Chapter 468 What is the Emperor's intention?
Sanqi never expected Jiang Nuanzhi to ask this, and was momentarily stunned.
It took him a while to come to his senses. He scratched his forehead and said, "Doctor Jiang, I don't know either. I currently hold a fifth-rank sinecure, and my salary is about 180 taels of silver and 180 bushels of rice. I earn quite a lot from seeing patients, so I don't rely on these to make a living. Therefore, I don't remember very clearly."
After saying this, Sanqi noticed that Jiang Nuanzhi's expression was off, and he choked for a moment, then coughed dryly: "Um... well, I think a seventh-rank imperial physician should at least get fifty taels, right? And even if his stipend is the worst, it should be at least twenty-two bushels of rice. Don't you think so, Eunuch Liu?"
As he spoke, he looked pleadingly at Eunuch Liu beside him, and desperately winked at him.
Liu Gonggong was stunned for a moment, but then stepped forward and said to Jiang Nuanzhi with a smile, "Physician Jiang, a seventh-rank imperial physician is entitled to a salary of forty-five taels of silver and twenty-two bushels of rice."
"Only forty-five taels?" Dongzang poked his head out from somewhere and said in utter astonishment, "You're even worse off than us military officers? At least we have daily pensions."
Jiang Nuanzhi: "..."
She sighed inwardly. Lin Chun and Dong Zang had previously said that even now, outside the army, she would still receive fifty taels of silver a month. With that little money, she couldn't even support herself! Still unwilling to give up, she asked, "Is that all? Are there no other subsidies? For example, if I get sick, injured, or disabled, will I receive any money? Will I be provided for retirement?"
Eunuch Liu was startled: "If one is sick, injured, or disabled, one naturally dares not show one's face in front of nobles. If one displeases the Emperor, that would be a grave offense."
Then he added, "Doctor Jiang, there's a good thing in our court now: officials in the capital can receive double their monthly salary. For example, if your monthly salary is forty-five taels of silver, you can receive an extra forty-five taels. The same applies to rice; you can use twenty-two taels."
Jiang Nuanzhi frowned, and after a while, she suddenly asked, "Do I need to return what I routinely take?"
Eunuch Liu was taken aback, never expecting Jiang Nuanzhi to ask this. He immediately shook his head and said, "Of course not. This is a method specially approved by the court to ensure that officials' daily expenses are not affected."
Jiang Nuanzhi nodded and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Eunuch Liu scratched his head and said, "Local officials also receive a stipend for maintaining integrity. For example, a seventh-rank county magistrate usually receives around eight hundred taels, though some receive more, up to twelve hundred taels, with the minimum being at least four hundred taels. But you are not an official sent to the capital; you are serving there, so naturally you won't receive this stipend. However, officials in the capital sometimes receive some silver as a token of appreciation for ice or charcoal. But for your position, I imagine it won't be much."
Physician Jiang, you really don't need to worry. Didn't the Emperor just reward you with gold? It's more than enough for your daily needs. It's also enough for your initial expenses in the capital. More importantly, Physician Jiang, you are now highly regarded by the Emperor, so you don't need to worry about money.
"If you ask me, you'll realize once you get to the capital that this salary is more than you can spend."
Liu Gonggong's words carried a deeper meaning, but he couldn't say it too obviously.
In fact, given the Emperor's current favor towards Physician Jiang, there must be quite a few concubines seeking her medical treatment.
The ladies in the palace are always generous, and since she is a woman, she has a much easier time treating certain ailments than ordinary imperial physicians.
These lackeys receive plenty of rewards even without much effort, let alone someone like Jiang Nuanzhi.
Furthermore, the Emperor also bestowed upon him a golden needle and jade box, something that not everyone could possess.
When she's resting at home, wealthy merchants and gentry will surely come to give her money. If she just gives the word, mountains of gold and silver would be no problem.
Of course, this is on the premise that Dr. Jiang does not lose the emperor's favor.
Actually, if you think about it carefully, even if the emperor no longer values Physician Jiang, there's still his Sixth Prince, isn't there?
In any case, His Highness's attitude towards this physician is now so favorable that he seems to want to offer her the very best. Looking at Lord Sanqi's attitude, Eunuch Liu dares to assert that Physician Jiang has an absolutely limitless future. You must know, she is much younger than when the Divine Physician Que first treated His Majesty.
However, since Physician Jiang is not yet familiar with the intricacies of being a royal physician, Eunuch Liu naturally dared not speak openly, but only offered a few words of guidance.
Jiang Nuanzhi nodded after hearing this: "Ninety taels a month, plus grain, isn't a small amount."
She had previously planned that once the old man and the others recovered, she would save enough money to build her own hospital.
If he were to add the identity of an imperial physician to the hospital's name, its construction would likely proceed much more smoothly. After all, its reputation would be quite prestigious.
"Wait, Dr. Jiang, we're talking about annual salary." Eunuch Liu was surprised and immediately corrected him.
"Huh?" Jiang Nuanzhi patted her ears in a daze, thinking she had misheard: "So many in a year?"
Eunuch Liu shrank back: "Ahem, this year's salary is forty-five taels."
Jiang Nuanzhi: "!"
She thought her salary was at least similar to that of Lin Chun and Dong Cang, but good heavens, the difference is far greater than that!
It's ten times different!
He took a deep breath and after a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "I know, you guys rest, I'm going to the study."
She had to get this off her chest.
Without saying a word, he picked up a pen and wrote down every detail of what had happened that day for Li Rong. Of course, he didn't forget to complain and tattle.
In fact, Jiang Nuanzhi had a feeling that this matter was definitely not simple.
She wasn't stupid; she could tell that something was definitely off about the Emperor's edict.
The imperial edict says that he saved tens of thousands of people. Which time was he referring to? If it was Yuguan Pass, then wasn't the news coming a bit too quickly? No matter how you calculate it, it's not enough.
If it was about what happened in Canglin before, how did the Emperor find out? General Wan shouldn't have mentioned it.
Also, does the Emperor know about his relationship with Li Rong?
If they knew what his intentions were in sending his entire family to the capital for his new post.
Everyone knows that the best move the emperor made to control the general was to detain his family in the capital.
Li Rong just happens to be a general, and now that his old troops have gathered, isn't it a bit too coincidental that I'm being summoned to the capital at this time?
Jiang Nuanzhi even doubted whether the emperor's illness was real.
As she wrote, she felt more and more uneasy.
Is the Emperor really ill?
The Emperor's previous poisoning incident revealed that his life must have been precarious and fraught with danger. The root of all this lies with the Regent, Xiao Yuanshan, who is often mentioned by everyone.
But if Xiao Yuanshan is truly a traitor, he certainly wouldn't want the emperor to have an easy time.
Why did the Emperor summon me to the capital so openly and publicly, instead of secretly summoning me for medical treatment? Wasn't he afraid Xiao Yuanshan would kill me?
Jiang Nuanzhi was halfway through writing a letter when she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. The hairs on her body stood on end.
But this trip to Kyoto is something I absolutely have to go to; there's no way to avoid it.
Whether it's the old man's poison, his own imperial decree, or Baozhu's identity, all of these need to be handled properly.
Jiang Nuanzhi's head was throbbing from thinking about all these random things. She was clearly not cut out for palace intrigue and power struggles; she simply didn't have the brains for it.
Unable to figure it out, he decided to hand it over to a professional and wrote it down for Li Rong. Without further ado, he sent it out immediately.
"I hope Arong will receive the letter soon."
Meanwhile, Li Rong and his entourage were on their way to Beijing at full speed.
"Arong, take a break, you've been running all day. The horse can't take it if you keep going!"
In the strong wind, as Chi Heng galloped on his horse, he shouted loudly to Li Rong ahead.
Two days ago, A Rong received a letter from the Sixth Prince and rushed to the capital like a madman, without sleep or rest.
Li Rong finally tightened the reins: "Rest where you are."
Then, looking somewhat worriedly towards the distant wilderness, he wondered, "I wonder if Ah Nuan has received my letter."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
