Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 658: Serious Illness is Equal to No Illness
As Chang Shun escorted Liu Ji to the inner courtyard, his mind raced... Is this dignified Prime Minister and Grand Secretary a madman?
When you get there just talk to my master about reason. What's the point of telling me all these nonsense?
I’m not taking the imperial examination!
After sending Liu Ji to the central courtyard, Chang Shun saw Zhang Yanling waiting for him behind the moon gate. He quickly bowed and took his leave, and Zhang Yanling was responsible for sending Liu Ji to the bedroom in the backyard where Zhang Luan was recuperating.

"Little uncle, I wonder how your father's condition is? Has anyone diagnosed him? Is it serious?"

Liu Ji took the initiative to talk to Zhang Yanling again.

Although Liu Ji did not think that the young man in front of him had much ability, he was somewhat aware of Zhang Yanling's reputation for precocity. In addition, Zhang Yanling was the emperor's brother-in-law and might very well be awarded a title in the future, so he would not take it lightly.

Zhang Yanling looked a little sad, and said in a low voice: "My father has been ill since the end of the year last year. Now his illness has become more serious. It is difficult for him to even get out of bed... But my father said that as long as he is given time to recuperate, he will definitely get better."

"he……"

Liu Ji seemed anxious when he heard this.

How can this old guy get better?
It would be best if I died right now!
Humph, how can Zhang Laizhan save himself? He must be working himself to death.

Zhang Yanling put on a grateful look again and said, "Mr. Liu, my father is ill and many people have come to visit me, but most of them are for personal gain. Only you came to visit me out of concern for my father."

Liu Ji twirled his beard and pretended to be concerned, "As a minister in the same palace, how can I not worry about your father's condition? If he falls, who will replace him? Your Majesty needs him, and the court needs him too. I cannot afford to lose a dear friend!"

"I would like to thank Mr. Liu here."

Zhang Yanling pretended to salute Liu Ji.

Liu Ji looked normal, but he was a little proud in his heart, thinking, is this kid born so stupid? Doesn't he know what it means to pay New Year's greetings to chickens with bad intentions?
You're still here to thank me?
……

……

in the bedroom.

Zhang Luan leaned on the soft pillow, gasping with his mouth open. His face was pale and burnt yellow, as if it had been roasted and was already greasy.

Zhang Yanling brought the person into the house and saw Zhang Luan's exaggerated performance. He couldn't help but wonder, who just told me that my acting skills were extraordinary? Is this what you call acting skills?

How exaggerated!
"Hey, Laizhan, are you okay?"

After Liu Ji entered the room, he had an excited look on his face and rushed to the bedside in two steps instead of three. The concerned look in his eyes did not seem fake at all.

Zhang Luan came back to his senses and said in surprise: "Oh, isn't this Lord Liu? Ahem... Thank you for your concern. Look at my body... Ahem... I'm so sorry for not being able to go out to greet you in person... Ahem..."

"What are you talking about?"

Liu Ji hurried forward to help Zhang Luan up, scolding him, "Hurry up and lie down and rest. Why are you sitting up? You must pay attention to your rest."

Zhang Yanling explained: "Mr. Liu, it's like this. My father said that if you keep lying down, it will hinder your respiratory system. Lack of oxygen in your lungs will lead to greater problems... Even if you can't get up, you have to sit up. This will help your body recover."

Although Liu Ji didn't quite understand all the new terms that Zhang Xiaoguojiu was talking about, he still got the general meaning and thought to himself, is this really the case?

Then you, Zhang Luan, have to lie down even more!
How could you recover just like that? It would be better if you died sooner!
After saying this, Liu Ji almost forced Zhang Luan to push the old father-in-law, who was pretending to be a seriously ill patient, back onto the bed.

Zhang Luan was confused. I was just ill. Are you here to visit me or to help me relax? Why did you do that?
After Zhang Luan lay down, Liu Ji seemed to be relieved. He sat down on the stool next to him and said with emotion: "Knowing that you were ill, I was very worried. I was so worried that something might happen to you. Not only did I lose a good friend, but the court also lost a pillar... The Ming Dynasty cannot live without you no matter what!"

Zhang Luan said, "Lord Liu, you are too kind. With my limited ability, I am totally unqualified to serve in the imperial court. This illness is probably a warning from God to me, telling me that if I don't have a big enough head, I shouldn't wear such a big hat. It's telling me to retreat when I encounter difficulties."

When Liu Ji heard this, he slapped his thigh and praised: "Laizhan, you can have such a deep understanding, it's really..."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Luan continued: "But... I can't retreat..."

"what?"

Liu Ji's expression changed instantly.

I thought to myself, are you kidding me?
Just now you said it as if you were afraid of fate and ready to quit, and I thought I could treat you as my confidant in the future. But the moment I turned around, you did this to me...?
Zhang Luan said with emotion: "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and there are many things waiting for me to do in the court. The money and food supplies in the court are also waiting for me to raise. With my meager strength, I can do something practical for Your Majesty. It is my supreme honor. How can I retreat so easily? I'd better do my best and die!"

"Actually, you don't have to be like this."

Liu Ji advised, "You are not the only one supporting the court. Why do you have to make things difficult for yourself and put yourself in this situation?"

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and said, "Others can't do it... Look, apart from me, who can raise so much money and food at once? I have to beg for every grain and penny I earn by risking my reputation... I really can't bear to leave such a shameful thing to others. It's because I have lost my reputation a long time ago, so it doesn't matter whether I do it or not."

"..."

Liu Ji instantly felt that the person he was facing was definitely not a normal person, but a weird one among weird ones. Zhang Luan continued to talk to himself: "I also proposed to resign to His Majesty, but His Majesty just didn't agree. He said that he would wait until the northwest war had a result and I had military merits before promoting me to the cabinet.

"I immediately told His Majesty, what virtue and ability do I have? Compared to the two cabinet ministers, Elder Liu and Elder Xu, who are as bright as the moon, I am not even as bright as a firefly. I am really ashamed of Your Majesty's appreciation..."

"..."

Liu Ji remained speechless.

He found that Zhang Luan's rhetoric had made him feel helpless.

Is this a compliment to me?
Sounds like the real deal!
But why do I feel like he is mocking me?

But the question is which sentence is sarcastic? I can't tell at all!

Besides, he has to put me and Lao Xu together. What does he mean by this?
Zhang Luan said, "Lord Liu, you just said that the Ming Dynasty cannot do without me, but I think that the court cannot do without you. You must take care of your health. The future of the Ming Dynasty depends on the hard work of capable officials like you."

"what!?"

Liu Ji was stunned at first, then he said modestly, "Laizhan, you are exaggerating. I am just an ordinary person. I have been doing my duty in the cabinet for many years.

"Speaking of which, the court has encountered a lot of trouble this year. Since the twelfth lunar month, there has not been a single heavy snowfall in the capital. Now the north is suffering from drought. If the situation cannot be alleviated before the beginning of spring, then..."

Zhang Luan asked, "Do you need my help?"

"help?"

Liu Ji was startled, then waved his hands and said, "How can I help you with this? Just take good care of yourself. Looking at your spirit, you are actually..."

Zhang Luan was stunned for a moment, then realized that he was so busy dealing with Liu Ji that he completely forgot to show the morbidity he should have shown at this moment... Could it be that I look too energetic and energetic and don't look like I have a serious illness?

"Cough cough cough..."

Zhang Luan immediately started coughing loudly. Because he coughed too hard, his face soon became flushed and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.

Zhang Yanling hurriedly walked between the two men to block their line of sight, then turned to Liu Ji and said, "Mr. Liu, my father said that if he wants to recover from his illness, he needs to rest more. Moreover, his illness originated from Concubine Wan, the late emperor, and even Huai En, and may be contagious to a certain extent."

"What!?"

When Liu Ji heard this, he jumped up from his stool instantly. He felt as if he was facing a plague god.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Zhang Luan continued to pretend.

These days, the most feared infectious disease is pulmonary tuberculosis.

On the other side, Zhang Luan was already prepared. He took out a handkerchief stained with fresh chicken blood and covered his mouth with it. Then he pushed away his youngest son who was blocking his view and said weakly, "Yanling, your father is coughing up blood again. It seems that his condition has worsened. Alas, it is annoying that a doctor cannot treat himself!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanling immediately moved aside so that Liu Ji could clearly see the blood-stained handkerchief in Zhang Luan's hand. Then he stepped forward to take the handkerchief and placed it in the bamboo basket on the ground. Only then did Liu Ji notice that there were already several blood-stained towels in the bamboo basket, and the fear on his face became even greater.

Zhang Yanling bent down to cover his old father with a quilt, then turned around and said, "Mr. Liu, if you have anything important to say, please tell me as soon as possible. My father may need some rest."

Zhang Luan scolded: "You kid, you speak like this in front of the guests, are you trying to drive them away? You really don't know the rules! Lord Liu, please forgive me, my kid is purely doing this for your own good, he is afraid that I will infect him with a disease, he has no ill intentions..."

Liu Ji was filled with fear and anxiety, but he forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, Laizhan, I won't take it to heart. I came here just to visit you, and I have no other intentions. Since you need to rest, how can I not appreciate it? I'll take my leave now."

"Are you okay?"

Zhang Luan asked doubtfully, "Lord Liu, you don't have to be polite to me. Even though I'm sick, I won't delay in handling court affairs. You know that I'm usually very slow in doing things, and I don't even go to the government office often, but once something happens, I will never back down."

"I know. Laizhan, you are a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty. You should take good care of yourself..."

After Liu Ji finished speaking, he turned around and walked towards the door, as if he didn't want to stay any longer. Because he walked too fast, his feet were even a little unsteady, and his body leaned forward and he almost fell. Fortunately, he grabbed the door frame in time and didn't fall.

Zhang Luan ordered: "My son, please see the guests off properly. Your father cannot go out to see them off... This patient cannot stand the wind! Remember to close the door."

"I understand, father. I will take Mr. Liu there." Zhang Yanling responded respectfully, and then said, "Mr. Liu, please slow down. I will take you there..."

(End of this chapter)