Chapter 3242 Unintentional Interception
Princess Mingda was right. Among all the civil and military officials in the court, no one had more opportunities to see the emperor than Xiao Yuanzheng, nor did it seem easier for him to do so.
He sees me every other day, sometimes every day.
Xiao Yuanzheng walked to the Taiji Hall to ask for an audience.
The young eunuch hurriedly said, "His Majesty is meeting with Master Luo Er. Court Master Xiao is waiting for a moment. I will go and report this to you right away."
Xiao Yuanzheng frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, have you taken the elixir again?"
How could the young eunuch dare to answer such a question? He hurried into the hall without saying a word.
Xiao Yuanzheng frowned and looked serious. He pinched the letter in his sleeve. Originally, he was only 50% concerned about it and let fate decide whether it would succeed or not. But now he was 100% concerned about it and he had to make it happen.
After a while, the eunuch came over to invite Xiao Yuanzheng into the hall.
Xiao Yuanzheng and the eunuch entered the room. The emperor was sitting face to face with a monk with white eyebrows and hair, playing chess. The monk did not look like a Central Plains person, and even looked different from monks from the Western Regions. It was said that he was a holy monk from India.
Although he had only been in the palace for less than half a year, Xiao Yuanzheng disliked this man and was very wary of him.
However, he had served in the imperial court for more than ten years, and his skills were not bad, even better than those of other officials in the court.
He did not have the wisdom and eloquence of other officials, but when it came to restraining his expression and not showing his emotions, I'm afraid no one in the court could compare to him.
Xiao Yuanzheng entered, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, I have come to take your pulse."
The emperor laughed and said, "Didn't I just take your pulse yesterday?"
Xiao Yuanzheng said, "Yesterday, I took your Majesty's pulse and it seemed like you had a fever, but it wasn't serious. However, as the seasons are changing, I'm worried, so I'd like to come and take your pulse every day."
The emperor smiled and held out his hand, saying, "Just right. I just took the elixir of immortality. Can you take a look at my pulse?"
Xiao Yuanzheng glanced at the monk calmly, replied with a smile, stepped forward, half-knelt, took the emperor's hand, and took his pulse with his eyes slightly closed.
After a while, Xiao Yuanzheng withdrew his hand and smiled at the emperor, "Your Majesty's pulse seems to be stronger, but the heat in your body is also more severe. After all, I am just an ordinary doctor and cannot tell you more about the pulse."
The emperor found it boring. "You say this every time after taking the elixir. You are the best doctor in our dynasty. If you can't figure it out, who else can?"
Xiao Yuanzheng smiled and said, "Your Majesty, isn't there a miraculous doctor in the court? You've forgotten that she is the reincarnation of Taibai."
emperor:……
He looked at Xiao Yuanzheng helplessly. Others didn't know how Zhou Man and Zhou Taibai got their names, but how could they not know?
Didn’t he ask Bai Er to write the book and design it?
Xiao Yuanzheng smiled and said, "Although this folk rumor is somewhat exaggerated, Your Majesty knows that Lady Zhou's medical skills are indeed excellent. Back when she was still in the capital, she was on par with me. Now that she has been away for five years, her medical skills are likely even better."
The emperor's heart was slightly moved. "I heard rumors outside that Tang He was poisoned and was nearly dead when he was sent to Beihai County. But Zhou Man managed to save him?"
"Yes," Xiao Yuanzheng said with a smile, "I never thought that in just five years, Lord Zhou would have achieved such success in detoxification."
The emperor was very excited, but soon lost his temper and sighed, "She is now the director of the Qingzhou Medical Bureau. I can't recall her to the capital unless it's urgent."
There was already a lot of dissatisfaction in the court about his alchemy. Now that they knew that he had urgently summoned Zhou Man back to the capital for this matter, I am afraid that the dissatisfaction would be even greater.
Xiao Yuanzheng immediately pulled out a memorial from his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, after five years of management by Lord Zhou, the Qingzhou Medical Bureau is now on track. All other medical bureaus are now following the Qingzhou Medical Bureau's experience. The purpose of sending Lord Zhou out of the city has been achieved."
Xiao Yuanzheng said, "Master Zhou has Zheng Gu under his command. He can definitely take over Master Zhou's work. However, when the local medical offices follow the Qingzhou Medical Office's process, there are still some problems. For example, the local medical offices lack funds, and the shortage of medicinal materials is one of the major problems."
"At this time, we need someone to take charge and mediate. I believe there is no more suitable person than Lord Zhou, who single-handedly established the Qingzhou Medical Bureau."
The emperor took the letter, unfolded it, and asked, "What is this?"
"This is a memorial from Lord Zhou proposing that each province establish a pharmacy to support the development of local medical offices," Xiao Yuanzheng sighed. "I have failed Your Majesty's grace. My medical skills are decent, but my vision of the overall situation is far inferior to Lord Zhou's. Therefore, I am constrained within the office and often feel unable to exert my influence. Therefore, I propose that Zhou Man be transferred back to the capital to take charge of the Imperial Medical Office."
The emperor was surprised. "You want to give the position of Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau to Zhou Man?"
Xiao Yuanzheng choked. Although he had no such intention, since the emperor had said so, he could only grit his teeth and nod, "Yes, I am willing to abdicate and let someone more capable do the job. Lord Zhou is more suitable for this position than I am."
"No," the emperor said seriously, "wouldn't that be forcing things to grow? How old is Zhou Man?"
"And the official rank promotion doesn't make sense," the emperor asked. "Is the official rank of the Qingzhou Medical Bureau fourth or fifth grade?"
Gu Zhong quickly said, "Your Majesty, Qingzhou is a fifth-rank official."
The emperor then said to Xiao Yuanzheng: "You see, it's not appropriate."
Gu Zhong glanced at the monk who had his eyes slightly closed, as if he was resting, and glanced at his apprentice.
The young eunuch immediately brought up a teapot. Gu Zhong took it and walked forward with a smile to add tea to the emperor and the monk.
The sound of water brought the emperor back to his senses. He looked up and saw the monk resting with his eyes closed. He paused for a moment and said with a smile, "Master, you are tired. Let's stop playing chess here today. Gu Zhong, escort the master out of the palace."
"yes."
The monk stood up and clasped his hands together to say goodbye.
After he left, the emperor turned to Xiao Yuanzheng and asked, "Do you want Zhou Man to take over your business?"
Xiao Yuanzheng bowed slightly and said, "I believe this is already a recognized result."
The emperor said playfully, "I thought you and the court officials preferred Mr. Luo."
Xiao Yuanzheng said, "Lord Luo is extremely capable and is indeed a rare and capable official. However, he does not understand medical skills or medical principles, so I'm afraid it's not appropriate for him to be the Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau. Moreover, Lord Zhou is even more capable than him."
The emperor did not deny this, "But it is not appropriate for Zhou Man to take the throne at this time."
The emperor said, "The time is wrong."
Xiao Yuanzheng: He didn’t want to let Zhou Man be the acting magistrate right now. It was you who proposed it.
The two looked at each other and didn't speak for a while.
Gu Zhong quietly walked in, took the monk's tea, handed it to his apprentice, and told him to leave. He seemed to have just noticed the emperor and Xiao Yuanzheng's dilemma and said with a smile, "Xiao Yuanzheng, isn't Imperial Physician Liu retiring? Doesn't that mean a position in the Imperial Medical Bureau will be vacant?"
"That position belongs to... Doctor Lu..." Xiao Yuanzheng was speechless when he saw the emperor's face light up.
The emperor asked, "Has it been decided that Imperial Physician Lu will be appointed? Why haven't I received the memorial?"
"No," Xiao Yuanzheng said with a complicated heart, "It's just that I think so..." Many doctors in the Imperial Medical Bureau agreed.
But at this moment, he was really relieved.
(End of this chapter)
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