Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 354 Reward for Chen Ce
Liu Jian and Xie Qian stared at Li Dongyang in astonishment, their jaws almost dropping in shock.

Southwestern malaria, cured?

Malaria! It was malaria! It was a plague, a serious plague. How could it be cured? When did the Imperial Hospital become so skilled in medicine? Why didn't they believe it?
But soon, Liu Jian and Xie Qian realized something. They looked at each other and then suddenly looked away. They saw strong shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.

Chen Ce!

The prescription for treating malaria in the southwest was sent by Liu Wentai at the request of Chen Ce. Liu Jian remembered it very clearly. The recent voices of impeachment of Chen Ce from the court and the situation in the southwest were all caused by Liu Jian.

Liu Jian was afraid that what Chen Ce had done would eventually be exposed, which would affect his prestige as the prime minister of the cabinet, so he wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to suppress Chen Ce.

But he never thought that the prescription that Chen Ce casually sent to the southwest could actually cure this thousand-year-old incurable disease? !
How could Liu Jian not be extremely surprised?

After a brief moment of shock, Liu Jian hurriedly said, "Go, go to the Qianqing Palace!"

……

Liu Wentai staggered to the Wuying Palace, looking a little out of control, but he didn't care about that because someone from the Censorate happened to be reporting on events in the southeast in the Wuying Palace.

Hong Zhong sent the results of his inspection in the southeast to the Censorate. The situation in the southeast was getting increasingly out of control, and the Censorate had to pay attention.

Seeing Liu Wentai coming to the hall in such a disgrace, he could not help but frown and rebuke him: "I beg Your Majesty to remove Liu Yuanpan from his post as the Imperial Hospital Director and punish him for his disgrace in front of the hall!"

Liu Wentai ignored the people from the Censorate and said directly to Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty! The malaria in the southwest has been cured! I immediately informed Your Majesty of the information that came from the southwest!"

Emperor Hongzhi looked up suddenly, but before he could say anything, the three elders of the cabinet arrived.

"Your Majesty, the malaria in the southwest has been cured!"

Emperor Hongzhi was completely shocked. He stared at everyone blankly. It took him a long time to react. He asked Liu Wentai, "Why?"

Liu Wentai: “…”

Why else could this be, Chen Ce!

Is the prescription he gave useful?

Liu Wentai quickly said: "I dare not take credit for it. The prescription for treating malaria was given to me by Chen Ce."

Emperor Hongzhi gasped.

He actually knows medical skills. No, if his medical skills are so great, why doesn't he cure his own illness?
As they were talking, the six ministers of state also came to Wuying Palace with deep shock and confusion.

Apparently they had also learned the news from the southwest.

"His Majesty……"

Emperor Hongzhi pressed his hands and said, "I know everything."

Qin Hong clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, Chen Ce has made great contributions to the southwest and the world. This merit must be rewarded, and cannot be ignored!"

If the things Chen Ce did in the past could not be made public, someone might come forward to retaliate against Chen Ce, but this time it was different.

Chen Ce actually saved the lives of countless people in the southwest. Moreover, the malaria prescription not only saved the lives of the people in the southwest, but also directly solved a major plague disease that had been prevalent in the entire China!

This kind of achievement is enough to earn him the title of nobility!
Moreover, there were too many people who knew that Chen Ce sent prescriptions to the southwest, and many people in the court had impeached Chen Ce so severely that Chen Ce became famous in the court.

Now people in the southwest suddenly say that malaria has been cured. If Chen Ce is not given any reward at this time, it would be a bit unreasonable anyway.

Liu Jian never expected that his previous attempt to fan the flames with the intention of striking a blow to Chen Ce's arrogance would backfire, and he ended up losing more than he gained, and directly made Chen Ce famous!
Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

Qin Hong was right. In the past, whether it was Kaizhong, Southwest, Salt, or the Imperial Clan, all of them were arranged and solved by Chen Ce. But if Chen Ce was publicly rewarded, it would not be a good thing for him. Instead, it would harm him. But now it is different. If Chen Ce is rewarded now, no one will gossip.

Even if we take a step back, Emperor Hongzhi had long wanted Chen Ce to step out from behind the scenes. It is easy to avoid an open attack but difficult to guard against an arrow from the dark. He was not afraid of someone in the court openly dealing with Chen Ce, but he was afraid of someone shooting an arrow from behind.

Emperor Hongzhi had actually been looking for an opportunity for Chen Ce to make a public appearance, and this time was indeed a rare opportunity.

Emperor Hongzhi said in a deep voice: "Minister Qin's words are true. Chen Ce has made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty and will be remembered for generations to come. How should he be rewarded?"

To be honest, just by inventing the drug to treat malaria, Chen Ce's contribution has surpassed many people!

No reward is too much. The people will not think that the court’s rewards are too generous, and the officials will not be jealous of Chen Ce.

But the premise is not to go too far, such as directly rewarding officials with real power. This is the bottom line for all officials.

Qin Hong pondered for a while, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I suggest that Chen Ce be promoted to the position of proofreader in the Jing Bureau of the Zhanshi Mansion."

This position is a seventh-rank official position under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Palace. He is specifically responsible for the verification of the Eastern Palace's collection of books. It is an idle official position, but it is quite suitable for Chen Ce.

Xu Guan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think this reward is inappropriate. I should confer the title of Baron on Chen Ce."

Liu Jian hurriedly stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely not allowed! The title of the Ming Dynasty cannot be awarded casually."

The last settlement of the royal family's salaries was finally made. If the title is continued at this time, it will undoubtedly increase the royal family's salary expenses.

In fact, after the last issue of royal family salaries was resolved, the imperial court deliberately restrained itself, and the emperor and his cabinet no longer arbitrarily awarded any titles to outsiders unless they had made outstanding contributions.

Qin Hong retorted: "Lord Liu is wrong. Chen Ce invented the antidote for malaria, which is a great achievement. This is equivalent to making great contributions on the battlefield. Why can't he be awarded the lowest baronial title?"

Liu Jian was about to open his mouth to refute, but Emperor Hongzhi made the final decision: "Minister Qin's words are reasonable, then let's continue to reward him."

"According to the order!"

……

Zhengyang Street.

The Zhang brothers looked at Chen Ce in silence, and finally lowered the price to one hundred taels of silver.

"Hey, Brother Chen, we brothers are already very merciful! For one hundred taels, we will help you deal with the imperial censors in the court and make them stop impeaching you."

"You really don't consider it?"

These two brothers are pure money-suckers. They are willing to take money and not do the job.

Chen Ce knew these two unreliable brothers and said calmly, "Don't consider it. It's okay. I'm leaving."

Zhang brothers: "..."

What a pity! I didn't get any money, so sad!

At this moment, a group of eunuchs led people from the East Factory towards Chen Ce.

Seeing this, the Zhang brothers' eyes lit up and they quickly grabbed Chen Ce and said, "You're done! The imperial court is coming to arrest you!"

"Now we brothers have raised the price! Five thousand taels, give us five thousand taels, and we will help you settle it, how about that? Is it worthwhile?"

(End of this chapter)