Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 478 It’s You!
Originally, the little emperor came to Zhang's house to visit a sick patient, so Zhu Youtang did not intend to ask too many questions at once.

Because Zhang Luan was ill at the moment and needed to rest, it was not good to talk for too long; in addition, Zhu Youtang also said that he would let Qin Ji and others come to ask for advice in the future. Since there was a turn around, it would not be appropriate to ask now, and it would be best if there was someone to act as a middleman to torment Zhang Luan... Then his guilt as an emperor would not be so strong.

After Huai En urged him three times in the yard outside, Zhu Youtang got up and prepared to leave.

Zhu Youtang said, "Father-in-law, I originally planned to stay here for dinner... but Huai Daban said that there are still many things waiting for me to deal with in the palace, so I have to go back first."

"Alas, Your Majesty, it is a great honor for me to have you come to my humble abode. How dare I invite you to have a meal?"

Zhang Luan stood up and said with gratitude, "To be honest, Your Majesty has never stayed outside the palace for a long time. This visit is already an exception. How can I ask for more? In addition, even in my current situation, I cannot eat at the same table with Your Majesty, and I cannot even offer you a glass of wine. I am really ashamed!"

"Father-in-law, take good care of your injuries. There will be opportunities in the future."

After Zhu Youtang comforted Zhang Luan, he waved goodbye and walked towards the door, still with a bit of reluctance on his face. Halfway through, he seemed to suddenly remember something and turned around to ask, "Father-in-law, I asked you to thoroughly investigate the Liang Fang case. What do you think about the officials involved?"

Zhang Luan asked, "May I ask who your majesty is talking about?"

Zhu Youtang stopped and frowned, saying, "Others are fine, but it involves cabinet minister Peng Hua, and Ni Yue and others... Especially Ni Yue, he used to be a lecturer in the Eastern Palace, and he also answered my questions when I was holding court in the Wenhua Hall. In fact, I am reluctant to punish him...

"Although Huai Daban also said that Mr. Ni had evil intentions when he wrote a petition for me, he did help me in the end... I once heard the Queen say that we should judge people by their deeds rather than their hearts, and no one is perfect if we judge by their hearts. Since Mr. Ni did not do anything to harm me, if it was just because he disagreed with my father-in-law on the location of my father's mausoleum..."

Zhang Luan quickly expressed his opinion: "Your Majesty, please do not consider my feelings... As far as I know, Ni Yue is just extreme in his actions, and he is being used by others. It is better to let him go back home. As for Li Hua... I think that Li Hua's case is nothing. He is just an insignificant little character in the Liang Fang case. It will not affect the overall situation whether he is released or not. As for Peng Hua..."

Seeing that Zhang Luan was hesitant to speak, and not knowing Zhang Luan's connection with the Peng family, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but ask curiously, "So what?"

"Um!?"

Zhang Luan felt a little confused when he saw the emperor's reaction.

He was thinking, I only said that we should treat Ni Yue and Li Hua well, but His Majesty was so keen to ask me about Peng Hua, doesn’t that mean... Your Majesty is a very kind person and is reluctant to take action against ministers?
So I am now in a dilemma and have no choice but to help Peng Hua? !
In this case, wouldn't I be really like what my son said, being too soft-hearted and actively aiding the enemy? Then what kind of person would I be?
"Regarding Peng Hua's matter, I would like to hear my son's opinion."

Zhang Luan did not express his opinion immediately, but turned his attention to his youngest son.

Zhu Youtang also followed Zhang Luan's gaze and asked, "Yanling, what do you think?"

Zhang Yanling replied: "Brother-in-law, I shouldn't get involved in this matter, right? After all, the situation in the court is so complicated, and Peng Hua..."

Zhang Luan glared at him fiercely and shouted, "Just tell me what I'm asking you. How should Peng Hua be dealt with?"

"Isn't he convicted?"

Zhang Yanling asked back, and then looked at Zhang Luan with a mischievous look, as if to say, if he is not convicted, his family will be confiscated, or even given to you secretly by Li Zisheng?
What are you pretending to be here?

Zhu Youtang hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, he has been convicted, and the sentence is death... I have also discussed this with Huai Daban and the others. Peng Hua has been an official for many years, but he has not made many outstanding achievements. He has not played any role in helping me ascend the throne. I can't find any reason to reduce his death sentence..."

"Your Majesty, do you think this is a good idea?"

Zhang Luan had completely understood his son's intentions, and also understood the emperor's intentions, so he immediately took advantage of the situation and said, "Let's just pardon his death sentence!"

Zhu Youtang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "There must be a legitimate reason... The court sentenced him to death, but then pardoned him, so there must be an explanation."

Zhang Luan was getting anxious now, and he looked at his son and urged him, "Yanling, make a decision quickly."

Zhang Yanling said, "It would be best if the matter of Peng Hua was discussed in court. That is, Your Majesty would summon several important officials to the Qianqing Palace and ask for their opinions on the matter. Then Your Majesty would use the fact that Peng Hua has made great contributions to the court as an excuse to show your leniency and compassion for the officials. Then someone would surely come forward to plead for him."

Zhu Youtang thought about it carefully and nodded, "If many people plead for him, it's not impossible for me to show some leniency. What's next?"

Zhang Luan was stunned when he heard this.

I thought, I said it's not okay to just spare someone's life, how come it's okay when someone else asks for mercy? What kind of logic is this?
No, what Your Majesty wants is an attitude!

This is probably what Huai En taught him, that is, you have to be consistent in doing things, even if you are kind, you have to be moderate.

Doesn't that mean that my son-in-law had actually asked Huai En in advance whether he could spare Peng Hua's life, but Huai En disagreed?

If this is true, then was Huai En opposing the pardon of Peng Hua in order to help me, or did he have some other selfish motive?

Zhang Yanling had no idea of ​​his father's thoughts and continued, "As long as there are ministers who plead for him, Your Majesty can hand it over to the Ministry of Justice for further discussion. Then find someone to mediate for him. He can be sentenced to death several times and then spared from death several times..."

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Yanling, why don't you discuss it directly in the court, instead of going to the Qianqing Palace for a court discussion?"

Zhu Youtang interrupted his father-in-law and looked at his brother-in-law. He said excitedly, "I think I understand what Yanling means... Because from the perspective of the court, the death penalty has been imposed on Peng Hua. If we want to change it, we can only discuss it outside the court... This should be regarded as the magnanimity of me as an emperor..."

"what?"

Zhang Luan was stunned.

It turns out that I am really a blockhead!
My brother-in-law and nephew can understand it, but I, who claim to know everything, can't figure it out?

Zhu Youtang asked, "But Yanling, why was he sentenced to death several times and spared several times? I don't understand what this means."

Zhang Yanling said, "During the court discussion, someone pleaded for him. Your Majesty sent the case back to the Ministry of Justice and the other three judicial departments for discussion. The three judicial departments will definitely sentence him to death! Because this is the law... If they don't sentence him to death after the second discussion, then what was the basis for the first conviction? So from the perspective of the law, this person must die... Only in this way can the majesty of the law be maintained!"

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang nodded with relief, a smile on his face.

"But Your Majesty must govern with leniency and let the world know your benevolence. At the same time, you must also find out who is behind the plot for Liang Fang, Peng Hua and others, and who is bent on killing them after the incident... To make Your Majesty understand the interests behind it, we have to do more to pull this matter..."

Zhang Yanling continued to tell the story.

Zhu Youtang asked, "What Yanling means is... if we continue to do this a few more times, the people from Peng Hua and Liang Fang's faction will come out on their own initiative, right?"

"That's probably what it means."

Zhang Yanling said, "Those who want him dead and those who want him alive will engage in a fierce confrontation in the court, which will bring the undercurrent to the surface. Then, Your Majesty will have the initiative."

"Very good. Keep going."

Zhu Youtang seemed to have forgotten that he was leaving. He turned back to the couch and looked at Zhang Yanling seriously and spoke.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "After repeating this two or three times, His Majesty will think that this matter can be discussed again. Then, if we bring it up in the court, it will seem legitimate... After all, it is a controversial matter.

"In the court, there will definitely be people who plead for mercy, and people who want him to die quickly... Then, Your Majesty can watch from the sidelines and understand the complicated network of relationships behind them."

Zhu Youtang asked with interest: "What if I still want to forgive them in the end?"

Stop pretending, Zhu Youtang confessed directly!

As the newly appointed emperor, I don't want to kill anyone. I just want to forgive the old ministers who served during the time when my father was emperor. You guys tell me what to do.

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "At this time, we need someone to make the final decision, or someone who is willing to be the bad guy and take the initiative to stand up. At that time, Your Majesty can give the decision-making power to someone... who is willing to obey Your Majesty's orders, and is willing to bear the blame and accept controversy..."

When Zhang Yanling said this, he and Zhu Youtang turned their gazes to Zhang Luan.

It seems to be saying, that person is you!
(End of this chapter)