Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 678: If You Can’t Beat Them, Then Avoid Them

Early the next morning.

Before the court meeting began, Huai'en learned from many sources that Liu Ji would represent the civil officials to impeach Zhang Luan and Li Zisheng today.

Li Rong approached Huai En and whispered, "Perhaps that old man Liu deliberately spread the rumor to show that he is in agreement with the important officials in the court.

"It is said that this time, the ministers in the imperial court will obey his orders and do their best to impeach him. It is a big deal. I just wonder if their actions will be rejected by His Majesty on the spot like before?"

Huai En smiled and shook his head, saying, "Previously, only the censors came out to impeach, and the scene was not big. It is the duty of the officials in the Ministry of Justice to speak out against illegal matters in the court. It is not surprising... But this time it is different. If even the cabinet ministers and ministers are involved, it will form a wave of public opinion. It is impossible for His Majesty not to listen to their opinions."

"can you?"

Li Rong seemed not to believe it. After all, the emperor's favor for Zhang Luan was obvious to all, and Li Zisheng was also favored by him. Sometimes even they, the emperor's close ministers, felt jealous.

Huai En said confidently: "Have you forgotten that His Majesty promoted Li Zisheng to be the Chief Censor? If it weren't for the strong opposition of the ministers in the court, Li Zisheng might have been directly appointed as the Governor-General and Chief Censor, and commanded a town of troops. And now, it's just a continuation of what happened at that time."

Li Rong nodded in understanding: "What Elder Huai said makes sense. Li Zisheng does not have the power to mobilize troops from a town, and he only has the title of Chief Censor. However, he dared to transfer troops from Datong and Shanxi towns, which violated the guiding spirit of the original court meeting. It is reasonable for the ministers to raise doubts in public at the court meeting and even impeach Li Zisheng."

Huai En nodded, but did not comment further.

Obviously, Huai En still has doubts about this.

Li Rong probably also noticed Huai En's hesitant attitude, and immediately asked: "Eunuch Huai, are you worried that if Li Zisheng really makes achievements in the northwest..."

"Is this possible?" Huai En asked suddenly.

"will not."

Li Rong answered without even thinking.

Huai En frowned and waved his hand, saying, "Maochun, I don't want to listen to you just repeating what others say. I just want to listen to your heartfelt words... Please comment on this matter from the perspective of an observer. I want to know if you can notice my doubts."

Li Rongxin said, are you testing me?

He seemed very confident and spoke eloquently: "In the past, no one would believe that Li Zisheng could achieve anything in the northwest with his ability. Li Zisheng has never been a talent for military management, but with Zhang Guozhang here, everything has changed, because too many things involving Zhang Guozhang cannot be guessed with common sense. I am not sure whether Li Zisheng has the possibility of achieving success."

"Ah."

Huai En nodded in relief, and then continued to ask, "Maochun, do you know much about Lizi Province?"

Li Rong nodded and said, "I have been on duty in the inner palace for many years, so I am relatively familiar with Lizi Province."

Huai En laughed when he heard this: "You are more stable than Ke Gong. He has many shortcomings, one of which is that when the previous emperor was alive, he interacted too much with people inside and outside the palace. He is very sensible in doing things, but it's a pity that he can't keep himself out of trouble."

Li Rong was quite encouraged when he heard this.

But then he realized a problem. Huai En only commented on Xiao Jing, but did not mention another competitor, Dai Yi.

As for Chen Kuan, Yang Peng and others in the Imperial Household Department, they cannot come to the fore for the time being. In the future competition for the seal, these people will not pose a threat to him.

Huai En nodded and said, "That's exactly what I'm worried about. Right now, all the officials have been blinded by their deep hatred for Li Zisheng. How much they admired Li Zisheng in the past, how unkind it is to kick him when he's down now. But once Li Zisheng, with the help of Zhang Guozhang, has the opportunity to make achievements in the northwest and leave an impression of a capable official in the eyes of Your Majesty, it won't be so easy to move him again."

Li Rong raised his own question: "Will Li Zisheng take advantage of Zhang Guozhang's relationship and take root in the northwest? If he has the opportunity to control the military and political power in the northwest and command hundreds of thousands of troops, then Zhang Guozhang's position in the court will be..."

Huai En's mouth twitched, and he asked, "So, Maochun, you think that Li Zisheng will achieve great military exploits in the northwest this time, rather than return empty-handed or even fail as others have attacked him?"

"This……"

Li Rong hesitated to speak. At this moment, he couldn't understand Huai En's mentality and didn't know how to answer.

"Well," Li Zisheng sighed helplessly and shook his head. "As a member of the Imperial Household Department, we should always remember the rule of not interacting with foreign officials. We should not get too involved in the grudges between civil officials. At the court meeting today, we should just watch the fun and not make any inappropriate remarks in the name of the Imperial Household Department."

Li Rongxin said, you should tell this to Qin Ji, why are you telling me this?
If he had not spoken up for Zhang Luan during the court meeting years ago, the ministers at the time would not have given in, and Li Zisheng would not have held a concurrent military position.

Huai En was thoughtful and said to himself: "But logically speaking, there should be news from the northwest in the past two days, but there has been no war report so far, which means that Zhang Guozhang can't be so wise as to predict everything... Then... is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

Li Rong was stunned.

He was also wondering, isn't it a good thing for us eunuchs to break the myth surrounding Zhang Luan? Isn't it in line with your expectations?

Do you still hope that he can really speak without error and hit the nail on the head on everything?

……

……

The two went to the Qianqing Palace together, ready to accompany the little emperor to the Fengtian Hall to attend the court meeting.

At this time, the sky was beginning to get light.

Logically, the little emperor should have woken up by now, and was waiting for them at the palace gate, fully dressed.

However, when they arrived, they learned from the eunuch serving at the Qianqing Palace that the emperor had sent a message earlier that he would be absent from court for a day because he was unwell and urgently needed rest.

"What? Your Majesty is ill?"

Li Rong hurried forward to inquire about the details.

The young eunuch said respectfully, "Yes, Eunuch Li, His Majesty moved to Kunning Palace just after the hour of Yin today and lived with the Empress, saying that he would receive the Empress' meticulous care... His Majesty had already told Eunuch Tan about this before, didn't Eunuch Tan inform the other two eunuchs?"

Huai En and Li Rong looked at each other.

When they woke up in the morning, they didn't see Qin Ji, nor did they hear that the emperor was ill.

The emperor fell ill neither earlier nor later, but had to fall ill when public opinion in the court was surging and all the ministers were attacking Zhang Luan. This can only mean that the emperor was avoiding facing the murderous ministers in the court who were determined to force him to submit.

"Did you pass on the imperial doctor?"

Wynn asked with concern.

The young eunuch shook his head: "I don't know."

Huai En said, "Then we need to summon the imperial physician to come and see the doctor as soon as possible...Looking at the situation, we have to inform the ministers waiting in front of the palace gate so that they don't have to wait."

Li Rong said respectfully, "Eunuch Huai, please let me go first. You can go back to the Silijian duty room first and ask Eunuch Tan what's going on."

"it is good."

Huai En nodded, "Remember what I said before, if anyone asks about the situation here..."

"I understand. I understand everything."

Li Rong didn't let Huai En finish his words.

The general meaning is, I understand even if you don't say it, we can't disclose our secrets in front of outsiders.

(End of this chapter)