Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 368: The Subversion Is Not Thorough Enough
Zhang Yanling and Zhu Youtang did some psychological preparation.

Then he found that it was much more difficult to explain the truth to Zhu Youtang than to convince Zhang Luan.

No matter how incompetent Zhang Luan was in the past, he had experienced a lot of things in life. He had passed the imperial examinations for decades and he was also cunning. For some things, he only needed his son's suggestions and he could understand them in an instant, and there would be no problem in execution.

But when these were applied to Zhu Youtang, Zhang Yanling deeply felt the unevenness between people, because Zhu Youtang's character was too stubborn, and psychologically he was more like a newborn calf who was ignorant of the world and could not listen to advice.

Of course, Zhang Yanling also understood that, after all, he was only Zhu Youtang's brother-in-law, not a close relative, and others might not trust him wholeheartedly. He needed time to prove himself.

Fortunately, Zhang Yanling made Zhu Youtang understand that the purpose of this investigation was not to get a result, but to trap the two cabinet members in shallow water so that they would have no time to distract themselves from promoting the plan of changing the crown prince. This would be considered a victory.

……

……

The meeting is over.

Zhang Yanling said goodbye and left.

Zhu Youtang still had to wait for Zhang Luan to arrive.

Obviously, the main purpose of Zhu Youtang's trip was to meet his father-in-law. He was worried about leaving without seeing him, and it would be difficult to report to his wife when he returned.

"Second brother, what you said is very good. I was listening to you and I felt that what you said makes a lot of sense." After leaving the house, Zhang Heling complimented his younger brother.

Zhang Yanling asked in surprise: "Do you understand?"

"Of course I didn't understand, but the person in front of you is my brother-in-law, the prince, who will be the emperor in the future. You talk to him as if you are educating your grandson. It's really awesome."

Zhang Heling said with emotion.

Zhang Yanling was stunned for a moment, then pointed at himself and asked, "My tone of voice is not that harsh, right?"

"I'm not talking about the tone of your voice, but I think our brother-in-law is a little bit mentally handicapped. Why does he seem to not understand anything you say? I thought I was the only one with a stupid brain, but it turns out... hehe."

Zhang Heling suddenly felt extremely superior at this moment.

Zhang Yanling couldn't help but sigh when he heard this.

Zhu Youtang is not doing very well. Even Zhang Heling looks down on him. If this gets out... it would be so embarrassing.

Zhang Yanling shook his head and said, "Brother, what qualifications do you have to look down on your brother-in-law?"

"I just think... forget it. He's the prince after all. I'll still be with him in the future, so I won't say bad things about him..."

"I think if my brother-in-law were like me and led a group of people to fight, he would be awesome. He is so stubborn, and if I teach him the essence of fighting, he will definitely learn it well."

Zhang Heling began to have wild ideas again.

Zhang Yanling didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and urged: "Let's go, hurry back, I still have things to do. I have to discuss business with someone today."

……

……

A private room in a wine shop.

After his two brothers-in-law left, Zhu Youtang sat there drinking tea leisurely, not seeming to be in a hurry.

Seventeen years of near-confinement had trained him to have great patience. He was not impatient or anxious in doing anything. He did not have the capital to be impatient. No one had forced him before, and now he felt more like just wasting his time and waiting to die...

"My dear, did you understand what Yanling said just now?"

Zhu Youtang asked.

Qin Ji replied: "I understand what I heard, but..."

Zhu Youtang laughed and said, "You think he is exaggerating, right? I have known Elder Wan and Elder Liu for a long time, and I think they are capable. Even if some people look down on them, they are not as Yanling said. They will openly treat the court laws as a joke, right?"

Tan Ji couldn't help but feel emotional.

It seems that this young master has underestimated the dangers of this world.

Qin Ji was thinking that what the second son of the Zhang family said was a minor case. If we were to put it in a more serious way, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were bringing disaster to the country and the people.

"Yanling also said that we must prevent them from killing people to silence them. Who can they kill?"

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "Human life is of paramount importance. If someone really kills someone, then the nature of the matter is different. No one would complicate a simple matter."

Tan Ji said, "Sir, shall we go back? Things outside the palace...are not peaceful after all."

Zhu Youtang said, "I am waiting for my father-in-law to come. Why haven't I seen him yet?"

"This……"

Qin Ji said, "I will ask someone to watch over the palace gate. If Mr. Zhang leaves the palace, urge him to come over immediately."

……

……

"Eunuch Qin, do you think our prince will really accept the advice of Mr. Zhang II?"

At the door of the tavern, Jiang Cong looked at Tan Ji nervously.

Qin Ji frowned and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Jiang Cong said with emotion, "I have had many contacts with Second Master Zhang, and I have long known that he has extraordinary insights. This time he said that the circumstances behind this case are complicated, which means that it is indeed difficult to sort out the joints in a short period of time. However, our prince seems to be only concerned with sharing the worries of His Majesty, and has never thought about his own problems."

"Ugh!"

Qin Ji sighed, "Isn't Your Highness always like this?"

Jiang Cong said: "Then you should remind His Highness... You can't just accept whatever His Highness says, right?"

Qin Ji continued to sigh: "These words are useless if I say them, but if I talk to our Crown Princess, and then she brings it up with the Crown Prince, it will be much more effective."

"That's true."

Jiang Cong quickly realized that Qin Ji did have insight.

Nothing will be effective unless there is communication between husband and wife.

No matter whether it was Zhang Yanling or the servants, it would be useless for them to say anything.

……

...When Zhang Luan came to see Zhu Youtang, it was already late.

More and more customers came into the tavern.

Zhang Luan arrived at the door of the private room and was about to step forward to greet Zhu Youtang who was coming out to greet him. In his opinion, it was a great honor to meet the prince alone and he needed to show off, but Zhu Youtang got there first.

"Father-in-law, we have something to say."

Zhu Youtang said.

The shopkeeper saw another person coming, and was called father-in-law by the young man. He kept muttering, "Just after my brother-in-law left, here comes my father-in-law. He has been occupying the private room for a long time. It seems that he doesn't want to leave! Fortunately, I gave him a reward of 200 coins when he came. Otherwise, I would have kicked him out if he delayed my business."

In the private room of the tavern, Zhu Youtang humbly asked Zhang Luan for advice.

Zhang Luan asked, "Your Highness, didn't my son, Yanling, come here just now?"

"Father-in-law, I just met Heling and Yanling, and talked to them." Zhu Youtang said.

"You talked to He Ling too?"

Zhang Luan was surprised.

Are you sure your brain is okay?
Is my eldest son a man who can talk?

Zhu Youtang said: "Indeed, it was Yanling who was talking before, and he talked a lot about the Tongzhou warehouse. However, he seemed to be very concerned about the two cabinet ministers and told me to be more careful about them."

"Then Prince... do you think what he said makes sense?" Zhang Luan asked.

"I think……"

Zhu Youtang was a little confused.

Why is it that when his father-in-law comes, he doesn't talk about the business but instead keeps talking about his son?

Zhang Luan said, "Prince, please don't ask why Yanling wants to tell you this... After all, what he said is what I want to say. I don't have much opinion on this matter. Now that my son says so, you can listen to him."

Zhu Youtang widened his eyes and asked, "Does my father-in-law want to stay out of this?"

"No, no, no, I am dedicated to helping the prince, and I will do my best." Zhang Luan said, "But the Ministry of Revenue is too complicated. There is both a minister and an assistant minister. The Jingcang and Tongzhoucang also have assistant ministers who are in charge of the Ministry of Revenue... I'm going to say something unpleasant here, so please don't get angry, prince."

Zhu Youtang said: "Father-in-law, please speak."

Zhang Luan said helplessly: "With your current strength, it is difficult to shake the deep-rooted power of the Ministry of Revenue, and it is impossible to drain the muddy water behind it. Wanting to clear the muddy water... that is just an ideal."

Zhu Youtang asked in surprise: "Why is my father-in-law so pessimistic about this?"

Tan Ji hurriedly reminded: "Your Highness, what Mr. Zhang said makes sense!"

"Even my dear, do you think so?"

Zhu Youtang looked over.

Tan Ji quickly lowered his head.

Compared with Zhang Luan and his son's "righteous words", Qin Ji seemed more shy in many things. He seemed afraid of causing trouble and could only hide behind and worry.

Zhang Luan said: "Usually, I have had a lot of contact with Minister Li of the Yintai Division, and I have learned a lot from him. Elder Wan and Elder Liu control the government, and now they are involved in the issue of changing the crown prince. The two have ulterior motives, it's really..."

Zhang Luan had said halfway when he realized that the prince's expression when he listened to him this time was completely different from the last time when his daughter was present in Duanjing Hall.

"Uh……"

Zhang Luan hesitated for a moment before adding, "If you think what I said is unpleasant, just pretend I didn't say it."

Zhu Youtang said: "I just want to know how to investigate this case thoroughly, who should I start with, and what should I investigate!"

“Prince, I understand that you want to find a breakthrough point, but have you ever thought about how you can make a breakthrough even if you know who the key person is?
"Should we call him in for questioning? Or...send him to the Imperial Prison for interrogation?"

Zhang Luan asked back.

Zhu Youtang was speechless and unable to respond.

Zhang Luan said: "My son said that the key point lies with Sun Ren, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. However, he also said that this person is now very dangerous. If someone deliberately wants to muddy the waters, he must not be allowed to live."

"Isn't it?"

Zhu Youtang blurted out.

"I don't know either. Let's wait and see what happens." Zhang Luan said, "If the prince wants to visit this person, that's fine. I'll tell you his address, or you can go to the Ministry of Revenue to see him tomorrow... I wonder if Minister Li of the Ministry of Revenue can introduce him to you?"

Zhu Youtang said, "It is said that Minister Sun is recuperating in the mansion."

"Then go meet him at his home."

Zhang Luan said, "But he probably won't see guests. If you want to investigate him and meet him in private, it will be hard to explain to others. Maybe he will..."

"how?"

Zhu Youtang asked.

Zhang Luan coughed twice and said, "It might even cause him to die a violent death."

"Cough cough cough..."

Perhaps this incident was too subversive to his long-formed outlook on life and the world, and Zhu Youtang couldn't help but cough violently.

……

……

Zhang Luan saw Zhu Youtang off.

Before leaving, Qin Ji said helplessly: "Mr. Zhang, there are some things you don't need to tell the prince in so much detail. Besides...you and your son's words are too..."

"That's unpleasant, isn't it?"

Zhang Luan stiffened his neck and said, "Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear, but the prince will have to face it all. There are so many people with ulterior motives in the court, and I can't handle them all by myself."

Tan Ji said, "Wouldn't it be better if you investigate the case yourself and report it to the Crown Prince?"

When Zhang Luan heard this, he thought, what a great guy.

If the prince is described as naive, then you, Qin Ji, would be shameless.

(End of this chapter)