Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 312 It’s Time to Share the Blame
When Zhang Yanling came back in the evening, Zhang Luan quickly told his son about Xie Qian's personal visit today.

"Dad, this shouldn't be the first time you've met Xie Hanlin, right?" Zhang Yanling asked.

"Ah."

Zhang Luan said, "He was asked by the prince to pave the way for me in the Imperial Academy before, and he even had lunch with me. But I don't know why, but he was the one who talked and I just listened, just like a teacher teaching a student, it seemed very casual, and that feeling was very comfortable.

"But during this meeting, he and I were obviously much more distant, and there was a lot of probing in his words."

Zhang Yanling said, "Last time, Dad, you were just an insignificant Hanlin. Although you were promoted, there were so many officials in the Hanlin Academy that they didn't take you seriously at all... But now you have successfully entered the Eastern Palace and become his daily colleague. How can he not test you?"

Zhang Luan asked in confusion: "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

Zhang Yanling held his forehead and shook his head, saying, "Dad, you are so vulnerable... It is not an exaggeration to say that anyone who can become a lecturer in the Eastern Palace is a smart person. In addition, the future prospects of your new colleagues should not be underestimated. They can all become prime ministers. Do you think you can benefit from getting along with them?"

"But...I have to work hard too."

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly, "It was not easy to become a lecturer in the Eastern Palace, and I can only enter the palace a few times a month. If I don't perform well, who would take me seriously?
"My son, you have to plan for your father. Tell me first, how should I be a lecturer?"

Zhang Yanling said, "Dad, you are probably overthinking. I'm afraid there is nothing that can bother you for the time being. During this period of time, if the prince encounters something, we will try our best to help him plan. Once it is over, it is best not to do anything and just wait and see. It is really not appropriate to act in a high-profile manner.

"For example, in the situation at Wanhe Temple, you had to find the right opportunity, strike with one strike, and then quickly retreat, pretending nothing happened. Now everything is peaceful in the court, so you can only wait and see."

Zhang Luan said unwillingly: "As a lecturer in the Eastern Palace, who wouldn't want to perform well? Forget it, I know my own limitations, so I'll just take it one step at a time."

……

……

Inside the Duanjing Hall.

Zhu Youtang came back in the evening and quickly told his wife the good news.

"Yu'er, it has been decided. Your father will be one of the lecturers in the Eastern Palace. When I see him in the future, I should address him as Mr. Zhang."

Zhu Youtang had a look of surprise on his face.

For Zhu Youtang, this incident meant that he now had a real "friend" in the lecture class at the Eastern Palace.

Since he lacked parental love since childhood, his wife became the most important person in his life, and his wife's father was naturally his closest relative.

My closest relative came to the East Palace to serve as a lecturer for me. From now on, the father-in-law and son-in-law will be able to achieve great things with one heart.

Zhang Yu asked in surprise, "Really? How could it be so fast? Did you mention it to Father?"

"No."

Zhu Youtang shook his head and said, "I dare not mention it casually, but somehow, the matter was arranged like this... I heard from my wife that even those gentlemen did not understand what was going on and were very surprised... There are also rumors that it was because your father brought down Liang Fang and Wei Xing that the emperor was rewarding him."

Zhang Yu thought for a moment and asked, "During the renovation of Wanhe Temple, there was some shoddy work and inferior materials. Does Your Majesty know who filed the complaint?"

Zhu Youtang said helplessly: "Yu'er, actually you shouldn't ask me these things... I don't know what's going on outside at all. But since I told the Royal Grandmother about it, I think Father will know it sooner or later, right?"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Yu sighed and said, "Even if my father can come to Wenhua Hall for lectures, he can't be brought to Duanjing Hall. It's still difficult for me to see him."

"Yuer, do you miss your family?"

Zhu Youtang felt the same way and said, "Indeed, there is one disadvantage of entering the palace, that is, the palace walls are too high, and it is not easy to go out and see relatives.

"How about this, I can arrange an opportunity for you to see it from a distance in Wenhua Hall later."

Zhang Yu shook her head. "I am the Crown Princess. If I go in and out of Wenhua Palace casually, people will gossip about me...Okay, don't worry about me. There will always be opportunities to meet my family in the future...You should get along well with my father. If you have any problems, ask him. Even if my father can't solve it for the time being, he will find someone to help you."

"Who are you looking for? Yanling?"

Zhu Youtang asked with a smile.

"It's not about who you're looking for, but this arrangement gives you the opportunity to communicate with people outside, isn't that good?"

Zhang Yu said solemnly, "Let's say you want to get outside information. Others won't tell you even if they know something, but my father is different. If he gets news that's not good for you, he will definitely tell you the first time, instead of helping that group of people to cover it up."

Zhu Youtang nodded solemnly: "Yu'er, you are right. Even those teachers will not tell me some things directly. Maybe they think it is for my own good, so that I can avoid being disturbed by worldly affairs and reduce trouble at the same time."

"Humph!"

Zhang Yu snorted coldly and said, "I have never seen hiding things from others as good for others. Regardless of whether it is helpful to you, isn't it good to let you know the cause and effect and the pros and cons clearly?
"Forget it, let's not talk about these unhappy things. It's almost time for dinner... I don't know why, but I haven't had a good appetite recently."

Zhu Youtang's eyes widened, and he asked in surprise, "Is she pregnant? The Empress Dowager has been urging me to do so."

"I do not know."

Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "Let's ask the imperial physician to take a look. If she's pregnant... isn't it your fault?"

"Then I'll ask them to change the food to your liking... You must not get too tired, and don't stay up late these two days." Zhu Youtang was like a diligent little bee. Knowing that his wife might be pregnant, he quickly found someone to make arrangements.

……

……

Too hospital.

The hospital envoy Zhang Yuan looked at the emperor's medical record and sat there for a long time without saying a word. At this time, Liu Wentai came over and explained the latest diagnosis results for the emperor to Zhang Yuan truthfully.

"In other words, your Majesty's condition has not improved significantly, and the outside world is just spreading rumors?"

Zhang Yuan frowned after hearing this.

Liu Wentai is now responsible for checking the emperor's "safe pulse" morning and evening, which is daily diagnosis and treatment. Although he is said to be safe, in fact everyone in the Imperial Hospital knows that the emperor is seriously ill and may not live long, but the Imperial Hospital has to keep silent about it.

The emperor had a chronic disease, and his health was getting worse day by day. He had taken medicine, but his condition had not improved. Concubine Wan had died of liver disease, and now the emperor had the same disease. If the treatment was ineffective, it would easily ruin the reputation of the Imperial Hospital.

Unfortunately, it is often this kind of chronic disease that makes doctors make money but also easily gain a bad reputation. Especially for the Imperial Medical Bureau, which basically serves the nobles in the palace, the impact of chronic diseases is even greater.

Liu Wentai said: "Perhaps it's a psychological effect. Your Majesty seems to have gained some strength recently and has been eating more. Before, he couldn't even eat a little bit of oil, but recently his appetite has suddenly improved. It's really strange!"

"What is the reason for this?"

Zhang Yuan asked, "Didn't you say that the condition hasn't improved significantly? Then won't you have diarrhea after eating greasy food?"

People with liver disease, especially those with cirrhosis, secrete very little bile acid into the digestive tract, making it difficult for the body to digest greasy foods. This causes liver disease patients to suffer from fatty diarrhea after eating greasy foods.

In addition, the digestive tract's ability to digest common foods such as starch is greatly reduced.

Indigestion can lead to malnutrition, physical fatigue, and lack of energy.

What Zhang Yuan meant was that you said that the emperor's condition had not improved, but at the same time you saw that he was eating more and was in better spirits... This is a bit inconsistent.

Liu Wentai shook his head and said, "I don't understand this situation either."

Zhang Yuan said thoughtfully: "I have carefully studied the prescriptions provided by Li Zisheng. Those herbs seem to be of moderate quality, but they may have miraculous effects on the liver and gallbladder. We should take them and find someone to try them out."

"How do you try this?"

Liu Wentai was surprised.

On the one hand, we criticize Li Zisheng for interfering in the daily affairs of the Imperial Medical Bureau and even endangering the safety of the emperor's body, but on the other hand, we turn around and verify whether the prescription he proposed is effective?
Any medicine that is not prescribed by our Imperial Medical Bureau is fake.

What is there to conclude about this?
Zhang Yuan sighed, "Didn't you notice? Ever since Concubine Wan passed away, His Majesty's trust in the Imperial Hospital has plummeted... Alas..."

"This……"

Liu Wentai was speechless for a moment.

"Logically speaking, Concubine Wan's death had little to do with the Imperial Hospital's routine diagnosis and medication, but in your Majesty's opinion, it was caused by our stupidity and incompetence."

Zhang Yuan shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying, "Your Majesty is only in his forties. Even if he is sick, it shouldn't have progressed to this extent."

Liu Wentai said: "Don't even mention that you are forty. Even if you are a young man, you will still get sick if you are supposed to get sick, and you will still not get treated if you are not supposed to get treated. Everything is fate."

Zhang Yuan teased, "Do you think His Majesty can accept your statement?"

"I……"

Liu Wentai remained speechless.

"Previously, Judge Shi has been imprisoned, and it is even possible that his property will be searched and his crimes will be investigated. This means that all the responsibilities of the Imperial Hospital have been shouldered by him alone... We are really ashamed of him."

Zhang Yuan said, "Now we must find a better prescription to delay His Majesty's illness, or at least give His Majesty more confidence in our Imperial Hospital!"

Liu Wentai said: "In fact, there are many prescriptions for treating liver disease. Although they are similar, it does not mean that they cannot be changed."

Zhang Yuan said: "Isn't this the purpose of Li Zisheng and His Majesty? This is to force us to make changes and let us take the initiative to take responsibility... The next prescription will be written by you..."

"..."

Liu Wentai stared at Zhang Yuan with wide eyes.

I thought to myself, you are such a bad guy, Mr. Zhang. I work so hard for you, but you are so ruthless in cheating me.

On the one hand, they said that we must take the initiative to assume responsibility and must make changes, but on the other hand, they threw the task of prescribing a new prescription to me without hesitation and asked me to take the blame.

"Why, can't it?"

Zhang Yuan asked with a dark face.

Liu Wentai said helplessly: "Then... let me go back and think about it. I think I can come up with a good prescription, but it would be best if I discuss it with my colleagues. After all, I am not very knowledgeable..."

It's not enough for one person to take the blame, it needs multiple people to do it together. Even if I am more responsible, I don't want to take all the responsibility.

After all, Zhong Lan had to bear the biggest blame for Concubine Wan's death.

If the emperor died, wouldn't my property be confiscated and my family be exterminated, and I might even be cursed for eternity?
"I believe you!"

Zhang Yuan said solemnly, "You can write this prescription alone. You are the only one who can take on this responsibility in the Imperial Hospital now."

Liu Wentai rolled his eyes and almost wanted to resign and quit his job.

But he finally said, "I will do my best."

……

……

Qianqing Palace.

Qin Changlai came to talk to the emperor about court affairs, but was told that Zhu Jianshen had gone to bed early and it was not yet dark.

Qin Chang was very surprised. Why did the emperor suddenly become so sleepy?
"Eunuch Qin, do you think His Majesty's recent abnormal behavior is caused by the medicine presented by Li Zisheng?" After hearing the news, Wei Tai couldn't help but express his doubts in front of Qin Chang.

Qin Chang was also full of doubts, and hesitantly asked: "Do you remember? At the end of the year, Madam Wan suddenly had a reversed schedule, not distinguishing between day and night. Could it be..."

The two looked at each other and both felt that the problem was serious.

Wei Tai said hurriedly: "I will find a chance to send someone out of the palace to inform Li Zisheng and ask him to come up with a countermeasure."

Qin Chang stopped him and said, "I'd better go myself... Your Majesty's illness cannot be delayed. I hope Li Zisheng will not let us down!"

(End of this chapter)