Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 428 Site Selection
Matters concerning Zhu Jianshen's temple name, mausoleum site selection, etc. are in full swing.

Even though Zhu Youtang was busy mourning for his father these days, he did not dare to slack off when it came to his father's funeral arrangements. At the request of Empress Dowager Zhou, he summoned several ministers in the Wenhua Hall, including the Minister of Rites Zhou Hongmo, the Right Vice Minister Ni Yue, the Director of the Imperial Observatory Li Hua, as well as the Minister of Public Security Li Zisheng, the President of the Hanlin Academy Zhang Luan, and the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Xu Qiong.

What is strange is that two cabinet bigwigs, Wan An and Liu Ji, were not qualified to attend this internal meeting.

Behind Zhu Youtang stood Tan Chang, the chief eunuch representing the Imperial Household Department.

Because Qin Chang once served as the eunuch holding the seal, and because he had rich experience in politics, many people believed that Qin Chang was the best candidate to be the eunuch holding the seal in the future.

This is because most people don't know that Huai'en is already on his way back to the court in response to the imperial edict. Once Huai'en comes back, it is very likely that Huai'en will still be the eunuch holding the seal and Qin Chang will be the eunuch holding the pen.

As for the current eunuch Wei Tai, who is in charge of the Imperial Household Department, he can probably go wherever is cooler.

"Your Highness, we have done a preliminary screening and there are several positions available. Please take a look." Tan Chang handed an edict drafted by Ni Yue to Zhu Youtang.

After reading it, Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "I don't understand this."

For many people present, this was the first time they saw the crown prince, the new emperor, after Zhu Jianshen's death. Some even met the crown prince for the first time.

Tan Chang said: "The Imperial Astronomical Observatory sent a large number of people to conduct on-site inspections of the site selection. All the sites selected were excellent in feng shui, and they were summarized and reported to us."

"If it's good, then choose one." Zhu Youtang said, and then seemed a little skeptical. He looked at Zhang Luan and asked, "Father-in-law, what do you think?"

Everyone finally understood why the prince summoned the unknown Zhang Luan to Wenhua Palace. It turned out that the prince liked to ask Zhang Luan's opinion before making any decisions!
This mountain...

Even if you can cure illnesses, it seems like your expertise is not appropriate to help the prince choose a location to build the late emperor's mausoleum, right?
Zhang Luan clasped his hands and said, "I want to conduct a field investigation."

"It makes sense."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "My father-in-law is now the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. It should be no problem for you to go and inspect it in person. You and Mr. Ni should discuss this matter together."

Ni Yue looked back at Zhang Luan, feeling a little unhappy.

Who is he? Is he the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, just like me?

I am the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, okay? This Zhang Luan is just a temporary official, not even a juren, and he wants to be on equal footing with me?
"in addition."

Zhu Youtang added, "Minister Li, aren't you very good at magic? I would also like to hear your opinion on geomancy and divination. Please help me to discuss it."

Li Zisheng is very happy that the new emperor still remembers me!
Giving me the task of selecting a mausoleum for the late emperor is enough to show that I am one of them, and I can put aside all the slanders others have against me.

They thought I was going to fall soon, following in the footsteps of Deng Chang'en. Now that the prince has assigned me a task, isn't it just the right opportunity to dispel the outside world's doubts about me?

……

……

This simple internal meeting ended hastily.

The result was simple. Zhang Luan and Ni Yue went outside the city to conduct an on-site inspection in person, and the two of them decided on the final location of the mausoleum after discussion.

Zhang Luan himself was not very confident.

On the way out of the palace, she intentionally walked with Li Zisheng.

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "I will go talk to the Imperial Observatory, and you are only responsible for finding a good place. Lai Zhan, with your understanding of the way of heaven, it shouldn't be difficult to find a Feng Shui treasure land that can protect our young master, right?"

Zhang Luan felt uncomfortable listening to this.

I thought to myself, as a Taoist fellow, you really care about different things from us scholars. Are you treating the prince as your master?

We are simply honoring the King!

To put it bluntly, we are workers, but you seem to treat yourself as a slave.

"I will try my best."

Although he said this, Zhang Luan was thinking in his heart, whether he would try his best or not would depend on how much help my son could give. If my son couldn't find a good place, then I would listen to Ni Yue and Li Hua. I don't understand anything anyway.

……

……

On the other side, Ni Yue deliberately walked behind Zhou Hongmo, intending to discuss the issue of the site selection for the mausoleum with Zhou Hongmo.

But Zhou Hongmo, who was in charge of the Ministry of Rites, acted as if it was none of his business and waved his hand to signal Ni Yue to go away.

Obviously, Zhou Hongmo is from the same hometown as Wan'an. Now Wan'an is being impeached by many people, who think he is just sitting there doing nothing and want him to step down. Zhou Hongmo himself is also under tremendous pressure, so he can't care about anything else at the moment.

Ni Yue didn't have so many thoughts. Seeing that the Shangshu ignored him, he looked around and consciously lowered his stride and frequency. Now Li Hua understood what was going on and hurried to catch up.

"Minister Ni, look..."

Li Hua was also very anxious.

Because the Imperial Observatory and the Taichang Temple are under the same system, many officials in the Taichang Temple are now guilty, and he, the newly appointed director of the Imperial Observatory, has no power at all, but is very likely to be impeached for failing to calculate the secrets of heaven, delaying the emperor's illness, etc.

So he was also afraid of being held accountable, but after all, he had been promoted based on his real talents and knowledge. Although he was just a regular official, he still had some real skills.

Now he really hopes to get help from the powerful people in the court.

Originally, currying favor with Zhang Luan would have been the best option, but Zhang Luan seemed very "aloof" in the court, and he had no chance to give gifts to Zhang Luan several times. He could only settle for the next best thing and took the opportunity to choose a location for the late emperor's mausoleum to curry favor with Ni Yue, who was once the emperor's teacher.

Ni Yue said: "Your Majesty has passed away and we need to find a place to bury him. We are following your orders. Let us choose. Everything should be done according to Feng Shui. Don't be too harsh."

Li Hua said helplessly: "But I'm afraid that Minister Li will cause trouble."

"Instead of worrying about Li Zisheng, you might as well worry about Zhang Luan."

Ni Yue seemed very impolite when he mentioned Zhang Luan. After all, when they were both lecturers in the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince seemed to have always respected Zhang Luan, which resulted in Zhang Luan's status being far higher than his.

Ni Yue was very unwilling to accept this.

Both of them are from civil service backgrounds and belong to the Hanlin Academy system. Who wouldn’t want to be in charge of the Hanlin Academy?
Finally, it was Zhang Luan who showed up!
All of these people in the Hanyuan system were resentful, believing that Zhang Luan relied on his marriage relationship to get to the top and was an enemy who must be eliminated.

Li Hua said, "You mean, that Zhang Taichang will cause us trouble? No... no way? Doesn't he... know nothing?"

Ni Yue said coldly, "Didn't you hear what the prince said? Let him cooperate with me and go to the tomb of the late emperor. The less knowledgeable a person is, the more he wants to show off. He will use the power of Li Zisheng to oppose us... Humph, this time he must want to show off and lay a solid foundation for his future position in the court."

"In this way..."

Li Hua wanted to say, it shouldn’t be that serious, right?

Is it a great thing to appear to understand metaphysics?
You say that Zhang Luan doesn't understand, but do you, Ni Yue, understand it very well?
It seems that it is you two who don't get along, not that Zhang Luan is not capable!
Ni Yue said: "After leaving the palace, take your people and go to several alternative locations to survey everything, and then submit the detailed results to me. I will report it for you."

"Shouldn't we wait for Zhang Taichang to make a decision together?" Li Hua asked in surprise.

Ni Yue shook his head: "The final result is determined by me, you just need to follow my instructions."

"understand."

Li Hua thought to himself, look at you, you take on so much responsibility, why can't you make people feel at ease?
It's easy to get into trouble if you stand on the wrong side!
Fortunately, Ni Niyue is also the prince's lecturer, and the prince seems to respect you very much.

Otherwise, I'm really afraid that if I follow you and confront Zhang Luan, you will destroy yourself first.

By then, I will be blind and will suffer along with you.

……

……

Zhang Luan left the palace and went home first.

This was the first time he came back to see his wife after the emperor's death.

Jin thought he was done with his work, but he didn't feel any discomfort.

After all, it was common for Zhang Luan not to go home for a month or so in order to prepare for the provincial examination, and the old couple did not mind staying together all the time.

"I have other things to do."

Facing his wife who came to greet him, Zhang Luan said hurriedly, "Next I have to choose a mausoleum for the late emperor. I have to leave the city after a short rest. Go, call Yanling over."

Jin's attitude suddenly changed from enthusiastic to indifferent. She asked, "You finally came home, but now you're leaving again? The old emperor is dead, what does it have to do with you?"

Zhang Luan scolded, "A woman who doesn't understand dares to talk nonsense... Now the one who died is your son-in-law's father, our father-in-law, do you think it matters? Besides, I am now a minister of the Ming Dynasty, working for the court, do I have to explain to you? Go away!"

As they were talking, Zhang Yanling came in.

Zhang Luan quickly pulled his son aside.

Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "Dad, your attitude is not very good. You haven't been home for so long, and when you see mom, you are like this?"

"Alas! As a father, I feel guilty, but I don't know how to express it."

Zhang Luan looked extremely regretful, which seemed very fake. Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "Dad, you can't even pretend well! Shouldn't your son tell mother about your glorious deeds?"

"You, you, you... you are such an incorrigible child!"

Zhang Luan was somewhat helpless, but he obviously couldn't use violence against his youngest son as he did with his eldest son. He said helplessly, "Just say what you want to say. I know I can't hide it even if I want to. But son, I have no idea about choosing a mausoleum for the emperor."

Zhang Yanling curled his lips and said, "Who asked for your opinion? Wouldn't it be better for you to listen to the advice of the Imperial Observatory? Just agree to whatever the Imperial Observatory says to choose."

Zhang Luan said, "I originally thought so, but Li Zisheng is also involved this time. Do you think it's really okay for me to embarrass myself around him? I don't know anything when asked, and then I will be laughed at like a fool?"

Zhang Yanling nodded.

The old father's worries seem to be somewhat reasonable.

To put it bluntly, people still care about that insignificant face.

It's really... it's better to suffer in order to save face!

"Dad, it doesn't really matter where the mausoleum is located. The key point is... who you are competing with." Zhang Yanling said.

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yanling said, "The fact that the prince asked you to come forward to coordinate shows that he values ​​you, which will make people jealous. Someone will definitely jump out to trip you up. When someone causes trouble for you, just target him."

"Uh... ah?"

Zhang Luan thought about it for a moment, then looked surprised again.

I still don’t understand.

Zhang Yanling had no choice but to say, "Well, Dad, I'll give you a spot, and you go and see if they like it, and if not, you can fight with them.

"You don't need any reason. Just look at who agrees with you and who opposes you to decide who is your friend and who is your enemy! Then... treat your enemies like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, without mercy. No matter how you suppress them, it's not excessive! Remember?"

"Oh!"

Zhang Luan nodded blankly, then leaned over to the table to look at the location of the mausoleum his son had written for the late emperor - at the foot of Jubao Mountain, to the right of Yuling Mausoleum at the foot of Tianshou Mountain in the northwest of the capital.

(End of this chapter)