Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 97: Is this the end of the relationship?

The brother and sister entered the room.

Zhang Yanling opened the letter for Zhang Yu, glanced at it casually, and handed it over, saying, "Sister, you can read, so you should know what he wrote..."

Zhang Yu sat there listlessly, with his head drooped. Hearing this, he asked, "Yanling, can you help me talk to Dad and see if there is a way forward for this matter?"

When her marriage was about to fall through and her future was bleak, Zhang Yu seemed to have no choice but to ask her younger brother, whose status in the family was becoming more and more important, to intercede for her.

"Sister, just relax. Dad was just saying that out of anger... It would be great if I could marry into the Eastern Palace, but if I really can't, and some dignitaries come to ask for a marriage alliance, with Dad's personality, do you think he would refuse? Stop kidding..."

Zhang Yanling didn't care about Zhang Luan's harsh words at all and tried to persuade him in a low voice.

When Zhang Yu heard it, it seemed to make some sense.

My father is just that kind of person. He is very concerned about his reputation, but he also wants to seek benefits for his family and himself through marriage.

Once there is no hope of entering the Eastern Palace, given Zhang Luan's character, he will definitely change his ways quickly and find a wealthy family to marry his daughter to in order to change the family's current embarrassing situation.

At this time, Zhang Yu finally had the mood to read the letter, but she didn't understand all the words in the letter. The meaning of some words and sentences was also obscure and difficult to understand, so she needed her brother to help explain.

"Yanling, why do I feel like I've harmed this person? He doesn't know who I am, and I don't know who he is, but we just write to each other and confide in each other. From what I read, he seems to have some thoughts about me... right?"

Zhang Yu has a very keen consciousness.

Because Zhu Youtang mentioned in the letter that he wanted to go to the garden with her in the spring to appreciate the crabapple blossoms.

It was also the previous poem that caused great waves in Zhu Youtang's heart, so much so that he revealed his true feelings to a person about whom he had no idea at all with the emotions of a young boy.

Zhang Yanling smiled and shook his head: "Sister, no matter what, I think this matter can come to an end for now."

"Ah!? What do you mean? Didn't Dad ask me to write a reply?"

Zhang Yu turned his head to look at his brother and asked with a puzzled look on his face.

At first, she was just joking, and she and her brother played a prank on that literary pen pal whose background she didn't know. But now, she felt a little bit reluctant and felt like she was hurting someone.

Zhang Yanling had her own opinion, and said softly: "Sister, aren't you going to be selected as the Crown Princess? If you are still keeping in touch with other men at this time, isn't it not good?

"We have to stop now and pretend that nothing happened before. That way, even if the communication is exposed in the future, no one can say anything."

With his wisdom, he could naturally see the key point. It was obviously inappropriate to write to the East Palace at this time.

First of all, there is the timing. The Crown Princess is about to be selected and the Eastern Palace is attracting much attention. Any correspondence could easily be discovered.

Furthermore, since the Zhang family has decided to let their daughter participate in the selection of the Crown Princess, the previous series of actions must be stopped, so as to show that the Zhang family's daughter is self-disciplined... After all, the previous letter was just an unintentional work of a girl in the boudoir. There is no emotional bias, and there is no problem of personal morality. But once the husband's family has a clear direction, then they must avoid being with other men.

Finally, you two may meet each other soon, so is there any point in continuing to communicate like this?
Zhang Yu said, "Tell me the truth, who is this person? Why is he so mysterious and refuses to tell me clearly? Could he be a young master from some family?"

"Uh……"

Zhang Yanling thought for a moment and said truthfully, "Actually, this person is the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace."

Zhang Yu frowned and scolded with a shy little girl's attitude, "Are you teasing me? How is this possible?"

Zhang Yanling shrugged helplessly and said, "If you don't believe me even if I tell you, then just treat him as a young master from a noble family who is deeply affectionate and devoted to others."

When Zhang Yu heard that the person writing the letter was not the crown prince, he believed it instead. He suddenly seemed to remember something and said anxiously, "You said that he was the eldest son in the family, but his stepmother and relatives all wanted to seize his family property. He was isolated and helpless, right? Then he... is really pitiful. It's a pity... I will never be able to comfort him again."

After saying this, her pretty face was filled with sadness and sympathy.

"Haha." These words made Zhang Yanling burst out laughing.

You don't believe the truth, but you believe it when I tell you a story?
It’s really hard to guess what a young girl is thinking, but seeing how affectionate and righteous you seem...if you knew that man was your future husband, what would you think?
Zhang Yanling said, "Sister, although we may not reply to this letter, there are some things I still want to teach you."

"Teach me what?"

Zhang Yu looked at her brother in confusion, "You are so naughty, you are not going to play a trick on your sister again, are you?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "How could that be? What do you think of the poem I wrote earlier?"

Zhang Yu nodded: "It's OK. Although I don't know much about poetry, this young master from a noble family should know... Since even he praised your poetry, I think it should be good."

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "He is praising you, sister... Don't forget, tell others that you wrote that poem yourself. Since you are a woman of great talent, how can you only have one poem? I will teach you two more poems in case you need them."

……

……

In front of Qingning Palace.

A grand fasting and offering ceremony is in progress.

The person in charge of this matter in the palace was Chen Gui, the eunuch trusted by Empress Dowager Zhou, and the person who presided over the ceremony was Li Zisheng, a favorite of the emperor.

The scene was quite grand.

Li Zisheng had been keeping an eye out for Empress Dowager Zhou in Qingning Palace spying on him, but he didn't find anything until he walked down from the altar with the peach wood sword in his hand.

Chen Gui stepped forward attentively and handed over the handkerchief with a smile.

Li Zisheng waved his hand and declined, "Eunuch Chen is thoughtful. I am not tired for the time being."

At this time, Li Zisheng could only regard himself as a Taoist priest.

Chen Gui took back the handkerchief and said with a smile, "Master Li, you have worked hard. If there is anything else you need, just let me know."

"nothing."

Li Zisheng handed the peach wood sword to the Taoist boy beside him, looked around pretentiously, and asked curiously, "Didn't the Queen Mother come out to admire it?"

Chen Gui said: "Master Li, you know that the Empress Dowager worships Buddha. She usually won't come out for this kind of fasting and offering ceremony. Although Buddhism and Taoism are one family, they are different in some matters."

Li Zisheng thought, don’t I know that the old lady is worshiping Buddha?
So what if I knew?

She asked me to preside over the Taoist fasting and offering ceremony, which clearly showed that she wanted to make a political deal with me, but she never showed up and never summoned me to meet her. Could it be that she wanted to give me a cold shoulder?
How should I respond most appropriately?
"Tianshi, how long will it take for this fasting ceremony to end?"

Chen Gui asked.

"almost."

Li Zisheng looked unhappy and said casually, "I will tell Eunuch Chen after I finish it."

"You have worked hard, so we won't bother you anymore."

Chen Gui tactfully stepped aside to watch Li Zisheng's solo performance.

(End of this chapter)