20demayo Chapter 1000 Not Simple
Chapter 1000 Not Simple
Zhang Ping'an had anticipated the current situation ever since Cui Rong gained favor with the emperor.
Faced with such unexpected disaster, all we can do is deal with it as it comes.
“I know, so we absolutely cannot let her sit on the throne of empress, nor can we let her get too close to the two princes. As long as the two princes don’t side with her, everything will be fine.”
"Actually, considering the family backgrounds and status of the concubines in the harem, my cousin from the Qian family is one of the most suitable candidates for the position of empress. It's a pity that she hasn't given birth to a son or daughter in the years since she entered the palace, and she has not won His Majesty's favor. Alas!"
Xiaoyuer shook his head, supporting his knees, feeling very sorry for his cousin's situation. He thought that she was outstanding in terms of appearance and character in the family, which was why she was sent to the palace, but ended up like this.
Beauty fades quickly; she'll most likely grow old and die in the palace.
Speaking of his niece, Zhang Ping'an sighed, "In terms of scheming, talent, and appearance, your cousin is second to none, but what can be done if she doesn't catch His Majesty's eye? It's a waste to send one of the family's daughters into the palace. I'm sure your uncle regrets it a bit."
However, the future is uncertain, and it's not entirely impossible for her to vie for the empress's position.
Little Fish heard the profound meaning in his father's last sentence and was about to ask for details when Madam Li came out from the flower hall with a gentle smile, "Father, husband, the meal is ready, you can sit down now."
After saying that, he instructed the servants to bring in the two brothers who were playing in the courtyard.
The two children ran and played for a while, their faces flushed. In the hot summer, their long shirts were soaked with sweat, leaving a stain.
Li gently pulled the two children aside, carefully wiped their sweat with a damp cloth, washed her hands, and then patted their backs, saying, "Alright, come and eat!"
Both children are now able to eat independently without needing servants to wait on them, and even the youngest, Zhang Zhuo, eats very properly.
In the hot summer, dinner is simple. Besides a few seasonal side dishes, the main dishes are cold dishes and soup, plus delicately made white steamed buns.
The steamed buns were seasoned with a little sugar and red dates, which the two children loved. Little Zhang Zhuo ate two as an exception, and just as he was about to take a third, Li reminded him: "Eat only seven-tenths full for dinner, did you forget again? Remember not to overeat, or you'll feel uncomfortable later."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhangzhuo let out an "Oh," his eyebrows drooping in disappointment. He obediently put down the steamed bun, bowed to his grandfather and parents, and then followed the servants out.
Zhang Heng followed closely behind.
Although the adults ate more, most people don't have much of an appetite in the summer, so they quickly put down their chopsticks and left the table.
Zhang Ping'an took his son straight to the study.
Continue the topic just now.
Without keeping her in suspense, he said, "These past two years, you've been lecturing at the Eastern Palace, and your relationship with the Crown Prince has always been good. He's always relied on you. If you can persuade him to help your cousin, I think it's not impossible for her to contend for the Empress's position. The Qian family prides itself on being a thousand-year-old family and has always disdained the underhanded methods used by the Cui family's daughter to seduce the monarch and rise to power. As long as the Crown Prince and the Second Prince stand on your cousin's side, coupled with the Qian family's influence in the officialdom, they still have a good chance of winning in the end."
After hearing this, Xiaoyuer immediately pondered, "The Crown Prince has recently placed many people from other factions around him, so I can't guarantee that this matter will succeed."
"Try it first, and if it doesn't work, we'll talk about something else. By the way, your fourth uncle wrote to me today, saying that he sent someone to bring you something, but I don't know what it is. Although he is in Jizhou, he has always been concerned about you."
When Xiaoyuer mentioned her fourth uncle, Qian Yu, a smile appeared on her face, but she also felt a little ashamed. "My fourth uncle has been trying to get me transferred to the Ministry of War or the Ministry of Revenue all these years, but I have never listened to him. Yet he has continued to treat me so well. I feel really bad about it."
“You’re still young. Whether you get transferred or not, there will be many more opportunities in the future. It’s not a big deal. In the past two years, I’ve gradually come to understand your fourth uncle’s plans. He is the most shrewd person in the Qian family,” Zhang Ping’an said calmly.
After a moment of hesitation, he continued, "There's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I haven't known whether I should tell you or not, but now that you're taking on the responsibility of leading the family, I've decided to tell you anyway."
Seeing his father's unusually serious expression, Xiaoyuer asked earnestly, "Dad, what is it?"
"I suspect that your maternal family has probably already found one of the treasures left behind by the rebel Bai Chao. When your fourth uncle was transferred to Jizhou, in addition to the disaster and the need to change the deployment of external forces, the search for treasure was probably also one of the reasons."
"Have you heard the news?" Little Fish asked, frowning.
Zhang Ping'an nodded and then shook his head, explaining, "At first, I didn't think in that direction, but when Li Mingxuan left, he left me a treasure map. I've been secretly sending a lot of people out to search for it over the past two years, following the route on the map, as you know, but there hasn't been much progress."
It wasn't until the earthquake earlier this year that the treasure trove in Hebei was finally located. And guess what? It was empty. There were still traces of wooden boxes left behind. So, according to my speculation, this was indeed a treasure trove, and it may have contained treasure left by Bai Chao, but someone else found it first and emptied it.
Considering your fourth uncle's actions in Jizhou over the years, and the information I gathered from the Qian family, it's probably pretty much the truth.
Seeing his father's calm expression as he spoke, Xiaoyuer breathed a sigh of relief. The Qian family had indeed treated him well since he was a child, and he did care for them. He didn't want the two families to clash unless absolutely necessary.
That's human nature; it's always selfish. He could be indifferent to his father-in-law's family's predicament, but he couldn't be indifferent to the strained relationship between his maternal family and his own.
"Are you sure? But then again, it was unclaimed property, and it's a real shame that they got there first. However, there are still a few other places where we can get our hands on more people and spend more time. We still have a chance."
This was all the little fish could do to comfort his father for the time being.
As for whether the Qian family actually received this huge sum of money, he will find a way to find out.
He's been like this since he was a child; no matter what the outcome is, he refuses to be a fool.
Hearing his son's question, Zhang Ping'an wasn't angry. He calmly continued, "Just like you said, this is unclaimed property. I was a step too late in getting the treasure. It would be a lie to say I have no regrets, but it's not that bad either. Every cloud has a silver lining. If I had really gotten this treasure, I honestly wouldn't know what to do. I'm telling you this so you're aware that your maternal family isn't as simple as you think behind the scenes."