Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 475 "A kind father and a filial son"

Zhang Luan was injured. In addition to Li Zisheng who was worried about it, there was another person in the court who was also worried about it. He thought that Zhang Luan was unwilling to help him and was taking evasive measures out of fear of breaking his promise.

"Laizhan must have encountered some difficult problems, and he was afraid of betraying my trust, so he pretended to be injured and refused to show up again."

Wan'an received Liu Ji at his home.

He said this in front of Liu Ji and his son Wan Yi who came to accompany him, with a frown on his face.

Liu Ji couldn't help but frowned when he heard this.

I thought to myself, you old bastard, you have such a thick face. How could you be so shameless as to think that Zhang Luan’s injury was deliberately targeting you?
Regardless of whether he faked an injury or not, even if it really was, are you sure it has anything to do with you?

Is it possible that he was avoiding Li Zisheng a little more?
Wan Yi suggested, "Father, there are too many people impeaching you in the court recently. Why don't you think about returning home to spend your remaining years in peace? You have been the prime minister for nearly ten years, and you are old and frail. There is really no need to argue with the court anymore."

Liu Ji's eyes lit up, and then he looked at Wan Yi with a "you understand me" look, as if to say, you finally said something pertinent.

In the 21st year of Chenghua, Wan Yi returned home to mourn for his mother.

Before the mourning period, he had used his father's power to get the high position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. At that time, he was already in his fifties and had accumulated a certain reputation compared to those in the court.

Wan Yi has a very bad reputation in history.

Liu Jian and others commented on him: "Yi is young and talented, but he is wild and dissolute, and has no rural behavior."

The general idea is that although he has some talents, he is too willful. Not only does he embezzle and accept bribes, he is also addicted to women and pleasure. The most shameful thing is that he can be so cruel to his fellow villagers. In this day and age, people who don't even care about the friendship of their fellow villagers are generally extremely evil and will be despised by the world.

To mourn for his mother, Wan Yi did not return to his hometown in Meizhou, Sichuan, which is another proof that he has no attachment to his hometown and no regard for his hometown.

The most famous thing about Wan Yi in history is probably that he abducted his father's concubine and a large amount of wealth after his father, who was the prime minister, fell from power. It is said that Wan'an was angered to death because of this.

From father to son, no one is normal. This family can be considered weird!
Wan An shook his head: "Others don't understand, but one of you is an old friend I've worked with for many years, and the other is my son, how could you not know the inside story?

"Is it true that I am staying in the court for my own fame and fortune? Wrong! Absolutely wrong! The new emperor has ascended the throne, and many things require the help of an experienced old minister like me. But Your Majesty does not understand my strengths and expertise, and does not understand that many things in the court require my help...

"Hey, do you think I have it easy? Ahem..."

Liu Ji was complaining in his heart, but he comforted him: "Wan Lao, don't get excited. We understand that you are wholeheartedly serving the court and His Majesty, but the court officials don't think so... They want to get rid of us in one go so that they can fill our positions, and Your Majesty listens to them. What can we do?"

Wan An sighed, "No, no, I have to tell Lai Zhan, let him know that he doesn't need to worry about me at all. It's just a bunch of scoundrels who dare to pull down my towering tree? You wish! I, Wan, have been in the court for nearly forty years. Do you think I have been doing it for nothing?"

Wan Yi knew his father inside and out, and upon hearing what he said, he couldn't help but think, you are so awesome, why don't you go to heaven?
Liu Ji quickly persuaded him, "Zhang Laizhan fell on his way to court, so it can be considered a work-related injury. His Majesty has sent a royal physician to take care of him. If you rashly go to visit him now, I'm afraid you will be criticized."

"I'm not afraid!"

Wan An stood up, with a righteous look on his face, and patted his chest and said, "I, Wan, am upright and honest, so why should I be afraid of those rumors? Please prepare a sedan chair for me, I will be back soon!"

……

……

After bidding farewell to Liu Ji, Wan'an took a sedan chair to Zhang Luan's mansion.

In his opinion, I am the Prime Minister of the Cabinet and a high-ranking official in the court. When I come to visit your humble family, even if you don't like me, you have to let me in for the sake of face.

Others asked me to go to his house to beg for an audience, but even after begging so hard, I still couldn't get one!
As a result, less than half an hour after Wan'an left the house, he returned in a sedan chair in disgrace.

When Wan Yi heard that his father was coming back so soon, he hurried out of the inner courtyard, his face flushed, and he was still tidying up his clothes. "Father, what are you doing...?"

Wan Yi tried his best to hide his busyness. Looking at Wan An's dusty appearance, he couldn't help but ask curiously.

Wan An shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Don't mention it. Zhang Laizhan is really ungrateful and refuses to see guests... The doorman said through the door that the mansion is closed to visitors, and no one can enter, whether it is a prince, a minister or a fellow villager or old friend. He also said that this is an extraordinary period and he needs to rest well... It's just a broken leg, what's the point of resting!"

Wan Yi frowned and said thoughtfully, "It seems that Zhang Laizhan doesn't give father face... Are you sure you have successfully won him over and made him work for you?"

"I……"

Wan An glared over.

It seems to be saying that as a father you still have to maintain your dignity, you know?

What do you mean I succeeded in winning him over?

I was simply trying to curry favor with him, shamelessly moving forward and trying to please him in every way possible, and even then... he still didn't take me seriously!
Kid, why do you like to expose other people's flaws?
Wan Yi said again: "Then... Father, there are so many people in the court impeaching you now, it seems to have become a wave of public opinion, do you really have a solution?"

"Hey, you still want to meddle in your father's affairs? Why don't you think about yourself... I don't know how many connections I used to find you a real position and let you go to Nanjing to take up the position, but you still stay in the capital and don't leave. What's the point?
"I have to remind you that you are not being appointed as a temporary or part-time assistant minister. Instead, you are being appointed as the right assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. If you work hard, you may be transferred back to the capital to serve as a minister in a few years. This will also allow our family's power to be smoothly passed on!"

Wan'an immediately changed the subject.

Wan Yi curled his lips and said, "Father, what's so good about the six ministries in Nanjing? There's no real power at all... Besides, no matter how noble the position of Right Assistant Minister is, it's just a deputy position, and I'm inferior to others in every way. I don't want to go! I can stay in Beijing for a few days to live a peaceful life. I can chat with you and take care of your daily life. Isn't it good?"

"Hey!"

Wan An disagreed, "I'm in good health, I don't need your care... I think you are entangled in something, and you don't want to leave, right?"

When Wan Yi heard this, his heart tightened, and he wondered if the old man had already noticed something.
"No, I'm just used to life in the capital and don't want to take up the post. I'd rather not take up the post of an official in Nanjing. After all, I've mentioned to the late emperor before that I want to stay in the capital to observe mourning for my mother and take care of you. The late emperor granted my permission at that time... Since the current emperor is very filial, then you shouldn't go against the late emperor's wishes, right?"

Wan Yi spoke with great confidence when he said this.

Wan An waved his hand and said, "It's your own business. Go and report it to the court and see if the current emperor will keep you. But your father has to persuade you. If you don't go to Nanjing to take up the post now, you may even lose your position as the right assistant minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites...

"There are too many vice ministers in the capital waiting for promotion. Not everyone is like Zhang Laizhan, who can be easily given a real vacancy... Gone, gone!"

After saying that, Wan'an stood up.

"Father, where are you going?"

Wan Yi asked quickly.

"Go into the room and rest."

Wan An pounded his waist and said, "Look at you, you are sweating all over and your belly is swollen. You are in your fifties and your health looks worse than mine who is in his seventies. You'd better go out and exercise.

"I know you are a filial child. You stay at home every day to take care of your father. It's really hard for you... You should go out more often, meet up with your friends, and don't come to be an eyesore in front of your father!"

Wan Yi thought, this last sentence is the key, right?

"Alas! The day is still long. What should I do? Oh, by the way, I haven't finished writing my memorial yet. I want to give Your Majesty a surprise..."

Wan'an walked towards the inner courtyard while planning a big plan in his mind.

(End of this chapter)