Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 588 Extra Harvest
Zhu Youtang held Li Zisheng's confession but didn't dare to look at it.

He was afraid that what he would see was the content that his old father insisted on changing the crown prince. After all, that was the news that had been circulating in the palace before... and there was also the exact fact that Huai'en tried hard to prevent the emperor from changing the crown prince and was exiled to the Zhongdu Imperial Mausoleum to burn incense. This made Zhu Youtang even more uneasy.

However, after hearing what his father-in-law said, he finally plucked up the courage and began to look at the confession in his hand.

At first he was a little hesitant to look down, but the more he looked, the more devoted his expression became.

Qin Ji and Zhang Luan were both observing his face carefully, as if trying to find some clues from his changes in expression.

Even Zhang Luan was wondering, could it be that Li Zisheng was hiding something from me?

It looks like there’s a lot of content here!
If I had known earlier, I should have asked him a few more questions.

Finally, Zhang Yu couldn't help it, so he walked up to Zhu Youtang from behind, leaned over and asked, "Your Majesty, what happened?"

"what!?"

Zhu Youtang seemed to be startled, mainly because he was overly focused on reading.

He came back to his senses and looked up at his wife, looking very excited. "It turns out that the emperor never explicitly said that he wanted to change the crown prince."

Tan Ji was feeling happy and sad just like the emperor. Upon hearing this, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he was obviously happy for Zhu Youtang.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yu asked a question that came from the bottom of his heart: "If Father didn't mention it, then... why are so many people in and outside the palace talking about it? And, Li Zisheng said there was no such thing, so is it true that there was no such thing?"

The smile on Qin Ji's face had just risen halfway when he had to retract it abruptly.

Our Queen...

Are you so straightforward?

Are you here specifically to sabotage us?
Zhu Youtang did not get angry, but patiently explained: "Don't misunderstand, Queen. Li Zisheng just said that my father never explicitly mentioned the need to change the crown prince in front of him. Even though Liang Fang and Wan Ama mentioned this to my father many times, my father just said that he would think about it again. My father even asked Li Zisheng whether I was qualified. That's all."

Zhang Yu asked curiously, "Then...what did Li Zisheng answer at that time?"

"He said that he is not familiar with me and does not understand the inside story, so he is not in a position to comment," said Zhu Youtang.

Zhang Yu frowned slightly and asked, "Is it possible that Li Zisheng said this deliberately in order to escape punishment? Maybe he clearly stood on Yi Chu's side at the time and slandered you? Although I don't know Li Zisheng very well, I always feel that this person has a bad reputation, and there may be reasons for it. He doesn't seem like a good person."

Zhang Luan seemed very anxious when he heard his daughter say this.

He was thinking, what kind of daughter did I give birth to?

He's actually trying to ruin his father's career?
Don’t you know that your father has always been trying to protect Li Zisheng?

Zhu Youtang was very opinionated, and shook his head, saying, "No, Li Zisheng doesn't seem to be lying... because he clearly admitted that he had discussed the matter of changing the crown prince with Liang Fang, and he agreed to it at the time, and he hired someone to secretly slander me. Most of the rumors you mentioned came from this."

Zhang Yu was shocked and asked, "This is strange. He dared to admit such a crime? Isn't he afraid of death?"

Zhu Youtang looked back at Zhang Luan and said with a smile, "He said that because of his relationship with his father-in-law, he regretted doing this from the beginning, so he has been trying his best to make up for it since then."

Zhang Luan said quickly, "Your Majesty, I never knew he was so cruel and had secretly hurt the Crown Prince. If I had known earlier, I would never have had anything to do with him."

"it's okay no problem."

Seeing Zhang Luan's nervous look, Zhu Youtang couldn't help but smile and comfort him, "Father-in-law, Li Zisheng is actually very frank. He said that when he first met you, he found you to be a rare and extraordinary person, and he wanted to make friends with you. He even reported the earthquakes in Ningxia and Mount Tai to the emperor because of you. He also pointed out that this was a warning from heaven and that we should not change the crown prince easily, otherwise we would be punished by heaven.

"My father was half-believing and half-doubting, and decided to wait and see. Later, two earthquakes really occurred one after another, and he was so frightened that he suspended all plans to change the crown prince. Then, my mother Wan, who had always been against me, suddenly died. My father no longer had any doubts about me and decided to hand over the Ming Dynasty to me."

Qin Ji said cautiously: "Perhaps it was because the prince was already married at that time and was considered an adult, and His Majesty felt that he could do his best to cultivate you, the prince... No, it was Your Majesty, you."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Yes, my father decided to appoint me as the Crown Princess because of the earthquake at Mount Tai, which touched him. Unfortunately, my father didn't know much about me at that time.

“Later, my father asked me to inquire about government affairs in the Wenhua Palace, which actually meant that he fully recognized me. However, Liang Fang was still unwilling to give up and was secretly planning to harm me.

"At that time, Li Zisheng said that he was no longer involved, and even joined forces with his father-in-law to attack Liang Fang, and eventually contributed to his downfall. Liang Fang and Wei Xing were expelled from the capital by his father, and the forces opposing the Eastern Palace collapsed and no longer had any influence."

Zhang Yu asked again: "Is it possible that Li Zisheng was double-faced at that time, but now refuses to admit it?"

"The Queen."

Zhang Luan couldn't help but say, "At that time, he stood with me and tried his best to help the prince. Why is he still playing two-faced? What good does this do him?"

Zhu Youtang said: "Li Zisheng also said that after this year, when my father was ill, he summoned him many times and repeatedly asked about me, and also asked him to assist me."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he couldn't help but feel puzzled.

It was broken, but Li Zisheng actually put it back together.

Did the late emperor really say this?
I have been to the palace with him so many times. Has the late emperor ever mentioned this to him?

"It seems that Father just lacked understanding of me at the beginning. He still loves me."

Zhu Youtang was very moved at this time, with tears in his eyes.

Zhang Yu stepped forward, hugged Zhu Youtang's head, and pressed it tightly against his chest, comforting him: "Is there any father in the world who doesn't care about his son? This is the truth of the matter. We were misled by public opinion at the beginning!"

"Ok!"

Zhu Youtang nodded and continued, "Li Zisheng also said that in the early years, there was a lot of discussion in the palace, saying that I was not my father's biological child. At that time, my father did not have any doubts and immediately rebuked such statements.

"Li Zisheng also said that my mother didn't give birth to me secretly in hiding, but my father sent people to settle my mother down and protect her strictly. He only acknowledged my existence after I grew up a little to avoid danger..." Qin Ji asked in surprise: "Your Majesty, is this true? Then doesn't Your Majesty..."

"This is what my father said to Li Zisheng himself."

Zhu Youtang was very excited. "Li Zisheng also said that there was solid evidence for this matter and asked me to ask Aunt Wu. Although my father did not visit me in person at that time, he sent people to give us mother and son some things every year in the first two years after I was born."

Zhang Luan couldn't help but interrupt: "This means..."

Qin Ji could not help but look at Zhang Luan helplessly and thought, you lack understanding of the affairs of the palace, so you wouldn't know even if I told you. It's enough for us to know who it is.

Isn’t this referring to the deposed Empress Wu?
Qin Ji immediately asked: "Then your majesty, should we ask for the instructions of Concubine Wu?"

"I'll ask her in person tomorrow morning when I go to pay my respects to her."

Zhu Youtang's eyes were full of smiles, and he said to his wife, "Yu'er, Li Zisheng is so sure about what he said, I believe he is not lying to get away with it. This matter... Actually, if he doesn't tell me, I won't kill him. After all, he helped me when I was in the most difficult time."

Seeing his daughter was about to speak again, Zhang Luan quickly spoke up, "Yes, when the Queen went to apply for the Crown Princess, Li Zisheng helped her a lot and even mentioned this to the Grand Empress Dowager, asking her to take care of it. Didn't he mention it in the letter?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "He never said that."

Zhang Luan nodded slightly and said, "I know the inside story of this matter. The Empress Dowager even mentioned it to me."

Zhang Yu couldn't help but glare at his old father, as if blaming him.

If you want to be on good terms with Li Zisheng, that's your business. But you have to bring up the fact that I received his help in the selection of the imperial concubine. Are you implying that I should also be grateful to Li Zisheng for his kindness?

"congratulations."

Zhang Luan smiled again and said, "Your Majesty is deeply loved by the late emperor, but due to some uncontrollable factors at that time, there was a lack of communication between father and son. After the late emperor discovered your Majesty's ability, he has been protecting you as the prince. Therefore, when Liang Fang wanted to secretly harm the prince, the prince was able to turn danger into safety. This is inseparable from your majesty's favor!"

Zhu Youtang also had a look of delight on his face, and said, "It's all thanks to you, my father-in-law, my old partner, my husband, and the enthusiastic people around me who helped me."

Zhang Yu asked angrily, "Isn't it my contribution?"

Zhu Youtang quickly comforted her: "No, no, in fact, you, the queen, made the greatest contribution at that time. Every time I encountered problems, you comforted me and quickly calmed my heart. At that time, in order to copy the storybook for my father, we worked together until very late, and even stayed up all night. For my sake, you have always worked hard..."

"These are things that should be done between husband and wife."

There was a hint of pride on Zhang Yu's face, which she did not try to conceal at all, just like a little woman spoiled by her husband, with a bit of coquettishness.

Zhang Luan couldn't bear to see this, so he asked hurriedly, "Your Majesty, what do you think should be done with Li Zisheng?"

Zhu Youtang wiped his eyes and asked, "Father-in-law, what do you think?"

Qin Ji was a little anxious and wanted to remind Zhang Luan that we must not plead for Li Zisheng at this moment. He has finally fallen from power, do you have to pull him up and let the ministers relive the terror of the previous dynasty when powerful ministers controlled everything?

Zhang Luan thought for a moment and sighed, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, even if Li Zisheng corrected his mistakes in time, it cannot be denied that he was deeply involved in the change of crown prince, and he colluded with the eunuchs and attempted to interfere in the affairs of the royal family. These are real crimes."

"Ah."

Zhu Youtang nodded first, then shook his head and said, "It's nothing, after all, his actions didn't really harm me...Father-in-law continued."

Zhang Luan suggested: "So, in my opinion, since he later served Your Majesty well and saved the day, it is not appropriate to convict him directly. It would be better to let him leave Beijing early to supervise the construction of the Yellow River and give full play to his talents... When he completes the river construction, let him retire early and return home to be a Taoist priest."

Zhu Youtang's eyes lit up, and he smiled and asked, "Father-in-law, he once helped me under your guidance and made great contributions. Why don't you plead for him?"

"Hey, am I not pleading for him?"

Zhang Luan asked curiously, "I asked Your Majesty not to punish him, doesn't that count?"

Zhang Yu finally found an opportunity, sneered and mocked: "Dad, you are putting personal interests above public interests... Just because of a little personal relationship, you advocate pardoning all the crimes that Li Zisheng committed in the past? Not dismissing him from office would be fine, but you let him go out and continue to work and harm people?"

Zhang Luan explained: "Supervising the river construction involves too many complicated matters, especially resources and connections, and we also have to take into account the interests of all parties in the DPRK and China, which is very difficult.

"To be honest, there are very few people in the court who are suitable for this job. I am taking full account of Li Zisheng's ability and making use of his strengths. Even if his crime is serious, it won't prevent him from making amends for his crime, right?"

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Father-in-law, it seems that some people's criticisms of you are not true!"

"what?"

Zhang Luan was shocked.

Zhu Youtang introduced the situation: "Previously, several memorials impeaching you were submitted, saying that you were secretly communicating with Li Zisheng and trying to use Li Zisheng's connections to control the government. They also said that the two of you were in cahoots and trying to establish a clique in the court to suppress dissidents!"

"No...I didn't..."

Zhang Luan quickly denied it.

Zhu Youtang laughed and said comfortingly, "Father-in-law, don't worry. You see, this time, it seems that you are helping Li Zisheng, but in fact you are not overly protecting him. You did not intend to let him stay in the court. Instead, you actively promoted him to leave the capital and let him do practical things in the local area. You even said that you would let him return to his Taoist status in the end. The so-called joint control of the government with him has become nonsense."

"Uh……"

Zhang Luan looked very embarrassed.

I just listened to my son and told him what he said verbatim. So what? Are there any special effects or extra benefits?

Qin Ji laughed and said, "Yes, Mr. Zhang has never fought for anything in the government, so how could he have the intention of controlling the government? This is simply slander!"

(End of this chapter)