Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 559 Leaked

Zhu Youtang personally watched the spinning and weaving demonstrations.

Then he prepared to take Queen Zhang Yu back to Kunning Palace for lunch.

Before leaving, he did not forget to instruct Qin Ji: "My dear, please pay attention to the textile business in the palace. I think you have experience and can give them some advice."

Qin Ji said with emotion: "I have seen many weaving scenes in my life. My family members usually spin yarn and weave cloth, but I have never seen such a dexterous machine. It is really difficult for me, an old man, to be competent for such a task."

"hehe."

Zhu Youtang laughed and asked, "So Madam usually spins and weaves at home? That makes it easy. If you don't understand something, go home and ask Madam. I believe she can give you some advice."

"Yes."

Tan Ji quickly accepted the order.

Chen Gui, who was standing by, was upset when he heard such a conversation between the emperor and his ministers.

It seems like I have prepared everything and were about to start work, but you, Qin Ji, used the excuse of delivering food today to actually come here to pick fruit?

People say you are kind-hearted and popular, but I think you are clearly scheming!

……

……

After Zhu Youtang and his wife left.

Chen Gui's face immediately fell, and he said to Tan Ji unceremoniously: "Eunuch Tan, you didn't do anything, but you're taking all the credit right away... People are so fickle. No matter what you do, you have to distinguish between relatives and strangers first. I can't help but be convinced by you!"

Now it was the turn of Chen Gui's men who were about to come over to speak but they stopped short.

The man was a junior eunuch in the Imperial Household Department who was in charge of running errands. He wanted to come over to ask for instructions and see if there was anything that needed to be prepared next. After all, it was a project that the emperor valued, so naturally the people below him wanted to show off their achievements.

But after hearing Chen Gui's ambiguous words, that person couldn't help but think, Chen Gui, you are really awesome.

Knowing that he is a big shot in front of the emperor, and an old friend of the Eastern Palace, and now he is even more honored as the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, where do you get the courage to speak to him like this?

Qin Ji said: "I have no intention of competing for credit. You can see that it was His Majesty who mentioned it on a whim... I have never fought for anything from the beginning to the end."

"But judging from the results, you, Eunuch Tan, are clearly the biggest beneficiary of this matter."

When Chen Gui said this, he seemed to realize that his words were ambiguous, and quickly added, "We are talking about the internal affairs of our middle-level official system."

Tan Ji was speechless.

It's fine that you, Chen Gui, are just chasing after fame and fortune, but do you have to make everyone look as bad as you do?
"Eunuch Chen, His Majesty just asked me to pay attention. If you need to contact His Majesty, you can come to me to discuss it. He didn't ask me to take charge of everything. Besides, wasn't this matter promoted by the young uncle of the Zhang family and presided over by the Queen? What does it have to do with us?"

Qin Ji began to present facts and reason with Chen Gui.

But he overlooked one problem, that is, the people below, especially those in a mediocre position like Chen Gui, valued this little bit of merit and the opportunity to be close to the emperor and the empress the most.

Otherwise, Chen Gui would have been just a eunuch in the imperial palace all his life, and his future would have been clear at a glance.

Chen Gui did not accept Tan Ji's words and snorted, "We will definitely contribute and spare no effort. I am afraid that when the time comes to reward the merits, His Majesty will attribute my achievements to you just because of what he said to you today... I'm leaving!"

"you……"

Qin Ji wanted to stop Chen Gui and have a good argument with him. Are you being unreasonable?

Your Majesty has given such an order, and we as servants should just obey your orders. Why do you have to be upset with me?

The problem is, Uncle Zhang Xiaoguo has already planned everything, built the machines and hired people to provide training in advance, so what do he need you for?

Look how excited you are!
If you don’t know, you might actually think that, as you said, you have been in charge of everything from the beginning, and even that you are the one who has made the main contribution.

Finally, facing Chen Gui who left in anger, Qin Ji did not force him anymore.

His mentality has changed now.

After he got promoted, he realized that people around him would not listen to reason with him. He was keenly aware that because of his promotion, he could no longer treat people and things calmly as before. In other words, he could no longer accept it and always wanted to win or lose.

"He will understand sooner or later."

Qin Ji once again adopted this laissez-faire mentality.

……

……

Room for the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

After a short lunch break, Qin Chang went to sort out the memorials. When he saw Qin Ji coming, he saw that there was no one around, so he quickly called Qin Ji over and asked about the weaving matter. "The weaving workshop is set up in the palace. If this matter gets out, it will not be good for the reputation." Qin Chang first explained his doubts about this matter, and then asked, "What do you think? I mean, you went to the Duanjing Palace today, so you should have seen it with your own eyes, right?"

"Great."

Qin Ji said with emotion, "I have never seen such an effective textile technology. It is really amazing and ingenious."

Qin Chang nodded and said, "I have long seen that everyone in the Zhang family is extraordinary and full of talents. Zhang Guozhang is like this, and so is his son. Okay, come closer, I have something important to tell you... It's a secret, so I can't tell anyone."

"Uh?"

Qin Ji seemed to be very evasive, and subconsciously looked around, then lowered his voice and asked, "Is it about weaving?"

Tan Chang did not answer, but called Tan Ji to the inner room first. After making sure that no one was eavesdropping, he whispered, "Eunuch Huai is about to become terminally ill."

"what!?"

Tan Ji was horrified.

"I learned this news from the Imperial Hospital... Eunuch Huai did not tell anyone about this. I heard that he was seriously ill in Fengyang Prefecture. It was not easy for him to return to the capital this time. Even if he could make it to the end of the year, he might not be able to survive until the beginning of next spring."

Tan Chang said with a heavy face.

Tan Ji was extremely shocked and asked, "Does His Majesty know about this?"

Qin Chang shook his head and said, "I'm not sure. If they don't say anything, do we have to break the window paper?"

"He...Alas!"

Tan Ji looked very regretful.

Qin Chang smiled bitterly and said, "Speaking of which, I have always felt that something is wrong with him after he came back this time. I always felt that his mentality is much better than before, he is less aggressive in doing things, and he can also be considerate of his subordinates. It turns out that he is about to die and is no longer so obsessed with things.

"But... well, you know, His Majesty has just ascended the throne and there is a lot of work to be done. It is very important to have Eunuch Huai as a pillar of support at this time."

Qin Ji still looked incredulous and asked, "Where did you get this information from? Is this accurate?"

Qin Chang explained, "When he went to the Imperial Hospital to get medicine, the famous doctor from Huizhou, who was the doctor Zhang Guozhang had brought back, discovered something. Doctor Wang did not say anything, but wrote a prescription for the right condition. But somehow, someone spotted it and leaked the prescription... I suppressed this matter!"

"This……"

Qin Ji thought, why are things so complicated?
Wang Ji discovered that Huai En was terminally ill, but he didn't make it public. But it was eventually discovered and taken advantage of by someone with ulterior motives, and the matter was exposed. And it just happened to be suppressed by you?
The situation is so complicated!
Qin Chang sighed, "It's related to the internal disputes of the Imperial Hospital... The doctors who treated the late emperor are now all dusty and lifeless, but Wang Ji seems to be very active. After all, he has Zhang Guozhang as his backer.

"As a result, someone was displeased. That Liu Wentai secretly spread the prescription prescribed by Wang Ji to arouse people's speculation. If I hadn't stopped the leak in time, I'm afraid that everyone in the court would know about Eunuch Huai's illness."

Qin Ji asked curiously, "What is there to hide about this?"

Qin Chang said helplessly: "I was thinking, maybe Eunuch Huai already knew the stakes involved. If his terminal illness was known to the world, it would inevitably cause a storm in the court, which would be detrimental to the current political stability. Another reason is that Eunuch Huai doesn't want to cause trouble for the court, and hopes to smoothly complete the replacement of the cabinet elders and the six ministers, vice ministers and other old officials before the news is announced... Maybe that's what he meant."

"what……"

Qin Ji exclaimed: "Eunuch Huai is really magnanimous!"

"Of course, we are far from being as broad-minded as Eunuch Huai, but now I just want to ask you for a solution." Qin Chang said with a bitter face, "Knowing that Eunuch Huai's body will not last long, what should we do?"

"This... continue to pretend you don't know?"

Qin Ji was most afraid of getting into trouble, so when he encountered something like this, of course he would rather have less trouble than more. It would be best for him to pretend to be ignorant and continue to muddle through.

Qin Chang had a different opinion, and shook his head, saying, "Since everyone knows about it, it would be unreasonable for us to pretend that we don't know... I have to talk to Eunuch Huai later and ask him to take the disease seriously."

Qin Ji shook his head and smiled bitterly: "If it is useful to pay attention to it, Eunuch Huai would have taken it seriously a long time ago, right? Apparently he sought medical treatment countless times, but in the end he found that he was beyond help..."

Hearing this, Qin Chang was quite surprised.

I thought you, Qin Ji, are really great.

From what you said, it seems that you have seen for sure that Huai En will die, and now you are planning how to mourn him after his death?
"How do you know if you don't try?"

Qin Chang said, "Don't we have Dr. Zhang by our side? Eunuch Huai should not have been so embarrassed as to go to Dr. Zhang for consultation. How do you know that there will be no chance?
"How about this, you come with me to find Eunuch Huai and tell him that we know about his situation and are ready to help him get Zhang Guozhang to treat him."

"This……"

Qin Ji seemed very reluctant.

Just go if you want to, why do you have to drag me along?
Qin Chang said: "I have no intention of replacing Eunuch Huai. Logically, after his death, I will be the biggest beneficiary and will become the Prime Minister again.

"But you also know that I am far less capable than him. So many things happened when I was in charge of the Imperial Household Department. Isn't everything back to normal now? If we help him, we are helping the Ming Dynasty... He is already terminally ill, so let's try our best to save him."

(End of this chapter)