Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 241: Deifying Zhang Laizhan
In the Qianqing Palace.

Tan Chang and Wei Tai stood on one side, and Li Zisheng stood on the other.

Zhu Jianshen was in the middle, lying on the couch with his head resting on a fluffy down pillow, glancing at Liang Fang and Wei Xing who were kneeling on the ground.

"The deadline hasn't arrived yet, but you're offering it already? It seems you have found a channel to produce it?" Zhu Jianshen asked coldly with a lazy look.

Liang Fang said hurriedly: "I am incompetent and have failed your majesty's trust. I also learned that the Huangshan mica raw materials have indeed been consumed. I only found a telescope. Please take a look at it, your majesty."

"One... hehe."

Zhu Jianshen knew without asking any more questions that it was the one that he had asked Li Zisheng to give to Liang Fang.

Then Qin Chang took the wooden box, took out the telescope and handed it to Zhu Jianshen.

Zhu Jianshen took it in his hand and looked at it casually, frowned and asked: "Doesn't the bamboo tube of this telescope look too old? Why don't you replace it with a new one?"

"Uh……"

Liang Fang was speechless for a moment.

It's not that he didn't want to change it, but his craftsmen didn't know what focal length was, let alone focusing. As a result, after working on it for a long time, they found that even the basic functions of the telescope were lost. In the end, they had no choice but to install it back on the original lens barrel. Only in this way could the distant objects appear clear.

But in this case, he would have to return it exactly as Li Zisheng had sent it to him.

"You really are... making trouble out of nothing..."

Zhu Jianshen said this in a sarcastic tone.

Liang Fang kowtowed hurriedly: "This slave deserves to die, this slave deserves to die."

Li Zisheng, who was standing next to him, said nothing. He waited for the emperor to expose the matter and waited to see what would happen to Liang Fang.

But the emperor simply put the telescope aside and asked again: "What else did you bring?"

Liang Fang replied: "There are also elixirs and a booklet. And...soap."

Originally he should have offered the soap first, but he also knew that the quality of the soap he made was too poor and could not be compared with the previous tributes, so he could only put the other two things first.

"What elixir?"

Zhu Jianshen was indeed more interested in this.

Liang Fang stood up and personally handed the porcelain bottle containing the "immortal pill" to Zhu Jianshen, saying respectfully: "This pill is made from the best medicinal materials in the world. It has the function of rejuvenating the body and prolonging life. Taking it for a long time can make you immortal."

Li Zisheng, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but frown after hearing this.

This bottle containing the elixir is clearly the one that Deng Changen showed me before. Even Deng Changen, who is an alchemist, doesn’t dare to say so. How dare you brag directly in front of the emperor?
I've seen brave people, but I've never seen anyone as bold as you!

Wei Xing, who was standing next to him, also raised his head when he heard this and looked at Liang Fang with admiration, as if to say, "You, Eunuch Liang, are really daring and bold, and you brag without thinking."

But everyone present could see clearly that Liang Fang's exaggeration of the efficacy of the elixir was intended to highlight his own achievements and cover up his previous mistakes.

Anyway, as long as the elixir is not poisonous, it will not have much effect in the short term. Rejuvenation and longevity are not immediately apparent. He plans to use fabricated lies to overcome the current difficulties first.

How long will the emperor live in the future?
Is that something Liang Fang needs to worry about now?
Zhu Jianshen was very happy when he heard it at first, but then his face became a little unhappy: "Is it really so miraculous?"

Obviously, Liang Fang's credibility was greatly reduced in the eyes of the emperor.

If you clearly said that the telescope was given to you by Li Zisheng, perhaps someone would believe you, but now it is obvious that you have... thrown away your dignity in order to escape punishment. Just like that, who would believe that what you offered was some elixir?
Liang Fang said: "I have asked someone to try it out, and there is absolutely no problem."

Qin Chang laughed and said, "There shouldn't be many such elixirs in the world. Eunuch Liang actually asked someone to test the medicine? Did you test it yourself? Then wouldn't you be able to live forever and serve the emperor forever?"

Liang Fang glared at Qin Chang, as if asking, what do you have to do here? Why are you making noise at this critical moment? Can you please shut up?

"What about those?"

Zhu Jianshen didn't even straighten up, and continued to lie on his back and asked.

Liang Fang quickly handed over the picture book of the art of sex and the soap.

Zhu Jianshen just glanced at it casually, waved his hand and said: "Go away. Don't come to see me recently! Out of sight, out of mind, hum..."

Liang Fang and Wei Xing came out of the Qianqing Palace in dejection.

Wei Xing seemed very lucky. He looked up at the dazzling sunlight at noon and said with emotion: "It is a great fortune to have escaped the disaster."

Liang Fang rolled her eyes at him and asked coldly, "Will your next step be to think that this disaster was caused by our family?"

"Ah!? Eunuch Liang, please don't misunderstand me. I have absolutely no such intention."

Wei Xing had previously been somewhat hypocritical towards Liang Fang, but today he saw with his own eyes that Liang Fang simply took a telescope and a few other things to successfully overcome the difficulties, and he realized that he had seriously underestimated Liang Fang's status and great influence in the emperor's mind.

Now he is more respectful to Liang Fang.

Liang Fang frowned and asked, "Did you hear the last words of His Majesty?"

Wei Xing was startled and asked, "You mean we are not allowed to see the emperor recently?"

"What I heard was that out of sight, out of mind... Alas, His Majesty may be extremely disappointed with me, and even feel annoyed when he sees me... After years of hard work, this is the result, wuwuwu..."

Liang Fang had tears in her eyes and her voice was choked with sobs. There was a hint of sadness in her sorrow, but to Wei Xing, it sounded like whining without any real reason.

It doesn't affect your official position, nor does it affect your ability to continue making a lot of money, so why be sad?

Why don't you look at us?
Wei Xing asked, "Then...Eunuch Liang, this matter is over now, right? What should we do next?"

Liang Fang said: "No matter who it is, we will not let anyone go. Especially that old bastard Qin Ji, we must teach him a lesson!"

"Huh? Didn't you make peace with those Hanlin scholars?"

Wei Xing asked in surprise.

"The Hanlin is the Hanlin, and I am a slave. How dare someone in the palace plot against us? Humph, who does he think he is? An old man, relying on the support of the crown prince, dares to ignore us? Killing him is already a good thing for him. We will make him live a life worse than death!"

Liang Fang gritted her teeth.

……

……

In the Qianqing Palace.

After Liang Fang and Wei Xing left, Zhu Jianshen stood up from the couch. Tan Chang was about to go over to help him, but was stopped by Zhu Jianshen with his hand.

"I'm not at the point of dying yet."

Zhu Jianshen shouted.

The other three people present could not figure out what the emperor was thinking.

Zhu Jianshen turned his head and looked at Li Zisheng, who was hunched over and silent, and asked, "Mr. Li, do you think that I am giving Liang Fang too much advantage by doing this?"

Li Zisheng said hurriedly: "I dare not think so... Although Eunuch Liang made mistakes, he presented treasures after all, so he is still loyal and filial..."

Even though Li Zisheng was full of disappointment at the moment, he could only say this.

The emperor asked him to hand over the telescope to Liang Fang. Wasn't it to deliberately test and trick Liang Fang? Instead, he went through so much trouble just to help Liang Fang get through the difficulties?

Liang Fang didn't even mention Li Zisheng in front of the emperor, and the emperor just let Liang Fang go?
It can be said that after all this, the emperor's face and dignity were ruthlessly trampled upon by Liang Fang, but this was something the emperor himself approved of?
Who would believe such a bizarre and ridiculous thing if I told them to others?
Zhu Jianshen said, "On the one hand, he amassed wealth like crazy, and in the name of searching for tribute for me, he caused chaos in the local area, disturbed the peace of the country, and even embezzled the gold stored in the imperial treasury to enrich himself! He also secretly tried to sow discord between me and the prince, and attempted to depose and establish the crown prince. There are too many bad deeds to list, and you actually said that he has a loyal and filial heart?"

Li Zisheng said with a smile, "Well, Your Majesty, you are really far-sighted."

It seems that you know everything, but you are pretending to be ignorant. Since you know everything, why don't you punish Liang Fang?
What's the point of leaving behind such a scourge to ruin your reputation?
Zhu Jianshen took the small porcelain bottle containing the elixir in his hand, examined it carefully, and then asked slowly, "What kind of elixir is this?"

Tan Chang replied cautiously: "Eunuch Liang said that this is an elixir."

"How many hands have passed?"

Zhu Jianshen asked again.

Tan Chang, Wei Tai and Li Zisheng looked at each other.

I thought to myself, this is a great question. How do you want us to answer it?

Zhu Jianshen pointed at Wei Tai and asked, "Is there no news from the East Factory?"

Wei Tai said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is the elixir made by Deng Changen, Zhao Yuzhi and others. We first approached Lord Li to request tribute, but Lord Li flatly refused. Then we approached Lord Wan, who also declined. Finally... we approached Eunuch Liang to present it to you."

"Bang!" Zhu Jianshen threw the porcelain bottle directly to the ground, breaking it into pieces, and the dozen or so pills inside were scattered all over the ground.

When several people saw this situation, they all knew that the emperor was really angry.

"Li Qing, tell me, why didn't you offer this elixir at that time? Were you afraid of helping Deng Changen take the credit?"

Zhu Jianshen asked sternly.

Li Zisheng was so embarrassed that he wanted to pick his feet, but he still forced himself to speak: "Your Majesty, I checked the elixir at that time and found that it was useless except for a little effect on sex, and it might even harm your majesty's health. But I didn't verify it at that time, so I didn't dare to offer it casually."

"Listen! This is the model of a benevolent minister. He will not casually offer pills of unknown origin and uncertain efficacy. Otherwise, what do you think of me? Am I here to test the medicine for him? I am ill now, and I have to take these pills of unknown origin. Do you think I can live longer?"

Zhu Jianshen was so angry that his blood boiled and his sallow face turned red.

Tan Chang quickly persuaded: "Your Majesty, calm down, calm down!"

Li Zisheng thought to himself, Oh my god, I can say this is a contribution?

Zhu Jianshen was only angry for a moment, but soon calmed down. He said, "My health is not as good as before, and I know that anger hurts the liver. I will not make things worse for my illness, but because of Wan Shi's death, I really can't smile. Recently, I have a bad appetite and can't eat. Add to this matter, how can I let it go!"

Qin Chang said, "Your Majesty, please take your health first, think about happy things, and stop worrying about Liang Fang. In addition, you haven't eaten much recently, so I will ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some appetizers. Only when you eat well and are full can your body be healthy."

Zhu Jianshen nodded, his voice weak: "I can see your loyalty. If you want to do something for me, just share my worries in the court affairs. I really can't split my attention and take care of the court affairs recently, so I leave everything to you."

As he spoke, Zhu Jianshen seemed very tired, and waved his hand, saying, "I won't have lunch yet. I'll take a rest for a while. You all can leave now."

"Yes."

After the three of them saluted, they respectfully took their leave.

……

……

The three of them left the Qianqing Palace and walked for a distance.

Qin Chang said deliberately: "Lord Li, you see, His Majesty is really kind. Even though Eunuch Liang made such a big mistake, he was able to make a small mistake in the end... It's rare..."

Li Zisheng asked back: "Eunuch Tan, don't you think that His Majesty is deliberately indulging him? I wonder why this is so?"

Tan Chang was stunned.

The reason why he said this in front of Li Zisheng was that he felt that Li Zisheng should be in cahoots with Liang Fang, and this was more of a test.

But after hearing what Li Zisheng said, Qin Chang immediately realized that Li Zisheng had jumped ship early.

Who said that we should stand together with Liang Fang?
It was possible when Liang Fang was in power before, but now... It was obvious that the emperor was extremely disappointed with Liang Fang, but he didn't show any anger for the time being because of the deceased Concubine Wan.

Wei Tai smiled and said, "After this incident, Lord Li can be said to have great kindness towards Eunuch Liang."

Li Zisheng shook his head: "Eunuch Wei, do you think Liang Fang will remember the favor I gave him when I gave him the telescope to report to His Majesty? I'm afraid not! Perhaps that Eunuch Liang still thinks that I gave it to him too late and failed to help him find more bodies, and even blames me for His Majesty's neglect of him."

"Ah? How could this be? Lord Li, please don't bother with Eunuch Liang."

Wei Tai hurried to comfort him.

Qin Chang and Wei Tai sang the same tune, one playing the good guy and the other playing the bad guy.

"Both of you."

Li Zisheng said, "Now that the Crown Prince's dethronement and enthronement are in question, Your Majesty should no longer listen to the treacherous words. Has the Crown Prince successfully overcome the difficulties?"

"what!?"

Qin Chang asked curiously, "Why did Lord Li say that?"

Li Zisheng said, "Your Majesty mentioned before that the Crown Prince should be asked to consult in the Wenhua Palace... Has Your Majesty not mentioned it again recently?"

Qin Chang said, "It has not been mentioned again, but it is said that someone in the court is planning to report this. Now that the prince has married, and His Majesty is unable to concentrate on the affairs of the court due to his illness and heart disease, someone suggested that the prince take charge of the affairs in Wenhua Palace to try to relieve His Majesty's worries... It is not impossible."

Li Zisheng asked, "Do you two also think this is appropriate?"

"This……"

Of course Qin Chang was unwilling.

If the emperor was not in charge of government affairs and the crown prince was not in the Wenhua Hall, then the review and sealing of all memorials would be decided by him, the eunuch in charge of the seal.

But if a prince suddenly appeared out of nowhere, it would weaken Qin Chang's power.

"understood."

Li Zisheng seemed to have figured out something from Qin Chang's reaction, and said meaningfully, "This kind of thing cannot be easily reported to the emperor for instructions. Whoever reports it will be in trouble."

"Uh……"

Qin Chang smiled awkwardly.

In fact, some things are obvious. When the emperor says that Prince, you are qualified to inquire about state affairs, then you really are.

If the emperor just threw out a lead, and a minister reported to the emperor requesting the prince to ask about state affairs, then this minister would be considered overstepping his authority, and the emperor might even think that the prince was behind this, and that someone wanted to support his son and ignore his father...

Power is something that, let alone being fought for by others, even if it is given out by one's own hands, one can only leave a string there, and the tightness or looseness is up to one's heart. Whoever tries to snatch it will die.

……

……

Li Zisheng and Silijian went their separate ways.

When they were far away, Wei Tai glanced back and asked those around him, "Why is he asking that? Is he thinking of standing up for the prince? He is just changing his mind according to the situation..."

"do not know."

Qin Chang said, "It sounds like a question that Liang Fang should ask... If someone fights for the prince's chance to attend court in Wenhua Palace, it would be a disguised way of trapping the prince... We should all understand this principle, and Li Zisheng's question is totally unnecessary."

Wei Tai said: "Perhaps he really doesn't understand? Or maybe he has figured out that Your Majesty intends to cultivate the Crown Prince?"

"can you?"

Qin Chang asked.

Wei Tai thought about it and then shook his head.

The emperor's indifference towards the prince was not formed overnight. If it is said that after Concubine Wan died, the emperor turned to admire his son and even wanted to cultivate him wholeheartedly... this change is too big.

……

……

After Li Zisheng came out of the palace, he did not go to any government office but went straight home. He called Pang Qing over immediately.

"Let's go and see Zhang Laizhan now."

Li Zisheng rolled up his sleeves and greeted him.

Pang Qing looked at Li Zisheng curiously and asked, "Master Dao, what's wrong with you? Is it too abrupt to go to Zhang's house at this time?"

Li Zisheng sighed, "It's ok that I'm not as good as Zhang Laizhan in calculating the secrets of heaven, but now I can't even see through the affairs of the court. It seems that everything is planned by Zhang Laizhan. I might benefit a lot from visiting him to discuss it now."

"No, not so much..."

Pang Qing almost said, how can you belittle yourself?
Li Zisheng frowned and said, "Guess what? Today, Liang Fang presented a telescope to His Majesty. It was the one that His Majesty asked me to pass on to Liang Fang. Liang Fang shamelessly said in front of His Majesty that he had found it with great difficulty, without mentioning me at all.

"In the end... His Majesty didn't blame him and let him get away with it so easily... I was almost stunned at the time and didn't understand what was going on. What do you think happened?"

Pang Qing was dumbfounded, and after a while he said, "You don't mean to say that this was also part of Zhang Banxian's plan, right?"

"if not?"

Li Zisheng glanced at him and asked, "Don't you think that Zhang Laizhan's move is actually to sow discord between us and Liang Fang?"

Pang Qing rolled his eyes when he heard this.

It seems to be saying, think whatever you want, Zhang Laizhan just gave you a telescope, but now you have deified Zhang Laizhan, as if everything was within his calculations.

(End of this chapter)