Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 414: Counter-Push (asking for monthly ticket)

When Zhang Yu returned to Duanjing Palace, she saw her husband who was also dozing off after staying up late.

"Yu'er, have you seen your father-in-law?"

Hearing the sound, Zhu Youtang opened his eyes and saw his wife, and quickly stood up to greet her.

Zhang Yu replied, "Yes, my father said that in the next few days, perhaps... my father's health will not be able to hold on."

"How could this be?"

Zhu Youtang was so nervous that his face turned red, his eyes were filled with tears, and he said anxiously, "No, I have to stay by my father's bed and serve him."

As a first-class filial son, Zhu Youtang had no selfish motives at all and was extremely loyal to his old father. He was almost ready to rush to his father's side, take care of everything for him personally, and help his father overcome the difficulties, even at the cost of his life.

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "It's useless for you to go. Right now, what the emperor needs you to do most is to take care of the affairs of the court. You can't let the emperor down."

"But……"

Zhu Youtang obviously did not accept his wife's statement.

Zhang Yu said anxiously, "Prince, if you go to the Qianqing Palace now, you can't do anything except cry and grieve. Isn't that just causing trouble? It's better to help father handle state affairs and maintain the stability of the court. It will highlight your importance and father will be more pleased.

Seeing Zhu Youtang lost in thought, Zhang Yu continued, "Now my father wants to contact people outside the palace, but he has no chance, especially when it comes to treating my father's illness. Many of the medicines prepared for my father outside the palace are made by Yanling. My father now needs to use our channels to get the news out of the palace in time and pass on Yanling's words. Do you have any ideas?"

Zhu Youtang asked in surprise: "If it is news related to my father's treatment, how could we not be able to communicate?"

Zhang Yu asked, "Do you think anyone would be willing to disclose the emperor's illness? What if it causes panic in the government and the public?"

"Uh...it seems...it makes sense."

Zhu Youtang was still somewhat flustered, "Then...what should I do?"

Zhang Yu leaned over and whispered, "I told my father to have someone from the East Palace take the message out and bring Yanling's ideas into the palace. Prince, you already know how smart Yanling is. There are some things that he must be involved in. Otherwise, relying on my father alone... it won't work."

Zhu Youtang asked, "Will this not break the rules?"

"You are the regent."

Zhang Yu encouraged, "Sharing the worries for your father is what you should do. If you can't make up your mind, I'll make it. If your father blames you in the future, you can say that I acted on my own. Anyway, I'm just communicating with my mother's family, so it can't be considered a taboo, right?"

"No... We can't let you, Yu'er, bear the responsibility. I will tell my husband to leave the palace after daybreak and discuss things with Yanling."

Zhu Youtang seemed to have found his direction at this time.

My father-in-law is busy treating my father's illness, so I can't discuss the affairs of the court with him for the time being. But the Zhang family has more talented people than just my father-in-law, my brother-in-law is also very capable.

As long as I can bring in my brother-in-law's opinions, it will also help me.

……

……

Tan Ji left the palace after daybreak.

Zhu Youtang would still hold a court meeting in the Wenhua Hall on that day, but Tan Ji was only a eunuch in the Eastern Palace and was not qualified to attend a meeting of this level. Even if there were eunuchs attending, they would have to be eunuchs in the Silijian Department to be qualified, and it would have nothing to do with Tan Ji.

After leaving the palace, Qin Ji took a carriage to the gate of Zhang's new house. After getting off the car, he walked slowly forward, knocked on the door, and then stood there like a skinny old man, waiting for a long time before Zhang Yanling opened the door.

"Eunuch Qin, you didn't even let anyone know in advance when you came to visit. That's really rude of you." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.

Qin Ji nodded and bowed, with a kind face: "Second Young Master, you are too polite. I am here to ask on behalf of your father, to see if there is anything that can be passed on to the palace, and to tell this side about the palace's affairs. I hope I have not disturbed you."

"Eunuch Qin, what are you talking about? You are the elder, please come in."

Then Zhang Yanling invited Tan Ji to the main hall.

……

……

After Qin Ji sat down, he kept hitting his legs.

For young people, staying up late may not be a big deal, but for an older person like Qin Ji, staying up late with everyone in the Eastern Palace and running out of the palace early in the morning will cause his old rheumatoid arthritis to flare up, and his legs and feet are almost uncontrollable after leaving the palace.

"Eunuch Tan, can I help you take a look?"

Zhang Yanling said with concern.

"Need not."

Qin Ji shook his head, "I'm an old man, I just need to take a rest, thank you for your concern, Mr. Second."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "My family has some heritage anyway... Come, let me help you, Eunuch Tan, so I won't delay your conversation."

Qin Ji then lifted his trouser legs a little so that Zhang Yanling could see his ankles, and then began to narrate: "The Qianqing Palace is in a mess right now. It is said that Liu Wentai prescribed a new medicine, and as a result, Your Majesty has been suffering from... diarrhea since last night. Before dawn, the Crown Princess met with your father, and your father said that he wanted to hear your opinion, so I left the palace to find you..."

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "Your Majesty has accumulated toxins in his body, and they have not been excreted for a long time. It is normal for the people in the Imperial Hospital to prescribe a prescription for clearing heat and detoxification. Oh, by the way, how many years has Eunuch Tan had this disease?"

"I……"

Tan Ji was embarrassed.

I'm telling you something serious. Kid, why do you act like a doctor and take things so seriously?

Qin Ji said, "Second Young Master, this is an old illness that everyone has when they get old... I've seen a doctor before and applied plasters and stuff, but I was a little busy these two days, which caused the old illness to relapse. It will be fine in a few days."

Zhang Yanling said, "Don't neglect it! For this kind of disease, it is true that you need to take good care of yourself, but you also need to adjust your internal organs... Come, I will give you a prescription, both for internal and external use. When you go back, you can just follow the prescription and get the medicine."

Qin Jixin said, can you do it?

Shouldn't your father be the one to treat the disease?

But knowing the Zhang family's profound academic background, he could only smile and agree.

Zhang Yanling immediately started writing the prescription.

Tan Ji asked, "Second Young Master, what do you think should be done about the matter in the Palace of Heavenly Purity? What message do you want me to convey to your father?"

"There's nothing to bring. In fact, I've told him before. Just let him wait." Zhang Yanling said, "We've done everything we can. If he can't do it now, there will be people outside the palace to do it for him. Tell him that I've met Uncle Shen before, and he's been helping out these days."

"What is he doing?"

Tan Ji asked curiously.

Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "It's hard to say, but I can definitely help the prince open up the connections."

There was something unusual in Qin Ji's eyes.

Obviously, with Qin Ji's political thinking, he can think of a lot of things.

Zhang Yanling was also thinking in his heart, in fact, Tan Ji knew everything, but he liked to pretend to be confused. He also showed himself as a good guy in front of the prince, but never did anything. Zhang Yanling said: "Eunuch Tan, if you have time, you may come over and take a look. I have prepared tea and snacks for you. You can also take the opportunity to rest and take care of your body. There should be nothing to do in the next few days... Just wait for the results."

"well."

After hearing this, Qin Ji finally felt relieved.

At least for now, there is no sign that the emperor is prepared to force a change of crown prince before his death, which also means that we only need to wait for the final result.

……

……

In the Qianqing Palace.

In the morning, everyone was still busy.

Wei Tai would go into the inner hall every once in a while and walk around. When the sun rose, he became even more nervous. He rushed to the door and said to Zhang Luan, "Minister Zhang, this is unusual. His Majesty occasionally wakes up before dawn. Although he is not conscious, it proves that he is temporarily fine. Who would have thought that after dawn, he has not woken up once."

Zhang Luan shook his head and sighed: "I understand all these situations, but... Alas, please forgive me for being unable to do anything..."

Li Zisheng came to Zhang Luan's rescue: "Eunuch Wei, don't you think that the laxative sent by the Imperial Hospital has drained the remaining energy of His Majesty? If His Majesty doesn't wake up now, I'm afraid his body won't be able to hold on... His Majesty has basically not eaten or drunk water in the past few days."

"Then...then what should I do?"

Wei Tai was very nervous.

Zhu Jianshen had been sick these past few days and at most he ate some simple rice and water every day. His body had already been extremely weak, and after such a bout of diarrhea, the little vitality left in his body was really exhausted.

Li Zisheng curled his lips and said, "Ask whoever used the medicine."

"I……"

Wei Tai was very confused for a moment.

At this time, Empress Dowager Zhou brought Zhu Youtang, the grandfather and grandson, to visit Zhu Jianshen's condition.

Wei Tai hurried to greet him.

"I've met my ancestors."

Wei Tai said respectfully.

Queen Mother Zhou said coldly, "I heard that someone gave the emperor medicine without authorization last night, which caused my son to have diarrhea and almost faint. Is this true?"

"This... This was discussed with Minister Zhang beforehand, and the medicine was only administered after Minister Zhang agreed."

Wei Tai quickly shirked responsibility.

Queen Mother Zhou said, "I don't want to find out who is responsible for this. I just want to ask you if this happened."

"Yes... yes."

Wei Tai said tremblingly.

Empress Dowager Zhou frowned and continued to ask, "Who is the commander of the East Factory now?"

Wei Tai said, "Your Majesty, I was previously... a servant, but after Eunuch Tan Chang Tan left the palace, this position... has been vacant."

"I think it's inappropriate."

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "How is the emperor now? Is he still conscious? I want to discuss this matter with him and appoint someone to take charge of the East Factory to prevent people from gossiping behind his back."

"Your Majesty... I'm afraid... it's difficult for him to wake up."

Wei Tai said sadly.

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Ah? Let me go and take a look first!"

……

……

Empress Dowager Zhou took Zhu Youtang and went directly to the inner hall to meet Zhu Jianshen.

Seeing Zhu Jianshen lying there with his face as pale as gold paper and breathing out more than breathing in, Empress Dowager Zhou wiped away her tears, then pulled up her grandson who was crying on the couch, and dragged them outside together.

"Prince, everyone knows that you are filial."

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "But now your father is seriously ill, and there are some things that you need to step in to solve... For example, the task of supervising the East Factory should be given to a trustworthy person."

Wei Tai said quickly: "There are people in the Imperial Household Department who can do the job..."

It is obvious that Wei Tai wants to assign this task to his subordinates to make it easier for him to seize power in the future.

He also understood that it was not excessive for Empress Dowager Zhou to appoint a eunuch to supervise the East Factory together with the Crown Prince.

At this moment, the imperial court really needs a spy chief to monitor the movements of all officials.

Queen Mother Zhou asked, "Prince, who do you think is suitable?"

"My grandson doesn't know."

Zhu Youtang said, "But my grandson thinks that we should find an experienced person to take the position, and not just give it to someone casually."

"Yes, I think so too. Come here, Lai Zhan."

Queen Mother Zhou then called Zhang Luan to her side.

Zhang Luan saluted quickly.

Empress Dowager Zhou asked, "What do you think about who will be in charge of the East Factory?"

"I dare not make suggestions casually." Zhang Luan said.

"Just treat it as a court recommendation and discussion. What's wrong with that? Just tell me who is suitable." Queen Mother Zhou was very angry.

I'm giving you a chance to find someone who'll be grateful to you and obey your orders so as to check and balance Wei Tai. But you don't even know how to nominate your own people?

Zhang Luan said: "I think it is indeed best to find an experienced person, perhaps the former Secretary of the Imperial Household Department, Eunuch Tan..."

"Well, as you said, let's choose Tan Chang!"

Queen Mother Zhou made the final decision, "It's settled. Let Qin Chang take up his post immediately and shoulder his responsibilities!"

(It’s the middle of the month, I’m still asking for a monthly ticket! Thank you!)

(End of this chapter)