Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 418 A Piece of Mud

The Ming Dynasty’s national mourning began.

Zhang Luan seemed to be completely relieved. He didn't even plan to stay in the palace that day. Instead, he asked Queen Mother Zhou for permission to go home and rest for two days.

Queen Mother Zhou simply rolled her eyes and told him to do as he pleased.

Zhang Luan also did what he said.

Since you let me do as I please, I will go home and sleep with my woman. As for the useless things and the lack of ambition, they are definitely not referring to me, Zhang!
I, Zhang, only care about my own little piece of land. I don't have much foresight and vision. I was just pushed to the top by others.

When Zhang Luan simply packed up and prepared to leave the palace, he was stopped by Li Zisheng and said, "Laizhan, where are you going if you don't stay in the palace now?"

Zhang Luan glanced at Li Zisheng and asked in confusion, "Isn't Minister Li also going to leave the palace?"

Li Zisheng said angrily: "I want to stay, but the conditions do not allow it... His Majesty has announced the death of his majesty, so I have to leave the palace to make some arrangements... But what about you? You are the appointed minister of state, as long as you stay in the palace, you can command everything, you can't make mistakes!"

"Oh……"

Zhang Luan replied casually, "The problem is that I don't understand any of this, and I can't do anything if I stay in the palace. I've told the Queen Mother that funeral arrangements and other matters can be left to Elder Wan and the others."

As he spoke, he was extremely determined and walked straight out of the palace.

Li Zisheng said anxiously, "Laizhan, why are you so unreasonable?"

"I...what? The problem is that even if I stay in the palace, I really can't do anything except endure it!"

Zhang Luan looked innocent.

Li Zisheng said, "Do you know how many people are watching me? There are so many people in the court who want to bring me down in an instant. Right now, you are the only one I can count on. If you leave now, it will be like putting me in danger. If you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about the people around you, right?"

Zhang Luan thought, when did you become someone close to me?

But at this moment, Qin Chang and others came jogging over from behind, followed by Jinyiwei commander Zhu Ji and others.

"What...are you going to do?"

When Li Zisheng saw this situation, he looked nervous.

The emperor is dead, and his backing is gone. Who knows if he will be liquidated next?

Qin Chang came over and saluted Zhang Luan first, then said to Li Zisheng: "Master Li, there is something I must tell you. The crown prince has issued an order to correct the bad atmosphere in the court and to imprison Zhao Yuzhi and Deng Changen. We will go and do it right away."

"This……"

After hearing this, Li Zisheng felt a chill down his spine.

I am of the same f*cking faction as Deng Chang'en and Zhao Yuzhi. Now that the emperor has just died and his body is still warm, you've already started to settle accounts with the former ministers?

You deliberately said this in front of me. Don't you know what it means when a rabbit dies, a fox mourns? Don't you think I will be very happy to hear this news?

After Qin Chang led Zhu Ji and others away, Li Zisheng pulled Zhang Luan again and said with a bitter face: "Laizhan, did you see it? I wonder what you think?"

Zhang Luan said, "Minister Li, you are completely different from Deng Changen and Zhao Yuzhi. You have real talent and knowledge, so why worry about this?"

"Do I have real talent?"

Li Zisheng was so angry that he almost wanted to jump up and down, but he knew that he no longer had the confidence to speak harshly in front of Zhang Luan. In the past, he had the emperor's support. As long as the emperor was alive, he would be the respected Li Tianshi.

But now?

Who still takes Li Zisheng seriously?

Rely on your own followers?
Without any soldiers, at most you only have the power to employ people temporarily. Even if you want to rebel, what will you rely on?

"Laizhan, don't forget who has been helping you."

Li Zisheng reminded him, "I also played a big role in the crown prince's ascension to the throne..."

Zhang Luan explained: "Li Shangshu, don't you have any misunderstanding? Even the Queen Mother praised you highly. The Crown Prince didn't say he would burn the bridge after crossing it.

"Just put your mind at ease. I'm just going home to take a nap... After all, you gave me my mansion, so how could I ignore you?

"You know how much I've been suffering these days. I haven't slept for more than ten days and nights, and I can only take a nap every day. My mind is in a mess now... If you want me to do something, you have to let me clear my mind first, right?"

As he spoke, Zhang Luan couldn't help but yawn several times in succession, and he looked like he couldn't even open his eyes.

Li Zisheng swung his sleeves and said, "Alright, go home and have a good sleep. Really, you failed at the critical moment... We must not be ungrateful!"

……

……

Li Zisheng left the palace and returned home cautiously, acting like a thief when he entered the house.

It seemed that he was afraid that he would be arrested by the Jinyiwei as soon as he returned, and then he would be subjected to inhuman torture.

"Master Dao?"

Pang Qing looked at Li Zisheng, who looked cunning, and was quite surprised.

Li Zisheng has been a rare visitor recently. He doesn't go home and doesn't see anyone outside. Although he knows that he is in the palace, Pang Qing really can't understand what Li Zisheng, a senior official, expects to do in the palace.

"Keep your voice down."

Li Zisheng raised his index finger in front of his mouth to make a silent gesture, and then whispered, "It's a national mourning! Hurry up and clean up the yard inside and outside, and hang up the white silk."

"Bai Ling? Are you going to..."

Pang Qing almost wanted to ask, are you planning to follow His Majesty?
Li Zisheng said angrily, "Look at your bad mouth. When will it stop? As a minister, shouldn't you do something when you first learn that the emperor has passed away? Hurry up and clean up! The disaster is coming... Deng Changen and Zhao Yuzhi have been imprisoned. I might be the next one."

Pang Qing also looked worried: "I was just about to tell you... I just got the news that some officials from the Taichang Temple were imprisoned."

Li Zisheng frowned and asked, "Why do you insist on emphasizing that he is an official of the Ministry of Rites? Are you hinting at something? Are you trying to get me to drag Lai Zhan into this? He is the official Minister of the Ministry of Rites."

Pang Qing's eyes widened in surprise. He was thinking, what's wrong with the Taoist?
I just mentioned it, why did he have so many associations?
Pang Qing asked curiously, "Master Dao, you have done a great job in supporting the Crown Prince. This is a fact known to the court and the public. What are you worried about? Deng Chang'en, Zhao Yuzhi and others had opposed the Crown Prince before and had long lost their power. Or did you personally bring them down? Have you forgotten all that?"

"Do you think the prince and queen mother will do me a favor?"

Li Zisheng said angrily, "This is called making a show of force. How many people in the court have objections to my control of government affairs? Although the previous sale of official positions and titles was ordered by His Majesty... No, I should call him the late emperor now, but how can I explain this to others? The prince has been placed in a high position by those self-proclaimed upright officials, so he will definitely show off. Then... won't they use me as a scapegoat?"

Pang Qing's face changed immediately when he heard this.

Needless to say, your thinking is really clear.

It seems that you have been mentally prepared for this.

"What does Zhang Taichang say?"

Pang Qing asked anxiously.

"Don't mention him! I get angry when I mention him. Zhang Laizhan is really not in a hurry even when things are very urgent. Today is the day of the emperor's funeral, and he actually wants to go home and sleep! There is nothing I can do to stop him!

"Alas, I want to stay in the palace but cannot, but he is rushing back home, fearing that he will be asked to do something big, it's really... hell."

Li Zisheng said angrily.

Pang Qing asked, "Look, isn't Zhang Taichang planning to burn his bridges after crossing the river? He is deliberately ignoring this matter and letting others impeach you, or even letting the crown prince punish you in the name of the regent?"

Because Zhu Youtang has not yet officially ascended the throne, even though there is no problem with the legality now, he still has to serve as the crown prince and regent for the time being.

Li Zisheng said unhappily, "Is this the first day you met Zhang Laizhan? If he was that kind of person, would I have known him until now?"

"This...is really true."

Pang Qing thought about it.

I suddenly felt that Li Zisheng really had the ability to judge people.

Zhang Luan has a lot of bad habits, but when it comes to principles, he has never changed since the beginning. But Pang Qing actually wants to remind Li Zisheng that this person's situation is completely different when he has no power and when he holds all the power. You can't speculate what Zhang Luan might do now based on his previous temper.

"Bingkun, if you have time, go to Zhang's house and look for the Zhang family..."

Li Zisheng said, "Try to find out."

Pang Qing asked in surprise, "Mr. Zhang was in such a hurry to sleep that he didn't even see you, so why would he see me?"

Li Zisheng frowned and said, "Who told you to go find Zhang Laizhan? Besides, he is now an assistant minister. Don't call him Zhang Taichang all the time. It sounds awkward.

"Go find his youngest son Zhang Yanling... That kid is too smart. In fact, many things that happened when Lai Zhan was in the palace were planned by his son. He can hide this from others, but not from me."

Pang Qing seemed to suddenly see the light, and said with a smile: "Master Dao, your idea is great. As long as we win over the second young master, even if his father doesn't do the job, his son can push him to do it."

"Yes, yes, that's it."

Li Zisheng gritted his teeth and said, "Zhang Laizhan is a donkey sometimes. He needs someone to control him. And that person can only be his son."

……

……

Zhang Luan returned to his home near the palace gate and saw his son, who looked half dead.

Just before Zhang Yanling asked, Zhang Luan raised his hand to interrupt him and said, "Don't ask anything. I'm exhausted. Let's talk about everything after I wake up."

After saying this, he went to the inner courtyard.

Zhang Heling ran in upon hearing the noise: "I heard that Dad is back?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Our father never told us about any major incidents in the palace...but since he was able to leave the palace and sleep, I believe the funeral has already been held."

"What do you mean by 'announcement of mourning'? Do you mean that the emperor is dead? Is our brother-in-law the emperor?"

Zhang Heling seemed very excited.

The thing I had been looking forward to finally came. That feeling...

It’s so cool!
Zhang Yanling said: "Don't say anything careless, especially since our identities are too special...Brother, you don't have any ulterior motives, so don't let others take advantage of you."

"You little brat, who are you looking down on? I'll be taken advantage of? Who said I'm not scheming? I'll cry my eyes out in front of everyone... My brother-in-law's father died, how can I not be sad?"

When Zhang Heling said this, the corners of his mouth almost curled up to the sky.

Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "Listen to what you are saying. What does it have to do with you whether your brother-in-law's father is dead or alive? Have you ever seen His Majesty? Look at how cocky you are!"

"Okay, okay, I promise not to laugh... okay? Hahaha..."

Zhang Heling was so proud.

He had always hoped to become the uncle of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Today he finally got his wish. How could he not be happy?

It was as if his bright future would officially begin today, and from now on he would live a life of luxury and would no longer have to ask his younger brother for a few taels of silver for pocket money, and he would no longer have to make empty promises to his subordinates.

Now I am the real uncle of the king. Whoever disobeys me will be beaten until he obeys.

Zhang Yanling said, "Someone may come to visit us later... But this place is not our home after all. This place... can only be considered an outhouse at best. Most of the people who come here... are close friends of my father. Don't waste time here. I will take care of everything. Just find a place to cool off."

"I have to go home. I can't live without a man at home. If there are guests coming, I can come out to receive them."

Zhang Heling said shamelessly.

"just you?"

Zhang Yanling said unhappily, "We don't need you to cause trouble at home. I'm not looking down on you as your younger brother, but don't mess things up... So, you'd better go out and find your younger brother and show off... Remember to stay away from home..."

(End of this chapter)