Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 86 Bribery and Winning Over
Zhang Luan originally thought that joining the Imperial Medical Service was his only option, but he never expected that he would now have the opportunity to become famous in academics, and even have the possibility of being selected as an official to become a county magistrate?
After being stunned for a long time, Zhang Luan stammered, "If that's the case, then... that's pretty good..."

Li Zisheng said with a smile: "Whether she joins the Imperial Hospital or becomes a doctor in the Imperial Academy, it will not prevent your daughter from being selected as the Crown Princess. If she is really selected, we will have more opportunities to cooperate in the future."

When Zhang Luan heard this, he suddenly remembered what his son had told him before, that only if he became the father of the Crown Princess and the future father-in-law of the emperor, could he have an equal cooperative relationship with Li Zisheng. Otherwise, he would be used by Li Zisheng and might even be abandoned at any time.

Shen Lu said: "In my opinion, it is better for you to stay in the Imperial College. There are too many disputes and intrigues in the Imperial Hospital."

"Yeah."

Zhang Luan felt that his brother-in-law was too considerate of him.

He didn't have so many evil thoughts. He just thought that his medical skills were mediocre and it would be easy to be exposed if he entered the Imperial Medical Bureau. He had no choice before. If he wanted to become an official, the only way was to enter the Imperial Medical Bureau.

But now that he has curry favor with Li Zisheng, he has more options, so naturally he should choose the one he is good at.

Even if he was not good at other things, he still had some confidence in studying, otherwise his admission exam would have been in vain, and his thirty years of hard study would have been in vain.

Li Zisheng said happily: "That's a deal. I'll go talk to the people in the Ministry of Personnel. The position in the Imperial College is nothing. As long as you have talent, even if it's just based on your previous achievements in curing diseases and saving lives, it's only natural for you to get an eighth or ninth grade official position. Just don't worry!"

Zhang Luan burst into tears of gratitude.

Only talented people in the court dare to say that this is a natural thing.

If there were no one, I would have been so meritorious for curing smallpox, but I would have needed to beg my parents for help even to be a student in the Imperial Academy. How could I want to be an official? Maybe in my next life!

Li Zisheng saw how tactful Zhang Luan was, and he liked him even more. He didn't know that Zhang Luan didn't dare to enter the Imperial Hospital because of his poor medical skills. He thought Zhang Luan was sensible and knew when to avoid suspicion and not compete with him for fame and fortune. He immediately felt that he had Zhang Luan firmly under his control.

"Lai Zhan, I came over to take a look. When I come back to visit you, you should be at the new house. Your place is still too shabby, haha."

Li Zisheng laughed and teased.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Shen Lu echoed, "It's almost the end of the year, and moving to a new residence can be considered a new beginning for the new year. Come and see, we have to thank Minister Li for his support."

"Yes Yes."

Zhang Luan did not dare to take credit for it at all, because he did not think that his success in prying into the secrets of heaven was his own achievement. At this moment, he remained absolutely humble and pious.

Li Zisheng smiled and said to Pang Qing: "Bingkun, take Zhan to the new house later to transfer the title deed and other things, and clean up the gifts I brought...

"By the way, your house still has no servants, right?"

Li Zisheng turned his head to look at Zhang Luan.

"No."

Zhang Luan became more and more excited.

This means giving gifts, houses, and finally servants?
Li Zisheng said with a smile: "Choose a few smart ones from the mansion... well, go and get a few back. When you are in the officialdom in the future, you should have the pomp and dignity that match your status."

……

……

Li Zisheng gave Zhang Luan careful guidance like a mentor.

Zhang Luan accepted the advice humbly, responded repeatedly and nodded rapidly. This humble attitude was deeply appreciated by Li Zisheng.

Afterwards, Li Zisheng left, leaving behind Shen Lu and Pang Qing... Perhaps there were some things he was not comfortable saying, so these two people gave him some pointers.

"Laizhan, you really have the potential to be an official. Earlier, Minister Li said that he would let you stay in the Imperial College as a doctor of the Five Classics. You responded very well. Very good, very good."

After bidding farewell to Li Zisheng and returning to the main hall, Shen Lu sighed from the bottom of his heart.

Zhang Luan glanced at Pang Qing who was giving instructions to the servants of Li's house in the yard, then turned back to look at Shen Lu: "What's the matter, Ruxue? Are you saying that I am only suitable to stay in the Imperial College to study?" Shen Lu shook his head: "Entering the Imperial Hospital will allow you to meet dignitaries, but imperial doctors who are not hereditary or have not passed the regular medical officer and medical assistant assessment will be despised, and others will not come to visit unless they have something to do."

"Yes."

Zhang Luan nodded in agreement, "Who would take the initiative to see a doctor if they are not sick?"

"Besides, you have no background or connections in the capital. The people in the Imperial Hospital will definitely team up to exclude you. They will then assign you a difficult patient, or secretly trip you up and tamper with the prescriptions you prescribe for the patients. All your fame and fortune will vanish in the blink of an eye." Shen Lu said.

Zhang Luan's eyes widened, and he asked in great surprise, "Is the Imperial Hospital really as dangerous as you say?"

Shen Lu said: "The situation will only get worse. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to contact dignitaries, and they may leak the secrets you have learned, or even report them to the royal family... Do you think that Minister Li will not be on guard? So you are right to choose to stay in the Imperial College."

After listening to it, Zhang Luan realized that there were so many twists and turns behind it.

The reason why he decided to stay in the Imperial College was simply because his medical skills were not up to standard. After all, it is difficult to be serious about knowledge, but there are clear standards for prescribing medicine to treat diseases.

You can't treat a minor illness as a major one, a simple illness as a complicated one, and then make up stories that different treatments produce different results, right?
If he can’t be cured, then he won’t be able to continue working in the Imperial Hospital.

Shen Lu said with a smile: "Have you seen Mr. Pang in the courtyard? Although he is just a teacher hired by Li Shilang, he is also a juren, and he is very smart. It is said that the seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister, Li Shilang can really be called the invisible prime minister... You must treat him well."

Zhang Luan asked, "How do you greet me?"

Shen Lu glanced at his brother-in-law and said with a smile, "I said before that you were aware of it, but why are you confused now? People give you gifts, why don't you give some back?
"Also, be polite when you speak. This way, if you run into any problems in the future, even if Minister Li is not convenient to come forward, as long as Mr. Pang shows up, there will be nothing that cannot be done in the capital."

Zhang Luan asked in surprise, "Mr. Pang has such a big reputation?"

Shen Lu said: "There is a vast sea of ​​knowledge in the officialdom, and you have a lot to learn... Oh, by the way, you have never explained to me where you learned these Taoist skills. Now you should tell me what adventures you have had, right? Have you traveled outside in the past few years and met some immortals who gave you some advice?"

This question...

Zhang Luan really wanted to say, I have to capture my second son and interrogate him thoroughly, and then I will answer you after I have found out everything.

"Well, there are some things that I can't explain to you."

Zhang Luan made an excuse and tried to procrastinate again.

Shen Lu smiled and said, "It doesn't matter if you don't want to tell me. But if you foresee any important news, you must tell me as soon as possible, and I will tell Minister Li for you. Now is definitely not the time for you to become famous and shine. You need Minister Li to protect you from the wind and rain."

Zhang Luan said: "I understand, I understand."

Then Shen Lu glanced at Pang Qing again, and confirmed that Pang Qing was still talking to the servants of Li Mansion and was not paying attention to the situation here. Then he moved closer to Zhang Luan and whispered:

"Because we are one family, I am telling you that it is absolutely right for you to let my niece choose the Crown Princess. If she is chosen, you will be more valued by Minister Li in the future.

"Otherwise, just stay in the Imperial College and get a job there. Don't think about starting your own business, or no one will be able to help you. Remember this."

When Zhang Luan saw Shen Lu's serious face, he was suddenly dazed.

He suddenly thought of what his son had said to him before.

My son said before that only by becoming the father-in-law of the emperor would he be qualified to live in harmony with Li Zisheng. It seems that what he said is true. Otherwise, why would even Ruxue say such a thing to me?

Today, in order to make me willingly work for him, Li Zisheng even refused to allow me to enter the Imperial Medical Bureau. Perhaps the more capable I am, the more likely I am to be envied.

"That's all I have to say. Let Mr. Pang tell you the rest. He will take you to see the new house. Let me first say congratulations." As Shen Lu spoke, his face was full of envy.

Although they are both employed by Li Zisheng, Zhang Luan's treatment is obviously much higher than his own.

There were gifts, houses, and servants, and there would definitely be more generous gifts in the future. Just helping Zhang Luan's daughter to be selected as the Crown Princess was an invaluable political resource that not everyone could get if they wanted it.

(End of this chapter)