Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 69 Bond
Eastern Palace, Duanjing Hall.

Zhu Youtang was in no mood the whole day. He couldn't even concentrate on reading, as if he was sick.

When Liu Jian, the lecturer of the Eastern Palace, asked him questions, he answered irrelevantly. After being corrected by Liu Jian tactfully, Zhu Youtang looked ashamed, but after the class, he hurried back to the palace and called Tan Ji over.

"His Royal Highness..."

Qin Ji was directing the servants of the East Palace to do the pre-New Year cleaning. Since he had to take care of everything, no matter how big or small, Qin Ji was so tired after a day's work that even his waist seemed hunched.

Zhu Youtang was about to enter the hall but was stopped by Tan Ji.

Qin Ji said, "Your Highness, it's very dusty inside, and it's choking. You're back so early, so you should wait outside. It won't be too late for you to go in after some time, when the water on the ground has dried up."

Zhu Youtang nodded, then asked, "Did you receive a letter?"

"what?"

Qin Ji was stunned at first, then he understood what Zhu Youtang was talking about.

He shook his head. "I haven't received the letter yet... Your Highness, didn't you say you didn't care about this? Why are you so anxious now? As the crown prince, you should be calm and composed."

"Ugh!"

Zhu Youtang sighed heavily and frowned, "There are some things that I don't understand. I didn't take them seriously at first, but the more I think about it these past two days, the more anxious I've become. Today, my mind has been wandering and it's hard for me to concentrate."

"This is not good."

Qin Ji was dissatisfied with the prince's performance.

Zhu Youtang said: "I know it's not good, but I just can't help it. I don't know why."

Obviously, neither Zhu Youtang nor Qin Ji could understand the anxiety that people in later generations felt when they sent messages to others but received no reply.

Obviously it is a small matter, or it can be ignored, but it is the most frustrating when you wait in vain. When you wait for the news to come back, it is actually just a matter of time.

This is the case for ordinary people. For someone like Zhu Youtang, who has never written a letter to anyone, let alone had no experience of waiting for a reply, being unable to withstand the waves in his heart was nothing.

Zhu Youtang said, "My dear, you should go and ask for me... Even if there is no letter, let's see what's going on."

Tan Ji said: "If you say too much, it will seem deliberate... The palace is strictly guarded. Not to mention a letter, even a grain of sand or a piece of paper would be difficult to pass in and out of the palace."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Then all we can do is wait?"

"Ah."

Qin Ji seemed to have found the direction of educating the prince, and gave advice, "This is the right way to cultivate the prince's patience. Only by keeping calm can you accomplish great things."

"Okay. Then I'll continue to wait. But I don't know how she will react after reading what I wrote. Are some of the words too harsh?"

"No, Your Highness... You are the king and she is the subject. I will accept whatever you say. Why do you need to care about my feelings?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head: "What's the relationship between the ruler and the subject? It seems too distant. Just like you and I, we can get along equally. Even if it's as my wife said, I'm the ruler and she's the subject, then as a ruler, I should also think about what others think and worry about what others worry about, right?"

Tan Ji said: "The prince is kind to others and has the demeanor of a benevolent monarch."

Zhu Youtang smiled bitterly: "I am not the emperor yet, just the crown prince. I should be more open-minded about some things. It is hard to wait aimlessly like this. I really don't know how long I have to wait."

……

……

Zhu Youtang had a pen pal for the first time. Although they only exchanged letters once, an inexplicable bond seemed to have developed between them.

At Li Zisheng's mansion, Shen Lu just delivered the letter and soon met Li Zisheng.

Shen Lu felt that his status had been greatly improved compared to before. He could see Li Zisheng himself every time he came. He also knew that this was due to his brother-in-law who was good at fortune-telling and curing illnesses.

"The letter arrived so soon?"

Li Zisheng took the letter and was about to open it.

Shen Lu said: "Laizhan said that he didn't know the content of the letter either. The child wrote it himself."

"what?"

Li Zisheng frowned when he heard this.

Shen Lu analyzed, "I also thought he might be lying before, but from what he said, this letter only describes some scenery outside the palace, and also includes a poem. It is not worth reading. Although Lai Zhan has no experience as an official, he is cautious and will not speak without a purpose. I think he should know that even if he is just a student, it is a serious crime to have private communication with the prince."

Before this, Shen Lu always felt that Zhang Luan had no political acumen.

He still thinks so now. But in front of Li Zisheng, he has to say good things about Zhang Luan, after all, he and Zhang Luan are now on the same boat.

Li Zisheng hesitated again and again, but finally did not open the letter.

"If you read the contents of this letter, I might indeed be accused of having an affair with the Eastern Palace. Since Zhang Laizhan has already secretly informed the Crown Prince of my assistance to the Eastern Palace, the future letters will be delivered by them themselves. I will pretend that I don't know."

Shen Lu asked: "Look, since the message has been delivered, is there any need to deliver the letter? Otherwise, let's just forget about it..."

Li Zisheng laughed and said, "Do you think I want to continue now? Earlier, the eunuch Tan Jitan of the Eastern Palace even found the Imperial Observatory and asked why no letter was sent back. Maybe the crown prince also paid attention to this."

"How can this be?"

Shen Lu was very surprised.

Li Zisheng said, "In the past, I would never have thought that the Crown Prince would be so careless. Wouldn't this give people an excuse to attack him? But now that I think about it, this can be regarded as him showing me good will."

Shen Lu thought about it and nodded in agreement: "Minister Li is right. It is precisely because you sent the letter that the prince attaches so much importance to it. The prince may want to tell you in this way that he understands your kindness."

"Yes."

Li Zisheng stood up, looking very proud. "I never thought that this small letter would bring so many conveniences. Establishing a good relationship with the East Palace is beyond the duty of a minister, but no matter what, he is the crown prince. We are just ministers, aren't we?"

Shen Lu thought, if the emperor questions you after finding out, you will say the same thing. Let’s see if your excuse works!
Except for you and that fearless Zhang Laizhan, who else in the court dares to get close to the Eastern Palace?
Li Zisheng suddenly said, "Your Majesty has been summoning the imperial physician more and more frequently in the past six months."

When Shen Lu heard this, he instantly understood something, but he didn't dare to ask directly.

Li Zisheng suddenly turned his head to look at Shen Lu, and asked with a sneer: "Ruxue, do you know what this means?"

"I don't know."

Shen Lu's head almost drooped to his chest, and he stammered, "I am a low-ranking official, and my words are not taken seriously. How dare I have such an unreasonable thought?"

Li Zisheng asked: "Then do you know why I am telling you this?"

"Uh……"

Shen Lu still didn't know how to answer.

Li Zisheng put on a friendly smile and said, "Because I treat you as one of my own. Among all the officials in the Tongzhengshisi, you have the lowest family background, just a Juren. But you have strong communication skills. Even those who are Jinshi may not have your ability. Your future is limitless."

Shen Lu cupped his hands and said, "I am unworthy of this position."

Li Zisheng nodded with satisfaction and said, "It's a good thing to be humble. You should keep an eye on Zhang Laizhan. If there is an earthquake in Mount Tai recently, there will be no problem in the prince's selection of a concubine."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lu immediately became nervous and couldn't help asking, "What if there was no earthquake on Mount Tai?"

"Humph."

Li Zisheng's face turned cold, and he said in a slightly cruel tone, "I can't do anything to Zhang Laizhan... To gain people's trust, you must trust them. Even if he didn't predict the outcome, he still deserves credit for the earthquake in Ningxia."

When Shen Lu heard this, he instantly felt relieved. It turned out that Li Zisheng was a tolerant and generous person. No wonder he could sit in such a high position and was deeply trusted by the emperor.

"but……"

Li Zisheng changed the subject and said, "Forget about him entering the Imperial Hospital. As for studying at the Imperial College... hehe."

The words were not very thorough, but they sent a chill down Shen Lu's spine.

He was very upset.

Am I helping Zhang Laizhan or harming him?

I told him before that entering the Imperial Medical Bureau was a sure thing, but now it seems that there is no chance at all. Could it be that you, Zhang Laizhan, really have great supernatural powers and can make an earthquake happen wherever you say it?

If there is no earthquake, I'm afraid you can forget about having a good life in the future.

"Ruxue, since you are here, I have something to deal with. Can you help me deal with it?"

Li Zisheng didn't seem to consider Shen Lu a stranger, and he immediately arranged a task for him. "Take my handwritten letter and go out of the city. There is a family in Guaizi Hutong outside the city. Some of my former classmates live there. They just arrived in the capital and need to be settled. These people have no moral character, and I'm afraid they will cause trouble... Send someone to keep an eye on them later."

"Yes Yes."

Shen Lu responded hurriedly, but he felt a little uncomfortable.

It is clearly just a superior-subordinate relationship in official matters, but now Li Zisheng asked him to handle private matters, and it seems that this private matter is very tricky.

He couldn't figure out for a moment whether it was a good thing or a bad thing to be on the same boat with Li Zisheng.

I’m asking for a wave of follow-up reading on Tuesday. Don’t keep waiting. Just read it when you need to. Please!
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(End of this chapter)