Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 728 The Good Man’s Morality
Faced with this old royal servant who burst into tears right away, Zhang Yu was dumbfounded and didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Mr. Qin, please get up quickly... What bad things have happened to you? Is it because your condition is too serious this time and you need to go home to rest? Don't worry..."

Zhang Yu comforted him, "I will explain it to my father and my brother Yanling, and ask them to do their best to diagnose you... His Majesty hasn't come back yet, let's get up first and talk about it."

Zhang Yu thought to herself, our husband is the most considerate of the elderly, especially to Qin Ji, the old servant who grew up with him, he treats him like a family member and is very considerate and detailed in every way.

It would be bad if my husband knew about this and thought that I was the one who made Qin Ji cry, and he would blame me or have a prejudice against me.

Qin Ji didn't know what Zhang Yu was thinking. What he was thinking was that the queen treated me sincerely and never looked down on me as a servant. She used to treat me like a family member and even asked me to sit at the table and eat with her. Now she thought I was crying because I was sick and said she wanted her father and brother to treat me...

How could I treat such a kind and sincere family as potential political opponents and help Huai En deal with them?
Damn it I am.

Thinking of this, Qin Ji cried even more miserably.

Zhang Yu quickly pointed at the female official next to him, meaning, you have to testify for me, I didn't do anything to him, he was the one who kept crying.

The female officials serving beside her mistakenly thought that the Queen thought they were an eyesore, so they all bowed and left.

Zhang Yu was so anxious that she said, "Mr. Qin, why are you crying so much? If you think it's inconvenient to tell me, you can wait until His Majesty comes back and tell him in detail and let him make the decision for you... Get up quickly! Do you still want me to help you myself?"

As he said this, Zhang Yu was actually ready to step forward to help.

Qin Ji then stopped crying and got up from the ground. When he stood up and looked around, he found that all the palace maids and eunuchs who had served him had left, leaving not a single one.

He was thinking in his heart, maybe the Queen was considerate of me and knew that I might want to tell her something confidential, or maybe she felt that I couldn't save my reputation and wanted to send me away...

This is to save face for an old servant like me. He is also afraid that if I really get sick, I would be too embarrassed to ask Zhang Guozhang to come to my home to treat me, so he is giving me a way out.

What a great person!

The more Qin Ji thought about it, the more moved he became. He stood there, lowered his head and said, "Thank you for your concern, Queen. I am fine... Although I have been unwell these past two days, it is just a minor illness, just a cold."

Zhang Yu said angrily, "Oh, you scared me to death. I thought you were seriously ill and sad. But you are so sad, is it because something happened at home and you couldn't make ends meet last week? If you don't want to bring it up with His Majesty, it's the same to tell me. It's just some silver, even if it's a few dozen or a hundred taels, as long as you ask, I can give it to you."

When she finished speaking, she found that the excitement on Qin Ji's face became even more obvious.

She thought to herself, could it be that I really have a problem with money?

What she didn't know was that every seemingly unintentional word she said hit the soft spot in Qin Ji's heart, making Qin Ji feel even more guilty.

"My lady, I don't spend much money on a daily basis. I have been in the palace for so many years and have enough food and clothing. The money I have is enough for my retirement. You don't have to worry."

Tan Ji replied respectfully.

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes when he heard that. "Oh my, you want to make me anxious to death, don't you? Can't we just say what we want to say? If you don't want to say it, then don't say it. His Majesty said he will be back at noon to have lunch together, so it probably won't be long... Wait a minute."

"No... not..."

Qin Ji hesitated and said, "I don't want to tell your Majesty about this matter. It's really... too difficult to talk about..."

"ah!?"

Zhang Yu was slightly startled, then frowned and asked in confusion: "Why not tell His Majesty? Why must you tell me? What is it? Is it about Kunning Palace?"

Tan Ji whispered, "It's about the Zhang family."

"Oh."

Zhang Yu seemed to understand something and nodded, "Is the problem with my father or my brother? Could it be that my father's condition has changed? He can't be..."

Having said this, Zhang Yu has already stood up.

Could it be that my father is terminally ill and on the verge of death, and he asked you to come and inform me?
Otherwise, why did you burst into tears as soon as you came up, and why were you hesitating like you had something to hide?
Zhang Yu's words scared Qin Ji.

Qin Ji thought to himself, our queen is really kindhearted. Even now, she didn't even think that someone was deliberately targeting and framing the Zhang family. She only thought that her own family was in danger...

Such excellent character can only be taught by Zhang Guozhang, a kind-hearted doctor.

Eunuch Huai really deserves to die!
How could you actually suspect that the Zhang family was detrimental to the Ming Dynasty?
Who has ever seen a person who wants to be a powerful official and disrupt the government, claiming to be sick and not going out when he has the upper hand in the government? Is he even not interested in forming cliques?

You say that someone is pretending, but is there anyone who pretends like this?
Qin Ji said: "I don't know how Zhang Guozhang's condition is, but I think it's not serious. After all, he is blessed by God... The situation is like this. Someone secretly wants to target Zhang Guozhang and the young uncle, setting traps and obstacles everywhere, hoping that they... will never be able to gain a foothold in the court again. After I learned about it, I failed to report the matter truthfully, and I am guilty."

Zhang Yu stood there, looking very embarrassed.

Then he rolled his eyes and sat down again, turned his head to the side, and said angrily: "Mr. Qin, please speak more directly next time. Why do you speak so loudly? It's so scary, don't you know?
"If you do this again, I will punish you... Humph, I don't care what your Majesty thinks."

"Yes, yes, it's my fault. Even if the Queen wants to punish me, it's my own fault."

Although he was clearly taught a lesson by Zhang Yu, who even said he would punish him, for some reason, Qin Ji felt deeply moved after hearing it.

What the Queen shows is her true feelings!

Unlike some people, who clearly hate others in their hearts but still pretend to be good people.

As for our master, he just says what he thinks and is not good at disguising himself at all.

If you do something wrong, I will punish you, no matter if you are an old servant of the emperor.
Zhang Yu looked nonchalant, "You said that someone in the court is targeting my father and brother? Isn't this a common thing... Even Yanling can impeach me when he occasionally enters the palace. If a relative serves in the court, he will definitely be gossiped about. Most people will think that Your Majesty does not distinguish between public and private affairs and appoints cronies... Is there anything to be surprised about?"

"what?"

When Qin Ji heard this, he was almost shocked beyond words.

What a broad mind the Queen has!

Even though his family was being targeted, he was able to speak so calmly about it, as if he did not bear any grudges at all. He was even magnanimous towards those officials who targeted the Zhang family.

This is truly a model of a wise queen throughout the ages.

No wonder our Majesty, who is such a kind and generous person and never likes to deal with outsiders, has been devoted to our queen since he met her, and he doesn't even care about taking concubines... Is it just because the queen is so beautiful?
It's purely based on this kind of sincerity!
Zhang Yu said, "Mr. Qin, you don't have to take these things to heart. I think justice is in the hearts of the people."

"But... Zhang Guozhang has done so much for the court, how can he be... ignored?"

Tan Ji complained indignantly.

Hearing Qin Ji mention his unreliable father, Zhang Yu got angry and said, "Do you think my father would care about this? You don't know him. When he was in Xingji, he was heartless... Even he himself doesn't care, what's the point of you worrying about him?"

Qin Ji was too busy being moved. He was shocked by the words of the Queen, but the words were already on his lips and he couldn't help but say: "I still want to say that the one who took action this time was not an outsider, but someone close to your Majesty, Eunuch Huai En."

"Who?"

Even though Zhang Yu was mentally prepared, he still felt puzzled when he heard this.

Isn't Huai En a servant of my husband's family, the same as you, Tan Ji? He usually kowtows in front of me and shows respect to me. My husband also relies on him very much and obeys his orders.

I thought he was a good guy like Qin Ji.

Now you tell me that Huai En is a bad person?
Qin Ji felt even more guilty when he saw this. He thought, with the Queen's kindness, how could she possibly doubt the people around her? This Huai En is really a piece of shit. Didn't he betray the Queen's trust?
Qin Ji then explained to Zhang Yu in detail Huai En's previous series of plans, including what Huai En said personally and what he secretly instructed.

Zhang Yu sat there silently, listening to Qin Ji tell everything.

After Qin Ji finished speaking, Kunning Palace fell into silence. Zhang Yu remained silent, as if he was angry, or as if he couldn't believe it.

Before Zhang Yu gave clear instructions, Qin Ji stood there, silent as a mouse, not daring to make any comments.

Zhang Yu finally broke the silence and asked, "Your Majesty doesn't know about this, right?"

"Yes."

Qin Ji replied respectfully, "However...some things may have already shown signs, and Your Majesty cannot be completely unaware..."

Zhang Yu asked again: "Has my Zhang family ever offended Huai En?"

Tan Ji said quickly, "Absolutely not. On the contrary, Zhang had some favors towards Eunuch Huai. When Eunuch Huai was exiled to Fengyang Sixiang in Zhongdu, your father and the Empress Dowager took the initiative to suggest to Your Majesty that Huai En be recalled to the court to assist in government affairs. When Huai En fell ill, your father took the initiative to treat him without avoiding suspicion."

Zhang Yu asked: "Then do you think Huai En is the kind of person who is ambitious and likes to repay kindness with enmity?"

"This……"

Qin Ji didn't know how to comment.

In the past, he might have defended Huai En.

But now that the situation has come to this, the sword has been drawn, is there any room for maneuver?
Perhaps, the military parade outside the city has fallen into a state of chaos and disorder, Your Majesty has lost face, and the ministers have taken the opportunity to impeach the Zhang father and son. It seems that it is too late to do anything.

If that's the case, it's too late to say this now.

But he felt that some things still had to be made clear, otherwise he would be going against his conscience... It would be of no help anyway, and it had nothing to do with whether I maintained the image of a good person.

Eunuch Huai, you see, I only explained the situation to the Queen afterwards and did not disrupt your plan.

Zhang Yu said: "There are so many bad people in this court."

When Qin Ji heard this, he fell into deep shame.

These words clearly included an insult to Qin Ji as well.

The innocent, kind, generous and merciful queen always cared about the people around her and never treated these disabled people unfairly. However, they united one by one and targeted the queen's family...

Is this something a human could do?

However, I am different from them. I did not participate and I took the initiative to confess everything before the incident.

I have already done my best!

Qin Ji comforted himself in this way.

Zhang Yu sighed, "Now that things have come to this, my dear wife Qin, what do you think I can do? Tell His Majesty to send Huai'en back to Fengyang to continue guarding the imperial mausoleum? Isn't he already seriously ill, and..."

Tan Ji said, "I don't know. I was just ashamed and told you what I know. Please let the Queen make the decision."

……

……

Not long after Qin Ji finished crying, and even before her tears had dried, a palace maid came to announce that Zhang Yanling had entered the palace.

Tan Ji didn't react for a moment.

Wasn’t it said that this young uncle of the emperor was accompanying him and inspecting the troops outside the city?
Why are you back so early?
Could it be that the Emperor was delayed by something and allowed the young uncle to enter the palace first?

"That's great, Mr. Qin, go and explain the situation to my brother."

Zhang Yu frowned and said, "These intrigues are exhausting just to hear about them."

Qin Ji stood there in a daze, not knowing how to respond.

It's true that I came to you to cry and complain, but there are some things that I am embarrassed to say even in front of Your Majesty, and you want me to tell them honestly to the little prince's uncle?

I'm sorry, but the wisdom of the young prince has already exceeded the imagination of normal people. If he were to target me, I'm afraid that with my limited skills, I would be eaten alive by him without knowing it.

"Let him come."

Zhang Yu waved his hand.

The palace maid who came in to pass on the message reported: "To answer your Majesty, the uncle of the emperor went to Duanjing Hall first, saying that he wanted to check on the situation in the textile workshop over there... Previously, a palace maid said that two machines in the workshop were broken, and the uncle of the emperor happened to come across it and decided to go and take a look. If it is a minor problem, he can fix it easily. Otherwise, he also wants to know what the problem is and try to avoid similar problems in the future."

Zhang Yu angrily said, "Hurry up and get him over here! He's already in the palace, why is he fixing machines instead of coming to see his sister? He's been stepped on the head, but he's still so carefree? Is he stupid?"

"Yes."

The maid had no idea what was happening to her mistress.

Everything was fine before, but now he gets so angry when he hears that his brother went to repair the machine?

Now in the Ming Dynasty’s palace, no matter who you offend, don’t offend the Queen.

Anyone can see that the current emperor is extremely obedient to the queen. How can one have a good ending if he offends the queen?

"Mr. Qin, please wait a moment. Yanling is here. Please have a good talk with him."

Zhang Yu's face was not good. "It's just that I became a relative by marriage and helped the court do some things, but I got into so much trouble... Who did I offend?"

In the past, Tan Ji really couldn't empathize with his in-laws.

After all, what Huai'en did made sense. In every dynasty, one needs to guard against foreign relatives. Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty and Yang Guozhong's rebellion against the Tang Dynasty are both lessons from the past.

But right now...

On the premise that all members of the Zhang family are good people, Qin Ji was happy to accept being scolded.

(End of this chapter)