Chapter 3266 Return to Beijing
Zhou Man quickly said something nice, then lowered his voice and asked, "Master Zhang, aren't you curious whether Master Luo Er is actually two hundred years old?"
"I'm not curious," Master Zhang said firmly, "It's definitely not two hundred years old anyway."
Zhou Man was confused, "Why are you all so sure?"
Zhang Zhenren almost went crazy. "Why would Lord Zhou doubt this? Do you think he's two hundred years old now? Living to a hundred is rare, let alone two hundred. You're a doctor!"
Zhou Man touched his nose. "Nothing is absolute in this world. What if he is the exception? Considering the human lifespan, it's not impossible."
Master Zhang looked at her silently, and after a while he said, "Master Zhou, I need to think about this matter."
Since this concerns the future of Xuandu Temple, Master Zhang naturally has to find someone to discuss it with.
Zhou Man said she understood and said goodbye, but she was still very confident and said to Mingda, "I think there's a good chance he'll agree."
Mingda nodded. "If he doesn't agree, I'll have people find some Taoist priests from outside the capital to come to the capital. But they're not well-known, so I'm afraid their effect won't be as good as if Xuandu Temple came forward."
Bai Jilang asked, "So, do we have to start pretending to be sick when we get back?"
Mingda thought for a moment and said, "Just pretend, to lay the groundwork."
Zhou Man immersed himself in his research as soon as he returned. At the same time, news came from the princess's mansion that the princess's old illness had relapsed. The imperial physician from the Imperial Hospital was helpless after visiting her, so the emperor asked Xiao Yuanzheng to go there in person.
Even Zhou Man was sent to go there. After he came back, he said that the princess's disease was an old illness that could only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. It also damaged the foundation and might even affect her life.
The emperor was so worried that he did not attend the morning court for three days.
Zhou Man was more than happy to do so. He rarely left the house every day and stayed in the pharmacy doing various researches.
In the palace, the emperor came back from a walk in the garden, sweating slightly, and sat down to drink some water.
Gu Zhong presented the porcelain bottle, "Your Majesty, it's time to use the medicine."
The emperor held out his hand, and Gu Zhong poured out a pill. The emperor swallowed it with water, then sat on a chair with a solemn expression and said, "Zhou Man, this pill is well made. Combined with the medicinal food given by Xiao Yuanzheng, I haven't felt so uncomfortable at night these past few days."
Gu Zhong glanced at the pills in the bottle and whispered, "Your Majesty, there are only five pills left. They will be gone in two days. Do you want to ask Lord Zhou for some more?"
The Emperor nodded, "Go ahead, let her start making some."
Gu Zhong took note of this and brought the memorial to the emperor. The emperor flipped through it and asked, "How many memorials have been submitted today?"
Gu Zhong knew what the emperor was asking about, and lowered his head and said, "There are six, all of which are memorials submitted by princes and princesses."
Ever since the news of the princess' illness spread, the court officials and the people have been expressing their regret. Then yesterday, Xuan Du Temple suddenly said that he had a recipe for a pill that could cure the princess, but it required a medicinal ingredient, which was the blood of a long-lived person. Because it was a medicinal ingredient, not much was needed, but long-lived people were hard to find.
So the man from Changsheng Temple who claimed to be two hundred years old was pushed to the front.
The emperor flipped through the memorial and threw it aside. "Nonsense!"
However, he did not order them to stop. Although he did not believe that Na Luoer was two hundred years old, he was also curious about Na Luoer's lifespan.
The kids were making such a fuss, he couldn't just stand in their way, so he just let them be.
But if you want Naraka to donate blood, this alone is not enough.
After princes and princesses from various places submitted memorials, Princess Mingda continued to be ill, and her condition was getting worse, so several princes and princesses submitted memorials expressing their desire to return to Beijing to visit her.
The emperor pondered over the memorials, sneered, and said, "All approved. They are allowed to return to the capital."
He glanced at the prince standing below and asked, "Your sister caused this trouble, so you should clean up the mess for her."
The Crown Prince said without changing his expression, "As long as Father is well, it won't be a problem."
The emperor's mood improved a little, and a smile appeared on his face. "It would be nice to have them come to the capital to visit. It has been a few years since I last saw them. It's a good opportunity to see them."
The prince agreed, "Let my brothers and sisters also show their filial piety."
After the prince left, the emperor said to Gu Zhong with satisfaction: "The prince is much more sensible than in previous years."
Gu Zhong smiled and said, "Your Highness is also a father, so you naturally understand the good intentions of Your Majesty."
"Yes, one has to be a father to understand the heart of a father." As expected, the prince was childless before, so now that he is a father, he is naturally sensible.
After praising the Crown Prince, the Emperor got down to business. He said, "Order Chang'an County and Wannian County to prepare. The prince and princess are returning to the capital. The capital's security must not be disrupted."
Gu Zhong agreed.
When the newly appointed Magistrate Wang of Chang'an County and Magistrate Liu of Wannian County received this news, their faces were indescribable.
They could only go to Jingzhao Prefecture, and then meet at the gate, and could only go in together.
Although Yin Li was still the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, he seldom took charge of affairs. Most of the matters were handed over to two Shao Yins. One of them was County Magistrate Guo, who was finally promoted from Chang'an County a year ago and is now Shao Yin Guo.
The two county magistrates could not help but complain to him, "It's neither Your Majesty's birthday nor the New Year, yet so many princes and princesses are coming to the capital."
County Magistrate Liu sighed and said, "Last year during the Spring Festival, not so many people returned to the capital. I don't know if they are really coming to the capital to visit Princess Mingda, or if they are here for other matters."
County Magistrate Wang also grumbled, "Exactly. There haven't been many princes and princesses who have followed Minister Li to submit memorials these past two days."
Guo Shaoyin: "Seven people, isn't that a lot?"
"But there are twelve princes and princesses who have requested permission to return to the capital."
Guo Shaoyin had been the magistrate of Wannian County for several years, and later of Chang'an County for several more. He had developed a good temper and said nonchalantly, "It's okay. We enforce the law impartially. Under the emperor's feet, these princes and princesses dare not overdo it no matter how domineering they are."
Seeing that Magistrate Wang and Magistrate Liu didn't look very happy, he said, "The Crown Prince and Princess Mingda are still here."
"A prince cannot surpass the crown prince, and a princess cannot surpass Princess Mingda. Just keep an eye on Prince Gong and make sure he doesn't offend others, and don't let others offend him."
The two county magistrates had no choice but to agree, but they still made some preparations.
For example, the streets of the capital are cleaner and the stalls are more orderly. Several streets where things were cluttered have been cleaned up, and the entire capital is filled with a sense of order.
Little Bai Jingxing entered the capital city in this wonderful atmosphere.
It was her first time in the capital. Zheng held her by the car window, half of her head sticking out, watching the journey. With her limited vocabulary, she couldn't describe what she felt, so she could only exclaim to her grandmother, "So many people, so many things, so lively."
Zheng also felt that the capital was particularly good today. She touched her head and asked with a smile, "Do you like it?"
Little Bai Jingxing nodded vigorously, "I like it!"
(End of this chapter)
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