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

Chapter 140 focuses solely on medicine, excluding politics.

Zhou Shao rushed over upon hearing the news, followed by his entourage carrying a large stack of account books.

"Lord Li, the transaction must be completed quickly?"

"All the account books of the Ministry of Revenue's three treasuries are here. Of course, before the handover, you must first confirm that the amount is correct, and then sign. Once you sign, our handover process will be complete."

The silver treasury, pigment treasury, and ribbon treasury were collectively known as the Three Treasurys, or the national treasury.

Li Bayan was taken aback and quickly waved his hand:

"No rush, no rush. Give me a few months. I need to check and make sure everything is correct before I dare to sign. By the way, Minister Zhou, have you checked it yet?"

Zhou Shao smiled:
“I just took over the Ministry of Revenue, and there are so many things to do that I don’t have time to take stock. You see, the seals on this warehouse haven’t been removed yet. Here’s what we’ll do: the 10th. After the 10th, the handover must be completed on schedule. I’ll leave a few people on-site to supervise.”

"Ten days is too short."

"Try to hurry."

……

Jiang Qingyun picked up the conversation:
"The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the nation's finances, including land tax, military pay, and banner pay. If the Ministry of Revenue is shut down, it will affect the whole country. If the Ministry of Revenue doesn't open its doors soon, the bannermen in the inner city, the officials in the capital, and the soldiers in the south will tear us to pieces. Lord Li, time is tight and the task is heavy, please bear with it."

"Farewell."

Jiang Qingyun strode away.

Zhou Shao smiled and nodded, then followed.

Li Bayan's asthma worsened in his anxiety.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and take inventory!"

"Whoo."

The moment the vault doors slowly opened, everyone gasped. A mountain of gold and a sea of ​​silver—how long would it take to count them all?
While panting, Li Bayan ordered, "Prepare a sedan chair and go to the Ministry of Justice to find my brother."

……

The rear hall of the Ministry of Revenue.

Jiang and Zhou, who had been in a state of panic, began to leisurely sip their tea.

That's how official business is; it sounds urgent, but it's not actually that urgent in practice.

"Third brother, I really didn't expect that someone would suddenly appear out of nowhere and steal the most precious three treasures."

Zhou Shao was very disappointed.

"It's alright, Li Bayan is just a sickly person, we can wear him down."

"Can?"

"Yes. I'll leave the training on the Ministry of Revenue's administrative procedures to you."

"Shall I pick a specific thing to pilot first? The flag-bearing levy? Or the summer tax?"

"Flag pay!"

……

The Ministry of Revenue was next to the Ministry of Rites.

When Jiang Qingyun walked into the Ministry of Rites with his hands behind his back and a serious expression, the doorman bowed and scraped so much that he was practically calling him "father" on the spot.

"I ask you, where is Wu Guo, the Chief Clerk?"

"Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, Wu should be at the Fourth Translation Bureau treating patients right now."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Our Chief Physician Wu is not only highly skilled in medicine, but also kind-hearted. The officials of the Ministry of Rites line up every day to ask him to take their pulse and prescribe medicine."

Jiang Qingyun was both amused and exasperated.

When I arrived at the Huitong Translation Bureau, wow, there was a huge crowd gathered around a table, with flattery pouring in.

"You are truly a miracle doctor."

"In my opinion, Lord Wu is the Bian Que of our time."

"If Young Master Wu's medical skills are this high, then how high must your father, Imperial Physician Wu's, medical skills be?"

"Of course it's taller than Mount Tai!"

Jiang Qingyun's eyes twitched as he listened, so he coughed heavily twice. When everyone turned around and saw that it was "Guan Tu" (the butcher), they immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

When only two people remained.

"Uncle, what brings you here?"

"Wu Guo, you must remember to address people by their official titles in the government office. You are not my nephew, nor am I your uncle."

“Vice-Governor, isn’t this because we have no one around?”

"Habits become second nature, and your father did a great job in this regard."

Jiang Qingyun sat down and naturally extended his wrist.

"Uncle has been overthinking lately, which has caused him to have excessive internal heat, stomach discomfort, and perhaps restless sleep. But it's nothing to worry about; he just needs a few days of rest and doesn't need any medicine."

Do you charge them for medical treatment?

"for free."

Do you understand the principle that "the law should not be lightly passed on, the way should not be sold cheaply, a teacher should not be sought out on a particular road, and a doctor should not knock on doors"?

"I know. I was just itching to do it, it was no trouble at all~" Wu Guo flashed a bright smile, revealing two rows of teeth.

……

"Who taught you your medical skills?"

“My maternal grandfather was a famous doctor in Zhili. When he treated patients, I would watch from the side. When he encountered typical cases, he would let me take their pulse. Over time, as I saw more and more cases, I naturally learned how to do it.”

"Practice makes perfect, indeed. By the way, what do you think of the people in the Ministry of Rites?"

"Humble and polite, well-read, and of noble character."

"The Ministry of Rites is not suitable for you. Come with me to the Ministry of Revenue."

"what?"

"The Ministry of Revenue has established a new Office for the Eight Banners' Salaries, and there is a vacancy for the position of Assistant Director. Go and take up the post."

"Then, may I hand over my current official duties today?"

"The Ministry of Rites is all about music and fanfare. There's no need for handover. Just leave. Now come with me to the next room right now."

"Uncle, transferring departments and getting promoted, isn't that a complicated process?"

"It's not complicated at all. Uncle Feng from the Ministry of Personnel is an old friend of mine, and Minister Fan from the Ministry of Rites is a very kind person. You only need to walk a few hundred steps, go next door, pick a room to sit down, and the process will be completed."

……

The Ministry of Revenue's Flower Hall.

"Tomorrow, help me take a look at someone. No matter what illness he has, just say that the situation is complicated and needs to be considered when I get back."

"Yes."

Wu Guo thought to himself, "After all that talk, it's still just about treating patients."

But~
The next day, when his fingers touched the pulse of the Treasury Minister Li Bayan, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Dr. Wu, how is my condition? Please tell me."

"Lord Li, cough cough, your illness is rather complicated, I need to go back and consider it further."

"Alright, prepare the carriage and the consultation fee."

A small wooden box containing 10 small gold ingots.

Upon seeing this, Wu Guo quickly waved his hand:

"No need, no need, it's no trouble at all."

"It should be."

"No, really."

"Dr. Wu, please don't refuse. If you have a good remedy, I will repay you with everything I have, and I will never go back on my word. Please!"

Looking at Li Bayan's fat face, which was filled with the will to survive, Wu Guo could only nod silently.

……

When Wu Guo returned, Jiang Qingyun immediately inquired about his whereabouts.

"how?"

"This person's pulse is like a shrimp swimming in water, sometimes leaping up and then coming back down, accompanied by a rapid and restless feeling. It is commonly known as the premonition of death."

How much longer do you estimate he has?

"It's hard to say. This person has been ill for a long time, his vital energy has been exhausted, and he is now just an empty shell. He is only being kept alive by expensive wild ginseng and his tenacious will to live."

"You're not seeing things, are you?"

"It can't be wrong. My maternal grandfather had the same pulse before he died. I took his pulse myself. This was the last lesson he left me."

Jiang Qingyun nodded very seriously.

He trusted Wu Guo's medical skills more than his father's. Because this kid only talked about medicine, not politics; he was a pure, enthusiastic doctor detached from high-brow interests.

"Nephew, if—I mean, if—I wanted him to live a little longer, could you do that?"

"It was not medicine, but the timing and fate."

……

That night~
Jiang Qingyun stayed in Lüzhu's room.

After Green Pearl gave birth to her daughter, she recovered for a long time. The two, familiar with each other, reunited after a long separation, their affection for each other was palpable, and their bond as mistress and servant was strong.

"Young Master, you mustn't!"

puff.

The result of her angrily grabbing the melon was that she was sprayed in the face and couldn't open her eyes. Green Pearl quickly grabbed a piece of clothing and carefully wiped herself clean.

"Young Master, are your eyes alright?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Because Green Pearl was not used to having a maidservant in her room, she always had someone wait for her in the outer room.

"Alright, bring the water in."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)