Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 44: Threading the Needle
The study room of the Li Mansion.

Seeing Li Zisheng's dumbfounded look, Shen Lu was also surprised: "Could it be true?"

Li Zisheng hesitated for a while before saying, "Your Majesty has only discussed this matter with a few close ministers in the inner court, and has not made it public. Because the matter is too important, he has not even informed the Ministry of Rites. This person actually knew about it in advance. He is not simple."

Shen Lu thought about it and analyzed hesitantly: "Perhaps my brother-in-law guessed it based on the prince's age... After all, the prince has indeed reached the right age to marry."

"Ah."

Li Zisheng nodded repeatedly, "That does make sense... Oh, by the way, what else did he say?"

"This……"

Shen Lu hesitated to speak, but finally mustered up the courage to say: "He did say one more thing, but... it may be disrespectful to the nobles in the palace, I... dare not... say anything nonsense..."

Li Zisheng waved his hand and encouraged: "You can talk as you like. I will never tell anyone about our private conversations. Don't worry..."

Shen Lu was still very hesitant, but he still gritted his teeth and said it out, but his heart was already beating like a drum: "He said that in the palace... a noble lady is sick, and her condition is getting worse. It's... it's Concubine Wan."

Li Zisheng was originally holding a hot tea bowl in his hand, playing with it slowly to warm his palms. When he heard the words, he was distracted and almost lost control, so that a lot of tea spilled out.

"Minister Li, my brother-in-law is talking nonsense. Please don't take it to heart." Shen Lu thought that this topic was a taboo. He was so scared that he knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.

Li Zisheng almost threw the tea bowl on the table, walked over and pulled Shen Lu up, and asked seriously: "He...did he really say that?"

Now Shen Lu was a little confused.

He vaguely felt that his brother-in-law seemed to be right about this matter.

Seeing Shen Lu nod heavily, Li Zisheng exclaimed sincerely: "This matter is of great importance and extremely confidential. Even the Queen Mother is unaware of it. Your Majesty has only mentioned it to a very few people around him. In the Imperial Hospital, only the judge Qian Dun knows about it. He is usually responsible for consultation and prescribing medicine."

Shen Lu was even more surprised, and asked tremblingly: "Then... how did my brother-in-law know about this? Minister Li... Minister Li, I really don't know about this."

Li Zisheng smiled and said comfortingly, "I didn't say you leaked the royal secrets. Besides, do you have the qualifications? After what you said, this Zhang Laizhan is even more complicated. He is outside the palace walls, but he knows everything about the Forbidden Palace. He has only been in the capital for a few days... Has anyone else had any dealings with him?"

Shen Lu pondered over it carefully, and suddenly thought of something, saying, "When I went to Tongzhou to welcome the emperor, I met Qin Yun, a captain of the Imperial Guard. He is the nephew of the eunuch Qin who holds the seal of the Imperial Household Department... It is said that he was ordered to send my brother-in-law and his family to the capital. There may be a connection."

Li Zisheng took a deep breath and said, "Even the internal minister, Eunuch Tan, knows about this person? Not simple, your brother-in-law is indeed not simple!"

Shen Lu asked curiously, "Could it be that...Eunuch Tan sent someone to inform my brother-in-law about the situation in the palace?"

"will not."

Li Zisheng said confidently, "Concubine Wan's illness happened in the past few days. How could outsiders know about it? Besides, even the Imperial Hospital has not come to a conclusion about Concubine Wan's condition. It is still unclear whether Eunuch Tan knows about it or not. Send someone to tell him that I want to see him."

Shen Lu said, "Minister Li, please forgive my brother-in-law for his rudeness. He said before that it would be best not to meet you before the earthquake in Ningxia."

Li Zisheng frowned: "What does he mean by that? He dares to tell me the prophecy without meeting me?"

Shen Lu said helplessly: "He meant that this prophecy was only for me. I thought about it and thought that he was afraid that if this matter could not be fulfilled, he would be blamed later."

Li Zisheng stood up, looking cautious: "Now that Concubine Wan is ill, even if it is just for the sake of getting married, the prince must choose a concubine. It seems that I have to help the prince.

"Ruxue, you did a great job this time. I can be open with you about some things. Do you know what the lady in his family looks like and what her character is like?" "Minister Li, what do you mean by that..."

Shen Lu seemed to understand something suddenly.

Li Zisheng was impressed by Zhang Luan's abilities and really intended to make good use of them.

Li Zisheng said: "Just tell the truth."

Shen Lu said firmly: "To be honest, my niece is so beautiful, well-known in the village, and was originally betrothed to a wealthy family, but the son of that family was ill for a long time, so the marriage was rejected, and my brother-in-law moved to the capital with his family to settle down."

"Not bad."

Li Zisheng nodded repeatedly, "She is the daughter of a student of the Imperial Academy. She is of the right age, and her family background, character, and appearance are all acceptable. She is also an upright person. If she were an ordinary person, she would never dare to let anyone mention any prophecy to me."

Shen Lu said hurriedly: "Yes, yes, my brother-in-law is a very good person, otherwise he would not have taken such a great risk to come forward and save people and benefit the village."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "That's good... I will tell the heavens what he said."

"what?"

Shen Lu was shocked.

As a figure who is almost like a national teacher in the Ming Dynasty, you actually believed the words of a student who had little following, and even planned to report his prophecy to the emperor?
Li Zisheng said: "The earthquake in Ningxia sounds absurd, but it is not impossible. Generally, for small earthquakes, the local authorities will just send the Supervisory Censor to confirm it. Everything is under control."

Shen Lu said: "If it is exposed..."

"Wouldn't that just put the blame on him?" Li Zisheng looked cunning. "He was the one who reported the prophecy, and I submitted it on his behalf. If it is revealed to be a false report, it would be his fault. He should have thought of this step a long time ago, otherwise how can I say that he set a trap for me?"

When Shen Lu heard this, in addition to being surprised, he also felt a little regretful.

He thought to himself, I wouldn’t betray Lai Zhan, would I?

Why didn’t I think of this?
If you report the earthquake prediction and it really happens, or if the local people report it according to your wishes and the emperor believes it, then the credit goes to you.

If it fails and the matter is exposed, then Lai Zhan will have to bear the consequences?

Is this the original intention of coming to see?

What is Lai Zhan's purpose in doing this?
Isn't this just putting yourself on the fire?
Shen Lu felt mixed emotions, but he heard Li Zisheng say smugly, "Reporting the earthquake, why didn't I think of this trick? This can be considered as indirectly helping the prince. With the prince's kindness, how could he be ungrateful?"

Shen Lu really wanted to ask, the emperor is now in his prime, isn’t it too early for you to rush to ask the prince to remember your kindness?
Li Zisheng patted Shen Lu on the shoulder and said, "Ruxue, go back and tell your brother-in-law that I have taken note of his words. If he wants to send my daughter to the palace to participate in the selection of the Crown Princess, I will help him.

"You must not disclose this matter to anyone. In addition...if this is successful, I will definitely reward you. Even if the selection of the Crown Princess fails, I will definitely help him get the position of the Imperial Hospital."

"Yes Yes."

Shen Lu was in mixed emotions and could only respond mechanically.

(End of this chapter)