Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 82: Keep the clouds clear and see the moonlight

Pang Qing hurriedly went to find someone to inquire about the situation.

He did not have to leave the mansion in person. All the information was collected and organized by the various people sent out. Then a special person would quickly summarize the classified news to him, and he would select the key points to report to Li Zisheng.

"Minister Li, do you want to call Lai Zhan over to ask him?"

Shen Lu was also a little panicked at this moment and started to give random suggestions.

When the time came, Li Zisheng calmed down and refused, "No need, calm down for now. Even if it really didn't happen, I think Your Majesty would understand. Who else but me can accurately predict earthquakes since ancient times?"

After a pause, he added, "In fact, Zhang Laizhan is really capable, and he never takes credit for himself... Now I can only trust him."

"Yes Yes."

Shen Lu quickly responded.

At this time, a servant from the Li Mansion came over and said to Li Zisheng, "Master, there is someone outside claiming to be from the Shen Mansion. He said that a Mr. Zhang wants to ask Mr. Shen to come to his house to discuss something important."

"I came to see you."

After Shen Lu finished speaking, he looked at Li Zisheng.

"what's up?"

Li Zisheng frowned and stroked his chin thoughtfully: "Is it possible that he has something to say at this critical moment?"

"That……"

Shen Lu hesitated a little and asked, "Should I go over to ask?"

"No need."

Li Zisheng rejected it flatly and waved his hand, "It's already this time, what difference does it make whether we meet or not?"

Shen Lu then said to the person who came to report: "Please tell him that I am busy here and will go see him when I am free."

"Yes."

Li Zisheng was feeling uneasy just as the servants of the Li Mansion left. Pang Qing came hurriedly over. There was no joy on his face. He looked very nervous. "Master Dao, there is new news."

"Say it!"

Li Zisheng immediately urged him.

Pang Qing said solemnly: "Mousin Mou Bin, who was sent by the Jinyiwei Northern Pacification Division to Shandong on official business, returned to the capital on a fast horse. After entering the city, he quickly went to the palace."

Shen Lu's eyes widened as he asked, "Is it just entering the palace? Is there no other news?"

"No."

Pang Qing said firmly.

Li Zisheng frowned in thought, then a brilliant smile appeared on his face, and he said, "It seems that the earthquake at Mount Tai is almost certain."

After he finished speaking, he felt relaxed and composed, giving people a feeling that everything was under control.

Shen Lu and Pang Qing looked at each other, not understanding why Li Zisheng came to such a conclusion. Puzzled, Shen Lu couldn't help but ask, "Is there any explanation for this?"

At this time, Li Zisheng's eyebrows were relaxed, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he asked in a victorious tone: "At this time, Mou Bin is considered to have returned early, right?"

"what!?"

Shen Lu thought about it, but still didn't understand the deeper meaning of Li Zisheng's words.

"Yeah!"

Pang Qing was quick-witted and understood immediately. He slapped his thigh and praised: "The Taoist is indeed extraordinary. He is very observant and can see the truth in the details... Judging from the time that Mou Qianhu's horse traveled, he should have left Taishan before midnight last night, otherwise it would be impossible for him to rush back to the capital at this time."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "That's it. If there was no earthquake, how could he, as an envoy sent by the court to witness it with his own eyes, dare to rashly return before midnight?"

Even if Shen Lu was slow, he still reacted at this time, with a bit of surprise on his face: "Could it be that... there really was an earthquake in Mount Tai?"

Li Zisheng ordered Pang Qing: "What are you waiting for? Send someone to find out immediately. Even if the people we sent to Mount Tai return later, they won't be too late."

"Yes!" Pang Qing instantly became enthusiastic and trotted out the door.

……

……

In just a stick of incense, more news came.

Chen Zheng, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Public Security, came in a hurry, but when he arrived at Li's mansion, he was not allowed to see Li Zisheng. He only met Pang Qing. After reporting the situation, he left and returned to the Ministry of Public Security's office to continue his duty.

Pang Qing came to report: "Lord Chen came to visit earlier and said that there was a report from Jinan Prefecture that had just been sent to the Yintai Division, saying that there was a continuous earthquake in the area with a sound like thunder, which happened near sunset yesterday."

"Haha."

Li Zisheng couldn't help laughing out loud, looking excited, "What did I say? Mou Bin returned to Beijing ahead of schedule, which means that the earthquake has occurred!"

As the person involved, Shen Lu was a little dazed after hearing the news.

His mind was full of one thought: how did Brother Lai Zhan know that an earthquake was going to occur in Mount Tai?

"Ruxue, you also find this unbelievable, right?"

Li Zisheng now regarded Shen Lu as a treasure, and looked at him with a very trusting and eager gaze, "Do you think that your brother-in-law is a rare and extraordinary person? Haha, I think so too."

Shen Lu said: "I really hope that Lai Zhan can hit the mark, but even if he does, I still can't figure out how he did it."

He really hoped that Zhang Luan would succeed.

But now everything is happening as he said, and it seems so unreal. Is he still the brother-in-law who his wife said was only a daydreamer and never wanted to work?

Li Zisheng was extremely happy at this time. No matter what Shen Lu said, he felt that this man was amiable and amiable. He said, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and have someone prepare a generous gift and send it to Lai Zhan!"

Shen Lu then remembered something and quickly reminded him, "Didn't he specially send someone to invite me to his house for a chat?"

"oops!"

Li Zisheng suddenly slapped his thigh and said in a hurry: "Ruxue, you reminded me, how can I be so disrespectful to the countryman? I was negligent in this matter...

"Well, prepare the gifts quickly. They must be generous. I will go with you."

Although Pang Qing was also very happy, he remained calm and said, "Master Dao, now that things have happened, the palace may summon you at any time. I'm afraid it's not appropriate for you to go out now."

"No no no!"

Li Zisheng waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Majesty must be upset when he hears this news. I think he will stay at home and think about the gains and losses, and will not see anyone."

Pang Qing finally understood why Li Zisheng was so confident in leaving his own house, and asked, "Then...what gifts should we prepare?"

"Pick the most valuable things from the treasury and bring them with you. The value must be good enough to hold up the occasion. Oh, by the way, Ruxue, what does your brother-in-law need in the mansion now?"

Li Zisheng was so happy that he was ready to prescribe the right medicine and give gifts as needed.

Shen Lu smiled and replied: "Laizhan has studied hard for many years, but unfortunately he has never been able to get a job. This has almost become a demon in his heart..."

Li Zisheng nodded: "It's basically settled that he will be admitted to the Imperial Hospital. My words will definitely count! What else?"

Shen Lu said: "Also, he just came to the capital and has no suitable residence to live in. He is very tight on money. I heard that he came to the capital to save people and he managed to get some money together temporarily. This time he is in the capital to grow medicine for people, and he has not received a single cent of salary from the court..."

Li Zisheng looked at Pang Qing and asked, "We still have an empty house in the north of the city, right?"

"Yes."

Pang Qing replied respectfully, "The third courtyard was a gift from the governor of Shuntian Prefecture two years ago."

"The situation was tense at the time, and although we bought this courtyard, we have never lived in it. So we simply gave it to Lai Zhan as a favor..."

Li Zisheng asked Shen Lu: "Hey, is this gift good enough?"

Shen Lu sincerely sighed: "Such a generous gift will definitely allow Lai Zhan to stay in the capital with peace of mind and be of use to you, my Lord."

(End of this chapter)