You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 131 The Spoils Division Meeting
Li Shuotai, considering his noble status, did not want to be treated by imperial physicians or ordinary doctors, so he asked, "Is Imperial Physician Wu here?"

"The Grand Councilor is inside."

A small room was filled with medical books by famous doctors from various dynasties, and was lit with expensive incense. A compass, deer antlers, and tiger penis were also hanging on the walls.

He exudes the aura of a renowned doctor!
"Professor Wu, I'm sorry to bother you."

"Your Excellency, are you feeling unwell?"

"I have severe night sweats."

"Sit down, give me your wrist."

Wu Yong's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant.

There's no need to be humble; he's just the Minister of Justice. Nor is there any need to be arrogant; he's just the Minister of Justice.

He closed his eyes and felt the pulse, immediately realizing that the kid had probably done something wrong recently and was overly frightened.

Li Lutai was also a man of deep thoughts. He did not want to come to see a doctor, but he was afraid that the Empress Dowager would hold him accountable later.

"Minister Li, where do you come from?"

“I come from outside the palace.”

Wu Yong immediately caught the fleeting fluctuation in the pulse and cursed inwardly: "You're dishonest with the doctor, or you'll lose your health."

After a while, he opened his eyes.

Li Shuotai hurriedly asked:
"How about it?"

"You have kidney deficiency and excessive heart fire. I'll prescribe a medicine for you."

Wu Yong picked up his brush and wrote swiftly and skillfully, then served tea and saw the guest off.

……

Although the Imperial Pharmacy was right next to the Imperial Medical Academy, with all kinds of medicinal herbs available, he had no intention of getting any medicine from public funds for the Minister.

When going off duty~
Ordinary physicians would prescribe some Coptis chinensis and Angelica sinensis to take home. Imperial physicians might prescribe some bull penis and snake gallbladder to take home. The chief physicians and judges of the Imperial Medical Academy would usually prescribe expensive medicinal materials such as tiger bone and rhinoceros horn.

Relying on mountains to eat mountains, relying on water to draft water.

The imperial chef steals sea cucumbers, the second chef steals pork hock, and the servants steal leftovers—it's all the same principle.

No one would seriously question who was responsible for consuming the 2000 jin of Coptis chinensis that the Imperial Hospital consumed every month—someone exceptionally hardworking.
Don't ask, it'll only make things awkward for everyone.

Decent~
……

After leaving the palace~
Li Shuotai unfolded the prescription, looking at the mess of scribbles on the paper, still feeling uneasy.

"Find a pharmacy."

"Yes."

Upon arriving at the pharmacy, Li Shutai took out the prescription for which he had torn off the signature stamp.

"Could you take a look at this prescription for me?"

The shopkeeper glanced at it once, his expression suspicious. He looked at it again, his expression grave. He looked at it a third time, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

"May I ask, sir, whose prescription is this?"

"An ordinary doctor."

"A quack doctor, a complete quack."

"Oh?"

"This person is utterly absurd, simultaneously replenishing and purging, replenishing 3 parts and purging 2 parts."

"I am not knowledgeable in medicine. Could you please explain in more detail?"

"To give an example, imagine you get pricked by a splinter, and a doctor comes in. He slowly pulls the splinter out with his left hand and slowly stops the bleeding with his right. He pulls it out and stops the bleeding at the same time, and it takes him a long time to finish."

Seeing Li Shutai's uncertain expression, the shopkeeper explained again.

"Originally, three doses of medicine would have been enough, but now he has to take ten. If I had to praise him, it would be that his treatment was too reliable."

……

They left the pharmacy.

Li Shuotai became even more worried, so he went to another pharmacy.

"Shopkeeper, could you please take a look at this prescription?"

The shopkeeper finished reading, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

"Which doctor prescribed this medicine?"

"A royal physician in the palace."

"Hiss~ The prescription is a perfect blend of monarch, minister, assistant, and guide, with solid medical principles, meticulous dosage, and simple combination. Sir, your prescription is brilliant."

"Then tell me, what does this prescription treat?" The shopkeeper looked up and glanced at Li Shutai's face.

"It calms the mind, clears heart fire, and replenishes qi and blood."

"You really recognize the scribbles on this prescription?"

"I recognize it, I recognize it."

The shopkeeper stroked his long beard, his smile reserved and confident. Those in the know understood, but laymen were bewildered.

……

South City.

Outside Xuanwu Gate, No. 9 Private Kitchen.

A meeting to divide up official titles is underway.

After a collective deliberation by the three judicial departments, a total of 31 people, including Xie Sheng, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, were sentenced to immediate execution by beheading, with the execution to take place after the first month of the lunar calendar.

The Liaoning party is completely overwhelmed by their victory.

The vacancies in official positions in far more than 31 central government offices were basically filled by the Liao faction and the two Yellow Banners.

Even the chronically ill Sony himself came to compete for a spot. At that moment, he was arguing heatedly with Ning Wanwo over the position of a junior official in the Ministry of Revenue.

Reserved~
Demeanor~
Humility~
In official circles, these are all derogatory terms.

You don't compete, you don't fight, you don't take shortcuts, and you expect a prestigious official hat to fall automatically on your head? On what grounds? Just because you can write articles? Just because you're honest? Just because you're diligent in your duties?

The two were arguing fiercely.

“I stood up and spoke out for justice that day, but what about you? You didn’t say a word.”

"That day in the Golden Palace, you only said one sentence: 'I am willing to vouch for Censor Jiang.' With just that one sentence, you think you can take up a fourth-rank official position?"

"It's not about how much or how little you say, the key is your stance! I expressed my stance, you didn't."

“My nephew has been in the fifth-rank position for two whole years. He must be promoted to the fourth rank. Otherwise, I will resign from my Liaodong hukou and go join the Donglin Party.”

hahaha~
The crowd laughed heartily as they watched the man, who was so flustered as to threaten to join the Donglin Party.

Internal conflicts are harmless.

……

Today~
In terms of both age and rank, Jiang Qingyun was a junior.

Because the conversation was confidential and it was inconvenient for outsiders to be present, he took the initiative to serve tea and water, acting as an honest person who did not compete or fight.

But~
Sony is getting desperate:
"Imperial Censor Jiang, you be the judge."

After listening, Jiang Qingyun seriously suggested, "Seniors, why don't we draw lots for these controversial spots and leave it to fate?"

"agree."

"I agree."

quickly,

Several controversial official vacancies were decided by drawing lots, a seemingly unreliable but actually most reliable method. Jiang Hede, Minister of Works, won two, and Zhu Guozhi, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, won two.

The two of them were laughing so hard their teeth disappeared.

Jiang Hede: "Today it's my treat, everyone eat as much as you like, order the expensive stuff, don't try to save me money. Hahahaha~"

Zhu Guozhi: "I'll contribute half."

Ao Bai sighed: "Sony, your crimes are heinous."

Sony was dejected, and then gritted his teeth and summoned the shopkeeper.

"Bring out your most expensive dishes and most expensive wines, as many as you can handle. If you can't finish them, I'll throw them away."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hede laughed even more heartily.

……

On the surface, everyone was a subject of the imperial court.

However, if you break it down further, there are countless factions, each with its own sphere of influence, territory, and ulterior motives.

The Liao Party was merely a relatively powerful branch within the Han Army Banner.

Compared to other forces, the Liao Party had a closer relationship with the Manchu Eight Banners.

Even though they all belonged to the Liao faction, they were divided into several factions. If you really think about it, everyone present was an independent force.

There were also conflicts between the various factions. The most obvious example was Jiang Hede and Jiang Qingyun, who even fought each other in the government office.

It's only when shared interests outweigh shared conflicts that everyone can sit down and drink together.

Compromise, negotiation, and collusion—that's politics!
(End of this chapter)