Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 95 All the way to the East Palace

Shen Lu then went to the clinic set up by the Imperial Hospital in the city, which was specifically for prescribing medicine. After asking, he found out that Zhang Luan had not been there for the past two days. Then he went straight to Zhang Luan's residence.

Zhang Luan was planning to do the interior decoration for his new house. Zhang Yanling specially drew some drawings for reference. Now he was sitting in the yard studying them.

"Laizhan, why are you at home instead of growing medicine for people?" Shen Lu asked.

Zhang Luan smiled and replied, "I didn't go because I felt unwell these few days. Anyway, I have taught everything I need to teach, so there is no need for me to go in person."

Only then did Shen Lu realize that his elder brother-in-law was a man who would not do anything until he saw the rabbit. Knowing that he would not enter the Imperial Medical Bureau, he lost the motivation to treat patients and save lives, and would rather stay at home and live a quiet life.

Shen Lu didn't bother to dwell on these matters, and said with a smile: "I came here to tell you something good."

Zhang Luan's eyes lit up and he asked, "But have you found a solution for my employment in Beiyong?"

"Um!?"

Shen Lu was startled.

It turned out that in Zhang Luan's eyes, becoming an official was so urgent, as if this was his real pursuit in life.

"Brother Lai Zhan, you have just started studying at the Imperial College. It will take some time for you to be promoted to a teacher. You can't be in a hurry." Shen Lu advised.

You are a student who has just entered the highest institution of learning in the Ming Dynasty. You haven’t even studied seriously for a few days, but you want to be a teacher?

remarkably brave!

But the question is, aren't you afraid that your head is too small to fit such a big hat?

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "I am sorry for being so abrupt...I don't know what you are here for?"

Shen Lu was almost numb when he heard this. I won't let you be an official, but you still give me a cold shoulder. You are really...

Shen Lu didn't know how to comment for a moment, and was stunned for a long time before he said seriously: "The matter of selecting the Crown Princess has been decided.

"Your Majesty summoned Minister Li, the cabinet, the Minister of Rites and other officials today and mentioned that he wanted to select a concubine for the crown prince and complete the preliminary selection before the end of the year."

"So soon? There aren't many days left."

Zhang Luan did a quick calculation and realized that it was already the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month and it was already afternoon. How much work would it take to complete the primary election before the New Year?

Shen Lu said, "So, our niece's chances have greatly increased. And this matter is nominally hosted by the Ministry of Rites, but the Imperial Astronomical Bureau will assist and calculate the birth dates and horoscopes for these ladies who are to be selected. Minister Li has made it clear that it is up to him to decide whether your niece will pass the preliminary selection or the re-selection. She only needs to wait until the new year to enter the palace for the selection."

"That means... I'm destined to be selected?"

Zhang Luan looked eager.

Shen Lu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and finally understood that although Zhang Luan was very enthusiastic about his daughter being selected as the Crown Princess, he actually had no idea about the rules and procedures. He was just enthusiastic but had no practical strategy.

Shen Lu started to think about it.

You are so ignorant and fearless. You just arrived in the capital and know nothing, but you dare to propose to Li Zisheng about sending your daughter to participate in the prince's concubine selection. But Li Zisheng seems to be bewitched by you and insists on helping you.

"Laizhan, don't you know the selection process?" Shen Lu asked.

Zhang Luan felt a little guilty: "I don't really understand... Actually, I just listened to what others said about the prince's selection of a concubine, and I didn't have a plan in mind. My daughter was originally betrothed to someone, but her husband's family is a sickly family, so I decided to cancel the engagement and come to the capital to try my luck."

Shen Lu asked: "Then... who told you about this? Didn't they explain the details to you?"

Zhang Luan was stunned, and then he wondered, who told me this?

what! ?

It seems to be my youngest son!

"It's okay, it's okay... Even if you are not familiar with the process, I can explain it to you clearly... According to past experience, the selection of the Crown Princess requires four steps, sometimes even five. The first is the preliminary selection and the re-selection, which will exclude most of the candidates. In the end, only about a hundred people can enter the palace for the selection."

Shen Lu introduced patiently.

Zhang Luan was confused and asked, "One hundred people? Isn't that... a bit too many? If they are not selected in the end, will all these people stay in the palace?"

Shen Lu shook his head and smiled bitterly: "The palace selection will select three people. These three people will enter the final stage and will be interviewed and selected by the prince himself. It is called 'Selection of Three'. Whoever is selected will be the prince's principal wife, and there is a high possibility that she will become the queen of the Ming Dynasty in the future."

Zhang Luan was very excited when he heard this and asked, "That means, with Minister Li's help, my daughter will definitely be able to enter the final crucial step of 'Choose Three', right?"

"Uh……"

Shen Lu thought, why do you only think about good things?
“Is it not!?”

Zhang Luan asked again.

Shen Lu sighed, "Your Majesty is selecting a concubine for the Eastern Palace this time to bring good luck... You must not publicize this matter. You also mentioned it to Minister Li. You know that Concubine Wan is ill and her condition may worsen at any time. The matter of bringing good luck cannot be delayed, so the previous steps must be simplified and the process must be accelerated."

"I see."

Zhang Luan nodded.

Shen Lu added: "Because of this, although there are many candidates in the primary election, most of them are just filling in the numbers and cannot pass the first two levels.

"In the end, there will be no more than a hundred people who will enter the palace selection stage, probably only about thirty or forty people. In the palace selection stage, in addition to some necessary physical characteristics, the only thing to worry about is to pass the Queen Mother's test... Only if the Queen Mother is interested can you enter the 'select three' stage. Do you understand what I mean?" Zhang Luan was a little worried when he heard this: "I understand, but choosing three people from thirty or forty people is still up to the Queen Mother, so the chances are not great."

Shen Lu nodded: "Originally, this link cannot be interfered with. Everything depends on chance. It is not necessarily that you can win the favor of the Queen Mother just by being talented and beautiful. There are many considerations involved.

"However, a Taoist fasting and offering ceremony will be held in the palace where the Queen Mother lives, Qingning Palace, tomorrow, and we have specially invited Minister Li to preside over it personally."

"what?"

When Zhang Luan heard this, he realized that everyone he knew were indeed big shots.

This Minister Li looked amiable and approachable, but all he saw were the emperor and the empress dowager, and he could enter and exit the palace as easily as at home.

He didn't even figure out what merits he had to have anything to do with such a person.
Shen Lu said, "Today, Minister Li discussed with me and Mr. Pang whether we should mention your daughter to the Queen Mother and recommend her to her. We finally agreed that this is a rare opportunity and we should give it a try."

"is that useful?"

Zhang Luan couldn't help but ask.

Shen Lu smiled and replied: "Although the Queen Mother is your Majesty's mother and has a high status, she has not been involved in state affairs for a long time, so she must feel a little disappointed.

"Moreover, the Queen Mother has done her utmost to protect the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is still able to remain in the position of Crown Prince today. The Queen Mother's protection can be said to be a great contribution."

Zhang Luan's eyes lit up and he asked, "Does that mean the Queen Mother will help the Crown Prince?"

"Yes."

Shen Lu nodded heavily, "The Queen Mother knows that the Crown Prince is now alone and without help, he will have little chance to achieve great things in the future...

"In a few years, or even a few months, His Majesty will replace the Crown Prince, so the Queen Mother has been doing her utmost to help the Crown Prince."

Zhang Luan had been listening with great interest, but now he waved his hands and said, "I don't understand, what does all this have to do with my daughter? You can't say that my daughter can help the Queen Mother by entering the East Palace, right?"

Shen Lu couldn't help but smile knowingly after hearing Zhang Luan's question. "You have never been in government, so you don't know the ins and outs. The Queen Mother wants someone who can be controlled to marry into the East Palace. In addition to being a good wife to the prince, she must also understand the Queen Mother's good intentions and persuade the prince to listen to the Queen Mother's advice when necessary. Ordinary people can't meet these requirements."

"Can my little girl do that?"

Zhang Luan asked in confusion.

Shen Lu said, "Your daughter naturally can't do it... But your daughter is one of us anyway. Since Minister Li can recommend our niece to be the Crown Princess, wouldn't the Queen Mother be unaware of this? The Queen Mother will need to rely on Minister Li for many things in the future, so how can we not agree?"

Zhang Luan finally understood and said with gratitude: "Minister Li is using his reputation to gain the support of the Queen Mother. I don't need to thank you for your kindness."

Shen Lu was slightly startled.

After thinking about it carefully, I couldn't find any fault with it, so I nodded and said, "You can say that."

Zhang Luan said: "After this stage, will we face the final stage of 'choose three'? If we choose one out of three... we are not very sure."

Shen Lu smiled and said, "That's right. If the ladies who make it to the final 'select three' can theoretically stay in the East Palace if they make some clever moves.

“Your Majesty may seek the opinions of the Imperial Observatory and Minister Li at that time. If your daughter is finally chosen as the Crown Princess, the remaining two will be sent back to their hometowns.

"On the contrary, your daughter will stay in the Eastern Palace as a concubine, so you don't have to worry too much."

"Oh."

Zhang Luan nodded.

"Even if she becomes a concubine in the future, as long as your daughter can win the favor of the prince and give birth to a royal heir first, she may be able to gain honor as a mother because of her son." Shen Lu said.

Zhang Luan was extremely excited after hearing this: "So, my daughter's selection into the Eastern Palace is a sure thing?"

Shen Lu smiled and shook his head: "We can't be blindly optimistic, we can only say that the chances are great.

"You have helped Minister Li, and it is understandable that Minister Li is giving back to you. Minister Li also hopes that you can continue to help him in the future."

"Of course... Ruxue, you should know that there has never been an ungrateful person in my Zhang family." Zhang Luan patted his chest and stated confidently.

"That's good. Minister Li will enter the palace early tomorrow morning. When he comes out, I will visit him again and ask about the results of the communication with the Queen Mother. I will then tell you."

Shen Lu said this, then stood up and said, "I can't stay for long, so I'll go back now. Say hello to our little niece first, and ask her to prepare well and get as much rest as possible in the next few days.

"If you want to run for the East Palace Mistress, you must be full of energy and spirit to be stable."

"I understand, I understand. You can rest assured, Ruxue. My daughter was already famous when she was in Xingji, and many families were vying to marry her."

Zhang Luan made another promise.

“That’s why I feel more confident.”

As Shen Lu spoke, he deliberately glanced at the east wing, wanting to see what his little niece looked like.

Unfortunately, I didn’t see anyone until I walked out of the hospital, so I had to leave with regret.

(End of this chapter)