Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 684: Son follows his father
Zhang Luan was eagerly waiting for his colleagues to come and congratulate him.

As a result, after waiting for a long time, the only messenger sent by the palace arrived. This time, two big bosses from the Imperial Household Department, Huai En and Qin Ji, came together. In addition to announcing the good news, they also came to express condolences to Zhang Luan on behalf of the emperor.

"My father is resting in his room."

Zhang Yanling said respectfully, "He wrote a prescription for himself and asked us to take the medicine according to the prescription. He seldom goes out recently... It's so cold in spring, and I'm afraid my body can't stand it."

Huai En said with a smile: "Did we come at the wrong time? Eunuch Tan, we can leave the imperial edict written by His Majesty himself and then we can go."

Qin Ji said in embarrassment: "No matter what, we should meet Zhang Guozhang first, right? It's not right to go back and report like this."

"It's okay to see or not see."

Huai En said lightly, "After all, Zhang Guozhang is not an outsider. Your Majesty can understand. What else can't we accommodate? But we still have to trouble the Second Young Master to go in and report so that your father will know that we have been here."

Zhang Yanling said, "I have already sent someone to report this. Perhaps my father is in his room preparing to come out to greet the angel."

"Since you are seriously ill, there is no need to be so polite."

While Huai En was talking, he continued to pace towards the house.

He said that he could make an exception and there was no need to meet Zhang Luan to issue the decree, but it seemed that he also wanted to see with his own eyes how Zhang Luan hid at home and pretended to be sick.

Zhang Yanling said: "Eunuch Huai, to be honest, my father's disease is somewhat special and contagious. And your body..."

What you mean is that those of us who are young and strong are not afraid, but you and Qin Ji are both half buried in the ground, especially you, Huai En, who is now terminally ill. You still have the mind to check on other people's conditions and want to verify whether they are faking illness. Aren't you too ambitious?

Huai En stopped and said, "In that case, I am really not suitable to meet him, lest Zhang Guozhang feel guilty for infecting me with the disease. In fact, I know my own illness. This broken body can't support it for much longer. Even if I die immediately, it has nothing to do with Zhang Guozhang."

Zhang Yanling thought, are you trying to have fun with me?
Who would think that your death has something to do with Lao Zhang?

There are even rumors out there that it is my cheap dad who is treating you...

Of course, it's just a legend. In fact, only you know whether you have used the prescriptions we prescribed and the corresponding treatment plans, as well as how you are treating yourself now.

What doctors fear most is that patients have psychological problems and are too opinionated. They like to act on their own and completely disregard the doctor's orders, only to regret it when nothing can be done to save the patient.

"Yanling, are Eunuch Huai and Eunuch Tan here?"

As they were talking, Zhang Luan walked out of the house.

He was supported by Chang Shun, and he walked very slowly with a hunched back, as if every step he took was extremely difficult.

He was obviously stubborn and insisted on coming out to greet guests.

Zhang Yanling suddenly remembered what Zhang Luan said before, that Zhang Yin might see that he was pretending to be sick. Now his cheap dad has displayed his acting skills to the extreme, and he even walks unsteadily on purpose.

Apart from looking haggard, his casual straight robe...doesn't quite reflect his superb acting skills.

Zhang Yanling rolled his eyes.

Ever since you became an official, you have either been injured or sick, and now you are addicted to pretending to be sick.

"Father, Eunuch Huai and Eunuch Qin are here to deliver an imperial decree...Should we move to the main hall?"

Zhang Yanling asked for instructions.

"Yes, yes."

Zhang Luan panted heavily and nodded slightly, "As a subject, I still have to show the proper etiquette... My two eunuchs, I'm sorry to bother you."

……

……

Zhang family, main hall.

After reading the imperial edict, Zhang and his son invited the two envoys from the palace to sit in the guest seats and asked the servants to serve them tea.

Huai En didn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. He was very concerned about Zhang Luan's condition... No matter how smart Huai En was, he didn't know much about a person's condition. After all, he was not a professional doctor. Even if he thought Zhang Luan might be pretending to be sick, he felt that Zhang Luan, who was deeply favored by the emperor, didn't need to do so. So Huai En was also secretly observing, wanting to know how long Zhang Luan's illness would last. If he couldn't get better, would it mean that Zhang Luan would slowly fade out of the court?
"Ahem... Eunuch Huai, you have worked so hard. You have to work and come to visit me... Ahem, I am old and my body is not as strong as before."

Zhang Luan said while coughing and breathing heavily.

Huai En and Qin Ji felt embarrassed after hearing this.

You are a middle-aged man in your forties. How dare you call yourself old in front of us two old guys who are over sixty years old?
Zhang Yanling said in a consoling tone: "Dad, you should try to use your ability of prophecy as little as possible. After all, prying into the secrets of heaven too much will shorten your lifespan... When Taoist Li came to our house earlier, didn't he tell you that you had bad luck and asked you to be more restrained?"

Zhang Luan asked without thinking: "Which Taoist Priest Li? Oh, you mean Minister Li... He did say that... Alas, but sometimes you really have no choice!"

Tan Ji was moved, his voice trembling slightly, "Mr. Zhang, for the sake of his country, did not hesitate to use his own life to spy on the secrets of heaven and help our Ming border troops resist the Tatar invasion. He is truly a patriot."

hula.

Huai En immediately turned his head to look at Qin Ji, wanting to understand how such flattering words came from the mouth of a good man like Qin Ji.

What he didn't know was that the chairs in the main hall of the Zhang family were a bit old and would make strange noises when moved. Together with the sound of his clothes rubbing against the chairs, it was extremely eye-catching in this quiet room.

In this way, his sidelong glance actually exposed him, and the people present instantly noticed his unusual behavior.

Zhang Luan asked, "Eunuch Huai, would you like to exchange chairs with me?"

Wynn touched the old handle of the seat and asked, "What is this...?"

Zhang Luan shook his head and sighed, "Although I have a house since I came to the capital, my family has always used old things, just like these chairs, which were brought from my hometown Xingji. Perhaps it is because of these things that I have met noble people and have risen to prominence. I don't want to throw them away easily."

"Mr. Zhang is quite nostalgic."

Wynn looked embarrassed.

Then he glared at Qin Ji who was about to say something flattering, and used his sharp eyes to block the words that were already in his throat.

Can't you see, old man, that the father and son are just playing a double act here to show the importance of Zhang Laizhan in the battle in the northwest?
What's this about shortening one's life and spying on the secrets of heaven? It seems that our Ming Dynasty has finally won a victory against the Tatars in the northwest border, and he wants to take the credit in the capital?
Zhang Luan asked sickly, "Do you two have anything else to say?"

When Qin Ji heard this, he thought, are they going to drive us away?
Issued an eviction order?

Zhang Yanling said, "My father has been resting at home to recuperate. He cannot entertain guests for a long time. Please forgive me. My two fathers-in-law, I want to ask you two, is the battle at Piantou Pass over? Will the Tatars come back again?"

Zhang Luan couldn't help but look at his son and thought, shouldn't I ask you about this?

You are good at fortune-telling and can even calculate clearly when the Tatars will come and where they will come from, but why can't you calculate whether this war is over?

Huai En advised: "Little uncle, this involves the military affairs of the northwest, which is of great importance. You shouldn't ask too much."

Zhang Luan became anxious when he heard this and asked, "Why don't you tell my son?"

"Eunuch Huai, can I ask you a question? Just think of it as me asking."

Zhang Luan asked with a straight face.

Huai En felt uncomfortable after hearing this.

It's really impolite of you to call yourself "old man" in front of two people who are much older than you.

Wynn hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded and said, "Maybe it's not over yet."

Zhang Yanling nodded and said, "My father said before that if we fail to take precautions, the Tatars will likely come back more fiercely than before. So we still have to make all the necessary preparations to prevent the Tatars from breaking through the pass and wreaking havoc in Xuanda."

"Correct."

Zhang Luan seemed to have forgotten that he was pretending to be sick. He straightened his back and said, "That's the truth."

But I was wondering in my heart, what exactly did my son say?

Anyway, he said that’s what I said, so that’s it. No matter what, I will never go against him!
(End of this chapter)