Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 88 One ring within another

The twelfth lunar month of winter.

As the year draws to a close, the days become shorter and the nights longer.

Pang Qing did not return to Li's residence until the morning shift, and was immediately summoned to Li Zisheng's study.

But Li Zisheng was writing something, but it didn't look like a formal memorial, but more like a draft.

Pang Qing stood by and watched for a long time, and only came closer after Li Zisheng finished writing.

"Master Tao."

Pang Qing bowed respectfully.

Li Zisheng smiled and nodded: "You're back? How's the situation over there?"

Pang Qing answered truthfully: "I took Zhang Jiansheng to see the house. The house is quite elegant, but because it has been in disrepair for many years, there are indeed many places that need to be repaired, which may take some time."

Li Zisheng said nonchalantly: "Just withdraw the money from the account, you can decide the amount."

In trying to win over Zhang Luan, Li Zisheng spared no expense.

Of course, with so much money given, Pang Qing, who is in the middle of the coordination, can also get a lot of benefits. Even a small amount of money is still meat.

"Did he say something?"

Li Zisheng stood up and asked.

Pang Qing said: "He said a lot, but most of it was flattering and flattering, and it seemed that he did not have any profound insights. Taoist, based on my experience in observing people, this person may just be a commoner, and may not have the ability to reach the sky, and may not be able to help you in the future."

"hehe."

Li Zisheng smiled and waved his hands repeatedly, indicating that he disagreed with Pang Qing's opinion.

Li Zisheng said: "Bingkun, you have followed me for many years and have met many people, but they can be roughly divided into two types. Either they are Confucian officials in the court who are hypocritical and claim to be pure, or they are villains like Deng Changen who also came from the market and rose to high positions by relying on connections.

"Do you think Zhang Laizhan is one of them?"

Pang Qing thought about it carefully, shook his head and said, "No, it seems to be somewhere in between."

"Isn't that what it is?"

Li Zisheng seemed quite proud, as if he was pleased with the discovery of Zhang Luan, a treasure. "He was born in the literati circle, but was not accepted by the literati circle. He worked hard for half his life but ended up in poverty. Therefore, he also had the ambition to get close to the royal family like a commoner. In addition, he has some ability. This is exactly the person I need."

Pang Qing said: "But... I'm afraid that he will be too ambitious and difficult to control in the future."

Li Zisheng said with a smile: "Do you think that the self-proclaimed Confucian official will associate with us? Once the petty people in the market come to power, they usually do whatever it takes. We can't coexist peacefully at all.

"Only Lai Zhan has a clear goal. He doesn't want to be an official, but to be the father-in-law of the emperor... Haha, such a person is rare. If he becomes the father-in-law of the emperor, we can live together without harming each other, and we can share what we have and help each other. Isn't it wonderful?"

Pang Qing worriedly said, "If he really becomes the father-in-law of the emperor, he can bypass you, the Taoist priest, when doing things."

"What you said is wrong."

Li Zisheng paced back and forth and said, "If he really marries his daughter to the Eastern Palace, he will become the person who should be most cautious in what he says and does in the Ming Dynasty, because then everyone will be watching him.

"As a scholar, how dare he talk about such supernatural things?

"As for leaking the secret, isn't he afraid of endangering the interests of the Confucian officials in the court, being attacked by everyone, or even affecting his daughter's position as the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace?"

"Since ancient times, prophecies and divinations have been taboo. In the later years of Emperor Wu of Han, the witchcraft disaster implicated many people, including the Crown Prince Liu Ju, and thousands of people were executed. With this as a lesson, Lai Zhan will definitely keep a low profile. Even if he discovers something about the secrets of heaven, he can only do it through me."

Pang Qing was a juren after all, so after thinking carefully, he nodded and said, "Your Excellency's vision is profound, and I am far inferior to it."

Li Zisheng still had a smug look on his face: "Whether it is a gentleman or a villain, I don't want to get along with him. On the contrary, Lai Zhan is neither a gentleman nor a villain. As you said, he is in between the two. He is the most reliable. He needs me, but he doesn't rely on me completely.

"Laizhan was able to clarify all of this from the very beginning. Just to say that his insight is incomparable to that of ordinary people, how could he be a small-time person like a street vendor?"

Pang Qing bowed and said, "My eyes are not good." Li Zisheng smiled, then picked up the paper on the table and handed it to Pang Qing, "You are not bad. When I first met Lai Zhan, I also thought that his level of speaking and doing things was poor, so I didn't take it seriously. Who knew that after getting to know him for a long time, I found that he had many shining points and kept surprising me... Take a look at this."

Pang Qing took it and immediately read the content.

Li Zisheng explained: "This is a note to the Imperial Observatory, so that everyone in the Imperial Observatory will know what happened. If His Majesty asks about the earthquake in Mount Tai, they will report it according to what I said."

Obviously, Li Zisheng is already planning his next move, which is how to use this earthquake to gain political resources for himself.

"Master Dao, are you saying that we should help the Eastern Palace and secure his position as the crown prince? I'm afraid that doing so will cause His Majesty to have a grudge against you, and someone will take advantage of you."

Pang Qing, as a guest of the aide, persuaded him.

Li Zisheng said, "Mount Tai has been a symbol of the country since ancient times. Because it is in the east, it is closely connected to the East Palace. The earthquake on Mount Tai is a warning from heaven, telling Your Majesty not to change the crown prince easily. I am just doing my duty as a minister. What's wrong with that?"

Pang Qing said: "But everyone in the court, from His Majesty to the cabinet elders, to most of the ministers in the six ministries, seems not to be very supportive of the East Palace."

"You mean, I'll be the target of public criticism?"

Li Zisheng shook his head and chuckled, "Wrong, wrong, my opinion is their weather vane, they are all fence-sitters, what principles do they have?

"I helped the Crown Prince to secure his position as heir to the throne. My contribution will not come now, but in the future... Can't you see through this?"

By this time Pang Qing had already realized that Li Zisheng was relying on his accurate prediction of the two earthquakes to become a living god in everyone's eyes, and then using this identity to plan for his future.

During the Chenghua period, Li Zisheng's career as an official basically ended.

In order to enjoy today's glory in the future, Li Zisheng naturally has to invest in the crown prince.

Pang Qing said: "The earthquake at Mount Tai can also be said to be a sign that the heavens are not very satisfied with the crown prince, and it is a sign of a replacement of the crown prince. Now the matter is what you have speculated, no matter what you say, it is all your one-sided story, His Majesty will listen to it, and the people in the court will not dare to object, so why do you have to go against the will of the emperor?"

"Ugh!"

Li Zisheng sighed, "Do you think I don't want to? But the one your majesty wants to establish is Concubine Shao's son, and I don't have much contact with them. Besides, they have your majesty and Concubine Wan to help them. If I help them, will they really remember my kindness?"

Pang Qing thought for a moment and said, "That's right. The prince is now alone and helpless. He will definitely remember your kindness."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "You still understand me... If I want to help, I will help those who are in desperate situations and have not yet fully grown. Since ancient times, it is easier to add icing on the cake than to help in times of trouble. In this way, the prince will definitely rely on me in the future. Even if things don't work out, don't I still have Zhang Laizhan to help me?"

Pang Qing said: "I'm afraid it will be difficult for the daughter of the Zhang family to be chosen as the Crown Princess."

"That depends on how I do it."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "The Queen Mother recently said that she would hold a fasting ceremony in Qingning Palace. After successfully predicting the earthquake at Mount Tai, I will definitely host the fasting ceremony. As long as I mention it to the Queen Mother... hehe."

"Master Dao is wise. The Queen Mother has always stood on the side of the Crown Prince. She wants to ensure the stability of the Crown Prince's position in the East Palace. You are leaning towards the Crown Prince this time. In the matter of choosing the Crown Princess, the Queen Mother's opinion is dominant. It really is whoever you say gets the final say."

Even Pang Qing, who claimed to be a national hero, admired Li Zisheng's plan.

It is not feasible to follow the prince's path, because the prince is the heir to the throne and has a special status. Before he comes out to supervise state affairs, whoever gets close to the prince will be suspected of treason.

But as he was close to the empress dowager, that was no problem. After all, Li Zisheng was a Taoist priest. He could set up a Taoist temple in the harem and make full use of the Empress Dowager Zhou's thoughts and ask her to help his grandson choose a concubine. Then everything would seem reasonable.

"The most difficult thing to deal with right now is your Majesty's opinion."

Li Zisheng smiled, "But your majesty has always believed in the will of heaven. If I say that the earthquake at Mount Tai is a warning from heaven and that the crown prince cannot be changed, your majesty will accept it. Then, we can hold a wedding for the young emperor to bring good luck and pay tribute to heaven...Haha, then isn't everything under my control?"

Pang Qing cupped his hands and said, "Then I will deliver this to the Imperial Observatory early tomorrow morning."

Li Zisheng said: "We also need to let the people in the Imperial Observatory pay attention. If there are any more letters from the Eastern Palace, they must be delivered to the person who needs to convey them in time. I do all this not only to help the prince, but also to let the prince know the cause and effect. This is the most important part of the whole plan."

"Yes."

Pang Qing was also very happy.

Because Li Zisheng is in power, it means that he can act arrogantly in the capital for a long time in the future.

(End of this chapter)