Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 439 Giving in
Zhang Luan was very surprised when he heard this.

I thought to myself, what does this mean?
Li Zisheng actually took the initiative to admit that some of the "miracles" he had accomplished before did not come from himself... but from my mouth?

Isn't this tantamount to letting someone slap him in the face? Is he just a charlatan who relies on others to get to the top?

Zhang Luan said, "Prince, this matter is actually very complicated. I don't know how to explain it to you."

"Father, what is there to explain?"

Zhang Yu didn't take it seriously at all. He smiled and said, "Yes, yes. No, no... Since you came to the capital, Li Zisheng has often visited you and treated you with great courtesy. In fact, anyone with a discerning eye can see that he is using you. Now he is just being tactful and telling you the truth."

"Cough cough..."

Zhang Luan never thought that he would take such a great credit.

He originally thought that Li Zisheng would continue to use him, but he didn't expect that Li Zisheng would stop at nothing to gain his support.

He could actually do such a thing as betraying himself!
Zhang Yu looked at Zhang Yanling standing beside him and said, "Second brother, don't you think so?"

"hey-hey."

Zhang Yanling smiled but said nothing.

I thought to myself that this sister really understands the situation of our Zhang family. The prediction of earthquakes and the like have nothing to do with Li Zisheng and Zhang Luan. Isn't it me who is making the predictions?

Otherwise, given their level, how could they show off so much?
Zhu Youtang said: "But everything can only be finalized after the information from all parties is gathered. I also don't want to appear to be too biased towards my father-in-law in front of the court officials, for fear of being gossiped about."

"It's okay, don't take it to heart, Prince."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "Actually, I don't really care about these external names. It's best if we can live in peace."

Having said this, Zhang Luan felt much better.

It turns out that I'm not competing with Ni Yue, but I'm competing with Ni Yue on behalf of the prince. If that's the case, then what should I be afraid of?
……

……

This family dinner did not last long.

After all, Zhu Youtang still had to mourn for his old father, and Zhang Luan and his son also had to leave the palace before nightfall.

However, Zhu Youtang had also instructed Zhang Luan to pay attention to the preparations for the coronation ceremony. If Zhang Luan had any questions, he could ask Xu Qiong, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. After all, Xu Qiong was Zhang Yu's uncle and had already made a name for himself in Zhu Youtang's mind, so he would definitely be used in the future.

Although others praised Zhu Youtang as a wise ruler, when it came to nepotism, Zhu Youtang was no slouch. He was really good to his wife's family.

On the way out of the palace.

Zhang Luan asked, "My son, you saw it with your own eyes. Huai En went to see the emperor after we left... Do you think he would say bad things about us father and son?"

Zhang Yanling said, "If he wants to say something bad, he'll say it about you, Dad... What am I in his eyes? Will he say something bad about me?"

"You kid..."

Zhang Luan said angrily, "Are you starting to divide each other again? Aren't we father and son supposed to be of one mind?"

"Humph, who is on the same side with you, father? I think the one who is on the same side with you should be Li Zisheng, right? Look at him, he even said he didn't want such a huge contribution. After all, he secretly assisted the prince and helped him overcome difficulties. How great a contribution is that? He actually gave it to someone else... He is really good to you."

Zhang Yanling said with a smile.

"I think he has bad intentions... He didn't even tell me in advance and suddenly confessed to the prince. It really scared me."

When Zhang Luan said this, there was a smile in his eyes, but he tried hard not to show it. There was still an expression of annoyance on his face, but it was already covered up by fatigue. He yawned involuntarily, and it was obvious that he was not in good spirits.

Zhang Yanling advised, "Dad, you should take care of yourself and stop partying every night... The Crown Prince will ascend the throne the day after tomorrow, and when he becomes the emperor, he will certainly value you even more... But looking at your listless state now, I'm afraid that your health will fail before you even have the power."

"What's wrong? You told me in person that men should never say no... You bastard, your sister hasn't even become the queen yet, and now you're talking nonsense?"

Zhang Luan cursed, then a coquettish smile appeared on his face again, and he said, "But we have been getting along well with Li Zisheng recently. I will go to see him after I leave the palace... You go back first. I have to ask him what's going on... Hey, this old man Li, I feel more and more that he is reliable and amiable."

"hehe."

Zhang Yanling said, "It's over. I've bribed you with the credit of predicting an earthquake... Dad, we have to stick to our bottom line!"

"Get lost, your father is going to meet a friend, is that a bother to you? Humph, you said that you should not cut ties with Li Zisheng for the time being. You are the one who is right. Your father will not listen to your nonsense!"

After saying this, Zhang Luan looked anxious and he wished he could fly to Li Zisheng immediately.

Of course, what they talked about would definitely not be some important affairs of the court. In Zhang Yanling's opinion, his old father went to the Li Mansion only for some low-level matters that were not presentable.

……

……

Li Zisheng hosted a banquet for Zhang Luan in his other courtyard.

Pang Qing was not invited to join them, and Li Zisheng hosted the banquet alone.

Because Zhang Luan had been to this courtyard many times, he liked the female actors here before, but as the beautiful female actors were either sent to the palace or taken home by him and Li Zisheng, and he had come here too many times, this visit no longer found it novel and interesting to him.

Moreover, he now has higher-level pursuits in life, and a few opera singers can no longer attract his attention.

But this time, Li Zisheng still called female actors to accompany him for drinking.

"Laizhan, I also know that some things cannot be hidden."

Li Zisheng explained his motives, saying, "You said that I don't know how to investigate the secrets of heaven. If the crown prince and those ministers use the secrets of heaven to embarrass me again, and I can't answer, won't everything be exposed? It's better to push you out. At least this way I can get the credit of recommending a virtuous person, and I won't be seen through and criticized later."

Zhang Luan said, "If you don't tell me, then no one will know. If you run into trouble later, you can ask me. There's no need to cut off your own path." Li Zisheng smiled and waved his hand, saying, "How can we reveal the secrets of heaven casually? There will always be backlash... Look, you've been trying to figure it out recently, but you don't have a chance, do you?"

The implication.

Even if I don't tell the future emperor that it was you who predicted the earthquake at Mount Tai in advance, you won't tell me anything new.

It's like such a big thing as the emperor's death, but you didn't tell me in advance.

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "I didn't tell you the specific situation, but didn't I tell you roughly when it happened?"

"Don't worry about that."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "The prince told you in person?"

"Ah."

Zhang Luan did not hide anything and told everyone that he had entered the palace and had dinner with the prince.

Li Zisheng smiled and poured him more wine. He raised his chin and said with great joy, "Look, if you don't have this kind of relationship with Ni Yue and other cunning and self-righteous people, you won't have any chance at all... Who of the civil officials in the court will stand on our side?"

Zhang Luan asked doubtfully, "Didn't they all say they wanted to uphold justice?"

Li Zisheng waved his hands and said with a wry smile: "What justice? Tell me, in the dispute between you and Ni Yue regarding the location of the imperial mausoleum, who is justice and who is selfish?"

"This one……"

Zhang Luan thought about it and shook his head, "I was thinking that too. We are all working for the same goal. At best, it's just a disagreement. Why do we have to make a big deal out of it?"

"You think so, but Ni Yue doesn't. Since they are standing at different heights, he will only think that he wants to use this incident to ruin you forever. Not only will you have no chance to join the cabinet, but you will also be banned from running the Hanlin Academy. It is best that you don't get involved in the government affairs in the future. He wants you to fall completely and become a mere idler from now on."

Li Zisheng stared at Zhang Luan with a sharp gaze and said seriously, "This is the officialdom, a real life-and-death struggle."

Zhang Luan found it a little funny and asked, "Just because of the location of the imperial mausoleum, you want to beat me to death? That's not necessary, right?"

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "Then let me ask you, are there not enough criticisms against you in the court now? If all those who impeached you asked the crown prince to investigate your crime of poisoning the late emperor... then what would you say?"

"Ah? Poisoning?"

Zhang Luan looked horrified.

"Hmph! You can say whatever you want to say. When they criticize others, they don't listen to reason. They just say you poisoned them. What can you do to them? Otherwise, why did His Majesty suddenly pass away? How do you explain it?

"If this incident were recorded in history books, it would probably be written in great detail, stating that the cause of His Majesty's death was unknown and had a lot to do with your misdiagnosis... How would you explain it then?"

Li Zisheng patiently and persuadingly.

Zhang Luan seemed very embarrassed and shook his head, saying, "It's hard to explain. I can only say that those who are innocent will be innocent."

Li Zisheng said, "Laizhan, most of the things in the court are not about right or wrong, but about positions. You are from a different background than them. As a messenger, even if you are doing the right thing, they will still hold on to a certain point and pursue you relentlessly, classifying you as an alien and wanting to put you to death. Forget it, forget it, let's not talk about these things that spoil the fun. Just drink with me, and only this cup of wine will never let you down."

"hehe."

Zhang Luan thought to himself, it seems I really shouldn’t have come here to drink with you.

I got lectured by you again.

Li Zisheng said, "I have already investigated. Zhang Xuanqing, the head of the Zhengyi sect, has already arrived in the capital. He is an important figure who went to Tianshou Mountain to explore the site for the imperial mausoleum. He also brought a group of contemporary Feng Shui masters with him. But no matter what, they dare not offend you."

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "The problem is... they don't know which site was chosen by me."

"cut!"

Li Zisheng laughed and said, "You underestimate me too much, and you also underestimate Zhang Xuanqing, the Heavenly Master... Anyway, you don't have to worry, when the confrontation in the court, you can just wait and see the show."

……

……

There is still one day left before the prince ascends the throne.

Huai'en went to pay a visit to Queen Mother Zhou and inquired whether the preparations for the coronation ceremony were in place. In fact, it was a courtesy visit to let Queen Mother Zhou know that among the nobles in the palace, Queen Mother Zhou actually had a lot of autonomy.

"Huai En, why don't you ask the queen?"

Queen Mother Zhou looked lazy, leaning back in a soft chair, squinting her eyes to look at Huai En, and shook her head, "I, an old man, really don't want to get involved in these things."

Huai En said: "But...old ancestor, you are knowledgeable and understand these rules better, but the queen is at a loss."

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and said, "She doesn't understand. Why don't you teach her? Do you have any concerns?"

Huai En said seriously, "I have never understood the ranking of Minister Zhang... Logically, he is now in charge of the Hanlin Academy and holds the title of Minister of Rites, so he should be ranked after several ministers. But there are rumors that he will soon join the cabinet... but I don't know about this..."

"Why are you asking me?"

Queen Mother Zhou asked, "Shouldn't important matters in the court be decided by the court?"

Huai En said: "But when your majesty was alive, there had not been a court meeting for a long time."

Queen Mother Zhou shook her head and said, "It didn't happen before, but now that the new emperor is about to ascend the throne, we should hold it again. Let them discuss and see who is more suitable to join the cabinet... Take the two people in the cabinet, Wan'an and Liu Ji, for example. They are both incompetent. Even when my son was here, I was dissatisfied with them. It's time to find someone to fill the cabinet positions."

"I understand now," Huai En said.

"Also, you don't have to ask me about everything. Go and discuss with Wei Tai and the others," said Queen Mother Zhou. "You are mature and prudent. You know a lot. Just teach them more. In fact, my grandson will let you take charge of the Imperial Household Department sooner or later. You have to make more decisions about the affairs of the court, understand?"

(I had a sudden visitor at home and was busy cooking, so I updated late. Please forgive me! Thank you all for your support!)
(End of this chapter)