Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 385: Can't Run Away (asking for guaranteed monthly ticket)
Wan An was kneeling outside.

When Wei Tai came out and told him to go back, he also informed him about some of the punishments the emperor had imposed on him.

Wan An looked up and asked in surprise, "But Eunuch Wei, the matter of verifying that Zhang Laizhan is a charlatan is still in progress. How can you make a conclusion so early?"

"Lord Wan, you haven't given up yet?"

Wei Tai said helplessly, "Don't you see what kind of doctors you invited? To be honest, if you want to grab someone from the public and want to surpass the doctors in the Imperial Hospital in medical skills, forget it!

"The Imperial Medical Bureau selects good doctors from the public every year to strengthen its own strength. If there are capable doctors from all over the country, they would have passed the selection long ago. Do you still need to look for them?"

Wan An said angrily, "But Zhang Laizhan was not a doctor before. Didn't he also fail the selection of the Imperial Hospital?"

Wei Tai said: "How can you compare him? He is not a doctor, he is the father-in-law of the prince, how can they be the same?"

Wei Tai was also very angry at this time.

Fortunately, the emperor did not think too deeply about it. If he had thought about it more, he would have felt that Wei Tai was actually somewhat connected with Wan'an.

Precisely because Wei Tai was afraid that what happened to Qin Chang would happen to him, he did not dare to get close to Li Zisheng. He tried to please both sides to balance the situation a little, but he almost fell into a trap.

Wan An angrily said, "Then... how can it be proved that Zhang Luan is capable? Just because he is the prince's father-in-law... he is trustworthy...?"

"Lord Wan, if you have any doubts about this man's medical skills, you should ask the people in the Imperial Hospital and see what they think!"

Wei Tai said helplessly, "Do you think that Zhang Taichang only knows how to treat smallpox with this kind of medicine?"

Wan An asked, "Besides curing smallpox, does he have any other well-known deeds?"

“But he was also highly respected by the Imperial Hospital, and even many famous doctors in the private sector, who would be impressed by his insights whenever they sat down to discuss philosophy with him.

"Take a look at our Li Xianshi. He is also arrogant in the court, right? He is such a capable person, but he admires Zhang Taichang so much. Do you think he is... a liar?"

Wei Tai was very anxious.

It seems to be saying, why can’t I explain it to you clearly?

How petty are you?
Is it because you, Wan'an, are too arrogant? Because you look down on the prince, you dare to look down on the prince's father-in-law?
"Besides, he didn't enter the palace under a false name... He had prescribed medicine for His Majesty many times. Until now, in the past few days, he has not come to the palace, and His Majesty has not stopped taking the medicine he gave him. Don't you understand the reason?" Wei Tai said anxiously.

Wan An said: "You mean, he...he can really cure diseases?"

This greatly overturned Wan'an's cognition.

In Wan'an's opinion, Zhang Luan was just a puppet pushed out by Li Zisheng, who was following Li Zisheng's orders and plotting behind the scenes.

What about Zhang Luan defeating Liang Fang? It was actually Li Zisheng who used Zhang Luan to defeat Liang Fang.

……

……

With great doubt and confusion, Wan'an walked out of the palace.

However, before he reached the palace gate, he heard hurried footsteps behind him. It turned out to be Li Zisheng who was rushing out of the palace excitedly. He was going to tell Zhang Luan the good news that the emperor had promoted Zhang Luan to the position of Imperial Attendant.

"Laizhan likes to gain some false reputation, especially the reputation of the Hanlin Academy, which he has always valued. This time, I helped him earn a second-rank imperial edict. In the future, he can rely on his status as the deputy governor of the Governor's Office to be on an equal footing with me."

Li Zisheng was busy telling Zhang Luan the good news. After walking for a while, he noticed Wan An's somewhat lonely figure and could not help but slow down his pace.

Wan An noticed Li Zisheng coming and hurried over to greet him: "Master Li."

Li Zisheng waved his hand and said, "Lord Wan, there is no need to be so polite. I am not worthy of it now."

Wan An said: "There is one thing I don't understand."

"Don't ask. I don't want to answer... I know you want to ask about Laizhan. Laizhan is a genius. I don't think I can compare to him. If you target him, you are targeting me and His Majesty. I advise you... just take care of yourself."

Li Zisheng has done his best.

Telling you that Zhang Laizhan is a great man is already enough to make you worthy of me and not let our acquaintance go to waste.

Now that the relationship has fallen out and you have offended the emperor, you should go back and prepare to endure the emperor’s wrath!

……

……

Zhang Luan hardly left his house these days, and thought he had escaped the trouble. He no longer had to treat the emperor or be imprisoned.

But just when he was eagerly waiting for the "good news" of the emperor's death, Li Zisheng came excitedly and used a reality that was like a "bolt from the blue" to make him feel the cruelty of the Ming Dynasty officialdom.

"What? I have to go to the palace to treat His Majesty again tomorrow?"

Zhang Luan opened his mouth wide.

To Li Zisheng, it seemed like they had overcome a crisis and it was something worth celebrating.

But after all, Zhang Luan has a son who serves as his adviser, and he has long known that treating the emperor is not an easy job. It is still a bit difficult for him to accept this matter now.

Li Zisheng waited for Zhang Luan and said, "Laizhan, why are you reacting like this? Are you being treated unfairly by being asked to treat His Majesty?"

Zhang Luan said, "Minister Li, did I not explain His Majesty's condition to you clearly, causing you to misunderstand? I really can't do anything."

"If you can't do anything, then there really is no one else."

Li Zisheng said, "After all, it is you now and it is you. It has to be you even if it is not you. There is no one else but you. Oh, by the way, I also invited back Wang Ji, the famous doctor from Huizhou who was your friend before."

"Who? Wang Ji?"

Zhang Luan couldn't remember who it was for a moment.

Li Zisheng said, "It's the one who worked with you to grow medicine and often came to your house."

"Oh, it's him..."

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "Why call him here? Yes, yes, yes, we should call him. He is a famous doctor in Jiangnan. I think he has made great achievements in treating liver diseases... Let him go and treat your majesty!"

"What's the matter? You want to quit, right? Have you forgotten how you got the positions of Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Imperial Academy Attendant?"

Li Zisheng glanced at Zhang Luan, a little angry at him for not fighting back, and said angrily, "I have worn out my lips for this matter, and even asked so many people for help. I even considered that you didn't want to treat His Majesty, and even forced Wang Ji to come back. Who do you think I did this for?"

"Alas! This is fate."

Zhang Luan kept sighing.

Li Zisheng said unhappily: "I have something else to tell you. You have been promoted again."

"What?"

Zhang Luan was apparently numb to his frequent promotions.

Li Zisheng said: "You were promoted to the position of Attending Scholar of the Imperial Academy and Deputy Commander of the Five Military Commands Office. That's a second-rank military honor. You are now the third highest official and the third most powerful official."

"I……"

Zhang Luan was speechless.

He now knew very well why he got the official position, and he also knew that these were all empty titles. Once the emperor was killed, everything would have to be returned.

"Laizhan, this doesn't even satisfy your enthusiasm? Is treating His Majesty really that worrying for you?"

Li Zisheng glared and said, "I've told you that now His Majesty has no one else to use, so you have to treat the illness. This way, even if something goes wrong, you won't be held responsible."

Zhang Luan had a look of abandoning himself and sighed, "Minister Li, please stop comforting me. I know my own situation. I am exhausted now and have nothing to live for. It's really... I can't help it..."

Li Zisheng cursed: "Look at you, you are such a good-for-nothing. I was so devoted to supporting you. If you are so depressed and unable to recover, don't tell me you know me when you go out! Come on, I will host a banquet for you tonight, with fine wine and beautiful women. Enjoy life to the fullest. Is this all right?"

……

……

Zhang Luan did not go to the banquet with Li Zisheng immediately.

Using the excuse that he had to make medicine, he agreed on a time to meet in the evening and waited for his son to come back home.

"Master, what's going on?"

Jin walked into the room and saw her husband standing there in a daze, with a sad expression as if the whole family was doomed. She couldn't help but ask with concern.

Zhang Luan said with a bitter face: "Let me go to the palace to treat the disease tomorrow."

"Or to the emperor?" asked Jin.

"Yes."

Zhang Luan nodded, "Alas, I can't escape."

Jin sighed, "I heard from our second son that treating the emperor is very dangerous. If the treatment fails, his life may be in danger. But your son-in-law is the crown prince, so why should you be afraid?"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "How can a prince be the same as an emperor? Now that I think about it, maybe I should have stayed in Xingji and not risked my life."

Jin looked very satisfied and said, "It's much better now than when we were in Xingji. Master, haven't you had enough of those hard times?"

"I……"

Zhang Luan thought about it and said helplessly, "You, I don't know what to say about you. Besides, I fought for a second-rank imperial decree for you."

"Huh? Isn't your position as the Minister of the Ministry of Rites a third-rank official? I asked Yanling about this, and he said that you have to wait until you have completed three years of exams before you have a chance to get a third-rank official title from me, and you will have to complete nine years of exams to be sure of getting it." Jin said in surprise.

"changed."

Zhang Luan said with satisfaction.

Jin was very surprised and asked again: "Why did you change the rules? Is the emperor in poor health and wants to pray for himself by promoting his ministers to higher positions?"

Zhang Luan could not help but smile bitterly, and said, "I mean, the rules were changed for me alone... Have you ever seen anyone who has been promoted to the second-rank military position and the third-rank civil official in just half a year in the court? Besides me, is there anyone else?
"Your Majesty gave you an imperial decree so that I can enter the palace to treat my illness... I don't know what the emperor is thinking. Does he like to grant official positions to people so much?"

Hearing this, Jin couldn't help but smiled and said, "Haha, that's great. A lady of the second rank... I can hold my head high when I meet those wives of officials in the future."

"Women, I wonder what you're thinking about all day long... Your daughter is the Crown Princess, and will be the Queen in the future, so why should you raise your head? By the way, I was promoted to a Bachelor of Imperial Tutoring. My official position is higher than Xie Yuqiao and others. If I can hold this position for a few years, maybe I will be qualified to join the cabinet."

Zhang Luan had an arrogant look on his face, as if he had already achieved the highest position in the government.

Jin asked, "Enter the cabinet? Is that a high position?"

"The cabinet minister is equivalent to the prime minister of the previous dynasty... Oh, I can't explain it to you clearly." Zhang Luan said, "I'm going to go out for a walk and look for Yanling. This guy disappears whenever I want to talk to him."

"Are you going out again?"

Jin was somewhat reluctant.

My husband now goes out whenever he has nothing to do and often does not come home overnight. Even though he has a virtuous wife and beautiful concubines serving him at home, he still likes to go out.

Zhang Luan said, "I am now in such a high position, and I have a lot of errands to do. I didn't go out for the first two days because the emperor temporarily drove me out to treat my illness. I was afraid of causing criticism. Now the emperor wants me to treat my illness again, and I have to do many things myself... What choice do you want me to make? It's really... hell!"

……

……

Zhang Luan didn't see Zhang Yanling after all, because he went to accept Li Zisheng's invitation to a banquet at nightfall.

Early the next morning, he left Li Zisheng's villa, and the two of them took a carriage to the palace.

By the time the two came out of the palace, it was already noon.

Here, Pang Qing had already run to the palace gate and was waiting to inform Li Zisheng that Wang Ji had arrived in the capital safely.

"Come on, come and see me."

Li Zisheng greeted.

"Should I... go see him too?"

Zhang Luan obviously didn't want to see a famous doctor.

The people in the Imperial Hospital were very tactful and did not expose him, or perhaps it was because they did not have much contact with him and did not have the opportunity to expose him.

But in Zhang Luan's eyes, Wang Ji, who was regarded as the most famous doctor in the world, was definitely a shrewd man. He could expose his true colors with just a few probing words.

Li Zisheng said, "This time I asked him to come to the capital as your assistant officer. I have given him an official certificate in advance. Now he is already an imperial physician in the Imperial Hospital... He can be a medical officer right away, and he didn't start as an apprentice. Isn't it all thanks to you? This way, it will be convenient for him to enter and leave the palace."

"I……"

Zhang Luan asked reluctantly, "Can you let me go away first?"

"Why should you avoid him? You are the Minister of the Imperial Household Department and you are in charge of the Imperial Hospital by the Emperor's order. He will be your subordinate in the future. When you see him, you can yell at him and ask him to do whatever you want. You are like this... You didn't behave well in front of His Majesty today. Do you know how much His Majesty and the people in the palace are looking forward to you now? Let's go!"

……

……

When Wang Ji entered the city, he did not see anyone else first, but went to see Zhang Yanling first.

Introduced by Qin Zhao, Wang Ji met Zhang Yanling who was refining medicine in person and personally checked the process.

"How does this work?"

Wang Ji asked, "The animal organs used here are diseased livers? This... doesn't seem like it..."

There is no such thing as anatomy these days.

Facing a pile of animal offal and smelling the stench, Wang Ji was also worried because he really couldn't understand what Zhang Yanling was doing.

Zhang Yanling thought, it's obvious that you're following the principle of a gentleman staying away from the kitchen, or it could be because you're not a veterinarian.

“This is a kidney.”

Zhang Yanling explained, “We need to extract a drug from it and use it on liver patients.”

"what is this?"

Wang Ji asked again like a curious baby.

"This is the extract. We need to dissolve some of the ingredients in it, and then filter and purify it. Fortunately, someone in the palace has funded it. Otherwise, it would cost a lot just to extract these things, and ordinary people wouldn't be able to afford it."

Zhang Yanling explained, "We need to get a lot of animal organs at once, and we have to take them while the animals are still alive. We can't delay. If the animals have been dead for too long, the extracts from the organs will become ineffective. And we have to do this every day, over and over again."

"Will this... work?"

Wang Ji was very curious.

Zhang Yanling said: "At least your majesty is using it now, and the effect is OK. But it may not be effective in the long run, after all, your majesty's condition is gradually worsening."

Qin Zhao seemed to be somewhat evasive when she heard this, and whispered, "You two, continue talking. I will leave for now."

"Master Qin, you know exactly what I'm doing. You don't have to avoid me."

Zhang Yanling said, "There are people in the palace who provide raw materials and keep an eye on this place all the time, but in fact, after so many days, they are only responsible for the final verification of whether the extracted medicine is poisonous... So I will make a little more each time... No one minds if there are other people present."

"J."

Qin Zhaoxin said, do you think I'm a three-year-old child?

You were making medicine for the emperor and I was standing next to him. If anything happened to the emperor and he blamed it on me, or even said I poisoned him, where would I explain?

Zhang Yanling smiled and said, "You are right. A gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall."

Qin Zhao smiled slightly and said, "I am just a little girl."

After saying this, he walked out gracefully.

Wang Ji said, "Second Master, I have been ordered to go north to diagnose His Majesty... Can you be sure that His Majesty is suffering from liver disease and not some other disease?"

"This...haha, you can only ask my father."

Zhang Yanling would not deliberately discredit his old father in front of Wang Ji. "He has examined your Majesty's pulse many times. As for how to diagnose the disease and how to use medicine, you should also discuss it with him."

As they were talking, someone came in and reported, "Second Master, Minister Li and our master sent someone to invite this divine doctor Wang to come over for a chat."

Wang Ji's face was a little gloomy.

At the beginning, I listened to the advice of the Zhang family and fled the capital in a hurry.

Now he was caught again.

It seems like there is no way to escape!

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(End of this chapter)