Chapter 3207 Small Talk
"It's a pity that you're in mourning. I was thinking of inviting you to Qingzhou for a trip this time. There's the sea and the docks there, and goods coming and going from north to south are traded at the docks. There are so many good things there."
Chang Yu also sighed, "Mingda also wrote in the letter I sent me, saying that you built a villa by the sea, and you can look out at the sea from the attic. Pearls and other seafood there are very cheap."
Zhou Man took her hand and said, "You can go and see it when you are out of mourning."
Changyu didn't say anything.
Zhou Man leaned over to see her expression, "What's wrong?"
Chang Yu sighed and said, "The Prince Consort has to observe mourning, and his official position in the court has been suspended. He has already discussed with me that after the mourning period, he will be reinstated and seek an official position outside the capital. I will definitely follow him then. I'm afraid I can't go to Qingzhou."
Zhou Man smiled and said, "What's the big deal? Can't you just ask your husband for two months' leave to come and see us? Do you really have to be together all the time and not be apart for even a moment?"
Chang Yu couldn't help but tickle her, "You're just making fun of me. In every family, the wife follows the husband wherever he goes."
Zhou Man thought to himself: She is not.
She thought for a moment and said, "Mingda is not."
The reason why Mingda and Bai Er went to Qingzhou was because Mingda wanted to go, so Bai Er got into the team that was traveling with the prince. Later, when the prince left Qingzhou, Bai Er simply took leave from the Hanlin Academy and stayed in Qingzhou.
Speaking of which, Bai Er's leave is a bit long. If his father-in-law wasn't the emperor, he would have been laid off long ago.
Chang Yu noticed that she suddenly became dazed, so he nudged her and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about whether I should help Bai Er get an official position in Qingzhou."
"Forget it," Chang Yu said, "She's a very kind-hearted woman. I'm afraid she doesn't want to stay in Qingzhou. If she wants to go somewhere else, it will be difficult for her to leave since her husband has an official position."
Zhou Man agreed, but before entering the palace to bid farewell to the emperor, he couldn't help but mention Mingda and Bai Erlang's great achievements in Qingzhou. "...The construction of the Medical Bureau, Yushan Hall, and Guantian Wharf all benefited from the princess and her husband's help. Your Majesty, have you ever considered rewarding them with official positions?"
The emperor raised his eyelids and looked at her. "I don't mind giving the princess and her husband official positions, but I think Governor Guo would mind. Why don't you go and ask Governor Guo if he's willing to have a princess and her husband serve as officials?"
Zhou Man immediately fell silent.
The emperor waved his hand with a look of disdain and said, "Alright, I know you're leaving tomorrow, so I won't keep you any longer today. Go to the East Palace and say goodbye."
Zhou Man didn't want to go to the Eastern Palace, but since the emperor had mentioned it, she had no choice but to go to the Eastern Palace to say goodbye.
To get from Taiji Hall to the Eastern Palace, she had to pass by the Imperial Hospital, so she simply went in to say goodbye to her colleagues.
The Imperial Hospital was a little busier than before. Zhou Liru and several medical assistants were cutting and sorting herbs in the yard. When they saw Zhou Man, they immediately stood up and greeted her, "Aunt!"
Zhou Man nodded to her and asked, "Are Dean Xiao and Imperial Physician Liu here?"
"Yes," Zhou Liru said in a low voice, "Lord Luo is here too."
Zhou Man nodded and whispered, "After you leave the government office, you and Liu Huan can go home for dinner. I'm leaving tomorrow, so let's have a reunion dinner at home tonight."
Zhou Liru agreed.
Zhou Man went to say goodbye to Xiao Yuanzheng and others.
Lord Luo saw her and quickly stood up and saluted, "Lord Zhou."
Zhou Man returned the greeting and said with a smile to the others, "I will be leaving the capital tomorrow, and I came here today to say goodbye to you all."
Lord Luo smiled and said, "Lord Zhou has gone away with a full load this time."
Zhou Man complimented, "It's Dean Xiao and Lord Luo who are so generous."
Xiao Yuanzheng waved his hand and said, "Stop flattering me. If you keep talking, I'll feel bad and won't give you those things."
Zhou Man shut up immediately.
Doctor Liu smiled and said, "Master Zhou visited the pharmacy the day before yesterday and yesterday. Do you have any suggestions?"
"No," Zhou Man shook his head. "They did a great job, especially with the penicillin process. They're more skilled than I am, and they've improved the equipment, making production even faster."
Lord Luo suddenly said, "I heard that Tubo has been very active recently and has clashed with Longyou several times."
Zhou Man raised an eyebrow. "Lord Luo, are you worried about the increase in medicinal materials consumed by the army and the need for finished medicine?"
Lord Luo nodded and said, "Lord Zhou, do you think we should have the pharmacy increase production?"
Zhou Man thought thoughtfully, "We should have made preparations early."
Xiao Yuanzheng: "...I went to the Ministry of War and asked, and they said it was just a routine conflict before winter. It shouldn't escalate into a major war."
He said, "Our Great Jin is now peaceful and prosperous, with a strong army and powerful horses. How could Tubo dare to invade? The medicinal preparations have a time limit. If they are not used for too long after they are made, the medicinal properties will dissipate."
Zhou Man said, "It will take about three years. Even if the army doesn't use it, the local expenses are still quite high. There's no need to worry about it not being sold."
"Prepared medicines are too expensive. Some pills are not as effective as decoctions. Who can sell all the medicines we produce?"
"Don't worry," Zhou Man said, "Don't worry about this. Even if we open two more pharmacies, we can sell the finished medicines we produce. There are so many people in Dajin, including businessmen traveling abroad, and some wealthy families who have medicines in stock. They can all use finished medicines."
Lord Luo nodded repeatedly and, along with Zhou Man, advised Dean Xiao, "Furthermore, since students from the Imperial Medical Bureau entered the army, more medicinal materials have been consumed, and the number of finished medicines has also increased. Even without a major war, these medicines can be used up."
Zhou Man: "It's not like our Great Jin has only just become strong and prosperous this year. When has there ever been a break from war? Don't worry, there's no shortage of people buying our medicine."
Xiao Yuanzheng: ...The way he said it sounded like he was looking forward to the battle and the soldiers getting injured.
Xiao Yuanzheng was finally persuaded by the two and the pharmacy decided to expand production.
Lord Luo breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, he was right last week. He had been pestering Dean Xiao for two months about this matter, but in the end, Dean Xiao was unwilling to expand production.
Dean Xiao was escorting Zhou Man out of the Imperial Hospital, actually whispering something to her. The two of them walked slowly along the palace path toward the East Palace. He lowered his voice and said, "I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to ask you. What do you think of His Majesty's pulse?"
Zhou Man looked around.
Xiao Yuanzheng said: "Don't look, this palace road is wide and no one can hear us talking."
Zhou Man then whispered, "You are much weaker than when I last left the capital. This is due to a lack of Qi. Perhaps it is because Your Majesty was ill last time, and the cause of the illness has not been cured. I am afraid that you will be ill often in the future."
Xiao Yuanzheng nodded, "I have the same concerns, so I intend to persuade His Majesty to go out for the winter."
Zhou Man was surprised. "You plan to use the hot spring to treat illnesses?"
"Yes, Your Majesty suffers from severe phlegm and dampness, and is also deficient in Qi. Medication might not be enough to replenish the body, and instead could lead to other symptoms," Xiao Yuanzheng said. "So the best solution is to leave the palace for the winter, and then slowly recuperate with acupuncture."
Zhou Man nodded, "This is indeed a good idea."
"Do you have any suggestions on acupuncture?"
"Indeed," Zhou Man whispered, "If you are free this afternoon, I will discuss acupuncture with you after I meet the Crown Prince."
It's too late tonight, I'll make up for it tomorrow, good night
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
