Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 614: Private Conversation in the Eastern Palace
Duanjing Hall.

The royal textile factory is operating in full swing. Palace maids are coming in and out, appearing extremely busy, and everyone is full of energy.

In the main hall of Duanjing Palace, which was once the residence of Zhu Youtang and his wife, Zhang Yu was wearing a baggy weaving work suit and having his pulse checked by his brother.

"Second brother, your idea is very good."

Zhang Yu watched her brother diagnose her seriously and said with a smile, "Since we started paying these palace maids and setting bonus rules, they have been working much harder than before. Now, in order to meet the work points, sometimes they don't even rest when they are sick."

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "Interest is the main driving force behind people's labor."

"what are you saying?"

Zhang Yu frowned and said, "But it's right to give them some salary and bonus. Even if they work for the palace, it can't be said that they have to be used for nothing. By the way, is your family short of cloth? Take some back when you leave."

At this time, Zhang Yu still did not forget to support his family.

In the past, she had to get it from her husband, but now things are simple. She is the one in charge of this textile factory and can take whatever she wants without being polite.

Zhang Yanling looked up and asked, "Sister, do you think our family will be short of cloth? Now mother changes her clothes almost every day, and she doesn't even want to wear the cotton cloth we weave. Because mother wants to wear silk, saying that it is more decent."

"hehe."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Life is better, but it's different from before. But cotton cloth has its advantages. If you really want to keep warm, you still need cotton clothes and quilts... How is it going? Haven't you come to a conclusion yet? Stop talking."

Zhang Yanling lowered his head again, feeling his pulse, and said, "I don't know who is always teasing me to talk... Sister is fine."

Zhang Yu frowned and said, "That's not right. If there's nothing wrong with my body, why can't I have a baby?"

Zhang Yanling took his hand back and said helplessly: "Is it possible that the problem is not with you?"

"Hey, what are you talking about?"

Zhang Yu glanced at her brother and said coquettishly, "This is the imperial palace. If your brother-in-law hears this, be careful that he will be angry with you.

"But, in fact, I think the same thing. I think everyone in our family should be quite normal. On the contrary, your brother-in-law... ahem, but everyone in the palace said that as an emperor, he is the supreme ruler, blessed by heaven and protected by a real dragon, so how could there be any problem?"

Zhang Yanling curled his lips and said, "Since ancient times, there have been many emperors who have no sons. But I say, sister, you and your husband have just got married, and you are not very old, why are you in such a hurry?"

Zhang Yu said, "How can I not be anxious? Now I am your brother-in-law's only wife, and he hasn't taken any concubines yet. Not to mention what people outside are talking about, even the young maids and eunuchs in the palace are talking about this in private."

"Ah? Even you know this?"

Zhang Yanling asked in surprise, "How can you tolerate this?"

Zhang Yu said angrily: "My subordinates told me. I just don't want to bother with them. But it makes sense. Although I don't have parents-in-law, your brother-in-law still has a grandmother, and your brother-in-law is... Oh! How should I put it, he is quite afraid of his grandmother. This leads to..."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Sister, you are worried that after all this, my brother-in-law can't stand the nagging of the Empress Dowager and has no choice but to choose to take a concubine or something?"

Zhang Yu said in a dishonest way, "I don't care. It was you who told me that even if I married into the palace, I could live together like ordinary couples, supporting each other and growing old together as a monogamous couple. You have to take responsibility!"

"Hey, ma'am."

Zhang Yanling complained, "Now my brother-in-law wants to take a concubine, do you have to blame me?"

"I……"

Zhang Yu thought about it, his face somewhat ugly, and said gloomily, "You have to think of a solution! Whether it's my problem or your brother-in-law's problem, it has to be solved, right? If I can get pregnant sooner, even if the first baby is a girl, I won't be criticized anymore."

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister, you are quite open-minded. Even my parents hope that you can give birth to a prince soon. You...actually think that having a daughter is also good?"

Zhang Yu said as a matter of course: "At least it proves that I can give birth."

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling nodded.

Zhang Yu asked angrily: "Do you have a solution or not? Explain it clearly!"

Zhang Yanling said helplessly: "Sister, there are some things that I can't ask. It's about you and your husband... How do I put it?"

"Why not ask? Just think of yourself as a doctor and ask the right questions."

Zhang Yu glared at his brother.

Zhang Yanling said hesitantly, "Sister, as a couple, don't you know who the problem is? Or is it my brother-in-law who doesn't know? He is very weak and still needs to be nursed back to health. He will probably get sick easily when it rains or blows, and..."

"Shhh."

Zhang Yu stretched out his finger and tapped Zhang Yanling's forehead, saying angrily, "You, you are so outspoken, aren't you afraid of the consequences of your words?
"But it's true. No matter how you think about it, it should be your brother-in-law's problem. But even if it is really his problem, I can't have children, and there will still be people who will continue to instigate him to take concubines. When it is proven that it is indeed his problem, there will be a lot of concubines in the palace by then. How can I still have a good life here?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Sister, you usually seem quite reasonable, but I didn't expect you to be so persistent on this issue."

Zhang Yu said, "Are you making fun of me? Who wants their husband to have three wives and four concubines? What's more... he is the emperor? The better he treats me, the more afraid I am... Oh! Why am I telling you this? Do you have any solution?"

"What did the hospital say?"

Zhang Yanling asked.

"I don't believe them."

Zhang Yu said, "I also know that my father, the so-called miracle doctor, relies on you to support him from behind. Anyway, you should hurry back and think of a solution. If I can't give birth to a son, I will blame you!"

"..."

Zhang Yanling was speechless in the face of such a domineering sister. …

……

When it was time for lunch, Zhang Yanling didn't want to stay and prepared to leave the palace.

But at this moment, a palace servant came to pass on a message that the emperor would come over at noon to have lunch with the queen.

"Your brother-in-law said that he knew you had come to the palace, and he specifically asked you to stay and have a simple meal together." Zhang Yu said, "Don't leave yet."

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling put the bag aside and said, "Sister, here are things for you. There are many tools for repairing machines... You don't need to be proficient in them, but you just need to know how to maintain them. I will teach them to the specialized craftsmen later."

Zhang Yu said with a bitter face: "It's good to have a weaving factory in the palace, but the people who come in and out are either palace maids or eunuchs. They can do delicate work, but if you want them to do heavy work, that won't work."

Zhang Yanling asked curiously, "Can't eunuchs do heavy work? Then why keep them?"

"Those eunuchs, for some reason, are all very thin."

Zhang Yu was also very surprised and said, "I remember that the castrated dogs in my family used to be very active. Why... ahem, is this not a good idea?"

“It’s not good.”

Zhang Yanling looked around and continued, "There's no other way. There are always some small troubles when opening a factory in the palace. For example, if you want to transport things outside the palace, you must use the Jinyiwei. The whole process of entering and leaving the palace is extremely cumbersome. Maybe when the scale is expanded in the future, the factory will be moved outside the palace, and it will probably be better."

Zhang Yu said, "I have also told your brother-in-law that it is not necessary to put everything in the palace. But your brother-in-law said that if it is placed outside the palace, even if someone trusted is sent to manage it, problems are bound to arise. It is not as convenient as keeping it on hand."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Yes, if we leave the palace, won't we lose control of the factory? I don't know how many people will take advantage of it. This is obviously a very profitable industry, but it ends up losing money... Your Majesty is quite insightful."

Zhang Yu said: "Although your brother-in-law is usually very nice to others, I don't know why, sometimes he is very suspicious. Fortunately, he is completely open to our own people."

"is it?"

While pretending to be surprised and flattered, Zhang Yanling was thinking in his heart how protective and introverted Emperor Hongzhi was in history. This was definitely something that all the foreign relatives’ families in ancient and modern times would envy.

Zhang Yu asked, "You are the one who caused this. I will move all the cases to your house later."

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Yanling asked, "Move to our house?"

"You are old. After the New Year, you will be one year older. I told your brother-in-law that I would let you open your own residence. When the time comes, I will directly put many things in your residence and let you take care of them. By the way, Yanling, do you want to be an official?"

Zhang Yu asked enthusiastically.

Zhang Yanling looked embarrassed and asked, "Sister, isn't it too early to talk about this now?"

"It is late."

Zhang Yu pursed his lips and said, "Others may not know your ability, but your brother-in-law and I know it very well. Besides, everyone in the palace who has come into contact with you knows that you are a clever person.

"Originally, your brother-in-law also said that it would be a good idea to give you an official position so that you can start to gain experience and qualifications earlier. But... Alas! I don't know what official position I should start with."

"correct."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "I am too young to be an official. After all, I have no prestige and I cannot be respected by others. A relative by marriage will be talked about wherever he goes. Just like my father, even though he was born into a scholar family, he was still stared at and talked about."

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Don't use Dad as an example. He is not used to being serious."

"Hey."

Zhang Yanling smiled.

Although outsiders lack understanding of Zhang Luan, the siblings know exactly what kind of person their old father is.

That's really... Having watched that useless father since childhood, it's hard to change my opinion of him.

"You've always had the most clever ideas... How about this? Think carefully about what kind of official you want to be when you return."

Zhang Yu said seriously, "Tell me when you've made up your mind. It has to be reasonable and acceptable to others. I'll talk to your brother-in-law and ask him to give you the order directly."

"Can this still happen?"

Zhang Yanling quickly shook his head, "Everything must follow the rules."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "When it comes to our own family affairs, your brother-in-law's words are the rules. I think this is the good thing about marrying into the palace. I used to think the court was far away from me, but now I can reach it with just one hand. Don't worry about your brother-in-law, I have already mentioned it to him. You just need to go back and think it over."

"This……"

Zhang Yanling's face was full of embarrassment, but he was still quite relieved in his heart.

This at least shows that my sister's family still values ​​him very much.

The intention is to bring him out of the darkness and into the light.

That means that what he did after coming to the Ming Dynasty was recognized by those in higher positions.

"Your brother-in-law will be here soon, don't mention having a baby to him."

Zhang Yu reminded him, "I don't want him to spend all day wondering whether it's my fault or his. We can do many things in secret and let him reap the benefits."

(End of this chapter)