【Under the Great Tomorrow】(70)

Author: hui329
Published: 2018/1/26 First Release
Word Count: 10029
Chapter Seventy: The Female Doctor
The next day, just after noon, Ding Shou, having received Qian Ning's report, rushed to the Eastern Depot.
If you have trouble, go to Liu Jin.
This was already Ding Shou's fixed mindset; at least so far, Ding Shou hadn't found any
problem that this old eunuch couldn't solve.
"Brother Shou, congratulations on your promotion!" Before even reaching the second hall, he encountered Qiu and Gu. Gu Dayong, like a Maitreya
Buddha, congratulated him from afar.
"Please don't tease me, sir." Ding Shou looked bitter, rubbing his
jaw which was still sore for some reason, and asked, "Is the Grand Eunuch here?"
Qiu Ju looked up at the sky and said, "He should have just woken up from his afternoon nap and is listening to music to relieve his boredom."
"Come with us." Gu Dayong beckoned and smiled, "We two have nothing to do, so we'll lead you over
."
"Coral hooks, hibiscus knots, a swaying body, so delicate and graceful..."
As soon as they arrived at Liu Jin's resting courtyard, they heard a soft, clear tune being sung inside. The lyrics were from the previous dynasty, "Zhao Pan'er
's Romantic Rescue of a Courtesan," the melody was gentle and affectionate, and the voice was soft and charming. Ding Shou, who was full of worries
, was so engrossed in the music that he almost forgot why he had come here.
"I never imagined that the Eunuch's troupe had such a talented singer, far superior to the two in my household, Yiqing and the other. If I were to
request their services later, would the Eunuch be willing to part with them?" Ding Er, true to his carefree nature, was already thinking about how
to enrich his cultural life in the Ming Dynasty before the previous matter was even settled.
Qiu and Gu's expressions turned strange upon hearing this. A hint of mockery appeared on Qiu Ju's lips, while Gu Dayong, in a high-pitched voice, recited
a line from the play "Saving the Fallen Woman": "Then how will you bear it..."
"Old Gu, it's one thing to mooch off a performance outside, but to actually sing? What a spoilsport!" Liu Jin's voice
came from inside the house, carrying a hint of teasing.
The three of them didn't linger any longer and went inside together. To Ding Shou's surprise, only Liu Jin, half-reclining on the daybed,
and Bai Shaochuan, standing beside him, were inside.
Liu Jin, dressed in his undergarments, sat up abruptly. Bai Shaochuan took his outer robe and draped it over him. Liu Jin turned to
Ding Shou, who was looking around furtively, and said, "Brother Shou, what are you looking at with those shifty eyes? It's not like it's your first time here."
Gu Dayong covered his mouth with his delicate fingers and chuckled, saying, "Brother Shou is wondering where the Grand Eunuch is keeping a mistress, hoping
you'll part with her."
"A mistress?" Liu Jin was slightly surprised, then smiled and said, "He's taken a fancy to which girl? Tell me,
we don't need her anyway."
Qiu Ju found a spot and sat down, saying, "He wants the one who sang the song earlier."
Bai Shaochuan, who was kneeling in front of Liu Jin adjusting his belt, raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
Liu Jin was taken aback, then burst into laughter. "Xiao Chuan, Shou-ge'er wants you to go to his residence. Are you willing
?"
After carefully straightening Liu Jin's robes, Bai Shaochuan straightened up and said calmly, "If the Grand Eunuch commands,
I have no objection."
"What? Was that the little tune you sang just now, Brother Bai?" Ding Shou asked in surprise, truly not realizing that Bai Shaochuan was so
talented, his singing almost indistinguishable from a woman's.
With a flick of his folding fan, Bai Shaochuan's starry eyes shone brightly as he teased, "I'm ashamed to admit it. I wonder if it meets
Brother Ding's standards?"
Ding Shou said awkwardly, "I truly didn't know. Please forgive my rudeness, Brother Bai." He was joking; if he
kept Bai Laosan at home, those infatuated women would probably weave a huge green lawn for the Second Master in no time
.
Liu Jin stopped dwelling on the topic and said to Ding Shou, "Young man, you were promoted yesterday, why don't you think
of inviting me to a promotion banquet?"
Upon hearing this, Ding Shou's face immediately fell. "Lord Supervisor, this is clearly a
scheme by those scoundrels in the Three Judicial Offices to frame me, trying to sow discord between us before the two palaces. If we punish them too severely, the Empress Dowager will certainly object; but
if we let it go lightly, His Majesty will definitely not forgive us. It's a very difficult situation."
Liu Jin turned around and sat down, resting his chin on his hand, and asked, "So what do you plan to do?"
"I was thinking that while they're still in the Ministry of Justice's prison, we should go all the way and directly..." Ding Shou made a
gesture of cutting with his hand, "completely pinning the blame on the Ministry of Justice."
"A decisive blow, good, you've finally improved." Liu Jin nodded, full of satisfaction. "But that old codger Min Gui is incredibly vigilant 　　.
Not only are the guards outside the prison extremely tight, but he's also arranged
a private cell for Cao Zu, and even his food has to be tasted beforehand. There's simply no way to get him!" Ding Shou shrugged, complaining bitterly. 　　"Why hasn't the person been brought to the imperial prison yet?" Liu Jin suddenly asked. 　　Huh? Ding Shou was taken aback, then replied, "No, I was thinking of stalling for as long as possible." 　　"Bring him out immediately. If we delay too long, we might get accused of neglecting royal duties," Liu Jin 　　said slowly. 　　"But…" Ding Shou tried to argue. 　　"Go—" Liu Jin drawled, the single word brooking no argument. 　　"Yes." Ding Shou sighed helplessly, turned, and left, inwardly cursing: Whose side is this 　　old eunuch on? Has he developed senile dementia from listening to music all the time?! 　　Watching Ding Shou's retreating figure turn past the screen wall, Liu Jin slowly stood up, walked to the corridor, and muttered to himself, "Using 　　our own sword to hurt our own people, Wang Yue, you've truly disappointed us..." 　　The 　　offices of the Five Ministries and Six Departments lined up along Chang'an Street. On West Chang'an Street were the Five Military Commands and the 　　main hall of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, while on East Chang'an Street were the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, Ministry of Works, and even the Hanlin Academy and the Imperial Medical 　　Academy—the only 　　notable absence of the Ministry of Justice. The unpopular Ministry of Justice, along with the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate, were located in Fucai Ward in the western part of the city. 　　The prisoners held in the Ministry of Justice's jail were not the imperial prisoners, but mostly ordinary people who had committed crimes. With so many gathered together, 　　overcrowding was inevitable. 　　The prison was divided into four cells, each with five rooms. Except for the middle room, which had windows and could enjoy sunlight, the other 　　four rooms on the east, west, south and north sides were dark and infested with snakes and rats. The middle room was not for prisoners to live in, but was 　　the resting place of the guards.

Two jailers, one tall and one short, dressed in black, carried buckets down the prison corridor. Prisoners in the cells on either side
stretched out broken earthenware bowls from their bars, waiting for their food.
"Hey, sir, give us an extra bite!"
"Sir, we're starving! Hurry up!"
"What's all the noise about? A bunch of starving ghosts reincarnated as thieves! Stay put!" The taller jailer, holding
a wooden ladle, ordered imperiously.
The noisy cell quieted down slightly. The jailer, quite pleased with his display of authority,
poured spoonfuls of thin porridge, so thin it reflected a person's image, into the broken bowls held by dirty hands.
At the end of the corridor, the noise subsided, revealing a clean and tidy single cell. The taller jailer
took some food from a basket, stuffed it inside, and shouted, "Food's served!"
The prisoner in the corner looked up; his hair was gray, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes were wild, giving off an
unsettling feeling.
The two jailers seemed unwilling to talk to the prisoner any longer and turned to leave. After a few steps, they heard complaints and
curses coming from inside the cell: "You damned jailer, you're stealing my food again!"
"You son of a bitch..." the taller jailer turned around to curse.
The short jailer beside him quickly stopped him, saying, "Brother, let it go. This man was ordered by the Minister.
It's not worth getting angry with him."
The tall man spat on the ground and cursed, "Damn it, he has no official rank or rank and we don't pay him any money to keep
him in the prison. What more do we want?"
"He'll be transferred to the Embroidered Uniform Guard soon. The imperial prison is not an easy place. Why bother arguing with a dying man
?" the short man comforted him. "Besides, thanks to this old bastard, we brothers have had our share of good food
."
The tall man smiled broadly upon hearing this and said, "That's right. He doesn't even know when he's about to die. This old
bastard will suffer then. Come on, let's go have a drink..."
The two returned to the middle room, clinking glasses and drinking happily, when suddenly they heard a loud crash at the outer prison gate
, followed by chaotic footsteps. Several Embroidered Uniform Guards in flying fish robes entered the prison.
The leading Jinyiwei guard stood ramrod straight, exuding a sharp and capable air. Upon seeing the two men, he brazenly asked, "
Are you prison guards?"
The two guards, their earlier arrogance vanished, and obediently stepped forward to bow. "Yes
, we are. What are your orders, sir?"
"I am Qian Ning," Qian Ning said, casually sitting down on a bench and tossing an official document on the table
. "I have been ordered by Commander Ding to fetch someone."
The guards huddled together, verifying the joint document from the Northern Garrison and the Ministry of Justice. The taller guard nodded
and said, "Please come with me to fetch the person."
Qian Ning gestured with his lip, and the captain who had accompanied him followed the tall guard inside. Qian Ning, with
his legs crossed, glanced at the food and wine on the table and clicked his tongue, "Wine and meat here. Looks like the Ministry of Justice prison is quite lucrative
."
"Don't make fun of me, sir. I'm not afraid to admit it, this food is for the prisoner you're taking
. We're ordered to eat everything he eats first, in case someone poisons him
..." The short jailer looked around, covered his mouth, and whispered, "To put it bluntly,
I could do this job like a dog..." Hearing this
, Qian Ning grinned. Before his laughter subsided, a captain rushed over in a panic.
"Qian, come and see! Something terrible has happened!!"
Qian Ning and the short jailer hurried to the end of the cell. Outside the solitary confinement cell, the tall jailer was
ashen-faced and paralyzed with fear. On the bed inside, the prisoner they were taking, Cao Zu,
lay dead, bleeding from his mouth and nose...
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
"Outrageous! Outrageous!"
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Zhengde slammed his fist on the table in fury.
"Although the criminal was old, he was robust and healthy. And why did he die so suddenly just as the imperial edict was being issued to transfer
him to the imperial prison? Is there no sinister force involved? Are there no corrupt officials in the Ministry of Justice who wouldn't pervert the law and cause death?
Where is the law of our Ming Dynasty?!"
"Your Majesty, please calm down," Liu Jian said. "The Ministry of Justice is aware of the seriousness of the case and never treats it lightly or negligently. There must
be something fishy going on. Order the Ministry of Justice to investigate thoroughly."
"Investigate thoroughly! It must be investigated thoroughly!" Zhu Houzhao shouted. "The Ministry of Justice? What's the point of mentioning the Ministry of Justice? Min Gui
is to reflect on his actions behind closed doors. All those involved, from the chief investigator down to the inspectors and jailers, are to be brought to the imperial prison for questioning."
"This..." Liu Jian frowned. This was a trap set for the Embroidered Uniform Guard; if it were all handed over to them,
wouldn't they be free to fabricate charges? The Grand Secretary's eyes darted around, and he said, "Your Majesty, this case involves nobles 　　and
is no ordinary matter 　　. I request that the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs jointly investigate
and prosecute this case." Zhengde pondered 　　for a moment and nodded, "Granted. The Directorate of Ceremonial 　　Affairs 　　will jointly investigate this case with the 　　Eastern 　　Depot." ********** ... 　　Qiu Ju, the head of the Eastern Depot's Criminal Investigation Division, remained expressionless, his triangular eyes gleaming 　　with a keen interest in the bloody organs. 　　"Gentlemen, the criminal died of poisoning," the old coroner, 　　his clothes soaked with sweat after his work, reported wearily to the two men, covering the body with a white sheet. 　　"As expected," Fan Heng's face was frosty as he asked Qiu Ju, "Old Gu, what do you say? 　　" 　　"What poison?" Qiu Ju uttered two words. 　　The old coroner shook his head, ashamed, "I've lived so many years, yet I truly cannot detect it." 　　"Don't you have a poison expert within your Eastern Depot? Why ask when you already know the answer?" Fan Heng sneered 　　. 　　"Does Eunuch Fan mean—do you think the Eastern Depot is involved?" Qiu Ju waved for the coroner to leave.

"I've heard of a method of poisoning," he said casually.
"First, one ingests a half-poison, and when the poison takes effect, another
half-poison is added as a trigger. But if only any half-poison is ingested, it won't be detected, and the body will remain unharmed." Fan Heng
stared at Qiu Ju and continued, "It's said that the Tang Clan of Sichuan is particularly skilled in this."
"Rumors and falsehoods are hard to believe," Qiu Ju avoided Fan Heng's gaze and ordered outside
, "Bring those two here."
The Eastern Depot agents brought two jailers into the room. The smell in the room and the bloodstains on the white cloth terrified the two men
, who collapsed to the ground, screaming incoherently.
"You two are responsible for guarding the prisoner. Could he have been poisoned?" Qiu Ju asked, pointing to Cao Zu's corpse on the table
.
"No, no, absolutely not. Since he came in, except for interrogation, I haven't let anyone touch
him," the tall man shook his head vigorously.
"The Minister instructed us, and we have always served him with utmost care. Heaven have mercy, I've never
been this devoted even to my own father!" the short man cried out, his voice filled with grievance and tears streaming down his face.
"These two, along with the coroner outside, are all from the Ministry of Justice. Do you think His Majesty will be satisfied with these witnesses?"
Qiu Ju looked at Fan Heng with a forced smile.
Fan Heng remained silent, his face dark.
The eunuch ordered his men to take the man away. Qiu Ju seemed to be talking to himself, saying, "A prisoner was poisoned to death in prison
for no reason. If we investigate further, who knows what kind of collusion or insider dealings might be uncovered?"
Hearing the words "collusion," Fan Heng's face twitched involuntarily. According to the Ming Dynasty law, associating with
close attendants was a capital offense. Qiu Ju clearly had a hidden meaning. He coldly asked, 　　" What do you intend to do
?" 　　Qiu Ju looked directly at the eunuch in charge of writing and said 　　, "The Grand Eunuch's intention is: to settle this matter peacefully 　　." ********** ... 　　"Lord Ding, the Empress Dowager summons you to the palace." Wang Cuidie, who had just stepped out of the palace gates, said to Ding Shou, who was sighing deeply 　　. 　　"Thank you, sister." Ding Shou approached with a fawning smile. 　　Cuidie looked around guiltily. "Lord Ding, please don't be so kind. This servant is unworthy of such an honor. 　　" "It is I who am honored," Ding Shou said with a grin, glancing towards the palace and cautiously 　　asking, "What are the Empress Dowager and His Majesty discussing?" After 　　hesitating for a moment, Cuidie replied , 　　"It's about the two marquises. There was some disagreement between the two palaces. Lord Ding, you should be careful when you reply 　　later 　　. 　　" Thinking to himself, " 　　Just as I thought 　　," Ding Shou suddenly felt a swelling and pain in his gums. ********** ... 　　"How's the investigation into the sudden death of the prisoner in the Ministry of Justice going?" The young emperor's tone was also unfriendly. 　　Ding Shou considered his words for a moment before replying, "Your Majesty, after a joint investigation by the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Eastern Depot, it was determined that the prisoner, Cao, died from poisoning 　　..." 　　Zhu Houzhao asked urgently, "Who murdered him?" 　　"Little monkey, think carefully before you speak," the Empress Dowager said calmly. 　　"This..." 　　Ding Shou thought to himself, "It's truly a battle between gods, and mortals suffer. According to the investigation, the prisoner committed suicide by poisoning himself." 　　"What? Suicide?" Zhu Houzhao was somewhat incredulous and pressed for details, "Where did the poison come from? And why did he commit 　　suicide at this particular time?" 　　"It must have been prepared beforehand by the prisoner. The Ministry of Justice has already admitted its oversight. As for the suicide..." Ding Shou 　　glanced at the expressions of the two officials and continued, "Based on various deductions, it is believed that Cao knew he would be taken to the Imperial Prison and, fearing that his false 　　accusation would be exposed, committed suicide to avoid punishment." 　　"False accusation?" Zhu Houzhao's eyebrows shot up. 　　"The accusation of the two marquises' plot to rebel has no supporting evidence; it is indeed a false accusation." Ding Shou didn't want to 　　get involved with the brothers' mess, so he downplayed the issue. 　　"What about other illegal activities?" Zhu Houzhao wasn't easily fooled and continued to press. 　　"Other matters..." Ding Shou's mind raced, and he changed the subject, "According to people in the Ministry of Justice 　　, Cao's tone was arrogant, and his words were bizarre; he is probably mentally unstable, and his words cannot be entirely trusted." 　　"The things he mentioned were all presented with absolute certainty, yet not a single one is true?" Zhu Houzhao said in a deep voice. 　　Not a single one is true? Not a single one is false, okay? The problem is, he couldn't say this in front of his sister 　　. Ding Shou was forced to the point of tears, thinking, "Empress Dowager, the Second Prince is fighting for your brother to the death; can't you at least lend a hand 　　?" 　　"Alright, Your Majesty, stop being so relentless." Perhaps Empress Dowager Zhang had heard Ding Shou's thoughts, for she suddenly 　　spoke up, "Since the person who made the accusation is dead, let's let this matter rest." 　　"Your Majesty is wise. Although the person is dead, the allegations may still be true." Zhu Houzhao rose and replied, "The 　　Marquis of Jianchang and Shouning are arrogant and lawless, their illegal acts filling the capital. Your Majesty has long heard of this. If they are not 　　severely punished, it will be difficult to win the hearts of the people." 　　"Nonsense!" Empress Dowager Zhang slammed her hand on the low couch, glaring at him, "Even commoners know the saying 'mother and 　　uncle are equal,' don't you have any family affection at all?!" 　　"When has Your Majesty ever forgotten kinship? At the beginning of your reign, you increased the stipends of your two uncles by three hundred shi of rice each," Zhengde 　　protested, pointing casually to Ding Shou outside the curtain. "Even someone of Ding Shou's rank of third grade only 　　receives a little over three hundred shi of rice a year." 　　*Hey, Your Majesty, why are you dragging me into your mother's quarrel?* Ding Shou, outside the curtain, shrank back inwardly. Empress Dowager 　　Zhang glanced at Ding Shou outside, scoffed, and said, "The late Emperor, in his single lifetime, bestowed 　　tens of thousands of hectares of fertile land upon your uncles. Don't even mention that meager stipend." 　　"Father has certainly shown great favor to your two uncles. Imperial estates and official lands only require a three-tenths acre of land to be taxed, yet the imperial decree allows marquises' estates 　　to start at five-tenths acre..." Zhu Houzhao's voice was also tinged with anger. "But the petition mentions that the two marquises still felt it wasn't 　　enough, indulging their families, persecuting good people, and even killing someone to collect rent. Such insatiable greed deserves severe punishment."

" Let this serve as a warning to others."
"Even if the indictment is true, so what if a few commoners died
?!" Empress Dowager Cishou, spoiled by Emperor Hongzhi, spoke recklessly.
Zhu Houzhao felt a surge of anger rush to his head and blurted out, "Mother, don't forget, you also came from
a commoner family."
This remark made Empress Dowager Zhang's face turn pale. She suddenly stood up and said sharply, "Then you can skin them
alive! Kill them all!!" As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt dizzy and fell backward.
"Mother!!" Zhu Houzhao cried out in alarm, but couldn't catch her in time.
While the palace servants were shocked, the beaded curtain parted, and Ding Shou floated to her side like a gentle breeze. He reached out his right arm to support the Empress
Dowager's soft body, and channeled a stream of true energy into her through the Yuzhen acupoint at the back of her head with his left palm.
With a soft moan, Empress Dowager Zhang slowly awoke. Finding herself limp in Ding Shou's arms, her jade-like face
flushed a rare blush. She whispered, "Let me go."
Ding Shou responded, but still helped her lean back slowly on the couch.
"Mother, how are you?" Zhu Houzhao asked with concern.
"I come from a humble family, Your Majesty need not trouble yourself," Empress Dowager Zhang turned her head to the side.
"Mother..." Zhu Houzhao looked embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, please excuse yourself for a moment." Ding Shou glanced at the Empress Dowager, who had turned away in a huff, and advised Zhu Houzhao
, "Let the Empress Dowager calm down."
Zhu Houzhao nodded, "Very well."
Watching Zhu Houzhao leave the palace, Ding Shou said to Cui Die, "Please trouble the palace servants to invite Imperial Physician Mei from the Imperial Hospital to come and
treat her."
Once the room was empty, Ding Shou said with a wry smile, "Anger harms the body, why do you do this, Empress Dowager?"
"Alas," Empress Dowager Zhang sighed deeply, turning around with a pale and sorrowful face, "I thought having a son
would be my lifelong support, but who would have thought that he and I are not of the same mind? If I had known this would happen, I should have..."
Realizing she had spoken out of turn, Empress Dowager Zhang stopped talking.
"Your Majesty also has his difficulties," Ding Shou said, kneeling before the bed. "The two marquises have indeed gone too far in their daily conduct.
Take, for example, their dispute with the Marquis of Qingyun over profits. Hundreds of people fought with weapons, shocking the capital. If Your Majesty were to pretend nothing
happened, you would be deceiving yourself." "
Even if they are useless, they are still my brothers. If I don't protect them, I'm afraid the Grand Madam will have to come and bother
me," Empress Dowager Zhang said, her heart heavy with worry. She was exhausted; she couldn't very well stop her own mother from entering the palace.
"Actually, Your Majesty still cares for your maternal family," Ding Shou said.
"Oh?" Empress Dowager Zhang knew her son well, and she was somewhat skeptical. "How do you know?"
"When the late emperor granted the Marquis of Shouning permission to purchase 960,000 units of leftover salt, Your Majesty, shortly after ascending the throne, has been pushing for
this matter."
The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes at Ding Shou, lowered her brows, and gave a light snort. "You know it was agreed upon last month
, but it didn't come to fruition."
"It's all because Liu Jian and the other high-ranking officials submitted memorials opposing it. Your Majesty argued for nearly a year, saying that it
was the late emperor's decree, but these old fogies just wouldn't listen, even saying that the late emperor had already regretted it..."
Ding Shou added fuel to the fire. "These old ministers are taking advantage of their age. They didn't object when the late emperor issued the decree, but
now they're taking advantage of Your Majesty's young age. They've all jumped out now. It's these old
guys who ruined the relationship between Your Majesty and the two marquises."
"Without the manners of a subject, one is not a son." Empress Dowager Zhang angrily pounded the bed, feeling a headache coming on, and put her
hand to her forehead.
Ding Shou quickly rose and went behind the Empress Dowager, gently massaging her temples. He said softly, "Your Majesty, please
calm your mind and rest. Even if word gets out that you are unwell, and even if Lady Jin finds out, she won't be able to say anything.
"
"But my two younger brothers..." Empress Dowager Zhang said worriedly.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. With me here, the two marquises will be fine, but they will likely need a little punishment
." Ding Shou assured her.
"They should be taught a lesson." The Empress Dowager was indignant. These two unlucky brothers had caused her
so much trouble. Every time she fell out with the late Emperor, it was because of them.
"I'll leave it to you. I'm not going to bother with this anymore." Empress Dowager Zhang stretched her slender neck, shifted to a more comfortable position, and closed her eyes
to enjoy the comfort brought by Ding Shou's fingertips massaging her. "I should rest too."
Ding Shou agreed, secretly pleased. "Liu Jian, you set a trap for the Second Master, and I'll retaliate in kind
. This is called an eye for an eye."
Mei Jinshu, carrying a medicine chest, followed Cui Die in. "
Your Majesty, this humble subject pays respects." "It is inconvenient for me to be present when the imperial physician is examining the patient. This humble subject will take his leave first." Ding Shou said softly.
"Eh?" "You're leaving?" The Empress Dowager was a little reluctant. Usually, when her family members came, it was to request titles or
to say they had caused trouble again. Few people kept her company and relieved her boredom. This was how she developed her habit of sleeping.
"Ah? No, this humble subject will serve outside the palace and will be at your beck and call." Ding Shou, who had intended to agree, saw the Empress Dowager's disappointed
eyes and immediately changed his words.
**********
...

"The two marquises are dismissed from court and are not allowed to enter the palace without imperial decree."
Seeing Zhu Houzhao's furrowed brows, as if he felt the sentence was too lenient, Ding Shou quickly explained, "Firstly, this will let the two
marquises know that they have lost favor in the palace, and they will surely be more restrained in their behavior in the future; secondly, it will save face for the
Empress Dowager; and thirdly, it will give an explanation to the people of the world that His Majesty enforces the law strictly and does not show favoritism, which is a model of a sage ruler."
"I don't care about these empty titles." Zhu Houzhao, who had been fooled, smiled broadly, but still pretended not to
care.
"Also, regarding the Ministry of Justice..." Ding Shou continued. Since Grand Secretary Liu Jian had already set him up, the
Second Prince was really angry that Min Gui, who had dug his own pit, hadn't been dealt with.
"The prisoner committed suicide by poison in prison, and the officials in the Ministry of Justice were negligent in their duties. All those involved, from the Grand Minister of Justice down, will be
punished with salary deductions." Since Liu Jin and Wang Yue didn't want to delve into this matter, Ding Shou didn't dare to make too much of a fuss
. He said, "This will also teach the officials a lesson. From now on, they must be diligent in their duties and not be negligent."
Zhu Houzhao nodded in satisfaction and patted Ding Shou on the shoulder. "Considering both advancement and retreat, thinking thrice before acting, this
is what a pillar of the state should be like. If all the officials in the world were as thoughtful as you, I would have far fewer troubles."
"Your Majesty flatters me. I am humbled." Ding Shou smiled broadly, unable to hide his pride.
Before Ding Er Ye could even get cocky, Zhu Houzhao chimed in, "How's the person I asked you to find doing
...?"
Ding Shou was just worrying about how to explain this when he saw the palace maid Cui Die running over in a panic...
************
Empress Dowager Zhang lay weakly on her couch, her expression listless.
"Mother, Mother..." Zhu Houzhao stood beside the couch, calling softly.
The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes. "Your Majesty, your two good-for-nothing uncles..."
"Mother, don't worry, Minister Ding has already spoken to me." Zhu Houzhao recounted the discussion about the two marquises' fate
.
The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction. "You've troubled your son."
"Mother, what are you saying? It's all my fault for being unfilial, causing you distress." Zhu Houzhao's true feelings were revealed
, and he choked up.
Ding Shou pulled Mei Jinshu aside and whispered, "What happened? She was fine just now, how come she's
even more serious after the diagnosis?"
"Reporting to Uncle, the Empress Dowager has a hidden ailment. This time, her anger has aroused the pent-up fire within her body, hence the
fierce attack." Mei Jinshu's expression was grave. After a moment's thought, he continued, "Observing her pulse, the right hand's cun and guan pulses
are very strong, while the left hand's heart pulse is very weak..."
Ding Shou found the long medical explanation daunting and interrupted, "Speak plainly, what illness?"
Mei Jinshu hesitated, then, after gathering his words, continued, "Phoenix has accumulated yin and cold, yin deficiency and excessive fire, and
seems to have been suffering from chronic insomnia..."
Impossible, in the few times the Second Master had seen her, she always got up before noon, Ding Shou shook his head vigorously.
Not only did Ding Shou not believe it, but Zhu Houzhao, who had come over, also didn't believe it. After calling over Cui Die to inquire in detail, the two were both
astonished. " 　　The Empress Dowager
has been sleepless for some time now, and during the day she is listless and lethargic. She has taken
prescriptions from several imperial physicians, but to no avail." "Then why didn't you report this to me sooner?" Zhu Houzhao asked angrily, worried about his mother. 　　Cui Die hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness, "This servant wanted to report this long ago, but the Empress Dowager wouldn't allow it, only saying that she knew and not 　　to interfere." 　　"Jinshu, do you have a treatment?" Ding Shou asked. 　　"This time, the phlegm and fire in her heart caused fainting, and I do have a few prescriptions for emergency use." Mei Jinshu 　　frowned deeply and said, "But if this chronic insomnia is not relieved, I'm afraid it's just treating the symptoms, not the root cause." " 　　Is it incurable?" Zhu Houzhao asked. 　　"Your Majesty is wise. There is a clear distinction between superiors and inferiors, and between men and women." Mei Jinshu said with difficulty, "It is 　　inherently inconvenient for a man to treat a woman's illness. Moreover, judging a woman's condition from a man's perspective is bound to lead to biases. A slight error can result in a huge mistake. 　　I dare not prescribe medicine rashly." 　　"Then what are you standing here for? Go and summon the female physician!" Zhu Houzhao shouted. Cui Die 　　looked troubled. "Your Majesty, all the female physicians in the palace retired years ago due to old age and illness." 　　"Not only in the palace, but throughout the land, female physicians are scarce. It is a pity for the medical profession," Mei Jinshu lamented 　　. 　　Without time to listen to Mei Jinshu's lament about the future of gynecology in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Houzhao hurriedly issued an edict to recruit female physicians from the common people 　　to treat the Empress Dowager. 　　"Your Majesty, the tutor in my household is a woman with superb medical skills. We can give her a try," Ding Shou 　　said without hesitation, betraying Tan Yunxian. 　　"Why didn't you say so sooner? Summon her immediately!" As if grasping at a straw, Zhu Houzhao urged repeatedly. 　　Seeing Mei Jinshu's hesitant expression, Ding Shou said, "This person is the younger sister of Imperial Physician Mei. Please, Imperial Physician Mei, accompany me to earnestly 　　invite her. 　　" 　　The carriage wheels rolled along the bluestone street. 　　"Jinshu, it seemed there was something to discuss in the palace just now," Ding Shou asked Mei Jinshu, who was also in the carriage. " 　　Is something amiss?" 　　Mei Jinshu sighed, "My nephew is unruly; I'm afraid he's gotten you into trouble." 　　After hearing Mei Jinshu's explanation, Ding Shou realized that Tan Yunxian had come to the capital to seek a favor. 　　Tan Yunxian's younger brother, Yifeng, was a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial examination) in the fifth year of the Hongzhi reign. After passing the Juren examination, he repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. In the Ming Dynasty, becoming an official after passing the provincial examination 　　was not easy. First, one had to fail the metropolitan examination three times before having a chance to be appointed as a reserve official. Even then, there was 　　no guarantee of being appointed, as there was another group of Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examination) who had failed the court examinations and were waiting at home for their turn. 　　Strictly speaking, whether Master Fan Jin, who was overjoyed after passing the imperial examination, would eventually be appointed to an official post depended 　　on the good deeds of his ancestors. Let's not even mention the unconventional Hai Qingtian among the successful candidates; he became an official because of Zhang Fujing's 　　reforms of the bureaucracy, which involved promoting officials through three paths simultaneously—Tan Yifeng didn't have that kind of luck. However, the Tan family was a scholarly family with generations of officials, giving them more opportunities than their peers. 　　Thirteen years after Tan Yifeng 　　passed the imperial examination , he finally landed a position as an instructor in Guilin. 　　"An instructor in the prefectural city?" Ding Shou's face showed disdain upon hearing this; a lowly, insignificant official 　　. 　　Mei Jinshu showed no disdain, simply saying, "Guilin is located in a remote area. Yunxian is concerned about her younger brother and 　　wants to find him another official position. It just so happens that Junior Sister Changjin is hiring a tutor, and hearing that Uncle is a popular figure in the court, she asked 　　me for help." 　　At this point, Mei Jinshu blushed slightly, "Because Junior Sister has long been receiving instruction from a renowned teacher, I shamelessly agreed. I originally 　　wanted to wait for an opportunity to discuss the details in person, but I was afraid of putting Uncle in a difficult position, so I delayed until now." 　　"It's just about filling a substantive vacancy, what's so difficult about that?" Ding Shou said nonchalantly.

Mei Jinshu's expression was solemn. He said, "The granting of official positions is governed by the laws of the court; it is not something to be taken lightly." 　　Ding
Shou carefully examined his much older nephew. His father, Mei Tuizhi, was single-mindedly plotting a rebellion against the descendants of Zhu Di, 　　while his two sons were one foolish and 　　the other dull-witted
, caring nothing for the laws of the court . Truly, his adopted sons were "unworthy." Mei Jinshu felt uncomfortable under Ding Shou's gaze. "Uncle, have I said something wrong?" 　　"No." 　　Ding Shou 　　smiled and patted Mei Jinshu's shoulder. "Leave this matter to me." 　　********** ... 　　Located in the inner courtyard, Tan Yunxian was not worried about being seen by outsiders. Besides, she had no shame in front of a doctor; having practiced medicine for many years 　　, she had far fewer concerns and dressed casually. 　　At this moment, she was sorting through the Taoist prescription book "Zhai Xuan Zi," which Mei Jinshu had sent her some time ago. It was said to be 　　written by Qiu Chuji, the Yuan Dynasty's National Preceptor Changchun Zhenren, and contained many secret techniques for longevity. Tan Yunxian had been engrossed 　　in reading it ever since, and had just finished one volume and was looking for the next. 　　Suddenly sensing something amiss, Tan Yunxian turned around and saw two people standing at the door. Mei Jinshu, avoiding suspicion, darted 　　around, while Ding Shou stared intently at her snow-white arms under the thin veil. 　　With a smile, Tan Yunxian turned around and bowed: "Master Dong, Senior Brother, what can I do for you?" 　　[attach]3021802[/attach] 　　ps: The guqin that Dai Yi supervised in the previous chapter is now in the Palace Museum. Those interested can go and see it. 　　A prince's annual stipend should be 10,000 shi of rice, but Prince Rong hasn't taken up his fief yet, so it's 3,000 shi. 　　Also, let's do a survey: how many people are still reading this book? How many are 　　reading for the explicit scenes? I originally wrote it out of boredom, but now I'm too lazy to write. Even when I don't update, I keep thinking about it. Researching takes too much time, and I have to 　　force explicit scenes into the normal plot. The mental pressure is too much, it's exhausting. :cry :cry

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