Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 313: Three Powers Become Two Powers Fighting

At night, Li Mansion.

Tan Chang personally went to the door and explained to Li Zisheng truthfully about Zhu Jianshen's sudden sleepiness.

Li Zisheng seemed very surprised and asked, "Eunuch Tan, His Majesty only rested an hour or two earlier, why do you feel so nervous?

"Could it be that His Majesty has other bad symptoms that make you have unwarranted associations?"

Tan Chang said solemnly: "Master Li, when Empress Wan was seriously ill, her daily routine also changed. Now, Your Majesty..."

"I see."

Li Zisheng said, "But I'm not a doctor. I'm afraid I can't answer your question."

Qin Chang frowned and asked, "You recently changed the prescription for His Majesty, and it seems to be very effective, so much so that His Majesty even abandoned the prescription of the Imperial Hospital... If we encounter problems now, who else can we turn to if not you?"

Li Zisheng said, "That is to say, Eunuch Tan did not mention this matter to the people in the Imperial Hospital at all?"

"This……"

Qin Chang didn't know how to tell Li Zisheng.

He also had some intention of competing with Li Zisheng. You took the initiative to undertake this task, so if something goes wrong, I will definitely come after you. After all, the emperor trusts you so much.
"I knew it……"

Li Zisheng looked unhappy. "The people in the Imperial Hospital were afraid of taking responsibility and avoided things. Your Majesty had a grudge against them, so I took the initiative to go out and find prescriptions and change medicines for Your Majesty. The main purpose was to put pressure on the people in the Imperial Hospital. After all, the Imperial Hospital has gathered a group of top experts in medicine. It's not that they don't have the ability, but they don't dare to let go. I want to stimulate them.

"Now, the condition of His Majesty has changed, and you have actually left the Imperial Hospital aside. What's the logic behind this?"

Qin Chang had a different opinion and argued, "Master Li, you are the most capable person in front of His Majesty. If not you, who else can we ask? Didn't you just say that they neither talk nor do anything? It would be more effective to ask you."

Li Zisheng said helplessly: "Okay, I understand. I will go to the palace tomorrow and mention this matter to His Majesty."

"You...want to see the emperor?"

Qin Chang was quite surprised.

I discussed with you in private that the emperor's condition seems to be getting worse, and you are going to go to the emperor to complain tomorrow?
Li Zisheng explained, "Eunuch Tan is worried that His Majesty's condition has worsened because of the change in His Majesty's daily routine. Why not bring it up with His Majesty in person and ask him what the situation is? Do you have any other concerns?"

Qin Chang felt that Li Zisheng seemed to have turned the gun towards him, and his face suddenly turned cold.

"Eunuch Qin, you and I are both doing this for the good of His Majesty. We are not afraid of bearing infamy and responsibility, so no matter what happens, we can tell you directly to your face. This is what makes us different from other ministers, right?" Li Zisheng asked.

"Yes."

Tan Chang nodded.

"That is to say, we have the same thoughts and should not scheme against each other. We should be honest with each other, right?" Li Zisheng continued to ask.

"Ah."

Tan Chang nodded again.

Li Zisheng smiled and said, "That's it. My understanding is that Eunuch Tan's visit was all out of good intentions. He wanted me to prepare in advance, so that the people from the Imperial Hospital wouldn't tell me what would happen if your Majesty's routine changed, or if the disease was delayed, so that you wouldn't know anything when your Majesty asked, right?"

Qin Chang smiled and said, "Yes, yes, that's what we meant. Otherwise, why would we come here so hastily?"

Li Zisheng said with emotion: "Eunuch Tan is indeed very considerate of His Majesty, but I also need to ask for other people's opinions, right? Eunuch Tan, please go back first. I will make careful preparations here and will give His Majesty an explanation when I enter the palace tomorrow."

"Not to Your Majesty..."

Qin Chang wanted to remind Li Zisheng not to ruin the emperor's good mood.

The emperor feels that after using your medicine, he is on the road to recovery. Just give me an answer.

"hehe."

Li Zisheng sneered and said, "Since His Majesty has not thought about it in that way, why should Eunuch Tan worry about it? It is better to be optimistic as a person."

……

……

Li Zisheng negotiated with Tan Chang for a while and then sent him out.

After returning, Li Zisheng's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he looked ferocious, as if he was ready to bite someone.

"Master Dao, I overheard behind the screen. Eunuch Tan came with bad intentions and he seemed to want you to take all the responsibilities."

Pang Qing instigated from the side.

"How could I not know what he was up to?"

Li Zisheng said, "When you encounter problems, you come to me directly. You are just short of putting all the blame on me, Li, and telling everyone in the world that it is all my fault. Humph, I was sincere to Your Majesty, but I was betrayed by these treacherous villains."

Pang Qing asked doubtfully, "Then... Your Majesty's change in routine, is it really a change in his condition?"

"Shit!"

Li Zisheng said disdainfully, "Your Majesty, resting earlier or later, what sign can it be? This group of people are making a fuss out of nothing. Do they think I am a soft persimmon that can be easily manipulated?
“The people in the palace are used to shirking responsibility. They back off when things go wrong. It’s only a matter of time before Your Majesty loses trust in them.

"I'll report him later."

Pang Qing asked with a smile: "Do you want to impeach Tan Chang?"

Li Zisheng sneered: "What kind of powerful person do you think the surname Tan is? He knows nothing about the affairs of the court, and he relies on the cabinet to make decisions when things happen... But what kind of people are those two in the cabinet? When Huai En was here, they didn't care about them at all, but now they have become popular. How ridiculous is that?"

Pang Qing nodded and said, "Eunuch Huai is indeed a man of great talent, far beyond the reach of the current people in the Imperial Household Department."

"Ugh!"

Li Zisheng shook his head and sighed, "There are actually quite a few talented people, but power is held by mediocre villains like Qin Chang, who never think about how to help the king, but always show off their power and come up with some conspiracies and tricks.

"Before, that guy used some tricks to alienate me and Deng Chang'en, causing chaos. Now that he has finally dealt with his opponent, he wants to pick me out and let people attack me. He gets jealous of whoever is in power, and he won't be satisfied until he brings them down... He has the face of a mean person!"

Pang Qing said: "So, Liang Fang's downfall is not entirely a good thing for us, right?"

"Do you even need to say this?"

Li Zisheng said bitterly, "When Liang Fang was here, at least Qin Chang knew how to restrain himself. Now he is determined to target me. I can't give him a chance. I must take the initiative and pin him to the ground so that he can't get up."

"Then should we... ask Zhang Hanlin first whether His Majesty's condition has relapsed?"

"Ask later. It's just a change in schedule, not something that would cause me to bother coming here... I'll just go after the guy named Tan right now."

……

…Early the next morning.

Tan Chang and Wei Tai went to the Qianqing Palace with several followers holding memorials.

On the way, Wei Tai asked worriedly, "Eunuch Qin went directly to Li Zisheng last night. Will he think that we are deliberately throwing the responsibility of His Majesty's worsening condition to him?"

"He took the initiative to take responsibility, so why should others pass the buck?"

Qin Chang looked dissatisfied. "Now His Majesty refuses to use any medicine prescribed by the Imperial Hospital. The situation is not good. Humph, as long as His Majesty's body has any problems, the Li family will not be able to get out of it."

Wei Tai sighed, "After all, it's still a question of division of responsibilities... Ever since His Majesty fell ill, it seems that everyone wants to withdraw from it and watch the fire from the other side. On the contrary, Li Zisheng is courageous."

Qin Chang asked: "Why? It sounds like you sympathize with him?"

"I……"

Wei Tai was speechless for a moment.

You and I are obviously in the same group, why are you yelling at me like a mad dog?
Tan Chang said coldly: "Everything changed, not because of your majesty's illness, but because of the death of Empress Wan... Empress Wan died of a sudden illness, and your majesty punished the Imperial Hospital, this is the root of everything.

"Normally speaking, there is no good or bad in treating illnesses, and everyone should do their best. But if you can't cure these nobles in the palace, it would be a sin. If it involves His Majesty, it would be an even greater sin!"

Wei Tai said, "Li Zisheng knew this, so why did he still cause trouble for himself?"

"He wanted to make a contribution and earn some merit. There is no other explanation."

Tan Chang said disdainfully.

"Could it be..."

Wei Tai wanted to say, could it be that because he was loyal to the emperor and his heart was filled with the emperor, and he didn't want to watch the emperor who promoted him suffer, that he was obsessed with finding help for the emperor outside the palace walls?

"You are the chief scribe of the Imperial Household Department. You must keep pace with our family. Don't you understand this principle?"

Qin Chang looked unhappy.

At this point, Wei Tai finally understood that Tan Chang could no longer tolerate Li Zisheng.

Wei Tai thought that with Liang Fang being exiled to Nanjing, the competition in the palace had instantly changed from a three-way confrontation to a two-tiger fight, and all the contradictions that should not have existed before were now highlighted.

But if I'm wholeheartedly helping you, Qin Chang, what benefit will it get me?

Even if you become the only one in the business in the future, won't I still be second in command?

When you really monopolize the power in the palace, I, the second in command, will not become your enemy and be targeted by you all day long, right?

Wei Tai was feeling a little depressed, thinking to himself, it's already this late, seeing that the emperor's health is getting worse day by day, and he's still thinking about fighting for power, is it really necessary?

……

……

The sun rises in the east, and the warm morning light shines into the Qianqing Palace.

Tan Chang and Wei Tai were reporting government affairs to the emperor, but Zhu Jianshen got tired of listening and said, "You are telling me about trivial matters. Do you think I am in good spirits now? Do you want to make me feel upset?"

As he was speaking, a eunuch came in and reported, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Hospital is here to check Ping'an's pulse."

"Let them in."

Zhu Jianshen put down his bowl and chopsticks, seeming to have no mood to eat breakfast.

Then Zhang Yuan brought Liu Wentai to the inner hall of the Qianqing Palace, and then Liu Wentai came forward to take the emperor's pulse.

Zhu Jianshen sat there without saying a word.

Liu Wentai examined Zhang Yuan's pulse for a long time before he withdrew. After discussing privately with Zhang Yuan, Liu Wentai went to report, "Your Majesty, your condition seems to have worsened."

"is it?"

Zhu Jianshen looked unhappy and asked, "How do you know it's getting worse?"

"This... from the pulse, the reaction of the facial skin color, and... various manifestations." Liu Wentai said, his eyes involuntarily glanced towards Qin Chang.

This confused Qin Chang.

Just keep talking, why are you looking at me?
I didn't ask you to say that!
It’s simply baffling!
Zhu Jianshen smiled faintly and asked, "You mean, my complexion has become worse recently, so... it proves that my condition has worsened?"

"That's...yes."

Liu Wentai could only follow what he had discussed with Zhang Yuan before.

If they wanted to take back the authority to treat the emperor from the Imperial Medical Bureau, they would first have to make false threats.

You say that you are a bad patient. We, the orthodox doctors, have treated you well, but you insisted on believing the words of those quacks and went to see scoundrels for treatment... Then, while we still have the right to make follow-up visits, can we not take the opportunity to scare you so that you will come back to us and continue to believe in our authority?
"Bastard!"

Zhu Jianshen flew into a rage, slammed the table, and shouted angrily, "You think I'm easy to fool, don't you?"

When Liu Wentai heard this, he fell to his knees with a plop and kowtowed heavily.

Zhu Jianshen was so angry that he was shaking all over. He pointed at Liu Wentai and said, "Don't I know how my body is doing? The whites of my eyes are not as yellow as they were a few days ago... I observe it carefully every day and remember every little change in my body by heart. Do I need you to talk nonsense here?

"Humph, you are obviously dissatisfied with my not using your medicine now, so you are deliberately speaking ill of my condition here? You deserve to be killed!"

"That is not what I meant."

Liu Wentai cried out that he was innocent.

These days, whether a patient's condition worsens depends entirely on the doctor's words. This is also because there are no professional testing equipment, so blood tests cannot be done to provide specific indicators.

Immediately, Liu Wentai was dragged away by the Jinyiwei who rushed in and thrown directly into the imperial prison.

The incident happened too suddenly. Zhang Yuan had never expected this. In just a few days, the Imperial Hospital had lost two generals in succession. He finally understood the dilemma of the Imperial Hospital...

Ever since Zhong Lan began to observe the mourning period, people who took the blame had to follow one after another and became the emperor's punching bags.

"Envoy Zhang, you should know who caused all this, right?"

When Qin Chang and Zhang Yuan came out together, he intentionally glanced at Li Zisheng who was walking towards him, roughly meaning that you have to understand who our common enemy is.

Naturally, Zhang Yuan didn't dare to say anything.

The Imperial Hospital had lost two people in a row, and he, the helmsman, was still safe and sound. It was really a blessing from heaven. If he said the wrong thing or took the wrong step, he would also be imprisoned, and the Imperial Hospital would really be reduced to a situation where there was no leader and it was at the mercy of others.

(End of this chapter)