel what it would be like to lose it... I think you, Minister Li, have been in a high position for a long time, so you feel it more deeply."

Li Zisheng nodded: "Yes, I have experienced many ups and downs in the court, and I have seen everything I should have seen. I have experienced several ups and downs, but in the end, I found that the thing that makes me yearn for it and makes me excited is not how many beauties are around me, nor how much gold and silver jewelry I have, nor the compliments from others. In fact, it is when you have the power, you can decide the joys and sorrows of others and dominate everything... That feeling is really... It makes people have endless aftertaste!"

Having said that, Li Zisheng's steps slowed down unconsciously, and he seemed to be in a state of intoxication.

Zhang Luan saw this scene and thought to himself, Can power really make people so addicted?
But why am I not feeling everything you said even though I’m the Minister of Taichang Temple, and now hold the title of Second-Rank Governor’s Office, and am also a Bachelor of Hanlin Academy?

It seems that the power I possess is not truly absolute power. Only those of you who have reached the top know clearly what it means to be a high-ranking official.

But the problem is that even if he was an emperor, my son-in-law, for example, was not as addicted to power as you said.

"Laizhan, do you know what I want to do in the future?"

Li Zisheng suddenly asked.

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "I don't know. Please give me some advice."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "I want to build a Taoist temple on a famous mountain, and seek the Tao with peace of mind, hoping to ascend to heaven one day in the future."

"..."

Zhang Luan was speechless after hearing this.

I thought to myself, who just described to me how wonderful power is?
Why do you sound like a different person now?

Just swallow back what you said?
Li Zisheng laughed and said, "You must think that I am the kind of person who is holding on to power and won't let go, right? In fact, I also know what my future will be like. You said, Crown Prince... Haha, you know, how can I hold on to power like I do today and continue to prosper in the court?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "Is Minister Li willing?"

"So what if I'm unwilling?"

Li Zisheng looked a little disappointed, and said, "Some things should be prepared in advance. You almost told me the most terrible prophecy... In fact, I know it in my heart. When we have to retreat, we will definitely not be reluctant to leave, otherwise I am afraid that we will lose our lives."

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly. He didn't know how to evaluate Li Zisheng.

Because from anyone's perspective, Li Zisheng is a powerful official, even a treacherous official, who controls the government, especially the appointment and dismissal of officials in the court. He will not do anything if he is not paid, and he is stubborn and self-willed, suppressing dissidents...

But to Zhang Luan, this man was truly a good person who had helped him a lot, and they were like brothers.

He gave him so many good things, even the house he lives in now was given by Li Zisheng. In addition, the generous treatment he had never enjoyed before was basically obtained from Li Zisheng. He also learned a lot of experience in dealing with people in the court from Li Zisheng.

Li Zisheng said: "Laizhan, I think you will have a chance to become a high-ranking official in the future, so don't let it go easily."

"What!?"

Zhang Luan said, "Minister Li, please don't say that. You helped me and the prince, isn't it for the sake of maintaining the status quo in the future? Even if others don't help you, I will support you. The prince is a good child who remembers kindness and knows how to return a favor..."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "Yes, you can treat the prince as a child, because he is indeed your junior. Even the queen mother treats you as her nephew, and the future crown princess can also help you. But what about me? Who will help me except you?"

Zhang Luan fell silent for a moment.

Li Zisheng said: "Even if the prince wants to respect me in the future, the orthodox civil officials represented by the current lecturer of the Eastern Palace will not agree. Even you... do you think that group of people can tolerate you?
"You want to be a high-ranking official, but others think you are not the same as them, so they oppose you. Because you are not even a Jinshi, the status and position you have now are all granted to you by the current emperor without going through the cabinet and the six ministries. Do you think you can maintain it in the future?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan was a little confused for a moment.

After a while he asked, "So am I pursuing the right thing, or the wrong thing?"

Li Zisheng said: "Everyone is ambitious. If you can fight, why not fight? Laizhan, I don't care whether others fight or not, but you must fight, because only when your power increases can you protect me."

"I protect you? No, no, I don't have that ability."

Zhang Luan quickly started to criticize himself.

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "Don't underestimate yourself. The Crown Prince relies on you very much now. You are a great contributor to Liang Fang's replacement of the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess treat each other with respect. I heard that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess are really affectionate and they are a loving couple..."

"is it?"

Zhang Luan didn't think that his daughter, a little woman, could hold the future emperor very tightly.

Even though Concubine Wan was considered a powerful figure among the concubines, it was not the case that she had the final say on everything, right?

The Wan family is, at most, wealthy, but they don't have much influence in the court.

Li Zisheng said, "Laizhan, I don't ask for anything else, at least don't let me quit right away. I want to continue to stay in the Tongzhengshisi... If you see the prince, you can tell him... I can still do things and I know how to do things. As long as the prince is willing, I can hand over all the connections and resources in my hands."

"Minister Li, why are you suddenly saying this?"

Zhang Luan was a little confused.

"Laizhan, I am speaking from the bottom of my heart to you. You must keep it in mind."

Li Zisheng seemed to want to make arrangements for his last affairs, as if he had anticipated that something was about to happen, and he felt lonely and bleak as if a storm was about to come.

"I am just a Taoist priest who once possessed tremendous power. I could have helped Concubine Shao and her son, but I didn't. It's because I know what is the right way in the world, and more importantly, because I trust you and know that you will not stand in the wrong position. If I had stood in the wrong position, I would probably have been left without a trace." Li Zisheng said.

Zhang Luan opened his mouth wide, as if to say, you think too highly of me.

You're on my side, I'm just on my son's side.

In a word, you're saying that both of us are on my son's side?
(I will ask for another wave of monthly ticket support at the beginning of the month, thank you for your generosity!)
(End of this chapter)