Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 517 Gaozhi
Room for the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

Huai En left first.

Qin Chang sat there, looking speechless.

Putting down the documents on hand, Qin Chang muttered quietly: "What kind of person is this? He comes when he wants and leaves when he wants. He leaves everything to us. I don't know what he is worrying about all day long."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ji quickly brought him some tea.

Qin Chang smiled and said, "I am no longer the seal holder. You don't need to be so polite to me."

"Yes, yes."

Qin Ji nodded slightly, then said seriously, "I am working hard to learn and do things, and I would like to thank you for your care..."

Qin Chang smiled and pointed in the direction of the door, and asked, "What did you see before?"

"what?"

Qin Ji was stunned for a moment, and quickly said: "I would like to hear the details, and please feel free to enlighten me."

Qin Chang sighed, "It's obvious that Huai En doesn't dislike Li Zisheng, but he dislikes our Zhang Guozhang."

"Ah!? Not really?"

As a former attendant of the Eastern Palace who had served the prince for a long time and had frequent dealings with the Zhang family, Qin Ji seemed extremely surprised.

"Yes, if it were an ordinary person, they would probably remember the favor of being promoted and reused..."

Qin Chang sighed sincerely, "A favor from a person is a thousand-year-old memory. When Huai'en was at his lowest point, it was Zhang Guozhang who mentioned his name in front of the Grand Empress Dowager and strongly recommended him. Finally, His Majesty remembered that there was such a person outside. He was summoned back to the capital and given important positions. He became the de facto boss of the Silijian. But now..."

Qin Ji hesitated for a moment and replied, "But I always think that Eunuch Huai is also a person who knows how to repay his kindness."

Qin Chang shook his head and sighed, "The problem is that he is a principled person and the type who doesn't know how to adapt... He thinks that Zhang Guozhang is very likely to collude with Li Zisheng and repeat the scene of Li Zisheng monopolizing the government and dominating the government. Zhang Guozhang's concession and forbearance at the moment may just be an illusion, and there are bigger plots hidden behind it, so he seems so excited and can't wait to start with Li Zisheng."

"This... you mean to say that Eunuch Huai is preparing to take action against Zhang Guozhang next? This... doesn't make sense at all..."

Tan Ji was puzzled.

They all work for the emperor and have the emperor's trust. Is it really necessary to distinguish between insiders and outsiders?

But the problem is, no matter how much Zhang Luan doesn't get along with the emperor, he is still the father-in-law of the emperor and the biological father of the queen... Up to now, the emperor doesn't even have a concubine in the harem. Is it really easy to touch the queen's family like this?
Aren't you afraid of backlash?
Qin Chang said: "Listen to me, ignore them, let them fight among themselves. We are all dedicated to serving His Majesty, isn't that enough? Haha, it's you who come here to gild the lily. We all want to be idle, but things often go against our wishes. Only you will have the opportunity to be quiet in the future. Others...it will be difficult for them to get along."

……

……

The Ministry of Justice compound.

That day was the day when Li Hua went to the Ministry of Justice to close the case after he was released from prison.

After going through the procedures of cabinet drafting and emperor's approval, Zhang Luan's case was approved and most of the people involved were released on the spot. However, some officials were fined and their property was confiscated, and some families were destroyed, but they were only a very small number.

Li Hua looked very proud that day.

He came in a green official uniform with a white pheasant embroidered on his chest. Those who knew the matter could tell at a glance that he was a fifth-rank official. Others were surprised and doubtful... How come he was a criminal a few days ago, and now he's an official again after just a few days?
"Congratulations, congratulations."

Li Hua was smiling wherever he went, giving people a feeling of being bathed in spring breeze. He sent invitations to everyone he met, "There is a wedding in your house recently. Any colleagues who have free time can come to your house for a banquet. No need to bring gifts, just come with your heart. Even if you just sit down and have a cup of tea, I will be grateful."

Zhang Zhichun, the head of the Ministry of Justice, came forward and asked curiously, "Li Taishi, what kind of happy event is this in your family?"

Li Hua smiled and said, "It's my niece who is getting married."

"hehe."

Zhang Zhichun smiled and said, "Marrying off a daughter is a great joyous event. You... you are usually close to your brothers' children, so when your niece gets married, you, as an uncle, should also show your care?"

As they were talking, officials from the Ministry of Justice came over from time to time to inquire about the situation.

Officials in Beijing, especially those at the middle and lower levels, usually have very little benefits. If someone's family really has a happy event and invites them to their home without giving any gifts, they will be happy to attend.

Especially since Li Hua's family is wealthy, most people know that Li Hua is the kind of person who gets rich first and then becomes an official.

If the Li family holds a banquet, the level will definitely not be low.

Li Hua smiled and said, "They are my own sons and nephews, just like my own children. Now they have found a good match, how can I not be happy? You all must come!"

"It's really a joyful occasion. Not only has he escaped from the cage, but he has also been reinstated. It's really cause for celebration." Everyone came over to say some auspicious words. After all, they were going to someone's house to eat and drink, so they wanted to get to know him first.

Li Hua was indeed a humble person and sent out invitations to everyone one by one.

Zhang Zhichun asked in a playful way, "Which family did your niece marry?"

"Qin Yun."

Li Hua smiled and said, "He is a captain of the Jinyiwei."

Now Zhang Zhichun couldn't laugh anymore.

He was thinking, no wonder you were able to get out of the imperial prison and get your original post reinstated, it turns out you managed to curry favor with the captain of the Imperial Guard?
Wait, what can a captain of the Imperial Guard do in the capital?
Someone next to him continued to ask: "Is he the nephew of Eunuch Tan from the Imperial Household Department?"

"It seems so. I heard that he's been very popular recently."

Someone sighed.

Now Zhang Zhichun and the others' doubts were gone, and they understood everything. So the high branch you, Li Hua, climbed up to was none other than Tan Chang, the former eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and now the chief eunuch in charge of the Eastern Depot?

No wonder!

……

……

Li Hua was reinstated and enjoyed great success.

He did not need to show in front of others that he was indebted to Zhang Luan, but deep down, he already regarded himself as Zhang Luan's direct disciple.

It’s a pity that my niece is not marrying someone from the Zhang family.

Thinking of this, Li Hua couldn't help feeling a little regretful, but he still did not forget to distribute invitations everywhere.

It seemed that people thought that he was trying to curry favor with the former Prime Minister Qin Chang, and there was nothing wrong with that.

At the same time, someone came to the Ministry of Justice that day to inquire about the progress of her own case. It was Liu, the wife of former cabinet minister Peng Hua.

Although Peng Hua had some old colleagues and disciples in the court who sympathized with him, Liu still encountered obstacles everywhere. Fortunately, everyone knew that Peng Hua might not be sentenced to death by the court. He might be pardoned like Li Hua or even have his honors restored, so no one would offend Liu directly.

It's more of a perfunctory attitude.

You are still a criminal and you came to us to inquire about the case. We are already being polite by saying a few words to you.

"Ma'am, please go back."

An official from the Ministry of Justice came over and prepared to drive Liu away.

He was just a ninth-rank inspector of the Ministry of Justice, a student of the Imperial Academy who was promoted to an official position. He was also promoted to the Ministry of Justice through the Chenghua Dynasty. He also felt a strong sense of crisis this time, so he did not use force against Liu.

Instead, he gave gentle advice.

Liu said sadly, "My husband is in prison now. He is old and weak, and his health is not good. I want to send him some things, especially things for the winter."

The subordinate frowned and said, "Madam, if you want to do these things, you can only report them according to the steps. However, the Ministry of Justice is seriously overstocked with cases right now, and almost all the adults are working hard on the cases. I'm afraid no one will review your case. It's better to wait another month, and then the Ministry of Justice may be free."

"But how will your husband survive the next month? It might snow while we're talking..." Mrs. Liu looked up at the gray sky and said with a worried look on her face.

The subordinate shook his head helplessly: "People are in prison, and they still care about the snow? I believe that Elder Peng is not that weak, right? People often die in the cells, but as for freezing to death, we haven't heard of it in many years."

Liu wiped away her tears and said, "Everyone's situation is different. We can't generalize."

"That is to say, Elder Peng has never suffered before, so his body can't bear it?"

The official sighed, "Madam, I advise you not to come to this government office. There may be some hope for Elder Peng's case, but it is still very slim. It all depends on God's will."

Liu asked doubtfully, "God's will?"

The official said, "Even if the emperor is so kind, why do you have to explain it so clearly? Go, go. If you don't leave, the officials in the Ministry of Justice will see us and blame us for not keeping a good lookout at the gate of the yamen and letting a woman like you go wild in a place like this... Be careful not to be disliked!"

"My husband's case..."

Liu still did not forget to mention the case.

But she herself knew that it was almost meaningless to bring up this matter with such a lowly official.

But now she is also suffering from the fact that she has no way to pass on the information.

The subordinate said, "Why is it not over yet? Do you have to be driven away? Can you save some face for each other? You are no longer the wife of an official. Do you have to let me tell you the specific situation?"

Liu was so embarrassed that she burst into tears.

At this time, the bailiff on duty came over, waving his stick and preparing to drive the people away.

When Liu saw that the situation was not right, she tactfully bowed and took her leave, then ran out.

She also knew that only the officials would not bother with her. If she fell into the hands of the police, she would be beaten up and would have nowhere to complain. Even if she was taken to the yamen to be questioned, she would probably be the one who was beaten.

It was wrong for her to walk around as a sinner.

"Sir, may I ask who that gentleman is?"

As Liu walked, she looked at Li Hua, who was excitedly handing out invitations to people in the yamen, and asked curiously.

The subordinate replied with a smile: "That gentleman is Li Jianzheng of the Imperial Observatory. He is very famous. Everyone knows that he has a rich family. Others become officials to make money, but he wants to become an official only after he has made money... Besides, he is also very capable."

"Li Jianzheng, the Imperial Observatory? Wasn't he sentenced to death just like my husband?"

Liu asked in surprise.

The subordinate said, "That makes sense... He has a strong backer, and with just a word, he can turn a death sentence into a living sentence, exile into a fine, and go back to work for the court. It could also be that there is no one left in the Imperial Observatory... Who let Deng Changen, who is well versed in feng shui and prophecies, fall? Hey, it's really a changing world."

Liu asked hurriedly, "Didn't the court say there was a general amnesty? An official even interceded for my husband."

"No, I don't know where you heard that." The officer said impatiently, "Hurry up and leave. If you don't leave, I will not be polite."

Liu had no choice but to bow and leave.

(End of this chapter)