Chapter 2595 - 2569: Patriarch Zheng

Bai Shan was quite puzzled, "Why does the Ministry of Revenue need to go through Hejian Prince to purchase land? Wouldn’t it be more convenient to buy it themselves?"

The Left Assistant Minister smiled gently and replied, "Because if Minister Li handles it, it will be cheaper."

That’s how ridiculous it is, but what can you do?

Bai Shan had a good relationship with the son of the Minister of Revenue, so the Left Assistant Minister was happy to sell him some information, but not much else.

But this was enough to shock Bai Shan. It turned out that the feud between Minister Li and the Zheng Family had long existed and originated from a land dispute;

It turned out that the land Minister Li bought in Qizhou wasn’t for himself but for the Ministry of Revenue, which, rounding off, was for the emperor, so in fact, the feud wasn’t between Minister Li and the Zheng Family, but between the emperor and the Zheng Family.

Bai Shan returned to the Central Secretariat, dumbfounded, and the person on duty had just returned from the emperor’s study. Seeing him, he said, "Lord Bai, it’s your turn to go to the study with Lord Fang in the afternoon."

Bai Shan collected himself, acknowledged, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"The memorials have been distributed in the morning, in the afternoon just follow His Majesty’s instructions."

Typically, there aren’t many tasks in such situations, Bai Shan acknowledged.

When he and Lord Fang arrived at the study, Manbao was waiting in the side hall. Perhaps bored from waiting, she was leaning back in her chair with her eyes closed, resting. But Bai Shan observed the rhythm of her breathing and was sure she had fallen asleep, lightly but asleep nonetheless.

Bai Shan paused his steps, looking towards Lord Fang.

Lord Fang glanced at Bai Shan, then at Zhou Man, weighed his options and then raised his head, smiled at Bai Shan, and stepped out to admire the scenery outside the hall.

Bai Shan quickly smiled and saluted him in thanks.

Bai Shan stepped forward to examine her and saw that the palace attendant reporting inside the main hall hadn’t come out yet, realizing that inside, they must be discussing confidential matters, unlikely to call for them soon, so he reached out and poked her.

Manbao awoke instantly, blinking, her eyes only dazed momentarily before becoming clear.

Seeing Bai Shan, she immediately sat upright, asking, "Why are you here? Are you on duty this afternoon?"

Bai Shan nodded, asking, "What about you? Why are you here?"

"Oh, they said the patriarch of the Zheng Family has arrived. His Majesty wants to inquire about Young Master Zheng’s condition. Director Xiao is busy at the Imperial Hospital, so I am here to deliver the report."

Primarily because Director Xiao finds conversing with these great aristocratic families too troublesome; if he speaks too detailed, they don’t understand, if too plain, they doubt his medical skills, thinking he’s made a misjudgment, and occasionally their words contain attacks on the Imperial Hospital, disregarding them as mere healers.

Director Xiao finds it exhausting to deal with them, thus he dislikes seeing them, specially called Zhou Man to deliver the report in his stead.

Bai Shan glanced out the window, asking, "Have you been waiting long?"

Manbao checked the hourglass before shaking her head, "I haven’t been here long."

But still hasn’t been called in yet, not knowing what they’re discussing inside.

The atmosphere inside was somewhat stagnant.

Patriarch Zheng sat with his eldest son to one side, across from them sat Hejian Prince, while Wei Zhi and several conciliatory ministers were seated apart on both sides.

However, there were more people sitting on the Zheng side, not because they sided with them, but for a smoother reconciliation.

Sitting together made them appear like they were allies.

Clearly, the Zheng Family was not satisfied with the emperor’s resolution, so they sat silently, displeased.

The emperor felt somewhat gleeful internally, but upon receiving looks from Wei Zhi and Lord Tang, he refrained from showing it, instead sighing with Patriarch Zheng, "I know what Boming is most worried about now is Erlang’s injury. Thus, with the Imperial Doctor outside, why not call her in to inquire about the situation?"

Boming is Patriarch Zheng’s courtesy name, and the emperor was quite familiar with these patriarchs, meeting occasionally to exchange sentiments.

Zheng Boming pondered for a moment before nodding.

He hadn’t seen his second son since arriving, only heard he sustained a head injury rendering him speechless, unaware of the specifics.

Manbao was whispering with Bai Shan, Bai Shan murmuring in her ear, "I discovered that Hejian Prince has been at odds with the Zheng Family over the past two years due to a land dispute in Qizhou, yet the land Hejian Prince purchased was not for personal use but on behalf of the Ministry of Revenue for official fields..."

Just as he finished speaking, they saw a palace attendant passing by the window, and the two immediately sat upright. A palace attendant came in, smiling at Manbao, "Lord Zhou, His Majesty summons you."

Manbao solemnly nodded, rose, and followed him to the main hall.

After she left, the palace attendant returned to fetch Bai Shan and Lord Fang, leading them in from another direction, seating them beside the secretary.

The secretary, seeing his familiar friends, usually expressionless, raised a smile on his face, nodded towards them in greeting, before resuming his seated position facing forward.

Bai Shan and Lord Fang settled into their familiar seats, taking pen, ink, paper, and inkstone from a basket beside, looking up just as Manbao finished her greeting and stood aside, the emperor introducing Zhou Man to Patriarch Zheng, "This is the Imperial Hospital’s Imperial Doctor Zhou, she is also a compiler from Chongwen Pavilion."

Patriarch Zheng nodded, looked at Zhou Man and asked, "Imperial Doctor Zhou, what is my son’s current condition?"

Manbao replied, "His injury now no longer poses a threat to life."

Manbao recalled Director Xiao’s advice, knowing these people’s difficult nature, so she must describe seriously and meticulously from the start to avoid them causing trouble later.

Moreover, Zheng Fei’s initial condition was indeed grave. Without her intervention, he would have undoubtedly died.

While she wouldn’t normally assure other patients so boldly, having Zheng Fei consume half her medicine supply rendered her confident to assert this.

Manbao delved into detailed explanations of Zheng Fei’s cranial injuries and the treatment process, shamelessly proclaiming to them, "Fortunately, treatment was timely, and our Imperial Hospital’s doctors managed well, else Patriarch Zheng would never have seen Young Master Zheng again."

The emperor, seated on the dragon throne, repeatedly wished to interrupt Zhou Man, telling her to summarize and not exaggerate to frighten; hadn’t she noticed their expressions growing darker, glances at Hejian Prince nearly ablaze?

But upon glimpsing Patriarch Zheng casting a tepid glance at his eldest son behind, the emperor chose to sit back undisturbed, disinclined to interrupt Zhou Man.

Fine then, since indeed a factual recount, let her speak.

Thinking thus, he couldn’t help a gleeful glance at Patriarch Zheng.

Once did anyone in Xingyang mock his two sons for internal strife?

Hmph, his own sons aren’t any better, even less capable than mine; at least my Dalang and Sanlang would never physically harm each other’s lives.

Patriarch Zheng’s face turned somber, raising a fist saluting Zhou Man, "Thank you, Imperial Hospital, for saving my son."

Having spoken, he then faced the emperor, "I beseech Your Majesty, uphold justice for my son, severely punish the perpetrator."