Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 309 Even if you don't tell him, you have to give him a promotion
The next day was the day when Zhu Youtang and his wife came to pay their respects to Queen Dowager Zhou.

Queen Mother Zhou even put aside the matter of worshiping Buddha and came out specially to greet the young couple, which made the prince and his wife feel flattered.

"Stay for lunch."

Queen Mother Zhou was very enthusiastic.

After the grandparents and grandchildren sat down separately, Empress Dowager Zhou asked, "Grandson, have you paid your respects to your father recently?"

Zhu Youtang said, "I went there. Father seemed to be in much better health and he also told me to study hard."

"Then do you know what disease your father has?"

Queen Mother Zhou continued to ask.

Zhu Youtang looked a little confused, but after looking at his wife, he mustered up the courage to say, "It seems to be... a liver and spleen disease."

Because many symptoms of liver, spleen and gallbladder diseases are similar, including jaundice, it is difficult to distinguish whether it is a liver, spleen or gallbladder problem these days.

"Yes, the whites of the eyes are yellow, and the body is yellow too."

Queen Mother Zhou smiled and responded. Then, her eyes rolled around and she said in a gentle and persuasive manner, "Two days ago, your father came to pay his respects and told him to look at the whites of his eyes in the mirror from time to time to judge whether his condition had improved. Alas! As a mother, sometimes I have to be considerate of my son..."

Zhu Youtang looked confused.

I thought, what is this talking about?

It sounds like nothing, but why do I always feel that there is a deeper meaning behind his words?

Zhang Yu was very smart and understood it immediately.

Zhang Yu hurriedly said, "Grandmother, my granddaughter-in-law's family just sent another glass mirror to the palace. It's slightly larger than the previous one and looks clearer and brighter. I didn't have the chance to send it to you before. Since it's convenient for my father to treat his illness... I'll have someone bring it to you right away."

"Look..."

Queen Mother Zhou was so happy that she couldn't stop laughing for a while, but then she realized that she had lost her manners and quickly reached out to cover her mouth. However, she couldn't hide the joy in her eyes and said with a grin, "It seems a bit embarrassing for an elder to ask for things from you youngsters."

Zhu Youtang understood what he heard even though he was dumb. He said quickly, "If the Empress Dowager needs anything, I will ask someone to bring it over. My dear, please go back..."

Not long after, Qin Ji took the mirror used by Zhang Yu.

Queen Mother Zhou took the small silver mirror in her hand, played with it carefully, with a smile on her face, and praised her grandson and grandson's wife. This made Zhu Youtang happy but also a little guilty, thinking that he had seriously damaged his wife's interests again.

After lunch, the couple walked towards the Duanjing Hall. Zhu Youtang asked his followers to stay away from him, and then he apologized directly to Zhang Yu: "Yu'er, are you blaming me? Alas, I shouldn't have given the things to the Empress Dowager..."

Zhang Yu seemed indifferent and asked in surprise, "Why do you say that? The Empress Dowager gave her mirror to Father, and I'm giving her another one. It's nothing... I can just send someone to get another one from home later."

"Ah? Do you have a lot of silver mirrors at home?"

Zhu Youtang seemed very surprised.

He had never seen or heard of that thing before.

Even his knowledgeable grandmother and father had a special liking for the silver mirror, so he naturally thought it was an invaluable treasure.

Zhang Yu said, "I don't know how many there are, but they were made by Yanling himself. Even if it takes some time, it shouldn't be a problem to make another one. Prince, you don't have to worry about me. Filial piety is what we should do. Just do it with confidence in the future. I will fully support you."

Zhu Youtang was deeply moved after hearing this. He hugged his wife in public and said emotionally, "Yu'er, you are so kind."

After Qin Ji saw this, he reminded from a distance: "Your Highness, this is not a place for intimacy. You should return to the East Palace first."

Zhu Youtang blushed upon hearing this, and looked around. He found that there was no one else except the people in the East Palace, so he consoled himself, "No...nothing, no one should have seen it, right?"

Zhang Yu also had a bit of embarrassment on her face, and seemed to be very pleased with her husband's sudden courage.

Her husband finally did something unconventional and was not the stereotypical obedient boy. In her opinion, this was a huge improvement.

……

……

Qianqing Palace.

After Zhu Jianshen got the silver mirror, he played with it in his hand anytime and anywhere, almost to the point of being unable to put it down.

Li Zisheng was summoned to the palace. When he arrived at the Qianqing Palace, he saw Zhu Jianshen holding a small round mirror and looking at himself at the window. It was already late April in the lunar calendar and the weather was a little hot. The window was open, so Zhu Jianshen could look at his own eyes clearly reflected in the mirror against the sunlight.

"Li Qing, come here, sit down and take a look."

Zhu Jianshen greeted.

Li Zisheng walked over and asked, "Your Majesty, you want me here for something?"

Zhu Jianshen smiled and said, "Why can't I call you if there's nothing wrong? You're too busy now, right? We don't need to be so formal between the emperor and his subjects. Do you think I'm any different from before?"

"This……"

Li Zisheng didn't know how to answer.

Qin Chang beside him smiled and said, "Your Majesty's condition has improved a lot recently. He has regained his strength, eats more, and can go out for a walk more often."

Li Zisheng said in surprise: "That's a good thing!"

But I was thinking, how could Lai Zhan’s medicine be so effective?

its not right!
Lai Zhan said that this medicine can only relieve symptoms but cannot cure the disease. If my guess is correct, Your Majesty's condition is psychological and I'm afraid the condition has not worsened.

"Li Qing, thanks to your medicine."

Zhu Jianshen invited Li Zisheng to sit down and sighed, "Speaking of which, I also find it quite incredible. The Imperial Hospital has been using medicine for so long, but there has been no improvement. Who would have thought that after taking your medicine for only ten days or so, I saw the effect, and it was immediate."

Li Zisheng's eyes immediately turned red, and he cupped his hands in surprise and said, "God bless your majesty. God bless the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Jianshen was touched by Li Zisheng's emotional performance, but he asked, "Where did you get the medicine? I really want to know..."

"This……"

Li Zisheng looked embarrassed.

He was thinking, since I have agreed to come here, I will never tell you this time. Qin Chang intended to put pressure on Li Zisheng, and followed the emperor's words and spoke up to support him: "Why is Master Li hesitating? This is obviously a good thing... Your Majesty wants to reward Master Li and the person who offered the prescription behind the scenes, why not report it to Your Majesty truthfully?"

"His Majesty."

Li Zisheng patiently explained, "It's not that I intend to conceal it, but the doctors in the world don't want to offend the people in the Imperial Hospital. I promised the person who provided the prescription that I would not tell anyone. I also know that Your Majesty is concerned about this matter, but I feel that... a promise is worth a thousand gold. If the matter is leaked, it will always be a little... imperfect."

Qin Chang looked at Li Zisheng with a mischievous look.

I was thinking, this couldn't really be the prescription Zhang Luan gave you. Are you hiding it on purpose because you're afraid the emperor will find out about your secret collusion?

Humph, is it so easy to fool the emperor?
Unexpectedly, after listening to this, Zhu Jianshen nodded slightly and said, "Li Qing, you are right. When it comes to curing diseases, it is enough to be effective. It is not necessary to ask too many questions about the cause and effect.

"But it is indeed very rare that a person who has never examined me can prescribe a medicine that is beneficial to my condition. I think he must be a famous doctor in the world. Then you can reward him on my behalf. What do you think?"

"Yes."

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "In fact, I have already given it to him as a gift."

Zhu Jianshen smiled and said, "You are really attentive... I have never expected others to bother with this matter when I was in the middle of a mystery, but you are the only one who did not avoid suspicion and always remembered to help me cure my illness."

"This is what I should do."

Li Zisheng quickly showed an attitude of fear and trepidation.

Qin Chang felt a little uncomfortable.

Hearing what the emperor said, it was obvious that he was not very satisfied with the inaction of the eunuchs in finding someone to treat his illness, and it could even be said that he had a grudge against them.

Zhu Jianshen deliberately changed the subject and said, "At the beginning of the year, the court conducted a centralized review of local officials and dismissed many incompetent officials. Many gaps have not been filled. Recently, we should speed up the process... Some places have reported that the position of the parent official has been vacant for many months, which has seriously affected the livelihood of the local people."

Li Zisheng said hurriedly: "I heard that the Ministry of Personnel is rushing to select candidates for this matter."

"You go and keep an eye on it."

Zhu Jianshen was dissatisfied and said, "If I don't urge them, they will be lazy. It's been so long and they haven't finished it yet! I will have someone give you an imperial edict later. You take it to the Ministry of Personnel and you will be fully responsible for handling this matter.

"Also... Shi Qin, who spoke rudely to me before, I have already put him in prison for a while. I plan to send him to serve in the Northwest Army. However, since you are the person involved, I respect your opinion and will leave him to you to dispose of."

"This……"

Li Zisheng didn't quite understand what the emperor meant.

Shi Qin impeached me because I provided a prescription that was not in accordance with the rules. If you want to punish him, then do it. No one can say anything anyway. Who says you are the most powerful person in the world? But why did you hand him over to me for punishment? Is this to give me a way out and to help me and the people in the Imperial Hospital to make peace?

"This mirror is really good. I can tell at a glance that the yellow in my eyes is gradually fading... Li Qing, have you ever seen such a good thing?"

Zhu Jianshen played with the small round mirror and said with a smile, "The Queen Mother said that this treasure was sent to the palace by the Crown Princess's family. I asked for it from her. Even now, I still feel a little embarrassed when I think about it... I wonder what you think, Li Qing?"

"Good stuff, it takes very clear photos at a glance."

Li Zisheng took a closer look and expressed his sincere admiration.

"Ah."

Zhu Jianshen asked, "Has Zhang Luan made any achievements in the Hanlin Academy recently?"

Li Zisheng replied cautiously: "I have not paid attention to him."

Zhu Jianshen nodded slightly. "The Queen Mother mentioned the Crown Prince to me, saying that she wanted to give him more opportunities to gain experience, but the Crown Prince always needs help, right? Among the current lecturers in the Eastern Palace, some are obviously incompetent and just sitting there doing nothing... Li Qing, who do you think would be a good helper for the Crown Prince?"

"Ok?"

Li Zisheng was a little confused again.

You first asked me about Zhang Laizhan's recent situation, and then suddenly mentioned that you wanted to find someone to help the prince gain experience. Are you hinting that I should recommend Zhang Laizhan?
Isn't this a coincidence?
Actually, that’s what I thought too!
"I think that Zhang Luan, the historian of the Imperial Academy, has done his duty in assisting the Crown Prince in the reconstruction of the Wanhe Temple. Why not let him serve in the Eastern Palace and assist the Crown Prince in his daily work?"

Li Zisheng asked tentatively.

Zhu Jianshen asked back: "Wouldn't it be a bad idea to do this? Zhang Luan's background is just that he is a student. If he is directly appointed to the East Palace, people will think that I am nepotism."

Li Zisheng said: "Your Majesty, this is what I think. Zhang Luan has the ability to do things, but his relationship with the crown prince is too special. It would be better to let him enter the palace once or twice a month.

"Whenever the prince needs to do something or has doubts that cannot be explained, he will help to solve them. However, he does not usually teach."

"Oh?"

Zhu Jianshen asked curiously, "Is there any explanation for this?"

"We should try to reduce the number of times Zhang Luan goes to the palace, but still let him serve in the Eastern Palace. Let the Hanlin Academy arrange for him to go to the palace once or twice a month."

Li Zisheng smiled.

"Ah."

Zhu Jianshen agreed, "That's good. After all, Zhang Luan doesn't have a high reputation, and he can't be compared with those lecturers in the Eastern Palace in terms of academics... Perhaps we can consider transferring him back to the Honglu Temple, holding the post of Xima official, and concurrently serving as a historian in the Hanlin Academy... and giving him a fourth-rank salary, that should be no problem, right?"

As the internal minister who was well versed in the rules of various government offices, Qin Chang could no longer bear to hear this ridiculous conversation between the monarch and his ministers, and hurriedly reminded them:

"Your Majesty, Zhang Luan has only been in the Imperial Academy for a few days. He is not as experienced as others. If he is promoted directly to a high position, I am afraid it will be difficult to convince the public."

Zhu Jianshen frowned, turned his head and shouted: "What kind of high position is a mere post of the Prince's Groom? It just allows him to have the qualification to enter the East Palace... Do you have any other objections? Back off!"

"Yes Yes."

Qin Chang felt very uncomfortable.

The Prince's Groom was indeed just a transitional position for promotion to an official position in the Hanlin Academy, affiliated to the Zhanshi Mansion. It belonged to neither the Zuochunfang nor the Youchunfang, but a position in the Sijing Bureau of the Zhanshi Mansion. However, according to previous rules, only Hanlin who were orthodox Jinshi graduates were qualified to hold this position.

But this time the emperor took the initiative to propose a promotion for Zhang Luan.

Even Qin Chang couldn't help but wonder, could it be that His Majesty guessed that the prescription was presented by Zhang Luan?

Is this a disguised way of rewarding Zhang Luan?

(End of this chapter)