Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 615 Chickens and dogs ascend to heaven
After lunch, Zhu Youtang called Zhang Yanling aside.

Zhang Yu was very tactful and went out to arrange other things first.

Zhang Yu had already developed the habit of taking a nap, and he would probably rest later. Zhang Yanling saw that Zhu Youtang had no intention of returning to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, so he thought the couple could spend their afternoon nap together.

"Yanling, is your father still busy these days?"

Zhu Youtang asked.

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "Your Majesty, these days my father has been busy raising money and food for the northwest front, and basically he leaves early and comes back late."

In fact, Zhang Yanling didn't know what his old father did every day when he went out early and came back late.

But in front of the emperor, you still have to pretend appropriately.

Zhu Youtang said: "I don't know how the preparations are going."

“It should be about the same!”

Zhang Yanling said uncertainly, "This time, the merchants in Huizhou have made great efforts, and Lizi Province, who has already set out for the northwest, has also helped behind the scenes. Now it is not just about the first batch of 200,000 dan of grain. My father is already preparing for the next few batches."

Zhu Youtang asked in surprise: "Have you already started preparing for the follow-up money and grain? But there is no report on the first batch of shipments."

Zhang Yanling said: "When people below do things, they must have an expectation and a plan, that is, the required materials must be tracked and landed first, and then implemented in detail. After the fulfillment is completed, the next batch can be considered.

"I think my father should have found the whereabouts of the first batch of money and grain, but it will take some time to transport it, and there may be some variables in the process. It is not appropriate to report it now."

"So that's how it is." Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Yanling, I think you are as talented as your father. You can understand many things at a glance."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I have been learning from my father."

Zhu Youtang said, "We don't need to be so formal when we are family, otherwise it will feel awkward. In fact, I knew from the beginning that you have real ability. Earlier, your father asked Mrs. Tan to pass on a message to me, saying that he hoped that the Minister of Justice Du Ming would retire and return home as soon as possible. Do you know why?"

"Oh……"

Zhang Yanling said casually, "Maybe my father wants to accumulate good character!"

"Maybe."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Although someone has been secretly planning to target the Zhang family recently, we haven't found out who is behind it. Now it seems that there are indeed many people who don't want your father to rise to a high position in the court."

Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said, "Indeed, the identity of a maternal relative is too sensitive. I haven't done anything yet but I'm already being looked at with suspicion."

Zhu Youtang smiled slightly and said, "It doesn't matter whether they are relatives or not. As long as they can do things, make progress and help the court, there is no need to consider their origins and status.

"When the late emperor was alive, he promoted many talented people out of the ordinary."

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, Your Majesty, can your three views be considered correct?

It's not easy for you to promote your father to high positions in large numbers and glorify the sale of official positions and titles in such a glorious way.

Perhaps it is because in your eyes, your father is the embodiment of justice, so you follow him and choose some paths that don't seem quite right?

"Yanling, if you enter the court, what position can you hold?"

Zhu Youtang asked seriously.

Zhang Yanling thought, it seems that you two have discussed the issue of employing me many times, right?

First my sister told me, and then you, my brother-in-law, told me, as if you were eager for me to become an adult and start flying freely in the court.

However, I am still young and lack experience, and few people look up to me. It is better not to enter the court at this time. Letting my old father serve as a cover outside is actually a good choice.

"Your Majesty, I have never thought of this before."

Zhang Yanling said respectfully.

Zhu Youtang laughed, "I discussed this with Huai Daban before... Originally, we said we could wait two years and then arrange an official position for you, especially one in the Metropolitan Government or the Imperial Household. But later, Huai Daban insisted that you were outstanding and wanted to arrange for you to enter the court as soon as possible, or give you a job in the Imperial Household so that you could practice first."

Zhang Yanling said: "Eunuch Huai really cares about me."

"Yes."

Zhu Youtang nodded in agreement, "Huai Daiban is a relatively easy person to talk to. He has always admired you and has praised you in front of me more than once."

"When I see him again, I will definitely thank him."

Zhang Yanling said, "In fact, the way that Eunuch Huai conducts himself is worthy of respect. I do have many shortcomings, and I need to learn from him."

"Then you should treat his illness well and let him live longer. That way you will learn more from him, right?"

Zhu Youtang said with a smile.

Zhang Yanling was startled at first, then asked, "Didn't you ask my father to treat Eunuch Huai?"

"Oh, the result is the same."

Zhu Youtang smiled and said no more, being very secretive about certain things, as if even being an emperor required one to be cautious and had to hide some of his thoughts.

Zhang Yanling thought, could it be that my sister has revealed all the secrets of the Zhang family? My brother-in-law is still pretending to be ignorant in order to protect his father-in-law's reputation?

Zhu Youtang said: "In fact, it is most appropriate for you to hold a position in the inner court. After all, there are many idle jobs in the clan court, and you can be competent for them, and then slowly accumulate political experience and qualifications.

"As for what to do specifically, Yanling, you should think about it carefully. When you have time, you can also discuss it with Huai Daban and ask him to give you some advice."

"Yes."

Zhang Yanling responded with a smile, but he was thinking in his heart, I don’t believe him!
This old guy is very bad. He looks kind and honest, but he is not an easy person to deal with. Even when he is dying, he is still thinking about plotting against us father and son!
……

……

When Zhang Yanling left the palace, Zhu Youtang insisted that he take something back with him.

He did not mention rewarding him with cloth, but instead gave him some palace ornaments, telling Zhang Yanling to take them back and put them at home to decorate the house.

When Zhang Yanling returned home, Jin was directing the maids to hang clothes to dry. There were four or five clotheslines in the yard, with colorful clothes hanging on them, which were very bright and eye-catching.

"Second brother, come here."

When Jin saw her youngest son coming in, she greeted him quickly and then threw aside the wooden stick that she was using to wash and beat clothes.

Zhang Yanling asked curiously, "Mom, are you scolding the servants?"

Jin said, "What are you thinking? Am I that arrogant? By the way, what did you bring back?"

"Oh, they are all exquisite items given by His Majesty."

Zhang Yanling said, "I didn't see exactly what was in them. Maybe they thought my father liked to show off his knowledge and kept them for him to show off. When guests come to our house, he can brag about how precious these were gifts from the emperor and how precious they are, to improve his reputation."

Jin came forward and took a few glances, frowning and saying, "It's all flashy and useless... You've been running to the palace a lot recently, so why haven't you checked on your sister? Why hasn't your stomach moved in such a long time?"

"Mother, are you looking for me about this?" Zhang Yanling asked, "After I entered the palace today, I checked my sister's pulse and found nothing wrong with her body. Maybe the problem lies with my brother-in-law..."

Jin slapped her thigh and said, "Hey, I told you so. In the Jin and Zhang families, there has never been a case of a woman being unable to give birth to a child. How could it be that your sister has a health problem? But this matter is indeed a bit strange. The emperor is blessed by God, so how could he not be able to do that..."

"Mom, there's no point talking about this here. If I have free time later, I will prescribe some medicine for my brother-in-law to take care of his health so that my sister can have a happy baby soon. If you have nothing else to do, I'll go to the kitchen to eat something. I have to go out later." Zhang Yanling said.

"Hey, what time is it? You want to eat? Didn't you eat in the palace? Didn't your sister and brother-in-law ask you to stay and eat with them?"

Jin asked curiously.

Zhang Yanling said helplessly: "I was too reserved when I had lunch with His Majesty today, and I hardly dared to move my chopsticks."

"You need to eat something to fill your stomach. How can you do that if you're hungry?"

Jin immediately called the maid and gave her some instructions before saying to Zhang Yanling, "Don't eat the leftovers. I'll ask the kitchen to make some for you. Don't worry. While we're waiting for the food to come out from the kitchen, I have something I want to tell you."

Zhang Yanling thought, could it be related to that eccentric old father again?

But looking at my expression, it seems that it is not about Zhang Luan’s matter.

"Second brother, now that you are very capable, can you ..."

Jin said with some embarrassment, "Make some arrangements for the people in the Jin family? They don't need to be high-ranking officials, or even officials. They just need to follow you in and out and do some practical work."

Zhang Yanling was a little embarrassed and asked, "Mom, are you speaking for your family?"

Jin said with a bitter face: "Your uncle came to our house once a few days ago, and came again this morning. He just wanted to get an official position. I told him that there is only one person in my Zhang family who has entered the court as an official. How can it be so easy to seek an official position for them?"

Zhang Yanling thought for a moment and corrected her, "Mom, you are wrong. Isn't my eldest brother already a captain of the Imperial Guard? He and dad are both considered members of the imperial court now."

"Mom just said that, why did you take it seriously?"

Jin rolled her eyes at her son and continued, "Later, your uncle said he wanted to do business with you. He heard that you had a big business and could even get involved in the affairs of the imperial palace. You often went in and out of the palace, and he was extremely envious."

Zhang Yanling hesitated and said, "It would be awkward to have an elder like my uncle following me around, wouldn't it?"

"fine."

Jin raised her chin and said, "Not only does he want to follow you, he also wants to take his child, your cousin, with him. I've seen that child before, he's quite smart, you should take good care of him."

Zhang Yanling frowned and said, "Mom, can you not bring it?"

Jin's face was unhappy, and she scolded: "They are all family members. I am not asking you to seek official positions for them. I just want you to lead them to do things. Is that not okay? What did your uncle say? He helped us before."

Zhang Yanling asked, "What if there is a conflict of interest and we end up parting on bad terms? I don't want to offend anyone."

"With your level of intelligence, do you really have to embarrass others?"

Jin rolled her eyes at her son and said, "If it was your eldest brother, I would definitely be worried, but if it was you, I don't think you would embarrass your uncle and his son. They live a tight life in Beijing, and you can't say that just because our family is rich, we despise the poor and love the rich, and don't bring your mother's family to play with you."

"Then...Mom, why don't you go talk to Dad?"

Zhang Yanling asked dissatisfiedly.

You should let your husband do this thankless task.

Don't look for your son.

Jin said with a dark face: "I don't want to bother with your father... Just tell me, are you going to do it or not?"

"Oh."

Zhang Yanling said helplessly, "Okay. Let them come to see me later. I'll give you the address of the place where I usually work in the city, and you can pass it on to them. We've met before and we know each other as soon as we meet, but I didn't expect that they would actually work with me... Relatives are the most difficult to send out."

……

……

After Zhang Yanling finished his meal and went to his workshop in the city, he had only been doing experiments for a short while when Zhang Luan almost jogged over.

Zhang Yanling asked in surprise: "Dad, what happened to you?"

Zhang Luan said, "I'll tell you in detail later. First, tell me how it went when you entered the palace today."

"It's nothing. My brother-in-law and sister want to find me a job in the inner court. They also said that Huai En wants to help me so that I can accumulate experience and knowledge as soon as possible." Zhang Yanling said.

Zhang Luan's brows relaxed and he said with a smile, "I thought Huai En was a treacherous person, but I didn't expect him to be so thoughtful. You were able to become an official when he was alive, which at least shows that he didn't treat you like a thief."

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "Just because he was alive and was determined to arrange for me to work for the imperial family instead of letting me serve as an official in the imperial court, it was enough to prove that he was painstakingly paving a difficult and narrow path for me, and blocked all other broad roads for me to move forward... Even so, you still dare to say that he is a good person with good intentions?"

"Damn it, why do things become so weird the moment they get to you?"

Zhang Luan glared at his son and said, "So, Huai En wants to control the development of our father and son while he is still alive, right? I was just wondering why someone suddenly asked me today if I wanted to join the cabinet? Feelings... It's all the same routine."

(End of this chapter)