Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 420 Little House Sparrow
into the night.

Zhu Youtang was keeping vigil for his old father. It seemed that in his eyes, there was nothing else to do at this moment and he just wanted to fulfill his final filial duty to his father.

When Empress Dowager Zhou learned that her grandson had not eaten all day, she showed great concern. She quickly had someone put Zhu Youtang's favorite food in a food box and personally carried it to her grandson to the Fengxian Hall where Zhu Jianshen's body was lying.

"Grandson, what are you doing?"

Queen Mother Zhou bent down and helped her grandson up, with a look of concern on her face. "If your father knew you were like this, would he be at ease in heaven? The Ming Dynasty depends on you to support it. The way to show filial piety is definitely not to stay here and die... Do you understand?"

As a veteran in the palace for many years, he now needs to teach his grandson.

In the past, she taught her son, but unfortunately when Zhu Jianshen ascended the throne, Empress Dowager Qian was still alive. Empress Dowager Zhou could not show off in the palace and had to live with her tail between her legs.

But things are different now!

Although I am only the Grand Empress Dowager and not the Empress Dowager, when I teach my grandson a lesson, I really teach him a lesson. Who dares not to listen to me?

Zhu Youtang shed tears and shook his head, saying, "Grandmother, I feel so sad... I can't eat anything."

"look at you."

Queen Mother Zhou scolded, "Your father has been good to you, you should repay him well, but not by torturing yourself like this. How about this, listen to me, eat first, and go home to rest well tonight."

"No...grandson is not going anywhere. He will stay here." Zhu Youtang insisted.

"Then we have to eat, right?"

Queen Mother Zhou set a more difficult goal first. She knew that Zhu Youtang would not leave tonight no matter what, so she took a step back to show her tolerance as an elder. "You eat first. After you finish eating, I have something to discuss with you. This concerns the stability of the Ming Dynasty court.

"You have to understand, this is... the only thing I can do for you. After the funeral is over, you will have to handle everything by yourself. I can't interfere in state affairs anymore... So, you have to listen carefully."

Because Zhu Youtang was old, neither the empress dowager nor the grand empress dowager was qualified to rule the country from behind the scenes.

Empress Dowager Zhou also understood this. If she said that she wanted to accompany the new emperor to court and inquire about state affairs, that group of ministers, whether loyal or treacherous, would be against her.

Besides, she usually practices Buddhism and is too lazy to argue.

Although Queen Mother Zhou also knew that her grandson looked older and even had a family, he might not be as mature and experienced as his younger brother Zhu Youlang in doing things. It was no wonder that her son often had the idea of ​​changing the crown prince, but ultimately failed to do so for various reasons.

……

……

With the persuasion of Empress Dowager Zhou, Zhu Youtang finally had dinner.

He didn't eat much. After taking a few bites, he sat there crying. His sad look made Empress Dowager Zhou feel pity for him.

"This child..."

Queen Mother Zhou was also wondering in her heart, is her son so good to her grandson?
How could he make his grandson so grateful?
Doesn't this kid know how cruel his father is? If your father-in-law hadn't done his best to help you, I'm afraid you wouldn't even be able to keep your position as crown prince.

"Prince."

Queen Mother Zhou sat across from the dinner table and said softly, "In a few days, you will be the emperor. You must curb your sentimental teenage habits and let people see your maturity. Only then can you manage state affairs well. This is what your father wants to see the most."

At this juncture, no matter what you say, you have to show that this is the true way to fulfill your filial piety.

Queen Mother Zhou thought, it's so tiring to talk to this child.

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Grandson understands."

"As long as you know."

Queen Mother Zhou nodded slightly and continued, "When you have time, go meet your father-in-law. He didn't come back to the palace today. Come and see this man... Oh, your father-in-law. He doesn't like to compete with others. He looks lazy and like a pedantic old scholar. But his wisdom is far superior to that of ordinary people, and there are few people in the court who can rival him."

Zhu Youtang nodded: "Grandson understands."

Queen Mother Zhou frowned: "What do you know? Oh, that's right, you have had a lot of contact with him, so you should know some of his past. So how do you plan to use him?"

"My grandson doesn't know."

Zhu Youtang shook his head first, then bowed his hands, "Please enlighten me, Grandmother."

"What can I teach you? How do you want to employ people? Just follow your own heart."

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "But if you want to use your relatives, you will eventually be criticized by the court officials. But who asked your father to pave the way for you in advance? Think about it, Zhang Laizhan is now the right minister of the Ministry of Rites. Although it is only a nominal position, it is not impossible for you to arrange a real position for him."

Zhu Youtang asked curiously, "But my grandson clearly remembers that the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites is now Ni Yue, who is also a lecturer in the Eastern Palace. Can this be replaced casually?"

"Ni Yue, he was the one who helped you obtain the qualification to hear cases in Wenhua Palace, right?" asked Empress Dowager Zhou.

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang nodded.

According to Zhu Youtang, since Ni Yue has helped me, I have to promote him now, so as to show my gratitude.

How could you let me remove him and make way for Zhang Laizhan to take over?

Queen Mother Zhou said, "As for Ni Yue's purpose in helping you, I have never sent anyone to investigate, so I don't know the inside story... But he may not be sincere, there may be something fishy going on."

Zhu Youtang was puzzled again and thought, someone helped me when I was in trouble, and you actually suspect that he has ulterior motives?
"If Zhang Laizhan is allowed to join the cabinet directly, he will be criticized. In fact, the best thing is to let him take charge of the Hanlin Academy first." Empress Dowager Zhou came to a conclusion after some analysis, and then said, "Now that you, the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, are about to become the emperor, the position of the Chancellery of the Chancellery will be the same no matter who takes it, but who takes charge of the Hanlin Academy will make a big difference."

Zhu Youtang said: "My grandson is afraid of my father-in-law. He is inferior in ability and qualifications."

"Humph!"

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "I believe you when you say he is not qualified enough, but who is better than him? My child, you still don't know who helped you get to the top?" Zhu Youtang said seriously, "It was my father's support, the teachings of the gentlemen in the Hanlin Academy, and..."

"Alright, alright."

Queen Mother Zhou interrupted her grandson and said, "Don't make it so complicated. I just want to ask you, who helped you calm down the controversy over the change of crown prince?"

"what?"

Zhu Youtang seemed very confused.

Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Your father insisted on changing the crown prince. There were two earthquakes a few years ago. It was Li Zisheng who told your father that changing the crown prince would bring punishment from heaven. Do you remember this?"

"Grandson... remember."

Zhu Youtang didn't understand why Queen Dowager Zhou mentioned this.

"Li Zisheng has been in contact with your father-in-law since the second half of last year... Don't think that your father-in-law has joined Li Zisheng and has become his accomplice. As far as I know, ever since your father-in-law started to interact with Li Zisheng, the relationship between the two sides has always been one of mutual restraint and exploitation."

Queen Mother Zhou naturally had to speak for her eldest nephew.

People think that my eldest nephew has defected to Li Zisheng and is an important member of Li’s party. How can I rely on my eldest nephew to help me gain a voice in the court?

Zhu Youtang asked, "Grandmother, why are you suddenly talking about this?"

"Is there anything you can't say?"

Queen Mother Zhou said, "Li Zisheng may not be easy to use, but you have to use your father-in-law well. Besides, don't you like the Crown Princess very much? Didn't she give you any advice?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "Yu'er almost never asks about my affairs. She occasionally gives me some advice, but she never asks me to promote my father-in-law."

"Hey, kid... do you know who did this to Liang Fang, the powerful minister?"

Queen Mother Zhou said, "Liang Fang and Wei Xing's gang were so powerful in the court that they almost brought disaster to your gentlemen in the East Palace. Who saved the situation?
"I also helped you in the reconstruction of Wanhe Temple... At that time... I was actually used by Lai Zhan, and I only found out the truth later."

"what?"

Zhu Youtang was very surprised.

I thought, Grandmother, are you so honest?

You were taken advantage of by Zhang Laizhan at that time, and you are still speaking well of him now?
Queen Mother Zhou said, "He did all this for your own good... Besides, who was the one who stayed by your father's side and took care of him when he was sick? And who helped you fend off those villains several times at critical moments? Some of them even wanted to take advantage of your father's death to forge a will and dethrone you."

"This……"

Zhu Youtang thought to himself, do you have any evidence to support what you said?

But that’s the way Empress Dowager Zhou is. My words are binding in the palace. I can even control your father, the Emperor. Why would I care about a little sparrow like you?

What I said is the evidence, there is no need to look for witnesses or physical evidence.

Queen Mother Zhou sighed, "Just tell me, your father-in-law, do you want to use him or not? If not, forget it, send him to the Five Military Commandery, it's nothing more than an idle job, and when you need him in the future, transfer him back. But I'm afraid you'll regret it."

Zhu Youtang thought to himself, Grandmother, you have said so much, how can I not agree to employ him?

Besides, I didn’t say no.

"So... let him... be promoted to Hanlin Bachelor and take charge of the Hanlin Academy, is that what you mean?" Zhu Youtang asked.

"Ah."

Queen Mother Zhou said, "If you have any more decrees to issue, ask him to draft them for you and give you careful consideration. Also, you must be on guard against Wan'an and Liu Ji. These two are very cunning and may secretly trip you up."

"them……"

Zhu Youtang really wanted to ask, are they as bad as you said?
Queen Mother Zhou said with emotion: "You must keep one of Wan'an and Liu Ji and send the other. Wan'an is an old fox who has controlled the government for ten years. When your father was alive, he almost never did anything and had a bad reputation in the court and the country. Do you know who gave the advice last year when there were memorials from all over the country or when the various government offices had things to deal with?"

Zhu Youtang said: "My grandson seems to have heard that it is Huai Daban."

"It's Wynn."

Queen Mother Zhou said, "This old man is usually too rigid in his actions, but he is very good at speaking and doing things. He just didn't give me face in the past. But I won't be angry with him. In the past, he repeatedly advised against your father's change of crown prince, and he was finally angered by your father and exiled from the capital."

"Then... can you call back Kai Daiban?"

Zhu Youtang seemed very concerned.

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "When you remember, it will be too late... Two days ago, I, at the suggestion of your father-in-law, sent someone to find him. You should have someone capable to help you.

"Huai En is a powerful character. When he comes back, he will be in charge of the Imperial Household Department... and your father-in-law will help you handle government affairs. If these two work together, no one will dare to cause trouble."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Then my grandson will be relieved."

"Don't worry."

Queen Mother Zhou lectured, "You are only concerned with keeping vigil here, and have you ever thought that you will have to make the final decision on state affairs? How about this, you should attend court as often as possible and listen to the opinions of those ministers... You must push your father-in-law to the court..."

"I know. I know."

Zhu Youtang thought to himself, I thought so too.

There are many things I can’t handle by myself, but with my father-in-law around, I don’t have to worry about anything.

(End of this chapter)