Chapter 3254 Mr. Zhuang's Comments
"Does Zhou Man still want a position as a director? She can just become the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau."
"That's true. Zhou Man has contributed half of the credit to the establishment of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Dean Xiao may not be able to hold the position for long."
"Alright, alright, stop talking about this in the palace. We've been working overtime for so long. Let's get out of the palace quickly. The night market is lively tonight. Shall we go to the restaurant for a drink?"
"Okay, okay, hey, didn't Zhou Man go to the palace to report on his work? I heard he came in at noon, why is he leaving now?"
The people watching outside also had this question, "Why did Zhou Man leave the palace at this time? What was she doing in the palace? Was she working in the Imperial Hospital, or was she always by His Majesty's side?"
"I don't know. We can't get any news from the palace. His Majesty took people directly back to the harem, accompanied by Xiao Yuanzheng and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. We can't get any news from the harem at all."
The harem is under the control of the queen, and information is much more closely controlled than in the previous dynasty.
Zhou Man directly took Xiao Yuanzheng's carriage home.
Xiao Yuanzheng first escorted her to the gate of Zhou's residence and told her, "Go to the palace early tomorrow. Not only will you hand over official business, but you will also have to attend a small court meeting."
Zhou Man was surprised, "The Deputy Secretary also wants to attend the small court meeting?"
Xiao Yuanzheng: "...Lord Luo attends every small court meeting. Have you forgotten that when you returned to the capital three years ago, His Majesty personally appointed you to be in charge of the small court meetings?"
"Please change your power into responsibility." Zhou Man felt a little distressed when he thought about having to get up early for a small court meeting. "Your Highness, really is such a fool. You shouldn't have mentioned this back then. In the past, we only had to get up early on the days of a big court meeting..."
"Don't be so conceited. So many people are desperately trying to get a seat at the court meeting, but they can't." Xiao Yuanzheng paused and said, "You and Lord Luo should learn from this."
Zhou Man sighed and waved at him in the car, "I understand. You can go back. I just got back today, so I won't invite the director in to sit down."
In the Zhou residence, Old Zhou and Madam Qian Liu had been waiting there for a long time, and they breathed a sigh of relief when they saw her return safely.
After the family had their reunion dinner, Zhou Man and Mr. Zhuang went to the study.
Old Madam Liu knew that they had important matters to discuss, so she waited in the main courtyard.
Mr. Zhuang told Zhou Man everything he knew about what had happened since Master Luo Er appeared.
"Both His Majesty and the Empress dislike this master and think he's a fraud. The Empress is fine; she can show it, but the Crown Prince can't," Mr. Zhuang said. "The matter of the elixir involves His Majesty's lifespan. His Majesty can't interfere in it. Otherwise, it would be easy for others to use it as a pretext to sow discord between father and son."
Zhou Man was suspicious, "Your Highness is so obedient?"
Mr. Zhuang paused for a long moment before sighing and saying, "It's not that easy to convince him."
Given the prince's temper, it was already very considerate of him to just give Na Luo Er a cold face instead of expelling him with disgust.
"It's thanks to the Empress and Duke Zhao that His Royal Highness was able to keep a low profile," Mr. Zhuang said. "Even if Yin Huo hadn't been recalled, the Empress and His Royal Highness would have wanted to recall Princess Mingda. With Princess Mingda's intervention, the Crown Prince's situation is much easier."
There are many things that the Crown Prince cannot say, but Princess Mingda can say, and there are many things that the Crown Prince cannot do, but Princess Mingda can do.
Zhou Man nodded to show that he understood.
Zhou Man became curious, "So this master is really two hundred years old?"
Mr. Zhuang: "...Of course it's fake. How could anyone in this world live that long?"
Zhou Man whispered, "There are still some... right?"
Mr. Zhuang looked at her calmly. "I remember when Bai Shan was studying at Yizhou Prefecture School, you once studied how long Peng Zu lived. Wasn't the conclusion at the time only over 140 years old?"
"Although there are no more records of Peng Zu later, that doesn't mean he's dead. Maybe he went into seclusion?"
Mr. Zhuang frowned. He knew his disciple. The fact that she said that meant that she believed that there were people in this world who could live that long.
"So you believe in Naraku?"
"Lifespan is another matter, but I don't believe in the elixir of immortality." Zhou Man didn't tell Mr. Zhuang about the emperor's poisoning. Instead, he said, "I've smelled that elixir. Although I'm not sure what its effects are, it's certain that it won't bring immortality."
Mr. Zhuang finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Did Your Majesty take the elixir today?"
"No," Zhou Man remembered something, reached into his sleeve pocket, took out a box and said, "Here, the pills are all here."
She opened it and showed it to Mr. Zhuang.
To be honest, the emperor had been taking the elixir for more than four months, but this was the first time Mr. Zhuang had seen it. The first time he saw it, Zhou Man had already got the elixir.
He was speechless for a long moment. "I gave you three. How many pills did Master Luo Er make this time?"
"Just three," Zhou Man said, "but I suspect he must have withheld some, because there's no way a furnace of medicine could only produce three pills, right?"
"Three. Your Majesty gave them all to you?"
Zhou Man nodded, closed the medicine box, his eyes sparkling, "I'll study this elixir when I get back. I also need to meet Master Luo Er, and it would be best if we could become friends..."
Mr. Zhuang was already numb and asked directly: "What do you want from him?"
"Blood!" Zhou Man whispered, "If he's willing to give me some uncontaminated urine, that's fine too."
Mr. Zhuang held his forehead and waved his hand, saying, "Go back and have a rest. Madam Liu is probably still waiting for you." His apprentice is only focused on research, so he can rest assured that she will not suffer any loss.
"Oh," Zhou Man stood up and saluted, "Then sir, please rest. I will take my leave."
Zhou Man picked up the medicine box and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered that there was one person he hadn't asked. He quickly asked, "Sir, do you know the Lord Wang who brought Master Luo Er back?"
"I know," Mr. Zhuang said, "He and I are still friends."
Zhou Man immediately turned around and sat back on his chair, his eyes sparkling as he asked, "What kind of person is he? Why did you become friends with him?"
"We've met two or three times and had drinks twice," Mr. Zhuang sighed. "We can be considered friends, I guess."
"Lord Wang is a man of broad mind, erudition and talent," Mr. Zhuang shook his head and smiled. "Apart from you, he's the only one who talks a lot."
Zhou Man: ...
"It's a pity he recommended Master Naro." Mr. Zhuang paused and whispered, "Although he didn't say it, I can tell he probably regrets it."
"Regret recommending Na Luo Er?"
Mr. Zhuang nodded. "I've never met that Master Na Luoer, but he was able to convince Lord Wang to bring him back to the capital and recommend him to His Majesty. He was also able to convince His Majesty, which shows that he is a very capable person. You should be careful."
(End of this chapter)
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