Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 43 Making something out of nothing
Zhang Yanling was not talking nonsense. Whether it was the Ningxia earthquake or the Zhang family's use of Li Zisheng to be selected as the Crown Princess, these were all things that happened in history.

The timing of the Ningxia earthquake was critical, as it happened to be the time when Concubine Wan launched her last attack on Crown Prince Zhu Youtang before her death. This earthquake made Emperor Chenghua once again back down from the matter of deposing the crown prince.

The Veritable Records of Emperor Xianzong of the Ming Dynasty records:
"(In December of the 21st year of Chenghua) Bingzi, the son of Chen Zheng, the former Earl of Pingxiang, was ordered to inherit the title, with an annual salary of 1,000 dan, 400 dan in original form and 600 dan in reduced form. At night, three earthquakes occurred in Ningxia, all of which were loud."

The Zhang family itself has no background. It was all thanks to Shen Lu's relationship with the Tongzhengshisi that he found Li Zisheng. And Li Zisheng also wanted to get close to the crown prince in history...

This person probably also realized that Emperor Chenghua's health was not as good as before, so he made political investments early on, which indirectly helped the Zhang family complete a political marriage.

However, Li Zisheng did not expect that even if Emperor Hongzhi was willing to let him go for the sake of his wife after he ascended the throne, those censors would not let him go. They kept impeaching him and finally, like Deng Changen and others, he ended up being imprisoned and died.

Zhang Luan stood up and paced back and forth: "Even if what you said is right, I still can't talk nonsense to a big shot like Li Zisheng. This is not deceiving a powerful official, but deceiving the emperor! How many lives do I have to squander?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Father, predicting the secrets of the heavens is not something that can be done accurately. We were just asked by our uncle Shen Lu to help predict it. Li Zisheng insisted on believing it. What can we do? Is this intentional deception?"

"Too."

Zhang Luan hesitated for a moment, and then he was somewhat tempted. "What if I tell you? Li Zisheng may not believe it."

Zhang Yanling chuckled. If Li Zisheng really didn't believe it, he wouldn't have sent Shen Lu to test it.

Obviously, Zhang Luan has demonstrated his unparalleled strength in treating smallpox. Given Li Zisheng's cunning, when he discovered such a capable person as Zhang Luan, how could he not make friends with him?
"Then father must do as I say and tell uncle about it. This way, even if our family is connected with Li Zisheng, my sister's chances of becoming the crown princess will also increase greatly. Maybe you, father, will be the father-in-law of the emperor in the future!"

Zhang Yanling hit the snake at its most vulnerable part. He knew what Zhang Luan, who loved to speculate, would like to hear, so he only said something nice.

Zhang Luan paced back and forth for a long time, thinking for a long time, but still couldn't make up his mind. Finally, he said, "Let me think about it tonight and we'll talk about it tomorrow."

……

……

The next morning, Zhang Luan obediently ran to find Shen Lu.

Zhang Yanling could see that Zhang Luan actually wanted to perform well in front of the dignitaries in the court. It was a rare opportunity to curry favor with the emperor's favorite minister. It might only come once in his life, and if he missed it, it would be gone.

As for making up a lie about the Ningxia earthquake, Zhang Yanling had analyzed it with his old father. Anyway, it was up to Li Zisheng to choose whether to adopt it or not, and those local officials could make up stories to curry favor with Li Zisheng. When Zhang Luan said there was an earthquake in a certain day, perhaps the local officials would really report it.

Of course, there are some details that Zhang Yanling did not tell Zhang Luan.

Obviously, Zhang Luan's political thinking and vision still have certain limitations, and sometimes he is used by his son without knowing it.

On this side, Shen Lu met Zhang Luan. He was really shocked to see Zhang Luan pretending in front of him and describing the day, time and place of the earthquake in such detail.

"Laizhan, didn't you say yesterday that you didn't understand these things?"

Shen Lu was confused.

You said you were a layman yesterday, but today you are pretending to be an expert in front of me?
But seeing Zhang Luan's calm look, Shen Lu began to wonder if Zhang Luan had pretended to be confused on purpose yesterday.

Zhang Luan is indeed a master at putting on airs.

Zhang Luan sighed, "I have always had concerns about this. This kind of thing cannot be completely accurate, so I only told you. As for who you want to mention it to, that's your business. If it's not accurate, you can't blame me."

Shen Lu was a little angry.

He really wanted to ask, did you really figure it out or are you just making it up?
"That's all I have to say. There are a lot of implications behind this." Zhang Luan added with a serious face, "If I report this to Minister Li, I only ask for one thing, and that is my daughter's marriage..."

Shen Lu asked, "Are you going to ask Minister Li to help you arrange a marriage with your niece?"

"No."

Zhang Luan said quickly, "My daughter wants to be selected as the Crown Princess." Shen Lu smiled bitterly, "The court didn't say they wanted to select a Crown Princess. How did you hear about it? If this delays your daughter's marriage, it will be bad. After all, no one in the court has mentioned this matter yet."

Zhang Luan instantly lost confidence and felt extremely annoyed. Was he going to be cheated by that brat at home again?
He asked seriously, "Ruxue, let me ask you, is the Concubine Wan in the palace ill?"

"Where did you hear that? That's not true at all."

Shen Lu was a little amused.

Zhang Luan said, "But why am I... ahem, just asking casually, if Concubine Wan is really ill, then the matter of the Crown Prince choosing a concubine will be..."

Shen Lu said quickly, "You must not say such things. I have made note of your matter. When I have a chance, I will mention it to Minister Li and tell him about your request, but you must not speak nonsense to others again."

"Oh, if not, forget it."

Zhang Luan's originally excited mood calmed down in an instant.

Concubine Wan is not terminally ill, and the prince's selection of a concubine has not even started, so why should I be so excited?
Just treat it as nonsense, let Li Zisheng know that I am just a crazy charlatan, and he will no longer be on guard against me, then my purpose will be achieved.

……

……

After hearing what Zhang Luan said, Shen Lu became very cautious. During the lunch break that day, he ran to Li Zisheng's residence to ask for an audience. He waited for more than an hour before he saw Li Zisheng himself.

"Ruxue, what are you doing here? If you have something to say, can't you talk to the Silver Desk?"

Li Zisheng became a little impatient when he saw Shen Lu.

Obviously, a small figure like Shen Lu is insignificant in Li Zisheng's eyes. No matter what the matter is, he is not qualified to come directly to the mansion to pay a visit to him.

Shen Lu said, "Didn't Minister Li mention the matter of my brother-in-law to me before? Yesterday I went to visit him in person and asked him about the matter of predicting good and bad luck."

"Oh?"

Li Zisheng immediately became interested and asked, "What did he say?"

Shen Lu was originally very excited and couldn't help wanting to talk, but at this moment he suddenly realized that he seemed to have done something extremely stupid.

What makes me think that my weird brother-in-law actually knows the art of feng shui and can accurately predict the earthquake a few days later?
"Why aren't you talking?"

Li Zisheng's face became serious and he looked at Shen Lu with fierce eyes.

Shen Lu said helplessly, "He said that on the night of Bingzi this month, there will be an earthquake in Ningxia, and there will be three earthquakes in a row, and there will be noise."

Li Zisheng counted on his fingers and said, "It seems like there are only a few days left."

"Ah."

Shen Lu nodded.

Bingzi day is just five days away, do you still need to tell me this?
Li Zisheng asked, "Has he studied Taoism? Or...has he been taught by an expert? You know him well, right? Is he just talking nonsense?"

Shen Lu shook his head helplessly. "I have had little contact with him in the past few years. He also said that he had a request. If he was unlucky enough to predict this matter, he wanted his daughter to be selected as the Crown Princess. He wanted...Minister Li to help him plan."

"What? Choosing a crown princess? How did he know about this?"

Li Zisheng stood up suddenly, his face full of disbelief.

(End of this chapter)