Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 410: A Man Without Faith Cannot Stand

When Empress Dowager Zhou met Zhang Luan, she did not pretend to let Zhang Luan examine her.

They didn't even hold him accountable for leaving the palace without permission.

She was more concerned about her son's condition.

"It's true."

Zhang Luan said, "Aunt, from what I have seen, His Majesty's illness is probably going to happen in the next few days."

Queen Mother Zhou had already dismissed everyone around her, not even Chen Gui. She didn't think there was anything wrong with being alone with her non-blood-related nephew after dark.

Anyone who dares to criticize her casually is tired of living.

Queen Mother Zhou frowned and said, "Since you recognize me as your aunt, why are you speaking so cryptically? Tell me, can it be cured in a few days? Or..."

"Yes...I can't hold on any longer."

Of course Zhang Luan couldn't just say the word "pass away" or "death".

Even so, Queen Mother Zhou understood it completely.

Queen Mother Zhou nodded and said, "Then you are leaving the palace today?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan thought, I really can't use common sense to guess my aunt's thinking. When she gets angry and blames me, I really can't stop her.

"However, if outsiders knew about your trip, they would think that His Majesty's condition is not serious for the time being, which would indirectly calm people's hearts."

Queen Mother Zhou added another sentence.

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment.

I was right about her.

Her voice was like heavy breathing. Was she going to punish me or comfort me?

"Laizhan, actually, there are some things that I have already prepared for."

Queen Mother Zhou sighed, "You don't have to feel any pressure. Just do what you have to do. Everyone knows that you have tried your best this time. No one will blame you."

"Please forgive my incompetence."

Zhang Luan thought, I don’t believe you.

Just because I cured the emperor, you can find an excuse to attack me?
Judging from the results alone, it’s all my fault that I failed to cure the emperor?
Queen Mother Zhou said, "If you have any other difficulties, just tell me and I will solve them for you."

Zhang Luan said: "This..."

He couldn't help but feel a little regretful. If he had known this would happen, he should not have shown the list to Chen Gui. Would Chen Gui hide it from the Queen Mother?
I was essentially selling myself out.

Zhang Luan said hesitantly, "When I returned to the palace, Grand Secretary Liu Ji found me at the palace gate and handed me a list."

"Oh?"

Queen Mother Zhou frowned and asked, "Liu Ji is looking for you? What does he want to do?"

Zhang Luan said: "I don't know the specific reason, but you should know that I went to see Elder Wan for the previous matter, and then I acted together with Elder Wan. Or Elder Wan planned to... give Elder Liu to... to..."

"Look at you, you're trying to hide the truth again. To be frank... Wan'an is planning to kick Liu Ji out, right?" When Queen Mother Zhou mentioned these two people, her words were not polite at all.

Zhang Luan nodded quickly: "That's what I mean."

Queen Mother Zhou asked, "Nephew, do you want to ask me which of these two people is trustworthy and which is not?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan thought to himself, I didn't mean to ask you at all. I only told you this because you brought it up on your own initiative. This was also to prevent anyone from complaining that I was forming a clique for personal gain, or even planning to engage in small circle politics when major events happened in the court, or even to harm the prince.

I am even more afraid that the emperor will settle accounts with me after he wakes up.

Queen Mother Zhou said, "In my opinion, neither of these two people can be trusted and cannot be used at all."

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly.

He obviously knew this a long time ago. They were once enemies, so how could he feel at ease being allies now?

"But Lai Zhan, after the emperor passes away, the cabinet needs someone to take the lead. That person is either Wan'an or Liu Ji." said Queen Mother Zhou.

Zhang Luan swallowed his saliva.

I thought to myself, my aunt never stops saying shocking things. She even said something that the emperor said, and yet you, as her mother, are still so rude.

Zhang Luan said: "I dare not act on my own in this matter, nor do I intend to cooperate with anyone or be hostile to anyone."

"You can't say that."

Queen Mother Zhou said, "At this critical moment, you have to help the prince stabilize people's hearts and help him ascend to the throne. The court cannot do without you no matter what.

"Otherwise, why did Wan'an and Liu Ji, two old foxes, come to you at the same time? It's because they know that you have the trust of the emperor and the prince, and you are also my nephew who has entrusted me with an important task...

"Do you think you deserve this treatment just because you're a human being?"

Zhang Luan thought to himself, I know I am important.

but……

Could it be that my importance is only reflected in my identity?

If I were not the father of the Crown Princess and the future father-in-law of the Emperor, would I not be that important?
Queen Mother Zhou continued, "You should still use these two people in the cabinet, but someone must step down to make room for you. That person must be Wan'an."

"what?"

Zhang Luan looked puzzled.

"My dear nephew, it's not that I look down on you, but Wan'an has been in power for so many years and has controlled the government for nearly ten years. His strength and methods are really beyond your ability to deal with.

"You may be able to fight him openly, but if you do it in secret and use those shady means, I'm afraid you will... die young." Queen Mother Zhou simply laid it out.

Zhang Luan looked very embarrassed.

But he still felt a little skeptical in his heart.

Who said I can’t beat Wan’an?

Didn’t I fight well before?

It almost let Wan'an go home and hug his grandson.

Besides, even if I can’t defeat him, I still have my son!
That kid's methods are really unheard of. Even Li Zisheng has been frequently fooled by him.

Queen Mother Zhou said: "Liu Ji seems to be smart, but he is just a slick and worldly mediocre person! If he is in the cabinet, even if he becomes the Prime Minister, he will not be able to manage things, and eventually the power will gradually fall into your hands."

"I……"

Zhang Luan was stunned when he heard this.

The Queen Mother actually instigated her eldest nephew, the Prince's father-in-law, to control the government?
It was my aunt who taught me how to become a high-ranking official.

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "As soon as I saw you, I knew you didn't like fame and fortune. Many things were caused by the situation. You were just pushed to your current position by others."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he was deeply moved and thought to himself that he had really met a soulmate.

Aunt, how come you describe my situation so clearly? It's as if you saw it with your own eyes!
Don't you also know that my son always likes to see his father become successful, and urges his old father to come out with conspiracy every day, so that I have to climb into a position where I can't get off the tiger?
Queen Mother Zhou said: "But at the critical moment, it is very necessary that you can pave the way for the prince and help him overcome the difficulties in the early days of his rule. Otherwise, who can you rely on? Wan'an or Liu Ji? Or Wei Tai, Li Zisheng and the like?"

Zhang Luan immediately thought of his son's reminder and said quickly, "Empress Dowager..."

"Uh-huh."

Queen Mother Zhou cleared her throat, meaning that you should put yourself in the right position.

"Aunt, I remember that there was a capable person, a eunuch in the palace, a talented person named Huai En. At this time... should we call him back? This person is good at stabilizing the court, maintaining personal connections, and handling court affairs." Zhang Luan said.

Queen Mother Zhou nodded and said, "Okay."

Zhang Luan was stunned.

Do you agree?
I just said it casually, and you thought what I said made sense without even asking?

"Laizhan, you see, you have no ambition at all, not even the slightest scheming."

Queen Mother Zhou said, "If it were Li Zisheng, Wei Tai and others, do you think they would mention Huai En to me at this time? And say that you are not wholeheartedly helping the prince?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan was embarrassed.

This was not my original intention!

If Huai En comes back and targets me, and asks the new emperor to banish me, a relative by marriage, to the cold palace, and let me continue to work in the Governor's Office, wouldn't I be at a great loss?

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "When Huai'en comes back, I will tell him in person that you were the one who facilitated this. Tomorrow I will also ask the Crown Prince to come and ask him to call Huai'en back as the regent... If Your Majesty were still alive, the Crown Prince would not have the courage to give such an order, but if I, as his grandmother, were to make the decision for him, he would have no choice but to obey."

"Yes Yes."

Zhang Luan nodded repeatedly.

Thinking of how Queen Mother Zhou indirectly helped to mediate between him and Huai En, Zhang Luan suddenly felt that he had made a good move by recommending Huai En to Queen Mother Zhou.

Queen Mother Zhou said: "Back to the previous question, Wan'an must not be allowed to stay."

"But……"

Zhang Luan thought that this person had already formed an alliance with me, and I also agreed to cooperate with him to support the prince to ascend the throne.

Why are you going to give up on him just like that?

A man without faith cannot stand!

Queen Mother Zhou sneered and shook her head, saying, "I didn't ask you to abandon him now. Even if he is in charge of the funeral for His Majesty, he will be the chief minister of the court, and the civil officials will be led by him... But given his character, he will definitely offend the new emperor in the future because of something. By then... hehe!"

"what?"

Zhang Luan thought, what kind of idea is this?

Queen Mother Zhou said: "You promised him that you would help him continue to lead the civil officials after the new emperor ascended the throne. But he himself offended the new emperor, can you blame you? He has to bear the consequences of his own actions."

"What if he... doesn't make a mistake?"

Zhang Luan asked.

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "Do you think that this famous Wansui Ge Lao, the Dick-Washing Minister, was a notorious treacherous minister in this dynasty, but after the new emperor ascended the throne, he became a wise minister respected by everyone? Or do you think that the world's bad reputation for him is just a misunderstanding and prejudice against him?"

"No no……"

Zhang Luan understood instantly.

In this dynasty, no matter what Wan'an does, no one cares about him.

Because the emperor himself doesn't care about anything.

But if the new emperor ascends the throne, or if he attends court every day to discuss government affairs, the new emperor will find an excuse to fire Wan'an as long as he does not do things to his satisfaction.

Zhang Luan thought about it and decided that by then I would even be willing to take the blame and be fined my salary when being questioned.

As long as Wan'an can be driven away, everything will be worth it!

Queen Mother Zhou said: "You may be able to compete with him for a while on some specific matters. But in the long run, you will never be Wan'an's opponent.

"You can't defeat Wan'an, and it will be difficult for the new emperor in the future to fight against an old fox like Wan'an. You can establish more connections with Liu Ji and work together to eliminate Wan'an. Later... you can sideline Liu Ji and assist the new emperor.

"In short, the transition must be undertaken by you."

(End of this chapter)