Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 306: Trust but No Principles
Li Zisheng returned home first.

When they got home, Pang Qing couldn't help but remind him, "Master Dao, even if you trust Zhang Hanlin, you shouldn't make such a scene today. If you do this, you won't have any way out."

Li Zisheng said: "As an official in the court, why do you need so many ways out?"

"But this matter has nothing to do with you. If there is something wrong with the medicine, or if someone from the Imperial Hospital secretly makes trouble and deliberately makes the medicine ineffective, then you will bear a great responsibility. Your Majesty cannot just ask about the responsibility... Do you want to push Zhang Hanlin out to be punished?"

When Pang Qing said this, Li Zisheng knew that his aide did not really understand him.

Li Zisheng shook his head and sighed, "Bingkun, with so many officials in the court, why do you think His Majesty would attach so much importance to me, a person who was born as an alchemist, and repeatedly entrust me with important tasks?"

"Because you, my lord, can think of what His Majesty thinks and worry about what His Majesty worries about." Pang Qing said.

"Isn't that what it is?"

Li Zisheng said, "Whether it is the people from the Imperial Hospital or the Imperial Household Department, the first thing they want to do when doing things is to avoid getting involved. They don't seek credit, but only to avoid mistakes. This is how they blame each other, people are redundant, and no one really cares about your Majesty's health."

Pang Qing asked: "So you do the opposite?"

Li Zisheng shook his head and said, "I don't have to go against them, but I do what I think is right, and I do the same in front of His Majesty.

"If I were like those mediocre people who would find a way out when they are indecisive, I would have no face to stay in the court, and I would have let down His Majesty's trust over the years."

Hearing this, Pang Qing was also very moved.

Among all the civil and military officials in the court, the most loyal minister is actually a fake Taoist priest who was often criticized for his alchemy background?
Li Zisheng said: "Do you know why I admire Lai Zhan? His personality is just like mine. He usually looks like a corrupt scholar who doesn't know much about ordinary affairs. He doesn't care about anything, and he won't do anything even if you ask him to do something. But when something big happens, he really dares to rush forward and take responsibility."

Pang Qing nodded and said, "That's true. Predicting earthquakes, natural phenomena, and the death of Concubine Wan is terrifying just to think about it... But Master Dao, even if he is reckless and has your style, isn't his main purpose for his own fame and fortune?"

“Not really.”

Li Zisheng said, "This time when I asked him for a prescription, he repeatedly explained that Your Majesty's illness was difficult to cure, but in the end he still prescribed the prescription. This in itself is a manifestation of responsibility. Since Lai Zhan has set an example for me, why should I back down?"

Pang Qing was speechless for a moment.

Li Zisheng said with emotion: "I have been deeply blessed by His Majesty for more than ten years, and now it is time for me to repay His Majesty... Even if the medicine I presented is ineffective, or even harms His Majesty, at least I have used my heart with sincerity. Even if His Majesty punishes me, I am willing to do so, and this will be worthy of His Majesty's trust over the years."

When Pang Qing heard this, even though he still thought it was nonsense, he had to compliment him: "Your Majesty's broad mind is unmatched in the world. No wonder you are the most powerful minister in the Ming Dynasty."

……

……

Outside Qianqing Palace.

Zhang Yuan and Shi Qin were waiting to go in and pay their respects to Zhu Jianshen.

It was said that he came for a routine consultation, but in fact he just wanted to remind the emperor that today's prescription had been changed, and the person who insisted on changing the medicine was Li Zisheng, who knew nothing about medicine.

"His Majesty summons you to come in." Tan Chang walked out of the palace and said softly to the two of them, "After you go in, be careful with your words and don't cause any unnecessary trouble."

"Yes."

Zhang Yuan replied.

Shi Qin next to him did not respond. It was obvious that Shi Qin, as a deputy, was very disgusted with Li Zisheng's arrogant and domineering behavior.

When we arrived at the inner hall of the Qianqing Palace, we saw the emperor sitting at the table, reading a book in his hand. Next to him was a bowl of medicine soup with steam rising from it.

"Your Majesty, people from the Imperial Hospital are here." Qin Chang reported softly.

"Ah."

Zhu Jianshen responded softly, without even looking up or taking his eyes off the book.

Before Zhang Yuan could speak, Shi Qin stepped out first and said in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, I have something to tell you. Today, Li Zisheng, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Public Administration, went to the Imperial Hospital and spoke out, insisting that the Imperial Hospital make medicine according to the prescription he brought. Now the decoction given to Your Majesty has been replaced.

"Li Zisheng disregarded the safety of Your Majesty and did not listen to the advice of the Imperial Hospital's experts. He insisted on acting recklessly. I believe he has evil intentions. Please punish him severely."

When Qin Chang heard this, he became extremely anxious.

You, Shi Qin, usually look so honest, why do you suddenly become like a mad dog?
Are you impeaching Li Zisheng?

Don’t you know how important Li Zisheng is in His Majesty’s mind?
You are simply looking for death!
After listening to Shi Qin's impeachment, Zhu Jianshen glanced at it sideways, then looked at the medicine bowl, and asked curiously: "Is this new medicine or old medicine?"

Qin Chang said respectfully, "Your Majesty, just as Imperial Physician Shi said, this is a decoction made according to the prescription given by Immortal Master Li. The prescription contains only four herbs, all of which have been tested and are non-toxic. In the past, they were mostly used to clear away heat and reduce internal heat, but no one has ever combined them together to treat liver disease."

"Is it original?"

Zhu Jianshen asked.

"This slave doesn't know."

Tan Chang shook his head.

After listening to this, Zhu Jianshen picked up the medicine bowl with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

This scene stunned Zhang Yuan and Shi Qin, representatives of the Imperial Hospital across the street.

"Go down."

After drinking the medicine, Zhu Jianshen seemed too lazy to argue with these people and waved his hand.

"His Majesty……"

Shi Qin still didn't give up and actually spoke again.

Zhu Jianshen originally intended to forgive Shi Qin, but seeing that Shi Qin was so stubborn, he put down his book, frowned and looked at him with a bit of disgust: "Originally, I didn't intend to ask about the use of medicines by the Imperial Hospital. I will take the medicine as you prescribed it."

Zhang Yuan and Shi Qinxin said, isn't this what should be done?
It is only natural for patients to follow the doctor's advice and take medicine!

"But now..."

Zhu Jianshen's disgust deepened, and he asked sternly, "Why don't you let me take this medicine?"

Shi Qin said as a matter of course: "The Imperial Hospital has not verified whether this medicine is effective, and it is impossible to confirm whether it is harmful to your majesty's dragon body. If you take it rashly, it may cause the medicine to conflict with your majesty's dragon body, which will be extremely ineffective for the next step of treatment... Your majesty, please correct the chaos and don't listen to the slander of flatterers."

"call……"

When Zhu Jianshen heard this, he let out a long breath and said sinisterly, "He is still a loyal minister. It seems that I underestimated you medical officers."

Now Shi Qin was worried and had no idea what the emperor meant.

Zhu Jianshen said fiercely: "In this case, I will simply fulfill your wish... Tan Chang, after this man leaves the Qianqing Palace, immediately have the East Factory and the Jinyiwei arrest him and send him to the Northern Pacification Division Prison... I will take the medicine first. If it works within a few days, then I will fulfill his reputation as a loyal minister and publicly convict him of a crime...

At the end of his speech, Zhu Jianshen looked at Shi Qin again and asked, "What do you think?"

"what?"

Shi Qin was shocked.

Qin Chang tactfully advised: "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Shi may have good intentions, so there is no need to..."

"enough!"

Zhu Jianshen shouted, "What I hate most is others saying irresponsible things to me under the pretext of caring about me... My illness has been recurring recently, and I have never seen any changes in your medication.

"Now Li Qing is willing to take the risk of taking responsibility and get this medicine for me. You have all seen the prescription and the preparation of the medicine and have tried it yourselves. You know it is non-toxic, but you still want to make irresponsible remarks... What's the matter? Apart from the medicine from your Imperial Hospital, I cannot take medicine presented by others even if I am dying of illness, right?" Zhu Jianshen became more and more angry as he spoke, and finally his yellow face turned red, obviously he was very angry.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuan quickly knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, our Imperial Hospital has no such intention, but we should be extremely careful when using medicine."

"hehe!"

Zhu Jianshen sneered and asked, "Your Imperial Hospital has been preparing new medicines for several months, but they are still nowhere to be found. Do you call this being cautious? This is clearly incompetence!
"And the reason why Mr. Li recommended the medicine is because you have repeatedly delayed treating my illness. You don't think that Mr. Li just found a traveling doctor to prescribe a medicine and then rashly gave it to me to take, do you?"

"Chen...chen..."

Zhang Yuan was also panicked at this time.

Because Zhang Yuan clearly heard a strong sense of dissatisfaction in the emperor's words.

The emperor didn't have an attack before because apart from the people in their Imperial Hospital, there was really no one who could cure him, so he could only endure it.

Now Li Zisheng was willing to be the first to come up with a new prescription to replace their medicine, but he was criticized by them... and the emperor became angry.

This just goes to show that the emperor has great trust in Li Zisheng, but is full of doubts and contempt for the people in the Imperial Hospital. This is definitely not a good sign.

"Of course, I cannot be unreasonable." Zhu Jianshen said, "If this medicine proves to be ineffective, then I will continue to take the medicine you prescribed, and I will reward you greatly."

Shi Qin retorted: "Your Majesty, this medicine has never been used before, and its efficacy cannot be guaranteed, and it is not necessarily safe. Your Majesty, please think twice..."

"Hey, wasn't I clear enough?"

Zhu Jianshen became more and more angry and shouted, "If this medicine doesn't work, do you want me to punish Li Qing?"

Shi Qin and Zhang Yuan didn't know how to respond.

But they tacitly agreed that this was how it should be.

Zhu Jianshen said coldly: "The imperial doctors from the Imperial Hospital come to the palace to diagnose illnesses, but not every time they are effective, and you don't reflect on yourselves. If all the medicines used are old prescriptions, I would rather take some new medicines, which may improve my condition.

"If this medicine is ineffective, I will punish Li Qing. Who will dare to present me with a new prescription in the future? The same goes for you people in the Imperial Hospital. If you think a prescription is effective, feel free to try it. I always stick to reason."

When Shi Qin heard this, he was disappointed, but he still said, "Your Majesty, please think twice."

"Take it away, take it away!"

Zhu Jianshen waved his hands impatiently, "I'm giving you face, don't be shameless!"

Originally, Zhu Jianshen did not want to deliberately make things difficult for Shi Qin.

But now Shi Qin did not know when to advance or retreat, and insisted on charging forward, so the emperor had no choice but to take action against him.

As a result, Zhang Yuan, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, could only watch the fun in silence, not even daring to breathe.

……

……

"What happened? Was Judge Shi arrested like this?"

When Zhang Yuan returned to the Imperial Hospital and told his colleagues about what happened, there was an immediate uproar.

Zhang Yuan said: "I also think that Li Zisheng has stretched his hand too far in this matter. But your Majesty thinks that this is reasonable...

"From what I have observed, it seems that Li Zisheng did not discuss this with Your Majesty in advance. He acted on his own will, but Your Majesty stood firmly on his side."

Liu Wentai leaned forward and whispered, "Envoy Zhang, will His Majesty be upset that we haven't changed the prescription yet?"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Yuan sighed and said, "The reason why we have been reluctant to change the prescription for a long time is because everyone knows that there is no better prescription to change. Changing only the auxiliary medicine without changing the main medicine will not help the condition at all. Only people who are not familiar with medical principles will criticize this, but anyone who is familiar with the use of medicine will stand on our side."

Liu Wentai asked again: "Who gave the prescription? It couldn't be Li Zisheng himself, right?"

No one could answer this time.

No one even knew why Li Zisheng suddenly became so stubborn and wanted to make things difficult for their Imperial Hospital.

……

……

Room for the Supervisor of Ceremonies.

After hearing about the situation in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Wei Tai was also surprised and asked, "Your Majesty, have you ever thought of asking who gave the prescription to Li Zisheng?"

Tan Chang shook his head.

Wei Tai was surprised and said, "This is very strange. Your Majesty took the prescription without asking any questions just because it was presented by Li Zisheng. How much trust does this show?"

“It may not just be trust.”

Qin Chang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty has long been dissatisfied with the Imperial Hospital's rigid use of medicines. The Imperial Hospital was also largely responsible for the improper use of medicines by the Imperial Hospital when Concubine Wan died. This time, Your Majesty is warning the group of doctors in the Imperial Hospital."

Wei Tai asked quietly: "Then...should we investigate in detail who gave Li Zisheng the prescription?"

"Actually, there's no need to check this."

Tan Chang smiled faintly and said, "It's probably related to Zhang Laizhan."

"You mean... the prince's father-in-law?"

Wei Tai was very surprised.

"Ah."

Qin Chang nodded and said, "Li Zisheng and Zhang Luan pretended to be friendly with each other, but when the two sides were on the verge of a fight, Li Zisheng recommended Zhang Luan to the Imperial Academy to be a historian. It is estimated that Zhang Luan returned the favor this time by giving out the prescription. It also shows that Zhang Luan had the ability to treat diseases before, but was unwilling to take the job."

Wei Tai asked curiously, "Has anyone ever assigned him the task of treating illnesses?"

Tan Chang said: "When Lady Wan was seriously ill, His Majesty asked us to look for a famous doctor among the people. We considered him at that time, but later he became concerned because his daughter was chosen as the Crown Princess. In addition, Li Zisheng deliberately obstructed us, so the plan did not come true.

"Your Majesty was actually prepared for this illness. However, because Peng Mianfu's son caused a big disturbance in Zhang's pharmacy, suspicions arose among the people, so no one dared to use him to treat the disease."

Wei Tai sighed, "Is it mainly because the people from the Imperial Hospital are interfering?"

"Ah."

Qin Chang said, "People in the same profession look down on each other, and doctors are hostile to each other... We are all eating this bowl of rice, and whoever eats more will eat less.

"It's a pity that Zhang Luan doesn't intend to follow the path of the Imperial Hospital, so he can't be controlled by them. But it is also because of this that once someone wants to gain popularity with a new drug formula, it will cause a strong backlash from the Imperial Hospital."

"Isn't it? He is the father-in-law of the prince and has a bright future. It would be a waste of his talent to put him in the Imperial Hospital." Wei Tai said.

Qin Chang sighed, "But why did Zhang Luan prescribe medicine for Li Zisheng this time? That's very interesting. There are only four herbs in the prescription. I asked the people in the Imperial Hospital. These four herbs are not rare. They are easy to get among the people, but no one has ever used them to treat liver disease. Is Zhang Luan deliberately showing weakness, or... is this medicine really effective?"

Wei Tai said, "Then do you think that if this medicine is ineffective, His Majesty will sit back and do nothing?"

Tan Chang shook his head and said, "I don't know what your majesty is thinking, but it is precisely because it is the prescription presented by Li Zisheng that everything seems unusual."

(End of this chapter)