Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 53: Imperial Court Storm
Forbidden City.

In front of Donghua Gate.

Crown Prince Zhu Youtang, accompanied by two young eunuchs, waited for more than an hour and finally met the eunuch Huai'en, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, who was about to leave the palace and leave the capital at sunset.

"Slave, please see His Highness the Crown Prince."

Among the many eunuchs in the palace, Huai'en was the one who cared the most about Zhu Youtang's position as the crown prince. He secretly helped the prince several times and supported him to remain on the throne. Finally, he angered Emperor Chenghua and was demoted to the position of incense master in Fengyang Prefecture.

Zhu Youtang hurried forward to help him. When he saw Huai En's haggard appearance, he couldn't help but shed tears and said with a little self-blame: "It's all my fault, sir."

Huai En hurriedly said, "Prince, please don't say that... What I did was just for justice, without any selfish motives. Your Highness shouldn't have come to see me off. No matter where I work, I have worked hard for the Ming Dynasty and have no complaints."

In the last years of the Chenghua period, Huai'en repeatedly spoke out against the emperor in the court and protected loyal ministers and righteous men, even Zhu Youtang.

"…At that time, the emperor loved Prince Xing, so he tried to persuade Consort Wan of Zhaode to change the crown prince and make Prince Xing the son of Zhaode. The emperor was moved and consulted En, but En refused to follow his advice, threatening death. The emperor was furious and ordered him to be sent to Fengyang to serve as an incense burner."

Zhu Youtang knew that he had no one to back him up. He finally found a eunuch from the Imperial Household Department to speak for him, but he was banished far away because of that. He felt extremely distressed.

He hugged Huai En's shoulders and was speechless for a long time.

Huai En saw that the time was almost right, and wanted to push the frail prince away, but he was reluctant to do so, so he said in a sad voice: "The prince is kind and generous, and is an absolutely benevolent and righteous crown prince, who is incomparable to ordinary people.

"Your Highness, don't worry too much. Although there are rumors of a change of crown prince in the court, Li Zisheng, the Minister of Rites, recently submitted a memorial, citing the impending earthquake in Ningxia as an excuse to persuade Your Majesty to postpone the matter."

Zhu Youtang asked in confusion: "Earthquake?"

"Yes."

Huai En pointed to the sky and said, "His prophecy said that it would happen today and tonight. If the earthquake really happens, the news will reach the capital in a few days. By then, the talk of changing the crown prince in the court will naturally fade away."

Zhu Youtang asked in return: "Even if an earthquake really happens, do you think that the emperor will change his mind?"

Huai En shook his head and smiled bitterly.

He wanted to blame the court's decision to depose the crown prince on the ministers' remarks, but he also knew that the crown prince was not stupid. How could he not know that all the grievances were due to his father, the emperor?

If the emperor had no plan to change the crown prince, how dare the people below talk nonsense?

Huai En said: "It's good to postpone it. For now, I hope Your Majesty can choose a concubine for the Crown Prince as soon as possible, so that the position of the Crown Prince can be stabilized."

"But...but..."

Zhu Youtang stammered, "I... I don't know how to get my father to do this... I... I don't dare... to fight for it..."

"Ugh!"

Huai En sighed, "There are many upright officials in the court, but whenever someone mentions this matter, His Majesty will fly into a rage. The key is that someone is obstructing it. Only when something big happens can there be a turnaround."

Zhu Youtang asked, "Sir, do you have any good ideas?"

Huai En shook his head, meaning that he was powerless in this matter. He said weakly, "I heard His Majesty mention it before, that the prince has reached the age of selecting a concubine, and the date can be arranged. When I asked him more, His Majesty deliberately changed the subject. But I think... hard work pays off, and success will come naturally."

"I will leave now. I will leave the capital early tomorrow morning. I don't know when we will see each other again. Please take care, Prince."

Zhu Youtang hugged Huai En's shoulders tightly, his voice choked with sobs: "Take care, sir. I will see you again someday."

……

……

Imperial City.

Anxi Palace. Liang Fang, the eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, went into the inner courtyard to talk to Concubine Wan about the matter of changing the crown prince, under the pretext of offering medicine to her.

Concubine Wan was ill at the time, but her condition was not serious and she could still get up and walk around occasionally. The Imperial Medical Bureau diagnosed that it was a difficult and complicated disease that might be related to liver disease and that she would recover naturally after resting for a period of time, so Concubine Wan was not too worried about her illness.

She was 57 years old, but she was well maintained. There was not a single wrinkle around her eyes, her cheeks were plump yet beautiful, and she looked graceful and elegant. The maid standing beside her was not mediocre in appearance either, but she never worried that these women around her would snatch the emperor's favor away from her.

After hearing Liang Fang's words, Concubine Wan looked lazy, leaning on the soft pillow, slightly leaning to the outside, and said, "Whether to change the crown prince or not, why do you, a eunuch, care so much?"

Liang Fang didn't know how to respond for a moment, and could only stammer, "This servant is all for your sake, the Imperial Concubine... The Crown Prince has said a lot of slanderous things about you. If you make him the Crown Prince, I'm afraid it will be bad for the Wan family."

"is it?"

Concubine Wan squinted at Liang Fang and said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, why should I be afraid of that? As for you, I heard that you and the Crown Prince have had many disagreements?"

Liang Fang quickly explained: "No, no... I rarely meet the Crown Prince, and we have never had any bad relations. Please understand, Your Majesty."

Of course Liang Fang couldn't tell the truth at this time.

In fact, his "hatred" with the prince was not caused by a direct conflict between the two, but because of a word from Emperor Chenghua.

The History of Ming Dynasty once recorded:
"…After a long time, the emperor looked at the treasury and saw that all the seven vats of gold from the past dynasties were empty. He said to Fang and Wei Xing: 'The waste of the treasury is really caused by you two.' Xing did not dare to answer. Fang said: 'We built the Xianling Palace and other temples to pray for Your Majesty's long-term happiness.' The emperor was displeased and said: 'I have not made any mistakes with you, but people in the future will make plans with you.' Fang was very afraid, so he told the imperial concubine to persuade the emperor to depose the crown prince and establish Prince Xing."

What Liang Fang feared most was that the prince would come to settle accounts with him after he ascended the throne one day.

Concubine Wan first put on a tone that showed she had Liang Fang in her grasp, then after a while her tone softened and she said, "You are loyal to me. Since I have already promised you on the Crown Prince's matter, I will not stand idly by.

"But it's strange. I mentioned the matter of changing the crown prince to His Majesty before, and His Majesty agreed immediately. But for some reason, there has been no news from him in the past few days."

Liang Fang said, "It was Li Zisheng who reported to His Majesty that an earthquake would occur on the night of Bingzi...it was the day before yesterday."

Concubine Wan frowned: "Knowing that Your Majesty intends to change the crown prince, Taoist Li still made such a report. Is he tired of living? Isn't he your man?"

Liang Fang looked distressed: "I did introduce this man to the emperor before, but he gradually gained favor and no longer listened to me. Now he is an official in the court, and I am in the palace, so we have not had any contact for a long time."

"Humph!"

Concubine Wan Guifei's face was full of displeasure. She took a sip from the teacup on the table and said coldly, "He got his current position by relying on connections, but he doesn't think about repaying the source of kindness. This kind of person is really not worth using. When I meet the emperor in the next two days, I will mention this... Ahem, I am not feeling well, so I won't send you more."

Liang Fang hurriedly said: "I have prepared some nourishing food for you..."

"Stay. You're thoughtful."

Concubine Wan nodded in satisfaction. "Don't take the Crown Prince's affairs too seriously. I think he has a gentle temperament and a weak body. When autumn and winter come, he walks like an old man, not as healthy as Your Majesty in his prime."

This is to remind Liang Fang that instead of worrying about the Crown Prince, you should care about the Emperor and my health.

The prince is a sickly person, and it's unclear who will walk in front.

Liang Fang said: "I am only thinking about the Ming Dynasty and its people, and I have no selfish motives."

"Okay, remember your words that you have no selfish motives, and don't be impeached for harboring evil intentions in the future. I will not forgive you... Go and meet my family members in the future and help them more. I really can't take care of things outside the palace." Concubine Wan reminded.

"My slave takes orders."

Liang Fang was very tactful. Seeing that Concubine Wan was aware of her intention, she bowed and left.

It’s Tuesday, please read my article again, thank you!

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(End of this chapter)