Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 123 Unfilial Son! You Hit My Father? (7600)

Luo Xian, who came to greet him, was taken aback; Zhang Juzheng's words sounded rather strange.
But if you think about it from all angles, Zhang Juzheng was the Grand Secretary, and in recent years he had implemented new policies, bearing the safety of the Ming Dynasty on his shoulders. Saving Zhang Juzheng was tantamount to saving the Ming Dynasty, and the two were naturally connected.

This master must have been seriously ill for a long time, which is why he was somewhat listless and impulsive.

Thinking of this, Luo Xian's face became unusually serious, and he patted his chest and said.

"Please rest assured, Master. Our Renmin Medical Clinic is renowned throughout the Ming Dynasty, and our medical skills are unparalleled. There are precedents of officials in the court and nobles in the capital recovering at Renmin Medical Clinic. If we are helpless, then there is no one in the world who can bring the dead back to life!"

Even with Luo Xian's explanation, Zhang Juzheng still seemed uneasy. He grabbed Luo Xian's shoulder and said...

"We must spare no effort! This is no small matter!"

Luo Xian's expression froze; he could actually sense an extremely strong will to survive emanating from the other person.

He had seen countless terminally ill patients, but he had never seen such an intense desire before.
What exactly did Shi Gongfu go through?
Luo Xian ultimately decided against asking too many questions. His eyes grew increasingly firm, and he nodded vigorously.

"Master, please rest assured, your disciples and others will do their utmost and will not slack off in the slightest!"

In fact, without Zhang Juzheng saying anything, Luo Xian and others would naturally do their best.

Who can blame them when the other party is my master!

If their master makes a mistake, wouldn't Zhang Yunxiu hang them all up and whip them?
"Master, would you like to get on this stretcher?"

Luo Xian was still worried about Zhang Juzheng's health and offered his advice again.

"No need."

Zhang Juzheng remained unmoved, and he continued to inquire.

"In which direction is your research institute located?"

"Go north to the backyard, and you'll have to go through something else," Luo Xian explained briefly.

Zhang Juzheng nodded and said, "It's not far, I can go there on my own!"

As he spoke, he suddenly became incredibly agile, seemingly able to endure the pain, and strode quickly toward the backyard.

The accompanying doctors were stunned, and looked with considerable worry toward the area around Zhang Juzheng's harem.

What are you standing there for?

Luo Xian was somewhat anxious and gave instructions to the other doctors.

"Hurry up and chase after them!"

At this moment, the doctors at the research institute realized what was happening. They hurriedly ran after Zhang Juzheng, fearing that something might happen to him.

Not far away, Zhang Jianxiu was also somewhat puzzled when he saw his father walking briskly.

Just moments ago, he witnessed the other person barely breathing at home.

But at this moment, the figure that was terminally ill seemed like a completely different person.

Not only can she walk incredibly fast, but she can also grab the doctor's collar and talk to him.

This change is really too abrupt.

Zhang Jianxiu rushed to Zhang Yunxiu in three quick steps, staring intently at him as he spoke.

"Fifth brother, why has Father suddenly changed his mind? What did you do to him? Could it be..."

His pupils contracted sharply as he stared intently at his younger brother's lack of confidence.

"You really hit your father?"

"You really hit your father?" Zhang Yunxiu looked embarrassed. He straightened his face and said, "Nonsense! Do you think I, Zhang Yunxiu, am such a rebellious person?"

Sensing his fourth brother's suspicious gaze, he sighed and patiently explained.

"It's nothing special. I just shared some of my aspirations, and I suppose Father was moved by my ambitions, which is why he decided to seek medical help and lend me a hand?"

"Bullshit!"

Zhang Jianxiu clearly couldn't believe such an explanation. His eyes widened in anger as he exclaimed, "You clearly attacked! Zhang Shiyuan! How dare you!"

Seeing that his explanations were useless, Zhang Yunxiu got annoyed. Why is it that no one believes him when he speaks properly?
He was too lazy to explain, so he simply stated it with self-righteousness.

"If Fourth Brother said he hit him, then he hit him! Who told that old man to be so reluctant to seek medical help, neglecting his own health, but also the well-being of his family and the common people of the world? I slapped him to teach him a lesson!"

Upon hearing such shocking remarks, Zhang Jianxiu froze, his expression blank, pointing at Zhang Yunxiu and backing away repeatedly.

"Fine." His face was filled with sorrow. "Zhang Shiyuan, you audacious and unfilial son, how dare you hit my father!"

“That’s my dad too.”

Zhang Yunxiu spoke with an air of "what can you do to me?" and said confidently.

"Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures! To save my father's life, I, Zhang Yunxiu, am willing to accept the stigma of being a rebellious son!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianxiu's throat tightened, and staring at his younger brother's unruly appearance, his heart pounded uncontrollably.

Would I have the courage to do that?

If it were me slapping my father awake today, what would that be like?
Thinking of this, Zhang Jianxiu's body trembled slightly.

Is this what it feels like to be a rebellious son? Am I still far from being good enough?

Seeing that the older brother was standing still, his face would contort from time to time, and his eyes were somewhat unfocused.

Zhang Yunxiu was speechless. He could see through his older brother's thoughts at a glance and reminded him.

"Fourth Brother, don't be foolish. If you slap Father, you could really be beaten to death and expelled from the family."

"I understand perfectly well, you don't need to remind me!"

Zhang Jianxiu stammered as he spoke, his face turning slightly red, as if he hadn't taken the words to heart at all.

"Zhang Jiangling! I, Xu Xuemo, will never forgive you!"

Inside the Xu family mansion, Xu Xuemo's howling could be heard continuously from his bedroom.

At this moment, he lay on the bed, his hair disheveled and his face pale.

"Master, please don't get so agitated! The wound is going to bleed again, oh dear~ what should we do~"

Beside him, a middle-aged woman busily sprinkled some medicine powder on Xu Xuemo's wound.

After much persuasion, Xu Xuemo finally calmed down, which seemed to relieve some of his frustration.

He turned his head to look at the medicine powder in his wife Liu's hand and couldn't help but ask.

What are you using?

Liu stopped what she was doing and said, "Frankincense and Myrrh Powder is a prescription issued by the Imperial Medical Academy, which comes from the Han Dynasty's 'Records of Famous Physicians'."

A smile appeared on her face when she talked about this.

"It is said that people have been using it since the Tang and Song dynasties."

Xu Xuemo's expression immediately stiffened, and he asked in a deep voice.

"Isn't it said that all the high-ranking officials in and outside the capital have become Zhang Shiyuan's apprentices?"

Almost all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy had joined Renmin Medical Hall, so how could they possibly have prescriptions from the Imperial Medical Academy?

Liu's face showed bitterness: "Who says otherwise? In this world, all the old doctors in the capital have become Zhang Shiyuan's disciples and grand-disciples, messing around with 'modern medicine'."

"Could this method, which Zhang Shiyuan has conjured up, be as reliable as the medical skills passed down from our ancestors?" "However..."

She glanced at Xu Xuemo cautiously, her tone seemingly ingratiating.

"I asked someone to find Gong Tingxian, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. In addition to treating the royal family, Imperial Physician Gong also treats high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital. He still uses the same method of taking pulses and prescribing medicine, so you can rest assured, sir."

In Liu's view, Xu Xuemo and the Zhang family father and son were sworn enemies, and she certainly couldn't use anything of theirs. That's why she went to great lengths to find Gong Tingxian.

He thought this matter would surely suit Xu Xuemo's wishes, but to his surprise, Xu Xuemo's expression became even more unpleasant after hearing these words.

He shoved Liu aside and said angrily.

"Who told you to go looking for that Gong Tingxian guy! If you need medicine, go to Renmin Medical Clinic and get it from them. You old hag, are you trying to kill me?"

Liu was momentarily at a loss, and said with a wronged expression.

"Hasn't the master always disliked Zhang Shiyuan? Renmin Medical Clinic was founded by Zhang Shiyuan, I was just thinking..."

"What conflict is there between disliking Zhang Shiyuan and using Renmin Medical Hall's medicine? Are you trying to kill me by using Gong Tingxian's medicine?!"
How could a woman like you possibly know about matters of the court?

Xu Xuemo's outburst nearly left Liu Shi completely bewildered.

What's going on? You were the one who said Zhang Shiyuan was a scourge to the country and a scourge to the people, but now you're the one who's looking down on Gong Tingxian and wanting to use Renmin Medical Hall's medicine?
Liu didn't know what her husband was thinking, so she could only nod in agreement.

"Then I will order someone to go and find Renmin Medical Clinic and get some medicine for bruises and sprains."

"Hurry up and hurry up! I'm in so much pain!" Xu Xuemo said impatiently.

Looking at her husband's buttocks and back, at the horrifying wounds, Madam Liu became anxious and quickly ordered her servants to ride to Renmin Medical Clinic to get medicine.

Today, Renmin Medical Clinic has fifteen branches in Beijing, but people still prefer to go to the First Clinic for treatment, which is why the First Clinic of Renmin Medical Clinic is always overcrowded.

Of course, there are reasons why people choose the First Medical Center.

Nowadays, the "modern medicine" in this clinic is advancing rapidly, with new things emerging every now and then. While treating the bighead carbuncle, it has also cured many difficult and complicated diseases.

In a hurry, servants from the Xu family came to the clinic, and they shouldn't have revealed their identities.

However, the Renmin Medical Clinic is very strict. To seek medical treatment, one needs a household registration certificate and a dental plaque to prove their identity.

Helpless, the servants of the Xu family could only prove their identity using the ivory tags worn by Xu family servants.

I thought that the doctor at Renmin Medical Clinic would refuse to treat patients because of the servants from Xu Xuemo’s residence.

Unexpectedly, the doctor only glanced at the servant before prescribing a lot of medicine for him.

Including but not limited to allicin, Yunnan-Guizhou trauma medicine, peony and licorice decoction, etc.

The doctor even enthusiastically promoted a diarrhea ointment to him, saying it could greatly relieve diarrhea.

The servants of the Xu family were also cautious. They asked many people who came to see the doctor and found that the medicines were the same ones that were usually prescribed by the clinic. Only then did they feel at ease taking them back to the mansion to claim credit.

Madam Liu of the Xu family was delighted to receive these medicines. They were expensive, costing more than a hundred taels of silver, but they were all well-known medicines.

Allicin and peony and licorice decoction, among other ingredients, were already famous among the powerful and wealthy in the capital. They were the miraculous medicine that brought Zhu Yinghuai, the son of the Duke of Cheng, back to life.

There's also this Yunnan-Guizhou trauma medicine, which is said to have been specially developed for the Beijing garrison and is already being used within it.

After a quick inspection, the only extra item was a small porcelain bottle, the label of which had somehow been torn off.

The servants reported that this was a medicine specifically for treating dysentery, and that it was specially developed by Zhang Shiyuan for his father, Zhang Juzheng.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu was overjoyed. She quickly instructed her maid to fetch the medicine and go to the bedroom to apply it to Xu Xuemo.

"Over there."

"Yes, yes, that's it."

"Sigh~"

Hearing Xu Xuemo's cry of pain, the maid who was applying the medicine panicked. She immediately stopped what she was doing, knelt down, and kowtowed.

"This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die! Please, sir, spare my life!"

Standing to the side, Madam Liu frowned. She was applying medicine to Xu Xuemo's back and was about to scold the maid.

But then they heard Xu Xuemo's leisurely voice coming from the bed.

"Don't panic. This ointment is cool and refreshing, and I couldn't resist. You may continue."

The maidservant, as if granted a pardon, got up and continued applying medicine to Xu Xuemo.

Standing to the side, Madam Liu couldn't help but say with some surprise.

"The ointment from Renmin Medical Clinic for treating dysentery is surprisingly effective. The master has had dysentery for quite some time, and it has been dragging on for a long time without getting better."

Xu Xuemo, lying on the bed, couldn't help but feel a little smug.

"This dysentery has always been a major concern for scholars and writers. The bloating and hidden pain when writing at their desks, and the restlessness when reviewing official documents, are all unbearable to suffer from."

Even worse, Zhang Jiangling became emaciated and on the verge of death due to this intestinal disease.

My symptoms are still mild; this ointment should cure me completely. But Zhang Juzheng's illness is terminal.

At this point, a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

"Even with a miraculous medicine at our disposal, it would be too late to reverse the situation."

Xu Xuemo's expression became increasingly relaxed.

Seeing this, Liu quickly echoed her words.

“What you say is absolutely right, sir. Although Zhang Shiyuan is quite capable, he doesn’t know that the medicine he personally developed has become an asset to us.”

If he knew that this ointment had cured the master, wouldn't he be furious?

Xu Xuemo stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his eyes filled with smugness.

"Man proposes, God disposes. Once I've recovered, I'll make sure that Zhang family father and son know that the capital is not a place where they can control everything!"

After applying all the medicine and taking the next dose of Peony and Licorice Decoction, Xu Xuemo felt much more comfortable.

Xu Xuemo dismissed Liu Shi and the maid, wanting to get some sleep, but then another announcement came from outside.

Xu Xuemo was getting impatient and wanted to send him away, but when he heard the servant say that it was Zhang Siwei who had come to visit, he immediately perked up and gave instructions.

"Please come into the room quickly."

He's in a condition where he can't get up, so Zhang Siwei will have to make do and go to the room to discuss matters.

Even if Xu Xuemo wanted to rest, he knew that he absolutely had to see Zhang Siwei, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.

This is crucial to the next steps and safety of the "anti-Zhang" faction! Success means rising to high office, failure means ruin and death.

The "anti-Zhang" faction and the "Zhang Party" are now irreconcilable enemies, and they will not stop until they fight to the death!

Xu Xuemo instructed his servants to dress him properly and then leaned against the bed.

A moment later, footsteps could be heard outside, and the door was gently pushed open, and an old man dressed in a blue Taoist robe walked in.

Upon seeing Xu Xuemo, who was lying on the bed with a deathly pale face, he immediately spoke with deep sorrow.

"Uncle Ming! You've really suffered!"

(End of this chapter)