Uncle from a poor family

Is this the end of Chapter 589?

After the father and son finished their lunch in the palace, they walked out of the palace together.

Halfway through the journey, Zhang Luan saw that the young eunuch leading the way had already walked quite far ahead, so he leaned over and whispered to his son, "Why do I feel a chill on my back after entering the palace?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and joked: "Dad, wear more clothes when you go out, don't catch a cold!"

"You little brat, are you making fun of your father?"

Zhang Luan looked around and asked, "Do you know why?"

"Of course I know. Someone impeached you for colluding with Li Zisheng, but my brother-in-law kept it a secret until today when he found out. He told you the truth."

Zhang Yanling said, "I think it should be because of this reason?"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "I don't do anything, but people still think I'm in control of the government... Humph, I don't even know what I'm in control of..."

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, you are in a maze, wandering and ignorant, with an empty heart, so you feel cold, right? Think about it, our emperor brother-in-law can hand over the case of Li Zisheng to you. If it were in any dynasty, it would likely involve a heinous case with countless people losing their heads... Even so, you still think that you don't control the government?"

"Oh, I went to ask Li Zisheng a question, and that means I'm in control of the government?" Zhang Luan still seemed unconvinced. "Even if that's the case, your father didn't form a clique for personal gain, did he?"

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "You are helping the notorious Li Zisheng, isn't that forming a clique? It's just that my brother-in-law is biased towards his own people, otherwise... hehe."

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "What do you mean? You seem to know your brother-in-law very well?"

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, isn’t it?

Looking at the entire Ming Dynasty, the Hongzhi Dynasty was the one that made the foreign relatives the most comfortable.

It's not about anything else, it's just that Zhu Youtang has a very strong sense of family affection. It may be caused by his cruel childhood and lonely upbringing. Zhu Youtang will always favor his own people. In fact, this is also reflected in Zhu Youtang's protection of the former lecturer of the Eastern Palace.

All we can say is that these lecturers in the Eastern Palace were quite ambitious. It was through the efforts of everyone and mutual flattery that the so-called "Hongzhi Restoration" was achieved.

I don't know whether it was truly a revival, but at least this period was a period in which the Ming Dynasty had relatively good governance and people's livelihood, and the external situation was also relatively stable... This was probably related to the fact that the various tribes on the grasslands were engaged in fierce internal strife for the right to speak and had no time to go south to defend the pass.

Without internal or external troubles, and with surprisingly harmonious relations between the monarch and his subjects, even if Zhu Youtang favored his in-laws, he would eventually be recorded in history books as a wise ruler.

Zhang Luan stared at his son and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty didn't say to release Li Zisheng immediately. What do you think this means?"

"There's nothing wrong with locking him up for a few days to calm him down."

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, don't think that Huai En and Qin Chang didn't show up today, so they didn't have any influence on this matter... I even think that the idea of ​​temporarily detaining Li Zisheng was from Huai En."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "I don't believe it... Huai'en doesn't know what Li Zisheng will tell him, so how could he have the foresight to tell His Majesty this in advance?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Dad, you underestimate Huai En too much... From the situation in the court today, it seems that you and Huai En have a harmonious relationship and there are no conflicts, but the root cause is that Huai En is calculating you painstakingly, using the current situation and all the resources he can mobilize to target you and Li Zisheng everywhere, suppress your prestige in the court, and discredit your reputation."

"Eh? Didn't you say before that your opponent was Tan Chang, the chief scribe of the Imperial Household Department and the current supervisor of the East Factory?" Zhang Luan asked doubtfully, "You mean... Tan Chang takes orders from Huai En?"

Zhang Yanling said: “A skilled hunter will not show the muzzle of his gun in front of people… Huai En will try his best to create conflicts between you and certain people, and create an atmosphere of crisis in the court.

"In this way, Liu Ji, Tan Chang and others will feel that when Huai En dies in the future, you will become the absolute powerful minister of the Ming Dynasty and no one will be able to suppress you. So they all want to take advantage of Huai En's life to return you to the status of an ordinary foreign relative and serve in the Five Military Commandery."

Zhang Luan said calmly, "I thought they wanted to destroy my family? They just wanted me to return to the Five Military Commandery and continue to be an official? I would be happy with that!"

"Ha ha!"

Zhang Yanling laughed. "It's really interesting to talk about it. They would never have thought that you, Zhang Luan, are not pretending to be nice. You really don't want to fight. Since you are not afraid of losing, you are not worried about failing in the political struggle. This is also your advantage."

"Bah, you little brat, I'm not as cowardly as you say. It's because... I don't have the ability to fight for it. In terms of ability, I'm far inferior to Li Zisheng. Do I have to rely on you to make plans behind my back every time? I've worked hard for most of my life, and I want to live a quiet life for a few days before I die."

Zhang Luan seemed to realize something when he said this, and muttered quietly, "Now that you mention it, I, a father who always relies on my son, seem even more cowardly."

He immediately turned his head to look at his son.

Seeing that his son didn't seem to hear what he said later, he felt relieved.

I thought to myself that at least I didn't embarrass myself in front of my precious son.

……

……

Supervisor of Ceremonies.

In the afternoon, Qin Ji told Huai'en and Qin Chang the details of Li Zisheng's case, especially the matter involving the emperor and Zhang Luan's discussion on how to deal with Li Zisheng.

No other people from the Imperial Household Department were allowed to attend as observers, so newcomers such as Dai Yi, Li Rong and Xiao Jing could only stand aside for the time being.

Huai En nodded and said, "It seems that Li Zisheng said something that made His Majesty feel very satisfied... Am I right?"

Tan Ji nodded and said, "As for the late emperor's attitude towards the change of crown prince, you two... please don't ask about the details!"

Qin Chang was a little unhappy: "Since you know it, why don't you say it out?"

"Eh."

Huai En quickly interrupted Qin Chang and said, "In fact, the late emperor was quite fond of Your Majesty. No matter what Li Zisheng said, he would not fail to mention this matter. The late emperor just didn't have enough understanding of Your Majesty, not that there was no father-son affection."

Qin Chang couldn't help but frown and look at Huai En. He thought, Eunuch Huai, you have a very strange mentality!
It was said before that you were banished to Zhongdu to guard the imperial mausoleum in order to protect the crown prince in front of the late emperor. How come you are now saying that the late emperor was very good to the crown prince at that time?

So where is your involvement in this whole thing?

How do you demonstrate your contribution to His Majesty's accession to the throne?

Huai En said: "Your Majesty asked the Jinyiwei to temporarily detain Li Zisheng. Is there any other purpose?"

"I don't know about that."

Qin Ji shook his head and said, "That's what His Majesty ordered, and I'll tell you the same."

Huai En smiled and said, "I think your majesty wants to check whether Li Zisheng has committed other crimes, such as killing loyal officials, controlling the government, or suppressing dissidents, etc...."

When Qin Ji heard this, he thought, how could there be no such thing as these crimes?
To the extent of torture... maybe not, but Li Zisheng had never been lenient towards those officials who opposed him in the past. Many of them were even demoted from the central government to local officials, or even downgraded to lower positions. It was extremely humiliating, so that Li Zisheng has always had a bad reputation, probably because of this group of people cursing him behind his back.

However, those who opposed Li Zisheng were regarded by the world as a breath of fresh air in the court.

Qin Ji asked: "Is it a sudden idea on Your Majesty's part, or...?"

According to Qin Ji, wasn't it you, Eunuch Huai, who suggested in advance that Li Zisheng should continue to be detained?
Can our Majesty think through such a complicated matter?

Huai En did not give a direct answer, but shook his head and sighed: "Unfortunately, in this matter, Zhang Guozhang's protection of Li Zisheng is still too obvious, which may damage his own reputation."

"I don't think so."

Qin Ji actually sang a different tune from Huai'an again, "I went to see Li Zisheng with him today and participated in the whole process. I found that Zhang Guozhang was asking questions all the time, and he and Li Zisheng had a fierce dispute over the case. Li Zisheng seemed to be quite disrespectful to him in his words."

"It's just a show in front of people."

Wynn said with a smile.

Qin Chang was a little curious and asked, "Eunuch Huai, we haven't personally been to the Northern Pacification Office to see them, how do you know that they are just acting?"

Huai En said: "What kind of person is Li Zisheng? How could he not know that he should keep his distance from Zhang Guozhang? And Zhang Guozhang did not avoid suspicion yesterday and personally went to the Imperial Prison of the Northern Pacification Division to appease Li Zisheng... This kind of friendship cannot be dispelled by pretending to be at odds in front of others."

Qin Chang nodded suddenly: "That's right."

Huai En smiled and said, "After this incident, I wonder how people in the court will evaluate Zhang Guozhang."

Tan Ji still had reservations: "It's hard to say!"

In a word, different people will naturally have different opinions when hearing it.

Qin Chang seemed to have heard some clues.

Qin Chang thought, is Eunuch Huai telling me something?

Zhang Luan and Li Zisheng pretended to be at odds in the court of the Northern Pacification Office, perhaps they could deceive some people in the court. But as long as I find someone to spread the news outside, wouldn't everyone in the court and the country know that it was actually Zhang Luan's support and protection that saved the treacherous minister Li Zisheng from danger?
Huai En continued to ask: "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple?"

Qin Ji shook his head and said, "No. His Majesty said that this time it was just a routine questioning of Li Zisheng, and his official position and title would not be changed for the time being. However, he would be temporarily relieved of his duties as the Minister of Public Administration, and would be transferred to the post of the Prime Minister of Shanglin Garden and the Imperial Observatory, but he would still hold the position of Minister of Rites."

"Oh, just wait until the Yellow River project starts, and then transfer him out of Beijing for official business, right? Is this what Zhang Guozhang proposed?" Huai En asked expectantly.

"Yes."

Qin Ji showed a hint of admiration on his face. "Zhang Guozhang also said that when the matter is successfully completed, Li Zisheng will be allowed to return to his status as a Taoist priest. His Majesty also praised Zhang Guozhang, saying that he had no intention of controlling the government, and the relevant rumors were just malicious slander by some censors in the court."

Qin Chang was somewhat indignant: "If Zhang Guozhang could really remain calm, why didn't he stay out of Li Zisheng's affairs, but actively participate? He clearly just wanted to protect Li Zisheng as a political ally."

Huai En raised his hand and said, "You can't say that. In my opinion, Zhang Guozhang is definitely not a hypocritical person. If it were an ordinary person, with his current power and status, he would definitely vigorously develop his own party and even start to interfere in all aspects of the court affairs, especially the employment of personnel in the Ministry of Personnel. He would definitely recommend his own confidants and party members to Your Majesty many times. But do you see, has he done so?"

Tan Chang gave evidence: "Xu Qiong, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is one of them."

"Mr. Xu has been in Nanjing for many years, and he has sufficient experience and ability." Huai En sighed, "What was it like when Li Zisheng was in control of the government? Just make a slight comparison and you will know that Zhang Guozhang is actually a very restrained person and knows his limits."

Tan Chang said, "So the matter of Li Zi Province is over?"

Huai En smiled and said, "Unless the East Factory can produce more evidence that Li Zisheng has committed crimes."

Qin Chang said: "There is solid evidence that he disrupted the government, but as for his evil deeds..."

Huai En smiled and said, "You don't know how Deng Chang En fell, do you?"

Qin Chang seemed to understand instantly.

Qin Ji's eyes were empty, and it was obvious that he couldn't figure it out with his level of awareness.

"Is it a pill?"

Qin Chang did not hide it and said it directly.

But Huai En interrupted him and did not allow him to continue.

(End of this chapter)