The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Many people came to visit Zhang Zhou's house.

Although the imperial court had clearly stipulated that no one was allowed to disturb Zhang Zhou's house, but because there was good news in the northwest and the news was unclear, many people went to Zhang Zhou's house for the purpose of inquiring about the truth, not wanting to enter. See who comes, see when Zhang Zhou returns home, etc. to determine whether this good news exists.

There was a bustling crowd in front of Zhang Mansion, but Zhang Zhou did not stay at home. He went out to inspect his properties in the afternoon and did not go back that night.

In a house near Chongwenmen in the city, Zhang Zhou met with Yang Peng and Zhang Yong.

Both of them can be regarded as people who "dedicated" to him relatively early in the eunuch system. One is the current admiral of the Jingying eunuch, and the other is likely to take over as the eunuch soon, so that both of them now seem to be focusing on Zhang Zhou. work.

"Master Immortal, with this great victory in Ningxia, your prestige is even greater than before. You should have suppressed the British Duke, but I heard that the British Duke's young prince also went to fight with him. I don't know. How did you arrange it? It's obvious that the British man is in dire straits, but you seem to be... giving him a hand."

Yang Peng now has great respect for Zhang Zhou.

He was originally a villain who was greedy for profit. He used to work for Li Guang, but later went directly to Zhang Zhou and stepped Li Guang into the ditch. This kind of person obviously did not have many principles.

Whoever can benefit him will serve him.

But his level of flattering people is very high. In order to gain Zhang Zhou's trust, he is now trying his best to cater to Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Yong on the side also looked inquiring.

Zhang Zhou took a sip of tea and said, "Have you two heard about it?"

Zhang Yongdao: "Yes, the news has stirred up the Forty-nine Cities, but now there are only rumors outside that there is good news. No one can tell clearly what the specific news is. Even we people learned about it through the news in the palace. Ma Yi and Zhang Rui led the troops to achieve it, and it seems that Xin Xinbo also played a role behind the scenes."

Zhang Zhou put down the tea cup and nodded: "You are right. Uncle Xin Xin's previous purpose of sending troops was to drive the Tatars westward. After the Tatars moved westward, they must have sent troops to defend Ningxia during the Ming Dynasty. But Ma Yi's The troops were sent from before Yansui, all the way to Hetao, but the troops from the three sides who sent troops to Hetao turned back halfway. This can be said to have prevented the Tatars from guessing our intentions. "

Zhang Yong said with a smile: "This plan is very good. It catches the Tatars by surprise and makes them unable to find the north."

Yang Peng also hurriedly spoke up: "It makes sense. This wonderful plan must have been planned by Duke Cai Guogong. I have to say that the Ming Dynasty is indispensable for your strategizing."

Zhang Zhou looked calm and said: "I haven't done much, and there is no need to compliment me. Eunuch Yang wants to ask me about the British father-in-law. Please forgive me and I can't answer you. His Majesty has not done anything to me. No matter what the instructions are, I just abide by my duty.”

"Yes." Yang Peng had a smile on his face, but he hurriedly complimented, "Now everyone can see that the Ming Dynasty's military and political affairs cannot survive without you. Whether it is the Ministry of War or the Governor's Mansion, they must obey your orders. That's it. The plains are just around the corner! Did your Majesty say before..."

Originally, Yang Peng probably wanted to mention the emperor's preparations for a personal expedition.

But thinking that Zhang Yong didn't seem to understand this matter, and he was afraid that he would make mistakes if he said too much, so he only said half of what he said.

Zhang Yongdao: "Our family has also heard that His Majesty is planning to lead his troops to conquer the grassland in the coming spring."

Only then did Yang Peng realize that this matter was no secret to Zhang Yong.

Zhang Zhou sighed and said: "The matter of sending troops still needs to be considered in the long term. Eunuch Yang, I heard that you are going to be transferred to other tasks?"

"Yes, you..."

"I would like to say congratulations to Eunuch Yang first. I think you have achieved such a great achievement. The Ministry of War has been very busy recently at the end of the year. I may not have time to go to the Governor's Mansion. Regarding matters in the Governor's Mansion, I will go there as little as possible. "It seems that I, the Minister of War, have no time to take care of the daily affairs of the Beijing camp."

Zhang Zhou showed his attitude.

You all think that the emperor asked me, Zhang, to manage the capital camp. Even if this is the truth, as the Minister of the Ministry of War, I have to avoid suspicion first.

I adopt a laissez-faire attitude and let others feel that I am not interested in managing Beijing Camp, and then tighten my power step by step.

As for the ones who go to gather power in the capital on my behalf, it is naturally you two, the eunuchs in the capital who served as admirals and governors...

You can think so. Don’t guess what the specific situation will be. Anyway, the British father-in-law has not returned to Beijing yet, and many things are still unknown.

……

……

That night, Kunning Palace.

Empress Zhang was meeting with Chen Kuan, and there was another person standing next to Chen Kuan, the imperial physician Liu Wentai. The two came to report on the condition of Queen Mother Zhou.

"...After the Empress Dowager contracted the disease, her condition worsened within three days. She also went to the Imperial Hospital for consultation, but was turned away. None of the prescriptions used came from the Imperial Hospital, but from... …That Dr. Ning, just like how she diagnosed His Majesty before, the Taiyuan Hospital thought about asking this kind of thing...it’s even more difficult..."

Liu Wentai came up and complained to Queen Zhang.

It also shows that the Imperial Hospital no longer has much say in the treatment of palace nobles.

Empress Zhang frowned and looked at Chen Kuan and said, "Didn't His Majesty drive the Ning family daughter out because she fell ill in Xinuan Pavilion? She came back recently?"

Ning Tong was not allowed to enter the palace recently because of a report from Taiyuan Hospital.

Some people also say that because the heating in Xinuang Pavilion was changed, especially the floor heating, the emperor could not withstand the fumigation of water vapor and became ill. He did not need to go to the hospital for consultation, and usually used the prescriptions prescribed by Ning Tong... Empress Zhang did not It was purely for revenge, but she also felt that even if the emperor was sick in winter before, he would not be so sick.

In a fit of anger, he drove Ning Tong away.

In addition, her relationship with Concubine Xian was getting better and better, and Concubine Xian did not dare to offend her because of Ning Tong's affairs. Concubine Xian even did not dare to mention a word about Ning Tong's inability to enter the palace.

Chen Kuandao: "Empress, it's like this. It seems that the Empress Dowager heard somewhere that Ning Ning's prescriptions came from Cai Guogong. She doesn't know if she has any prejudice against the Imperial Hospital, so... she would rather use those whose origins are unknown. The prescription used some medicines of unknown origin, and she refused to accept the diagnosis and treatment from the Tai Hospital. It is difficult to say whether the Queen Mother's condition was worsened because of improper use of these medicines..."

"Humph!"

Queen Zhang was also a little angry.

She slapped the table, her breath was uneven, mainly because she had been ignored by the emperor recently.

A woman who does not receive care from her husband, but has extremely high power within the palace. With an unbalanced heart, of course she wants to do something to show her style as the Lord of the Sixth Palace.

Liu Wentai said hurriedly: "I also asked people to check the medicines carefully, and found that most of them were from some ancient prescriptions or folk remedies, and they were not necessarily effective for the illnesses of Your Majesty and the Queen Mother. It seems that Cai Guogong did not cure them either. Provide some advice on the treatment of the disease... After Cai Guogong returned to Beijing, His Majesty's dragon body improved greatly after Cai Guogong's diagnosis and treatment. In fact, those prescriptions were never used again... From what I saw, this Ning doctor woman seemed to It's because she was a little... ignorant of the situation and used some unproven prescriptions to treat your lord's illness. This trend will not help. " Empress Zhang said, "She didn't make any mistakes when treating my illness before. "

Liu Wentai said: "I have also reviewed the medicine she prescribed to the Queen. There are several medicines, but they are actually... wrong."

"What?" Queen Zhang became nervous and asked sharply, "Is it poisonous?"

Usually, what Empress Zhang fears most is someone poisoning her, especially since Ning Tong is a concubine, so she should be careful.

The use of Ning Tong before was just for Zhang Zhou's sake, because the emperor trusted Ning Tong, and because she wanted to have a good relationship with Concubine Xian.

Liu Wentai said hurriedly: "If poison is used directly, obviously... it is not possible. But the medicine she prescribed for you, the queen, used several cold medicines, and the queen has always been cold, plus... Poor breathing, and... coldness caused by pregnancy and childbirth, etc., taking these medicines... will make your body... even weaker..."

Hot medicine and cold medicine are almost metaphysical things in themselves.

But in this day and age, when traditional Chinese medicine is the only treatment strategy, Queen Zhang firmly believes in it.

She had not been able to get pregnant in the past few years, and she thought it was caused by body cold, etc. Not only body cold, but also uterine cold... Anyway, women are afraid of the cold, which is something most women have. It is mainly caused by the lack of thick body fat layer, lack of activity, and covering up in winter.

But Empress Zhang was convinced that her body was not as good as before because of a cold illness.

"If this is really the case, then... the intentions are evil." Seeing the change in Queen Zhang's expression, Chen Kuan couldn't help but comment from the side as if he was pertinent.

Queen Zhang said coldly: "Is there any basis for this?"

Liu Wentai said: "I have studied medical skills for many years. It can be said that I have been with that medicine since childhood. How can I not know the properties of this medicine? I heard that Doctor Ning was just the wife of Anbian Marquis and had never studied medical skills. However, I just used some prescriptions for patent medicines to fool around with her. I had discussed the prescriptions and pharmacology with her before...she knew almost nothing about it.”

Without saying whether this is true or not, let me first question your medical qualifications.

You, a woman who was once in a boudoir, has never been taught any medical skills, yet you dare to come out and hang a pot to save the world, and you may not know how to die.

Empress Zhang said: "As a queen, I have nothing to do with my illness and cannot be held accountable. However, if the Empress Dowager is ill and she uses some inappropriate prescriptions, this matter will continue to be investigated. Let Dongchang go. Check it out."

Chen Kuan said hurriedly: "The Queen, from Dongchang..."

"What's wrong?" Queen Zhang frowned.

I am a queen, and I want to use people from Dongchang. How dare you object?
Chen Kuan said again: "Dongchang is now... very close to Cai Guogong. I'm afraid... there are some things that are hard to do."

"Li Zhang? Does he... listen to Bingkuan on everything? What if he does? Does Bingkuan still want to interfere in palace affairs? Who is the queen?" Queen Zhang was also a little angry.

Did I call people in the court?

I'm just a caller from Dongchang, why should I ask for your opinion?

"Yes." Chen Kuan said, "From what I have seen, this matter... still should not be made public. Although His Majesty's condition has improved recently, it may relapse at any time. And... Cai Guogong... may keep it safe. This female officer. And the Concubine Xian..."

Empress Zhang stood up and frowned: "In the past, I always felt that Bingkuan acted fairly, but since he assigned a Ning family girl as a female official to Concubine Xian, I felt that he was partial. But since The Ning family daughter is a member of Bingkuan, and the only one who can punish her is Your Majesty. You only need to review her prescription and the medicine used in detail, and then submit it to your Majesty. I will go to His Majesty to make it clear. "

"Yes." Chen Kuan saluted and accepted the order.

Liu Wentai said: "Queen, I have one more thing to report."

"Say." Queen Zhang said.

"This medical woman surnamed Ning not only makes trouble in the palace, but also runs a medical clinic among the people. I heard that she cures diseases and even cures problems. It is because of the support of others that no one dares to pursue it. Now her medical clinic No one dares to visit the medicine shop anymore. I heard that even the medicinal materials are of low quality from the south..."

Liu Wentai continued to report.

Queen Zhang frowned and said, "Does this have anything to do with matters in the palace?"

What is being discussed now is that Ning Tong went wrong in treating the Queen Mother. You actually said that she was running an illegal business? Do you think that as a queen, you have to deal with such trivial matters? Can you sort out priorities?
Liu Wentai said calmly: "The Queen knows it well. After this woman entered the palace, many of the medicinal materials she brought were not from the Imperial Hospital, but from her own pharmacy. If those medicines are inferior, they may even be of good quality. If the medicine is fake, then she has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor... This is playing with the noble body of the palace. "

"Oh?"

Queen Zhang frowned.

Chen Kuan glanced at Liu Wentai and frowned.

Although the two are now on the same front, Chen Kuan doesn't seem to agree with Liu Wentai's shameless style.

Because Chen Kuan knew that Taiyuan Hospital relied on its relationship with the Capital Medical Center and its purchasing and other privileges to put pressure on medicinal merchants in Beijing and not allow them to sell herbal medicines to Ning Tong, and Ning Tong would also ask for herbal medicines from Taiyuan Hospital. Being blocked by all kinds of prevarications... Ning Tong had no choice but to raise herbal medicines by herself.

In addition, Taiyuan Hospital used some crooked methods, which resulted in the medicinal materials purchased by Ning Tong being deliberately shoddy, which led to the situation that Ning Tong's pharmacy could not continue to operate.

It can be said that Ning Tong wanted to use Zhang Zhou's reputation to go against the entire medical community in the capital. Her only end was... to be squeezed out of the circle, or even to be punished for it.

This is why Zhang Zhou reminded her to be careful.

Your arrogance and arrogance may work in front of men who indulge you or are too lazy to argue with you, but in the society as a whole, your maverick behavior is looking for death.

"Check carefully."

Empress Zhang said, "Go and tell Li Zhang, what I said, this matter is not allowed to be publicized to the outside world until it is found out. I still have this power. If he dares to speak to the outside world, even if there are His Majesty and If Bing Kuan protects him, I will let him die without a burial place!”

When Chen Kuan heard this, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

Li Zhang was just because Yang Peng was about to replace him, and Liushen had no master. If he was beaten from the side again, Li Zhang would probably give in.

Chen Kuan quickly responded: "Yes." (End of Chapter)