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

Chapter 261 The Struggle Between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?
During this period, the phrase "going to Renmin to cut off one's harem" became a common joke among high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital.

After all, ordinary people had no choice but to become Zhang Yunxiu's "guinea pigs" at Renmin Medical Clinic.

But officials and nobles couldn't bear to lose a piece of their flesh, especially such a private part.

Most officials and nobles preferred to use "Minister Xu's Hemorrhoid Ointment" to relieve their pain, and only considered surgery as a last resort.

Upon hearing Zhang Rong's concerns, Zhang Yunxiu shook his head coldly and said.

"Uncle, you're overthinking it."

He dared not operate on an old man like Zhang Rong.

This old man, who was nearly eighty years old, would have been extremely cautious even in later generations when performing surgery, let alone in this day and age.

He squinted as he spoke.

"Uncle, are you really feeling alright?"

Zhang Rong was annoyed. He slapped his horse's rump, leaving a message in the air: "You youngsters, if you cause me no more trouble, my health will improve considerably."

As soon as he finished speaking, the horses kicked up a cloud of dust and disappeared at the end of the road.

Zhang Yunxiu stared blankly at the other person's back, lost in thought.

He can easily recall it by using the database in his mind.

This British Duke, who had a sharp tongue but a kind heart and strongly supported the Wanli Emperor's reforms, would pass away in the ninth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign.

Historical records contain little information about the cause and specific time of Zhang Rong's death.

However, his son Zhang Yuangong inherited the title in December of the ninth year of the Wanli reign, which is clearly recorded in historical materials.

Now that it's late September, the "death" of this British duke is probably not far off.

Although Zhang Rong's youngest son, Zhang Yuanhao, could be considered his personal disciple, his eldest son, Zhang Yuangong, was an unstable factor.

Even if we take a step back, Zhang Yunxiu still had feelings for this old Duke who was always ready to fight and kill, after all, the other party was just bad-tempered but not very cunning.

With this in mind, he returned to the treatment center, found Luo Xian who was absentmindedly looking at the medical records, and gave him instructions.

"Go back and talk to Yang Jizhou and Mr. Dongbi about arranging a physical examination for the Duke of England. Also, make sure to prepare all the emergency treatments in advance, just in case."

Luo Xian looked up in surprise: "Sir, you noticed something amiss with the Duke?"

This was truly astonishing, after all, Zhang Yunxiu hadn't even taken Zhang Rong's pulse, he had only looked at his complexion and was able to tell that there was something wrong with his body.
It can't be some kind of mystical remedy like "a dark spot on the forehead," can it?

Zhang Yunxiu didn't offer any further explanation, but instead smiled and said...

"The Duke is old and frail. As the ancients said, it is rare for a person to live to seventy. It is normal for the Duke to have a physical examination at his age."

He thought for a moment and asked, "How's the emergency treatment going?"

"You're referring to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and airway obstruction emergency procedures."

Luo Xian answered truthfully.

"Since my mentor taught me, I have been performing emergency treatments in the clinic. I have saved hundreds of people with these methods, which is a great merit. I think that if there is any emergency in the future, they will be able to make arrangements."

The urgent matter he mentioned was naturally the safety of important figures in the court, such as Zhang Rong.

“Surgery is also an option,” Zhang Yunxiu reminded him. “These methods are only partially applicable. For some complex illnesses, surgery is sometimes unavoidable. You must not slack off on this matter and should accumulate relevant experience whenever you have the opportunity.”

Luo Xian understood what Zhang Yunxiu meant by "opportunity": it was nothing more than providing subsidies or waiving medical fees for those who were already terminally ill but unable to afford medical treatment, in order to conduct surgical experiments.

To be honest, even he felt a little resistant to it.

Zhang Yunxiu then said leisurely, "Birth, aging, sickness and death are the natural course of life. Too many heroes in this world have died from illness."

If our Great Ming Dynasty wants to be revitalized, it not only needs the way of commerce, but also the art of healing the sick and saving lives.

If there is to be development, then research is inevitable.

Luo Xian's pupils dilated slightly, and he nodded in greeting.

“Students understand.”

Looking at this "master" who looked much younger than himself, there was not a trace of disrespect in his eyes.

But as his eyes darted around, he seemed to have some concerns.

Zhang Yunxiu saw through his thoughts and said with a smile.

"Speak freely," Luo Xian said after a moment's hesitation, letting out a heavy sigh.

"To be honest, I'm a little ashamed to admit that my teacher and the Duke didn't shy away from discussing this matter, and I'm quite worried about what's going on here."

It turned out that after overhearing Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Rong's conversation, Luo Xian had some concerns about the future of Renmin Medical Clinic.

After all, Zhang Yunxiu's actions were an act of defiance against the scholars of the world.

If Xishan really collapses, can Renmin Medical Hall continue its research and development? Can Daming Medical College continue to operate?
Nowadays, many students from the Imperial Academy would rather give up official titles and honors than not join the Great Ming Medical College to learn the art of healing and saving lives.

The art of medicine was so vibrant and full of life that Luo Xian had never seen it before, even after searching through countless historical records. He wondered which dynasty would have valued medicine so highly.

This dynasty is fortunate to have such good governance. Luo Xian does not want to return to the past when doctors were considered inferior and relied on ignorance, speculation, and mysterious theories to treat and save lives.

Zhang Yunxiu looked at the other person with some surprise, then smiled and patted the disciple's head, even though the other person was nearly twenty years older than him.

"Don't worry, you can focus on your medical research. This is just a minor setback."

A few twists and turns?

Luo Xian stared wide-eyed, looking quite incredulous.

My mentor... he's so arrogant.
But for some reason, a sense of peace inexplicably arose in my heart.

Coming to his senses, Luo Xian tentatively asked, "Master, are we really going to give that Duke Cheng the lightning therapy?"

Do you really want him to die?

Zhang Yunxiu slapped him on the back of the head and said irritably.

"It's just to scare the nobles. You should study your lightning strike technique, but you can't use it on people. It will have a great use in the future."

Luo Xian scratched his head and obediently agreed.

"Yes."

Jingyang Palace.

Princess Yongning, Zhu Yaoying, read the contents of the newspaper again and again, and said with great indignation.

"These Jiangnan gentry are simply outrageous! Do they think the world has become theirs? They even dare to inflate prices! Emperor brother should send troops to wipe them all out!"

The palace maid Liu Wan'er, who was standing to the side, suddenly shivered and cautiously reminded him.

"Your Highness, you mustn't speak nonsense! The Empress Dowager has already spoken..."

"Mother is getting senile. How could she support those gentry and merchants?"

Zhu Yaoying pursed her lips, recalling the dispute between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor a few days ago.

On that day, the emperor went to Cining Palace to pay his respects and chatted with the Empress Dowager about the matter of Jiangnan, which led to a dispute.

Empress Dowager Li subtly advised the emperor to be more docile and conservative, lest he cause chaos in Jiangnan.

“These gentry from Jiangnan are not enemies, but subjects of our Great Ming Dynasty.”

However, the usually filial Wanli Emperor surprisingly refused to budge on this matter and did not say anything.

"The problems in Jiangnan have been long-standing, and your son is determined to rectify them. These aristocratic families have been entrenched in Jiangnan, exploiting the people, and things have reached a point where change is imperative!"

On the matter of Jiangnan, the Empress Dowager was clearly more "conservative," feeling that the Emperor was too radical.

But Emperor Wanli was already an adult and ruling in his own right, so how could he possibly listen to the Empress Dowager's every word?
The two almost got into a fight, but Zhu Yaoying intervened and calmed things down. Afterwards, Emperor Wanli stormed off, while Empress Dowager Li covered her face and wept.

"Your Highness, you must not say that."

Upon hearing Princess Yongning's "righteous words," the little palace maid Liu Wan'er turned pale with fright and looked around as if afraid that others would hear her.

If Empress Dowager Li knew that her beloved daughter was like this, she would be furious.

"Look at how scared you are."

Zhu Yaoying pouted and said nonchalantly.

"This is a matter of the imperial court. What can I, a princess, do? Taking good care of my sister-in-law is the most important thing."

At this point, she narrowed her eyes and gave Liu Wan'er a chuckle.

"Well, did you manage to get Zhang Shiyuan's 'Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold for Obstetrics' for me?"

(End of this chapter)