Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 571 Hypocrisy

Chapter 571 Hypocrisy (asking for monthly ticket)

Zhang Luan asked his servants to set a table for Li Zisheng.

The feast was much more sumptuous than what Li Zisheng usually treated him to…

Li Zisheng seemed to have no appetite. After sitting down, he just smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Why? Not to your taste?”

Zhang Luan said, “I’ll ask the maid to come over and add more wine to keep you company.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Li Zisheng explained, “In fact, when I sent you to this courtyard this morning, I told you that I would not come here again. But you invited me to come here several times… This makes me seem inconsiderate!
“Laizhan, how about this, you come with me to a place, and we can talk there?”

“where?”

Zhang Luan asked curiously.

“You’ll know when you get there.”

Li Zisheng smiled and said, “I promise you that your trip will be worthwhile.”

Zhang Luan thought to himself, if I had known this earlier I would not have asked people to prepare so many dishes.

You said I had prepared sumptuous food and wine, but you refused to eat at the last minute. Aren’t you being too disrespectful to me?

But since Li Zisheng had invited him, it also meant that his trip was worthwhile…

Zhang Luan couldn’t help but have many expectations in his heart.

Because Li Zisheng is a very down-to-earth person. If he says that he will benefit from it, then he will definitely benefit greatly from it.

……

……

Zhang Luan then followed Li Zisheng out and they rode in a carriage together.

Zhang Luan asked a few questions on the way, but Li Zisheng just smiled and didn’t explain too much.

“You’ll know when you get there.”

Li Zisheng smiled.

Zhang Luan was full of doubts. When he arrived at the place, he found that it was an inconspicuous courtyard located deep in a small alley. Because it had just snowed, the road was a little muddy and the carriage could not pass. The two had to walk in.

After entering the yard, he saw Pang Qing coming out from inside.

“The person has been invited.”

Pang Qing said with a smile.

Li Zisheng nodded, covering his mouth with his hand as he explained something to Pang Qing, as if he was intentionally trying to hide it from Zhang Luan.

Zhang Luan was in no mood to find out what was going on; he couldn’t help but look around.

He was thinking, as the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows, it turns out that Li Zisheng has quite a few secret residences. No wonder he said he was not afraid of being followed. If he moves to a new place today, who will be able to find him?

This place is too hidden!

If there really is some hidden master living there, then he is truly a great hermit hiding in the city.

“Come and see, are you looking forward to something? Waiting for the good show tonight?”

As Pang Qing took the order and left, Li Zisheng came back and asked with a smile.

Zhang Luan was stunned.

He really didn’t think about it that way, and immediately asked: “Whose residence is this? Is there some master here?”

Li Zisheng stood there for a moment, then said unhappily, “What kind of great man is better than you? You are too flattering to those common people… I invited someone to meet you… Didn’t you run into some trouble today? Once you go in, all your troubles will be solved.”

Hey.

Zhang Luan thought to himself, I am the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and I have been unable to resolve a problem even with the help of Tan Ji, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department. And you tell me that someone inside can help me resolve the problem?
What are you bragging about?

After entering, Zhang Luan was stunned when he saw the man standing under the dim light.

Who else could it be but Cheng Zong, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice whom I met during the day?

“Minister Cheng, long time no see!”

Li Zisheng smiled and walked forward to greet him, “I haven’t seen you for a while, so I specially invited you to come over today to have a drink together and introduce someone to you.

“Brother Laizhan, we are not strangers. You should have known each other for a long time, right?”

Cheng Zong didn’t expect to see Zhang Luan here. He looked a little embarrassed, but he quickly saluted.

Zhang Luan also bowed in return.

Zhang Luan looked at Li Zisheng and asked, “Minister Li, what is going on?”

Li Zisheng smiled and said, “We are all family. If we encounter any unpleasant things, we should communicate with each other and eliminate the barriers… Besides, how can we not know each other?
“Minister Cheng, what do you think?”

Cheng Zong had no choice but to nod.

Zhang Luan thought, oh no, could it be that I have been tricked by Li Zisheng today?
Cheng Zong is actually his man?
Why didn’t I see that before?
This thick-browed and big-eyed Minister Cheng has been promoted to such a key position as the Left Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Logically, he should be considered a fair and strict person, right? He has always had a good reputation as an official, so how come he… has fallen to the point of working for Li Zisheng?

On second thought, it doesn’t matter. If I really have someone in the Ministry of Justice, then wouldn’t it be much easier for me to do my job next time?
It’s quite beautiful when you think about it.

……

……

The three of them took their seats.

Zhang Luan looked around and asked, “Minister Li, why don’t you call Mr. Pang in as well?”

Li Zisheng asked curiously, “Could it be that Lai Zhan has guessed what I asked Bingkun to do? You really are… you can’t hide it even if you want to!

“It’s my fault too. I never thought you could read people’s minds… Oh, forget it! Since you know everything, I can’t bother you any more tonight.”

“What?”

Zhang Luan was bewildered.

I just think that since Cheng Zong was invited by Pang Qing, it would be nice to let him come in and sit with us.

Who knew you thought I could guess everything?
Li Zisheng smiled and said, “Let’s not talk about anything else. Let’s first talk about what Zhang Guozhang went to see Minister Cheng to do today… Minister Cheng, is there any problem on your side?”

Cheng Zong said, “This… case was transferred from the Jinyiwei Beizhenfusi Yamen. When it came to the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, it was just a formality. There is no need to delay a major case decided by the emperor. Some people may not be very prominent, so they may have to go through the trial process again. In fact, it will not take a few days in total.” Li Zisheng shook his head and said, “Then… you are not deliberately causing trouble for Zhang Guozhang?”

“Oh, no, I definitely don’t mean that.”

Cheng Zong flatly denied it.

Li Zisheng said with a smile: “I heard that Zhang Guozhang and Tan Ji and Tan Gonggong were very upset when they were here with you today.”

After hearing this, Cheng Zong felt very uncomfortable and couldn’t help but look at Zhang Luan.

I thought to myself, you old man have learned to complain?
Zhang Luan cried out in injustice.

What Qin Ji and I went through in the Ministry of Justice is known to heaven, earth, you and me, but Li Zisheng should not know it.

He didn’t even ask me, and I don’t know how he knew everything.

Li Zisheng said: “But it doesn’t matter. The case has been concluded. What to do has already been decided, right?”

Zhang Luan thought that this was pure cliché.

It is to appease the other party.

Li Zisheng is still a man of his means.

I have to learn something from him!

Cheng Zong smiled and said, “This case really shouldn’t be delayed indefinitely. Tomorrow I will have someone sort out the case file and send it to Zhang Guozhang.”

“No, no, I’ll go get it myself.”

Zhang Luan was very happy.

You, Cheng Zong, like to speak to me in official language, but when you come to Lizi Province, you must be dumbfounded, right?

Li Zisheng said with a smile: “Minister Cheng, please don’t find me annoying. This is how I am. If others treat me well and help me, I will definitely repay them. Even though I am like a rat crossing the street and everyone in the court is calling for my death, my official position has never changed. Isn’t this because I have Zhang Guozhang’s support behind me?
“Tell me, if I don’t pave the way for Zhang Guozhang in the court, how can I gain his trust? I can only shamelessly ask you for help.”

Cheng Zong said quickly, “I don’t deserve it, I don’t deserve it… This is what we should do as people in the Ministry of Justice. There is no question of who helps whom.”

Li Zisheng said, “Since Minister Cheng said so, I feel relieved… Zhang Guozhang, if you have anything to discuss with Minister Cheng, it’s rare for us to meet in private today, so let’s talk about it in person to prevent you from having wild thoughts.”

Zhang Luan felt relieved and shook his head: “I… nothing… In fact, even for those case files, my demand is not very strong, it’s just that Eunuch Tan is always urging, maybe the Silijian is more anxious.”

Cheng Zong nodded and said, “Because it involves the people of the Fallen Palace, I can completely understand it.”

“hehe.”

Li Zisheng smiled and said, “Zhang Guozhang, I’m curious about something.”

Zhang Luan thought, if you have something to ask, do you have to ask it in this kind of situation? Or do you have to let Cheng Zong know about your curiosity?
“please say.”

Zhang Luan waved his hand.

Li Zisheng said, “You said that the court this time involved the case of Liang Fang, Peng Hua, Wei Xing and others. Oh, and Deng Changen and Ji Xiao and their ilk. They committed crimes and implicated so many people in the court. So far, those who have not been brought to justice have been successfully brought to justice, have they been brought to justice?”

Zhang Luan hesitated for a moment and asked, “Minister Li wants to ask whether this case should be further investigated, right?”

“Yeah.”

Li Zisheng nodded repeatedly, but then shook his head, “Oh, that’s not right. Shouldn’t I have asked about this matter in front of Minister Cheng? You should contact the Censorate next, right?”

“I……”

Zhang Luan pondered it carefully and sighed, “At what stage the case can be stopped, it actually depends on your majesty’s will. Or the opinions of the officials in the court… or your majesty does not want to expand the case indefinitely, so as not to affect the stability of the court.”

Li Zisheng nodded in understanding and smiled, “That’s good. In fact, I am also worried that this case will implicate me… You said Liang Fang, who would have thought that he did so many immoral things? I always thought he was worthy of respect. He gave his life and property to the late emperor. I would go even if there were thousands of people against me. Who would have thought… Well, never mind, I will have less contact with such people in the future.”

Cheng Zong was stunned listening nearby.

Liang Fang is notorious, but only in your eyes can you see his merits? That’s right, after all, he was the one who recommended you to the late emperor, so you have a relationship with him, so it’s understandable that you praise him a few times!
Li Zisheng said: “We have prepared some wine here. Minister Cheng and Zhang Guozhang, why don’t you join me for a drink and chat, and discuss how to do things in the future?

“I wonder what you two think?”

“I don’t deserve it. If you need anything, just tell me!”

Cheng Zong said this humbly, and then said with difficulty: “But I have been out for a while. If my whereabouts are discovered by someone with ulterior motives, it will be disadvantageous to both parties. So I won’t stay to drink!”

“In this case, I cannot force you to stay here…”

Li Zisheng said with understanding: “Indeed, if people knew that we were secretly communicating, it might affect your reputation and future. Let’s put it this way, if Zhang Guozhang needs to find you in the future, or if you encounter any trouble that is difficult to solve, you can send someone to inform me, and I will come forward to help.

“I am out of power now, but there is one thing: I have good relationships with people and know a lot of people. The more channels I have, the easier it is to get things done.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll have to trouble you, Minister Li, when the time comes.”

Cheng Zong was very polite to Li Zisheng.

This time Zhang Luan is in trouble.

……

……

After seeing Cheng Zong off, Zhang Luan quickly pulled Li Zisheng behind the door and asked, “What on earth is going on?”

Li Zisheng smiled and said, “Isn’t it good to introduce you to someone who can help you in the future?”

Zhang Luan said, “Look, you are still playing dumb with me! I went to the Ministry of Justice today, and this Minister Cheng behaved so honestly. How come he just now in front of you…”

“upright?”

Li Zisheng said unhappily, “When he gave Liang Fang and me gifts, he was quite straightforward… Do you know where he came from?”

“Isn’t he a Jinshi?”

Zhang Luan asked curiously.

“I mean what kind of official position he held! He previously worked in Yunnan, where he was involved in border tribes and had connections with Liang Fang’s cronies, including Qian Neng, but he accepted a lot of bribes and even stole the local jade and stone resources. Although the tribal disputes in Yunnan cannot be said to be entirely his fault, he still has to bear the blame. With such a bad record, he still wants to gain a foothold in the court… Haha, of course he has to be careful.”

Li Zisheng looked relaxed and contented.

“Hey, no wonder you said he gave you the jade as a gift. It turns out he took it back because of greed. Isn’t this kind of person one thing in front of you and another behind your back?”

Zhang Luan sighed: “How hypocritical!”

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(End of this chapter)