Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 303 Treating the symptoms rather than the root cause

Wanhe Temple.

After a long time, Queen Mother Zhou came out from the Great Hall after burning incense. There was a hint of sadness on her face, which was completely different from the warm smile on her face when she came.

"The emperor's illness really worries me."

Queen Mother Zhou said.

Li Zisheng said: "I am also worried about this... But Grandfather, it is best not to let too many people know about this, so as to avoid suspicion among the people in the court."

"Ok?"

Queen Mother Zhou glanced at Zhang Luan and asked, "Laizhan, I heard you can heal illnesses?"

"Your Majesty, I know a thing or two about medicine."

Zhang Luan replied respectfully.

"Look at you, you forgot your name again?"

Empress Dowager Zhou looked somewhat displeased.

Zhang Luan quickly changed his words: "Aunt, please forgive me... I do know some medical skills, but I am not very proficient in them."

Queen Mother Zhou stared at Zhang Luan deeply and said meaningfully, "You can cure smallpox, which has been difficult to cure for thousands of years, and yet you say you are not proficient in medicine?
"Don't be nervous. I'm not deliberately giving you a hard time. As far as I know, even the doctors in the Imperial Hospital are well-educated, right? But they also have their specialties... One can treat gynecological diseases, another is good at difficult and complicated internal medicine diseases, some are proficient in acupuncture and massage, and some specialize in treating unexplained pain all over the body. These are all very particular."

Li Zisheng echoed, "Yes, ancestor, Lai Zhan is only good at treating smallpox, but there are some diseases he really can't treat."

Queen Mother Zhou looked solemn and continued to stare at Zhang Luan: "But come on, there are some things you should know. At least Zi Sheng should have reminded you... When you have free time, study a certain disease. I look forward to your outstanding performance in the future."

"Yes Yes."

Zhang Luan bowed.

Li Zisheng came forward and whispered, "Don't worry, Grandfather. I have always kept this matter in mind and want to share your worries with you and Your Majesty."

Queen Mother Zhou sighed, "Alas, look at me, a woman with limited knowledge, how can I compare to you? Just remember this... I am not really trying to embarrass you, there are just some things that I just can't let go of. Let's go, I still need to ask for a fortune to see if I will be safe or not."

"Yes."

Li Zisheng led the way again.

At this moment, Zhang Luan didn't know whether he should follow or stand where he was.

"Laizhan, come here. I don't know why, but we hit it off the moment we met. If I don't talk to you for a while, I feel like something is missing. This is what Buddhists call fate... You see, Zisheng and I are different. Although I think he is very kind, I don't feel like we are a family."

As Empress Dowager Zhou spoke, she glanced at Li Zisheng in front of her.

Li Zisheng did not turn around, but replied with a smile: "Grandfather, you and Zhang Hanlin are family, how dare I establish such a relationship?"

Queen Mother Zhou said: "So, fate is something that cannot be forced. If it exists, it exists, and if it doesn't, it doesn't exist. But I also admire Zisheng's ability. No one in the court who can do things can compare with him. My only hope now is that Zisheng can turn the tide and help me and my son!"

Zhang Luan's heart trembled again after hearing this.

Empress Dowager Zhou reminded him all the time that he must consider the emperor's worsening health and prescribe an effective prescription no matter what, otherwise he would be accused of not saving the emperor's life.

……

……

The Buddhist worship activity lasted for two hours.

After the Empress Dowager's carriage went away, Wanhe Temple was only quiet for a short while. As the Jinyiwei who were responsible for security and escorting the emperor withdrew, countless people flocked to the temple, filling it up.

Zhang Luan didn't even have lunch. He returned home in a carriage in a somewhat bored mood. He went straight to the study and saw his son concentrating on writing and drawing there. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and strode over.

"Dad, are you done?"

Zhang Yanling heard footsteps and turned around to ask.

Zhang Luan said, "Son, promise me first, don't blame your father, and then I will tell you something."

Zhang Yanling put down his pen and said, "Tell me, what's the matter?"

"You really don't blame me?" Zhang Luan asked eagerly.

Zhang Yanling hesitated for a moment and asked, "I guess it has something to do with your majesty's illness, right?"

"Ah."

Zhang Luan said, "My son is really very capable and guessed it right. Today, Li Zisheng came to see me and cried in front of me, saying that the emperor's condition had worsened. He showed me the prescription that the emperor was using... Look, it's right here... This is the prescription that the Imperial Hospital has prescribed."

As he spoke, Zhang Luan took out the prescription and handed it to Zhang Yanling.

Zhang Yanling was full of expectations, but after a careful look, he was disappointed and asked, "That's it... nothing else?"

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and said, "Li Zisheng said that this is the only prescription... Could it be that the Imperial Hospital has other prescriptions that they haven't taken out yet? That's impossible!"

"Dad, there is nothing wrong with this prescription, but it is just average."

Zhang Yanling commented.

"That's what I told Li Zisheng. He begged me to prescribe the medicine and told me not to tell anyone that it was me who prescribed it. I tried to refuse him at the time, but I felt sorry for him and was worried that he would get angry if I refused him again. So I had no choice but to... Son, please don't blame me."

Zhang Luan was apologizing to his son again.

Zhang Yanling said, "You can't be blamed for this, father. Since we entered the capital, Li Zisheng has been deliberately suppressing the request for you to treat His Majesty... If Li Zisheng had not been unwilling to push you to the forefront, perhaps you would have been summoned to the palace for consultation when Concubine Wan was seriously ill at the beginning of the year."

Zhang Luan asked, "You mean, I can't avoid this matter anyway?"

"Ah."

Zhang Yanling nodded heavily, "Dad, you can cure illnesses. Anyone in the court who has investigated our family's situation must know this."

"Yes, even the Queen Mother said in front of me that she knew I could treat acne, and she frequently hinted that I should study more prescriptions for treating liver disease when we were together... Oh, by the way, my son, the Queen Mother insisted on recognizing me as her nephew today, and asked me to call her aunt, don't you think it's strange?"

At this point, Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "Tsk tsk, it sounds ridiculous, but I have no choice. The Queen Mother is very determined. I can't get in her way. I can only obey her wishes."

Zhang Yanling said, "It's nothing. Just follow her wishes... The Queen Mother is very unusual in her actions. Even though she doesn't usually intervene, once she does, everyone is afraid."

Zhang Luan nodded in agreement: "Son, you are right. Wasn't it the Queen Mother who took charge of Liang Fang's downfall this time?"

Zhang Yanling smiled knowingly.

Empress Dowager Zhou was steady, accurate and ruthless in her work.

The most amazing thing that Empress Dowager Zhou did in history was to scare Li Guang, a powerful eunuch during the Hongzhi reign, into committing suicide with just a few words.

"Son, let's talk about treating His Majesty first... How to prescribe a prescription? This is a very important matter. After all, there are so many medical experts in the Imperial Hospital who are eyeing it covetously!"

Zhang Luan looked worried and said bitterly, "If this doesn't work, I won't be able to explain to Li Zi Province. But if it works... or even cures His Majesty, wouldn't it... ruin the Crown Prince's plan?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, don't worry. This disease cannot be cured... Your Majesty is already in the late stage of liver cancer, and the signs of liver cirrhosis have already appeared. To say that he can live for half a year is to say that he is trying to live as long as possible. If he is not careful, the Emperor's Star may fall at any time."

"Oh."

Zhang Luan felt a little relieved after hearing this.

Zhang Yanling said again: "Now we just need to relieve your majesty's symptoms. First of all, we need to reduce the jaundice. For this... I can help. Anyway, it is only a temporary solution and not a cure."

This was the first time that Zhang Yanling was doing something based on what he had learned in his previous life.

Since coming to Ming Dynasty, I have not yet learned the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions that I had coveted for a long time in my previous life. Now I have to use the skills of later generations. I have to treat a middle-aged patient whose quality of life is extremely poor due to advanced liver cancer and cirrhosis... A cure is impossible, even in later generations it is difficult to do so. I can only try my best to relieve the pain and suffering, and the first thing to do is to reduce jaundice.

When Zhang Yanling wrote out the prescription, Zhang Luan, who was full of expectation, snatched it away. After reading it, he was very surprised and asked, "Why are there only four herbs?"

Zhang Yanling said, "The quality of medicine is more important than the quantity. Adding so much medicine may not necessarily help the condition... Eh? When did you understand medical principles? You actually question me?"

"These four herbs...will they really work?" Zhang Luan was very curious and couldn't help asking, "Son, if it's too difficult, don't force yourself. Just copy the original recipe...If you add one or two herbs to the prescription written by the Imperial Hospital, you can basically guarantee that there will be no mistakes."

Zhang Yanling asked, "Dad, when it comes to curing illnesses and saving lives, should I listen to you or me?"

Zhang Luan quickly smiled and said, "Of course I'll listen to you. You said your prescription is good, so let's use it. I'll send it to Li Zisheng right away."

(End of this chapter)