Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 36 Everyone gets what they need
After Shen Lu left, Zhang Luan returned to the inn room and said in front of Jin and Zhang Yanling, "It's good to have relatives in the capital. Haven't they been brought to Tongzhou? Maybe I will have a chance in the future... After all, it's easier to be an official if you have someone in the court..."

Jin glared at her husband, probably thinking that he was daydreaming again, and turned around to go out and clean the room next door.

When the family travels, they can only book two rooms, one for men and one for women, and Zhang Luan has to sleep with his two sons at night.

Zhang Yanling asked, "Dad, weren't you embarrassed when you were talking to my uncle just now?"

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "Why do you feel so awkward?"

Zhang Yanling thought to himself, when it comes to being thick-skinned, there is still a gap between you and me.

"Yanling, look at your uncle, he has a lot of connections in the court. My father's sister, your aunt, married into the Shen family, and his sisters all married high-ranking officials in the court. With his connections, it won't be difficult for us to gain a foothold in the capital in the future."

Zhang Luan's eyes suddenly looked a little disappointed when he said this. "It's a pity that I don't know what kind of official I can become after I graduate from the Imperial College."

Zhang Yanling asked, "Dad, don't you want to be the father-in-law of the emperor?"

"Nonsense, not to mention that your sister hasn't become the Crown Princess yet. Even if she did, you wouldn't be able to become the Emperor's father-in-law in a short time... I thought you had made progress, but in fact you only know half of the truth... Go get some water to wash your feet and relieve your fatigue. After dinner, go to bed early. We'll leave at dawn tomorrow and arrive in Beijing before sunset."

Zhang Luan stood up and walked out.

When I was leaving the door, I happened to run into Zhang Yu coming into the room.

Zhang Yu had obviously come to ask his younger brother about meeting his uncle Shen Lu and asking him to act as a matchmaker, but he never expected to run into his old father.

When only the brother and sister were left in the room, Zhang Yu spoke first: "The eldest brother asked mom for a few coins and ran out to show off. Aren't you going to follow him?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister, why do you still treat me like a child? I am different from my elder brother."

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes at his brother, then asked in a low voice: "I met uncle...how did it go?"

"How about what?"

Zhang Yanling pretended to be confused.

"Didn't you tell me before that you wanted to ask your uncle for help in matchmaking? Or did you never say that at all?" Zhang Yu was a little annoyed. What time was it? Was his brother still teasing him?

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "How could I not tell you? But you should know that even if your uncle knows that your father wants to find you a husband, he won't be able to find a suitable family in a short time... Besides, the prince's selection of concubines has not even started yet!"

Zhang Yu asked, "What's the point of telling him?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Sister, you are ignorant, right? First, spread your good reputation among the dignitaries in the capital as a well-educated, well-mannered and naturally beautiful woman... After all, the Shen family is one of the aristocratic families in the capital. Let your sister have a good reputation first. Then, when the Crown Princess is selected, won't your sister have a better chance?"

"Why are you still talking about selecting a Crown Princess? Second brother, have you been daydreaming too much? Why do I feel... it's unrealistic?" Zhang Yu had no confidence anymore.

This younger brother helped her to matchmake, but he did not follow any common sense at all. He started by saying that she would marry the prince and become the prince consort, which made her feel that he was not reliable.

But Zhang Yanling, who knew the course of history, felt that he was just completing a natural task and did not think it was bizarre or ridiculous.

……

……

Tongzhou, the residence of Juren Cao Shun.

When Shen Lu came to visit, he planned to stay overnight at Cao Shun's house because he had a good relationship with Cao Shun. Cao Shun had served as a county magistrate in the past, and the two of them got along well.

"Ruxue, it's a rare trip for you to Tongzhou. Let me tell you, there are a lot of lands for sale in Tongzhou right now, many of which are excellent irrigated lands that are not suitable for the suburbs of Beijing. Even the sandy lands in the corners are not for sale. If you have free time, come with me for a walk outside. I will take you to choose a good piece of land, and then plant some flowers, raise some fish, and plant some fruit trees..."

Cao Shun is now in a semi-retired state. Coming from a well-off family, he just wants to live a comfortable life.

What people care about now is not how to be an official, but farming to support their retirement. And they are not just growing grain, but cash crops.

Shen Lu said, "Let's talk about it later." Seeing that Shen Lu was not in high spirits, Cao Shun asked Shen Lu about the details.

So Shen Lu told his old friend in detail about his meeting with Zhang Luan, and spoke frankly about Zhang Luan asking him to help with matchmaking and even to arrange for her to become the Crown Princess.

"Haha."

Cao Shun laughed when he heard this, "Your uncle is a bit ignorant of the current situation... Wan controls the inner palace, and even His Majesty does not ask about the prince's affairs. He actually wants his daughter to marry him as a concubine? I'm afraid he doesn't know the dangers of the inner court of the imperial palace, right?"

"Why are you saying that?"

As an official in office, Shen Lu obviously did not want to criticize the royal family.

Cao Shun smiled and said, "Okay, okay. How are you going to refuse?"

Shen Lu said, "I used to have a bad impression of my brother-in-law. I thought he didn't care about his studies and always did unrealistic things. I didn't expect that he could attract the attention of the local inspector by treating illnesses and gain the qualification of a student. Logically speaking, he shouldn't be so short-sighted."

"how do I say this?"

Cao Shun put away his smile.

Shen Lu looked at his old friend and asked, "The prince is weak right now. Even though he has passed the age for selecting a concubine, the court has been delaying it... If the selection is really held, I'm afraid there will be very few candidates. You see... If my niece is really selected, the prince is weak and will definitely rely on Zhang. If we make arrangements in advance and help him secretly, will it be..."

At this moment Shen Lu suddenly "woken up". Given Zhang Luan's background, if he wanted to gain a foothold in the court, he had to find a force to rely on. As a relative by marriage, the Shen family was naturally the best choice.

The prince was weak and alone, which also met Shen's need to curry favor with him.

Both sides got what they needed.

Cao Shun said: "That being said, but Brother Ruxue, with your strength, can you really help him?"

Shen Lu smiled and said, "With the abilities of my Shen family, I am naturally unable to do what I want, but I have many colleagues and close friends in the court, so I am not completely powerless."

"Oh? Do you have any connection with the Eastern Palace Lecture Hall?" Cao Shun was very surprised.

His question hit the nail on the head.

At present, Crown Prince Zhu Youtang has little power. The only people who truly support him are the Hanlin officials who serve as lecturers in the Eastern Palace. Although these Hanlin officials have no real power, they have a very high voice among the literati. The better their evaluation of the crown prince, the more helpful it will be for the crown prince to succeed to the throne in the future.

Cao Shun suddenly thought of something and said, "There is a capable person in the Tongzhengsi. If Brother Ruxue comes forward, he may really be able to create a bright future for the Zhang family."

"It's difficult."

Shen Lu shook his head helplessly.

The conversation between the two seemed like a riddle, but in fact everyone understood what was going on.

One important reason why Cao Shun was so flattering to Shen Lu was that the current head of the Tongzhengsi, Tongzhengshi Li Zisheng, had connections in the court and could almost decide the future of many officials with a single word. Many officials from the Tongzhengsi could become high-ranking officials at the governor-general level. Even if Shen Lu was only a juren, he would have a bright future as he was associated with the Tongzhengsi.

When Shen Lu said it was difficult, he was probably telling Cao Shun that the matter of the prince's selection of a concubine could not be passed through Li Zisheng, because Li Zisheng would not do anything without profit, so how could he easily help the prince?

I also heard that this person had a rift with the prince, and they had disliked each other for a long time.

Cao Shun sighed, "If you insist on going against the current, you should also consider the pros and cons behind it. I am just a farmer now, and I really shouldn't ask about such things. Since I know that there is a member of the Zhang family in Xingji going to Beijing to study at the Imperial Academy, I will go with you to visit him tomorrow, and we can also make friends."

Originally, Cao Shun didn't want to know Zhang Luan.

But since Shen Lu had said that he wanted to help the Zhang family in the selection of the Crown Princess, he subconsciously concluded that it was necessary to meet her. Even if it was just a casual conversation, perhaps he could climb up the social ladder.

It is said that one should retire to the countryside, but who can truly escape from the secular world and give up the desire for fame, wealth and power?

Thank you cRa2yH for the Silver Alliance, thank you all for your rewards and monthly tickets, I will continue to update three chapters today! There will be another chapter at pm!
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(End of this chapter)