Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 155: Sharp Eyes
The back hall of Zhang’s mansion.

Zhang Luan had only taken a few bites of his meal when a maid named Chuntao came in and reported, "Master, the messenger outside said he has something important to tell you."

"Who is it? Why don't you come in and talk?"

Zhang Luan was a little impatient.

Jin speculated, "It could be that Captain Qin... He has been very respectful to our family these past two days. Even if there is something, he always asks Yanling to go out and asks our son to pass on the message. He never steps out of line... Captain Qin was outside the gate early in the morning, calling on people to set up the venue..."

"Yanling, your father entrusts you with the task of communicating with Captain Qin... Go now..." Zhang Luan said without even putting down his chopsticks.

What I mean is, I haven’t finished my meal. If you have anything to say, please go out and talk to me.

Zhang Yanling rolled his eyes at his old father's shirking of responsibility, but still followed Chuntao to the door of his house.

As soon as I stepped out of the door, I saw two tents set up not far away. These were carefully prepared for the chief and deputy envoys sent by the court in the future, but there were no signs of construction in other places.

According to the "Da Ming Hui Dian" compiled during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong more than a decade later, the etiquette for the crown prince to marry a concubine involved the first step of accepting the proposal and asking for the name:
"…at the Crown Princess's home. The day before, the chief and deputy envoys were set up on the left side of the road outside the main gate, facing south; an incense table was set up in the main hall; a ritual table was set up to the south of the incense table; and another table was set up to the north of the incense table."

"On that day, the chief and deputy envoys arrived outside the main gate, and the ceremonial guards and music were arranged separately. The wedding carriage was placed in the middle, and the ceremony table was set up to the north of the wedding carriage. The ceremony was led, and the chief and deputy envoys entered the curtain. The stewards laid out the gifts in the main hall. The chief and deputy envoys came to the curtain and took the ceremony book and placed it on the table. A ceremonial officer entered the main hall first and stood in the east. The master of ceremonies came out in court dress and stood in the west..."

What follows is the established rituals of accepting the bride’s proposal and asking for the bride’s name, etc.

Because the etiquette for the Crown Princess to marry a concubine referred to in "The Code of the Ming Dynasty" is basically the same as the etiquette adopted when Zhu Youtang got married in the 23rd year of Chenghua. It can be said that the process recorded in "The Code of the Ming Dynasty" is the scene that Zhang Yanling saw before his eyes.

It is no wonder that the "Da Ming Hui Dian Volume 68" also made a note: "The ceremony for the crown prince to marry a concubine was determined in the 23rd year of Chenghua."

"Huh!? Captain Qin, why did the construction stop?"

Zhang Yanling looked at the craftsmen standing in groups of three or four with their hands behind their backs, as well as the palace servants who were collecting the remaining curtains, brackets and other materials, and could not help but look at Qin Yun curiously.

Qin Yun was also a little anxious. In the winter, his face was covered with sweat, but he still patiently introduced to Zhang Yanling what he had learned: "Just now, the higher-ups sent someone to inform us that the wedding has been postponed and that all the arrangements must be removed... I don't know what happened in the court."

After listening to this, Zhang Yanling nodded with relief.

In fact, he knew this in his heart.

Historically, although Zhu Youtang's concubine was selected before Wan Guifei's death, the wedding ceremony of Zhu Youtang was carried out after Wan Guifei's death.

He had previously wondered if it was because of his time travel that changed history, causing Emperor Zhu Jianshen to come up with the idea of ​​using this marriage to bring good luck to Concubine Wan, which was why he deliberately moved up the wedding date.

But at this moment, reality told him clearly that he was overthinking.

In fact, Zhu Jianshen's idea of ​​using the East Palace's wedding to bring happiness to Concubine Wan was not just the emperor's idea. After all, even the Imperial Astronomical Observatory said that the frequent disasters encountered by the Ming Dynasty could only be resolved by "happiness in the East Palace." Under such circumstances, the only one who could truly hinder the progress of the prince's wedding was Concubine Wan herself.

Zhang Yanling waved his hand and said, "In that case, let's do as the court says. Our Zhang family will fully cooperate."

Qin Yun was a little confused: "Don't I need to ask your father for instructions?"

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "This is an arrangement made by the court. I'm afraid it was ordered by the elders and ministers, or even by His Majesty himself. It's useless to ask my father. Besides, do you think my father has the final say in this matter?"

"This……"

Qin Yun thought about it carefully and thought, hey, you, the second young master of the Zhang family, are more open-minded.

As the two were talking, a luxuriously decorated carriage drove over from a distance. Zhang Yanling recognized at a glance that it was the carriage that Shen Lu had lent to Zhang Luan to send his daughter to the palace for selection. It was obviously his uncle Shen Lu who came to visit.

"Captain Qin, you should pack up your things quickly. You may need them in a few days," Zhang Yanling suggested.

Qin Yun looked back at the curtain and other things that had just been built, his face full of embarrassment.

Zhang Yanling asked with a smile: "Now the higher-ups only said to postpone it, but didn't say to cancel it completely, right?"

"No, no, it means postponement... maybe the date or time is wrong." Qin Yun said puzzledly.

"That's it. Just do what the higher-ups say... We have guests coming over here, and I need to go and greet them. So I'll leave you alone."

As Zhang Yanling spoke, he had already walked towards the carriage. Qin Yun looked at Zhang Yanling's back curiously.

I was thinking in my mind, this family is really weird. Why is it that a child is the one doing the welcoming and seeing off and external communication tasks?
As expected, the Crown Princess and her family are not ordinary people.

……

……

Shen Lu naturally came to inform Zhang Luan about the postponement of the wedding date.

When Zhang Yanling brought Shen Lu into the back hall, Zhang Luan was eating his second bowl of noodles.

Probably because he went out for a good time last night, Zhang Luan was only concerned with drinking and chatting, and didn't eat anything. When he returned home today, he was very hungry. When he ate the noodles that Tang cooked for him personally, he was very hungry and ate it with such relish.

After finishing one bowl, I had another. I guess the kitchen was still preparing the third bowl because there was smoke rising from the chimney.

"Ruxue? Why are you here? Look at me...why don't you sit down and eat something together?"

Zhang Luan was a little surprised to see Shen Lu.

My son clearly went out to communicate with Qin Yun, so why did he bring Shen Lu back with him?
Shen Lu said anxiously: "Laizhan, you still have the mind to eat? Something happened."

"what's up?"

Zhang Luan was bewildered, but he could only put down the chopsticks in his hand and licked his lips, looking reluctant to leave. It was obvious that his stomach was only half full at the moment.

Shen Lu said, "Mr. Pang came to me personally earlier and told me that the prince's wedding would be postponed. It is very likely that something happened in the palace."

"what?"

Zhang Luan was shocked. He pointed in the direction of the main entrance and asked, "Aren't they setting up the furnishings outside? Why did it change so suddenly?"

Shen Lu said helplessly: "Didn't you go out and see it with your own eyes?"

Zhang Luan then turned his gaze to Zhang Yanling.

Zhang Yanling spread his hands and replied, "I just went out to see Captain Tan, and he said he had received an official document from above, requiring us to pack up all the tents that have been set up."

"How could this happen? What went wrong? Am I really not destined to be the father-in-law of the emperor?"

Zhang Luan stood up abruptly upon hearing this, and paced back and forth in the hall, muttering to himself, his words full of insecurity about himself, and he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pot...

He finally had the opportunity to change his family's predicament, but now it seemed that he had been suddenly brought back to his original state. He could not help but be anxious.

"Laizhan, don't be in a hurry!"

Shen Lu first said a word of comfort, and then continued: "I don't know the specific situation. According to what Mr. Pang said, the imperial edict was issued by His Majesty himself. Minister Li cannot interfere. After all, he has to avoid suspicion. As for whether it will be postponed, or... Alas!"

At this time, Zhang Yanling looked calm and said loudly: "It shouldn't be cancelled. It's just that some problems happened in the palace, and the court intends to postpone the date for a few days."

Zhang Luan looked at his son with a look of help and asked, "What should we do now?"

Shen Lu was also surprised.

What is your reaction, Zhang Laizhan?
When something goes wrong, instead of trying to find a solution, what does it mean to ask your son for advice?
There is a real court official standing in front of you, and you don't even ask me?

Zhang Yanling still replied in a relaxed tone: "Perhaps your majesty feels that there is no need to use the East Palace wedding to bring happiness to that noble lady. She doesn't need it at all, and we can't rush forward with a smug face, right?"

"what?"

This time, not only Zhang Luan, but also Shen Lu turned their surprised eyes to Zhang Yanling.

It’s so shocking that it won’t stop until you die!
What this kid said sounded logical and reasonable, but how could he say it so calmly and confidently, and yet be so incisive and to the point?
(End of this chapter)